Athenian Arrow

Chapter XII

Their trek to Sparta started on the cobblestone path. They gathered necessities such as clothes, food, and weapons back at the archer's cabin which were stored in a bag on their backs. Alexi looked like a true Spartan as they walked the longer route to go unnoticed by Athenian guards. Andreas thought he looked good in red. He couldn't help but feel a little excited at the fact that Alexi was dressing like one of his own people.

Alexi got a suspicious feeling that someone was watching him so he turned to look at Andreas who was staring at Alexi with a blush. Andreas had not noticed he was staring for a little too long at the sight of the now Spartan Alexi. Though Alexi had not caught on. "Is there something funny about my appearance?" He asked seriously with one of his blonde eyebrows raised.

Andreas' eyes opened wide. He did not want Alexi to think he was ridiculing him, so hesitantly he says, "No it's just..." He trails off while itching his non-itchy elbow out of nervousness as his face turns in the other direction to avoid staring at Alexi for a second longer. He mustered up the courage to speak again but his voice presented quietly, "You in red... It's odd to see. You have always been Alexi the Athenian to me." Andreas thought he was being a coward for not complimenting the way the colour flatters him but still chooses against it.

Alexi giggled for a brief moment at the thought that Andreas was looking at him because of his appearance in the opposite colour until he came to a realization that made his giggling die down. Ever since Alexi developed feelings for the Spartan walking alongside him, the fact that Andreas is on the opposing side was almost forgotten by Alexi. He hadn't felt any of these feelings towards another warrior before and that said something to Alexi. He was constantly on the battlefield fighting with other warriors, helping the archers with their aim as he rested his hand against theirs. Alexi's whole life as of now has been around this wretched war. There were plenty of opportunities for Alexi to be blessed with some other warrior, an Athenian warrior at that, yet the gods decided against it. His heart belonged to a Spartan man as most people would see but to Alexi, it was just another warrior at this point in time. Alexi worried that Andreas would only ever see him as an Athenian, as his enemy, as a soldier he's supposed to execute. To Alexi, Andreas was much more to him than a simple Spartan.

Alexi never expressed any of his concerns to Andreas though. At the end of the day, this is war and if Andreas decides to go through the route of a true Spartan then Alexi would respect his word to the Spartan people. "You're right," Alexi says after snapping out of his thoughts, "red suits you more." Alexi smiles as he watches Andreas kind of frown at that statement.

Alexi doesn't know how Andreas will see him in the future but he is certain to enjoy these moments while they last as he is fully aware no god will give him an Athenian like Andreas.

...

It has been long since Stefania has heard of her son's whereabouts. All she knew was that Andreas was packing for Athens as she caught him collecting his things when she walked into his room. Though she didn't know why her son was travelling to Athens, she assumed it to be a mission or a fight on the frontlines. None of that mattered anymore as she prayed with Ares towering over her. Her arms reached upwards towards the sky in normal practice. She prayed to the god of war for her son to be safe, to grant him strength, strategy, power, and intelligence in an era such as this. For that was the only way her mind would be at ease during a war her only son was currently fighting.

Assuming Ares heard her prayers, she returned home to find her husband looking at a map of the army's next destination in the Andron. She walks in without a word and Stefanos doesn't look up at her. Either because she had not made her presence known or he was simply ignoring her. Stefania thought the second thought was more realistic as he had repeated that habit countless times.