Unorthodox, but Artemis recognized his intent. He was a reactionary fighter, and any move she made would result in his immediate counter swing. That would be how she would turn the fight to her advantage.
...
She waited a moment, before she saw her chance. 'Now!' The mental thought screamed through her mind.' All the pent-up adrenaline and energy unleashed itself from her body like an uncoiling snake, striking faster than the blink of an eye; She suddenly dashed forwards towards Perseus, the cheering Macedonians tuned out of mind. She watched him smirk, readying himself. Just as she was about to come in range of his sword, she dug her heels into the sand, abruptly stopping herself, with sand flying upwards in a spray.
Perseus recoiled, raising his sword upwards with a curse. Artemis didn't hesitate to react, and she lunged forwards on her left foot with a high stab towards Perseus's right shoulder. Her thrust was met with the sound of bronze clanging against steel, and she felt the shock reverberate up her arm. A flash of steel caught the sun's rays as Perseus's counter stroke arced downwards in a diagonal stroke from behind his raised shield.
Just as expected.
Artemis felt the air rush past her neck as she threw herself onto her back, the sand barely cushioning her fall, dodging the strike. She gasped as the air in her lungs was driven out of her, but she gritted her teeth, and swept her legs in a scything motion towards Perseus's own leg, outstretched towards her in the sand, due to his counter swipe.
Artemis felt her heel bone connect with the back of Perseus's knee, and the leg instantly buckled. Perseus immediately tried to regain his balance, but Artemis smiled grimly, and planted her other foot in his hip from her prone position, sending him crashing to the ground, rolling inadvertently onto his back. He landed with an "Ummph!" besides her, and Artemis quickly scrambled over to him kicking out a leg, pinning the large shield, along with his arm, into the sand. Perseus had retained his sword in his right hand, but it was too long and unwieldy from the ground, and before he could move, Artemis rest her right-hand hunting knife across his chest.
The short fight felt like it had last hours, not minutes, and Artemis puffed lightly, grinning down at Perseus. "You yield!?" Artemis found herself yelling, as everyone around them was in a tremendous uproar, jeering and spitting insults at Perseus in a joking fashion.
Perseus still seemed to be dumbfounded, his eyes glazed, as he looked up at her. And Artemis was about to tell him as such, a grin already spreading throughout her face, when she realized that in pinning his shield arm with her leg… she was now sitting on his lap, with one leg stretched languidly over Perseus's chest. She looked back to his face, where, leaning down over him, her auburn curls hung down, caressing his face.
Oh…Oh…OH…
She leapt off him, driving her knee into his stomach in her haste. His pained grunt as he keeled over barely registered, and her mind shuddered to a halt.
'How dare… How could she let herself become so foolish! A Virgin Goddess! She would have never allowed a huntress to do… such a thing! Even in combat! A cold tremor ran through her core. 'Why hadn't she noticed from the start? Why hadn't she cared!?'
If Perseus had a similar reaction, he didn't show it. He stood up grudgingly besides, and waved sheepishly to the crowd, holding his midsection. There was a thunderous amount of laughter and clamor as the assembled army jeered at Perseus.
She should have felt proud, or some sense of pride, in upholding her reputation as a fighter. But even the word reputation burned within her mind. 'Who was she becoming?' The past weeks, months even, came into focus. She had been relaxed, and her tongue was loose, spilling stories that she wouldn't have normally told, especially to a man…
"A fine showing!" Alexander shouted above the roar of the crowd. He stood in the shade by a leopard pelt clad chair, "Cleoxene is the victor!"
Artemis felt her ears burn, as she resolutely ignored Perseus besides her, looking out into the crowd. There had to be an explanation, there had to be… Her thoughts froze on the answer she arrived at, as a dreaded presence slowly pooled into her mind, as if suddenly unveiled from a shadowed hiding place.
In the fifth row, of some Pellian skirmishers, whom had been watching the bout, she stood there, slowly clapping along, a burning anger broiling in her normally sharp, but soft eyes. They had long been adversaries, but Artemis hadn't suspected that she would strike now, not when so far away from her seat in Corinth.
Artemis could only stare, hands clenched on her hunting knives, when Aphrodite paused, looking her straight in the eyes, before disappearing in a fine pink mist.
Poseidon looked at her darkly, but Artemis saw a shade of reason behind the raging hurricanes that surged within his irises.
"You speak of the Macedonian Expedition as if it were yesterday, Niece." Poseidon remarked, "In fact, we have never broached words on the subject, not since I threw my support behind you in the quest."
"It was not an adventure that I am usually eager to recount." Artemis replied carefully, smoothing down her dress toga. "I fought many battles there, and without you, I would have most certainly perished, forced to endure decades in Tartarus." The siege at Tyre had been a particularly trying time, even with Athena and Poseidon's support. She had never forgiven Aphrodite for her own transgressions, but even as the mental curse crossed her mind, she recalled the closeness she had developed with him. Something that Aphrodite had assumed she would despise, but she now endured with self-inflicted pain.
"I am not Zeus." Poseidon replied simply, his bearded face unreadable. There was a silence in the expansive throne room for a moment, before Poseidon's deep voice refilled its halls. "I will speak with Athena about the matter of our children. Perhaps we can come to a solution."
Artemis smiled in return, resting a hand on Poseidon's shoulder, "Thank you Uncle."
"Oh, go away, you are far to persuasive for your own good. And get your hunt off the trail of my son." Poseidon snapped in good humor before he walked past her, and out the Throne room door, the thud of his Trident following his footsteps. The slamming of the heavy celestial bronze doors left Artemis alone in the throne room, where the hearth prickled happily, the fire within seemingly to perk up, dispelling gathering shadows from Olympus.
...
Poseidon whisked himself away into the evening sky, and Artemis trailed his progress over towards the Atlantic, where his dominion lay. If there was any chance to stop the coming storm of war that loomed over Olympus, Poseidon could quell it. Even Zeus feared Poseidon's strength: the same strength that could challenge his claim as King of the Gods.
When she was young, she had been more aligned with her father, against the Sea God. Now… it couldn't have been more different. If Poseidon was forced into war against Zeus, Artemis knew that she wouldn't hesitate to choose her uncle's side. She suspected that it wouldn't come as a shock to some on the council, as she had burned that bridge with Zeus long ago. Zeus though, would never imagine his perfect daughter would go astray. He had still never realized how much she had suffered on that Expedition, and he never would.
Artemis took once more glance at the flames, intent on leaving to find her hunters, when Hestia manifested back into her immortal form, a picture of innocence as an eight-year-old child.
"Out of all of my siblings' children, you have matured the most, Artemis Goddess of the Hunt." Hestia smiled up at her warmly, a cackle of flame following her soothing voice.
"Out of necessity, yes. I have."
Hestia only answered with a gentle nod. Artemis was careful to keep out any obvious emotions of… him or of the Expedition from her mind. Hestia was a kind Goddess, but Artemis knew she was testing her. Probing her for a weakness.
"I do not know what challenges you have overcome, but this fire," Hestia now gestured to the steadily burning logs, "Is not my doing."
Artemis could only stare into the flames, as their warmth transformed into the harsh scorching heat of war. A war over pride.
Artemis sat on the sand, brooding.
...
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