The Goddess in his
eyes
Tabius hasn't been home in some time
Off at war for more than many years
He was tired of the constant blood shed
Tired of seeing red
So many of his friends laid on the field
So many fathers, brothers, sons, no longer to wake
No longer to breathe in the fresh crisp air
No longer to smell the disgusting rotting flesh
He wanted to go home back to Aegae
Back to the simple farm that he tended
To the simple fields he would crop
Tabius knew that the war wasn't to end
He knew the blood would continue to flow
Continue to spill
He knew he would lose more and more friends
Never to see them again
Never to watch them breathe
He was to young to pick up a sword
To shield off an attacker
To young to see what he saw
In his culture he was a man
In his culture he was to fight
The Cries went from day to night
From forward to retreat
From cheers to Howls
But he knew
Tabius knew
That the war wouldn't end
And he would never see home again
At the age of Seventeen
He thought he was going to die
What felt like decades
What felt like centuries
What felt like hell
What felt like torture
Finally has ended
The rotting smell of flesh
The sight of all the blood
The whites of the eyes of the dead
The sounds of swords and shields
No longer seeing his friends die
Has is no longer in sight
The army that Tabius was in
Finally returned home
The multiple armies that joined together
The army that stood over three hundred thousand
Now cut down to a simple fifteen thousand
Marched home
Some heads held up high
Some heads staring at the ground
Some missing eyes
Some missing ears
Toes
Fingers
Whole limbs
Marched home
Tabius wanted to go home
Wanted to see his family
No longer a boy
Returning as a man
His eyes still gentle
As though he never saw a thing
But his mind could never forget
Oh it could never forget
The horrible sight he saw when he was away
The armies marched and broke off
Men seeing their homes seeing their fields
Broke off and went home
Tabius and his band were the last to see home
Women pointed
Children ran and laughed
Warm embraces
Loving hugs
Grieving women
Crying Children
Tabius looked around
Swift and focused
No mom
No father
No sister
Just a familiar face
A face he hasn't seen in years
A smile upon his face
A long squint came from Tabius
Followed by a smile
'If it isn't my little brother'
Tabius said cheerfully
'Yes it is I you ole man you'
His brother said back
'It feels like years'
Tabius said walking up
'You grew taller'
He said again
'I could say the same for you'
His brother said back
A warming hug
Tabius missed that
'You grew muscles and a ton of 'em'
His brother said laughing
'Tis What happens when you off fighting'
Tabius looked around like a hawk stalking
'Where is mom, father, and Elena'
His brother looked down and around
'They passed away due illness'
Tabius looked down
'But hey they knew you would return and sent me wait'
His brother smiled joyful
Trying to hide the tears
That Tabius knew he wanted to shed
'Your a good brother Diotheus'
Tabius said patting his brother on the back
'Now then let us return home so I can see our sheep'
Tabius screamed joyfully
'Aye brother let us go drink and be marry
Tis never a time when you return from war once'
That night was spent drinking and story telling
Spent laughing
Spent silent
Spent smiling
Spent weeping
The morning wasn't easy
It came hard
The morning cock came with its loud cry
Tabius passed out on the table
Diotheus Laid on the floor
'Someone shut that damn thing up'
Tabius yelped
'I don't wanna wake up'
Diotheus groaned stumbling to his feet
Tabius jerked his head up
Drool falling from his chin
He hasn't slept like that ever since he was young
After a quick bath
New set of clothes
Tabius began to tend to the fields
The sun came hard
Beating on his neck
Sweat running down his brow
He heard something approaching him
He pretended to not hear it
Pretended to work
He let it get closer
Like he was taught to
Not to close
Not to far
He needed to wait for them
Needed them to get closer
He gripped his sickle tightly
Then with a calculated attempted
Flipped the person over his shoulder
Sickle to their throat
Killer instinct in his eye
Suddenly calmed down
By the terror in his brothers eyes
'My...My Apologies Diotheus'
Tabius said letting his brother up
'They really taught you guys to
not let your guard down huh'
Diotheus said dusting himself
'What is it did you finish the sheering'
Tabius said wiping his brow
'No something better come to the street'
His brother said pulling him
Tabius wondered what it was that was important
Thinking could it be more soldiers
Ones who were missing
Ones left behind
No way
Couldn't be
When they made it to the street
Their ears were filled with cheering
Gasps
Admiration
'What band is this'
Tabius said looking to Diotheus
'Not a band but a priestess'
Diotheus said
'Priestess what is that'
Tabius questioned
'She comes and prays at the temple
of Athena'
His brother said annoyed
Tabius has been away for so long
Never knew women could do official praying
Tabius stepped closer
Trying to see this Priestess
'Here she comes here she comes'
A child shouted
Soldiers walked up front
Hands on swords
Ready to attack anyone who got close
Tabius watched them closely
Veterans not like him
Actual trained soldiers
His eyes stayed glued to them
Just till they were past him
Then he saw horses
Two in the front
Nice breed Tabius thought
They were walking proudly
Pulling along a carriage
Tabius looked at it
Stared at it
How could anyone be so excited
You couldn't see no priestess
He became skeptical
Not believing there to be a woman
The carriage passed by him
He looked on in disgust
Just a silhouette
That's all we could see
It could be a guy for all we know
'Man I heard she is as beautiful as Athena'
A man said
'I heard that she was molded from Marble
by Zeus himself'
Another replied
Marble, Athena
Tabius chuckled
'Whats so funny'
Diotheus said
'A woman priest
So beautiful
Carved out of Marble'
Tabius said running his hands through his hair
'Has anyone ever laid eyes on her'
Tabius asked
'Well only the head priest can
if someone else does they have to die'
Diotheus said turning around
This sparked Tabius' interest
I will see this woman
I will see if they say she is what she is
'What temple do they pray'
Tabius asked
'The sealed temple of Zeus'
His brother replied
Tabius began to walk
Diotheus quickly yanked him back
'No don't they will slit your throat'
'Aye but I am doing nothing more
then going for a walk'
Tabius said with a smile
Diotheus let him go
'Just a walk'
Tabius smiled and nodded
'Thought I would also stop by the shop
buy some wine for tonight'
Tabius said with nod
'Well you stay away from the temple
you just got home no need to get yourself
killed, and leave me alone'
Diotheus said
Tabius walked toward the shop
Waiting for his brother to walkaway
Once his brother was away
He dashed off to the temple
The sun was about to set
Finally at the temple
Just over this wall
Over this concrete wall
This supposed beautiful goddess
This Marble Human made by Zeus
This human more beautiful then Athena
Just over this wall
Tabius stepped back
Then sprinted to the wall
He jumped then grabbed the edge
He pulled himself up and over
Now then where is she
This woman priest
He became silent
Footsteps light
Just the way they told him
He looked around
Becoming alert
Aware of everything
The temple doors
Guarded by men
He picked up some rocks
Then threw them with all his might
A loud thud can be heard
'Who is there'
A guard shouted looking toward the sound
Both guards stormed into the direction
He quickly approached the doors
His heart racing
He began to sweat
His eyes focused
He pushed the doors open
Ever so slightly
Just a peek is all he needed
Those guards wont be back
When it comes to patrolling
They leave nothing unturned
Just a peek then I am out of here
I want to see this inhuman woman
He could see movement
Shadows in the candle lights
one, two, three, four, five
Six
Yes six total
Now where is she he said
He strained his eyes wanting to see her
'You there what are you doing'
A harsh voice shouted
Tabius turned around
Run he thought
To late
a guard kicked him through the doors
He hit the ground hard
Gasping for air he scrambled to get up
He flipped onto his side
Due to a kick from another guard
'No one is to be here'
A voice shouted out approaching
'No eyes are to be put upon her'
Another voice said
Tabius looked around
Straining his blurring vision
I have to see her
He saw a kneeling figure
It's her
Tabius could see her but not make out her shape
He grunted
A guard pulled him by the hair
'He must be killed just like the guards in here'
A man in all white said
Tabius raised his head showing off his neck
No fear in his eyes
No tears
No begging
Nothing caught in his throat
In fact he smiled
He dared to do something no one ever has
Laid his eyes upon this woman
His eyes looked at her
Her back was to him
His neck felt cold
The steel of the blade
'Do it and then yourselves'
The man in white barked
The blade began to move
'Stop right there'
A female voice spoke
Tabius looked at her
She rose to her feet
Pretty tall
She turned to face them
She began to walk
So elegant
So soft
Tabius' eyes were fixed on her
This is it
The moment of truth
'You do not fear death'
She asked
Tabius shook his had
A mistake on his behalf
As a kick to the head
Pushed him to the ground
'Show some respect to the
high priestess'
A voice said
Vision blurry
He could taste blood
'Did I tell you to strike him'
She said annoyed
'No your highness'
The voice replied
She helped him up
'Are you alright'
She said
Tabius turned his head
Spat up blood
'Yes my lady I am ok'
He could see her perfectly
So clear, so vivid in the candle
His eyes widen
What is she
Who is she
I Don't understand
To
Be CONTINUED....
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