End game
Nike's pov:
The battlefield had turned to a bloodbath. The ground was a mixture of mud and blood. Shields, spears, horses and men were scattered all around.
'She did this for you.' It races through my mind.
Her soldiers fought for me. Her people died for me. Five long years she fought for me. Now all that's left is ruins of a once beautiful city. In the middle of those ruins the survivors still fight. She still fights... For me.
The clashing of swords takes my attention back to the battle. There fights my warrior goddess, my Athena.
Her once white chiton is now ripped and drenched in a mixture of blood, ichor and mud. Her dark brown hair, with a few braids in it, peaks from underneath her helmet. She has wounds all across her body where Aegis failed to protect her. Anger and power shine in her cool grey eyes.
Her opponent is her half brother Ares. His muscles tense as he blocks another attack from his sister. He is, as always, wearing a blood red cape around his broad shoulders. He too is drenched in blood. His dark brown eyes seem to reflect fire. Only there is no fire around and that's no reflection.
He smirks and gives Athena a blow with the hilt of his sword. It hits her right in the face, sending her a few feet back. Her helmet lands at my feet. I look up and see Ares walking towards Athena, the smirk still on his face.
"Victory is mine little sister." He says.
"I'm older than you, you blithering idiot." Athena replies ever so quickly.
Ares sighs and rolls his eyes. He raises his sword and I turn my head away. Next I only hear screaming. Screaming I've never heard before. She has never screamed before. I don't dare look until it's over.
"I'll see you at sundown tomorrow for our final battle." Ares says and he's gone.
All that's left is the sound of sobbing. Her sobbing. I've never heard that before either. I take a few steps closer and another few until I'm standing next to her. Athena had turned on her side, facing away from me.
"A-Athena?" I barely speak outloud.
She doesn't react. Slowly I crouch down and turn her over. What I see almost makes me gag, but I push it back. It stings knowing I could've prevented it. I ripped a piece from my own chiton and used it to clean off all the ichor streaming from her wounds. Ares had drawn two lines on her face with his sword. One from her left brow to her hairline and the second from her chin, across her lips, to her right cheekbone.
"The battle may be lost, but the war isn't." Athena whispers when she sees my expression.
She moves her mouth just enough to form words, but I need a second to declutter them. The pain is evident in both her voice and expression. Tears roll from her eyes and mix with her golden blood.
"Brave as always." I whisper back, tears dripping from my own eyes.
I hold her tight in my arms, as if even the smallest gust of wind could blow her away. Not a moment later her Olympian allies show up. Artemis kneels beside me and cringes at the sight of her sister.
"Apollo! Get your a** over here!" She calls for her twin.
The sun god looks up from the soldier he was taking care of and jogs over.
"Wow... Thena what happened?" He asks as he kneels next to his twin sister.
She doesn't respond, but her eyes tell me what I need to know. She wants me to tell them.
"It was Ares." I explain in a raspy voice.
"He found a flaw in her defense and hit her. Her helmet took most of it though. When she was down he cut her."
My voice just completely stops after that, stuck in my throat, but the thankful look I get from Athena says enough.
"Typical. There is no honor in cutting someone up who's already down." Artemis muttered.
"Ares doesn't have honor. Just a bunch of bravado." Apollo scoffed.
"Agreed. But can you help her?" The goddess of the hunt took charge.
"Yes, but not here. Flash her to my palace, I'll meet you there." The sun god responds, flashing himself away.
I'm still a bit dazed, yet holding onto Athena. Her head was resting against my chest. She had her eyes closed. No surprise there, it wasn't exactly an easy battle.
"Take her to Apollo. I'll get her stuff." Artemis commanded.
I nod, but I know I don't really have a choice. I flash myself and Athena to Apollo's palace. I carry her inside. Once inside Apollo takes her from me and goes up the stairs. Midway he stops.
"This shouldn't take too long. You can just wait here. Make yourself at home." He nods at me.
"Thank you." I nod back.
He continues what he was doing and disappears into a room. I walk into what I assume is a living room. Everything is in a gold or warm color. I sit down on a red couch. Soon I get lost in my own mind and I go back to the moments before this war. The moment Athena promised to win this.
"Victory will always be achieved." She had said with a smirk.
I had laughed, believing her, altough I knew it would never be true. I am pulled from my thoughts when Artemis appears in front of me. She hands me Athena's sword and helmet.
"I figured you should be the one to give them back to her." She adds.
"Why me?" I wonder.
"You're her sister. Aren't you closer?"
"Half-sister. Not necessarily. I don't know how to explain it, but for some reason I feel like Athena would appreciate it more if you are the one to give them back." Artemis responds.
"Oh... Okay."
Silence falls between us, but it's not an uncomfortable one. Artemis leans against a collumn. I take a good look at her since it's been a while. Her silvery hair is braided and placed over her shoulder. She's wearing all black because of the scouting position Athena put her on. Her silver bow and matching quiver are slung over her shoulders. Her light grey eye, focussed on a point in the distance.
A few moments later Apollo comes down the stairs while cleaning his hands with a piece of cloth. He had tied his long golden locks back. I assume so they wouldn't be in his way while taking care of Athena... Athena! I jump up and run towards him.
"How is she?" I ask impatiently.
"Don't worry, she's fine, but she's resting now. Do keep in mind those scars will be visible for a while. So she won't exactly be 'back to normal' just yet." He warned.
I swallow. This is my fault.
"Can I see her?"
Apollo nods.
"First door on your left." He gives me a small smile.
I thank him and go upstairs into the room after soflty knocking on the door. Athena is laying on the bed with her eyes closed. Her small wounds have been bandaged, but her face isn't. I stand there, not really knowing what to do.
"You can come closer you know."
It takes me a moment to declutter the muttering and recognize Athena's voice.
It surprised me. I thought she was asleep. Guess not. I take a few steps closer. I grab a chair from the desk in the room and place it next to the bed.
"How are you feeling?" I try not to sound too worried.
I know she doesn't like people worrying over her. Yet I always do. Athena stays quiet for a few moments. As if she's yet to decide how she feels. The she speaks.
"Talking hurts like Hades."
Her voice is barely loud enough to understand and since she can't really articulate the words come out as a blur. I don't know what to respond so I take her hand in mine. It's cold as always, yet it still feels like sparks come of everywhere her skin touches mine. It stays quiet until the guilt takes over me.
"I'm sorry..." I whisper.
Athena opens her eyes. They stare into mine. Her expression is puzzled.
"Why? What for?" She asked.
I could see in her expression it was really hurting her.
"I could've prevented what he did. I was there I-"
Athena stops me by giving my hand a hard squeeze. She let's go and immediately I miss her touch. She summons a pen and paper. I assume because talking would hurt way too much. She writes quick and neat. Once she's done she hands me the piece of paper.
It reads:
'There is no way you could've prevented it. Even if you had helped he would've gotten to you first, then resumed with me. I would never be able to live with myself if he hurt you. I don't blame you, no matter what you think. Don't be sorry for something you didn't do.'
I sigh.
"How can you say this? I litteraly just stood there..." I object.
Athena takes the paper from my hands and starts writing again. When she's done she hands gives it back for me to read.
'It wasn't your place to interfere. This may sound cruel, but you're victory darling. You have to decide who wins and the battle had to stay fair. You can't pick a side and in this case Ares was just better. Like I said, the battle was lost, the war however isn't.'
I look at her. Her eyes shine with confidence and strength. That's one of the many things I love about Athena. No matter what knocks her down she always gets back up. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but she will. I give her a small smile. Satisfied she takes my hand once again, intertwining our fingers and closing her eyes.
My smile grows when I feel her thumb rubbing small circles on my hand. The small gesture makes me feel as if Zeus struck me with one of his lightning bolts. Athena's words replay in my head.
'I would never be able to live with myself if he hurt you...'
Was she serious? Had she really meant it? My heart hoped so, but my head knew I couldn't. It just wouldn't be fair. All victories would be hers without her having to work for it. Even if we wanted to we could never be...