Greece 3000 years ago...

There were celebrations and feasts held all day and on all through the night, dancing circles moved and swayed back and forth around campfires where amazons cheered and laughed and played musical instruments for their sisters to dance to. And they had every reason to celebrate, every reason to cheer and sing and dance for as long as they ever wanted.

They had won.

Ares; the God of War had been defeated, his armies crushed, his machinations undone and his slaves freed. The amazons, once his most prized treasures were granted the strength to fight back by the rest of the pantheon, and with great effect, they had won their freedom.

Toasting to the rest of her armies, Hippolyta called out for her people to see her, her blade raised high as she called out.

“MY SISTERS! WE ARE FREE!”

The roar of applause could be heard all across the valley as the amazons raised their drinks and blades to join in their queen’s reveries.

“THE GODS HAVE REWARDED US FOR OUR EFFORTS! BY TOMORROW WE SHALL BE AWAY FROM THESE LANDS OF MEN TO AN ISLAND OF WOMEN! THERE WE SHALL KNOW ETERNAL PEACE AND SPLENDOR!”

The cheers were near deafening as Hippolyta’s people raised their arms in salute to her and returned to their celebrations. Sitting back down over the fur covered log in front of her fire, Hippolyta drank from her wine flask and looked to her generals, her vassals and advisors to see them all either drunk or overjoyed in merriment. But there was someone missing. She had looked around the fire and to the other fires nearby, but he could not be found.

Turning to look over to Phillipus, the woman was dancing with the rest of her sisters when her lover had called to her.

“Where is the dark stranger? The warrior who aided us?”

Stopping in her dancing to look over to the forests nearby, the amazon pointed out towards the treeline.

“I had seen him head into the forests after the battle had been won my love, he seemed… Troubled.”

Looking over to where she pointed, the queen got up from her seat and made her way into the forests with a torch in hand. It took her some time to traverse the woods, until she heard something moving ahead of her. Stepping into a small clearing with an olive tree at its center, she found the dark warrior… Along with someone else. Narrowing her eyes, the light of the torch showed the dark haired man lay a woman at the trunk of the tree, setting up rocks around her cold and limp body to burry her.

“What is…?”

“I had joined you to fight for your freedom your highness… But I was also here for another reason.” Placing rocks around the woman, he gently crossed her arms as he did so, affectionately tracing a finger over her hair. “I also came for her.”

Dropping the torch to the ground to illuminate the clearing, Hippolyta slowly rested her hand over the pommel of her blade as the dark haired man continued his work.

“Who killed her?” She asked, prepared to act depending on what his answer was.

“She was my wife… From centuries past. I was told long ago, those who died are never truly gone, they are given opportunities to live again… In time.” Sitting up, the man’s face was wracked with anguish, even as he tried to maintain a stoic front. “I scoured the world for centuries for her, and every time I was close, she would be whisked away from me, either by time, by illness, or some other calamity. And then, I found her here… I promised I would return to her after the battle, and here, I found her dead.” Raising her ankle, he revealed two marks just at the heel of her sandal. “A viper’s bite.”

Taking her hand off her sword, the queen returned the same pained look Cain Adamson gave as he finished burying his wife and stood to his feet. He was tall, decked in red armor she could not quite pin the source off, dressed in a black cloak that matched his long flowing hair. His red eyes looked up at the full moon, clenching his fists as he reached into a pouch hanging from his belt and revealed a small trinket, a bronze ring with a black pearl in its coiled center. Resting the wedding ring over the highest stone in the pile, Cain turned to leave.

“The gods have granted us a paradise. A reward for our struggles against the god of war. There we will live forever in peace and splendor.”

“Are you offering me a place on that island of yours, Queen of the Amazons?”

“Our home is ours and ours alone.” She answered sternly. “But you have fought side by side with us and aided in our freedom. If you were to come to our shores… You would not be punished for it.”

Exhaling, Cain checked his belongings and bowed to the woman. Politely making his leave.

“Where will you go no life king?”

“The gods reward you for your strife but punish me for mine. And above all else, they are all too fallible.” Scoffed the warrior as he stopped at the clearing’s edge. “I have heard tales of a beast made by your Zeus that haunts the lands of Rome, one that posses a threat if left unchecked. I intend to face this beast. If I am victorious, I shall ensure it does not rise again. If I am to be slain… Well then, I will reunite with my love by other means.”

Making his way to leave, Cain looked over his shoulder to the queen, his face sullen.

“Cherish what you have oh Queen, you will find eternity can be a cruel prison if you have no one to share it with.”

“Then why STAY here?!” She called out. “You know there is nothing for you here.”

Not bothering to look back, Cain disappeared into the brush and out of sight.

“There is nothing for me anywhere….”