A Spartan Never Dies

The tall, and slender stature of Athena was hidden away in the heavy objects of her armor. A lightning bolt glittered, and sparked in her hand as she held her ground. Leonidas shouted brave words at the cowardly, greedy Xerxes. Once the king of Sparta had said those last fruitful words, Athena’s muscles quivering with every anticipating second, she released the lightning down unto the earth. 1

Rolling thunder followed the flash of lightning, the clouds darkening the sky. Every thing was dark. The goddess saw no sign of her beloved Spartans. Her ancient heart beat heavily in her chest. When suddenly, the darkness began to move… it was not the clouds that had turned the world dark, but thousands, upon thousands of arrows.2

Athena gripped her chest, feeling the pain of the one mortal she loved, her eyes tight shut. Daring another agonizing look, she noticed movement among the field of bloodied Spartan corpses. Leonidas was alive! 3

On his knees, he painfully rose his hand, and banged against his shield, calling out to Athena for praise. Oh, but Athena gave him much more than praise, first she gave him power to chant, and let the sound of his shield carry out through the mountain pass. Second, she gave him history. Athena wrote his name, and the names of his three hundred bravest men, on the scroll of history, forever to be remembered. 4

As if that praise was enough to pass Leonidas on, his blood covered hand fell away from his shield. The crimson liquid blurred his vision as he looked up to Xerxes as said naught but five words. “You will NEVER kill us!” There was a loud, echoing clatter, as the Spartan shield hit the ground. Leonidas, bloodied, hurt, and slipping away, looked to the gods, and smiled. His heart beat three more continuous times, before it choked on that final beat, ceasing to ever beat again. Not giving up, not quitting, but merely expanding his life to another form. 5

Athena wiped away a single tear, that caused rain to poor from the clouds, showering the battle field. She turned on her heels, and faced three hundred brave, broad, men. Her saddened expression became a sly smirk as she thought of the final thing she will do for these men, give them eternal life. “Spartans,” She said meekly, the light of the gods reflecting off her golden armor. “You are never to die,” At this, Leonidas smiled. “you are to forever serve, as the Army of Athena. Can you handle it?” Shouts and cheers rose from the Spartans, making enough sound to emit from over a thousand men. 6

As the din quieted down, Leonidas knelt down on one knee, and bowed his head. Others followed their kings example, and bowed to Athena. Not even a breath was heard throughout the heavenly arena. After a brief pause, Leonidas lifted his head, and shouted four words to all his men, and Athena herself, for all to know what a Spartan can do. “A Spartan, never dies!”