Morning light warmed the courtyard of the Colonas Moon Goddess Temple. It turned the marble steps a soft silver-grey.
At the center, the circular fountain sparkled. Water droplets traced perfect arcs in the dawn air.
The sweet smell of night-blooming jasmine mixed with the distant sea salt. Occasional seabird cries punctuated the calm. They added life to the quiet morning.
Morning prayers ended. Melanippe walked briskly to her room.
She shed the ornate priestess robes. Swapped them for the lightweight leather armor of an Amazon warrior.
Her deep brown hair was tied into a simple ponytail. It revealed the elegant line of her neck.
For this Amazon princess, being a priestess was like a lesson in courtly manners. A proper lady's duty. But deep down, she craved the fight. She wanted to be a true Amazon warrior.
At the stone table in the courtyard, Melanippe began cleaning her weapons.
She used a special whetstone on each bronze arrowhead. Her expression was utterly focused. Like performing a sacred rite.
Next came her Amazon-style short sword. She turned it slowly in the morning light. Inspected every angle.
Her fingers tested the edge. Checking for imperfections.
The polished metal gleamed coldly. Its bronze surface mirrored her intent face. Her care for the weapons was obvious.
She was adjusting an arrow's fletching when Ainippe entered. The girl carried a tray lightly.
It held steaming barley porridge and golden honey cakes. The smell was delicious.
Ainippe's chestnut hair was braided elegantly. Her light green eyes sparkled with playful light.
"Princess, you should eat," she said. She placed the tray gently on the stone table. Her movements were graceful, practiced. Even the utensils were set just so.
Ainippe winked playfully. She dropped her voice to a mock-conspiratorial whisper. "They say the physician in the Dardan lands, Oenone, is amazing. Even young master Aeneas visits her often!"
Her tone was clearly probing. Like tossing a small stone into a still pond.
Melanippe's hands stilled. Her bow nearly slipped.
But she set the weapon down casually. She tried hard to mask the sudden flutter within.
"Is that so? What's it to us." Her voice was deliberately flat. But a slight tremor in her fingertips betrayed her.
She picked up a honey cake. Took a bite. Tasteless. Her gaze drifted away. Her mind was clearly no longer on breakfast.
A moment later, she suddenly looked up. Leaned forward slightly, feigning nonchalance. "What does that Trojan need a physician for? Is he... hurt?"
She's so obviously concerned, yet playing it cool. Adorable.
Ainippe watched her princess's reaction, inwardly smiling. Her face remained perfectly neutral.
She lightly straightened the utensils on the tray. Pretended not to see Melanippe's rare fluster.
Ainippe pretended to answer seriously. But her eyes gleamed with mischief. She deliberately drew out her words. Like sharing a world-shattering secret.
"Young Master Aeneas? He's strong as Heracles. Doesn't need a physician's help."
"He was visiting patients. I hear there are three. A frail woman. Lady Thaleia's brother. And... our Amazon sister. The one gravely wounded half a month ago!"
She deliberately mentioned Thaleia's name. Then, pretending nonchalance, fiddled with the tray. All while watching Melanippe closely from the corner of her eye.
"Princess," she teased, her tone playful. "Did you forget about our sister? She'd be so hurt..." She sounded like a cunning little cat. Toying with its companion.
Melanippe shot to her feet. The movement was too quick. She knocked over the quiver. Bronze arrows scattered everywhere with a loud clatter. They rang sharply against the white stone.
Damn it. Melanippe thought. I forgot our wounded sister! That Trojan distracted me! Annoyance flushed through her. A faint blush colored her bronzed cheeks.
Ainippe snorted with laughter. She dropped to her knees. Began gathering the arrows.
Their heads bonked together. A soft thud. It drew muffled giggles from nearby novices trimming the plants.
"Ouch! Ainippe!" Melanippe rubbed her forehead. She grumbled, "You're so clumsy!"
Ainippe stuck her tongue out playfully. Carefully, she re-sorted the scattered arrows.
They looked up. Their eyes met. Suddenly, they both laughed. The sound was clear and bright. It rippled through the morning air.
Just then, High Priestess Hipp approached. She walked slowly. Her silver crescent pendant glowed with a soft light. Her linen robes drifted in the breeze. She looked solemn. Sacred.
"Children," Hipp said formally. "I have a task for you." Her deep eyes rested on the two young warriors. They held a faint, teasing glint. She paused deliberately. Like she was drawing it out. "The journey isn't far. But it needs a calm guard. And a... well, a perceptive leader."
Ainippe made a face. An exaggerated look of shock. She nudged Melanippe with her elbow. "High Priestess? You mean our Princess? But that place has that Trojan. The one she can't stand!"
Her words drew chuckles from the novices. Even Hipp's mouth curved into a slight smile.
Hipp smiled. Said nothing. Melanippe's cheeks flushed pink. She shot Ainippe a fake glare.
In that moment, Melanippe's mind drifted. It returned to an afternoon half a month past. Her eyes grew soft. Distant.
They stood on the mountain trade road. Right after the bandits were destroyed. Just before parting. Aeneas spoke to her. His sincere voice seemed to echo still.
"Nisus and Euryalus's mother is Arisbe. Our families are old friends. If you need help, trust us. I will do everything I can."
This Trojan was different. Unlike other nobles. His eyes were clear. Pure. They held a sincerity she found rare. Full of goodwill.
Another ripple stirred in Melanippe's heart.
Her thoughts drifted deeper. Another memory surfaced.
It was soon after the bandits were gone. Aeneas learned the truth. The Amazon party had one survivor. She was gravely wounded. The healers at Colonas were powerless. He came himself that very day. Drove his chariot to fetch her.
She remembered it clearly. How carefully Aeneas escorted their wounded Amazon sister. Took her to the Dardan lands for treatment.
Before he left, he spoke to her. Those words still echoed. "Don't worry. Lady Oenone is a superb healer. She will recover."
Melanippe remembered his face. His gentle, earnest expression. It remained perfectly clear in her mind. Vivid.
The Amazons were different. A rare matriarchal society. Neighboring nations and tribes saw them as targets. They were always aggressive. The Greek world, steeped in male heroism, looked down on them. They took pride in bullying Amazons. Stealing their warriors as concubines was a celebrated heroic deed. To the south, the Hittite Kingdom pressed them hard. They used their superior iron and armies to demand tribute. They even demanded Amazon women as slaves.
In this harsh world, Aeneas's kindness stood out. His gentle demeanor affected the proud Amazon princess. Like a soft breeze on still water. It sent ripples through her heart.
High Priestess Hipp watched Melanippe's distant expression. A flicker of understanding crossed her eyes. She deliberately raised her voice.
"Our scouts from the Dardan lands just reported news. Our Amazon sister, the one gravely wounded half a month ago… She has recovered!"
"Now she just needs a few months of rest. For a full recovery."
"But she wishes to convalesce here at Colonas. They've asked us to send someone to fetch her."
Hipp looked directly at Melanippe. Her eyes held a knowing smile.
Seeing Melanippe still feigning composure, Hipp sighed theatrically. She pretended disappointment.
"Well, if you don't want to go, Ainippe can go alone. I'm sure young master Aeneas won't mind not seeing you."
"Who said I didn't want to go!" The words burst from Melanippe. She immediately realized her overreaction. Her face flushed a deep, tomato red.
She tried to salvage her dignity. Her voice sounded strained. "I mean… As a princess, it's my duty… to welcome our sister home personally… Yes! That's it."
But she didn't want to seem too eager. She busied herself with the weapons on the table. Pretended to seriously consider the mission details.
"We should prepare. Our wounded sister probably can't ride yet. We'll need a chariot… We'll leave tomorrow morning!"
Her tone was deliberately flat. As if this was just routine.
Ainippe giggled beside her. She pretended to choke on her water. Coughed exaggeratedly. "Oh my! This water has a strangely sweet taste today!"
Her teasing made Melanippe squirm. The princess could only pretend to be angry. She swatted Ainippe's shoulder.
******
Night draped Colonas like deep blue velvet. Melanippe walked alone in the temple's east garden.
Moonlight cast a silver sheen on the pond's surface. Silver-leaf olives rustled softly in the night breeze. The air held the damp scent of water and night-blooming jasmine. Crickets chirped in the grass. It emphasized the evening's peace.
She stopped before a bush of blooming white flowers. Gently touched a petal. But her mind was far from the beautiful blooms.
I am an Amazon Princess. I carry my people's hopes. How can a mere Trojan unsettle me so?
Her thoughts were a tangled mess. She pictured the lovely Lady Thaleia in Aeneas's arms. A strange irritation made her bite her lower lip. She squeezed the petal in her hand. Almost crushed it.
But then her expression softened. Her fingers absently twirled the petal. Much more gently now.
She remembered the afternoon by the lake. Aeneas's kiss, the life-saving breath. His tender care for her wounded tribeswoman. His fierce, decisive courage in battle.
These memories drifted into her heart. Like the floral scent on the night air. Perhaps… Perhaps seeing him once wouldn't be so bad.
"Fine then," Melanippe whispered to herself. Decision made. "It's for the mission."
She turned toward her chambers. The moonlight stretched her shadow long. It slid slowly over the flagstone path.
Tomorrow, she would go to the Dardan lands. Yes! Exactly! She was fetching their sister. Helping her recuperate. Just completing High Priestess Hipp's task. It definitely wasn't about seeing that Trojan.