“ don’t touch him! ” got!dite n ares uwu
most of his men had already started off down the kingsroad with a majority of their supplies on ares’ orders, meant to carry what they could back to the westerlands and get them home as soon as possible. ares himself had stayed behind with a few good soldiers to finish up affairs in the reach and, perhaps, to stay with aphrodite a little longer. in retrospect, the entire endeavour had been foolish, but ares couldn’t have anticipated the bandits.
he and his men had killed many of them before they were overwhelmed by the numbers, and the archers who fired upon them from the hills. one good swing sent ares to the ground, landing on the grass with a harsh rattle of armour and the pained wheeze that burst from his mouth. he saw death hover above him, saw the blade coming towards his heart when her shrill cry broke through the air. no, he thought, desperation swelling in his chest. why is she still here, why hasn’t she run?
ares turned his head to catch her eye, saw her standing a few yards away with the most beautiful and fierce look he’d ever seen. perhaps it was the will of the gods, or plain old luck that came to play, as her cry drew the attention of his assailant and halted the blade just long enough for ares to dive his own upwards and into his gut. blood spilled over him as the man collapsed, and ares rolled out of the way, back onto his feet, to slaughter another bandit to his right. as another bandit fell, he heard a cry from the hills and knew that kratos had made it to the archer, a sense of relief washing over him. quick as they came, the rest of the bandits fled with the loss of their cover fire, hightailing towards the foothills.
he watched them go only a moment longer before he turned, limping his way towards aphrodite with a look of utter disbelief, awe in his eyes. ❛ you saved my life, my lady. you’re a damn fool for stickin’ around here, but -- i owe you my life. if there is anythin’ i can do for you, name it and it’ll be done. ❜
