War 9
'Me may Ahuramazda protect me from evil, and my royal house and this land! This I pray of Ahuramazda; this may Ahuramazda grant me'-Xerxes
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Overhead, the sky is grey with clouds that continue to spit out rain, soaking the ground of the field which has become a graveyard of bodies and debris of the battle. Cries of pain and the clashing of swords cut through the pitter-patter of the raindrops, but none of the fighters pay notice to the weather, they are too intent on their mission.
The smell of death lingers in the air, mixing with the scent of blood and swords, the smell of the field has changed considerably since the beginning of the battle. The grass has been trampled on by thousands of feet and even some of the trees that once stood tall are now smashed to kindling.
The air is heavy with the smell of smoke, fire, blood, death, war, and desperation, while the skies are threatening to burst with rain at any moment. The clouds are dark grey, almost black, it almost feels like nighttime despite the fact it's midday.
The Shahbaz (King's Falcon) banner was broken and scattered, some still rooted upright into the earth. All this bloodshed was caused by the stubborn few refusing the tribute of earth and water. The city of Athens--raised to the ground, the blood of thousands dying the earth red. The blood of Kushites, Egyptians, Indians, Bactrians, Lycians...the world had been set on making Greece kneel.
And it failed, after a botched military operation keen on easily defeating the Greeks, something that not even Xerxes' father, Darius the Great could accomplish. An army of 70,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalries, 10,000 Immortals, and 1,200 triremes lay to waste on the archipelago.
Some say, that had Xerxes just ignored the Greek fleet, and pushed his army inland, the Achaemenids may have seen victory. However, the King of Kings decided the final battle shall be at sea, at the coast of Salamis.
The Greeks, familiar with the terrain like the back of their hand, destroyed the Persian navy, and with it, the army had no choice but to retreat, getting ambushed and harassed by the chasing Greek hoplites.
Xerxes, having lost any previous ambitions he had for a Greek vassal, fled to Sardis. Gifting what little land in Greece was still in Persian control to his brother-in-law, Mardonius. It would only be a year before Greece had completely kicked the Persian occupiers out of Greece completely.
The Persians would never again invade Greece, or would they...
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'The royal garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stone'-book of Esther
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(479 BC)
Artaxerxes was 4 years old, and his father had just returned to the current dwelling of the royal court, Susa.
Susa was a magnificent city, with its splendor rivaling Persepolis and Babylon. The top of the acropolis which sat as the city's center was leveled to a height of 15 meters above the plain below so that the buildings could be seen from far and wide. Access into the city was through a monumental gateway built on the eastern side of the acropolis' great square pavilion. The colossal gate dominate the landscape and even overshadowed the palace itself, which was approached via a passageway through the gate itself, which in turn was flanked by two statues of Darius the Great.
The king's residential palace at Susa was organized around three large courtyards, each embellished in enameled brick depicting lions, royal guards, and flowering plants. The royal apartments were made difficult to access with complicated corridors and zigzag passages, Affording the king privacy and security. Behind the king's private suite, was a series of rooms for the immediate members of the royal family, including Artaxerxes and his siblings.
Finally, to the north, projecting out from the other buildings was the Apadana, a vast square construction twenty meters high, with a central hall of columns a portico on each of its three open sides with two rows of six columns, and stairways that led up to the flat roof.
Erected on a terrace, the Apadana was an imposing structure visible from far across the plains of Elam.
Standing on this terrace was Artaxerxes, a small figure, along with countless other members of the Achaemenid clan, here to welcome their king. Striding up the flight of stairs with an entourage of advisors and generals at his back, Xerxes, King of Kings arrived atop the Apadana.
Immediately, members of the Achaemenid clan curtsied benefiting their station, the further away from the main bloodline, the more extreme the courtesy. From a simple bow and hand gesture, all the way to kowtowing and kissing the floor, the members of the Achaemenid clan acknowledged their king.
Xerxes, surveying his clansman, with his eyes resting the longest on Artaxerxes and his two brothers, spoke, "By the grace of Ahuramazda, I have succeeded in avenging the sacking of Sardis, by slaying the Liar-king, who dared to oppose my rule and razing the city of Athens to the ground."
A ruckus broke out among the clansmen, with most either shouting their praises for the King's success or just making noise to rabble rabble.
"Congratulations on your victory, brother," A rotund man stepped out to say, his body laden in fine silks and precious stones.
"To celebrate such a grand achievement, should we not throw a wedding? There would never be a more auspicious time to wed a couple!" As the man talked on and on, his buddhas smile grew wider and wider.
"Mm, you speak with sense Masistes, I trust you have someone in mind." Xerxes agreed, believing that Ahuramazda would be pleased with such an event.
"Of course, of course! My daughter, Artaynte, should wed your chosen heir to increase our family ties," Masistes said with a wide smile, his eyes hidden behind his chubby cheeks.
There was dead silence. In all this time, Xerxes had never named an heir, unlike in other monarchal societies, the Achaemenids did not use the practice of primogeniture, meaning anyone the king saw fit could become king, theoretically.
However, more often than not, the King of Kings would choose the eldest son of the most powerful wife in order to keep the empire stable.
Without much fanfare, Xerxes announced, "I, Xerxes, King of Kings, King of All Lands, proclaim my eldest son, Dariaios, my heir."
'Well I guess that's out of the way' Artaxerxes thought. There had always been a slight tension among the royal family, a sense of unease as to who to groom as the future king of kings, and who would lead should the king fall.
So, feeling a stone lift go his chest, Artaxerxes turned to his brother Dariaios, who had just turned 16. The young man, already an adult by Persian standards, was tall and lean, sharing the typical Achaemenid features of tanned skin, obsidian hair, and onyx eyes.
It wasn't tough for little Artaxerxes to read the expression on his face, he was overjoyed as most would be, to finally be crowned successor to his father's throne. Standing up straight, Dariaios spoke, "Thank you for this responsibility, father"
Nodding his head, Xerxes then proclaimed, "My heir, Dariaios, is to marry my brother, Masistes daughter, Artaynte"
The group of Achaemenids once again broke out into celebration, surrounding the betrothed couple and already trying to get into their good graces. Meanwhile, Artaxerxes was still with his other siblings, his hands being held by Hystaspes on one arm and Amytis on the other.
Suddenly feeling a painful amount of pressure on his left hand he yanked it away, "Ouch!" Artaxerxes yelled. The one who had unknowingly tightened his grip, Hystaspes turned to his little brother in surprise," Sorry, Arta!"
Amytis, quickly noticing the red marks on Artaxerxes chubby arms from Hystaspes grip was quick to scold him on how to treat a child. However what she missed, was Hystaspes venomous gaze towards his elder brother, surrounded by admirers and receiving their father's acknowledgment.
Artaxerxes, catching all of this, thought, 'Something tells me that things are going to get ugly'