Chapter 4

     Now Thera had been out in the refreshing water for a great while as she came up out of the cold lake naked and shivering she noticed several of her drunken officers had dragged out their beds from the tents out beside the shore. Here she found them each sleeping soundly, naked, atop the silk and horse hair mattresses. Thera shook her head as she walked over to the last remaining fire which was just a warm glow by this time. Here she found a few officers of the phalanx and Amarra, Captain of the Archers, who all sat transfixed by Lucia Vega, Captain of the Phalanx, telling a story to the transfixed audience gathered there by the fire.
     "Then Queen Penthesilea herself rode out to fight with Achiles in full armor, the helmet obscuring her face. So as she fought bravely there at the gates of Troy that day Achiles did not realize the warrior, who raged there in combat with him for so long that day, who was so tall, strong, and brave, was in truth a woman! Now when she was taken by his sword and she fell upon the grass that day the victor Achiles removed her helmet and when he saw how beautiful Penthesilea was, he wept openly, mourning her death there before the gathered masses." Lucia said calmly.
     "Then what happened?" Amarra asked immersed in the story.
     "Then the foolish Thersites mocked Achiles. The enraged Achiles went over in a flash and removed Thersites' head in one blow of his sword." Lucia Vega now noticed Thera standing there beside the fire drying her naked wet flesh, her long red hair wrapped around her back and shoulders like seaweed.
     "And what of our Queen, what happened to her body?" one of the officers asked in a low whisper.
     "Ah, our poor Queen. The cousin of Thersites took her body, dragging her corpse by the heels from the back of his chariot. Then when he came to the nearby river Scamander he untied her body, still clothed in her armor, and he threw her down into the water." a pause came over the group.
     Realizing the group of women had not noticed her, as of yet, Thera wanted to give them a good scare so she jumped out, with a loud scream, beside the fire grabbing at them with her wet hands and dripping hair. A shriek came from the ladies followed by much laughter.
     "What fun!" Thera had a good laugh with them, then she gave her final instructions before retiring to her tent to her warm bed for a much needed, long rest. "Captain Vega, Captain Amarra stay up as long as you wish, and all officers may sleep as long as they so desire. However, no one may have breakfast until they have each swam to the other shore of the lake and back. Then we have six more days of rest and relaxation until we return to Themiscyra, as for myself, I must retire to the longing arms of Morpheus to sleep. Enjoy your time here ladies for you have all deserved this time to be thankful and happy in your life. I bid you all goodnight." Thera walked across the sandy shore up to her tent which was under the ancient trees in the olive grove there beside the temple. All was peaceful still and quiet there in the darkened space, Thera had to grope along in the dark until she came to her bed. Pulling back the thin white linen sheet she collapsed on the soft bed and curled up inhaling the light, sweet, smell of the lavender scented sheets. Now as soon as her rested on her pillow Thera fell into a deep and tranquil sleep and so it was she dreamed a dream.