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1.6

Diana returned to the ruins of the Temple of the Delians in a light daze. 

She knew well the allure of Amazonian beauty, a marriage of strength and softness, ferocity and warmth. So lovely were the Amazons of Themyscira that even the gods desired to lay with them. But the barbarian captain - Thor - had touched her, held her, kissed her… and still he had sent her away. 

The Princess thought she might go to bed, dwelling on the man’s words as she drifted off. Her sisters had other plans.

The moment she stepped into their view, they were upon her, surrounding her like excited pups. Their hurried questions shook Diana out of her daze. 

“My princess, are you alright?” Asked Mala, her ever loyal and true friend.

She saw upon their faces such terrible worry - remembering quickly that the last time they had seen her was when she headed off to the Varangian camp. Their dear princess, heading off with the intent to offer her body to some foreign raider. A man. 

Though there were one or two who Diana saw were grinning. Penthiselea and Trigona. It was clear they found some humor the rest did not see.

“That was over pretty quickly.” Penthiselea snorted, the tall, muscled blonde elbowing her friend. “I expected a brute of his size to last longer.”

“Don’t tell us. He ruined his trousers?” Trigona added, laughing. Some of Diana’s sisters joined her, though Mala and Orana remained in their silent concern.

“Nothing of the sort happened.” Diana told them firmly. She strode through the open doorway, into the ruins of the temple. Behind her, she heard the footsteps of her sisters following close behind. She shrugged off her robe, folding it over her arms before setting it aside. “In fact, nothing happened at all. He sent me away.”

The rest of the Amazons went quiet - save for soft murmurs and hushed whispers. For some reason, Diana felt… annoyed. Her lips pressed into a tight line. She turned to face them.

Just as she expected, she saw a row of stunned, confused faces. So too could the Princess see the conflict etched upon their features. They didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted on Diana’s behalf. Though they did not speak it, Diana knew they were all thinking the same thing.

The barbarian did not take Diana to bed. Why?

It was Trigona who had the nerve to speak up first.

“What? The bastard didn’t think you were pretty enough?” Her hard face immediately pinched into a wince. She had tried to sound outraged - of course Diana knew she meant no insult by it. But all knew how bad it sounded.

“Maybe he couldn’t perform.” Penthiselea cut in, rescuing her friend from her own mouth. “Sent the Princess away to save himself the embarrassment.”

Diana's heart bloomed. She so loved her sisters, adoring their loyalty, unwavering even in such twisted times. But she could not lie to them… nor let them spread falsehoods for her own sake.

“No.” Diana admitted. She swallowed, crossing her arms. Holding herself. “He could tell I was nervous.”

The revelation gave the Amazons a moment of pause. Silence settled over the group. By now the stars were out, twinkling through the gaps in the temple ceiling and walls. And through them also came the chirping of crickets. The only noise other than the flickering of the torches and the hearthfire.

Diana looked at each of her sisters, seeing the looks on their faces as they no doubt reconsidered the man they called brute, barbarian, savage.

Mala stepped forward then. She looked hopeful.

“Does that mean… you are free of your obligation?”

The rest of the party all seemed to perk up then. And just as she felt love for them bloom, Diana felt the twisting of guilt in her belly.

“No.” She confessed, the word spilling from her lips like a heavy stone. “Thor fully intends to collect his prize.”

Diana felt a slight tremble roll down her back. Prize. Her body had been won. Like she could be possessed. A thing to be kept. Claimed. Owned.

The Amazons bristled at her words. And just as she could recognize their worry, her sisters in turn could see hers. They approached, encircling her. A protective ring around their princess. But none spoke.

Mala set a gentle hand upon Diana’s back. Her touch was welcome. And warm. Diana offered her a small smile before continuing.

“Make no mistake, Amazons.” Diana found enough spirit to put some steel in her voice. “We will defend this island however we can. We cannot leave until Thor and his men do. And they will not leave until I fulfill my end of our agreement.”

“But you said he won’t have you.” Mala said, her brow forming a hard line.

“Not tonight. But soon.”

Penthiselea hardened her face, frowning.

“So… you are still going to bed with him?” She asked, already knowing the answer.

Diana gave a nod. And perhaps for the first time since the fight at the arena, she accepted the words coming from her mouth.

“He wants me to be comfortable with him. And if that’s what will keep this island safe… that’s what I will do.”

---

The next day, Diana returned to the Varangian camp. Not to offer herself to Thor - she did not sleep soundly the night before, her dreams plagued with memories of her defeat at his hands. Rather, she came to observe. To learn.

As she came upon their beached vessel and the small village of tents surrounding it, Diana was greeted with a surprising sight.

There she could see the Varangian raiders milling about, speaking, cooking, gambling as they did. But among them she could see local villagers. Merchants, specifically. These raiders had been ready to plunder their island not too long ago… and yet here they were, in their camp, talking and trading with them. 

Diana moved closer, but slowly. She came upon one of the raiders trading a keg of ale for some spiced meat - Diana had to assume it was lamb or goat. But even more bewildering was the ease and comfort with which she saw the local merchant conducting his business. If he feared the Varangians, he did not show it.

“You seem surprised, Princess.” A familiar deep voice rumbled from right beside her. Diana didn’t jump - she had been trained to keep her nerve. But she did turn quickly, finding herself faced with the impressive bulk of the raider captain.

Thor had managed to sneak up on her. Diana found it difficult to imagine such a large man moving so quietly.

The first thing she noticed, of course, was that he was half-naked. Dressed only in pants, every inch of his torso was left on display, every little scar, every wonderfully corded muscle. Gripped in his hands was a bucket - filled not with water, but fish.

Tonight’s dinner, Diana assumed.

Just as she did the day before, Diana took in the sight of his massive arms, the expanse of his chest, the tight lines of his stomach. She even found herself admiring other things, so odd in their appeal - the muscle at his waist that continued under the fabric of his pants, hiding away from her eyes. The width of his shoulders, she too found pleasing, particularly how the firm muscle shifted under his skin. She drank it in, the paradox of hard muscle packed under smooth, soft skin… coated nicely with fine, golden hair. All in the space of a second before her eyes shot back up to meet his.

It was a lapse. A moment of weakness. Amazons could still admire the beauty of man, even if the men themselves were barbaric in nature. 

Diana didn’t lose composure - she was too disciplined for that. But the glint in Thor’s eyes told her she was caught. The Princess let out a sharp exhale, turning her gaze back towards the Varangian camp.

“I just find it hard to believe.” She answered after a moment. She nodded towards the locals trading and bartering with Thor’s men. “They treat you like favored customers. Just yesterday, you were ready to kill them.”

“Only the ones who would fight us.” Thor’s answer was simple… and to Diana, shockingly casual.

The Amazon Princess narrowed her eyes at the taller man, wondering briefly if he was joking. She found no proof in the lines of his face… but still, she didn’t quite believe him.

Thor seemed to sense how puzzled she was. He didn’t seem apologetic, though a look of understanding did fall across his features.

“We find honor in battle, not slaughter.” He explained, as if that would alleviate her concerns. “My band of warriors are not common barbarians. We fight only those who fight back.”

Diana wanted to scoff.

“So you say. And what if one of your men decides he is a common barbarian?”

“Then I kill him.” Thor gave a small shrug, as if it was obvious. “Cowards prey on the feeble and weak. There is no place for such men in Valhalla. Neither is there a place for them under my command.”

Again, Diana considered the man. She studied his face for a long moment. All she found was simple sincerity. She might not have agreed with his principles, but it was clear his belief in them was firm. Unshakeable. An iron conviction.

In any case, Diana felt a measure of comfort. Thor and his men had their code of ethics, however alien they were to her Amazon ways.

Thor hefted up his bucket then, cradling it under one of his thick arms. Diana found her eyes drawn to the veins that seemed to pop from his skin. Fascination swirled within, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than she intended.

“Care to stay? Share some meat and bread with me?” He asked, shaking her from the light trance. 

Diana blinked. She offered him a smile… ignoring the warmth she felt welling up in her cheeks. She considered his offer for only a moment. Deep down she knew the truth: She was not ready. There remained unease in her belly, slivers of discomfort she couldn’t quite shake yet. They were there the night before, worms of worry writhing within, even as she felt the rush of excitement as Thor swept her into a deep kiss.

“Not today.” Diana told him… feeling a measure of regret, to her own shock. “But perhaps another time?”

Thor returned her smile. There was warmth in his eyes. Diana admired their lovely shade of blue.

“Soon?” He asked. His interest was clear, genuine.

“Yes.” Diana nodded, backing away. Still she smiled. “Soon.”

---

It wasn’t much of a surprise, seeing his men speaking with the locals. It wouldn’t be the first time he and his man found themselves fraternizing with those they would have otherwise raided and pillaged.  What was unexpected was seeing one of his mingling casually with one of the Amazons.

It was young Sven, tall and lean with his youthful face and sharp eyes, who had managed the feat. The woman of his attention was one of Diana’s party, the tallest of them in fact. The well-muscled blonde beauty stood even taller than Sven himself, beating out the lad by an inch or two. 

Thor spotted them at the edge of the village, standing under the shade of a tree beside the dirt path that led further inland. Not quite hidden away, but they had enough distance from the bustle of the port to grant them some privacy.

Thor could have heard them with his heightened senses, but chose not to intrude. Whatever their business was, it was between the two of them. Instead, Thor was content to observe from afar. From their posture, the looks on their faces, he could tell that they certainly weren’t trading insults. In fact, one might have described their conversation as friendly.

A grin tugged at Thor’s lips. He continued on his walk, letting his man have his moment of peace. 

He made it only a few steps before he felt a presence at his side. One that he recognized.

“The villagers aren’t the only ones willing to take chances.” Diana said, eyeing the odd couple standing under the shade of the tree.

“Maybe she will like what she finds.” Thor added, turning to see the Princess in her simple white dress and sandals. Even dressed like a commoner, she was radiant. Her long, black hair shimmered brilliantly in the sun. Her eyes shone even more splendidly, twinkling almost like stars.

Amazonian beauty is matched by so few. It was good fortune finding this island.

His Amazon had caught his meaning. Though she rolled her eyes, Thor saw that his words pleased her, if only a small measure. As they walked together, he noted how she drew closer to him. So close that their arms brushed together.

“Would you care to walk with me?” She asked him after a long moment.

“I thought I already was.” Thor smirked. Again, the woman rolled her eyes. She slapped his bicep with the back of her hand.

“I want to show you something.” She told him, advancing ahead. Thor watched as her skirt swished around her thighs. He followed dutifully.

“Lead the way, Princess.”

She led them deeper into the island. It wasn’t a short walk, a trip that passed through the brush and the trees, taking them into a stony cave. But the darkness soon gave way to sunlight again… and the dazzling blue of crystal clear water.

The cave had opened up into a clearing. At the center was a pond, hidden away from the rest of the island. Surrounded on all sides by natural walls of stone, it was a lonely pool, serene, almost completely still.

“A hot spring?” Thor wondered aloud. But he didn’t see any rising steam, nor could he feel any heat coming from the water.

Diana shook her head. She went to the edge of the water and knelt, dipping her hand into it and sending soft ripples across the surface. She turned to Thor, wearing a small but proud smile.

“Freshwater.” She told him, drawing her hand in slow, small circles. “Not too cold. Just right. I found this the first day we landed here. Never told my sisters.”

“But you tell me?” 

Diana said nothing… though her smile remained. She stood then. Reaching up to her shoulders, she undid the pins of her peplos. The dress slid quickly from her body, revealing all. There was no shame in her eyes, no embarrassment. She had nothing to be ashamed of.

Seeing the Princess naked in the dim light of his tent didn’t compare at all to witnessing her body illuminated so clearly. No shadows to hide anything away. 

She was a beauty in bronze, smooth, richly tanned skin drawn over bold curves and taut muscle. Bathed in sunlight, the warmth seemed to kiss at her body, loving it the way a man would. Thor felt his gut stir and his stones roil, savage need simmering within his soul. He wanted to reach out and touch her. 

Without another word, she stepped into the pool, each step sinking her further into the blue. It was almost a tragedy, seeing inch after inch of her sublime figure once more being hidden away under the surface. The water came up to Diana’s collarbone, leaving her head and shoulders above the surface. She dunked her head in quickly, then rose again, gasping as she wiped her soaked hair from her face. She gave a contented sigh… and set upon Thor an expectant look.

The exiled prince undressed quickly. The water was indeed just right. So Thor told Diana as much.

“It’s supposed to be soothing.” She explained as she circled him, wading slowly through. “Local legend says it has restorative properties.”

Thor closed his eyes, allowing himself to bask in the sensation of water engulfing his body. It was neither warm nor cold, yet tingled pleasantly upon his skin.

“Hmm.” He grunted softly, floating on his back. “I certainly feel restored.”

He heard Diana snort, playfully sloshing away.

For a time, the pair enjoyed the pool in silence. No sound but the wind and the wavering of the pond. It was serene, a calm delight that almost distracted Thor from the very naked Amazon swimming nearby.

It was Diana’s voice that shook him from this peace.

“Why did you turn me away?” Her tone was not accusing, but Thor caught a hardness to her words.

The Odinson shifted in the water, standing on his feet. His height left the water rippling just below his chest. Diana waded a short distance away, drawing closer. Her eyes demanded an answer from him.

“I told you. I will not have an unwilling woman in my bed.” He said simply.

“But I was willing.” Diana countered, not quite frowning. “I offered myself, naked. Amazonian beauty is a gift from the goddess Aphrodite. You still sent me away.”

“I had just defeated you. Right in front of your sisters. You were embarrassed, unbalanced, uncertain. I didn’t want you to feel that way in my bed.”

Diana regarded him in silence, digesting his answer. She narrowed her eyes. Thor tried to read her face, but found it a struggle to guess her feelings. Finally, the woman let out a small scoff. She shook her head… and splashed some water at his face.

Thor accepted it with a grin.

“How noble of you.” Diana teased.

Thor gave a shrug.

“Less noble than you think. A woman who wants to be in my bed is far more fun than a woman who doesn’t.” 

Diana let out a dry laugh. She waded back to the edge of the pool, rising from the water. Thor couldn’t help but look. His eyes beheld her glistening body, watching every droplet roll down her tight belly, her firm but lush thighs. He watched beads of crystal drip from her bosom - the luckiest droplets to ever exist.

Just as delightful was watching her dry herself, running her hands through her dark hair, over her breasts, down her flanks, shucking away the loose water to leave her skin with a radiant sheen. Thor couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

The Princess got dressed quickly, fastening the pins of her dress at her shoulders. Before she left, she turned and gave Thor a look. There was the tiniest of smiles cracking at the corner of her mouth.

“Thank you for the swim, Odinson.”

---

They had gathered together for a hunt. Varangians, Amazons, even some of the villagers. 

The barbarians had landed here to raid and pillage and loot… and yet here they were, days later, talking and joking with locals and Amazons alike. Diana could scarcely believe it… despite the private talks she’d been having with their captain.

Even the headstrong Penthiselea had found a Varangian of her own. A tall, lean young man who shared the woman’s golden hair - though his was a dark blond, compared to the Amazon’s lighter shade. Diana had learned his name was Sven. Foreign… but strong.

She watched the pair chatter as the hunting party prepared around them, smiling and laughing with casual familiarity. It was strange, Diana felt, seeing Penthiselea so at ease around a man - especially one that had come close to crossing steel with her just days before.

But then again… Diana was not in a position to judge.

“What do your people use to hunt?” Diana heard Penthiselea ask her new friend.

Thoughtful lines creased Sven’s face as he observed the tools being gathered by the party around them.

“Same as yours, from what I can see.” He answered. “Bow and arrow. Spear. Sometimes traps, nets.”

“But have you ever used a spear as sharp as this?” Penthiselea brought her weapon before him, holding it sideways so the blade lay flat upon her palm. She presented it, smirking.

Sven touched the tip of the blade with his finger, inspecting it closely.

“I have not.” He told her, chuckling. “Very nice.”

Penthiselea held her chin high, beaming with pride.

“I forged it myself. Amazonian craftsmanship. There is none better in the world.” She flipped her spear back up straight. Diana could see a daring, competitive look in her sister’s eyes. She watched the blonde Amazon clap Sven upon the shoulder. “Stay close, Varangian. My sisters and I will teach you how to truly hunt.”

The expression on Sven’s face was one of subtle amusement, but he said nothing, simply nodding as the taller woman led him off. The pair disappeared into the bustle of the hunting party.

Diana couldn’t help but smile. An unusual peace was still peace. Even if it came at a personal price.

Then she saw a familiar face approaching. A rushing sensation swept through her belly. Thor Odinson had filled her vision. And from the look of amusement on his face, he’d been watching the scene as well.

Diana stilled her nerves, straightening out her huntress garb - her battle dress but with fewer straps, allowing faster movement. Thor was dressed similarly, wearing a dark tunic, trousers, and leather boots. Simple and light. But just as it was with his thick leather and chainmail, his clothing did little to hide his impressive musculature. The thickness of his shoulders, arms, and chest were clear to see.

Diana grabbed her bow and arrow, slinging her quiver around her back. She gave Thor a nod as came up to meet her.

“Have you ever hunted boar before?” She asked.

“Boar. Bear. Elk. Sometimes wolves.” 

“Wolves?” Her brow pinched in curiosity.

“Very large wolves.” Thor held his hands wide apart, demonstrating. He gestured towards the beach camp. “Some were even larger than my ship.”

Any other man, Diana wouldn’t have believed. But Thor had the blood of old, foreign gods. And so did the Amazons, according to legend.

“Huh.” Diana pursed her lips.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“I’ve seen stranger things than giant wolves.” A wry grin spread across her face. “Like a barbarian raider who sends a beautiful naked woman out of his tent.”

Thor barked out a laugh. It was a deep, thundering, pleasant sound. Diana found herself liking the way the lines of his face twisted in amusement. Briefly, she wondered what other expressions his comely face could make. And she wondered if it could be done by her own hand…

“Care to join us on this hunt, Odinson? You can measure your tracking skills against mine.” She offered. Her voice was smooth, calm. Inside, however, her belly twisted in excitement.

“We can make a contest of it.” He added amicably.

“A contest I would win.” There was a heat to her words, Amazonian competitiveness coiling in her heart. “What do you wager?”

Thor considered her for a short moment. His smile grew. Diana very much liked the twinkle of daring in his eyes.

“A night in my bed.” Thor finally answered. He let his words hang there between them. “I feel it is an appropriate reward.”

Diana breathed in. She had to admire the man’s audacity. It was the sort of confidence only a god could have.

The look of daring in his eyes was joined by clear want. As Thor drew his gaze over her body, Diana felt the same thrill she did in his tent. And for the first time since he and his men first landed on the beaches of Delos… Diana felt not a hint of worry.