Short Story Chapter 1

Courage comes in many shapes and sizes, however; when combined with self sacrifice it is truly displays a heroes noble character. Among them, Theseus reigns supreme, always putting himself in harms way to for his fellow countrymen. Theseus’ is a forgotten Prince who is traveling to Athens to rekindle his fathers’ love. However, his family wants him to travel the safe route, yet Theseus has others ideas.“But Theseus refused to go by water because the voyage was safe and easy…The journey was long and hazardous because of the bandits that beset the road. He killed them all, however; he left not one alive to trouble future travelers” (209). Theseus risks his own life for the safety and wellbeing of others to rid the passage of bandits. Despite the obvious dangers he lays his life down so others can live. King Minos regularly picks tributes for his Minotaurs inescapable labyrinth. Theseus unhesitatingly offers himself as one of the tributes. “At once Theseus came forward and offered to be

In the Homer’s The Iliad, each soldier’s main aspiration is to go down in history as a fierce defender of their country. To achieve this status, they must exhibit unceasing bravery and persistence to a higher degree than all other warriors. However, their desire to build an image of fortitude forces them to rid themselves of all humanity they possess. To maintain an image of superiority over their peers, fighters constantly intimidate and degrade those around them. Commanders of the war use this same method of terrorization by insulting their soldiers and using their men’s fear of death to assert authority over their armies. Leaders expect warriors to take countless lives and suppress any remorse or grief they may feel. Homer negatively depicts

“They themselves looked on when, bloody from my foes, I came from the fight where I had bound five, destroyed a family of giants, and at night in the waves slain water-monsters, suffered great pain, avenged an affliction of the Weather-Geats on those who asked for trouble – ground enemies to bits”(8).

All loved him for his goodness and admired him for his nobility, but they had no idea that he intended to try to kill the minotaur” (Hamilton 212). Theseus willingly risked himself so the people of Athen’s could live a normal life.

As the fighting begins, Polyneices is “thrown back” (18). Using the word ‘thrown’ creates an image of the ease with which Eteocles is able to defeat Polyneices, which highlights Eteocles’s superiority. The chorus also says, “We heard his shout of triumph high in the air turn to a scream” (27-28). Polyneices took to the battlefield with confidence, but his dignity soon turns to horror as he realizes he is no match for his brother. By showing how easily Polyneices is defeated and describing the power and superiority of Eteocles, the chorus developes a condescending tone toward Polyneices and makes him appear fragile and

My adrenaline started to accelerate; the blood in my body flowed quickly through my veins making them become thicker and prominent. I looked all around me for the slightest movement. Time and space seemed frozen in motion, no one in sight. I softly moved my feet one in front of the other. Then I stopped, motionless. I heard the sound of footsteps and I quickly turned around to find someone plunging upon me. It was an Inquisitor. He swung his sword at me. I dodged it and quickly grabbed his arm. Then it happened so fast, my heart started pounding, and I took his arm and broke it as if it was a frail twig snapping. The sound of the bone breaking was completely obstructed by his scream of pain. He stumbled to the ground. I slowly picked up his sword. I started swinging it, and finally I brought it down, killing him. I ripped it away from his bloody body. Attentively I looked at myself in the clear white reflection of the sharp sword. The blood streamed down it until it reached my sanguinary hands. I fell down to my knees, my ankle was definitely broken. Then gruesome war cries obstructed my hearing. I looked behind me and saw a horde of men running towards me. I tried getting up there was no way I could even walk. I knew they would chase me until justice has been served. I thought, “Should I live to be tortured atrociously, or should I put an end to this torture?” This question went through my mind many times. After only a couple of minutes, I

When Alucius reaches conscription age, this nightmare becomes a reality and Alucius becomes a member of the militia cavalry. Later during a battle, Madrien’s forces capture Alucius, “He swallowed, breathing heavily. Finally, he struggled into a sitting position. Only then did he realize that something had been fastened around his neck…He was wearing a Matrite collar” (Modesitt 267). Alucius, now a prisoner of war, becomes a member of the enemy militia and now fights against his home country and also neighboring country, Lanachrona. Although with severe adversity, Alucius moves quickly through the ranks and becomes a squad leader of his squadron. Even with high rankings and respect of the Matrites, Alucius wishes to venture back to his home where he can live at peace and harmony doing what he loves and being with the people that he loves, “Did he really want to try this?...He also thought about his grandsire-and his father, who had died doing what he had felt was right” (Modesitt, 481). Alucius plans an escape of Madrien by disguising himself as a messenger horseman which he thinks will allow him to cross the

Hinton, an amiable tobacco planter in Virginia, inspected the mill infrequently and trusted him to make an honest trade. There was no way to forecast when loggers would arrive, depending on the weather and the wind and water currents so Matthew remained available year-round. He was tall, burley with bushy, red hair, and freckles that almost connected into a solidly tan face. People never forgot him because his freckles were such an assortment of colors, red, brown, tan, beige, pink, auburn, rust, black, and orange. He entertained visitors with stories of animals and men fighting themselves and each other along with spine-tingling stories about ghosts and Indians that intimidated the settlers. If they were true, it did not matter.

The barbarian drew his lance back and prepared to thrust it forward, forever ending Athos young life. He took a deep breath. His muscles motionlessly danced their eagerness to be used. His heart pumped harder and harder, even as his eyes lay closed and his face calm on the outside. Do not go

My patience with these fools who call themselves men has reached its limit. I will take revenge on the city that is my birthplace. My desire for vengeance is like a deer who pants for water. I will form an alliance with my sworn enemy, Aufidius, and together we shall conquer Rome and inflict misery upon its citizens. Not wife, not mother, not even child shall tarnish the intentions of my revenge. No tears can quench the fire you all scorched. I am now a servant to the Volscian army, and shall owe my revenge properly. My revengeful services may prove as benefits for thee, for I will fight against Rome, if it is the last thing I do. What I had feared has come true. The heart and soul of the Roman army has abandoned us to form a coalition with Aufidius and Volscians. The child that I had raised, who grew up aspiring to represent his country on the battlefield, has now formed an alliance with the enemy. Rome’s destiny is now inevitable. No warrior had half the courage, leadership or bravery that Coriolanus possessed. Rome is condemned without its leader. The combination of Martius and Aufidius is petrifying to even

Añastasia felt the cold metal of the blade press against her throat. The flat side of the knife pushed against her neck firmly, enough to make it difficult to breath. "I don't think you understand the importance of this situation. Maybe I shouldn't have been so nice, but I'm not giving you a choice here, messenger." He spun her around so he was behind her with the blade still pressed against her throat, just under her jaw. He tucked the

Catching the monster off guard, slicing through the creature. The wound seemed to have no effect on the creature swinging its giant blade that appeared out of nowhere bring it down with a mighty force, shaking the ground as the knight jumps out of the way. The giant sword stuck in the ground, in an instant the knight swung his sword at the creature's head knowing that it wouldn’t be that easy. As he thought the minotaur grabs his blade closing his mighty fist and taking the sword from his hand, and tossing it across the room. Knowing he would never reach his sword before the creature pulled his from the ground. He swung his fist at the creature's face, not expecting that the creature was hit, hard in the eye, blood squirted everywhere splattering on the knights face. The blood powered him making him faster, and slightly blinding the monster. He ran towards the blade picking it up while still running. The knight charged again swinging at the beast, it bounced off his skin like his sword was made of

Much larger than him, but not one of the heavy warriors. This one was clad in hides, and carried a heavy cleaver blade. Ktonos knew he was outweighed by nearly five stone of weight, and that also meant he was likely outclassed in strength as well. Their reach was close with the longer blade Ktonos bore, so he knew he was going to have to rely on speed and skill, hoping he was the better in these regards. When the orc swung at him, it was a wide, clumsy blow, and Ktonos exploded forward, ducking under the strike, and bringing his blade up as he moved past the foe. There was a blur of motion as Ktonos whipped his blade around in a swift motion that pruned the arm off of the orc, bringing the enemy weapon out of play, and then Ktonos swung one last time, the honed edge of the sword taking his foe across the neck, slitting his throat. The beast toppled to the ground, Ktonos stared, his eyes picking out the hot flow of blood from the neck of the orc, and he leaned down without thinking, running his fingers through the liquid before stripping off his glove in annoyance. He let out a slow breath as his fingers felt the hot rush of blood on his skin. He lifted it to his tongue, tasting the bitter, acrid flavour that the orc blood contained. His head still swam at the sensation, tasting life there, the essence of a living thing, being snuffed out by his actions. This was strength, power, something that he'd discovered might be impossible to go without. What was more, the rush of sensation blotted out any other concerns from his

And now as your blade, soaked with the black filth of orc blood and the sting of superficial wounds stung at your skin, did you mourn your life. Glancing with your old eyes to the King, you let out a breath. For a time you had split from him, but now you were careful to take your duties seriously. Your blade, crafted especially for your short height, cut through as many orcs as it could reach, keeping them from the King’s back. You knew more than any that King Thranduil would be able to watch his own front.

Introduced as “a conqueror…greater” than any other “beneath the sun,” Thesëus, the wise and chivalrous lord Athens, is a merciful and noble duke (Chaucer 24). As a wise and noble leader, Thesëus, with a “heart of pity,” mends the ailments of his people, “ as he [is] a true knight.” (26).