Fabius Faces Heraeus
'O Fabius! Your fear pointed against you and your own misdeeds!'
When Fabius returned to the city after his defeat, only less than half of the amount of men who marched to Mathog returned to Aethos. The sky was calm, but gloomy when they entered the city gates. The faces of Fabius' men showed sadness and grief for their losses. The people of Aethos gathered on the sides of the street were they passed, and their joyous intent to see their city's soldiers march in triumphantly was slayed by the defeat and ill omen they brought back within. King Heraeus looked on them as they walked closer to his palace. Heraeus, filled with anger, clenched his fists in order to suppress the flame that was inside him. Fabius, who knew about the king's reaction to his loss to the mighty Curasus, failed to even give his father a glance when he was in the front of the palace. A silent crowd gathered around the men when Heraeus called out, "FABIUS!". The eyes of the people were opened widely, but soon went back to reflect their sorrow. "Fabius! You have brought an ill feeling among my people! What have you to say?", said Heraeus.
Fabius told the people, "Forgive me, citizens of Aethos. For I have brought sadness and anger among you! I have no intent to bring you to the sight of an army of your's that was defeated, but only for the best."
And Fabius kneeled with his men facing the crowd saying, " Pardon us! PARDON ME!" Fabius ordered his men to return to their homes and families so that they would see the ones who they truly cared for.
The crowd dispersed, but retained its size. Fabius, who was now in embarassment, fell to the ground fully. His head touching hot, dry dirt. Heraeus, who was still very displeased, ordered to bring Fabius within his chamber. It was also by that time when Queen Nathalia, queen consort and wife to Heraeus, appeared on the balcony. Tears rolled along her cheeks when she saw her son's body being carried by the Aethian guard. Nathalia walked toward Heraeus, and gave him an embrace between her arms. Heraeus was comforted, but the Queen failed to eradicate his anger.
"Eight thousand men died to Curasus and his men!", Heraeus said. "And they died under the hands of your son!"
The Queen asked, "Surely your son did try his very best did he not?"
"That is what I would want to find out", Heraeus replied. So Heraeus dismissed Nathalia, and went toward his chamber.
Fabius was placed on the floor of Heraeus' chamber. The King's nurse tended to Fabius' wounds as Heraeus sat on a chair, as he looked at his son fiercely. As soon as the nurse walked out of the chamber, and the doors to it were closed, Heraeus woke Fabius.
Out of angst, Fabius got up and pleaded on his father's sandals saying, "O Father, great King of Aethos. You slew the forces of Elum, and Ithaca, and Thebes among all of them. But I, your son who dreams to live up to his father's success, failed to defeat the Kanwads. Pardon me, I beg you my King!"
Heraeus, eager to know the reason to why he lost, asked," I will forgive your loss, my son. But to the reason to your defeat, I could not. For I have no clue to what caused your legion a terrible fate! Now tell me, Fabius. What did you do wrong at the battle in Mathog?"
"The enemy had a giant. Targad was his name!", Fabius replied.
And Heraeus said, "I have heard of this beast. But you had fifteen thousand strong! Surely your men could have vanquished him! If only they had a leader! You, Fabius, have failed to show me that YOU ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING MY MEN!".
"The Kanwads are strong! They have Curasus as their general!", Fabius said.
"TELL ME, FABIUS! WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG IN BATTLE?", Heraeus asked, as he threw a lamp of glass at his son's head.
Now, Fabius was injured by that action. A shard of glass pierced both his left eye and his left ear. Fabius screamed in pain, his fear towards his father had developed in to rage. Nathalia rushed to her husband's quarters as she had heard her son's scream. Shocked at the sight of the glass shard protruding from Fabius' eye, Nathalia called out the nurses and looked at Heraeus.
"He is your only son!", Nathalia spoke. "Why treat him as a slave of the house?"
By then Heraeus was pushed. His anger had developed into hate.
"FATHER!", Fabius exclaimed. "FATHER, WHO AM I TO YOU!"
"DO NOT CALL ME YOUR FATHER! YOU ARE DISGRACE TO MY PEOPLE, AND YOU WILL BE DENOUNCED FROM YOUR POSITION AS CHAMPION OF AETHOS!", Heraeus shouted.
"FATHER, I WAS AFRAID! I HID BENEATH A ROCK SO THAT MY LIFE COULD BE SPARED!", Fabius explained.
"AND SO YOU DESERVE TO LOSE AN EYE. FOR IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU THAT MANY MORE EYES WERE LOST! YOU, FABIUS OF AETHOS, KILLED NINE THOUSAND MEN!", Heraeus exclaimed.
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