Hey guys.

I am a horrible writer. I meant to have this out a LONG time ago. After exams I didn't feel much like writing, and felt a general lack of enthusiasm for anything that involved it. I haven't written anything at all for a long time. Recently, I've been trying to get back into writing mode, and it seems to be working. This will be very short unfortunately. I want to catch up and finish the current pieces I am working on, and build up an update buffer for this fic before I post any more. I am also working on a One-Shot Collection and Blooper Collection for this fic. I hope to start those very soon. They will involve background fics mentioned over the course of the story, in addition to in-between drabbles and possible cross-overs. The Bloopers…well, you'll just have to wait and see ;).

Another note; someone favourited! :D This sort of thing gives me warm fuzzies inside.

On to the chapter!

I forgot to add the Disclaimers! D: oops.

Right. Age of Mythology does not belong to me. This fic is only for my personal (and hopefully others) enjoyment. I only own the storyline, and the few OC I will introduce later on.

Chapter 2:

Consequences. Part 1.

The day was calm after the brief rain squall that had hit them during the night. If there was anything to be thankful for, Arkantos figured, it was that it had only rained. He had been in enough storms at sea to know that it could have been much, much, worse.

The only consequence to the overnight downpour was a somewhat higher level of bilge water. That caused some grumbling among the soldiers, though this was fairly quickly silenced by a simple glare from their commander.

It had only been a few days since they had left Atlantis. Tracking Kamos had been made easier by the trail he had left behind in the Atlantean Archipelago. Several villages had reported either spotting the ships as they passed by their islands, or reporting the devastation caused by the attacks on them. At each visible column of smoke rising in the distance, Arkantos teeth clenched and his rage, burning at flickering embers, was kindled and stoked, and he was hard pressed to restrain his temper. He didn't want his anger released…

At least, not until Kamos was on the receiving end.

As the 'Sword of Atlas' led the way through the Pillars*, Arkantos sighed and leaned against the starboard side railings, eyes intent on the horizon, seeing the shadow of strange lands on the distance. The Adventurer in his heart itched to sail towards them and discover the wonders of a new place, but the soldier forged within him spoke grimly of the dangers and threats he would face. Many men had met their ends on new, unexplored places. New places, new dangers. And these dangers they knew not how to counter, unlike the dangers in the civilization of the Greek lands.

But still….

They called…

Zethos wandered up beside him. He had shed his armour and padding to reveal a light linen shirt, having been instructing a newer recruit how to control the steering oars, who was now under the careful watch of a lesser officer.

Arkantos liked Zethos. He was probably the most capable Second he had had in years. Though he was only from a lesser Family, Arkantos wasn't about to let him languish at his position for long. The younger man had the makings of a Captain, or even Admiral, if Arkantos had could manage it. Once Arkantos retired, they needed someone to take over, and he would much prefer to leave his men in capable hands than in those who would lead them into an early, meaningless grave.

"How're the supplies?" Arkantos finally asked after a comfortable silence.

"Good, considering we had a problem with water getting into the food supplies. We had enough to last us just until we reach Syracuse*, then we'll need to re-supply. If not for that rain last night, we would have had to stop sooner, as we had been running low."

"That's good to hear," Atlantis smiled to himself. At least there was a silver lining to the loss of supplies. Syracuse was one of the more successful of the Greek colonies, so it would be easy to stock up on enough to reach Tenedos* once they'd retrieved the Trident.

"Well," he added as he pushed himself off the railing and stretched his arms over his head, "at least we are making good time."

Zethos was quiet for a short time.

"Sir?"

"Yes?" Arkantos, hearing the concern in his Second's voice, turned to face him. The younger man's expression reflected his tone.

"What if the reports we are getting from Troy only tell part of the story?"

Arkantos' dark brows furrowed. Seeing his Commander's confusion, he continued.

"From what we have heard, Agamemnon and Menelaus have already secured the ports around the city, and cut them off from outside aid. They've been at it for a long time, and regardless of Troy's walls, shouldn't they have ended the siege by now? Why are they asking for you?"

Arkantos snorted at the question. He knew why they were asking for him.

He was undoubtedly the best Admiral Atlantis had seen in decades, even he knew that. His men were loyal, the people all knew him, and he provided for his city and his people. And he was also a devout follower of the Gods. It was not the first time he had been requested by Greek leaders in their troubles. Then, later, they could claim they had Arkantos under their command, even though Atlantis was only letting them 'borrow' him for a while.

But, even he had to admit, Zethos had a point.

"I suppose, in the end, it doesn't really matter," Arkantos finally replied, turning back to face the sea.

"Theocrat is right, nobody else can represent Atlantis at Troy. I am the Commander of the Atlantean Navy, so the duty is mine. And I don't like it one bit." Here, he grimaced, but continued, "and since we had to come this way anyway after the Pirates, we may as well keep going."

Zethos considered this as Arkantos sighed.

"And there are also the creatures." Zethos' head snapped towards him.

"Poseidon is our Patron; we are his loyal followers, his children through Cleito*. Why would he allow his beasts to our attackers? What have we done to earn his disfavour?"

Arkantos let his eyes glaze over.

"Perhaps this errand is all that is needed to appease Poseidon…"

A/N:

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this chapter. I just wanted it out of the way. Sorry, I'll try better next time. I may also update this chapter, rewrite some bits later when I feel more up to it.

A little background for Troy. Homer's Troy is generally agreed to be the Troy VII layer of the excavated site in Turkey. There are about 9 of them altogether. It was previously believed that Troy II, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1868. Troy VII is believed to have been destroyed by war, which would support Homer's description of the Burning and Sack of Troy, as well as scenes depicted on Attic pottery. Skeletons have been found in both houses and in the streets, one with skull injuries and a broken jawbone, in addition to a number of bronze arrowheads. While this somewhat supports the agreed conclusion that Troy VII was the Troy described in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad, only a small portion of Troy VII has been excavated, so the theory has not been verified. In my fic, I want to combine the AoM storyline as it is with what I have learned studying Ancient History and Ancient Mythology. Syracuse was founded in 700 BCE, while Troy VII dates to the 1300-1190 BCE, much earlier than the founding of Syracuse by the Greeks. Schliemann's Troy is dated to 2600-2250 BCE, obviously much, much earlier. In light of this, I am just going to say that Syracuse was already established by this point. AoM is a very basic game, and it really doesn't matter if I entirely stick to historical truths, as much as I want to.

I also realize it would NOT take days to get from the supposed site of Atlantis to the Straits to Troy.

~~~CreatedInFyre7.

Glossary time! (New form)

Pillars* - The Pillars of Hercules (Herakles for the Greek) is the ancient name for the Strait of Gibraltar, the pass into the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic.

Syracuse* - Syracuse was founded by the Ancient Corinthian Greeks and Teneans around 700 BCE (unsure of approximate date). It is now the capital of the province of Syracuse, at the southern end of the Italian Peninsula. See further in Author's Notes.

Tenedos* - Tenedos (Greek) or Bozcaada (Turkish), is an island located off modern Turkey, very near the archaeological site of Troy.

Cleito* - Cleito is the name of the mortal woman Poseidon fell in love with and have five sets of male twins with, the oldest of which was called Atlas (see Omens, Part 2), just before creating Atlantis.