The Helot Manifesto (a Jasper AU)

The Helot Uprising

    After Rachel's proclamation, the helots got to work. Leo set up a forge where he turned plowshares into swords and pruning hooks into spears. Will gathered medical supplies. "Where there is war," he said, "there is wounds and you'll need a doctor."

"You won't get any better," Nico added.

Jason smiled, blinking in affection at the two men. "That's true."

He wasn't up to full strength, but he began training them for battle. In Sparta, women learned to fight, but here women were actually going to fight. Annabeth turned out to be one of the quickest learners. She was tall and strong like the huntress Atalanta and was soon teaching the classes alongside Jason.

      Jason was an Athenian by birth and so he taught them as he had been taught. He and Piper made sure everyone had enough food, so they could perform their best. He didn't want them to be so hungry they felt like stealing food to survive. The Spartans might think it made men strong, but Jason thought it made them turn to vice.

      Each day began with a breakfast — usually porridge or bread — and then training. They started with simple stretches to loosen up their muscles and a run to get their blood flowing. Then, they practice wrestling. Frank was particularly adept at that, fighting like a bear against whomever he was matched against.

They had a simple lunch and then a break to rest before they moved onto weapon practice. Leo usually sat out the first part of the day, spending his time forging weapons, and then attended the afternoon classes. Annabeth was good at matching people with weapons and between her and Leo, everyone soon had their own unique weapon.

Percy had a bronze sword that he nicknamed Riptide. Nico's sword was forged of iron and moved as quietly as shadows. Hazel had a golden sword suited for calvary soldiers. Grover had sold some of his goats to buy them horses and Hazel had chosen a wily roan named Arion. Percy had befriended a sleek stallion named Blackjack who was very fond of apples. Jason himself had chosen a grey horse named Tempest who ran like the wind.

Annabeth had chosen a dagger that she was quite adept with. It wasn't a standard weapon for war, but she was quick and clever with it. Piper carried a knife and practiced swordsmanship with Hazel. Frank had a sword, as well as a magnificent bow he had been given by his father. He shot arrows like Apollo himself.

They practiced first with sticks and then with the actual weapons. Jason was pleased to see how fast everyone was learning. No wonder the Spartans fear us, he thought; we are a force to be reckoned with.

***

It was a week since the earthquake. The earth had trembled again, but never as much as the first time. Still, they all knew the cities must have been devastated by the earthquake. Even here, great trees had fallen, their naked roots laying exposed like giant worms.

       They were gathered in a circle to discuss battle strategy. "I think we should attack soon," Jason said.

      "Is that a good idea?" Nico asked. "We have barely had any training. The Spartans are full-time soldiers; they'll slaughter us."

    "However long we train," Annabeth said, "they'll still have an advantage of more experience. If we attack early, though, we have the advantage of surprising them in a weakened state."

    "How should we fight?" Percy asked.

     Annabeth's grey eyes were stormy and her eyes furrowed as she thought. "We are outnumbered, so a frontal attack would be suicide."

"She's right," Leo said, "we'll have to use our brains."

Frank studied the map they had laid out in front of them. It was Grover's and he used it during his travels. He pointed to the city of Sparta. "What if we attacked on two fronts?" he suggested.

"We don't have enough soldiers," Jason said.

Annabeth studied and her eyes flashed like lightning borne of a storm cloud. "What if we carried out a lightning attack on both fronts?" she suggested. "We'd attack and fall back quickly."

"Would that accomplish anything?" Leo asked.

Annabeth thinned her lips. "We cannot best them by brute force. This is our best chance."

"Unless, we can gain more support," Piper said.

They all looked at her. "Already now we've grown to number nearly a hundred," Piper said.

It was true. Word had spread of Jason's speech and everyday, helots cane to join their cause. "If we can put up a good fight, we're sure to gain followers," Piper finished.

Annabeth nodded. "So small attacks and ambushes instead of frontal warfare?"

"Unless you guys want to use Valdezinators," Leo said.

"Valdez what?" Will asked.

Leo grinned. "I've been working on a catapult design."

"I'd like to see it," Annabeth said. "So we have a plan, and now we're ready to fight!"

Nobody raised any objections.