Pheidippides gave the message to the king of Sparta.The king told him that he coulsn’t send soldiers to help.All the Spartans were taking part in a festival.Pheidippides had to run all the way back to Athens with this bad news.
Pheidippides told the Athenian army that there were no soldiers coming from Sparta.They would have to fight the Persians on their own.The Athenians were not sure if they could win thebattle.If they lost,they decided that they would burn their homes and run away before the Persians invaded Athens.
Pheidippides marched with the army towards the coast near Marathon.The Persian soldiers had arrived and were ready to fight.