Chapter 16

A fine young man, interrupted the fine young lady before she could respond to her daughter, he only had garment from his waist down, and was half naked,he was endowed with gold,I seems everyone here were beauty lords, he went down on his knees while bowing to the young lady,

    " Your majesty the king seeks your presence in the palace now" he said without raising his head, " you can go back to your chambers,I would see the king soon she said while lifting her daughter and carrying her in her arms like she's the most precious thing in the world.

      "Athena take your training seriously,you are the future queen of this kingdom, and everyone depends on you" looking at Athena's face seemed sad, " yes mom",the lady placed a kiss on her forehead and her to a middle age women with black curly hair,and a majestic look.

    " Take care of her,I will be back" the queen said while handing Athena to the lady,then heading to a big building.

             *********** #inside the palace#.  

   "Elena my love come,sit beside me" he seemed to be the king,he had white long hair, reaching his waist,and also had garment from his waist,he had none on his body,he was wearing a crown and had a staff design with gold, the queen smiled and sat beside him, without saying a word she leaned on his shoulder, the king used his thumb to caress her face and planted a kiss on her forehead, " how are you doing my glee" he said while raising her face to look at him.

      "Am ok" my lord,she said with a worried expression all over her face,the king wasn't convinced by what she said, " our daughter will learn,and she would be a great queen" the king could read minds I guess, the ladies expression softened and she placed a kiss on his lips, " I hope so" she said and leaned very close to the king before she slept off.

 ********** # back to Athena #

 Athena sat down on a chair, opposite the middle aged woman " Athena why did you run away from training" she looked at Athena with so much love in her eyes,and a slight smile on her face, Athena didn't say anything she just stared at her hands while facing down,in embarrassment, she was disappointed in herself. The middle aged  lady urged Athena to say something and she finally spoke..

   " I don't want to train to be a queen,I don't want to rule, I want to play,like other children,I don't want to be followed around by guards,I don't want to be seen as a princess,I want to see what is beyond our land,I can't do that if I am a queen.

 Athena  said without raising her head,she looked like a six year old but,she didn't act like a seven years old, she spoke so well,the middle age woman looked at her with a million expression in her eyes,she held Athena's face with her hands, "Athena you are destined to be a queen,but you can choose how you want to rule,you must not rule like the king,your reign as the queen will be perfect, so please don't anger your parents.

       "If you take your training seriously, I would show you what the outside world looks like",  Athena was overjoyed by this news. She stood up like a child who just saw her lost puppy,she hugged the middle aged lady then placed a kiss on her cheek. She really wanted to know what the outside world was like, she had heard different stories about them,and had watched her parents grant some special ones some favours.

      She thanked the middle age lady then hurried to her training,the training ground was very big,it was covered with green grasses, flowers, trees and butterfly and animals,the grasses were very green,it was very beautiful, and the fruit were so fresh and beautiful,I saw an Apple tree,and I really wanted to take a bite,but since I was dead it would be like air passing through the fruit,so I just stood admiring the place.

     Athena,walked up to a young man,and looked at him with her cute hazel eyes, while pouting " I'm sorry,I won't run away from training ever again,and you are the best teacher,and my best friend. She said before giving him a tight hug,the man hugged her back then breaking the hug, holding her at arm 's length, with a fatherly expression in his eyes, everyone seemed to love her so much.

  " Athena, this is not your first time telling me you won't miss training, but you never keep to your promises so why should I listen to you" the young man said,while pretending to be angry, Athena looked down in embarrassment without replying she just stood like a stick, the young man pulled her in for a hug, patting her back " Athena,I can never be angry with you,you are like a daughter I never had,and not willing to have anyway.

      Athena looked at him,in a confused and amazed look on her face,he was her personal coach,and also a family friend, and he never got married, he has no children,but he has a soft spot for Athena, " wait how do I know all this stuff,maybe because I am in a story I will get almost every details about it".

     They continued their training,the young man taught Athena how to fight,and she fought with so much efficiency,she swung her sword with ease, but the young  man seemed to predict her moves and block them before she attacked him, he blocked her last strike, thereby through her sword away,and pointing his sword on her neck.

    "Focus athena,fight with your head facing your opponent,not his legs,your legs should be able to carry your body,Increase you speed,and strike with force,don't be weak" Athena was panting like someone who just ran from a park of lions, actually no one can run from a park of lions and still come out alive.

        " Lord ares,you are the strongest fighter I know, how can I compete with you and win" ares ignored her complains then kicked her swords towards, gesturing for her to pick it up, she picked it up and the continued fighting, the blocked her attack ones more, thereby flinging her sword far away from her, he did that several times,Athena was furious, ares had a mocking  smile  on his face and it provoked Athena even further.

She picked a sword,and without notice she striked with so much force,thereby pushing ares backward,but he wasn't affected to much,she just wanted to end the fight,she striked again,this time with much more force, Causing little spark of fire, she turned around, dodging his attack, she kicked him on his stomach thereby throwing him on the wall, the wall splitted into two, she ran towards him, striking again with her sword but ares was quick to defend himself.

       He kicked her and she fell on the floor,she stood up unaffected by the powerful kick,she ran towards him,with her sword held up,and screaming,she jumped up, hitting ares on his shoulder with her elbow,and kicking his stomach again,sending areas on the floor,then she lifted him with her one of her hand, ares was quick to punch her on her face,and taking her sword away from her hand and throwing it far away from her.

  He also threw his sword away, gesturing for her to come closer,she stood up,and tightened her fist,and stabling herself on the floor " I can't lose this fight,she came closer to ares and she was thrown away immediately,she came back again, ares was about to punch her,she ducked and gave him a punch under his chin,and kicked his groin thereby sending ares on his knees.

    Seems she won the fight, she was about to give him a final punch when Ares raised his hands in defeat,she was so happy,it was the first time she had won,maybe because she was promised to be taken to the outside world..

    She chuckled, then hugged ares, placing a slight kiss on his cheek, before leaving the training ground, ares laughed at himself,  he stood up dusting himself, seems he has healed from all the injuries