Chapter Text
Thalia knew the invasion was coming, she'd seen the armies coming over the hill. But she hadn't expected them to reach the castle so quickly. She ran through the hallways, passing dozens of soldiers, in her hand she clutched a bronze sword as if for dear life.
Bang!
"Shit." She cursed. Catapult fire. Moving quicker now, her heart was pounding in her head, her lungs were burning as she cursed the castle for having such long corridors and so many stairs! There! The door for the throne room. She flung it open and walked in. "Father-" she stopped. A woman stood in front of his throne, sword aimed at the throat of King Zeus. A second woman - a younger woman, held Thalia's brother, Prince Jason.
"Oh look, it's Princess Thalia, what a lovely addition to my collection. Daughter. Get her!" Queen Bellona's second daughter sprung into action, running towards Thalia, who took off back down the corridor. The girl, maybe sixteen or seventeen, continued pursuing. Thalia risked a look back at her, she had bronzed skin and beautiful braided hair, though her face was a little grimy and her clothes had smears of blood which didn't look like hers. Her long gold sword made good persuasion to continue running. Thalia took a sharp left. Narrowly avoiding hitting the wall from skidding on the rug. Thalia knew she was fast, but somehow this girl was gaining on her. Thalia pushed herself harder, harder, harder!
Thud
Thalia went crashing down to the ground.
Thalia's POV:
I tried to reach my knife in my belt but she smacked it away, holding my arms above my head with one hand and shifting so she was straddling me. I stared up at my captor, despite my situation I found myself staring at her deep black eyes, like obsidian. And unwillingly I admired her rather toned muscles whilst she tied my hands together. Even after I was restrained she didn't get off me, looking down as if admiring her prize. "So, you are Princess Thalia?"
"I-I am." Ugh why did I sound so scared, I wasn't scared! Not of this girl! "I am Princess Thalia, and you better release me this instant! Or-"
"Or what?" She drawled, almost lazily. "Or what, Princess?" She taunted. "Come now, you honestly don't think my mother will let you get away. Do you?"
"I don't even know you." I replied carefully. My heart was beating a hundred miles a minute, but I couldn't let her know that.
"Oh, that's alright." The girl said, tracing my jaw lightly with her right index finger. "I'm sure we'll be acquainted soon enough." She shifted a little. And made it painfully obvious to me that I was still trapped between her legs. "Now. I'm gonna take you to my mother, and you're gonna pretend you weren't enjoying this."
"Wh-what?" But she'd jumped off me and hauled me up to my feet. Good gods this girl was stronger than she looked. She took me back to the throne room despite my attempts to struggle, she manhandled (womanhandled?) me quite easily, it was making me doubt my own strength now.
When we got there I no longer saw my father, but Queen Bellona on my father's throne, Jason held in a kneeling position in front of her by the Queen's elder daughter, I knew her, she was Princess Hylla, a captain in her mother's army, heir to the throne. The Queen spoke as I glared at her. "Ah, Princess Thalia, welcome back. So glad you could join us." I scowled, catching sight of Princess Hylla's approving glance to my captor. I was forced down on my knees beside Jason. "Now now, Princess, did your father not teach you any manners?"
"Go rot in Tartarus." Princess Hylla leaned over and slapped the back of my head, hard.
"Be respectful to your queen." She commanded.
Bellona chuckled from the throne. "Easy, Hylla, the girl still has to learn her place. Now, Thalia," Her voice made my name sound like poison, "Is there nothing you wish to ask me for?"
"I'm not going to beg for mercy, if that's what you were expecting." The queen only nodded, a faint smile on her face as she regarded me.
"I see, well if you have nothing entertaining to say, we may as well muzzle you now. Hylla."
"What! No-" Princess Hylla came around my side, forcing a dusty cloth gag into my mouth. "Hmph!" The queen chuckled a little at my feeble attempts to fight.
"I wouldn't do that Thalia. My daughters are well trained and you will not get away from them."
That night.
So, I've learned a few things in the last few hours.
One, my captor's name is Reyna.
Two, she's the younger princess of Rome who I didn't know existed.
Three, I really hate being gagged.
I was now lying in the dungeons below what was once my father's castle, my cell was small, damp and cold, so y'know. Fun. I haven't seen Jason since the throne room earlier but I assume he is locked up down here too. My hands were still tied but the more pressing issue right now was the pain radiating from my stomach.
Rumbles
I am starving! I could barely think straight.
Tap Tap Tap Tap
Footsteps? But that sounded like it was coming... towards me, uh oh. I looked up when they stopped, though slightly relieved when I saw it was Princess Reyna. I preferred her over her sister or mother. "Princess Reyna, to what do I owe this visit?" Luckily I was no longer gagged.
Reyna chuckled as she unlocked my cell. "I'm afraid it is simply business, Princess Thalia."
"Aw but that's no fun." She helped me stand and led me through the castle, eventually emerging at the courtyard, a carriage was waiting. Reyna stopped me and thrust a cloak into my arms, I was admittedly shivering in my tunic. "My hands are tied, what do you expect me to do?"
"Oh right, sorry." Reyna took it back and flung it over my shoulders, clasping it at my throat. During this I became aware that this rather pretty princess was extremely close to me and I tried not to blush. Reyna thankfully didn't notice my flushed cheeks. "How's that?"
"Huh? Oh yeah yeah, it's fine, thanks."
"Of course. No problem." Her gaze lingered on my eyes for perhaps a little longer than necessary but we were interrupted by someone calling from the carriage.
"Hurry up, Reyna!"
"Coming!" She took the ropes around my hands and led me forward to the carriage, I listened and got in, the last thing I needed was an angry armed princess. Reyna sat me on one side of the carriage whilst she and her older sister sat on the other side. Reyna watched out the window as the carriage left, but Hylla was staring at me.
"You got something to say, Hylla?"
"No. Just stop staring at my sister." My jaw dropped, clearly Reyna was shocked too.
"Excuse me?!" I exclaimed, a little taken aback.
"Sis don't-"
"Quiet Reyna." Surprisingly she listened. Hylla turned back to look at me. "And you heard me. Besides our mother has plans for you."
"How lovely." I answered, trying to keep my worry out of my voice. Hylla leaned back, putting her boots up on the seat beside me and closing her eyes.
"Shut up or I'll gag you again." She would as well. So I shut up, it wasn't long till Hylla fell asleep, snoring a little. I sighed as I gazed out at a kingdom I supposed was no longer mine.
"You scared of your sister?" Reyna looked up sharply.
"N-no! She's my sister."
"Oh come off it! You're terrified of her."
"Shut up, Grace." I raised an eyebrow.
"Make me." Reyna looked to me, no hostility in her eyes, but rather an excited gleam instead.
"Happily." Reyna got up, moved to my side of the carriage and planted a soft kiss on my lips. I just stared at her, a little in shock. She smirked as she returned to her seat. "What? You want more?" I felt myself blushing furiously.
"Shut up Reyna." Reyna laughed heartily at my expression. I turned my back on her and stared out the window. I noticed we'd crossed the border a few miles back, we were now in Queen Bellona's territory. It dawned on me suddenly, they were taking me to their palace. I would be kept prisoner too deep into the kingdom to even attempt an escape.
Two hours later we reached the Palace of Rome. The carriage came to a stop in the courtyard. Hylla was the first out when the servants opened the door, and she strolled into the palace without so much of a glance at me or her sister. Reyna took hold of my ropes again and led me inside. It didn't seem a pleasant place, dark, damp. Remnants of wars long past seemed to be everywhere, swords hung on walls and tapestries depicting battles lined hallways. After several twists and turns we reached a door, Reyna opened it and took me inside.
A bedroom. It was beautiful, if a little simple for a princess, at least I assumed this was Reyna's room, but much more comfortable than the rest of the palace. Reyna shut the door behind me, releasing her grip on my ropes. She walked to her bed in exhaustion and started stripping off her armour. Seemingly she hadn't changed since the battle this morning. I watched as I paced a little. My own cloak and leather tunic were ruffled and askew but there was not much I could do with my hands tied as they were. For a long few moments we didn't talk. But Hylla's words still echoed in my mind. "What plans does your mother have then?"
"Why should I tell you?" Reyna said, glaring a little.
"Because they involve me." Reyna looked away, a little nervous. That's when I realised why she wouldn't say. "You don't know. Do you?" Reyna shook her head subtly, almost too subtle to be noticed.
"My mother won't tell me and my sister won't spill either. They're leaving me in the dark."
"And I'm here because?" Reyna looked around.
"This is my bedroom. Though my mother has ordered you be kept in the dungeons."
"How kind. I don't see connection."
"My mother isn't here, she remained in Olympus to secure her hold over your kingdom. So, for now at least, I thought you should be comfortable. My mother won't allow it when she returns." I smirked a little. "What is it? What's funny, princess?" She asked.
"Nothing, just thinking about how different you are from your mother." Reyna just nodded, frowning as she struggled with the buckle on her sword belt, her fingers fumbling over it in her exhaustion. She gave up after a long minute, sighing in exhaustion. Silently I walked over and undid the buckle for her, though my hands were tied I managed easily to undo it. Reyna let me, watching. I stepped back as the belt became slack.
"Thank you... I am tired."
Of course... now, do you mind taking these ropes off?" Reyna nodded and reached over with her knife, the ropes came off fairly easily. I stretched out my aching muscles, I'd started to go stiff. I wandered around Reyna's room a little, she let me, just watching. She had rather a lot of weapons. I picked up a sword lying on Reyna's desk. "You not worried I'm gonna attack you?" I asked after I saw Reyna's unconcerned look even whilst I brandished a sword. Reyna just laughed at me.
"Oh come on, you couldn't hurt me if you tried."
"I could stab you and escape right now."
"No you couldn't." At that moment the door opened without a knock. A tall blonde boy around nineteen entered. We both looked towards him, he was dressed in a black uniform and a gold sword hung from his waist. He looked straight at me and drew his sword.
"Princess Reyna, what is the prisoner doing here unrestrained? And armed?" He advanced and out of instinct I raised the sword to stop him.
"Octavian!" Came Reyna's irritated voice. "She is here because I said so, and she was just admiring my sword."
He stopped, scowling at me. "The queen said-"
"She's not here. Is she? So leave Thalia be." I stayed silent, I knew his type, he took pleasure in bossing people around.
"You forget your place, princess. The prisoner is my responsibility, and currently she is threatening me with a sword." I saw Reyna wince over his shoulder.
"Put my sword down, Thalia." Reluctantly I lowered it, still glaring at him.
"I'm not gonna listen to you."
He smirked back. "Oh we'll see about that."