The Book of Chaos

Chapter 2

                                                        ARMIDA

Armida is a warrior. Not a lady of the house. Even she finds it hard to believe that she's the daughter of Zeus. Today however was the worst day Armida will ever experience. That experience is the ball. That stupid ball, whomever thought Armida would like to attend. She despises everything there has to do with balls. For one she hates dresses, all she ever wants to wear is armor and go into the war. She can't then and she can't now because she is currently getting dress fittings on.

"Mother, why would I ever want to wear this?" asked Armida, as she gets jabbed in the side by a pin needle the pursuer her mother. "You are going to wear it so you can get a fine sutor who will then take you and marry you so you can have children!" snapped her mother.

"I don't want any children, or even a husband. I want to go to war!"

"Don't be silly, a girl can't go to war!"

"Why can't they mother."

"Because goddesses aren't fit for that."

"But-" started Armida before her mother took the needle she was using to hold up Armida's dress and jabbed it into her arm. Armida yelped in pain. "You must get used to this dress because I'm not letting you unimpress all of the lovely suitors coming to see you." Armida sighed before saying "I already told you I'm not interested in that!" before her mother could even make a face she pushed out of her way and ran away outside into the woods.

She almost made it exceptionally far before she tripped on a rock and fell onto the ground. She lied there for a second before hearing someone shout 'Hey!". Thinking it was a guard Armida shot up from the ground putting her hands up before noticing that it wasn't a guard it was a woman with a crossbow. She had long curly red hair she kept in a half-up down way and her mouth was frowning. "Who are you?" asked the woman who now Armida realized could be a goddess because only magic beings really went into this forest. "I am Armida, daughter of Zeus." the woman's expression changed into a pleasant smirk before dropping her bow and embracing Armida. "Oh, so you're my sister! Why, I thought I had to murder you for intruding on my hunt but you're my sister!"

Armida was confused. Is she related to this woman or is she just some crazy lady who doesn't know what she's talking about- or is she her sibling.. "Wait, are you also a daughter of Zeus?" Armida asked, finally getting released from the tight embrace from the woman. "Yes, I am of Zues and Leto." the girl paused before asking "Who are your parents?" asked the woman. "Oh, Zeus and Hera." the woman's expression changed before asking. "Do you know how mean she is?"

Armida nodded. "Believe me, I would know more than anyone.". "Does she do horrible things to you Armida?' asked the woman, her hand flying to Armida's shoulder. "Why yes, she wants me to get a suitor at the ball!". The woman gasped. "No, no I won't let my sister ever get married to someone she doesn't love!". Armida nodded. "I can help you, Artemis at your service." Armida giggled before shaking her head. "I'm very sure I can manage my own. But I would like you to help with something." Artemis nodded. "I want to become a warrior but I am unable because of my mother. I even asked my father and he said he thinks I would be an amazing warrior.". "I know exactly who can help, I of course can't because all I would teach you would be child care and hunting but Ares can."

Armida gasped, almost jumping up and hugging Artemis. The. War. Lord. Ares. She always admired Ares as Hermes the messenger used to tell her great stories of his works when she was a young girl. She wanted to be a warrior because of him. Artemis smiled before saying; "I can show you where he lives."."Really! Where?" asked Armida, desperately trying to conceal her excitement. "Well in these woods. A while ago he came to me telling me he needed a house in the woods away from everyone so in exchange he gave me a new hunting bow and I gave him his house." Armida nodded thinking, That's a good profit.

Artemis grabbed Armida's hand and rushed her further into the woods before stopping in front of a tall wooden hut. "I've got to go back to my hunt, but I advise you to be yourself because Ares despises liars, he said he'd seen enough during his war days." Artemis instructs, before kissing her sister's head and running off. Armida's hand had lingered like a ghost contemplating what to say before knocking on the door. It had only been mere seconds before the door was opened, well more like thrown. There stood a man at least ten feet tall staring down at her unwelcomingly. Armida swallowed feeling slightly nervous. That nervousness increased when Ares, her idol, began to speak. His voice had been the equivalent to thunder shaking the whole forest when he spoke. "What is your business, and why are you interrupting my relaxation time?" Ares boomed, making it crystal clear that he didn't want any type of company. "I would like to be trained by you dear Ares, god of war and battle." says Armida, bowing to him in the manner she was taught to use in the presence of a god or goddess.

Ares scoffed before laying a large hand on Armida's arm pulling her up. "Spare me the honor I'd like not the attention, I had enough in that damned war." Armida squinted her eyes lost in confusion. "Why? Shouldn't you be proud of your feats and that people admire and recognize you for it?" Ares chuckles before patting Armida's head. "You'll know once you have done an exploit great enough for recognition.". Armida really wants to know what he means by that, but right now she needs to convince him to train her. "Well maybe I'll find out if you train me." Armida says, hanging on to any type of luck she has inside her tense from the silence before she heard Ares laugh. "I like you." Armida smiled, feeling less tense after Ares had said this. "Why?"

"You seem to catch up quickly to protocols, even mild ones." Armida beamed before responding; "I was just taught that." Ares sniffed before double-taking. "Who are your parents?" Armida laughed nervously before saying "Zeus and Hera." Ares quickly pushed her away from his hut; "You must be off now, if Hera finds you're out she'll give you horrid consequences." Armida nodded before asking; "Will you train me?" Ares scoffed before replying; "Yes, now go off before I have a second thought." Armida nodded and ran off.

Though she will probably be in trouble with her wretched mother she doesn't mind. She met one of her beloved family members, Artemis and her idol Ares. Once she learns of the training and technique of war she'll be off. Which means no more mother. Which means freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom.