Gladiators

Two: Decisions

    "Dani. C'mom Aria's already awake. You have to get ready." My mom sighs gently shaking me awake. I stretch and sit up. My mom hands me my outfit and smiles empathetically at me. She waltz's out of the room. I put on the outfit and sigh wearily. 

    "Dani dear. Come get breakfast." My mom says at my door way 

    I take a deep inhale. I get up and scurry to the kitchen. There is a feast of fruit, bacon, oatmeal, pancakes, eggs, and ham. Pitchers of OJ and Apple juice sit in the middle of it all. Everyone is already sitting at the table waiting.

    I sit in between Ari and Mom. We join hands and bow our heads. "Dear highest Almighty God. Protect our girls from the dangers of being part of the Kings sick games. And may one of them be Spared and become wife of our young Prince. In your son's name we pray. Amen." My mother says. "Amen." We all say.

   "Dig in." My mother says. We all eat and talk merrily. Maybe for our last time together. I look at the clock. One hour. "I remember when Dani and Ari was first born. Their older siblings were not impressed. They used to torture you both." My mom laughs wrapping her arm around us. We all laugh with her. "Daniel used to poor itching powder in your diapers and y'all used to cry and cry and cry." My dad adds.

    We all laugh. I look at my dad's watch. Four o'clock. "It's time to go now." My mother says hurriedly. We all get up together. My dad hugs me and kisses my forehead. "We'll be waiting for you at home." He says. I smile. "I'll be back  soon." I say. He hugs me again and smiles. "Make me proud." Then Jonah, Alexander, Nico, And Mary all hug me and Aria goodbye. We walk out the door and catch a rickshaw to the stadium. 

     When we get there, there is already a long line of boys and girls. My mother takes us to the end of that line and smiles sadly. "This is where I say goodbye." She says. Aria breaks down in tears. My mother rubs her back. "I'll protect her mom." I say puffing my chest. She smiles at me and hugs us both. "I love you girls. Make me proud." She sniffles. "We love you too" Me and Ari say. My mother walks away and we wait in the crowd to get into the stadium.

   After about and hour of waiting we finally get in and take our seat on the ground amongst the other kids. The general from yesterday is standing beside the king he calls names from a list through a microphone. "Pine, Aria. Fourteen." He says. Aria raises her hand shyly. He nods at her. He looks down and smirks. "Miss Pine, Dani. Fifteen." He says. I raise my hand. I notice someone in a smaller throne next to the king. That must be the Prince.

  He's rather handsome. "On to the sign ups. I want you to make three lines. One line in front of the gladiator statue. One in front  of the princess statue. And one in front of the prostitute statue." The general says. Everyone divides into lines. I look around at the lines. I breathe deeply...

   And walk to the gladiator line. I stand in that line for a while until a book is passed back to me. The person looks at me stunned. "Dani what are you doing in this line." I gasp. "Gerald. Is that you." He  nods. I hug him. He hugs back. I give the book to the person collecting them. She looks at me weirdly and keeps going. 

    "Danielle pine please come up to the generals quarters." A woman's voice says to me. She grabs my arm and leads me out of the stadium. As I pass I see my sister in the line for princesses. That should save her some time. I am lead up a long set of stairs to generals quarters in the stadium. The king, the prince, and the general are all standing behind a desk. "Sit." The general says. I sit. "So you want to become a gladiator?" The king asks me. "Yes your Majesty." I say. "We've never had a female gladiator." The Prince says. "Prince Edward. I don't think this is a good idea." The woman who brought me here says quietly. "Shut up!" The general yells at her.

   "Speak when spoken to." He says. She bows her head and nods. The general then brings his eyes back to me. "As the young Prince said we never had a female gladiator. And you could be what makes this little game interesting." The king says. "So try not to die gorgeous." The general says. I the. Start to realize. He looks like the Prince. And the King. "Excuse my eldest son." The king says. "This is why he is no longer heir to the throne." I nod in understanding. 

"Well since you're a lady. Would you like any special accommodations?" The king asks. "Oh no your Majesty. You don't have to make any special arrangements for me sir." I say politely. He chuckles. "Don't let my games fool you. I am much more a gentleman than I seem to be." He says. "I knew you were a gentleman all along your Majesty. But I must politely decline your offer. I will room with the men." I say confidently. "Are you sure?!" He says shocked. "You know how rowdy and rambunctious young boys can be around beautiful women." "Not with the fear of God in them your Majesty." I joke. They all laugh. "Well contact me or one of my sons or margary over there if you need anything." He says. I smile and courtsey again. "Such courage and bravery from a young women. I think we could all learn from her." I smile and thank him for the compliment.

    "I'll walk you back down." Margary says. I nod and follow her turning around to quickly wave good bye. We go back down the stairs and into the stadium. I am Sat down with the small group of gladiators. "Why is there a girl here?" I hear someone ask. "Coz a girl can work twice as hard as you." I say. I hear snickering. I smirk to myself. "We have armor for everyone but the girl." The gladiator trainor says. "But we do have a sword and shield that we were requested to give you." I am handed a sword with a gold handle encrusted with beautiful gems and a matching gold shield. I smile. Everyone gasps and leans over my shoulder. I smile.

      

                 I am going to be a legend