Too Many Memories

I'm Given An Offer I Can't Refuse

I'm Given An Offer I Can't Refuse

Hylla nodded and gestured to a door at the side of the room. She stood from her chair and walked towards it, her goons propelling me after her. When she opened the door, it revealed a large arena. She stalked toward the middle where a rack of weapons sat. She yanked a sword off of the rack and pulled a shield onto her arm. A few Amazons helped her put on her armor as I watched.

"Well, pick your weapon, choose a shield, suit up!" She barked at me, obviously still a little bitter about Circe's island, even after our little talk.

I rolled my eyes before unsheathing my dagger. I completely bypassed the weapons, armor, and shields and stood in the middle of the arena. Hylla looked surprised at my choice but smirked and stood five feet in front of me.

She announced the terms. "First one to disarm the other and point their weapon at their opponent's neck wins. No killing, but maiming is allowed. As I said before, if you win you will be allowed to join, if I win you will either die or leave. Kinzie will be the referee."

A young women with long auburn hair and wearing a black pantsuit stood off to the edge of the arena. Her body language conveyed her cocky attitude, as if she had no doubt that Hylla would win.

I smirked, already knowing I would prove them wrong. I could tell straight away that everyone, even Hylla, believed I was a weak girl that could fight well, but not extraordinarily.

I saw a sundial in the corner of the arena. It read six at night. Kinzie growled out the words, "The fight has begun."

Hylla sprung so fast I had no time to think. I reacted on instinct and ducked, rolling to the side. For being weighed down by armor, a large sword and shield, she could move fast. I quickly hopped onto my feet and dashed forward.

I swiped my dagger at her shoulder before jumping back. A thin line of red was visible through the cut I made in the sleeve of her shirt. Hylla looked down at the wound in disbelief, realizing she had underestimated me.

I grinned before diving low and cutting her leg. I rolled again and her sword clanged against the ground where I had just been. I sprang back up and blocked her sword strike. The dagger barely held up against the large sword, but I used the force of her swing to push her back. She stumbled a few feet away before regaining her balance and charging.

She feinted to one side, before changing direction and slicing my cheek. She slammed her shield into my gut but I lifted my knee and it clattered to the ground. I snarled and wiped away a few stray drops of blood before whipping my dagger upwards. I slit open the side of her shirt and revealed another long red cut.

We continued fighting, delivering wounds on each other's body. She swung, I blocked. I charged, she rolled. It was a routine, we were like equals.

I looked around and saw a large crowd had gathered. Women of all ages clad in black clothes cheered on the sides. The sundial told me it was seven at night. We had been fighting for at least an hour, and I hadn't even noticed or felt the least bit tired.

Then the fight changed direction and I gained the upper-hand. She growled and spun, trying to hit my head but I caught her weapon with the edge of my blade and pushed back. With her sword caught on my dagger, I kicked her arm and the sword flew out of her hand.

I flicked my wrist and cut the back of her hand before placing my dagger under her chin. "I win." I looked at Kinzie for confirmation. In shock, she nodded her head. The crowd all around the arena was speechless. Their hands were clenched in fists as they had been punching the air, but since I had won, they hung there, completely stunned.

Hylla pushed my dagger away from her neck and scooped up her sword. "Congratulations. You have been approved to join the Amazons." She picked up her shield and slung it over her back before reaching out a hand.

I smiled and shook her hand. We turned back to the crowd of onlookers. Each one was still frozen in shock.

"What, never seen a good warrior before?" Hylla snapped. They hustled off to do whatever job they had to do and the guards who had originally brought me to Hylla tossed me my backpacks. I slung them over my back and turned to Hylla.

"What now?"

"Now," she pondered. "Now you become my lieutenant."

My jaw dropped open. "What?" I was speechless. She started out sentencing me to death, hating me, wanting nothing to do with me, and now she's making me her lieutenant?

"I admire your strength and determination. You have spirit. You're smart, you don't charge into battle without a plan, you lay it out, you always have a strategy. I could use a warrior like you at my side. Do you accept?" She tossed her weapon and shield at a nearby woman and shucked off her armor.

"I-uh. Sure. I accept the role of lieutenant." I said breathlessly as I sheathed my dagger.

"Good. You will be shown to your quarters. I will talk to you later and explain more. For now, try to get used to life here."

Two Amazons showed me to an empty room and left me to my thoughts, and to figure out what the Hades had happened.

It was dinnertime. Kinzie glared at me as she led me to Queen Hylla for us to eat and talk. I was still confused about what I would be doing as her lieutenant and hoped she would be able to explain it all.

We emerged back in the large throne room I had been in earlier when Hylla had first sentenced me to death. The middle of the room had been cleared and a large table had been placed in it. The table was laden with meat, fruit, berries, vegetables, magic goblets, any type of food you could imagine. Hylla sat in the chair at the head of the table, all of the other chairs but one next to her were occupied.

Kinzie guided to me to the free chair and I sat next to Hylla. "Hello Annabeth, how are you adjusting?"

"Well, I think." I saw everyone eating and carefully filled my plate. A large brazier was lit off to the side. I glanced at Hylla. "May I?"

She looked at the fire and nodded. I held my plate and scrapped a large piece of my food into the fire. For Athena, Poseidon, and Chaos.

Thank you. The three voices chimed together in my head, Percy's standing out the loudest. Then he spoke separately. Now I know why the gods love the smell so much.

I shook my head in amusement before walking back over to Hylla and sitting down. She explained what my role as lieutenant would be and what I would do, before she dismissed everyone but me.

"Annabeth," she sighed. "I don't want to be Queen anymore. No Amazon is equipped to rule wisely, I wouldn't trust any of them to lead us. But you, I believe you could."

My jaw dropped again. "Me? The--the Queen? Over all of these people you've known forever, you would choose the girl who caused your kidnapping, and you've known me for a day?"

Hylla nodded. "As I said, you're a great warrior. Of course, to keep them from being suspicious it can't happen now. And you are not ready. But you will become the Queen of the Amazons, you are the only one I will trust with the throne. For now, enjoy this all. Serve me. When I think you are ready, we will fight once again. If you lose, you will keep learning and training and we will keep fighting until you win. When you win, you will become Queen. You will choose what rank I will gain, whether it be lieutenant or prisoner."

She sent me off and I walked back to my quarters in a daze. Someday, I would become the Queen of the Amazons. But I didn't want it.