Desert Winds (a Percy Jackson AU)

When Women Fight

     "You glad to be back on the battlefield?" Reyna asked.

     Annabeth smiled. "I'm glad to not be on onion duty anymore. Though, I'm sure everyone misses my bread."

     Percy threw a smile at her. "There are not many soldiers who are good at both battle and baking."

      Reyna smirked. "Maybe there are more then you imagine."

     "Chop, chop lotus flowers!" Gleeson said as he strode through the army. "The battle will be beginning soon. Get in formation!"

      Annabeth, Reyna, Grover, and Percy joined their larger regiment. It was mid-morning and under the burden of heavy shields and swords, they were already sweating. The Assyrian army had an advantage, as they attacking the Mitanni rebels with the sun behind their backs.

     The Mitanni rebels had none of organization of the Assyrian army and as they gathered together, they looked like donkeys next to horses. Some of them lacked shields and their weapons were a hodge-podge if swords, kitchen knifes, and even hammers. There was a desperation in their eyes, however, that made them as dangerous as any professionally trained army.

     "Attack!" Gleeson said.

     The Assyrian army surged forward and the Mitanni rebels charged to meet them. The two forces crashed into each other. The armies bled into one another until only the marking on their shields distinguished friend from foe.

    Reyna and Annabeth fought a giant of a man carrying two swords and outfitted in armor. He had all the swagger and arrogance of a commanding officer. He swung his swords with a frightening speed and precision. Annabeth and Reyna were forced to play defense.

      The man's strength seemed to be fueled by his successes and when his sword struck Reyna and knocked her over, he turned on Annabeth. He smiled widely. "You Assyrians fight like girls."

      Annabeth felt every molecule of her body buzz. She was so sick of being told what she could not do because of her gender. She had thought she'd escape it by joining the army, but this rebel had proved her wrong.

      Annabeth's jaw hardened. "This girl will show you how to fight."

     She feigned an attack on his left and then lunged low towards his right, stabbing him in a chunk of his armor. He howled and dropped both his swords, pressing his hands against the wound. Reyna has just gotten up and stabbed him in the back. She then punched his face. "That's for insulting Assyrian women."

Annabeth kicked him in the belly. "And that's for rebelling."

The man howled, his body hugging the earth. "Please, let me go. I'm a commanding officer. I can stop the rebellion."

Reyna held up her sword. "And why should we?"

The man gasped. "Because I'll do this."

He pulled out a horn and sounded a retreat. "We'll meet with your leaders soon."

The Mitanni rebels fled like rabbits. The battlefield was riddled with corpses — men who would never see their families again. Annabeth felt her throat close over.

"You two did well."

Annabeth and Reyna looked over their shoulders to see Gleeson smiling at them. "You two lotus flowers are some of my best warriors. You helped turn the tide of this battle — possibly the war — and for that, I am promoting both of you."