The waves were a dull, pale gray, frothing a thick white foam as they crashed mercilessly against the rocky shore. A girl stood at the edge of the rocky cliffs, staring out at the open sea with nothing but dread in her gaze. She opened her arms wide, welcoming the fine spray of sea mist that rained down on her body. The water was cool as it splashed across her face, soaking her fine, ornate silks in heavy sea brine and making the material sag on her delicate frame. Closing her eyes, she wished that could stay here forever, under the mist of the sea where her problems were drowned out by the roar of the waves.
Peeking down at the jagged rocks below, the girl contemplated jumping for the slightest of moments. It was a selfish thought, but it passed through her mind nonetheless. It would be naïve for her to think that her death would stop the impeding war at all, even though she had been the cause to all of her father's problems. Now the war seemed inevitable, and the urge to jump seemed futile.
Turning her gaze south, she saw the port in the distance, and the mast of her father's most trusted ship stood high and proud in the sunlight. Her father's emblem, a roaring dragon that represented the family name, was waving proudly from a flag on the back of the boat. Her servants from the castle were continuously loading her belongings below the deck, in order to ready her for her journey. She asked one of the maids if she could help carry some of the load and the woman flat put refused.
"Do not trouble yourself with menial tasks, your highness, let us do the work." Dejected, she had walked out towards the cliffs in order to stay out of everyone's way.
Being the sole Princess and heir to the entire kingdom was rather boring sometimes.
Annabeth, daughter of King Frederick, was the kingdom's only hope for a peaceful future. Her mother had died during childbirth, and while she adored her father more than anything else in the world, she desperately wished that he had taken on another wife after her mother's death. Another woman could have given him sons who could have ruled the Kingdom in Annabeth's place when they came of age, instead of leaving all of the responsibility on Annabeth's shoulders. Now she was the family's only hope pf producing an heir to the throne, which was the reason why all of her problems had started.
During the winter months, Annabeth had finally come of age to start choosing a husband. Lords from every region of the kingdom started to arrive at the capitol, hoping for a chance to win Annabeth's hand in marriage. They draped her in the finest silks from the East, they showered her with the brightest jewels, and they bathed her in praise and pretty words and promises of undying love.
She didn't believe a single world of it. None of these men actually cared about her; they only cared about the wealth, power and status that came with her title. The gifts they gave to her were meaningless, their words empty and hollow. When she looked in their eyes, she saw selfishness and greed instead of love and compassion. She didn't want to live in a life with no love, which is exactly what the Royal Council was trying to arrange for her.
That was when she had decided to return them all down. She already had little control of her own life; her days were planned for her before she even opened her eyes and she walked through the motion like she was an actress playing a very demanding role. Very few people knew the real Annabeth; the girl underneath the make-up and silk and gold. Until she met a man who wanted to know the true soul inside the future queen, she refused to see any suitor who arrived at the castle. Whether it be a Lorde, a knight, or a fool, she turned them all away. Their gifts were returned and their invitations were ignored.
That was when' Annabeth's problems truly began. The Lords of the Western Lands were furious at Annabeth's fastidious denials, so they decided to join forces and head to the Capitol to seize the throne, and Annabeth, for themselves. They were ruining the delicate balance of peace through the lands and if her father didn't act quickly then the whole kingdom would be lost in the destruction of war. She couldn't stand being the cause of so many problems and her safety was now fully compromised, so her father decided to send her away until the fighting had ceased.
Now, as she stared out at the sea and contemplated her choices, she wondered if jumping was actually a good idea. If her father failed, and the kingdom fell into the hands of another noble, Annabeth would forever be trapped in her own life under the control pf a cruel, loveless man. If he succeeded and Annabeth ,ad it back to the capitol in one piece, then her life would consist of nothing but babies and power and she would still be trapped in her own life.
All she had to do was jump and she would finally be free…
"My lady!" A loud, familiar voice could be heard approaching the Princess. "You get your royal ass away from those cliffs right this second!"
She sighed deeply as her most trusted handmaiden and personal bodyguard, Thalia, pulled her back away from the edge of the cliffs with a deadly fire in her eyes. She was the only person in Annabeth's life who was honest with her, and was never afraid to speak her mind around the future queen. Annabeth considered her a priceless assent in her life; she could tie a corset almost as well as she could throw a knife and her attitude was exactly what the princess needed. She was brash, succinct and slightly vulgar, which Annabeth appreciated after a life filled with propriety.
"I was just looking," she said, her voice sad. "This is the only home I've ever known. I wanted to take it all in for one last time." Thalia eyed her warily, but shrugged and started to walk towards the port. The ship was leaving soon, getting ready to lead the princess to safety. "Where were you this morning?" Normally Thalia was always at Annabeth's side, but she did have some moments where she was left alone as long as there were guards present to protect her.
"I went into the town square to get you some extra tea," she said, rolling her eyes. "God forbid we arrive in the middle of nowhere without your chamomile." If anyone else spoke to Annabeth in such a manner, they would probably be punished, but Annabeth allowed Thalia liberties that others did not have.
"Why didn't you tell me? I would have liked to see the square on last time."
Thalia looked bewildered. "My Lady, you know your father hasn't allowed you outside of the castle walls since before you came of age. The square is crawling with spies and mercenaries that are out for your blood. I'm surprised he let you out of his sight for this long."
"Yes," she said dryly, "and now he's sending me all the way across the continent. What a contradiction."
"Princess,"Thalia's eyes grew hard, revealing for a moment the true assassin that lied underneath the guise of a handmaiden. "House Castellan has amassed new allies in the west. They're attacking every village from the Western Mountains to the Valleys of the Sun in the south. They will be at the capitol faster than you think and they are coming here for you and you alone." Annabeth's heart was pounding at the implications when she thought about all of those innocent people, dying, burning, fighting, and starving in the name of Princess Annabeth.
It made her sick to her stomach.
"I hate him," she seethed through gritted teeth as the image of the young Lord, Luke, popped into her head. They had known each other since infancy, but Annabeth had never liked the spoiled, pompous young boy. When she had met him again after she came of age he was cold, callous, and walked around her castle like her father was keeping the throne warm for him. He was the reason why she had to leave her home, he was the reason why her subjects around the kingdom were being tormented by war. "I hope my father chases him all the way back to the mountains of the west." She smiled bitterly. "Maybe we can even send him up to the prisons of the north?"
"Yes, I would love to kick his frozen balls around in the snow."
"Thalia!" Annabeth scolded with a smile. "You can be so crass sometimes!"
"You love it," the handmaiden said, and Annabeth nodded. Thalia was the only friend she's ever had, but it was her job to be friendly and protect Annabeth. She wished that there was someone in her life who truly wanted to spend time with her instead of being paid to do so, or trying to act on their own selfish desires. "My Lady, why do you look so upset? It is starting to grate my nerves."
"I am sorry, Thalia, but I've had a lot of time to think this morning and it has left me dreadfully pensive," she exhaled deeply, wanting to vent her problems to the person she trusted. "I feel as if I am sometimes a prisoner in my own life."
"A prisoner? You're the princess of the kingdom! You have never wanted for anything and was always given the best of everything."
She sighed, knowing that Thalia could never understand her true feelings. "I walk around the castle and the gardens, but I am not allowed to leave. I paint myself up to look beautiful, but no one truly sees me. I am told what to eat, when to sleep, and how to live my life. One day, I might be forced into a marriage without love, and then u will truly be a slave."
Thalia's eyes were rock hard, and Annabeth knew that her confession had fallen on deaf ears. "I am sorry you feel that way, My Lady, but I cannot have sympathy for one who has always had everything."
"I understand." She nodded her head sadly, wishing that she hadn't said anything at all. "Come, I must see my father one last time before I leave."
They didn't speak as the two women made their way to the port. Annabeth's father stood off to the side with councilors, overseeing his beloved daughter's departure. He yelled at crew members and ordered the servants around in order to make sure that everything was perfect. When he saw Annabeth in his periphery, he left his councilors to complete the task themselves as he pulled his little girl into his arms.
"Dad," she said, breathing in his strong and powerful scent. "I am going to miss you so much."
"So am I, my dearest, but this is for you safety, and the safety of the kingdom. As long as you're safe then our bloodline will survive and there will be someone from House Chase ruling the kingdom."
"I'm sorry this had to happen, Dad." She said, the tears falling down her cheeks. "But I want to marry for love, not because someone is forcing me to do so."
I know which is why I never pushed you into a union with any of those men. I want only for you to be happy and prosperous in your future life." He kissed her forehead. "When you return and there is peace in the land, we will find you a man that is truly worthy of your love and worthy of the throne."
"Oh, dad," at least her father understood how she felt as she cried tearfully in his embrace.
"When you get to the lands of the north you must trust no one. You will be staying with House Olympus; you're mother's people, who are sworn by blood to protect you at all costs. While you are traveling, you mustn't use your name. The name Annabeth is known throughout the kingdom and is synonymous with royalty, so you so yourself a disservice if you use it."
"Yes, father."
"Be warry of strangers, especially peasants. They might seem kind at first but money us always a more powerful incentive that honor. They will sell your secrets as soon as you divulge them."
"I understand. I do wish you could come too."
"My darling, I must lead my men into war. The lords of the west want to take you from me; they want to take the kingdom from me. This I cannot allow, but I want you to take this to remember me by." He reached into his thick fur robes and pulled out a large, ornate amulet. Placing it in her hands, she gasped at the numerous diamonds, rubies and sapphires that decorated the piece all inlaid into a bright but dense gold. "Whenever you miss your home, I want you to hold this.
"I love you, Dad." Annabeth said as Thalia pulled her on the boat.
"Farewell, my princess." She waved at her father from the deck and the ship sailed off into the open sea, ready to bring Annabeth to the cold and barren lands of the north, where no enemy would be able to find her.