Anthea princess of Thessaly was walking in the palace's gardens enjoying the nice day. Her handmaiden Alize was walking toward her, trying to get her attention. "My lady, your father wants to see you. He says it is important and cannot wait." Alize said.

"Thank you I will go and see him now." Anthea went inside as she motioned Alize to follow her. The pair walked down to the throne room in silence. When they arrived Anthea bowed to her father and Alize followed the suit. "Father you wished to see me?"

"Yes Anthea I called you here because your uncle has arrived." Her father motioned to the left side of the room and her Uncle Odysseus was standing there. He was her uncle by marriage but she was always glad to see him. Anthea ran into her uncle's arms.

"Uncle I am glad to see you." Anthea beamed.

"I wish I could say this is a social visit. The Greeks are going to Troy. We are going to war." Odysseus informed her.

"Why? Because of Helen?" She asked. She had never met Helen of Sparta but she had herd of her beauty.

"Helen ran away with a Trojan prince Paris." Odysseus sounded angry but he didn't look it. "He insulted Greece."

"No he insulted Menelaus." She corrected. "One man who could not hold on to his wife."

"Anthea!" The king scolded.

Anthea shot her uncle a look of apology. "So what do you want with me?"

"You are the best warrior in Thessaly; we need you to fight in Troy." Odysseus got to the point.

"Father?" Anthea turned to her father.

"It is up to you." He answered.

"Ok I will do it." Anthea said after a moment of thought.

"We sail for Troy in three days. I will come for you in two days. Can you be ready by then?"

"Yes. I will see you in two days." Anthea bowed and left with Alize.

Anthea stood out on her balcony looking out at the sea, as Alize was packing up a bag for her. Anthea was sing softly to herself, a song her mother had taught her before she had died in childbirth. "My lady." Alize called from the bedroom. "Your sister is here." Anthea turned to see her ten year old sister Alexandra. They are ten years apart because their parents had hit a rough patch in their marriage. Alexandra had never known her mother but she was constantly asking questions about her. "Thea father tells me you are leaving." Alexandra seemed sad and it didn't surprise Anthea. She picked up Alexandra and hugged her.

"Yes I am, but I will come back." Anthea said and her sister looked unconvinced.

"Do you promise Thea?" Alexandra asked. "Do you promise that you will come back?"

"Alex I would love to say that." Anthea said with sincerity "But war is uncertain, I can't make that promise. I am a good warrior but even great warriors are killed in the heat of a war."

"Not you! You can't." Alexandra screamed. "You can't leave me."

"Sweetie I don't want to but I have to. Uncle Odysseus is coming for me in two days." Anthea put her sister down and walked into her room to help Alize pack and she was followed.

"But I didn't think that women were aloud to fight in war." Alexandra said jumping on the bed.

"Usually no, but a king has asked and it would be rude to refuse." Anthea walked into her closet to pick out a dress to wear in the camp. "Have you packed my armor?"

"Yes my lady." Alize said.

"But he is our Uncle and this is dangerous." Alexandra protested.

"Enough!" Anthea quieted her sister. "I wish to stay here, but there are things we don't have to do but we do them."

"For honor and glory." Alexandra said under her breath and Anthea caught it.

"For the greater good." Anthea sighed. "You are young and don't understand. But one day you will."

"What does me being young have to do with the tea in China?" Alexandra wasn't losing this one. "I understand more than you think I do." She got up and ran from the room.

"What have I done wrong?" Anthea asked more to herself than anyone.

"Nothing." Alize answered. "You practically raised that child. She only acts how you would. What would you do if your older sister went off to war? You are all she has."

Anthea nodded and put her dress in her bag.

A/N Review please. Good or bad it doesn't matter.