AN:Hey guys I'm back! This is just a short fic I started a couple of years ago. I kept putting off writing the end for some reason, I don't know why but I've finally decided to finish it. Anyway, I took my inspiration from the gods of ancient Greece and melded it with with my fav show OUAT. Its not very long like my other fics but I thought you might enjoy it.

Also I am aware this is not 100% accurate regarding mythological facts of that era but I kind of made some things up as I went along to help flesh it out, the basics are there though :D

This Fic isn't heavy on Trigger Warnings but it does mention spousal Abuse..

Great walls made of white stone tower into the skies, the spectacle built to rival the gods themselves and keep away all those who dare threaten what treasures lie within. Chipped and cracked from fierce battles, no one knows exactly when the marvel was built, or even who constructed such a defense to rid the White city of invading pagans..All but the gods that is..

Outside towering gates of oak and steel, a small settlement made up of carts, kiosks and busy merchants invite travelers and citizens to purchase less than appetizing goods and weathered trinkets. Horses, chickens, goats and various creatures are housed and auctioned off to the many farmers that regularly visit, especially now the dwindling grass is ushered back into life as spring piques on the horizon. Patrols of soldiers clad in white and silver armor watch busy crowds from the gates and walls, the occasional peasant getting over excited at auction prompts interference, but with the spring festival only a day away, everything is serene and relatively quiet.

She thought it best to journey here, her father forbade it, stating the city has already doomed itself through greed and power. It's no secret that ever since King's Leopold's first wife died of a fever and he took the throne after his brother's mysterious death, the elder King has neither regarded nor helped his citizens within the white walls surrounding his city. Many had died a few years back due to pestilence and starvation when the King was more focused on winning a war in the east, than paying attention to his own vast territory. This had lost the support of many a nobleman from neighboring kingdoms, even the support of his daughter, Snow, so to rebuild his reputation, the King decided to marry a young woman from one of the more smaller kingdoms in the west, her name is Regina, and the young Queen isn't much older than the teenage princess. Since the festival of the Kings marriage, he'd occasionally kept a mindful eye on his people, but its the Queen and Princess who keep the workings of the city flowing and the citizens under a guided wing. They would venture out into the market place, visit holy sites around the city to keep the peoples spirits up in times of need.

For several years the King had tried to sire a son to pass his title, but the gods have not been kind, a secret which is only held by few that the Queen is barren only made the man bitter and angry towards her. It is no secret amongst the Kings private maids that Leopold takes his frustrations out on his young wife and saws his seed elsewhere when he has the urge, but any sign of a bastard child and the girl in question would mysteriously disappear or be ill with fever for a month due to bleeding from within.

Minerva sighs. This may be another kingdom in Magna Graecia but it sure as hell isn't Rome. Shes never been able to stay away from the affairs of mortals, even when her father said countless times it would all end in tragedy and mindless violence. Zeus is foolish trying to forbid her, just because he's preoccupied with other things, it doesn't mean she has to sit in the clouds and watch the mortal world drift by with a goblet of wine in hand. There's been a disturbance from within the city and they all felt the rumbling prayer, shes just committed to doing something about it.

Her sandles crunch against pebbles and dirt, a long length white tunic with red stola hugging her curves and brushing through the dust as she walks toward the towering gates. Her dark hair blows to one side through the cool breeze, focused grey eyes casually sweeping the people as she follows a group of repugnant citizens into the city.

As soon as she enters, a smile grows on pink lips. She forgot how happy these places make her feel, the mortals progress in such a short amount of time is astounding, granted they stole and slaughtered to get to where they are today, but you've got to admire their skill with a hammer and chisel. Grey eyes cling to the marble statue looming into view, and just beyond, a white palace rivaling any other is sitting, waiting and judging the hundreds of thousands of people living around it.

Minerva slides passed several soldiers, careful not to draw any attention to herself but cant help enduring the odd stare and sly grin from many a men who would undoubtedly like to bed her. She carry's on toward the palace, glancing down a back ally and grimaces when spotting a whore and her payee conducting their business against the wall. A scream catches her attention, a man being beaten by several guards has her pouting, shaking her head at the brutality before one of the soldiers spits and calls the man a thief. She was right to come, maybe she could help somehow.

Further into the busy market she spots a young mother, a tattered dirty tunic and stola wrapped around a little boy by her side as they squalor in a corner, a dirty brittle hand held out and asking for spare coin. Minerva watches the woman a long while, men walking passed, eyeing her in a way that makes Minerva's rage rise, she wouldn't be surprised if the beggar has already been abused whilst on the streets. A group of women walk passed distastefully, knocking the beggars hand and demanding an apology, the woman and her son shy back, mumbling apologies before the group of higher class women spit at her and head back to their shopping. Minerva huffs, her anger stomped down quickly as she slowly approaches, crouching in front of the pair and smiling weakly. The dirty woman slowly pulls her young son toward her side, the protective move spurring Minerva forward before she reaches into her tunic and pulls out a clenched fist. Carefully she takes the beggars shaking hand, her mind flashing with images of the woman's past, her name is Fara, she was raped and became pregnant out of wedlock so her family disowned and through her out on the streets. Minerva sighs, glassy blue eyes staring apprehensively at her so she deems the girl worthy of a little miracle.

She gently lays a stone in the beggars hand and watches happily as blue eyes bulge. A pristine sapphire lays in a dirty palm, the sunlight making it glow almost magically. Before the woman can say a word, Minerva's pushing the brittle limb towards a dirty chest and heads back into the crowds of the market place. The lone beggar and her son needn't say anything, Minerva already feels the woman's confusion and joy, her hesitance, and as Minerva edges closer to the palace, shes sure she heard her new beggar friend crying out with joy. All people need sometimes is a slither of hope to pull them from darkness and guide them toward a better life..

The closer she gets to the palace, the more civilized the people. Minerva strolls through the streets, smiling at the banners and flowers covering stone and dangling from roof tops. The spring festival is tomorrow, perhaps then she can get a better grasp on what the anomaly was in the city. Invisible chatter invades her mind and she steadily pushes the jumble of words toward the back of her thoughts. In Olympus, prayers are easy to bare, but here, in the midst of the suffering, it takes control to overcome the never ending plea's.

Agile feet casually stroll into another market, this one devoid of beggars and flush with snobby higher class citizens and their escorts. Grey eyes pick out the great number of armed guards positioned around the area and she shakes her head. This King favors the rich over the poor, most tyrants are the same but for some reason, she was hoping this Leopold wasn't as idle gossip made him out to be, though, she cannot pass judgmental without knowing the man first, there is always more behind what we see with our own eyes and hear with curious ears.

A low hoot has Minerva refocusing, an elegant white owl, its talons sheathed and beak a horizon of white and black has her gliding toward it. Its blue eyes never leave her, its focus unbending as she gently caresses the silk of its chest. She almost forgot about the joys of such creatures, she had one centuries ago in the palace but Hephaestus killed it with one of his stupid inventions. It coo's at her, its head rubbing against her forearm and she smiles weakly.

"I've never seen such a creature take to someone so quickly."

Minerva continues to stroke soft feathers, the strange woman behind ignored as her focus continues to interlock with wise blue eyes.."Sometimes all it takes is a kind hand to win over such elegance."

A series of metal clangs and heavy boots slide in behind and Minerva frowns curiously. Slowly she faces her company and almost laughs at the Queen and Princess of the White Kingdom watching her expectantly, half a dozen royal guard standing defensively behind. The Princess is no older than fifteen, her dark hair wavy and half braided with flowers, her vibrant green eyes watch curiously, pink lips pulled into a slight pout as silver silks wrap around the small body elegantly. Minerva refocuses, the Queens intrigued chocolate eyes scrutinizing every inch of her grubby decorum, the woman's gold and white clothing is a little more mature than her stepdaughters, vibrant red lips placid with dark makeup outlining smooth and flawless skin. Raven hair is expertly pulled up in an elegant doo, no flowers, only a golden band buried in silken hair atop the Queens tresses.

Grey eyes inspect the bowing citizens around her, sliding to the expectant soldiers shuffling behind with gauntlets on the hilt of their swords causing pink lips pull into a genuine smile. If they think shes going to bow, then they're surely mistaken, she's been sent to the stocks before for such disrespect in this world, so Minerva simply waits patiently, focus lazily gliding back to the Queen as she scoops the squawking owl onto her arm and runs a gentle hand down its snowy feathers.

"Well?"

Minerva refocuses on the pouting princess and chuckles, shocking them somewhat. Royalty is so easily surprised when they don't get their own way..

"Here.."

Minerva extends the owl toward the Princess who only steps back anxiously as the bird gets more and more agitated. A royal knight steps forward, his blade unsheathed but it doesn't phase Minerva as the owl is pulled back and stroked tenderly.

"Just because we don't understand some things, it doesn't mean we should fear them."

"I'm not afraid! Who do you think you are addressing your Princess in such a manor?!"

Minerva looks back to her bird uninterested and it only infuriates the younger royal more. Grey eyes slide to the Queen, the woman's curious and apprehensive focus solely on her, she can see many questions forming behind guarded eyes but now's not the time nor the place to let anything come to pass. Carefully she extends the bird toward the Queen and watches a hesitant hand reach before slender fingers gently run down crescent white feathers. Pink lips smile genuinely and Minerva chuckles, perhaps there is hope yet for this Kingdom.

"Fear is essential, without it we have no courage, and without courage, we have no ambition."

"Stepmother what is she talking about?!"

They both refocus on the angry princess whose hesitantly keeping her distance from the cooing owl.

"I'm not sure Snow, it sounds like nonsense to me."

Brown eyes refocus as Minerva chuckles again and takes a small step back.

"Not everything makes sense at first, but I'm confident you'll get there eventually."

With a flash of teeth, Minerva carefully reaches into her tunic, subsequently setting off the royal guard who quickly pull their sovereigns back and jab steel at her. Very slowly she pulls out a gold coin, showing it to the armed party before its placed on the merchants desk and slid over to the owner. Minerva unties the delicate knot at the owls foot, unsheathing its razor claws and the Queen stares in awe as talons are careful not to mark the strangers skin. With one last stroke of its proud chest and discreet words in its ear, the bird is cast into the air where all eyes watch as it soars into the blue sky, the sun blinding them briefly before its gone with a shriek into the distance.

When everyone refocuses, they stare alarmed, gasps and mummers echoing around the shifty marketplace at the empty space within the center of the circular guards.

Minerva chuckles, grey eyes peering out from behind a small kiosk. She hears the princesses frantic mummers as she and the Queen are quickly escorted back toward the palace. Getting out of the situation without a full blown conversation was impossible, and shes not ready to reveal such details about anything yet. Tomorrow, then she can finally get a better picture of what this King is like...

AN: Just a few things before the next chapter, Minerva is Athena, warrior goddess of Wisdom, Law and Justice. According to some scripture i read, she used to disguise herself as Minerva in order to roam the mortal world. An owl was also considered a sign of her..

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