Chapter One

Darcie screamed as Dravin grabbed her as to make sure she didn't fall. A man stood up from the front of the room, "Who are you, lower gods and goddesses hoping to gain praise here?"

Dravin shook his head, showing the man the silver arrow, "We were sent by Apollo." He bowed, "I am named Dravin, one of Apollo's warriors." He then turned to Darcie, "And this is Darcie, one of Apollo's favored mortals."

A younger man stood up. He had longer blackish hair and beautiful blue eyes. He smiled, "Father, let us listen to them."

Darcie came forward, smiling at all three men that were standing in front of them, "My guardian and I were sent here to stop a terrible fate."

The oldest of the three whisked his hand to the side, "The court is dismissed."

Every other man stood up and left the room, leaving the three with Darcie and Dravin. The younger man came forward, "Who are you?"

"We have already told you," Darcie sighed, rolling her eyes. She shook her head, "And who may you be?"

"I am Paris, prince of Troy!" He stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

Darcie shook her head, "That makes no difference, prince!"

'Dravin, say that Darcie is a princess of a foreign land. Tell them that you are her warrior as well as her guardian.' Dravin froze in his place as he heard Apollo's voice echoing.

Dravin cleared his throat, "My charge here, Princess Darcie, is princess of a foreign land called…" He cleared his throat once again, thinking of a place to name.

Darcie smirked at his loss of words. She shook her head, "I am princess of a land called…" She chewed on the bottom of her lip, "I am princess of a land called," she then smiled, "New Zealand."

Dravin moaned quietly as Paris stared at her, "And this is how your women dress in your land?"

Darcie looked down at herself, laughing as she saw she was still wearing her uniform from their raid, "Oh, yes, some women wear this."

Dravin watched as both walked out of the room. He laughed, "It seems she is at it again!"

The third man shook his head, chuckling lightly, "It seems my brother is once again trying to seduce women."

"He will not succeed this time, I am afraid," Dravin shook his head, "King Priam, we were sent here to stop your son from bringing Queen Helen back here. If he succeeds and we fail, Troy will be no more. Such a war will take place that there shall be nothing of Troy left!"

Priam smiled at Dravin, "Young man, do what you have to do for the sake of Troy. If Apollo has sent you here, then it must be true." He nodded at the other man standing with him, "Hector will show you to where you shall be staying. You may then find your princess and come to dinner."

Hector smiled at Dravin, "So you are a warrior as well?"

Dravin nodded, "Yes, I am quite the warrior of my land." He then frowned, "But my other companion that was with us seems to have been left behind."

'She has a different purpose in this time, Dravin, remember that.' Apollo's voice flittered through the room, causing Dravin to shake his head.

"I will never get used to that!" He sighed, following Hector to his room.

Hector opened the door to show a brilliant room, "This shall be your room, warrior. Your princess' room shall be right across the hall."

Dravin chuckled and shook his head, "My name is Dravin, you can just call me that if you want."

Hector smiled as Dravin put out his hand. He took it with certainty, "Well, Dravin, I can see that this will be quite a relationship we will forge."

Dravin nodded, "I hope the relationship earns me respect in this world." He then smiled, "So friends we shall be!"

"More like brothers," Darcie's voice was heard behind them.

Dravin turned around and couldn't contain his laughter. Darcie was standing there, holding Paris in a headlock. He shook his head, "Oh the lives we lead!"

Darcie let Paris go, looking innocent, "What?" She held up her hands, "I can't help it!"

"My princess, are you ready for dinner?" Dravin asked, lifting his eyebrows.

Darcie smirked as she looked at Paris. Dravin knew that her smirk was devious, but decided not to tell the two unsuspecting mortals beside them. She then nodded, "Yes, I am very ready for dinner." She then whispered to Dravin, "How in the hell can we speak their language?"

"Ask Apollo that question sometime, why don't you, my princess!" Dravin chuckled as they both followed Hector and Paris back to the dining hall.

"Hey, it wasn't my grand idea to be labeled a princess, you know!" Darcie almost growled, "You know I hate the way they act!"

Dravin shrugged, "We'll just say it is different in our land." He then smiled once again, "Hey, use this to your advantage! Scope out the area, just in case Apollo's plan doesn't work. We can find a way to fortify the walls to help them in their time of need!"

"Are you so sure that this will work? Will I be able to do what Apollo asks of me?" Darcie asked.

!

That night, Darcie moaned as she laid down in bed, "What have I gotten myself into? Apollo, why have you done this to us? Why have you broken up our team?"

'You will save hundreds of lives if you succeed, Darcie.'

Darcie sighed, "Yes, but for what cost? I am no princess, Apollo, and Dravin is not a warrior of this time. How are we to survive in this war that is to come?"

'That is where my daughter fits in, Darcie. She shall be there if you need her. I am training her as a warrior just so she will be able to protect both of you if the time arises.' Apollo's voice echoed in her mind.

The door slammed open to show Dravin standing there, a grim face on, "Darcie, we've got trouble."

"What is it?" Darcie asked.

Dravin shook his head, "Darcie, of all the stupid things!" He threw a blue dress at her, "You are to wear this tomorrow." At Darcie's glare, Dravin shrugged, "Paris handed it to me and told me to give it to you."

Darcie pointed at it in disgust, "There is no way in all the world that you will get me into the vile thing!" She then flinched, "Did it just move?" She screamed, "It moved! It is trying to take over me!" She shook her head, "Curse you Apollo!"

'Watch who you curse, young one. For I will not be so nice the next time this happens.'

!

I sighed as my father turned back to me, "Zollo, you must be ready when the time arises!"

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, no pressure!" I threw my hands up, my two swords in them, "Just thousands of lives hanging on the balance!"

Apollo came at me, his sword held high, "Suppose you were like this in battle!"

I blocked his attack and quickly whipped around, bringing my swords up to his throat, "I defeat my enemies and continue my conversation with myself. Is that too hard to comprehend, father?"

Apollo laughed heartily as I pulled away from him, smirking lightly, "Oh, I should have Ares spar against you. You are a natural with those!"

"And what of a bow? If I am to be your daughter than I sure as hell better be able to shoot one just as deadly as you!" I nodded, grabbing the golden bow that Apollo had put on my back at the beginning of our training.

Apollo turned as he heard a voice. I blinked as I saw a man standing there. Apollo smiled, "Ah, Ares, my brother!"

I couldn't help the fact but to look shocked. Ares, the god of war, my uncle! He walked over to me, ruffling my hair, "Ah, so you are what the talk of Mount Olympus is about!"

I growled, pushing his hand off my head, "Don't mess with my hair!" I quickly unsheathed my swords and swiped them at him. He chuckled and spun away from me, quickly bringing a spear up to my throat. I snarled and pushed the spear away from my neck, "No!" I then swiped at him once again, only to end up in the same predicament.

Ares nodded, "She is good, Apollo, but not quite good enough."

"So you want to help, is that what, brother?" Apollo smirked, crossing his arms over his chest and sitting in his throne. He spread his arms wide, "Be my guest. Be my guest."

Ares quickly spun towards me and lashed out with his spear. I spun away, bringing up my swords as he spear once again came at me. The spear bounced off the swords, giving me a chance to attack freely. I smirked and lunged in, bringing my swords up to his throat, "I win!"

Ares nodded at Apollo, "She is good. In the heat of battle, she shall be victorious."

"Even against Achilles?" Apollo asked.

"Even against Achilles," Ares echoed my father.

I looked at my father, "Achilles? Is that what I am to do, fight against Achilles?" I shook my head, "You cannot mean it!"

"I mean what I say, my daughter," Apollo answered me.

I quickly spun around as I felt a strong presence. A woman was standing there, smiling at me like she had known me forever. "Ah, my niece! You look so beautiful!" She walked forward, giving me a good look at the bow across her back, "Even Aphrodite is jealous of you."

"Ah, beloved sister!" My father seemed overjoyed. I looked confused as he put a hand on my shoulder, "You have heard of Artemis, Zollo, I know you have."

My face showed my glee, "Oh, that is right! Apollo and Artemis are twins!" I ran over to her, wrapping my arms around her, "Then you are my closest aunt!"

Artemis smiled as she looked at my father, "Apollo, she most definitely has your charm!" She nodded, "She will be a hard one for Achilles to resist! A fine choice, a fine choice."

"What are you speaking of?" I asked, confused.

"You have not told her, brother?" Artemis asked, looking Apollo in the eyes.

Apollo shook his head, "No, not yet. I was awaiting the moment when the need would arise for her."

"Aphrodite might just decide to make her yet another of her victims, brother, are you willing to risk that?" Artemis asked.

"She can withstand anything, Artemis," Apollo answered easily.

Artemis took a step away from me, "As you say, brother, but remember, she is your only daughter that is still with you. She is the only one that is worthy. Do not let Aphrodite have her way." She then nodded towards me, "I shall be your guardian in battle, my niece, you may know that and breathe easy." She then looked at Ares, "Talk to Hephastus, Ares, see if he will make her a shield to protect her from harm. Some armor would be appropriate as well."

Ares nodded, smiling at me, "He would be greatly happy to make her what she needs. I have a feeling he will want to deliver it personally."

I couldn't believe my ears. The gods wanted to meet me, of all people. One of the most hated humans, and the gods wished to meet me. I opened my mouth, bowing my head, "I thank you with the bottom of my heat, all of you."

"My dear, no need to bow to us!" I looked up as I heard Ares' laughing voice, "You are one of us as we are one of you! You are more than those mortals down there. You have a purpose, they are just there for sport!"

"Not every one of them," I mumbled, looking towards the pool, "My friends have a purpose, they will always have a purpose, and when they don't, I shall not have a purpose. It is as simple as that!"

Artemis smiled and nodded, "She has you in her, my brother." With those words, she disappeared.

Ares laughed, "Apollo, she is the right one! What offspring you bear!" Finally with those words, Ares left as well, leaving me standing there, a warm feeling in my heart at the feel of being wanted for once.

Apollo smiled at me, nodding at the pool, "Would you like to see how your friends are faring in this world that you wish to call home?"