Ares walked back with Snow, discussing how best to move forward. "We need to train as much as we can," said Ares, "I asked Borias to come here on his way to the palace."
"How long do we have?" Snow asked.
"A few weeks," Ares told her.
"A few weeks!?" she said shocked, "Will I even be ready?"
"You will," Ares said, "you're already learning faster than I ever believed possible."
The two walked in silence for awhile. The kiss was nagging at her thoughts and Snow knew she needed to address it.
"That kiss," she said, biting her lip, "it didn't mean anything. I was just caught up in the heat of the fight."
Ares flashed her a smile. "I understand," he said, "fighting can often bring up emotions that we didn't know were there or that we don't want to express."
Snow's cheeks turned red at his implication that she had a crush on him. "Any feelings I may have had are gone now," she said.
Ares just smiled and they walked in silence for the rest of the journey. It was about lunch time when they entered the clearing. Both halted when they saw a few tents pitched in the clearing. Men in armor walked around, seeing that everything was being set up proper.
Snow saw that Doc was talking to a tall man with long dark hair, a sword at his side. SHe looked to Ares who looked a mixture of confused and angry.
She followed him as he approached the man and Doc. "Borias!" he growled, "I told you to give me a few weeks."
"Forgive me," he said with a heavy Hungarian accent, "but my men are better and faster fighters than I thought."
"Is this the young woman you spoke of?" Borias said. His eyes fell on Snow. He grabbed her hand, kissing it gently, "I am Borias."
Snow tried her hardest not to blush, "I am Snow White."
"The stories are true," said Borias, "you are indeed a beautiful woman."
This time she knew she blushed, "Why thank-you, sir."
Borias let out a laugh, "Do not call me sir, just Borias," he said with a wink.
"We still have a lot of training to do," said Ares.
"That is fine," said Borias, "I would like to help with her training if that pleases you, Ares?"
"It would be good for her to fight an ordinary human," Ares said, "fine but I hope your being here doesn't mess up our plans."
"I assure you Lord Ares, it will not," said Borias, "how about the three of us dine together in my tent so we can discuss some matters."
"Sounds brilliant," Snow said.
Aphrodite sat down for lunch with the Queen. Grimhilde wore black, feigning mourning for Snow White. By now the whole kingdom was aware of the unfortunate hunting accident. The Queen even had the huntsman executed so no one would know of her involvement.
But they hadn't gotten too far into supper when a servant entered the dining room. "My queen, a man is here to speak with you," he said, "he says it is urgent."
The Queen raised her brow, clearly interested in what this man had to say. "Very well," she said, "send him in."
They didn't wait long before a broad man entered the room. "Hello my Queen, I am General Laver, I have news of Snow White," said the man.
"What sort of news? She's dead," said the Queen, laughing.
"She is not dead," said the man, "she was spotted training to fight in a clearing."
"Who spotted this woman?" she asked.
"One of my scouts," he said, "it seems she will be joining forces with Borias and his army."
"Very well," she said, "Thank-you for this information, I will see to it that you get a handsome reward."
The man bowed before leaving. The Queen turned to Aphrodite. "I thought the girl was dead?"
"I thought she was too," said APhrodite, "I'm just as surprised as you are."
"Did you actually see the huntsman kill her?" the Queen.
"Well no not exactly," Aphrodite said nervously.
"Then how could you know she was dead? You're a goddess, you don't bother checking up on these kind of things?"
"I heard her scream and he had the heart, I just assumed she was dead," said Aphrodite.
"Well I supposed everyone makes mistakes," the Queen said. She clapped her hands and a servant carried out a silver tray, upon it was an apple pie.
"How about we have dessert?" the Queen asked, a wicked smile playing on her lips.
"I'm not feeling all that well," said Aphrodite, "I think I'm going to go consult Hermes. When gods get sick it can be pretty messy."
Aphrodite jumped up, heading out of the dining room before the Queen had time to protest. But the Queen wasn't stupid, she would know that gods don't get sick.
Aphrodite met with Ares and Hades in a grove of trees near the safe house. "The Queen knows that Snow White lives," Aphrodite told them, "and I think she's starting to suspect I'm not loyal to her."
"This might ruin our plans," said Hades, "what should we do?"
"No it doesn't ruin our plans at all," said Ares, "so the Queen now knows that Snow White is joined up with Borias, but she wouldn't dare come after her with Borias's army here. No, she'll wait for us to come to her."
"But we need someone on the inside," said Hades, "and if she suspects that APhrodite isn't loyal to her… there could be trouble."
"Aphrodite you must do something drastic, something that will change the tide so she doesn't suspect your treachery," Ares said.
"Like what?" Aphrodite asked.
"Come back with the god of war," Ares said, "I trust Borias can train Snow from here. I will then also be in the heart of the castle and able to help when the time comes. She will know your loyalty because you will have captured the one in charge of this whole war."
Aphrodite smiled, "This is so crazy it just might work."
