Ok, here's Chapter 3. If reviews goes well, I'll add more Chapters soon.Anyway, I have no witty comments for you today. Oh wait, wasn't that one? Oh wait that one was wasn't it? Wait! Oh forget it.

Copyright: Yo no poseo nada. (I don't own anything. Nada)

Chapter 3

When we reached the stable there were two carts full of all of our belongings. I found out that the first cart held our provisions, while the second cart held all of our possessions. I found Alympia saddling my favorite horse: Midnight. She nuzzled my head in greeting, and I pet her in return.

"I knew you would want her to go with you, so I prepared her for the journey," she said softly, stroking Midnight's mane.

I smiled gratefully, before I hugged her sympathetically.

"I'm sorry you can't go with us," I murmured taking the reins from her.

She smiled weakly before she said, " I am too."

We gave our farewells, and I lead Midnight over to our caravan.

"Ready to go, princess?" asked Himanri, who was our lead guard.

"Yes," I said, and reluctantly followed.

I found mother with father.

"It's for the best," he was telling her.

She nodded and with an encouraging smile turned to me.

"Ready?" I nodded and nudged Midnight to trot beside my mother's horse

. With Himanri and his right-hand man Alkalfine in the front, my mother and twenty-five servants as well as I behind him, our belongings in carts behind us, and thirty guards in the rear, we made our way out of the palace area, and then out of the city. I noticed that the route we were taking was a secret passage.

"Mother? I've never seen this route before. Where does it lead?" I inquired glancing at my surroundings.

"It's was built long ago, just for this occasion." She answered.

Pointing to a smaller tunnel that was slightly to the left, she said, "Do you see that tunnel? That leads to the north. The route we're taking leads to the south."

I nodded, amazed at everything. Our group was silent and steady, and soon we entered the forest that lay behind the city. I had heard that hadn't explored the forest, but by the steady path we took, someone had obviously traveled this way. I soon began to relax, taking in the comfort of noise and sights around me. I talked with mother, and found that she hadn't meant to be so sharp with me.

"I know how you have a tendency to argue with your Father, and I admit I shouldn't of been so cross with you," she said tugging playfully on my braid.

I smiled at her, because she hadn't done that since I was a child.

"I'm sorry, I acted selfish, Mother. I know how much you love the kingdom too," I apologized with a smile of my own.

"Well, what's done is done," she smiling.

"Now you're 21 summers Thalia, and not yet married," she said with a sparkle in her eyes.

I flushed and demanded that we not talk about it. Hunger came after more talking. And we rested for supper. We were served bread and vegetable stew. Then for desert a rich creamy pie with strawberry.

"My favorite," I said grinning at mother who just smiled with amusement.

We set-up camp and rested for the night. On my pallet I rolled to my mother's sleeping form.

"Mother," I whispered, silently hoping she was awake.

She turned to me, her eyes tired but alert.

"Yes, Thalia?"

"I can't help to admit that I'm worried. What will happen if Father doesn't escape the city safely?"

She study me before replying, "Let's just pray to the gods that he will."

I said nothing, and soon after hearing my mother's even breathing, I drifted off to sleep.

After a quick breakfast of porridge with brown sugar, we were on our way again. I found myself enjoying my mother's company, and loving the conversations I had with her. It was around mid-noon, and I felt as if I had really grown to know my mother better.

" I hadn't realized that we knew so little about each other. We have much in common," I observed after a while in my own thoughts.

Smiling at me she said, "Well you are my daughter. It is only natural that we have the same things in common. Perhaps this trip has a silver lining after all."

We talked more and I felt my mood lifting considerably.

But soon my eyes began to tire, and I shifted for a better position on the saddle.

"It's all right, Thalia," mother said observing me.

"I'll keep holds on the reigns." I smiled gratefully and leaned forward to rest my head on Midnight's mane.

I kept myself secure on the saddle by tightening a strap around my waist.

"You don't mind if I take a nap do you, boy?" I asked Midnight softly.

A small neigh was my answer. I smiled, and soon my eyelids slid close, and I drifted off into a contented sleep.