ATHENA

ONE

"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible." ~ Maya Angelou

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1826,

Along the lands of Baideon, a precipice divided the kingdom of Thestoria (also known as the White Territory) and the kingdom of Duwa (also known as the Black Territory).

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The Kingdom of Duwa, The Black Territory

The Royal Palace

There was something terribly wrong.

She just knew it. She could feel it. Even as Mama stroked her hair, she felt the tension through her hands, the way her hands quivered every now and then atop her head.

Laid on her back, Athena stared at the floral painted ceiling, how the black dying rose pattern that looked like a thin woman pushing her hands forward in a slow dance was over the plain white.

Athena's insides were churning with ineffable emotions, and so she tried to picture something else, something sparking the least humor she could find at that moment. Something that didn't look so gory, that didn't involve so much melancholy.

It was the White people again, she knew. They had done something horrible again. Then why else would Papa have gone to their territory for almost two weeks now? Why else would Mama be so edgy right now? Mama had tried to hide what bothered her. But Athena could see it. She could see all of it.

"Try to sleep, Athena." Her mother whispered beside her ear.

"I'm trying."

Truth was, she couldn't, and she wasn't even trying at all.

She heard her mother let out a shaky breath, hands on her thighs. She moved to the window and drifted the curtain a little so she could look outside the window. After some seconds of looking down at the compound of the castle, Athena saw her mother take her knuckles to her lips-a sign she was agitated.

When her eyes met Athena's, she spoke with clear tremor in her voice. "Just close your eyes, darling."

Biting her lower lip, Athena did. But not long after, someone knocked on the door of her room. She sat up immediately. Both mother and child were extremely startled.

"Who is it?" Her mother asked, eyes reflecting something akin to horror.

"Louis, your highness."

Her mother didn't hide her relief. "Oh, enter."

Sir Louis Hartford entered, dressed in his battle attire and holding a bow and arrow. He looked anxious as he bowed his head. "Your Majesty."

Athena saw the anticipation all over her mother, the moisture in her eyes and the trembling of her lips.

"He's back."

Athena heard her mother's sharp release of breath. Alleviation washed over her so intensely, she placed her hand on her chest. "Thank God! Oh God."

Athena understood her father had arrived but she did not utter a word.

"Where is he?"

"He's in the throne room, your majesty."

Her mother turned to her immediately and came to cup her face. "Stay right here, Athena."

Athena searched her mother's brown eyes, confused. "I want to see him, too."