When your love is at stake, you make the impossible possible; at any costs.
- Diary Of Ophelia
Meanwhile on the deck of The Artemis:
A lone slender figure moved around, trying to stay in the shadows while creeping about on the deck of the ship. The moon hung from some point of the heaven and let her rays reach out and flow onto the ocean like a shiny new carpet. Rare moments of tranquility persisted in the atmosphere.
The ship was anchored in the middle of nowhere, to let the tired crew have some much required sleep. Only a handful of guards were left to patrol the deck and to pay attention to the surroundings inorder to make sure that no danger may fall upon their brethren.
The shady figure rushed to hide behind a large number of barrels when a pair of voices came its way.
" How are you faring, Ajax? " A young male voice could be heard asking with a laugh.
" How can you tease me about that! And you call yourself my best friend! " Another youthful voice groaned.
" I couldn't help it. I never knew you had such a weak stomach. " A muffled laughter tinted with amusement rang out. A pair of young men who seemed to be in their late teenage years became visible under the moonlight. Both of them were wearing short chitons of black cotton. They had a spear each held loosely in their right palms. The shorter among them, who was a great brawny brute, had a large grin plastered onto his face. He seemed to be enjoying the reaction of his best friend to the teasing.
" Angelino!! " The tall young man glared at his companion. His face had a pallid complexion.
" Fine, fine! It's not as if I'm going to tell all about today to Amara when we return. " Angelino shot Ajax a wicked look.
" Don't you dare! "
" Ha ha! Look at your face! "
" Duh!! She won't believe it! " Ajax pulled himself up and turned his face away in disdain.
" Let's see who she'll believe; her own sweetest big brother or her beau. On top of that, I'll have the whole crew to back me up. " Angelino raised an eyebrow at him with a teasing smile.
" Feeling drowsy and being sick when one travels across the ocean is not something to be ashamed of. " Ajax stated and made a face at Angelino.
" Once, twice or even thrice is acceptable, my dear friend. But you were going on and on. If we didn't....."
A sudden noise interrupted their lively chatter and brought their attention to the group of barrels of wine.
" It should be those blasted rats. " Ajax commented while staring at the barrels.
" Tread with care and....attack! " Both of them threw handfuls of rat repelling powder from a satchel around their waist towards the back of the barrels.
" Aah-choo! Ahchoo! " Loud sneezes were heard which did manage to surprise the pair of young men.
" Who is it? Show yourself! " They pointed their spears in the direction of the barrels and shouted. A slender figure, clothed in a short black chiton emerged from cluster of barrels.
**Cough** **Cough**
" Don't bother to attack. " **Cough** " It's me. " A high pitched voice managed to make itself audible. The stranger took off the cloth covering the lower half of her face.
" Sergeant Thelma?? " The young men voiced out simultaneously. They sounded incredulous.
The guards on duty from all around the ship had reached there by then. There was a murmured chorus of 'Sergeant Thelma' from them all.
" Why were you hiding behind the barrels, Sergeant? " A young boy asked her in a clueless tone.
" What do you mean, soldier? Why would I hide myself behind some measly barrels of wine? Are you calling me a thief? " She asked with haughter.
" Of course n-not, Sergeant. " The boy stuttered with fear. Sergeant Thelma was well-known for her strict standards of punishment and training sessions. They had never had the opportunity to see her smile yet. She seemed to have been a soldier ever since she was born. There were rumours of her being in love with Lieutenant Perseus, since he was the only one with whom she lowered her guard and conversed pleasantly. With him, she was someone else. Her facial features would no longer be set in stone. She would talk more than just barking out commands. They were both seen together on many instances. But no one had the courage to confirm their speculations.
" Thelma! "
" Your Highness. " Sergeant Thelma knelt immediately on seeing the Crown Prince.
" You...! Go back to your positions, soldiers. I have something to discuss with the Sergeant."
" Yes, Your Highness. "
The soldiers dispersed quickly. Leo gazed at Thelma steadily with a stern air about his whole being. She stared right back without a flinch. Only she was aware of her wet palms and quivering heart.
" In my cabin! Right now. " Leo issued an order and walked away from her.
She let out the breath she was holding back in a silent 'whoosh' and paused to remove her leather accessories from her leg. She had tied strips of leather dipped in black paint all around her leg upto the thighs. It worked as a camouflage.
" What's the delay!!? Follow me! " Leo gave out a sharp command.
" Yes, Your Highness! " Thelma hurried behind the Crown Prince towards his cabin. The cabin was on the right side of the ship. It had a flight of stairs going down towards it from the deck.
The cabin was not what she had in mind. It was very spacious. There was a simple cot of maple wood on the far right corner of the room, which could fit a tall man like the Crown Prince comfortably. It had a white mattress which gave of an impression of it being a goose feather filled one.
' That must be one super comfortable place to sleep in. '
On the left, towards the middle end, there was a three-legged short table covered with various maps. A chair made of oak was placed beside it. She was shocked about how the scrolls were placed on the table without order. Leo was never a man who loved mess. In fact, he was quite the opposite.
' What must have caused him to be like this? ' She wondered.
The floor of the cabin was covered by a rough carpet. There were lamps placed strategically, inorder to produce the best lighting possible. The ocean was visible through a round window made of glass on the side opposite to the door.
A wooden rectangular box was kept under the cot. Two spears and a shield along with a sword was placed against the wall on the eastern side. The cabin of Crown Prince Leo seemed to be the only one of its kind in the ship.
" Why!? " The sudden sharp question brought back Thelma from her intense scrutiny of the ship. Leo was frowning at her with his hands tied against his chest in a show of dominance.
" I want to visit and explore the lands beyond our island. Since you had announced that you are taking only men with you and since I am a woman, I had no other choice than to hide. " Thelma informed Leo without a flinch, befitting her role as the Sergeant of the Isles of Athena.
" Such a condition was placed because I did not want women along with me during this trip, no matter what. " He was fairly shouting by the time he completed the sentence.
" I'm sorry, Your Highness. But what's done is done. "
" The insolence! " Leo was bristling with anger by then.
" I apologise. I promise not to create any sort of trouble for you. Who knows, you may find out that I am quite useful to have on board. I did not became the Sergeant without reason. " Thelma spoke in her usual emotionless tone.
" I should have you thrown into the ocean for what you have done. I won't do so. You know why. But that doesn't mean that you are exempted from your due punishment. " Leo spoke in a resigned manner which went onto become strict.
" Yes, Your Highness. "
" You may go and bring you luggage. You'll be sleeping in here in my cabin. " He gave out an order.
" What!? "
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