Romancing Theseus

By V. Pinder

No princess was supposed to stop Theseus Quest.

Especially not one demanding to join him.

Can he protect a princess when he needs to fight a monster?

On the quest to save Athens from the Minotaur, Theseus finds falling in love the most difficult task of all.

Theseus, embarks on a quest to defeat the rising forces of evil which threatens Athens so he sets out to meet the revered King Aegeus. When that opportunity presents itself, he intends to prove his worthiness, but soon his journey ushers in unexpected distractions. But one such distraction may turn out to be a blessing in disguise... if he’s willing to open his heart and give his all to have her in his life.

Princess Ariadne never asked for this life, but in her world, her father unapologetically dictates her every move, including who she will marry. But when he sends her to meet her new bridegroom, his direct orders place her in danger.

Theseus never imagined that his journey would include rescuing a beautiful princess from a savage attack. With their lives thrown off balance, he and Ari tempt fate and continue on to Athens together. Or that he’d face the impossible Minotaur, a savage beast who is half-man, half-bull to save Athens and all those he’s grown to love. With so many obstacles against them and no guarantees that their relationship can succeed, is their budding romance doomed for failure or far worse?

Get the myth of Theseus told as a romance novel Now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victoria Pinder
• Release date: Feb 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463119662

V. Pinder

Victoria Pinder also writing under Greta Buckle grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, then became a lawyer. After realizing she hates clients, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is fun, but writing is a passion. She wrote one hundred and one fan fiction stories online before deciding to transition into writing her own stories. Never ask her to republish her fan stories from age eleven- horribly written stories of princesses. Victoria dreams of writing professionally, where her barista can make her coffee and a walk on the beach, can motivate her tales. Theseus story came to her when she was a freshman in high school as her English teacher, the nun, told her how life was hard and tragedy teaches lessons. The sci fi stories come from years of Star Trek and Star Wars fandom. Victoria’s love of writing has kept her centered and focused. How is she crazy? The voices in her head are characters in novels and she’s not insane.

Book preview

Fantasy Novels

Please check out my other fantasy novels while you wait for the next adventures.

Hidden Dragon Series

Call of the Dragon

Dawn of the Dragon

Escape of the Dragon (Coming Soon!)

The Queen Gene

Whispers of a Throne

Earthseekers Mission

Makeup May Change Your Life

The Zoastra Affair

Ancient Greek Heroes

Mything You

Mything the Throne

Chapter 1

Theseus, you’re covered in blood! Are you hurt? His mother’s voice rose in surprise from the kitchen counter where she still clenched her paring knife.

No, mother. It’s not my blood. Theseus reassured her while stepping further into the house. I’m fine. I had to wrestle a lion from trying to snack on two of the village children.

Oh… She blinked. In another minute she’ll be back to normal, and talking about food.

They’re fine. I dropped them off by their parents. He went to the vase with water to cleanse his hands. Their mom was late, and I stayed until she arrived, which made me late for dinner.

The air tinged with her sudden change of mood. She always waved off his deeds as superficial adventures. Could she have realized he was ready? Her stare enflamed his hope.

Theseus understood he had a destiny, beyond his small village. Was it time?

His mother had been raised a King’s daughter, and his father ruled Athens. The glorious city-state grew in trading power, and outshone the military might of Sparta. Despite this knowledge, Theseus had never left the white buildings and blue ocean of his sea side fishing town. After learning his bloodline four years ago, his mother hadn’t let him pursue it.

What’s on your mind? he asked his mother.

I think you know, my dearest boy.

Adrenaline and excitement pumped in his body. Adventure hung in the air. Containing his glee to be free, he said, Mother, leaving won’t change me, and if you need me...

His mother depended on him to help her with the daily chores. At age fifteen, he had dug up a heavy dark rock marked with symbols of a sword and a shield carved in white. The rock had laid on top of a pair of ancient sandals in the sand not far from his home. It was the night he had caught a wild wolf scrounging around and had shot an arrow from his bow to protect his mother. Before falling asleep that night she had told him of his parentage. Since then, he’d been on physical notice of his heritage. It had become an obsession for him to find out why he was kept hidden, while his father remained a powerful king.

His mother’s refused for him to leave, always with the excuse he found out too young. The rejection hurt. Two years later when he turned seventeen, he accepted he hadn’t been ready to handle the large responsibilities that lay before him. The clock ticked much slower for the next year.

You’re a man now, Theseus. I can’t keep you here anymore. It’s time you go to your father in Athens.

Seeing a tear in his mother’s eye, he felt her pain at the loss of his leaving. But at the same time, the world tilted for Theseus, and his heart raced. He hugged his mother. His feet ached to experience the road and fresh air in his lungs of the journey. Finally, it was time.

He had her permission which meant no ill will would drift on the wind hitting his back during his travels. He’d meet his father, the King of Athens. Going meant he had passed their test; they thought he was ready. He was a man now. Good.

King Aegeus of Athens had a reputation of being fair and honorable, but the man had never once visited his son. If Theseus were King he would make sure to visit his son, spending time with him, and teaching him all about the importance of being a king.

His mother fussed with a cloth to cleanse his face. With unshed tears in her eyes, she asked, Why didn’t you wash before coming to dinner?

Taking her hands in his, he met her eyes, You’re a stickler for being on time when it comes to hot food.

Maybe I’m wrong. Are you ready to leave me? She sounded half hopeful, half sad.

You claim my father is a great man, good husband and wonderful king, yet I’ve never met him. He smiled down at her. If you spoke the truth, it’s time for me to meet him.

She closed her eyes. I never lied. He’s everything I said. Finish your dinner before you pack.

---

A few hours later, Theseus picked up a packed bag holding the rock embedded with his father’s insignia and the shoes to prove his identity. Now he had nothing to hold him back.

At the doorway, his mother stood staunch and sad for him. Every day for his entire life he had envisioned Athens bathed in light calling him towards it, the city of his birth, but now when he had her permission, he argued with her to stay out of obligation for her. You or grandfather might need my help.

We are strong and capable. You need not worry about us. She wiped his clean face, thinking she must see some spot. He had bathed off the blood of the wild lion he had killed while protecting two children in town earlier in the day. His understanding clubbed him on the back of the head and he hugged her. She hugged him back before she finished, King Aegeus is a wise, strong man and has let us live here in peace, Theseus. But now you must go to him and take your rightful place. I’ve hired a ship to take you to him.

In the distance he saw the green mountain with the white snow-covered top beckoning him to climb and start his journey towards Athens on the main road. The ship would avoid land and he’d arrive in a day or less. The road possessed a freedom he needed to experience, where he would forged his identity.

When he was fifteen and learned King Aegeus was his father, his feet pointed towards the road, needing to run and discover answers to a million questions. He dreamed of the open road and the possible adventures he’d encounter when he had discovered his heritage. No, he had dreamed of seeing the world long before the moment, but now he had a purpose.

Who was he? Theseus, son of Aegeus, King of Athens. His feet itched to run free, and learn what type of man he was sired from.

His childhood training learning to fight from the Centaur, Spartans, and heroes now made sense to him, if he was to protect one of the biggest trading centers of the known world.

His mother pulled back from his hug, and she reached for his bag. Theseus needed to tell her. The ship would be fast, but it would not fulfill his dream. Fast meant no epic adventure, no adrenaline rush. He liked the thrill of adventure. He needed his father to hear the name Theseus before he ever stepped foot into Athens. Aegeus, his father, had an undeniable reputation for being a great king. Outside of his village, no one had ever heard of Theseus. At least on the road, he’d earn a reputation for being fair, honest and strong. He’d never been to Athens and knew nothing of ruling, but a king’s son should prove himself worthy of being a noble. He sucked in his breathe, and held steady to his bag.

No, I will go on land. Theseus said to his mother. He planned his walk, with the possibility of facing danger along the way. It’s what I want.

The ship will be faster. his mother argued. Athenian ships are the best made ships known to man.

The road presents less danger, Mother. He kissed her on the cheek. She’d never believe him, but he really didn’t want her to worry. I will come back for you once I’m settled in my father’s household.

I expect grandchildren, she smiled.

Mother, don’t. He wasn’t ready to think about getting himself a wife. Not yet. Her beliefs had nothing to do with his sense of travel.

You’re going out in the world, Theseus, where women of strength and character are found.

Unlike the prophesies you believe, I don’t. No one has to die for me to meet a woman. They crawl in from the window.

I said a woman of strength and character, not someone I’ll chase away with a broom. She laughed, though he knew she was serious.

He nodded with respect, then stared hard at his mother for a moment. Would this be the last time he saw her? His mother believed in the predictions of death encircling the meeting of this prophesized mystery woman. Mom, life would be different if you looked more logically. The oracle that told you to raise me here, instead of Athens with my father, you should have never believed everything the oracle had to say. The gods do not roam the land, despite all those stories.

I gave up my love for your father so you can find your own true love. Don’t hesitate. If you find her, keep her.

Mother, you shouldn’t have, and I’m not going in search of whoever she might be. He focused on the mountain in the distance for a second, turning back to her one more time. Everything will be fine.

His father had cheated on his mother, most likely. Her hiding away in a ‘white houses with blue roofs’ sea side town had never made much sense to him if his father ruled the kingdom. He’d ask his father every question he could. If he didn’t like the answers, Theseus would refuse the crown.

Good luck, Theseus. Take care, my son.

Farewell, Mother.

Twenty minutes later, he walked to the base of the mountain and looked up. The clean, green cypress trees covered his view, and Theseus broke into a run. His sandals digging into the dirt on this climb began his journey now. He’d make his way to Athens on his own. The salty smell of the fresh sea air in Greece wafted in his lungs. He traversed the mountain on the first day, seeing the snow white tip of the top, before he reached a valley. The tall green grass and trees decorated the bottom before he saw another mountain. The hills of Greece were legendary, but he’d rather see what might be around the next corner.

He’d meet many travelers on the way, and as he held his sword, he wished to find the journey of a lifetime.

Chapter 2

Three days later, the brown never-ending dirt road snaking through the green forests, and the rocky coastline kept winding. The cliffs impressed him more today as they were higher than he’d ever seen, but scenery never interested him for more than a moment. The sun position in the sky hit mid afternoon, and he hadn’t seen a traveler all day.

The air stilled and his ears perked open.

Theseus heard a scream as he walked down a path, making him stop in his tracks.

Thud.

Death was in the air.

He crept down and followed the noise. He watched as a band of thieves rummaged through a wagon full of noble women’s attire, papers, jewelry, and gold. Theseus’ eyes narrowed on one man, who forcibly held a woman’s neck, forcing her to kneel near the jetting rocks of the cliffs.

Porcelain skin spotting red and terror-filled green eyes caught his attention. Whoever she was, she captivated him with her beauty. Theseus had never beheld anything quite like her. She was perfect in every way, even while she clawed at her aggressor for her freedom.

He watched as she was pushed down to the ground closer to the rocky edge. She fought back. The thief’s huge hand held her tight at her neck, controlling where her body moved.

Seeing perfection being humiliated struck a nerve, and Theseus had a strong urge to protect this woman.

The man stood up, pulling the woman along with him, clearly intending on pushing her down off the cliff or torturing her by dangling her off the cliff.

If Theseus didn’t act fast, she’d die.

Theseus armed his bow, aimed his first arrow, and shot into the herd of men. The projectile struck its target, the man’s wrist. The man continued to hold her neck in his fingers.

The woman, seeing her fate had changed, put her hands on the arrow in his wrist and twisted until she was free. She took in air to her lungs, before she ran. Theseus closed his eyes in thanks for a second when he saw her relief. The men who looted the gold in the carriage let her pass, and armed themselves with swords preparing for a fight.

Pulling out his own sword, Theseus had his chance to prove himself against men. He’d waited years for this opportunity. Theseus ran into the crowd at full throttle, taking the thieves by surprise.

He knocked out two men from throwing himself over them. He took the third man’s sword, stuck it in the man opposite him before pushing his helmet into the unarmed man. Two other men turned tail and ran.

Arming herself with a rock, Theseus saw the woman prepare to aim the rock at him while she asked, Are you the one who shot him?

Yes. Theseus answered the courageous beauty.

Thank you. The woman stepped back, putting her rock down, a clear sign of tentative trust. Turning towards the cliff, he lost sight of her face. He remained still, waiting for her to react. Facing him again, her green eyes had shots of red in them before she spoke in a regal tone. Sciron, he made them kneel before him and brought their face to his disgusting boot, then he kicked my escorts off the cliff. Whoever you are, you’ve done me and Greece a favor.

Theseus, my name is Theseus. And who are you?

Ariadne. Do you know who you killed?

Doesn’t matter. Men do not throw women off cliffs. Her name reverberated in his head. He’d never seen green eyes on a woman with dark hair, though upon closer gaze, he wondered if she had more of a hazel blue.

Good men. He is not. If you let Sciron live, he’ll kick more people off cliffs. I’d heard stories of him, but until today I hadn’t believed the tales. The driver’s son was a mere babe, no more than two. Sciron laughed at that death. The whispers of that man from the mouths of Greek travelers traveled across the sea.

You’re not Greek? Other than her eyes, she possessed olive skin tone, dark hair, and full lips.

Close. I’m from Phrygia. Her voice faltered when she continued talking, Many sailors call the sea between our lands bathwater, but I hate sailing.

Theseus wiped the dirt off his face, taking in the full view of the woman. Ariadne sounded so formal. Ari suited her better. She held her head high, the small black mark next to her nose making her face more radiant and beautiful. Perhaps in the royal world women looked like she did, but in his home village she’d be called a goddess born on earth.

She stood next to him, put her hand on his fighting arm, and bowed her head. Heroes are rare. Free the world of this scourge.

Is that your royal command from the House of Phrygian?

Her eyes widened at him, and Theseus wished artists could get the spirit of this woman into one of the murals. Until today, he’d never seen anyone like her.

She asked him, How did you know?

Her