Together
Together he said
She laughs
Together forever, he said, and yet here she was, slowly rising from her seat in the amphitheatre, walking towards the podium set in front of his shroud.
As if the fates would let them stay together. As if the gods would help him. Help him, help him survive, live to see another day, to continue on. But then he would be in pain, and she couldn't do that to him. All Apollo had done was make him comfortable. Nothing more.
She just wanted him back, just long enough for one more day, one more night, another kiss, another hug. And yet, standing there, she knew she would never get another anything regarding him. Maybe another tear, another day with a broken heart.
She never knew how easy it was to lose him. He was always so strong, so brave, so heroic.
Maybe too heroic.
He hadn't even hesitated in jumping in front of a Roman camper, one who went on to die anyway. He was always so heroic. And in the end it killed him.
She had arrived at the podium all too quickly. She stood there for a moment, taking in the sight before her.
The romans were all off to the right side and Piper could see the tears running down some of their faces, particularly Reyna's. To the left sat the other Greeks. Her eyes scanned the crowd, locking with Annabeth at the front who smiled weakly before giving small nod.
"I'm Piper, all though most if not all of you know. Jason and I, well, I don't know what you'd call us. Boyfriend/girlfriend and other titles seem so silly in relation to all we had been through. Through war and death, we'd done so much.
The last time I saw him, we had just had a fight about me being 'careless' in battle. He said I was going to get myself killed. And I remember I said that he should "go ahead and plan a eulogy ". I have never regretted anything as much as I have now that I know that's the last memory I'll ever have of him" She fought back a sob." I didn't even say sorry, we just marched into battle mad. And now he's gone I can't help but feel awful. I just want one more chance, one more minute with him. But I'll never get that." She looked out at the crowd, at Annabeth clinging to Percy in the front row, to Octavian standing in the back with silent tears rolling down his face.
"Some days I think about whether it's worth going on. But I know he would have wanted me too. And so I wake up every day and live, with regret maybe, but with the knowledge that he would want me to be happy. I don't know when I'll be truly happy again. But when it does come, I still will never forget him" She bowed her head and walked away from the podium before being stopped by Leo, who nodded towards the shroud. Her heart sank. She hoped they would forget that she had been chosen to burnthe shroud. But they hadn't.
She turned around and walked back towards the cloth. She took the torch and lit the fabric.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as it went up in flames.