Disclaimer: Nope. I am not Rick Riordan.
Annabeth Chase never really needed anyone. Until he came along.
Annabeth Chase had never really needed anyone. Need was a vulnerability. A luxury she could never afford. Monsters sense your weaknesses, use them against you mercilessly and she was determined that it would never happen to her. She'd always be self-dependant.
True, Thalia and Luked cared for her when she was younger, gave her a new, loving family instead of her un-fatherly dad and gave her help. But she knew that this was down to her age, her being only seven at the time, and dismissed thoughts of her being a damsel in distress. Especially after Thalia's death. That was a big blow to her friendship, not only between them but between Luke as well. He became distant. Angry. She often heard him cursing Thalia's father, who could set the sky alight with stars but couldn't even save his own daughter. But gradually, the old, caring Luke returned and they nearly became closer. Nearly.
Throughout the next seven years at camp, she devoted her time to strengthening her fighting ability and her intelligence. She was very handy with a sword and she had skill with a bow that only the children of Apollo could top but it was known across camp that her best weapon was her knife. Her faithful knife that she'd never lost a battle with. Except to Luke.
He was the best swordsman she knew but most of their fights were clouded by her inability to not admire him. But that was lust and desire, not need.
Her IQ was very high for a twelve year old. Way above average like most of Athena's children and she couldn't help feeling a sense of pride with each correct answer she had. Her mother was expectant and her children spent their days deciphering maths problems, Ancient Greek riddles but Annabeth herself found inside her, a love of architecture. The idea of building something to last through the ages was so...amazing to her. She soon became obsessesed with designing arbitrary temples and statues of her mother.
She liked the fact that her self-dependancy was perminent and didn't have to follow anyone. She had all the qualities of good leader. She was smart, brave, a good fighter, respected despite her age and people admired her. They even chose her as Cabin Leader, though it wasn't a tough choice. Annabeth had been at camp for five years and most hadn't even been for two.
Her last step was getting a quest. Another issue about her age. Chiron always gave her sympathetic looks when she inquired as to whether she could be of any use and he'd tell her the same thing all the time.
"Someone's coming, Annabeth. They'll help you on your quest."
Something always nagged at her when he said this. She didn't think he meant just a 'quest' but something more.
"Who?" She'd ask, hoping he'd change his mind and whip around to tell her their name but he'd shake his head and tell her to either got to dinner or training.
She'd do what she always did when she was anxious. Bite her bottom lip, mess with her curly hair and sit on a random wall somewhere she could think.
It had to be a powerful person. She didn't want to assume that it would be a half-blood though it was very likely. Powerful and knowledgeable, or else why not someone who was already at camp?
She spoke to Luke about it but he was humouring her and she got annoyed.
"I'm serious! Chiron said someone is coming to help me!"
He frowned slightly.
"Listen Annabeth, quests aren't all they're cracked up to be. I mean mine was something Heracles did. Chances are you'll get something like slaying the Nemean Lion or I don't know, hunting down Medusa. What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't get your hopes up for some fame and glory that's going to last three seconds and then you're swept to the side. Seriously, we should focus on capture the flag on Friday instead of this crap."
She stood up.
"My ambitions are crap to you?" She made her voice sound defiant despite her hurt. He looked up.
"No, I didn't mean that. You know I didn't."
"I.."
"I'm sorry. It's just, I was so excited about my quest and the best my father could chose was some shit about stealing a stupid apple. Now about Friday, I was thinking, I'd take offence with you and possibly Travis and Malcolm. Jack, Sara and Gareth can follow behind to take out approaching attackers and.. hey, where are you going?"
She stood up, about to shout at him for practically dancing on the grave of her dreams but decided it wouldn't be wise to fight before Friday. It was three days away and he was right. Clarisse and her Ares minions had been training nearly twice as hard and Annabeth was too competitive to let Clarisse win and sneer her battered head in her face. No, they would win again.
"It's dinner."
"Oh crap. Okay, talk to you tomorrow." He sprinted for his cabin as Annabeth walked thoughtfully towards the mess hall.
She hoped her mother appreciated the slice of meat and the chips. Lately, she'd been offering more just to see if her mother would notice her desperation and desire. She'd been disappointed,though a few weeks ago, Chiron presented her with a a silver wrapped package on her birthday.
"Hermes arrived with it this morning. It's from your mother."
She opened it tentively. Inside lay a New York Yankees cap with a small note inside on a piece of paper.
Sometimes the greatest advantage in a battle is to have the ability to shield yourself from opponent's eyes.
She stared at it, dumbstruck.
"My...my mother sent me this?"
"Yes. The gift of invisability is powerful indeed. You have made her proud, I expect."
There was pride in his voice and it was one of the reasons that her face broke into a smile. An invisability cap was an amazing present and the only one she'd ever received from her mother.
After that she expected or hoped for a little but of help but nothing else came. She felt she shouldn't be disappointed, most half-bloods didn't even get claimed but she couldn't help feeling a little forgotten. Luke's speech had been exactly right. She did feel stripped of some sort of weird fame but felt determined that her quest for a quest still needed attention.
That night was beautiful. Artemis really had outdone herself. The moon shone brilliantly and the stars were like miny moons in themselves. The night was miky-blue and all seemed calm. Until the shout.
A shout of panic. One she'd heard before but she didn't recognise the voice. It came from the borderline, beside Thalia's tree. She ran quickly and drew her knife in mid-stride. She took a small detour by the cabins and reached her best friend's tree in time to see a tall boy, with jet-black hair and something limp in his arms.
"Mum!" He shouted as he stumbled towards her.
A familiar galloping sound caught her attention and she turned, alarmed and completely unsure of what she was too do. Chiron stood there, his face showing signs of clear terror as he stood beside her.
"Mum......" His voice trailed off as he fell at her feet. And then the thought struck her as she bent done to inspect any injuries.
"He's the one. He must be."
"Silence Annabeth. He's still conscious. Bring him inside."
Quietly, sensing Chiron's fear, she reached over to Grover, who lay beside him in his strong arms.
"Chiron. It's Grover."
"Yes. He was Percy's protector. Here. I shall take him."
He reached over and in one strike, picked Grover up and placed him on his back.
"I must alert Mr. D to Percy's arrival. Take him to the sick room. He will need proper care. I'd prefer if you stayed with him."
Annabeth was shocked by his brutal honesty but nodded and reached over to grab 'Percy's' arm. She placed it over her shoulders and hauled himup, with all the strength in her body.
He murmured. She exhaled strongly and started walking, propping him up with her arms gently slung around his chest.
"He better be the one." She muttered through gritted teeth as the prospect of carrying a guy that weighed as much as her all the way across camp but quickly silenced her brain. He would help her.
"Okay. Come on." She told herself and began carrying the semi-conscious 'Percy' across camp with a strong determination.
My new story. I don't know, what do you guys think? Yeah and study is important too but I'll take my break from that by writing some of this but not everyday.
Reviews are really welcome especially any constructive criticism.
LF xoxo