I own nothing! Rick Riordan you rock
The Mark of Athena
Annabeth:
Leo was doing a surprisingly good job of flying the Argo until they actually got to the point of having to land it. Leo started to descend slowly into open grassland that Jason called the Field of Mars when things started to go wrong. The Argo tilted suddenly to the right and we all went flying.
Luckily we were close enough to the ground that the Argo landed on its side. Not too badly damaging it.
Piper slammed into me and we went tumbling over board and onto the ground. I groaned and got up rubbing my arm.
Piper looked at me sheepishly, " Sorry."
" That's okay. It wasn't your fault." I said looking pointedly at Leo who was, with Jason and a few other campers from the Demeter cabin, rightening the ship. Leo looked over at me when the ship was back in place.
" What? I think I landed it pretty darn well." I just rolled my eyes and Piper mumbled something like 'he's got nuts and bolts for a brain' under her breath. I burst out laughing and Piper joins in.
"Um… guys I hate to break it to you but a whole league of mean evil Roman dudes are coming our way." Leo says stopping Piper and my laughing. The rest of the chatter from the campers stop and they hold their weapons at the ready.
I look behind me and see that the city that we passed before landing in the Field of Mars and from it an army of Roman soldiers were headed our way.
Jason stepped forward and we all resumed our positions. We decided to have Jason in front with me beside him, recognizing the leaders of our Camp, then to have Piper and Leo standing back off to the right of Jason. A few feet behind them we have the rest of about 40 campers with their weapons. Jason said this would be good because it would show the Romans whom to respect.
I look ahead and all I can think of now is seeing my Seaweed Brain. That stupid son of Poseidon who had to get kidnapped from Hera. I swore again in my mind that I would make her pay.
As the Romans approached I noticed a girl in a purple robe and toga leading the army. Jason stiffened and I realized that he must know her since she is obviously the Praetor, like Jason.
My eyes are searching wildly, looking for Percy. I scrunch my eyebrows when I don't see him. The army arrives and stands about 15 feet away.
The girl in purple steps forward, " Welcome Greeks! Please have your leaders step up. "
Jason and I look at each other before walking 5 feet closer to the Romans. They all seem to realize who Jason is and start to whisper and move on the there feet. The Praetor in purple raises her hand and they quiet down.
" Yes I am who you all think I am. My name is Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, Leader of Camp Half Blood, and previous Praetor to Camp Jupiter. I am here with my fellow Greek friends to bring together two families who have been separated for years." Jason says in a loud clear voice, silencing all the little chatter that still remained after the girl in purple's command for silence.
The other Praetor walks to Jason and stands in front of him. " Jason."
Jason looks at her, " Reyna." Behind me I hear Piper utter a small gasp. So this was the Reyna who Jason might or might not be in a relationship.
Reyna then speaks in a loud voice stepping away from Jason, " Our past leader has returned!" The Romans raise they spears and shields and start to chant and bang their weapons together. Reyna pulls Jason toward the Romans and they engulf him in hugs and pats on the back.
Another voice rings out clear through the field. " Hey! What we miss? Hope you didn't start a party without me." I freeze in where I'm standing. Just hoping that this isn't a dream. I had heard that voice in my head for 8 months now.
I step forward when I see a tall, lean, man in a toga and purple cape. Exactly like Reyna has on. Everyone quiets down. Percy looks at me and we sit there staring at each other for what seems like forever. A girl behind Percy pushes him forward and he blushes a bit.
He walks up to me and says, " Annabeth I've missed you." I break down and start to cry. Me a daughter of Athena and hero of 3 quests starts crying. At the moment I don't care. I close the distance between us and crush him in a bear hug.
Percy pulls me close and I close my eyes enjoying having him back. I pull away and wipe my face. " It's nice to see you too Percy."
He grins a grin that only Percy can make and turns me to the Romans. " I would like to introduce you to my other family, the Greeks." He raises his hand and both sides of the Camps cheer.
The Greeks and Romans started to loosen up and carefully started to talk with each other. I could already see Clarisse talking weapons with a big bald kid that I could only guess was a son of Ares or Mars.
Grover comes up and about runs Percy over. "Perrrcy! I haven't seen you in forever." Percy pats his back and Grover starts going on about how Enchiladas haven't been the same without him.
I laugh, " Ah goat boy. You and Enchiladas."
A girl and an Asian boy with chubby cheeks come up and stare at Grover.
" What? What are you staring at? Do I have tin can on my face?" Grover says looking himself down.
Percy puts his arm around him and says, " No man your good. It's just that Satyrs or Fauns to them are treated a lot differently here. More like poor men you had food out to." He turns to the boy and girl, " In my camp the Satyrs err… Fauns are protectors and friends. They serve the camp and are treated like campers."
The girl looks at Grover, " Sorry. I'm just used to the way that we run things with Fauns."
" Oh that's okay. Maybe I could stay here and change things. As Lord of the Wild I believe we should and Satyrs help the camps and do what we can." Grover says proudly and with authority.
The boy looks confused and asks, " Lord of the Wild?"
" That's a position for a satyr. They protect the wild and are in charge of assigning satyrs to schools to look for Demigods."
The girl says, " Well that would be nice. They way that they are here isn't exactly done well. I think we could have you leader of the Fauns and you could teach us a thing or two."
Grover smiles and says, " By the way my names Grover." They shake hands and then Grover sets off to find Fauns.
The girl gives Percy a look and he exclaims, " Oh! Annabeth, Hazel and Frank. Frank and Hazel, my girlfriend Annabeth."
I punch his arm and Hazel and Frank laugh.
Percy dragged Hazel, Frank, and me over to where Jason and Reyna were talking. We arrived to hear Jason asking Reyna, " So who made Praetor after the Feast of Fortuna? Please tell me it's not Octavian."
Percy stepped up to them with me still at his side, " Actually that would be me."
I stared at him amused, " Of course you are. Just couldn't handle not being camp leader could you?" He bumped my shoulder.
"Ah you know it." Percy smiled and we turned back to Reyna and Jason who had been watching us.
" We voted Percy to be Praetor after he went on a quest with Hazel and Frank here to find the Eagle, came back and defeated Polybotes then returned the honor to the fifth cohort." Reyna said explaining Jason's question.
Jason looked surprised, " Honor to the fifth cohort? Nice job Percy."
Percy nods his head and Jason turns toward Frank. " I've never seen you around here."
" Umm… My names Frank, son of Mars." I raise my eyebrows and look to see Jason staring at him just as I am. I would have never expected him to be a son of Ares.
Percy looks at Jason; " Frank and Hazel went with me to Alaska to defeat the giant Alcyoneus. Hazel, daughter of Pluto, lured him out of his land into Canada and defeated them while I defended Frank who was freeing Thantoes."
I was about to question Percy when Reyna spoke, " Maybe we should take this to my office and we can exchange stories."
We all nod and grab Leo and Piper who were talking with a few Roman.
Reyna said to the campers, " Romans! Please escort our new Greek friends to the quest cabins and show them all the courtesy you would show to any other Roman." She turns to the Greeks, " I promise you that nothing will happen to you
" Trust these Romans. They have been nothing but nice and their word is truth." Percy says loudly.
The Greeks follow the Romans into the city and Reyna leads the seven of us after them.