Summary: Percy is the prince of the western kingdom, next to the sea. Annabeth is princess of the western kingdom, even though with her mother in charge, it's actually a queendom. Never expecting to meet again after the first accidental meeting, their passive parents try to force peace through Athena and Poseidon, but during a banquet, Poseidon ruins it. How will Percy and Annabeth see each other now? Will they? R&R Please.

Princess Annabeth looked out at the nearby castle of the Poseidon kingdom, which her kingdom (queendom, actually) was at war with. The war had started when she was a tot, and no one would explain to her why it was.

Annabeth groaned in frustration. What's the point in fighting a war when you have no idea what you're fighting for!

Malcolm, the nearest servant, approached. "Princess, is there something wrong?"

"No, Malcolm. I'm absolutely fine," Annabeth answered.

Malcolm bowed and retreated. "Wait," Annabeth called.

Malcolm came back. "Yes, Princess?"

"Do you know how the war started? We've been at war with the Western kingdom for as long as I can remember! Why?"

"I apologize, I do not. I was young at the beginning. I believe it had something to do with…land?" Malcolm guessed.

"It is alright Malcolm. Well, I'll be in the library if anyone needs me," Annabeth said. She walked to the library and started to read. Her mother, the queen, Queen Athena, would not have approved of the book she was reading: fairy-tales.

Annabeth envied the princesses in the stories. They found true love at first sight! Whenever Queen Athena would set up Annabeth with dukes, dukes' sons, earls, earls' sons, barons, barons' sons, knights or anyone else of nobility, they wouldn't get along well.

Annabeth quickly sat on the book she was reading when she heard the door open. It was only Piper, the servant who best kept secrets.

"Princess!" Piper curtsied. She had shut the door behind her and they hugged.

"Piper! Hey!" Annabeth greeted.

"Hey, Annabeth. Were you reading fairy tales again?" Piper asked teasingly.

"Yes," Annabeth said.

"Dreaming of 'your one true love'?" Piper teased in a dreamy tone.

Annabeth lightly whacked Piper with the book. She would never strike a servant hard, even if he or she deserved it. She didn't believe in that sort of punishment. But when it was Piper and they were alone, she treated Piper as an equal.

Piper pulled the book from Annabeth's hands and started to chase her around with it. The game didn't last long, for fear that Queen Athena would come in.

"Where'd you get this?" Piper asked breathily. Annabeth pointed vaguely. "Quite precise, Annabeth, let me put this away for you!" Piper said sarcastically.

"If my directions don't please you, gimme the book and I'll put it away!" Annabeth said. Piper tossed Annabeth the book to put away.

"So what did you want?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh, Mistress Bennett asked me to summon you for your weaving lesson, not that you need it," Piper answered.

Since they were in the hallway, Annabeth had to reprimand her, even though she agreed. "Bite your tongue; if Miss Bennett thinks I must improve, I'm sure there's room for improvement."

Annabeth winked at Piper. Piper giggled and said her goodbyes. Annabeth went back to the tapestry that she was working on for her room. Mistress Bennett hovered over her shoulder and chastised her for every little mistake, even if Annabeth had done it on purpose.

"This isn't for Mother!" Annabeth complained under her breath.

"What was that?" Mistress Bennett's sharp voice barked.

"Nothing," Annabeth replied pseudo-innocently.

"Yeah it better had been nothing," Miss Bennett muttered.

Later, in her bedchamber, while Piper was brushing Annabeth's hair, Annabeth asked the question that had been nipping at her all day. "Piper, do you know why we're in this war?"

"We're at war?" Piper joked. Annabeth turned and showed how serious her face was. Piper bit back her laughter and replied, "I have no clue, and there's no gossip in the staff for me to listen on. Why, I'd say the only people who know are your parents…or maybe Bella," Piper said. Bella was Annabeth's old nanny, who worked as head cook now.

"Gee, I haven't talked to Bella in years!"

"Do you think she ever misses you?" Piper asked.

Annabeth reminisced being chased around the castle not wanting to change for bed. "No," she laughed. "OW!" she yelled as Piper brushed through a knot.

"Sorry," Piper apologized.

"No, really, forgive me. I know that you must brush through the tangles. I'll try not to complain so loudly next time," Annabeth said, eyeing the door. Incase anyone had been eavesdropping and wanted to come in to fawn over her.

"So, about your problem—"

"Piper!"

"Sorry, 'thirst for knowledge…'" Piper trailed off, knowing Annabeth would fill the gap.

"I don't know, maybe I'll talk to Dad. Him, I can worm knowledge out, but do you really think he'd tell me something like that?" Annabeth mused.

Piper stopped brushing Annabeth's hair, knowing what she was thinking. "Annabeth, no! No!"

"Come on! Where's your sense of adventure?" Annabeth demanded.

"Annabeth, if your parents found out that you'd escaped the castle, they'd come after me and—" Piper dragged her finger across her throat.

"Piper, please!" Annabeth begged.

"Annabeth, your parents don't let you out of the castle for a reason! It's dangerous out there! I would know," Piper said.

"Have you ever actually gotten into trouble out there?" Annabeth asked.

"Well, no…" Annabeth jumped up on the bed. Piper had to think of a way to keep Annabeth from disobeying her parents. "But I'm not the princess of a kingdom at war with a neighboring kingdom," Piper said.

Annabeth let out a puff of air. "Come on!"

"Annabeth, at least ask your dad first. You never know; your parents might tell you the whole secret behind the war, and you won't have to go out and ask the veterans of the war," Piper said.

"Okay, do you know where the nearest veteran lives?" Annabeth asked. Piper gave her a steely look. Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll go talk to dad!"

Annabeth checked first her parents' bedchamber. Empty. Well, it was the middle of the day. Then she checked the throne room. Also empty. Annabeth approached the war room, the door to which was firmly closed. They must be in a meeting.

Annabeth was about to sit down outside the door when she heard her mother bellow, "I WILL NOT HAVE MY PERFECT DAUGHTER MARRIED TO SOME IDIOT POSIEDON SPAWN!"

Annabeth's jaw dropped in shock. Wait, someone had suggested an arranged marriage, probably to the prince of the Western kingdom.

"GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!" Queen Athena screamed.