Chapter 1: The unthinkable
I originally posted this story on my other account but am moving it to this account for obvious reasons.
Hello, People. How are you. You are awesome. Its been a while. This Story will be raited M as you might have expected. There will be a few. Yep, I am in the mood to bring a few lemons into this Story. Like one or two or three of four or five or six or seven or eight or nine or ten or eleven or twelve of thirteen or fourteen. A lot. But that won´t be what this Story will be about. It will be about the clash of cultures and I wont sugar coat anything just so my readers feel better. It will be as authentic and realistic as I can make it.
The world has changed. The flame of Civilization has fled from Christianity to Jerusalem. The city controlled by medieval Islam. The Sultan has always been open to other culture's since Islam was always very tolerant. When Christianity took over Europe the church did everything in its power to destroy the knowledge of the mediterranean superpowers. However in the hot and sandy east the knowledge has been preserved.
Now the Greek demigods and the Muslims peacefully live side by side and they intend to defend their home against the growing shadow of Christianity. For the Greek demigods it's the last place were they can live in peace with put fear of being hunted and the Muslim leaders like having the Greeks close because in general good luck seemed to follow the Greeks around and they are also state of the art fighters.
Now Poseidon let's a young Seagod out into the mortal world. Of course the fates will let the young god stumble over a brilliant and fierce daughter of Athena because I, the author ship Percabeth.
Okay you crazy readers. This story will contain sex, rape (descriptive), slavery, brutality, bad things about Christianity, bad things about Islam, bad things about Judaism and bad things about the Hellenic culture (like slavery). You will all be whining around about the fact that the characters will be oc so please remember the time they are living in the 12th century. Ohh and I will be bringing in Oc's from Adventure of a lifetime.
Percy pov.
I sighed as I looked down at the city. Even though the Roman Empire had faded away long ago the city had managed to keep most of its beauty. Christianity had not yet managed to get its dirty fingers around it but it was only a question of time if it wasn´t stopped.
For them this was holy ground because some guy died here. The only problem was that everyone else kind of wanted this city too.
I rolled my eyes, many had died here over the years and the only difference here was that this one guy had been a bit more popular then most others. I sighed feeling as if the melenia were weighing me down. My baggage would be arriving tomorrow with a "caravan". In truth they were Cyclops but the mist hid their faces for now. Yes, even the mist was fading and getting weaker.
At least a good friend of mine named Grover and his wife Juniper where coming to live with me. Normally Juniper wasn't able to move far away from her plant but the other gods had given her the ability to walk the world and we were also transporting her tree to my new residence, or where ever I would reside so that she could be more comfortable.
I turned around and headed into the sultans palace, passing the guards unchallenged. I had been here before. Thirty years ago I had trained the current Sultan in the way of the sword. Now I was returning to Jerusalem to...well what I was going to end up doing here was in the hands of the fates but for now I planned on a big villa with a few servants and a numb pretty slaves to warm my bed.
I look down at my armor. The blackend bronze plate that protected my chest, sides and back had been forged to look like muscular torso. I also had black leather arm guards and bracers. I had midnight blue cloak with a hood flowing down my shoulders and my celestial bronze sword hanging from my sword belt. Under my armor I was wearing a white Greek tunic. My feet were garbed in sandals.
I slowly walked through the hallways of the palace. My cousin Athena would never approve of this kind of architecture. If this palace didn't receive constant maintenance it would be reduced to dust with in half a millenia.
The hallways were draped in colorful wall carpets covered in complex golden patterns. One of the things I disliked in Arab culture was their sence of art. They never drew humans or animals for some reason which made their art mostly uninteresting to me but I had the feeling that Hestia would greatly enjoy it.
Finally I reached the double doors flanked by guards.
In front of the door the Stewart was waiting for me. "The Sultan has been informed of your arrival and to meet you in his private quarters master Perseus. I have to say, you haven't changed at all over the last thirty years."
I grinned. "Curious, isn't it?" The master of the servants staff nodded politely and led me through the double doors into a throne room and from there through a door down a hallway. It hadn't changed much.
I smiled when I thought back to the young fifteen year old that I had met thirty years ago. He had often come to late to his fencing classes and usually when he did he was spending some quality time with some slave girl. I had once beaten the crap out of him when it turned out he had gotten a slave pregnant and wanted to kill her so that his father didn't find out.
In the end I had bought her and had taken her to my home so that she didn't get punished for something she had been forced into. Of course I wasn't angry with him for taking in her into his bed. That was one of the reasons why you had slaves but if she got pregnant it was definitely not her fault. Anyway I had allowed her to move to my fathers underwater kingdom to protect her and her son so no one would kill the child over its claim to the throne.
So anyway, the important part was that the young prince had learned his lesson about responsibility. Living according to your position in society was one thing but for there was no excuse for cruelty or even punishing a girl for forcing her into your bed and getting her pregnant. It was a question of honor to make sure that she was taken care of. It wasn´t as if his reaction was unheard of. Back in the days of Greece people often gossiped about these things.
Finally I steppes into the private living room were I spotted the forty-five year old man. He was sitting on a large red cushion and started grinning at me when I came in. "Greetings Perseus. Allah seems to have given you a pleasant path to walk. You don't seem to have aged a single day since I last saw you."
He got up and we grasped each others wrists in the classical greetings under those the walked the way of the sword. "You also seem to live quite nice. I heard you have twelve wives. " He laughed. "That is quite outdated."
Of course I didn't point out that I myself was a god but I appreciated the familiar way he approached me. "Have you married yet?" I shook my head.
Suddenly a woman in an elegant dresses with a vail covering her face entered the room, holding trays with wine and bread. "I ordered one of my daughters to bring us something to eat while we talk. I also have present for you in case you choose to stay here."
I smiled curtly. "And if I don't choose to not stay here."
He laughed. "In that case I still have a present for you my friend." We chuckled and he ordered his daughter to leave us alone.
"So how have you been over the last thirty years?"
"Very well Muhammad. Actually I do intend to stay for a while. Is it possible for me to buy the same residence I used to live in."
(sorry people. I don't know any Arabic names used in the twelfth century apart from Saladin. If one of you awesome readers knows any feel free to send me a sample of names to use in this story. Also if any of you have knollage about the culture of the Muslims of the twelth century then you may also contact me and serve as an adviser. Sadly Christianity will be the enemy in this story most of the time. Don't feel to bad. It is very easy to hate medieval Christianity. Even easier then it is today. The hate climate will look like this. The Christians and Muslims hate each other. Also the Greek hate the Christians but most Christians don´t know that but those that do hate them back. Both Muslims and Christians hate the Jews and out of solidarity with their Muslim hosts the Greeks also officially dislike the Jews. So once again every one hates the Jews, sad as it is.)
He laughed. "Don't worry. I kept the house free for you."
We continued talking about what had changed over the last three decades for at least an hour.
Finally the aristocrat clapped his hands. "So to your gift. I suspect that you havn't bought a servant staff yet?"
"No, I havn't." I replied. The Sultan nodded and stroked his black beard. "Well then." He clapped his hands twice. "We caught her while...collecting taxes from a French merchant ship. She is an infidel or a Barbarian as you would call her. One of those Christians. I was actually planning on giving her to my youngest son but when I learned two days ago that you were coming it was clear to who this gift should go to. She is very young and still a Virgin. But be careful, the girl has a silver tongue. She managed to convince my guards to let her go three times."
I smirked. "As I see your hospitality has improved greatly over the last few years."
The door through which I had come opened and a person covered the blue shawls was dragged in. Even though her hands were chained together and from the way she moved I suspected her ankles were too she put up a good fight. She also had an iron collar with a chain attached to it around her neck with which she was dragged forward like a disobedient dog.
My old friend sighed. "She still has to be tamed. I do hope you have more luck than I do."
The man turned to his guards. "Knock her out." He ordered. A heartbeat later one of the guards clubbed the struggling girl on the back of her head. I flinched instinctively as the girl went limp.
They dropped her at my feet and quickly left the room. "I would tell you her name but when we asked her what it was...anyway I guess pig and bastered won't be it."
I sighed. "By the way. Did you know that two woman command my army. Both are Greek of course, one of them is called Lady Annabeth and the other Clarisse. It seems as if Greek women defy the way the world works. At first some of the generals had problems with their new commanders but when they were taken apart in a duel they submitted."
I smirked. "I told you so. Never underestimate your opponent. One of my cosines is a woman and she the most dangerous opponent anyone can have."
He sighed. "Sometimes I feel as if the world has been turned on its head. Actually I usually feel like it when I deal if you Greek. Perseus my old friend, would you teach my son Saladin in the way of the sword like you did me. He is sixteen and lazy."
I bowed my head. "It would be my honor your grace." The Sultan glared at me. "We are friends. You don't need to call me your grace in public and definitely not when we are alone." I guess he remembered that I loved to tease people because he added. "If you call me by a royal title I will call you mentor or master." I bit my lip.
I knew him well enough to know he wasn't joking and if he called me master in front of others it was bound to raise questions.
"Muhammad. I believe it would be wise if informed your son that he is entering a Greek household when he becomes my student. That means my rules."
Muhammad nodded. "He will learn. Your house, your laws."
The girl at me feet stirred. She was awake. "I think I should get going then. I need to get to my old residence and I also have a present to unwrap." I hinted nodding to the girl lying to my feet.
The Sultan nodded. "Good evening to you. I will inform my son." I pulled the girl to her feet and help her upright because she seemed to be a bit unsteady.
Piper pov.
I heard them talking in Arabic. I spoke French, English, Spanish, Latin and Greek. To my surprise Greek had been unbelievably easy to learn. It was as if I had always known how to speak the language and was only being reminded of it.
Sadly Arabic was not a languages I had learned. A week ago I was caught by the Arabs. I had been forced to were these awful cloths which made moving or even seeing nearly impossible. Additionally I had spent most of my time in a cage.
I was Piper McLean and I came from Scotland. Yes, I knew my caramel skin was very dark for a Scottish girl. So was my fathers. I was told that mother had been French though.
I had spent the last few hours praying to my lord because it was all I could do. Much too early I was pulled out of my cage and dragged through the palace in chains.
Dispite my best efforts they had dragged me into a room and had seen the first person with somewhat West European featchers since I was caught and had nearly dared to hope that he was here to save me from this nightmare and that he would take me home when a sharp pain erupted at the back of my head and I faded into darkness.
The man had been handsome, tall, muscular. He also had black hair and sparkling green eyes.
From birth I had been taught to be a good girl. Against much resistance from the church and community I had been able to reserve some education apart from theology for myself. I learned different languages and some math. It had only been possible thanks to the support of my father.
Sadly I knew that one day I would be married off and the likelihood that my future husband would let me pursue my quest for knowledge was quite slim. Anyway, I slowly came back to my senses and heard a good-natured conversation in Arabic. I kept my eyes closed because my head was pounding. Suddenly someone grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. I wouldn't have been able to stand on my own of he hadn't kept me steady.
Before I knew it we were leaving the room. "Do you speak Greek?", the deep male voice asked me. Of course I did. "Yes. I do." I mumbled. I would have continued resisting if I hadn't been so dizzy. "Good. From now on it will be your first language." I nodded.
"What is your name?" I vaguely noticed that we had left the palace. The cool night air helped me clear my head.
"Who are you?" I demanded. "I am called Perseus but you may call me Percy." I stayed silent. "What is your name?" He asked again. I sighed giving up. "My name is Piper. Piper McLean."
...line breaker...
By the time we had reached the residence I was able to walk again. I was painfully aware of the fact that he held the chain that was attached to my iron collar like a leash. Dogs were led around like this.
I also realized that this was Jerusalem. The city in which Jesus had died. (Did I get that right?). It hurt to see it in the hands of these unholy people.
I had spent a few minutes trying to convince Percy to let my father or the church buy me free but he had informed me that I had been a present and it would be impolite to sell me. Sadly for once my silver tongue didn't seem to be able to serve me.
He also hinted that he wanted me for other reasons even though he didn't know what I looked like. Then I realized that for all I knew he could have seen me naked while I was out cold and I wouldn't know it. Anyway, we entered the residence which was more like a palace than anything else.
The inside was mostly empty. There was some simple furniture but nothing personal. "I haven't lived here for a while. I am moving back in right now. " He explained.
We stepped into the dining room which was on the second floor.
The only source of light was the moon, shining in from the window. My captor started to ignite all the lamps in the room. It took a few minutes but finally there was a roaring fire alive in the fireplace and the oil lamps were lit, bathing the room in dim but warm golden light.
I sat on the table silently watching him. "This is neither a Muslim nor Christian household so you allowed to speak you mind. You are allowed to defend yourself from all unwanted advances from all men but my own. Those you will have to tolerate. I will use you when ever I please."
I nodded. "Where I come from women are taught how to hold and use a sword. Since your are obviously a Christian I suspect you were never taught."
I nodded, not saying anything. I had to admit that my interest had been awoken. I had always been interested in fencing but being a young lady, I was allowed to learn how to use a sword. The only education I had received involving a knife was how to cook. Something I had never gotten the hang of.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt the chains around my wrists, neck and ankles being removed. Then he removes the mask covering my face and my kaleidoscope eyes meet his sparkling green ones.
"You really are beautiful." He murmured. I nodded and hoped that my headache would go away. It wasn't long before I was fully out of the garment. Perseus tended to the bloody and bruised spot that I had received from the earlier.
My expensive dress had been taken from me when I was captured and it had been exchanged with rags.
"I have something more appropriate that you can wear tomorrow." He walked to a dusty box and took something from inside it. When he came back I noticed that it was a Greek tunic and a lever belt.
I will get you a dress soon but for now this is all I have for now. I hated heavy dresses and preferred mens cloths in general but at this I felt very unwell. The bottom of the tunic wouldn't even reach my knees.
He seemed to want to add something else but didn't. He walked over to his pack which I only now realized he must have brought with him. Moments later he came back holding a bag in his hands.
"Let us eat a simple dinner and then go to bed." my stomach grumbled at the thought of food. Food was one thing I hadn't gotten enough over the last few days.
"We will fill the food storage tomorrow. We will also buy some servants after one of my friends arrives with a caravan that is also bringing most of my possessions."
He pulled a load of bread out of his bag and ripped it in half. Then he handed me one half. I quietly sat down on the table and started eating the bread as fast as I could. I felt Perseus, my owner sit down next to me and also start eating. I didn't care to much that I was going to be used in bed tonight even though that my priorities would most likely switch to that when the time came
Right now all I cared about was my hunger, my headache and the fact that I was extremely tired. I barely noticed the arm being wrapped around me. Suddenly everything started spinning. I tried to pull myself together. Then I felt myself being pushed back on the table.
"Stay calm and down move. I think you have a concussion. Sorry, my medical abilities barely go past the essentials needed on a battlefield." I would have nodded put then there was blackness. Little did I know that even though I was now a slave I was more free than ever before.
Hello People. How are you doing. I hope you had fun. Well I did. This is a totally different kind of story from what I am used to do. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please, please Review.
Winter Wolf over and out.
