Percy was just coming back from his morning ride when he saw his brother walking out of the castle in his best clothes, his crown on his head, and his unused sward hanging from his belt. Percy groaned he didn't have any time to put Blackjack away and he had to go great his uncle and cousin's.
He quickly spurred Blackjack forward steering him toward the front of the castle. He made it to the front of the castle just as the sights of a carriage and horsemen came into view. He quickly jumped off of Blackjack motioning for him to stay put and quickly running up to stand next to his father.
"Cutting it a little close don't you think, son?" Poseidon asked Percy amused.
"Sorry I just lost track of time." Percy told his father sheepishly. Poseidon just chuckled at his son shaking his head. He couldn't say anything else as the group of people came into view.
At the front was a carriage followed by the king and prince on a majestic white stallion and a dark grey gelding. Following them was the princes on her tall dapple grey gelding, making Percy chuckle and shake his head, Typical Thalia he thought. Riding next to her was a man and women riding a chocolate brown paint. Following them was a few mounted soldiers.
The carriage and riders stopped in front of them the queen stepped out of the carriage and the prince, princess, and king jumped off of their horses. "Brother." King Zeus said embracing his younger brother happily.
"I hope your trip went well?" Poseidon asked pulling back.
"It was long but uneventful." Zeus said before turning to Amphitrite "Amphitrite, looking as beautiful as ever." He said a more forced smile on his face. King Zeus had never really liked his brothers new queen because he knew that Sally was Poseidon's one true love.
"My King." She said inclining her head slightly.
Zeus then turned to Triton the same smile on his face, he didn't much care for the king's youngest son either, he felt Triton cared to much about appetences and power than anything else. "Prince Triton." He said tightly. Triton simply nodded looking bored with the entire situation.
When Zeus finally turned to Percy his smile turned genuine again "Ah Percy, it's good to see you again." He said placing his hand on Percy's shoulder.
Percy smiled back "You as well uncle."
"I trust you've been helping your father?"
"Of course." Percy said his smile sliding into a smirk "How else would he be able to run the kingdom?"
This made both King's laugh "I'm sure." Zeus said.
"Well you all must be tired why don't I show you to your quarters?" Poseidon asked gesturing to the castle.
"That would be lovely Poseidon." Hera said standing next to her husband.
"Great, Percy why don't you show the guards to the stables so they can put their horses away, then show them to where they will be staying." Poseidon instructed.
"I shall get right to it father." Percy said bowing slightly before grabbing the reins of his uncle and cousin's horses motioning for the soldiers to follow. Before they walked out of sight Percy turned back and whistled, Blackjack picked up his head before trotting over to Percy's side following him to the stables.
Poseidon chuckled as his son walked away before leading the rest of the party into the castle.
Thalia shook her head before turning to her personal maid, Annabeth, to find her watching Percy as he walked away. Thalia couldn't help but chuckle her cousin always had this effect on girls, she had to admit her was quite good looking but she would always see him as her dorky cousin. That doesn't mean she wouldn't have a little fun though.
"See something you like?" she said teasingly.
Annabeth immediately turned to her "I have no idea what you're talking about." she said starting to follow the King into the castle.
Thalia laughed following along as well "Oh sure you don't, you were just drooling over my cousin." She said smirking. Annabeth just looked ahead not bothering to answer.
Percy quickly led the group of soldier's to the stables allowing them to put their horses away to rest. He personally put his uncle and two cousin's horses away before turning to an impatient Blackjack.
When Percy walked over Blackjack nudged his side pawing at the ground. Percy chuckled "Alright, alright, I'm going gosh keep your hair on." He said quickly untacking him before leading him out to the pasture to run around. He smiled as he watched him run how free he looked. He wished he could be like that, free to run to do as he pleased, but he could never be like that. He had a responsibility to his people as the crown prince, he knew he couldn't let his brother take the thrown, he would ruin the kingdom, and Percy couldn't let him do that.
He sighed before walking out of the stables motioning for the soldiers to follow him. He quickly took them to their quarters on the castle grounds before heading down to the training grounds. When he got their he found his second in command Nico watching over the new recruits as they spared. "How are they looking today?" he asked
"Better I've got high hopes for this bunch." Nico replied turning to Percy. Nico was an inch shorter than him with midnight black hair, olive skin, and eyes so dark they looked black. It seemed like he could look right through your soul. He was also Percy's best friend and most trusted and loyal knight. They had known each other since they were little Nico's dad is Percy's father's best friend and second in command.
"Good." Percy said looking back over the training fields "My father is starting to pressure me about finding the slave trader. We need to come up with a plan and soon."
Nico sighed "I know my dad is starting to ask questions as well. I just don't know what to do yet, we don't know where he's going to strike next, what his method is, his name, or even what he looks like." Nico said exasperated "I mean we have nothing to go on. How do they expect us to find a ghost?"
"I don't know Nico, I don't know." Percy said sighing shaking his head. For the next few hours they watched over the recruits helping and giving pointers when they saw fit. When they were done eating lunch the soldiers from Zeus's army joined them on the training grounds.
"Do you mind if we practice with you, your majesty?" a blonde with grey eyes asked Percy formally.
"Of course use what you like." Percy said back inclining his head slightly. The soldiers nodded before heading off to train the blonde guy watching over them, making Percy believe that he was their commanding officer. The day continued as normal until a messenger came up to them.
"Prince Percy," he said bowing "your father told me to tell you it was almost time for dinner. He also said to bring both Sir Di Angelo and Sir Chase."
"Thank you, please tell him we will be their soon." Percy said, the messenger bowed before running off. Percy sighed he really didn't want to go to some big dinner and have to deal with his brother and step mother.
He called Nico over and told him what the messenger had said, he also told him to let the recruits go for the day, before quickly walking over to the blonde guy. "I'm going to guess and say that you're Sir Chase." Percy said.
The man turned to him startled his hand on the hilt of his sward "Oh Your majesty, it's you." He said bowing "Yes I'm Sir Chase, what can I do for you?"
"My father has requested you join us for dinner."
Sir Chase bowed again "I'm honored, let me just dismiss my men and then I will join you."
"I will let my father know." Percy said before walking away up to the castle. He quickly walked to his room and changed into more formal clothes before heading to the dining room. When he got there he saw his cousins, Nico, Sir Chase, and a blonde haired grey eyes girl he took to be Sir Chase's sister and Thalia's maid.
He sat down next to Jason and across from the girl. "Ah I see the crown prince has finally decides to grace us with his presence." Thalia says sarcastically.
"Oh haha Thalia, thats so funny." Percy said dryly.
"It was wasn't it." She replied making Percy roll his eyes. He chuckled quietly before locking eyes with the girl in front of him. He didn't know why but her eyes drew him in, like they were trying to see right into his soul. They only looked away when the doors opened and the Kings and Queens walked in followed by Triton.
They sat down the kings at each end of the table, and the queens to their right, Triton sat next to his mother. "It's wonderful to have you all here tonight," Percy's father started "I'm happy to have my brother, sister in law, and niece and nephew with us safe and sound. Now let's eat." He said as the servants walked in with trays of food.
As everyone filled their plates conversation flowed around the table. As Percy talked to Jason he couldn't help but notice how Nico and Thalia flirted. Oh this was gold he was so going to use this to his advantage, but he'd have to wait until just the right moment to bring it up.
He was brought out of his musings when he heard his uncle say his name, "So Percy I hear that you are the commander of your fathers army now."
Percy cleared his throat as everyone looked at him "Um yeah I have been for a few years now." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
Percy's father laughed drawing their attention "Oh come now Percy don't be modest," he said teasingly before turning to his brother "He's been commander since he was 12." He said shocking almost everyone at the table "But I hear that Jason has also taken over as commander as well." He said turning to his nephew.
Jason shook his head "Oh um yeah but I only took over less than a year ago."
"How about a practice battle then?" Zeus suggested "Percy against Jason."
"That sounds like a great idea, what do you say boys, tomorrow before lunch?" Poseidon asked.
Percy shrugged "Sounds ok to me."
"Yeah sounds fun, but I would also like to see how Percy fairs against my second in command Malcolm." Jason said gesturing to Sir Chase "So what do you say Percy after our match you take on Malcolm?"
Percy shrugged "Sure it's fine with me, but why wait until after the match I'll take you both on at once." Again almost everyone was shocked making Percy smirk inwardly before turning to Malcolm "So what do you say, you up for the challenge?"
Malcolm recovered quickly "It would be a pleasure your majesty," he said before smirking "But don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're a prince."
Percy smirked back "Oh I don't."
After that conversation flowed around the table once again. When Percy was done he stood up and turned to his father "It has been a pleasure father, but I must go check the horses." He said bowing before walking out of the doors. He quickly walked out to the grounds and down to the stables.
He quickly looked over the soldiers horses before moving onto the royal families. When he was done he walked out to the pasture and whistled, as he looked around he saw a speeding black spot coming straight at him. He smiled as Blackjack stopped in front in him, chuckling as he sniffed his face. "Hey boy, how you doing tonight?" he asked running his hand down his face. Blackjack nuzzled him. "Yeah I'm doing good too."
Blackjack was Percy's absolute best friend, he had him since Blackjack was born, he told him everything, he trained him, ran into battle with him, and felt freedom with him. Percy sighed leaning into Blackjack's shoulder "I don't know what to do boy, I have no idea who the trader is and I'm getting pressure from my father and the people to find him." He said burring his face in Blackjack's side.
Blackjack nuzzled him and Percy peaked out at him "What do you say we blow off some steam, and go for a ride?" he asked and Blackjack immediately perked up. "Alright come on then." Percy said walking toward the gate Blackjack following after. They walked into the barn and as Percy walked into the tack room to grab a bridle Blackjack waited for him outside of the door.
Just as Percy was finishing putting the bridle on Blackjack a shadowy figure appeared at the stable doors. Percy quietly drew his sward as the figure moved to one of the soldiers horses. Percy slowly walked over the person and as they came into view he noticed it was the blonde girl who had locked eye's with him at dinner. "What are you doing here?" he asked putting his sward away.
The girl jumped and whirled around pulling a dagger from seemingly nowhere and swinging toward his chest. Percy quickly grabbed her wrist stopping her motion and looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes widened when she realized who she had attacked "Oh your majesty, I'm so sorry." She said curtsying "I was just coming to check on my brothers horse, make sure he was doing ok." She replied back sheepishly a blush rising to her cheeks.
Percy chuckled "That's quite alright, and I can assure you the horses are doing fine, I've checked them all over myself." He said smiling she smiled back at him and he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
She had beautifully tan skin, long curly blonde hair, soft features, an athletic build, and wide intelligent grey eyes. "What is your name?" he asked her quietly.
"Annabeth." She replied back just as quietly staring into his sea green eyes.
"Well Annabeth how would you like to go for a ride with me?" he asked gesturing to Blackjack who had walked over sometime during the conversation.
"I would love to." She replied smiling brightly at him. He smiled back before turning and grabbing a hand full of Blackjacks mane and quickly swung himself onto his back. He then reached down offering her a hand. Annabeth took it hesitantly allowing him to pull her up behind him.
"Hold on tight." He said smiling mischievously. She looked at him confused before gasping and gripping his waist tightly as he tapped Blackjack's sides and he took off quickly down a path hidden by trees.
Percy loved the feeling when Blackjack ran full out it made him feel like he was flying, but something about having Annabeth behind him gripping his waist tightly as she pulled her body against his made it that much beter. As they got closer to the end of the trail Percy slowed Blackjack to a walk.
They broke through the trees and Annabeth gasped at the sight it was breathtaking. They were on a cliff overlooking a large beautiful waterfall. "This is beautiful." She breathed sliding off of Blackjack's back and walking to the edge of the cliff.
Percy jumped off Blackjack's before walking up next to her. "I know I love coming here, it's so calm and peaceful. It let's me escape for a while." He said looking down at her.
"What do you mean, escape?" she asked curiously her grey eye's calculating.
Percy sighed watching the water fall down the cliffs "From the pressures of being crown prince." He confessed "Everyone is always pulling me in different directions and sometimes it's just too much to handle, so I come here to cool down and just collect my thoughts." He said, he didn't know why he had confessed that to her he had only ever told Blackjack and Nico that, but for some reason he felt that he could trust her.
Annabeth studied him for a minuet "You know usually I'm the best at reading people. I can tell when their lying, honest, upset, just about anything. But you you're a mystery to me, I can't tell what you're feeling or thinking." She confessed "It's a completely new feeling, for me."
"You're a mystery to me too." Percy said quietly locking gazes with her.
They stared at each other for a long time before Annabeth shook her head and looked away. "We should probably head back now." She said walking over to Blackjack. Percy sighed before swinging up onto Blackjack's back before helping her up as well.
They rode back to the castle slowly just enjoying the others company and calm ride back. When they got back and both had jumped off Annabeth turned to Percy "Thank you for the ride your majesty." She said before moving to walk away.
Percy grabbed her hand stopping her "Meat me hear at first light tomorrow?" he asked her Annabeth hesitated before nodding, making Percy smile "And please call me Percy." He said before turning around and leading Blackjack back to the pasture.
Annabeth returned to the her room next to Thalia's in a daze, that night she dreamed about the prince and what he could want.
Percy quickly let Blackjack go before walking back to his room and crawling into his bed his dreams plagued by a blond haired grey eyes girl.