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"Them? What do you mean by 'them'?" Reyna took the scroll from the boy and unfurled it. A bird fluttered out, and the flames vanished. Apparently they were quite harmless.

"Hey." It was Percy, sending another one of their scrolls, now decorated with non-burning flames. It was definitely Leo's design. "Well, we just decided yesterday that we would like to meet again, like have fun. So we were thinking about the Summer Solstice, which is your Feast of Fortuna. Maybe then would be good. Some daughters of Aphrodite here are demanding a dance, so we could do that too if it's okay with you. I guess it's a fair gala, but it's up to you guys to prepare the food. After all, we only have a solstice while you guys have a feast." Percy's face on the scroll grinned, and a few people in Camp Jupiter laughed. "Well then, you guys can just send your reply with that little bird we sent along, and if all's okay, we'll see you then." The scroll went blank.

"All right. What do you all think?" Reyna looked up and scanned the crowd. Most looked hopeful and happy, which cleared the small amount of remaining doubt in Reyna's mind that this event should happen. In fact, the only person who seemed unhappy about it was Octavian. Of course. Reyna sighed inwardly. Ever since Jason had decided to stay, Octavian had been furious.

Jason. Reyna's feelings for him were completely jumbled up, from anger to compassion, hurt to bewilderment. And love. It was like an open hole dug inside of her, widening and deepening with every passing day. Jason was the cause. And when the time should come, Jason alone could heal it. If only she knew when and how. And yet, she had always kept those feelings away from him, particularly after Hylla's death, and turned it all into a cold, indifferent demeanor.

"I think it's a good idea. I mean, we're allies, aren't we? What's the point of being allies if we don't get together occasionally?" Many murmured in agreement to Jason's response. Reyna kept her face blank, free of any emotion.

"Any objections?"

Octavian stood up.

"I think it's potentially dangerous. Perhaps we shouldn't do it, but of course that is just a suggestion. Yes, we are allies. But you all have seen the hostility that can erupt when some of us meet up. I would never want anybody in either camp to get injured, or even possibly killed as a result of a friendly meeting. However, if you all are so excited about it, I have no complaints." He turned to Reyna. "Perhaps you should decide." His eyes held a mockery that only she could see. Reyna barely stopped herself from groaning out loud and slamming her fist onto the table in front of her. There goes Octavian's amazing and convincing speaking skills again. And his adept way at turning everything on her.

"I'll go with the majority." Reyna countered smoothly, leaving no trace of how she had nearly lost her temper just a few seconds earlier. "I agree that it had potential danger, but if most of us want to let this gala event happen, then happen it should." Reyna thought Octavian looked annoyed as he sat down, but if so, he did a good job of concealing it.

"We should do it!"

"Yeah, it's a freaking gala. We never get chances like this."

"It's gonna be so fun to dance! But I need a MUCH better dress!" Voices erupted in chatter. Reyna held up her hand.

"I see that most of you would like to go. So I'll write back to Percy and tell him that we are grateful for the offer, and think that it's a wonderful idea." Reyna picked up a pen and wrote on the now-blank scroll. Jason called out a last thought.

"Remember to tell him we'll prepare the food!"

Jason returned to his cabin after breakfast and iris-messaged Piper, first thing.

"Piper, we just got the scroll!"

"Really? Great, so is it yes?" Jason thought Piper didn't look particularly excited, but it was probably just an illusion. They were seeing each other in two weeks. How could Piper not be excited?

"Yeah. Reyna just sent the reply to Percy. You guys should get it soon." Piper nodded.

"Okay."

"Hey Piper, I heard it's some sort of gala, where there's going to be a dance. Do you want to go with me?" Piper buried her face in her hands.

"Jason, I've been meaning to tell you this for a while. When we first planned this event, Leo already asked me to go with him if you all said yes. I thought you would understand that it wasn't particularly nice to say no, so I just agreed." Piper looked very upset. "We'll see each other anyway. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure." Jason smiled. "I'm glad Leo got the prettiest girl in both camps. He deserves it, after all he's done."

"I'm not the prettiest girl in both camps!" Piper argued with a laugh, her past troubles forgotten.

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not, but I won't correct you since you're not the smartest there is."

"Whatever! Anyway, I'll see you in two weeks time!" They were both laughing hard as Jason cut off the iris-message. Sighing, he flopped back onto his bed. If Piper was going with Leo, whom should he go with? Reyna? But that felt like betraying Piper, and besides, Reyna would almost definitely say no. But she had called a meeting with him to discuss this event in half an hour. Maybe he could ask then.

Reyna was meeting Jason in thirty minutes. She had no idea why she called a meeting with him–Jason wasn't even praetor yet. But she had done it, and Jason had agreed, so all there was left is to see how it went. Reyna needed to consider the new event she had agreed to. It was, according to Percy, a gala. Someone knocked on her door, interrupting her thoughts. It couldn't possibly be Jason, she had told him in half an hour, not immediately. Opening the door, she found Kinzie standing there, holding a box.

"This was Hylla's final gift for you. She meant to give it herself, but she's…gone, so I found it."

"Thank you Kinzie," said Reyna softly.

"Hylla was one of the best queens there is. You are extremely lucky to have her as a sister." Reyna noticed that Kinzie used the present tense, as if not accepting the fact that Hylla was dead. Dipping her head slightly, Reyna quickly accepted the box and withdrew to her cabin. Opening the box, she found an assortment of items. There was a dagger, with a sheath and hilt of silver and gold. A small note was attached. It read: This should match your two dogs, Argum and Argentum. Everything inside the box held a note Hylla had written. The bottom held a piece of silk cloth. Picking it up, Reyna found out that it was a dress. It was made of purple silk, with delicate flowers that had edges embroidered in gold trailing down the side in a gentle curve. It was swishy, and the perfect size. The note read: I highly doubt you have worn something like this, and you certainly do not own one. But someday you'll need it, so wear it well when the time comes. I hope I'll be there to see you. Tears filled Reyna's eyes. The last time she had cried was…when Hylla had left. Refusing herself to think about that day, Reyna gently folded the dress and placed it back into the box. Reyna closed the lid and sat back onto her bed.

"Thank you. I will need it, and I wish you could have been there," she whispered softly, swallowing hard. She missed Hylla every day of her life since she had died, but it was a brave death, a worthy one for the Queen of the Amazons.

Tap tap tap. Reyna bolted up. It must be Jason. Time had passed far too fast. Had it really been thirty minutes? Blinking hard to clear away her tears, Reyna pushed the box under a table and opened the door.

"Hey Reyna. Didn't you call a meeting?"

"Yes I did. Even though we're now having this gala event, the Feast of Fortuna is still a time when another praetor is going to be elected. Or have you forgotton?" Reyna's voice had an icy sarcasm to it. Jason sighed.

"That's the reason I stayed. To prevent Octavian from being elected." "I'm fairly sure that pretty much everybody would want to choose you, but with those speaking skills of Octavian…" Reyna bit her lip. "We need to figure out a way to ensure that you become praetor." Now was a good time to ask Reyna if she would go to the gala with him. But for some reason, Jason balked. It just didn't feel right. Maybe it was her expression. Maybe it was her eyes. Suddenly, a box caught his eye.

"What's that?" asked Jason, pointing to the box. He moved over and traced the exquisite carvings.

"Don't touch that." Reyna's voice flashed a warning, immediately turning from ice into fire. But Jason didn't notice. "I said, do NOT touch that!" Reyna's voice rose in volume. Finally noticing, Jason looked up in alarm.

"Wha-" A glare from Reyna cut him off abruptly.

"Never mind, why don't we talk later." Reyna snapped, looking extremely tired all of a sudden. Jason realized, not for the first time, exactly how much she had to handle.

Returning to his room, it dawned on Jason that he had forgotten to ask Reyna about going to the gala. Oh well. There are always other chances. But the box! What had been in there that was so special? Why had Reyna not wanted him to touch it? Something told Jason that he would find out soon. Perhaps even… tonight.

Later that day, at night, after the sun had set in fiery brilliance and the stars and moon had risen, shining bright in the sky, Jason looked through his window and saw a cloaked figure slip out of the praetor's cabin next to his and head for the woods. Quietly opening his door, he followed.

Sorry if the gala event felt like it was unnecessary, confusing, and OOC, but it was the best way I could think of for what happens in chapters 4 and 5.

Review please! :)

-Hazel