Hey, everyone!

Here I am with another chapter… Did you miss me?

Review Replies

Bee: Aww, thank you!

Silvershadowrebel: OK, will do! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Cookies101: I'm so glad you liked the plotline! Thanks for reading and for those words of encouragement!

PandaFairy: Oh, thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed it!

ChristieLaurenn: *bows* Thank you so much! I'm glad you thought it was deep; that was really flattering! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

ClearShadows117: I felt like crying when I wrote the chapter, so you're not alone! Thanks for the review!

Guest: He/she wrote I love it! it is sad but its original. I love hazel but all people do know are Annabeth. good job keep it up. Thank you! I'm glad it's original… That's kinda what I was going for… Thanks for reading!

Guest: He/she wrote Hi, I'm really happy my review inspired you to write sooner (and yes, I am the Guest who wrote 'Sad, but really good. Could you please update soon?'). Hazel is one of my favorite characters, and even though it's sad having her die, I really like that their reading these letters. Please update soon, I love the story! May I just say thank you for coming back once again to read and review! That means a lot to me! I did my best to update, but school started for me and it's been chaos… But thanks again for reading and reviewing and I hope to update fairly consistently from now on!

EllOhVeEe1997: Aww, thank you! *blushes* (I'm actually not kidding, I did blush when I read your review… Ask my mom!). And as for Leo not being in this, that was a typo! He is supposed to be in this, so I edited the list in the first chapter to include him! Epic fail… Ah, well, no one's perfect!

Posideon'sDaughter-Percy'sSis: Oh, gosh, thank you so much! I'm honored that you thought it was that good! Thanks for reading and reviewing! *hugs*

Electric Storm Surge: Well, I'm glad you don't hate me for killing off Hazel! Thanks for reading, even though it makes you sad!

AlittleOverwritten23: Well, thank you for reading, and I'm sorry for the mixed feelings! This was a sad story to write, I'm not gonna lie… And just in case you wondered, my name's Mandi… Thanks so much for reading and following, and I hope you enjoy the chapters to come!

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and followed! I wish there was something I could do to thank you guys. I don't think you realize how much your support and encouragement means to me! So THANK YOU SO MUCH!

OK, enough of my sappiness… TO THE STORY!


Reyna cracked the seal on the envelope, a nervous knot clenching in her stomach. She didn't know Hazel personally, but had watched the small and cheerful legionnaire from afar. She slid off the arm of the couch that she was sitting on and sat on the floor, leaning against Jason's legs.

"Rey?" Jason asked, prodding her with his knee. She resumed opening the letter, unfolding the crisp sheet of paper. Clearing her throat (and with a wary glance at Frank, who was glaring at her like he wanted to kill her), she began to read.

"Reyna, I honestly don't know what to write here. I didn't really know you that well. You were the power behind the praetorship, the aloof leader and dictator. Truthfully, I was kind of scared of you. You seemed so Roman and so… untouchable. And you know that untouchable isn't really my "thing"."

"Hazel had a thing?" Dakota asked in mock surprise. Percy and Nico chuckled and Gwen whacked Dakota lightly on the head. Reyna scowled.

"Shut up," said a rough voice. Everyone looked in surprise towards Frank, but the centurion gave no indication of ever speaking. Julia, who was still sitting by Frank, mouthed "It was him". Reyna nodded in understanding and turned back to the letter.

"But now that I know what you really went through all those months, I see things differently. I never knew how much you struggled to keep camp intact, despite Octavian's attempts to bring you down." Octavian stared at Reyna, a look of outrage in his eyes. Reyna sucked in a deep breath, feeling tears smart behind her eyes.

"She had no right… no right to make that accusation!" Octavian spluttered. Percy, Nico and Jason jumped to their feet in outrage and started shouting over each other, each yelling different forms of abuse at the auger.

"Shut UP!" shouted a voice, silencing everyone in the room. Frank stood up and took three steps towards Octavian.

"She's dead. Leave her alone. You tortured her with your blackmailing for eight months and then some. Can't that be enough?" Frank asked before stomping out the door. Piper made to follow him, but Leo grabbed her arm.

"Just let him go," Annabeth murmured, pulling her boyfriend to sit back down next to her. Percy's hands were still balled in rage, but he obediently sat.

"Should I keep reading?" Reyna asked to no one in particular. Jason sat back with a heavy sigh and Nico glared at Octavian, who had returned to his seat on the chair in the corner, a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

"You may as well." Jason muttered. Reyna rested a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. Reyna left him alone after seeing tears cloud his eyes.

"Sure, you had a "power vacuum situation", but not really. You had the power, but all you wanted was to share it again with Jason. Please forgive me for not trusting you, Reyna. You're a great leader." Reyna sniffled and everyone in the room was shocked to see a tear trickle down the normally stoic praetor's face. Jason put his arm around his girlfriend and Percy put his hand on her knee.

There's nothing to apologize for, Hazel, Reyna thought, wiping her tears away. I'm sorry for all my unfriendliness towards you. I'm so sorry.

"Do you want to stop for now?" Piper asked concern in her eyes. Reyna shook her head, cleared her throat and continued.

"I hope you find happiness after the war. Maybe you'll get married, maybe you'll become a trainer of heroes, or maybe you'll become something completely different. Whatever the case, you'll do well. I know you. You never fight battles you can't win." Reyna gave a watery chuckle at the last sentences.

"Oh, Tiny Hazel," Reyna whispered, smiling through her unshed tears. Leo smirked.

"Finish the letter, Reyna! I wanna read what she said to you for myself!" Julia exclaimed, ever the eager six-year-old. Reyna smiled and continued on.

"You and your sister better get along after I'm gone. I won't be around to break things up. That'll be Jason's job, but you know how he is about things like that… I think he's scared of you!"

"I am not scared of you!" Jason exclaimed (only to save his Roman pride). Nico, Leo and Gwen looked at him skeptically and Jason flushed. "OK, maybe I am… But only a little!" He defended. Reyna patted him on his head and read on.

"I hope the damage to camp wasn't that bad. I know you guys can rebuild it, but the burden will be (once again) on your shoulders. But, hey, at least Jason will be here to help you, as will the rest of the legion. You're never truly alone."

"You never are," Jason murmured to Reyna, who leaned into him for a hug.

"Should we find Frank?" Gwen asked. Dakota shrugged, but Jason stood up.

"Yeah, I think I will. When I get back, we can read another letter." He walked out the door to find the missing pachyderm.

"Well, whose letter do we read next?" asked Annabeth.


The Letter

Reyna,

I honestly don't know what to write here. I didn't really know you that well. You were the power behind the praetorship, the aloof leader and dictator. Truthfully, I was kind of scared of you. You seemed so Roman and so… untouchable. And you know that untouchable isn't really my "thing". Sure, you had a "power vacuum situation", but not really. You had the power, but all you wanted was to share it again with Jason. Please forgive me for not trusting you, Reyna. You're a great leader.

I hope you find happiness after the war. Maybe you'll get married, maybe you'll become a trainer of heroes, or maybe you'll become something completely different. Whatever the case, you'll do well. I know you. You never fight battles you can't win.

You and your sister better get along after I'm gone. I won't be around to break things up. That'll be Jason's job, but you know how he is about things like that… I think he's scared of you!

I hope the damage to camp wasn't that bad. I know you guys can rebuild it, but the burden will be (once again) on your shoulders. But, hey, at least Jason will be here to help you, as will the rest of the legion. You're never truly alone.

Always,

Hazel


Soo… Whose letter do you think they'll read next? Cliffie!

Thanks again for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! See ya next chapter!

~Mandi/WithPaperAndPen