Summary: Calypso's POV during Percy's stay in Ogygia
VII
~Another Hero~
Calypso worked in her garden reminiscing about her time with the last hero that came by her island when all of a sudden a new one literally dropped in.
She watched in horror as a smoking figure fell from the sky into the lake. The water rose up like a fountain catching the body, and carefully lowering them to the surface. She quickly got over her shock of having a new visitor to her island arrive so dramatically, and ran out into the water before they could drown.
She tore through the water diving down to catch him as he sunk. She kicked and swam furiously to get them both back up to the surface. She side swam painstakingly slow back to the beach. His head lolled in the crook of her neck.
When she finally dragged him onto the beach, she was pleasantly surprised to find that he was still breathing despite being underwater for some time. However, it was rather erratic and his face was a mask of pain. She called her invisible servants to her and they carried him to her garden.
His body was covered in burns, and cuts. His skin was red and feverish to the touch. His strange garments were scorched, torn, and dirty. His breathing was labored, and there were beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
"Oh my poor hero, what happened to you?" Calypso asked sadly as she lathered a magic salve to his numerous burns. The servants helped bring her supplies, as she worked laboriously on her new patient. After a while, His eyes opened groggily and he looked around in a daze, as he tried to get up.
"Stay still, you're too weak to rise." Calypso told him calmly. She spooned fed him some nectar, and put a cool rag on his forehead. He looked up at her with cloudy green eyes.
"Who?" He rasped at her.
"Shhh, brave one," Calypso told him. "Rest and heal. No harm will come to you here. I am Calypso." She smiled and began singing to him the ancient healing songs of Greece. Her song lulled him to sleep, as his burns and cuts healed with magic. She caressed his cheek both excited, and depressed that the gods sent her a new hero.
A couple of hours later as she finished all the doctoring she could do, his breathing finally reached a normal rate, and his life no longer seemed to be in immediate danger. Calypso took this opportunity to get a better look at her new companion. He looked to be in the early stages of manhood, with regal, boyish features. His hair was tussled, and pitch-black which made the burned edges less noticeable.
"What's your name hero?" she asked him softly running her hand through his hair. Suddenly his fingers twitched, and his eyes fluttered. Calypso jumped excited to see him wake up again.
"Grover, Tyson run!" he yelled out in a dream. "Annabeth d-don't!" Calypso frowned disappointed wondering who this girl was that he just mentioned. Every hero that came to her island seemed to have some woman to go back to. Calypso turned away the sadness of knowing that this hero would probably leave broke her heart.
~)*(~
It had been days since Percy arrived at Ogygia. She found out his name and many more things about him when he'd talk in his sleep, but she yearned for him to get better and wake up so they could have a real conversation.
~)*(~
Calypso was walking along the beach where Percy had fallen. When a blue light shimmered into existence in front of her and Hermes appeared. She was shocked, yet pleased to have a visitor.
"Good afternoon Calypso, you're looking lovely." he greeted with a kind smile.
"It's good to see you to Hermes. What news do you have for me?" she asked. Hermes smile faded, and he looked ashamed.
"Actually my dear I have a message for you from Hera. It concerns young Percy Jackson who has just washed up on your shores." he began. Calypso immediately became defensive.
"Hera wanted to know his condition, as she is the one that sent him here." Hermes told her. Calypso fumed. The Gods were already assuming that Percy would choose to leave just like all the others before him. It was rude, and unfair for them to already be planning his future before he even arrived.
"Percy will live although he isn't fit to leave, just yet." Calypso said curtly. Hermes looked hurt, by her tone.
"I'm sorry I know how this hurts you, but please remember I am only the messenger." he said sadly hoping she would forgive him. Calypso watched the waves crash on the shore trying to get a grip on her emotions.
"I don't blame you Hermes. I know you're only doing your job. However, why does Hera have such an interest in Percy? I have always believed that she didn't care much for heroes." Hermes looked out into the distance wondering how to answer.
"The world is in turmoil. Kronos is rising again. There is a prophecy that Percy may be a part of. We predict that he has a great part to play in the fate of the world. He already knows this. Whether he is up to the challenge I don't know. He may wish to stay with you knowing he could escape his destiny if he did so."
Calypso let the tears fall with the knowledge that the fate of the world may rest on her new companion's shoulders. That was a new one. Hermes looked off to the right where Percy was slowly making his way down slope. It would be her luck that he would happen to wake up right then to see her cry.
"I best be off, more messages to deliver. Goodbye Calypso and good luck." He said before disappearing in a burst of light. Calypso wiped her eyes, and waited for Percy to approach her. He was pale from the effort of walking so far, and he still had that confused, disoriented look on his face.
"Well" she said, smirking at his expression "the sleeper finally awakes."
"Who were you talking to?" Percy asked his voice cracking from disuse.
"Oh…just a messenger," Calypso said not wanting to start talking about what Hermes had told her. "How do you feel?"
"How long have I been out?" he asked disregarding her question.
"Time," Calypso mused. "Time is always difficult here. I honestly don't know, Percy."
"You know my name?"
"You talk in your sleep."
"Yeah, I've been…uh, told that before." he said sheepishly running a hand through his already messy hair.
"Yes. Who is Annabeth?" She asked praying that this girl wasn't anyone important.
"Oh, uh, a friend, we were together when—wait, how did I get here? Where am I?" Percy questioned, suddenly panicked and shaky. Calypso reached up and ran her fingers through his tangled hair hoping to calm him down. He reeled back from her touch shyly.
"I'm sorry," Calypso said disappointed. "I've just grown used to caring for you."
"As to how you got here, you fell from the sky. You landed in the water, just there." She pointed across the beach. "I do not know how you survived. The water seemed to cushion your fall. As to where you are, you are in Ogygia."
"Is that near Mount St. Helens?" He asked confused. Calypso let out a small laugh at his ignorance.
"It isn't near anything, brave one," she said and began telling him about her Island, and how he needed to stay and rest.
"But my friends—" he began looking pained.
"Annabeth, Grover and Tyson?" Calypso asked.
"Yes!" Percy exclaimed. "I have to get back to them. They're in danger." He said panicked. His eyes wide and un- focused, looking like he was about to faint.
"Rest first. You are no good to your friends until you heal. "She said concerned. He relaxed a little and looked at her suspiciously.
"You're not…you're not an evil sorceress, are you?" He asked accusingly.
"Why would you think that?" Calypso asked in turn with a coy smile.
"Well, I met Circe once, and she had a pretty nice island, too. Except she liked to turn men into guinea pigs." He said completely serious.
"I promise I will not turn you into a guinea pig." Calypso said trying to smother her giggles.
"Or anything else?"
"I am no evil sorceress," Calypso said. "And I am not your enemy, brave one. Now rest. Your eyes are already closing." Just as she voiced those words Percy's knees buckled, and he fell. Calypso caught him just in time his head falling against her chest. She was surprised by how light he was, perhaps he lost some weight from being bedridden for so long. She walked him to a nearby bench, and laid him down he kept blinking, struggling to stay awake.
"Rest" Calypso ordered putting her hand on his forehead as he relaxed into a peaceful sleep. Most of his burns and cuts were healed, but he still seemed really weak. It was as if whatever happened to him used up a huge chunk of his energy and inner finesse. He needed to recharge his batteries so to speak.
Night had fallen, and Calypso was tending to her garden planting moon lace, one of her favorite plants. She heard footsteps nearby, and knew that Percy had awakened again. She looked up at him curiously when he didn't greet her. She caught him staring wistfully into the sky. The stars reflected in his brilliant green eyes. He seemed to be deep in thought, a small smile on his face. Calypso could have stared at him all night, but curiosity won over.
"Percy, what do you see" she asked. His concentration broke, and he turned to look at her. He stared at her for a few seconds, and she too stared back at him.
"I was just looking at…" he looked at a loss for words "Uh…I forgot." he finally said a blush coloring his cheeks. Calypso laughed at his expression.
"Well, as long as you're up, you can help me plant these." She said indicating the plants around her. Percy knelt beside her and the scent of a sea breeze filled her nostrils. He picked up a sprig of moonlace studying it curiously.
"That's moonlace," Calypso explained. "It can only be planted at night."
"What does it do?" he asked fascinated by its glowing petals.
"Do?" Calypso wondered. "It doesn't really do anything, I suppose. It lives, it gives light, and it provides beauty. Does it have to do anything else?" She asked with a smirk.
"I suppose not," he said although he sounded disappointed. Calypso took the plant, and their hands touched. She expected him to pull away from her again, but his time he didn't. She smiled to herself as she planted it. Calypso stood up surveying her work.
"I love my garden." she told him proudly.
"It's awesome," he agreed or well she thought he did, she was unfamiliar with that term of speech. He looked around her garden in appreciation, that small, sweet smile still on his face. He surprised her by speaking first without invitation this time.
"Back home, my mom always wanted a garden." he said wistfully.
"Why did she not plant one?" Calypso asked concerned.
"Well, we live in Manhattan. In an apartment." he continued. Calypso had no idea what he was talking about, these were terms she had never heard before.
"Manhattan? Apartment?" she asked. He stared at her strangely his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
"You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?" he asked concerned with his head cocked a little.
"I fear not. I haven't left Ogygia in . . . a long time." She answered sadly.
"Well, Manhattan's a big city, with not much gardening space." He said it like it was a well-known fact and wasn't upset by it; she frowned when he said that.
"That is sad. Hermes visits from time to time. He tells me the world outside has changed greatly. I did not realize it had changed so much you cannot have gardens." She said sadly her eyes looking around her garden imagining the horrid possibility of not having one. He looked around her garden again digesting the information she just told him, and wondering what to say.
"Why haven't you left your island?" he asked her both curious and concerned an innocent question. Every man that comes by her shores has asked her that question, and every time they ask it feels like a knife to the heart. She told him about her father, and how the Gods punished her.
She remembered when she first came to Ogygia thousands of years ago. At first she didn't think it was so bad the island was beautiful, and there were servants to attend to her every need and want. Then her captors sailed away, and she was alone. By the time the first hero washed up on her shores, Calypso was in desperate need of attention and human/god (whatever) contact. The only reason she hasn't gone insane throughout her punishment was the burning hope inside that told her that maybe one of the men would stay. Although after the first ten men, she realized that she truly was cursed.
All these thoughts ran through her head as she spoke, making her nervous and wanting to get away from him before he could see her cry.
"Still," he said hesitantly, "it's not fair to punish you for what your father's done. I knew another daughter of Atlas. Her name was Zoë. She was one of the bravest people I've ever met." He said confidently a spark igniting in his eyes. Calypso studied him for a while she appreciated that he seemed to be on her side. He didn't judge her, or just say these things to make her feels better. Percy spoke his mind freely, and she knew he spoke truth. She felt herself falling for him, and quickly shut him out.
"What is it?" he asked looking at her strangely.
"Are—are you healed yet, my brave one? Do you think you'll be ready to leave soon?" She asked both sad and hopeful.
"What?" He asked surprised. "I don't know." He started shuffling his feet and testing himself out. When he looked back at her he looked a little pale. "You want me to go?" He looked so innocent, and a little hurt. Calypso wanted nothing, but to throw her arms around him and never let him leave. Instead she got a grip on her emotions.
""I…" Her voice broke. "I'll see you in the morning. Sleep well." She said quickly, and ran off leaving him standing there in wonder.
Calypso couldn't allow herself to fall in love with him no matter how much she wanted to. She stared out into the dark waves, and knew it was impossible. Her heart would betray her, and he'd eventually leave like all the heroes before him. Maybe if she didn't offer him to stay, his absence wouldn't hurt as much.
The next few days were wonderful. Calypso loved watching Percy as he gradually grew stronger. He had so many stories to tell, and was so easy to talk to. Occasionally their eyes would meet as they talked, and Calypso would always look away afraid of getting lost into those bottomless green eyes. One day over dinner he finally took notice of this.
"There it is again," he exclaimed suddenly.
"What?" Calypso asked confused, and timid.
"You keep pulling away, like you're trying not to enjoy yourself." He said matter-of-factually giving her a questioning look. She kept her eyes downcast wondering how to continue.
"As I told you, Percy, I have been punished. Cursed, you might say." She finally admitted carefully.
"How? Tell me. I want to help." He pleaded looking at her with concern.
"Don't say that. Please don't say that." Calypso said fearfully the tears threatening to come to her eyes again.
"Tell me what the punishment is." He persisted. Calypso decided it was inevitable he had to know.
"Percy, this island, Ogygia, is my home, my birthplace. But it is also my prison. I am under . . . house arrest; I guess you would call it. I will never visit this Manhattan of yours. Or anywhere. Else. I am alone here." She admitted sadly.
"Because your father was Atlas." He guessed.
She nodded. "The gods do not trust their enemies. And rightly so. I should not complain. Some of the prisons are not nearly as nice as mine." She said looking around with a small smile.
"But that's not fair," He complained. "Just because you're related doesn't mean you support him. This other daughter I knew, Zoë Nightshade—she fought against him. She wasn't imprisoned."
"But, Percy," Calypso said gently, "I did support him in the first war. He is my father." His eyes widened, and he looked at her in horror.
"What? But the Titans are evil!" He said with disgust.
"Are they? All of them? All the time?" She hated the way he looked at her now, as if she was crazy. But she felt like she had to defend her family.
"Tell me, Percy. I have no wish to argue with you. But do you support the gods because they are good, or because they are your family?" His angry expression changed to one of pain and confusion his eyes darkening.
"Perhaps I was wrong in the war," Calypso said. "And in fairness, the gods have treated me well. They visit me from time to time. They bring me word of the outside world. But they can leave. And I cannot." She sighed.
"You don't have any friends?" he asked looking up. "I mean…wouldn't anyone else live here with you? It's a nice place." He gestured to the environment around them. The tears finally fell as she poured out her heart.
"I…I promised myself I wouldn't speak of this. But—" She was interrupted by a rumbling sound somewhere out on the lake. A glow appeared on the horizon. It got brighter and brighter, until a column of fire shot across the surface of the water, coming toward them. Percy stood and reached for his sword defensively.
"What is that?" He asked.
Calypso sighed. "A visitor."
As the column of fire reached the beach, Calypso stood and bowed to it formally. The flames dissipated, and standing before them was...
"Lord Hephaestus," Calypso said distractedly. "This is a rare honor."
The fire god grunted. "Calypso, Beautiful as always. Would you excuse us, please, my dear? I need to have a word with our young Percy Jackson." He said sitting down and ordering a Pepsi. Calypso got up and left abruptly, happy to leave the conversation. Although part of her was concerned for Percy, two gods have come asking for him. The gods hardly ever visited, her hero must be more important than she realized. When Calypso came back to the dinner table, she found Percy deep in thought with a guilty look on his face.
"He has ordered you to return," Calypso guessed.
"Well, not ordered. He gave me a choice." He said looking down at his hands on the table. Calypso watched him making him look up at her with those shining eyes.
"I promised I would not offer." She began.
"Offer what?" He asked confused.
"For you to stay." She answered carefully.
"Stay, like . . . forever?"
"You would be immortal on this island," Calypso said quietly. "You would never age or die. You could leave the fight to others, Percy Jackson. You could escape your prophecy." Percy just stared at her, stunned.
"Just like that?" He asked softly.
Calypso nodded. "Just like that."
"But . . . my friends." He said sadly looking down at his hands.
Calypso's heart sank as she rose and took his hand. The touch sent a warm current through her body. She was losing him, and it killed her to watch but he had to know the truth. It was her last chance to keep him from leaving.
"You asked about my curse, Percy. I did not want to tell you. The truth is the gods send me companionship from time to time. Every thousand years or so, they allow a hero to wash up on my shores, someone who needs my help. I tend to him and befriend him, but it is never random. The Fates make sure that the sort of hero they send…" Calypso's voice trembled, and she had to stop. Percy griped her hand tighter reassuringly.
"What? What have I done to make you sad?" He demanded looking hurt.
"They send a person who can never stay," Calypso whispered. "Who can never accept my offer of companionship for more than a little while." They send me a hero I can't help…" She took a deep breath and forced it out. "... just the sort of person I can't help falling in love with."
The night was quiet except for the gurgle of the fountains and waves lapping on the shore. Percy looked really confused. Calypso had decided long ago that this was a normal look for him.
"Me?" He finally asked incredulous. Calypso smiled through the tears.
"If you could see your face." She said getting lost in his mesmerizing eyes. "Of course, you."
"That's why you've been pulling away all this time?" Percy asked starting to figure it out. Calypso nodded.
"I tried very hard. But I can't help it. The Fates are cruel. They sent you to me, my brave one, knowing that you would break my heart." She choked on the last words. Percy looked uncomfortable.
"But . . . I'm just . . . I mean, I'm just me." He said flabbergasted. Calypso smiled at his amazed reaction, he was definitely the humblest of all her previous tenants.
"That is enough," She promised. "I told myself I would not even speak of this. I would let you go without even offering. But I can't. I suppose the Fates knew that, too. You could stay with me, Percy. I'm afraid that is the only way you could help me." It was now or never. Although she already knew the answer she couldn't help but feel the little spirit of hope fluttering in her heart. Percy stared at the horizon, deep in thought for a long time.
"I can't," he told her dejected. When he looked at her his eyes held a sadness that said he really wanted to stay, but duty told him he was needed elsewhere. She looked down as her heart shattered.
"I would never do anything to hurt you, but my friends need me. I know how to help them now. I have to get back." He insisted.
Calypso picked a flower from her garden—a sprig of silver moonlace. Its glow faded as the sunrise came up. She tucked the flower into his frocket.
She stood on her toes and kissed his forehead. It would be better to part ways as friends than anything more. Otherwise the pain would be greater for the both of them.
"Then come to the beach, my hero. And we will send you on your way." She finished defeated.
Calypso led him to the raft, the same raft that every hero took to go home. It would always sail itself back to Ogygia after dropping them off. She thought about destroying it, so a hero could never leave, but she didn't. Ogygia was her prison, if she truly loved these heroes she would give them a choice, and let them go.
"This will take you wherever you desire," Calypso promised.
Percy turned and held her hand. She would miss how gentle, and careful he was. It was painful to think about that, so she let her hand slip out of his sadly.
"Maybe I can visit you?"
Calypso shook her head.
"No man ever finds Ogygia twice, Percy. When you leave, I will never see you again." She said.
"But—"
"Go, please." Her voice broke.
"The Fates are cruel, Percy. Just remember me." Then a little trace of her smile returned. "Plant a garden in Manhattan for me, will you?"
"I promise." He said with a grin as he stepped onto the raft and sailed away.
Calypso watched him leave until he disappeared into the mist. She felt the first of many tears trail down her cheeks, as she thought about him. She would always remember his smile, his loyalty to his friends and family, those sea-green eyes…
"Good Luck my Hero" she whispered into the sea wind.
