A/N: Wow. Two months. I can't believe it's been two months. I am so incredibly sorry. I just had so much going on in life: school, family, friends. I was meaning to update last week when I had spring break but even my vacation time was packed. : / So again, I apologize. I hope you guys aren't mad at me. I know I'm being a lousy author. I have more to say at the bottom. I won't keep you waiting anymore. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: All rights go to Rick Riordan. I am not him, for what would Rick Riordan be doing on FanFiction when he needs to finish his actual books? Exactly.
I gave a loud yawn and looked at Rachel. "Rachel, when will Prince Luke arrive? I'm getting a bit impatient."
"Sorry, Princess. It appears I had forgotten that the royal family is not known for their early awakenings. I believe the Prince should be finished with his breakfast around this time," said Rachel, flashing a sheepish smile.
However, as if on queue, Luke stepped through the doorway of Rachel's office, offering us an apologetic look.
"I apologize for my tardiness. I had forgotten how early this meeting would be," he said, taking a seat beside me.
Rachel said, "Well, no matter. Let us begin our meeting so that we may finish it before lunchtime."
She began speaking to us about our bridesmaids and groomsmen. I immediately chose Thalia as my maid of honor. Luke decided to choose Ethan, a close friend of his.
"And the rest?" Rachel inquired. "Both of you still need at least two more bridesmaids and groomsmen."
I smiled. "I was thinking of asking you to be one, Rachel."
"Oh, Princess! That would be an honor!" she gushed.
Luke laughed and said, "Since I haven't that many friends, I was thinking of asking Percy and Grover."
"I am sure they would accept," I grinned.
Rachel pointed out, "You still need one more, Princess."
I sighed. "I will think of someone."
"Very well. Now, we need to discuss family arrangements," said Rachel.
The meeting carried on with various topics to decide upon. Such topics, like where each of our families would be seated or our justice of the peace, seemed minor, yet Rachel was intent on those decisions. Finally, after countless hours of arguing, on Rachel's part, and talking, we were able to accomplish all that needed to be discussed, according to Rachel.
"Thank you for attending, Your Majesties," said Rachel. "I believe we've finished in time for lunch."
I nodded. "The others will be waiting for us on the patio." Then I turned to Luke. "Would you care to join us today?"
Luke shook his head. "Oh no, I don't mean to intrude. Besides, I am meeting someone for lunch."
"Well, you are welcome to join us anytime in the future."
"Thank you," he said, bowing. Then, he slipped through the doors before Rachel and I could say anything else.
I turned back to Rachel. "Our lunch awaits."
Rachel laughed and linked arms with me. We proceeded to walk leisurely to the patio. When we walked past the fencing area, Percy and Grover were sword-fighting yet again. I yelled their names, momentarily pausing their sparring.
"It is time for lunch, you two," I shouted. "Get yourselves cleaned up."
"Yes, mother!" they shouted back, and turned to put their weapons away.
I rolled my eyes, but continued my walk to the patio, pulling Rachel along. As we arrived, we found a table already set with utensils and steaming food. I looked around, noticing that Thalia was not there. How peculiar.
Just then, Percy and Grover arrived, evidently cleaner. They took a seat and began piling food onto their plates, not even bothering to wait for us.
Rachel scoffed, "Boys."
We took a seat across from them and began serving ourselves as well. After we'd all begun eating, I decided to speak up.
"Have you two seen Thalia?" I asked.
Percy nodded. "She told me she was having an important lunch meeting with someone and apologized in advance for not being able to attend lunch with us."
I frowned. "But she barely knows anyone here, let alone have an important meeting with them."
Percy shrugged. "Who knows. This is Thalia we are talking about. She is very unpredictable."
"Wait, I just thought of something," I said, pursing my lips. "Luke told Rachel and I that he was meeting someone for lunch as well." Could it be…No. Highly unlikely.
"Like I said, it is Thalia. We never know for sure."
I, however, continued to ponder this coincidence. Was it even a coincidence? Was it possible that they were having lunch together? Thalia would have told me. I was sure of that. Then again, I wasn't sure of anything these days.
At dinnertime, everybody was to dine in the great dining hall, including Rachel. It seemed that King Hermes had wanted to look over the wedding plans with Rachel over dinner, to make sure everything was being handled. As they spoke quietly over her notes, the rest of us ate quietly.
I was observing Thalia and Luke, hoping they weren't noticing. Every so often, Thalia would glance at Luke or he would glance at her. I narrowed my eyes as I stared at Thalia. However, she locked eyes with me and I turned my attention back to my food. I felt another pair of eyes on me. This one felt much more intense. As I looked up, I noticed that Percy was looking at me. He saw that I had noticed and blushed a little before flashing a small smile.
After that queer moment, dinner seemed to pass by quickly. King Hermes excused himself first due to a meeting with his council. We all exited the hall immediately after he left.
"I would love to stay with all of you, but my father has insisted that I meet with him," said Rachel.
Grover nodded. "I am going back to my chambers. Dinner has made me incredibly tired."
I laughed. "Alright, you two. Have a good night."
They bowed and curtsied before retreating to their desired destinations.
"Well, I suppose–" I began, turning around, only to find that Percy and I were the only people left.
"Where did Thalia and Prince Luke go?" I asked.
Percy shrugged. "They disappeared after dinner."
I frowned. "That's strange."
"Why don't we just take a walk through the gardens?"
I grinned. "Sure."
The gardens were a wonder to behold. Though the pathways were simply made of paved stones, the flowers and hedges surrounding them were stunning. Flowers of every hue were placed in elaborate patterns to accentuate each color. The hedges were intricately cut to perfection, some even taking up the forms of animals. Lanterns throughout the gardens helped to make them more lively in the dark.
Percy and I walked in a comfortable silence. I had wanted to absorb the beauty of the gardens, and Percy seemed to respect that. However, I decided to speak up after we had walked quite a distance.
"I think there is something peculiar happening between Thalia and Luke," I said.
Percy replied, "I was thinking that as well."
I nodded. "They've been disappearing around the same time, and they never tell us where exactly they're going."
"One can only assume."
I sighed. "Well, maybe our suspicions will be confirmed soon enough."
"Until then, we have other matters to talk about," said Percy, giving me a pointed look.
"There is nothing to talk about," I said, refusing to make eye contact with him.
Percy gave a frustrated sigh. "Annabeth, please. I want to know what is happening between us. We can't leave the subject alone forever."
"I suppose you are right. Let's...sit down and speak of everything on our minds."
I grabbed his hand and pulled him to a moonlit bench by the rosebushes.
"What exactly do you wish to speak about?" I asked.
Percy replied. "You know exactly what I wish to speak about."
"Enlighten me."
"The kiss," he replied, his voice dropping to a whisper.
I shrugged indifferently, though I was far from it. "So?"
"So?" Percy said, bewildered. "Annabeth, I like you. I like you a lot. Now I want to know if you return my feelings because that kiss meant something. You kissed me back, and yet you push me away and brush this off as nothing. You're sending mixed signals. I need to know the truth."
"Look, Percy. The truth is," I said, taking a deep breath, "I like you too. And the reason I've been pushing you away and trying to avoid all of this is very much complicated."
Percy took my hand and said, "You can tell me."
I looked directly into those beautiful green eyes, feeling myself open up to reveal my masked vulnerability. "I don't want to be known as the princess who has an affair with another man because her marriage with the prince is arranged. Both kingdoms will despise me. What if I am to be exiled once everybody knows?"
Percy cupped my cheek with his other hand, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb. I leaned into it, sighing. As he fixated his gaze on me, I saw only truth behind his eyes when he spoke.
"I can't promise you that the future will be easy for us. I can't guarantee you that we won't be facing obstacles along the way, because we will. I mean, you're getting married. Though whether you are exiled or not, I will always be by your side. That, I can promise. That, I can guarantee."
He then pulled my face closer to his and gave me a chaste kiss on the lips. When we parted, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Percy shrugged. "I was merely speaking the truth. Besides, I am sure we can pull through this. It's going to be fine, Wise Girl. We'll figure it out."
I was about to say something else when I heard a quiet giggle. I quickly looked around to find nothing out of the ordinary.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Percy.
He replied, "The giggle? Yes. I thought it was only me."
"I believe it came from there," I said, pointing to a few large bushes to our left.
I walked towards that direction, motioning for Percy to follow me. There was a small space between two of the bushes, just large enough for a single person to fit through. Percy and I slipped past them, where we saw a small lake. Forest surrounded it and the moon was reflected off its surface. However, I was not paying attention to either of those details. There was something much more shocking at the center of the lake.
Right in the middle of it sat a single canoe carrying two passengers. Percy and I froze, our eyes practically falling out of their sockets, as our minds finally registered who these passengers were. Thalia and Luke.
It was quite a sight to see. They were sitting across from each other with a lantern in between them. Luke was telling Thalia something quietly when both erupted in quieted laughter.
"I knew it!" I whispered, recovering from my initial shock. "There really was something happening between those two."
"They look really happy," Percy noted, and I had to agree. Thalia was practically beaming as she spoke quietly with Luke.
"Maybe we should allow them some privacy," said Percy.
I sighed. "I suppose."
Percy laced his fingers through mine and tugged my arm.
"Come on, I want to show you something," he said, giving me a soft smile that I couldn't refuse to.
He pulled me through the gardens until we reached a central courtyard. My breath caught as I approached it. There was a fountain in the center, surrounded by lush flower beds. The pathway circled around the fountain several times. Lining the pathway were tall unlit lanterns.
Percy reached into one of his pockets and retrieved a small packet. He opened it and pulled something out. Then, striking the object against the packet, it lit up. I realized then that they were matches. He walked to the nearest lantern and lit it up. Almost instantly, the circle of lanterns began to light up in order from the lantern Percy had lit. Once the entire circle had been lit, the courtyard was instantly illuminated. It was still disbelieving for me as I continued to gape at the sight before me.
"Wow," I breathed. "This is beautiful."
Percy smirked. "I knew you would love it."
"I do," I said, still transfixed on the incredible scenery. "Thank you for showing me this."
Percy touched my elbow so that I turned my attention toward him.
"You are very welcome," he whispered, pressing his lips to mine.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. I tried to tell him how much he meant to me through the kiss, and I felt him do the same as he held me close. No regrets, no doubts, no thoughts came to my mind as we stood there in our own little world. Nothing could have ruined such a perfect night.
A/N: Ahahaha, that was such a cheesy ending. Oh well, I like cheese. And I really did like how this chapter turned out. I was rereading my story and thought it didn't have enough Percabeth. By the way, I must admit that I thought my story was so bad. Seriously. I can't believe I actually wrote that. And yet I have all of you lovely readers and reviewers still sticking to it. Thank you, though, for doing that. I really appreciate it.
Ok, so what was I saying? Right, Percabeth. Yeah, as I was rereading my story I was like, "Dang, I've kept my readers so Percabeth-deprived." So I decided to add as much Percabeth as I could to this chapter without messing it up too much. Oh, and I added some Thuke too. I apologize to all Thalico fans. I'm more of a Thuke and Rico shipper. Nevertheless, hope you all enjoyed it. This story will be wrapping up in a few chapters. So be aware. I know, I am very sad too. Until then, we'll see how it goes. ;) (Whoa, deja vu moment.)
Thank you so much to all of these reviews, favorites, and alerts. I love all of you so much for doing that. I mean, I have over 270 reviews! That's amazing! Thank you! Anyway, I hope the chapter made up a little for my absence. Please review and give me your thoughts!
