Hey, I've finally updated! To all you faithful readers out there, thank you for staying with me, especially those of you who have favourited/alerted or reviewed. That is, Maisie1995, mkc120, pjoroxs, drizzleluver, chaosthelordofall, olympusgirl12, Safree, kkawesome101, Reyna Rocks, PercabethandThalicoLover, naynay678, rockfan5912, Prateek behera, and everyone else!

Note about the blessing: I translated it from English to Latin. However, it doesn't quite turn out right when you translate it back. Oh, well! Just take me at my word- that's what it's supposed to mean.

Annabeth listened to Hazel and Piper's explanation in silence. Yes, she thought. It all makes sense now. But despite paying attention to what was going on, she felt her mind drifting back to what Minerva had said in the temple. Mark ego vobis in nomine Athena. Tibi benedictionem Minerva. Panis vera via ducit te. What did it mean? And more importantly, perhaps, what would would it mean for her?

Annabeth shifted position slightly, the collar of her orange t-shirt just rubbing against the ache on her chest. She had managed to examine it while she was waiting for the second meeting to start. A small brand, similar to those which the Romans had on their arms, except for the fact that it was in the shape of an owl.

She looked up as Thalia entered. Something's up with her, she thought, but didn't say anything. Annabeth knew that her friend wouldn't do anything bad, but decided to be on the safe side and have a word with her later. She glanced over at Percy, still holding her hand.

'What do you think,' she asked quietly. 'Is Gaia behind it all?'

Percy nodded. 'Yeah. Definetly. I don't know why I haven't seen it before.'

'Because Gaia was influencing us. C'mon, let's show our support.'

They both stood up at the same time. 'We believe them,' Annabeth said, mainly to Hazel and Piper, but so that everyone else could hear. 'Earlier, it felt like something was… not controlling me, exactly, but more influencing me. Making me do things I wouldn't do otherwise.'

They watched in satisfaction as the rest of the Greeks- and Romans- stood. When the meeting was over (A/N- I really couldn't be bothered to type out the whole meeting again) Annabeth turned to Percy.

'Hey, d'you know where I could find a dictionary? Either Latin-English or Latin-Greek?'

'No, but I know who will.' Percy glanced round. 'Gwen!'

A girl in her late teens strolled over. Annabeth recognised her as one of those who had stood up for Hazel and Piper.

'Gwen, this is Annabeth,' Percy introduced. 'Annabeth, this is Gwen, otherwise known as Centurion Shish Kebab.'

Annabeth blinked at him in confusion. 'What?'

'As nicknamed by Mars,' Gwen explained. 'Don't ask.'

'O-kay,' Annabeth said slowly. 'I won't. Anyway, I need to ask something. Do you know where I could get a dictionary? A Latin-Greek one?'

'Yeah, sure. There's a library down in the city, just on the outskirts. You can't miss it. Says "Bibliotheca" on the front.' (A/N- Again, trusting Google Translate. Apparently, it means library.)

Annabeth thanked her, and turned to Percy. 'Are you coming?'

'Yeah, of course.'

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Annabeth threw the book down in frustration. According to this, the blessing could mean one of two things. Neither of them made sense. It was either "Mark you, I bless you in the name Athena, Minerva. The bread is the way it leads you," or "I should be your mark in the name of Athena, thee the blessing of the wise. The bread is the way it leads you."

Percy appeared beside her. 'What's up?'

'Nothing. I'm looking for something, and it's not there, that's all. Something-' She glanced round, checking that no-one was there. 'Something mom said to me in Latin.'

'If she said it, then maybe you shouldn't be looking in that book,' Percy suggested. 'I mean, that's modern Latin, or as modern as a dead language gets. Maybe try one that's got older Latin in.'

Yes. Sometimes, Percy acted so goofy it was easy to forget that he could be smart when he wanted to be.

'You came up with the idea, you find me the book.'

It was about five minutes before they found one. A large, leather-bound book, with stiff, brittle pages, the title embossed on the front in gold, in both Latin and Greek. And finally, after half an hour of searching, she found the answer.

I mark you in the name of Athena. I give you the blessing of Minerva. May it lead you to your true path. Annabeth's mouth was suddenly dry. Your true path. What was it?

'Well?' Percy looked over her shoulder and Annabeth quickly covered the three sentences she had written.

'I'm sorry, Percy, but mom says I can't tell anyone. I will tell you, I promise, just… not yet.'

'It's okay,' Percy reassured her. 'I get it.' He glanced at his watch. 'We've been gone too long, almost an hour. People will be getting worried. We'd best get going.'

Annabeth stood, tucking the translation into her jeans pocket. 'I've got a room aboard the Argo II, so no need to worry about that. Are you going to sleep in the barracks or with me?' She blushed bright red. 'I mean, on the ship. Not actually, you know. Not even in the same room- I think I'm going to shut up now.'

Percy laughed and twined his fingers with hers. 'You do that. Don't worry, I got what you meant. I'll be in the barracks for tonight, but I might transfer to the Argo II for the rest of the time that we're here. And speaking of that…' He hesitated for a second. 'How long are we going to be here?'

Annabeth shrugged, and they walked to the ship in silence, still holding hands. When they got there, Annabeth turned to Percy.

'We'll talk more in the morning,' she promised, leaning up to kiss him lightly on the cheek. He cupped her face, bringing her in for a firmer kiss.

'Goodnight, Annabeth,' he whispered. 'I promise I won't go missing this time.'

She fixed him with a mock glare. 'You'd better not.' Then her gaze softened. 'Stay safe, Percy. Goodnight.' She quickly kissed him one more time then turned and left.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night, Annabeth dreamed. To put it bluntly, it wasn't a good dream. She opened her eyes to find herself in a huge cavern, the roof supported by massive pillars. Annabeth scrambled to her feet and dodged behind one before taking in the rest of her surroundings. One thing dominated the cavern- a statue of a sleeping woman, 20 feet tall and made of dirt.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, hooded and robed in black. He bowed low to Gaia- for that's who it was- and murmured 'My Lady.' The cavern amplified the sound, and Annabeth made a mental note to not so much as whisper.

Gaia's mouth didn't move, but the voice was hers nonetheless. 'My faithful one. Is it done?'

'You are all-knowing, My Lady. Are you not? Why don't you tell me?'

'Always a mercenary.' Gaia's soft laugh filled the chamber.

'You knew it when you hired me. I will be your most faithful servant- until you stop paying me. Then, who knows? I might even go over to the demigods' side.'

'Do not jest.' Her voice was deadly.

There was an awkward laugh from the figure. 'Of course, My Lady. I did not know you felt so strongly about it.'

'Hmm. Well, in answer to your question, I know everything concerning our campaign. Our agent should be finishing his task now.'

The figure had a smile in his voice when he spoke. 'That is good indeed. Now we may move into the next phase of our plan. But, if I may bring up the matter of the war in Rome-'

'Not just yet. I believe you have neglected to protect my temple properly.'

'What? But I didn't. There are a dozen guards at every entrance, and…'

'Not in that way. You didn't know that demigods could travel in their dreams?'

Hiding behind the pillar, Annabeth's mouth was dry. No, no, no. You can't see me. You can't sense me. Except… Kronos could sense Percy. And if Gaia's even more powerful…

'You have failed to protect my temple, and now we have an intruder to deal with.' Annabeth craned her neck, glancing round the edge of the pillar as Gaia continued. 'Don't we…' Gaia's eyes snapped open, fixing the girl in their expressionless, merciless gaze. 'Annabeth?'

Annabeth started awake, sitting up sharply, trying to catch her breath. The dream had been so vivid; she could still smell the musty scent of damp, decaying earth and feel the fear of when Gaia's eyes had met hers. What had woken her? Then she heard it again, a desperate yell. A voice she would know anywhere.

'Festus!' It was Leo.