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Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or the characters and I never, ever will.
Ten: Reyna PoV
I think I can just skip the details of how Octavian mysteriously fell ill the night before the ambush and the duties of leading the attack were therefore placed on me. It happened, and Mission Getting Rid of Octavian was a success.
Now I just had to break the news that the ambush would be changed into a diplomatic mission, to discuss the situation with the Greeks. Octavian would oppose it, but hey, he's bedridden and covered in red welts for a week or so, so he can't really object now can he?
I took a glance at myself in the mirror in my tent. I was by no means a Venus girl. I had dark hair and eyes and a sprinkling of freckles. I was a praetor, not a princess. I took a deep breath and exited my tent, Aurum and Argentum tailing me as usual.
I walked calmly past the soldiers that were busy warming up, prepping for the ambush that evening.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make regarding the plans for this evening," I called, and everyone stopped talking. I cleared my throat again.
"I have decided that instead of attacking, we will first send in a diplomatic party and a few soldiers under a flag of truce. I will lead this group that I have personally selected, into the Greek camp to discuss matters. If there is significant evidence that they indeed meant to attack New Rome, we will attack. Otherwise, we will remain inactive," I informed them. Whispers swept through out the camp, and I waited for them to get over the initial shock. "The people coming with me will be: Dakota, Bobby, Louisa and Xander. I encourage you to still practice, in case there is a need for a full scale invasion of the Greek camp, but otherwise, do what you please."
I made my way back to my tent. I wasn't in the mood to deal with questions, and I didn't want Octavian to send someone after me. I just had to keep everything in order until this evening. Then we would walk into the Greek camp calmly and everything would be fine. It was going to be perfect.
The day passed by, the sun slowly creeping over the sky. When it was four o'clock I started getting ready. I braided my hair again, washed my face and carefully dressed in my purple toga and praetor cloak over my jean shorts and purple tee shirt. I closed my eyes.
Reyna, this is going to go perfectly, I told myself. You'll be able to clear the whole Eidolon thing up, and the camps with unite and Queen Dirt Face will take some permanent sleeping pills and everything will be fine again.
I opened my eyes as I finished my little pep talk, strapped my Imperial Gold sword to my belt and stepping out of the tent. My dogs followed at my heels and I met my selected group of soldiers in the center of camp.
We were all set to go, Dakota readily carrying the white flag, when Octavian poked his blotchy face out of the infirmary. I refrained from sighing as he opened his mouth to begin his lecture.
"This can't be a diplomatic mission!" He protested, his face going purple. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. He was definitely something, with his face covered in red welts and wearing a purple and gold infirmary johnny, trying to look dignified.
"Actually, Octavian, it can. It has to be. This is what Juno wants, this is what Bellona wants. Right now, there's a bigger threat, and we can't afford a civil war," I snapped. "And if I have to pull the 'I've been praetor much longer' card, believe me, I will. And last time I checked, augur, you were bedridden and getting some rest to recover from your allergic reaction," I added. All of the sudden I just felt this feeling bubble up inside me. I had walked the praetor road alone before, and I'd do it again if it meant getting rid of Octavian. Maybe I was just meant to be alone. Maybe I was born to do this.
"Now, if you'll excuse us, we have business to attend," I told him coldly, before nodding at the others as we set off down the road.
It was a reasonably short walk, and we did it in silence. As we reached the bottom of the hill I looked up at the tall evergreen, the Golden Fleece glittering on its branch, the huge dragon, Peleus, Percy had informed me, wrapped around its trunk. We climbed up the hill steadily, and looked down into the valley. I glanced at Peleus, a little worried as to whether or not he would attack and eat us as lunch. But then again, we were demigods. He didn't seem to notice as we crossed the borders and made our way down into the valley that was the Greek camp. A pair of boys from the volleyball court spotted us and narrowed their eyes suspiciously. One of them hurried over, while the other ran to the big blue farmhouse.
"Are you Romans?" the boy asked, suspiciously. He had close cropped brown hair and blue eyes that had a mischievous look to them, like he was calculating the best way to prank you.
"Yeah," I answered. "My name is Reyna, daughter of Bellona. I'm praetor of the Twelfth Legion of New Rome. We're here to see a camp leader. There's a lot to talk about."
"Okay, you might have to wait a few seconds. Chiron will be out in a minute, no worries. I'm Connor, son of Hermes," he informed me, holding our his hand for me to shake. I took it politely, before studying my surroundings. It was a lot like Percy and Annabeth had described. There was a big area dedicated to sprawling strawberry fields where kids were gardening. There twenty cabins, arrayed in a rectangle shape with a brazier and gardens at the center. There was an Ampitheater, an archery range and sword-fighting arena, a long stretch of beach and forest lining the far edge.
While I'd been busy examining the camp, Chiron had arrived. He was a centaur, with a trimmed beard and a white horse lower half.
"So you are Reyna. I have heard much about you from Lupa," he said, stroking his beard as if in deep thought. "I am Chiron, the activities director here at camp. Why don't you come inside the Big House?" I nodded in agreement. Chiron turned to Connor.
"Call a head counselor meeting," he ordered, and Connor walked away, probably to get other Greeks.
We followed Chiron up the steps of the farmhouse and inside. There was a big living room, with a leopard head above the fireplace and three couches around a coffee table. The leopard snarled as we walked by to another room.
There were multiple chairs pulled up to a ping pong table and we took seats. Connor and Travis appeared, and I figured they had to be twins. They were way to identical otherwise. There was a girl with dark hair and bangs that came in next that shot a glare at Travis, followed by a girl with tons of bracelets and rings and henna tattoos all over her hands. I lost count as they filed in and took seats; a boy with blond hair and an archer's bow, a boy with gray eyes like Annabeth's, a girl with a red bandana, a blondie with pigtails and braces that smelled of designer perfume. Soon the seats were filled and Chiron entered, causing the campers to fall silent.
"This meeting was called due to the appearance of a diplomatic party of Romans from Camp Jupiter," Chiron explained, and all eyes were turned on us. "But first, introduce yourselves to our guests."
"You already know us," Connor said, winking at me. I ignored it. The girl with the bangs stood up and smiled warmly at me.
"I'm Katie Gardner, daughter of Demeter," she told me. Beside her, the girl with henna tattoos and jewelry introduced herself as Lou Ellen, daughter of Hecate.
"Clarisse, daughter of Ares," the girl with the red bandana said roughly.
"I'm Lacy, daughter of Aphrodite," the girl with the pigtails announced before flashing me a silvery smile.
"Will Solace, son of Apollo," the blond boy with the quiver informed me.
"Malcolm, son of Athena," the boy with gray eyes told me. Like I hadn't guessed that already. They continued around the table, Butch, son of Iris, Clovis, son of Hypnos, Lucky, daughter of Tyche, Emma, daughter of Nemesis, among others.
"As some of you know, I'm Reyna, praetor of the Twelfth Legion of New Rome and daughter of Bellona, Roman goddess of war," I began before introducing the others. Their attention didn't waver, and I swallowed down my nerves. "I'm here because the two camps, Greek and Roman, need to unite to beat Terra, or Gaea, as you call her. We would already be getting along fine if the truce we had hadn't been breached back at Camp Jupiter by the son of Hephaestus."
Whispers erupted, and I earned a few death stares.
"You mean Leo?" A guy who was on crutches asked. He was a son of Hephaestus named Jake Mason, so he probably wasn't too thrilled with me accusing Leo of causing all the problems.
"I guess. He was possessed by an Eidolon, a spirit used by Terra to possess demigods or humans, so his actions weren't his own, but my fellow praetor, Octavian, and other soldiers of the Legion aren't exactly convinced. So I need to prove to them that it was a mistake, Terra's way of forcing us apart," I continued.
"Well, what do you want us to do? We can't exactly catch a ghost. It's not like Nico's here, so he can't work voodoo magic and magically summon it," the girl with the red bandana, Clarisse, interjected.
"We just need to form a proper alliance. Tomorrow the Legion can come here, if you'd like. Or you can send a few back with us. Whatever you want. We just need to establish that you're with us, not against us," I explained.
"No offense, but how do we know that if we send people back with you, you won't take them captive?" Clarisse questioned. This girl was definitely careful, worthy of being a daughter of Mars.
"I can personally guarantee their safety. You have my honest word," I told her. She nodded, raising her eyebrows, but didn't say anything else.
"Why don't you bring the Legion here tomorrow. We can assess everything then, and if all goes as planned, can camp inside our borders to be safe from monsters," Chiron suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," I agreed, cracking a brief smile. So far, so good. Maybe, against all odds, the alliance would work out after all.
Good? I'm sorry if it's a bit long, but I really needed to capture the meeting and agreements, and I wanted to bring some other Greeks from PJO into the mix. I'm thinking about doing a separate Tratie story after I finish with Mr. Fix-It, which is my Leyna story. Anyways, please review, constructive criticism is ALWAYS appreciated! Thanks again for reading!
-NotsoSugarQueen