Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Story: The Ocean's Son
Chapter 11: Love and Forgiveness
Onboard the Trident
Annabeth's POV
I sat in the infirmary next to Percy's bed, he looked fine. The massive burns that covered his body were completely healed, and if you had just seen him you would never have known he had been burned at all. I heard someone walk in slowly, I looked up to see my mother in a long robe. She looked very tired, and she still had several bruises and cuts visible on her face and arms. She made her way slowly over to me pulling a chair to sit next to me.
"How do you feel mother?" I asked coldly. I was concerned for her, but I couldn't help being mad at her for what she did to Percy. Athena looked at me carefully, and I saw something in her eyes I'd never seen before, guilt.
"I'm very tired, but a lot better now." My mom said as she gave me a slight smile.
"Mom, I know what you did to Percy; I also know that Hera tricked you into going along with it." I said. That revelation made my mother's eyes grow wide.
"She has hated me since the labyrinth, she would do anything to hurt me, and what better way than to take Percy away." I said. My mother's face grew red with anger.
"How dare that witch? I will make her pay for this." Athena said. I looked at her sternly, which made her lower her head in guilt.
"You're the only one to blame, you let her do this, even helped her do it, I presume." I said.
"I I wanted you to b..be happy." Athena said. I laughed at her statement.
"That's a load of crap; you wanted me away from Poseidon's son, that's all." I said. I saw a tear trickle down my mother's cheek; I never saw her cry, ever.
"I'm so sorry my dear, please don't hate me." Athena pleaded, she actually begged me to forgive her, I was stunned.
"I don't know mother, you and Hera took ten years of happiness away from me. Percy had it easy, he didn't have to remember what we had, but I did. Every day I would cry when I thought of him, I even tried to hate him because I thought he was to blame. Do you have any idea the pain you helped cause me?" I asked as tears flowed down my cheeks. My mother cried too. She pulled me into a hug whispering over and over how sorry she was. I couldn't stay mad at her, she felt so guilty, and hating her would do no good. Someone cleared their throat from behind us; we turned to see Will Solace looking at us sheepishly.
"What's wrong Will?" I asked as my mother and I separated.
"Lord Poseidon wishes to speak with both of you in the captain's quarters." Will said. My mother looked at me worriedly.
"We'll be right there." I said. I helped my mother up; I laced my arm through hers, while I guided the both of us to Percy's quarters. We reached the door, I knocked in anticipation. The door opened, and standing before us was the god of sea, he wore a work uniform, one of the ones that I saw Jake and Ian wearing, it had the symbol of the trident emblazoned on the left side of his chest. Poseidon gestured for us to enter, my mother and I took a seat in front of the familiar granite desk, and it was a smaller version of Percy's desk back at the Neptune Foundation's headquarters. Poseidon sat on the other side of the desk, he looked at us expectantly.
"I suppose you both know why I asked to see you?" Poseidon asked.
"Yes, my lord." I said.
"I do." Athena confirmed.
"Athena, I know what you did to my son, and normally I would most likely start a war over this, but I must control my emotions." Poseidon said. Athena and I looked at him in complete shock.
"You're not mad?" I asked. Poseidon laughed, and then his face became serious.
"I'm furious, I could most likely destroy many coastal cities, and destroy a few more by earthquake, but Percy asked me to control my temper." Poseidon said. My mother exhaled in relief.
"Percy asked you?" I questioned.
"Yes, Percy contacted me when he found out about Athena and Hera's treachery." Poseidon said as he glared at my mother, for her part she just looked at him with regret written all over her face. Poseidon gave her a curious look. "He told me that I should not cause any trouble when we found Athena, and rescued her. He didn't want a fight to be caused by what happened to him. That's just Percy for you, always thinking about others."
"Poseidon, I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt your son, and I just wanted Annabeth to be happy." Athena said quickly. I looked at my mom with a face that said, tell the truth. "Alright, I didn't want my daughter dating your son; I let my anger towards you cloud my judgment." Poseidon gave me a slight smile, and then he turned toward Athena.
"I think this stupid quarrel between us has gone on long enough. There was a time even after the competition for Athens where we got along very well. I never want our problems to interfere with our children's happiness again. Athena, I'm sorry for being such an ass to you over the years. If you'll let me, I would like to be a friend and ally." Poseidon said. My mom and I stared at each other in complete shock and disbelief. Athena gave Poseidon a warm smile.
"I never thought I would see the day where you would apologize to me. Poseidon, I'm sorry too, our feud was never logical, and it hurt many people over the years. I agree I would like to be a friend and ally too." Athena said confidently. Poseidon gave her a warm smile in return. He reached his hand across the desk, and Athena took it. Their handshake lasted for a few seconds as they smiled at each other. Then withdrew their hands, and then Poseidon grew serious.
"Good, now down to the real business, Percy." Poseidon said.
"What about him?" I asked.
"We're going to help him get out of that coma." Poseidon said. I gave him a happy smile.
"How are we going to do that?" Athena asked. Poseidon smiled confidently at both of us.
"We're going to Atlantis, our healers are even better than Apollo himself, but don't let Will or my nephew hear that." Poseidon said. My mom and I looked at Poseidon in awe.
"You're taking us to Atlantis?" Athena asked.
"Do you want to tag along?" Poseidon asked.
"I would love to." Athena and I said at the same time enthusiastically. Poseidon smiled at our enthusiasm.
"Good, Tyson is already up, and about." Poseidon said as he touched the intercom button.
"Poseidon to the bridge." Poseidon said.
"Yes, daddy." Tyson said in response.
"How are you feeling my boy?" Poseidon asked.
"I'm feeling better." Tyson said.
"Good, son set a course for Atlantis, best possible speed." Poseidon said.
"Aye, sir." Tyson said as he cut the intercom connection. Poseidon turned to my mother and me.
"Both of you look like you need rest." Poseidon said. My mother and I stood up; Poseidon let us out of Percy's quarters. My mom and I walked to my quarters, which were just down the hall.
"Mom, I'm not tired, I think I'll stay with Percy for a bit." I said. Athena gave me an understanding nod as she walked into my quarters. I walked to the infirmary, but before I went in I saw Thalia and Artemis talking. Artemis was in one of the infirmary beds, her condition was much worse than my mother's, but she was awake now. I knew I probably shouldn't be eavesdropping, but I couldn't help myself.
"My lady, I'm so happy that you're ok." Thalia said sincerely.
"Thank you Thalia, you are a loyal and capable lieutenant." Artemis said. Thalia looked over to the bed that was two down from Artemis's; lying in that bed unconscious was the youngest son of the god of the sea. Artemis must have seen her stare in that direction because she looked at Thalia curiously.
"Thalia, is there something that you need to tell me?" Artemis asked curiously.
"My lady, I do not wish to upset you, but I need to talk to you about something." Thalia said cautiously. This was completely unlike Thalia, she would usually charge into a situation bravely, but that wasn't the case when it came to love or the goddess of the hunt.
"Or someone?" Artemis said interrupting Thalia. Thalia nodded in agreement with that question.
"Who is he?" Artemis asked as she motioned toward Ian.
"He's a son of Poseidon, his name is Ian Anderson." Thalia said. Artemis sat up in her bed a little more so she could get a better look at the dark haired boy.
"He looks familiar, like I've seen him before." Artemis said. Thalia looked at her curiously.
"I guess with the jet black hair, he does look a little like Percy." Thalia added. Artemis shook her head, and again looked at the teenage boy.
"That's not it, this boy, Ian looks familiar." Artemis said.
"Aunt Artemis, I may be able to help with that." Will said from next to the medicine cabinet. Thalia and Artemis looked at the son of Apollo curiously.
"I overheard Percy and Lord Poseidon state that he looked like another son of Poseidon. Poseidon said that his crystal blue eyes and facial bone structure always reminded him of Orion." Will said. Artemis sat in her bed looking at Ian in shock; the boy did indeed look like Orion. If he had the same blue eyes, then that would confirm it.
"My lady, he does have blue eyes like Will said." Thalia confirmed. Artemis smiled at her lieutenant in understanding.
"You wish to take time out from the hunt to contemplate your feelings for this boy?" Artemis asked.
"Yes, my lady, I would like that." Thalia said. Artemis stared at her lieutenant and her half sister as well. She gave Thalia a warm smile.
"I don't know if you need more time to contemplate your feelings, I think you already know what your feelings mean." Artemis said. Thalia just stared at her sister, her mentor, and her friend.
"I love him." Thalia said. Her eyes seemed to shine with realization. Artemis smiled up at her sister, and nodded. Artemis put her hand on Thalia's cheek, and then spoke in ancient Greek. Thalia began to glow with a gold aura until the light subsided. Thalia still looked fifteen, but the aura of immortality was gone. Thalia was no longer clad in the hunter's outfit. She now wore a simple black Green Day t-shirt, black jeans, and black converse.
"Go to him sister. I will miss you, but I think you've found your true home, a part of me envies you." Artemis said. Thalia walked over to Ian's bed, and took a seat beside him. I watched as Artemis laid her head back on her pillow. She was asleep in just a few seconds. I walked into the infirmary, and made my way to Thalia. I sat down on the other side Ian.
"How is he?" I asked. Thalia looked up at me smiling. I tried to fake surprise when I saw her.
"You're no longer in the hunt." I stated. Thalia smiled at me warmly, I don't believe I ever saw her so happy.
"No, I'm not, Artemis released me, and Ian is better. Will said he should wake up shortly." Thalia said
"Thalia, what do you plan on doing now?" I asked. She gave me a thoughtful stare.
"I want to stay out here with Ian, maybe old kelp head will let me stay on the island." Thalia said, but stopped when she realized what she said. "I'm sorry, how is he?" I looked at her calmly, and then I sighed.
"He's still in the coma, but Poseidon is taking us to Atlantis. He believes the Atlantean healers can help him." I said. Thalia smiled at me reassuringly.
"Annie, this is Percy we're talking about, he'll be ok, and he's the toughest person we know." Thalia said.
"I know he'll get through this, but what about his memories? I want my Percy back, this new Percy is great, but my Percy was perfect." I said. Thalia laughed at my statement.
"He was far from perfect, but he did know you better than anyone. Percy is still Percy, he may not have all the memories, but over time you'll make new ones. Don't forget that, please." Thalia said.
"Alright Thals, I won't, and thank you for being a great friend." I said.
AN: Hope you liked this chapter, more to come.