The arena was completely empty. Just the way she liked it. She stretched a little and then withdrew her knife. She swung it expertly through the empty air. Rachael had begrudgingly surprised her. She had shown foresight to go back for help and get Annabeth out during the chaos. She respected the girl, but still had some resentment toward her. She didn't want' to think about why she resented her, but she couldn't shake the feeling either. She pondered these things as she fought with her imaginary opponent, until it collided with a sword. Her grey eyes widened in surprise as they met green ones.

"Thought you would be busy avoiding your escort." he smirked.

She snorted a derisive laugh. "They couldn't guard an infant."

Percy's eyes narrowed in concern. "Did something happen? "

Annabeth hesitated. She thought about telling him about Eros. "Nothing I can't handle." she said.

This only caused him to narrow his eyes more.

She quickly changed the subject. "So Nico. "

Percy's demeanor immediately changed. "He was just greiving."

"You knew he would be there."

"There was a chance." he turned from her. "He was the one that set off the trap that dropped me into the underground river."

Annabeth covered her mouth in surprise, then said, "He seems to have turned."

"He has. He's okay."

She studied him for a moment.

"That was a big risk, going down again." Percy ventured.

Annabeth let out a frustrated breath, "Like I was going to let you disappear again." Percy looked at her in surprise. "Besides, I was going crazy just sitting around the palace. Everything is always exciting around you."

"You know the Kings and Queens of Olympus are going to take the battle to Orthys . Are you going to fight there too? "

"Maybe." she said noncommittally.

"You know my oath to the queen still stands, to keep you from hurting yourself. "

As soon as he said it, it rankled against Annabeth. "Well then, I guess you are going to have your hands full, because if you think for one minute that I'm going to sit in my tower. . ."

Percy laughed loudly. It was rich and strong and it filled Annabeth with happiness. "I'll make a deal with you." Percy said once he had calmed down. "You can fight by my side any time, on one condition," she smirked, "Why do people call me legend?" Annabeth's face fell. Percy had turned serious. "I just thought that you might know something."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "There's a tale, a legend, during the first age. A man stood up against the corrupt rulers and led the people into an era of peace and prosperity."

"Okay,." Percy was clearly trying to figure out what this had to do with him.

"Legend says that a wild stallion, the head of a herd, chose him. Every battle they fought together, they won. They were undefeatable. Armies trembled at the mere sight of of Abeceto upon his stallion. "

Percy didn't say anything at first, then, "So they think that I am that man, because Blackjack . . ."

Annabeth shrugged noncommittally. "Some. Others are still not sure."

"And what do you think?" Percy's eyes locked onto hers.

"I think Blackjack is pretty amazing." Percy looked down at the floor. "I think you're pretty amazing too." He looked up at her in surprise. "You're a good person, Percy. Legend or not, I'll fight by your side." Percy smiled. "Besides, for the legend to come true, you would have to be the son of a king."

Percy chuckled darkly, "No way that's going to happen." He shook his head. Percy had a troubled look on his face for just a moment and then it was gone.

Annabeth smiled easily. "Then I'll see you on the battlefield." She twirled her knife in her hand, smirked, and without warning, swung out.

Percy met her blade as though he were expecting it. "How will you get away?" he asked as he countered her attack.

"Leave that to me. I don't know how they earned the right to escort me, but they're lousy. I'm safer on the battlefield. " Annabeth vented as her and Percy spared with each other. Percy's forehead scrunched in concern. Annabeth took advantage of his distraction and pressed her blade to his neck. Percy seemed unconcerned about the blade threatening his life.

"Why don't you tell your mother? Surely she would get someone more trustworthy. "

"No. Now that I know what kind of guards they are, I can plan around it. If I get new guards that do their job, I won't be able to sneak out as easily." she smiled conspiratorially.

"Still . . ." Percy looked worried.

"Don't you dare go to my mother. I've got it under control." she pointed her knife at him threatening.

Percy raised his hands in surrender. "Yes, your highness." he smirked.

She glared at him. "Let's see if you can do better this time, seaweed brain."
They spared until they were both out of breath. Annabeth already felt in a much better mood.

"Nico gave me a warning before he left." Percy said as she grabbed a towel to wipe her face. "He said Orthys is a decoy. That Kronos is marching his army from the south, toward Olympus ."

"And you believe him?" she probed.

"Yes. " Percy said defensively.

Annabeth pondered this. "Have you told my mother?"

"It's in my report."

"Then it looks like we'll be going to Olympus."

"Everyone thinks the battle is in Orthys. We're not strong enough."

"Let me worry about that." Annabeth said resolutely. "See you around, seaweed brain."

Annabeth pondered everything that they had discussed as she made her way toward her window. She was just skirting the edges of the courtyard when she heard two voices conversing. One of them was her mother.

"Everything seems to be in order." a man with large muscles and a deep voice said. He was looking at a chest that was filled with gold that was in a wagon attached to a horse. She had never seen him before and had no idea why her mother was talking to him.

"Good, now your part of the deal." her mother sounded pleasant to those that had never delt with her before, but Annabeth could hear the dangerous edge to it.

"Of course, you're Majesty. Your legend is not what he says he is."

"You've already said that." Athena said impatiently.

"His real name is Perseus Ugliano. He was raised in Thebes. His father, Gabe Ugliano, witnessed young Perseus murder his mother in cold blood. He is wanted in Thebes for murder."

There was a long silence after this declaration. Annabeth, herself, felt as though she had been trampled over by a heard of horses.

The man climbed into the wagon oblivious to the uncomfortable silence. Athena raised her hand as though in farewell. The man barely acknowledged it and raised the reins about to snap them, when an arrow whizzed by Athena and embedded itself into the man, who groaned and fell out of the wagon.

'Unload it." Athena said with no emotion in her voice as she walked toward the man. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to spread this information to the different kingdoms. We are at war, and I need Percy Jackson to keep the people from overthrowing us."

The man struggled for a little bit before Athena withdrew a knife so quickly from her dress and stabbed him in the neck that Annabeth barely saw it, but it didn't prevent the gasp that escaped her. She quickly covered her mouth. The man now lay still upon the court yard. Never before had she seen her mother react so violently. Athena wiped her soiled blade on the body before he before returning it into the folds of her dress.

She left the scene, leaving it to the guards and servants to take care of everything.

Annabeth was completely shaken. Seeing her mother kill so effortlessly was not something she was accustomed to. And while she was trying to process that, there was the revelation about Percy, no, Perseus. Could it be true? She couldn't believe it. After everything they had been through, he never once seemed to be a murderer. In fact, he mourned his mother's death at the mere mention of her. She thought back at their time in Thebes. How reluctant he was to go there. How he kept his face covered. He was so tense, always expecting the worst, which turned out to be for the best. He was able to get her out of a trap that had been sprung around them because of his quick thinking. He had rushed her through the streets as well as the underground with surprising expertise. He was a native of Thebes, no doubt. But a murderer? When she had pressed him about Thebes, he talked as though his mother had been taken from him. The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that Percy couldn't have committed such an atrocity. It was against everything she ever knew about him. He had even treated her as an equal, when no other man ever had. But it also explained a lot about why he was so reserved when some subjects came up, like his past. Annabeth thought through all this, over and over as she made her way to her window, into her room, and as she got ready for bed.

"Annabeth." Athena startled her out of her thoughts. "Are you all right?"

The question startled her again. "I'm fine, mother. Can I help you with something?" Annabeth replied innocently.

"No, no. I just wanted to know how the new guards are working. " Athena looked concerned. Did she actually think Percy of murder? Did she believe that man? Annabeth almost huffed. She had felt safer with Percy as her escort than any other man.

"They're fine, mother." Annabeth lied. "Is there something I need to be aware of?"

"No. Just war." She reached a hand out and then retracted it. "We must be prepared." Athena's tone turned more firm.

"Yes, mother."

"Well, good night."

"Good night, mother." Annabeth was almost disappointed. But she was used to Athena keeping her distance.

Athena left her to her thoughts. Annabeth had meant what she had said. She believed in Percy. Not because some stallion choose him, but because he had always been there to support her. And she would be there to support him, because he was her friend. Her heart dropped a little at the word, but she disregarded it. She needed to prepare herself for the upcoming battles ahead . . . by Percy's side.

The End

To be continued in The Battle of Olympus