Two more days till school. Oh, boy...
By the way, Percy's birthday was yesterday!
Percy: Happy birthday to me. Woohoo... *says in a bored way*
Don't be like that, Percy.
Annabeth: *rolls eyes*
I don't own any of this, stop bugging me.
The wedding was a simple and quiet affair. It wasn't very quiet for M.K. however. Nod kept bugging her through the entire ceremony. For his punishment, she wouldn't talk to him until tomorrow.
"M.K.? Hello, anyone there?" Nod waved his hand in front of her face. They both stood near the refreshment table with the newlyweds.
"Do you hear something? I hear a little buzzing." She asked. Tara's face lit up in understanding and played along, "I hear that too! Wonder what it is."
Ronin chuckled and clapped Nod on the back in sympathy. The boy had it coming, though.
"Hey, baby girl! You're lookin' mighty nice today!" M.K. recognized the voice as Mub's. The slug slithered to a halt next to Nod. Grub stayed close behind, a leafman's helmet tilted forwards on his head.
"Why, thank you, Mub." She smiled.
"Congratulations, Tara. Ronin."
"Thank you, Mub."
Nod glared at the slug. She wouldn't talk to him, huh? Well, two can play that game.
"I'm gonna crash. Bye." He weaved through the crowds.
The next day, M.K. woke up harshly from the sounds of thumping. It wasn't even sunrise yet! What was going on?
She tiptoed over to the window. With trembling hands, she concentrated on a vine in the corner. Better safe than sorry.
In one swift motion, she drew open the leafy curtains. She'd been expecting nothing.
She was so wrong.
There was speckles of dots in the distance. At first, she thought they were hummingbirds on an early patrol. Then, she recognized the black feathers of ravens and crows. Boggans.
The door of her bedroom burst open and a leafman stepped into the room.
"Attack. Need to get you to safety, Your Highness."
She nodded and yanked open her nightstand drawer. Grabbing the knife there, she hung it at her hip and rushed out the door after the leafman.
The castle was in chaos. Bells rung above, probably to signal an attack.
Finally, the leafman escort reached a room and yanked open the door. Three of the Jinn maids that lived in the castle were already there and embraced the Queen.
"We were so worried-"
"Are you alright-"
"I feel like I'm going to faint-"
"I'm fine. And please don't faint." The Jinn smiled in amusement, "I'll try not to, Your Highness."
She groaned, "Why won't you all stop calling me, 'Your Highness'? I feel old!"
"Habits are hard to break, Your Highness." The Jinn all laughed when the Queen kept complaining.
"At least laughing is better than fainting." She muttered.
They sat there for at least ten minutes. Sounds of battle echoed from above. The leafman who escorted her here stood in the corner, a wrinkle in his forehead from staring down at the ground for so long.
"Search everywhere. We must find and eliminate the Queen." A voice echoed. The three maids all held in their breath. What happened? They got through to the castle?
The leafman's eyes darkened. When he spoke, his voice was a mere whisper, "Alright. Find a place to hide. Quickly."
M.K. and one maid hid in a closet in the far corner. The other two lay flat on the ground in the space underneath the bed. The leafman climbed up the walls, using the vines. He rested his back against the wall, and held his sword at the ready.
M.K. clenched her hand around the hilt of the knife. Her eyes squeezed shut as she sent of a silent prayer, Someone help us...
A hush spread across the room.
Cliffy! I know, know. My brother though made me cut it short. Blame him!
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