AN: Here is another chapter! I didn't have any homework, so I'm writing for this story! Just a heads up, a little piece of this chapter is mostly from Chiron's (Sebastian's) POV, because thats what happens in the movie. It cuts back to Annabeth and Percy after that. Anyway, enjoy!
Percy had been whisked away by the ladies-in-waiting the minute the castle people heard story of how he just appeared. Annabeth told them he was washed up from a shipwreck, which was almost true; if by shipwreck she meant evil sea sorcerer, then yes, a shipwreck. Percy was brought into a room with a large basin full of water. It looked like an ocean knock-off to him.
"Now you undress and hop in, and I'll send in someone to give you a hand." The lady-in-waiting left, and Percy stripped and lowered himself into the strange basin. It was warm, much warmer than the ocean and it almost burned him. But as he got used to it, he loved it. There were also bubbles in the water. Percy had always played and tried to eat the bubbles in the ocean (like catching snowflakes), but these bubbles tasted disgusting, so Percy kept them clear of his face.
"I see you like the bubbles." A female voice came from the door. Percy jumped a little and saw an older woman, who introduced herself as Hestia. Percy tried to hide himself, but she just chuckled. "Don't worry young man, I've seen many things in my life. The only embarrassment is that which you choose to experience." She said, and started helping Percy wash. She talked a bit to herself as she went.
"Washed up from a shipwreck. Oh, the poor boy. We'll have you feeling better in no time." She said, then picked up his makeshift clothes. "I'll just, uh," she made a face, "I'll just get this washed for you."
But what Percy and Hestia didn't see was the little crab hiding in a fold in the ruined 'clothes'. Chiron glanced around then, when he saw he was being picked up, he ducked back into the fold. He was carried out of the room and into the laundry room, where he was thrown into a wash basin.
The water was not ocean fresh, and Chiron sputtered a bit upon entry. Then he had to duck under as a group of young women were washing the clothes and gossiping; he only heard parts of the conversation, but he figured out it was about Percy.
"Well, you must have at least heard about this boy." One young lady said. He heard someone refer to her as Selena. Another lady, known as Piper, responded,
"Well, Drew says-" and Chiron was shoved under while the lady washed the shirt he was in, "-but since when has Drew got anything right. I mean, really, this boy shows up in rags and doesn't speak-"
Chiron was put through the wringer, literally, and found his way into a shirt pocket that was hanging to dry.
"...not my idea of a prince. If Annabeth is looking for a guy, I know a couple of highly available ones right here.." Piper continued.
Chiron found his way out of the shirt, and through a window. He landed, rubbed his head then gasped. He was in the kitchen, otherwise known as the slaughter-house. There were fish and sea creature corpses all over the room. Chiron couldn't take it, and he fainted.
Annabeth meanwhile was waiting in the lavish dining room for dinner to start, and for the boy to join them. Beckendorf was sitting in his chair, trying to talk sense into her.
"Oh, Annabeth, be reasonable. Nice young boys just don't swim around rescuing people in the middle of the ocean and then flutter off into oblivion, like some-" Annabeth interrupted him,
"I'm telling you Beck, he was real! And I'm gonna find that girl, and I'm gonna marry him." She said looking out the window. She was smitten with a boy she had never officially met, but she was actually okay with it. She heard a laughing voice, and saw Hestia leading the boy in, but it was obvious he was a little uncomfortable.
"Haha, come on hun, don't be shy." She said and gave him a little nudge into the spacious dining room.
Percy took a half dozen steps forward, marvelling at the dining room. He saw Annabeth and shrugged as if to say 'how do I look'. He was dressed in black calf-boots, blue trousers, a brown belt, a loose, white shirt, and a dark blue jacket. Percy had noted before, while putting the belt on, that there was a spot for a sword sheath, but no sword came with the belt.
"Oh, isn't he so handsome." A maidservant said, as she was setting the table for dinner. Annabeth glanced over and saw it was Piper. The princess mentally remembered that she was on dining duty after laundry today. Annabeth made it a point to be friends with the servants, and know their routine. Piper winked subtly at her, and continued with her duties. Annabeth turned back to Percy.
"You look, great." Annabeth said, and he did. the blue jacket made his sea green eyes pop. Percy smiled and blushed a bit.
"Won't you sit down, young man?" Beckendorf said, gesturing to an empty seat. Piper held his seat out for him, and blushed hard when he smiled a thank-you. Percy was used to being around servants that had crushes on him; although it made him feel a bit awkward.
"You must be hungry. Dinner will be served shortly. It's not often we have such young dinner guests." Beckendorf said as Annabeth sat down. Percy saw there was a dinglehopper next to his place setting. He picked it up, thinking he had to do his hair before eating, and began combing his unruly black hair. He looked at Annabeth and Beckendorf and both looked back with raised eyebrows. Percy slowly put the dinglehopper down and placed his hands in his lap, blushing hard.
Percy looked at Beckendorf and saw him put a snarfblat in his mouth. He grinned, thinking that there would be some music. Beck handed him the snarfblat. "Do you like it? It's rather-" Percy took it and blew hard into the mouth piece "-fine..." The ashes in the snarfblat had blown all over Beck's face. Annabeth burst out laughing.
"Oh my," Hestia said, having come into the room right at that moment.
Annabeth coughed, "sorry Beck." She said seriously.
"Why Lady Annabeth, that's the first time I've seen you smile in weeks." Hestia said. Percy smiled a little, he had made her laugh!
"Oh, very amusing." Beck said, wiping is face. "Hestia, what's for dinner?"
"Oooh, you're gonna love it. Chef's been fixing his specialty, stuffed crab." Hestia said, and it made Percy wonder where Chiron had swam off to...
AN: there it is! glad I had time to do it! I have some great ideas for the climax near the end! please let me know how it's going! thanks!
