AN: Thank you to all the dear people that reviewed and faved last week. I do apologise for the shock I put you through. I would like to notify you all that I am doing my best to get this finished before the Blood of Olympus comes out. Here are some replies to your reviews:

Claire-Elizabeth: Thank you for the great review with the perfect grammar and congratulations on writing your name correctly. The coach unfortunately will not be making an appearance in this chapter as your screaming has scared him away. Nevertheless, thanks once again!

Mist: I do sympathise with you greatly. Do tell me what you think of this chapter after you read it; I hope it is to your tastes. Thanks for the review!

Average Canadian: I have taken your request into consideration and it is the process of being processed. I'd like to thank you for your enthusiasm in fighting for the life of a great character and look forwards to hearing from you again. Thanks for the review!

: Well….. Definitely one of the most heartfelt reviews I've ever gotten (Better make it a plan to kill main characters a lot more) Thank you for your two beautiful reviews and I do hope that this chapter will brighten your spirits a little. Looking forwards to hearing from you again.

Rest of you who read and mentally reviewed: Thanks for reading and I do hope that you will reveal yourself to me after reading this chapter.

As of today, I have planned to make the final chapter number 18 (maximum 20), so there's still room for another amazing 'mini adventure' for our heroes. I think that most of you are going to like the events that happen after this- it's a nice mixture of friendship, angst and daring, heroic actions in my opinion.

Now, without further ado- please make welcome with a round of applause:

oOo

Chapter 13

Reyna didn't feel like getting up the next morning. So she chose to lie idly where she'd woken up and scanned her surroundings with a world weary eye.

In the daze that was her state of mind at the present moment she noticed that the tent had been cleaned and their packs tidied.

Nico's body had been cleared away and she realised that she now lay where he had, probably covered by the same blankets that covered him. The horror of the discovery made her leap up so fast that her vision swam.

Tears came to her eyes.

He was dead.

She already missed the young man that had sat and laughed with her on the first night of their journey, the one who had saved her life. He was demigod who had shown remarkable devotion and love to family. The veteran of several battles who still managed to crack a smile once in a while, despite the harsh blows life dealt him.

The daughter of Bellona almost expected this to be some cruel joke, she could visualise that Nico was going to jump out from behind a tree the moment she stepped outside and laugh at her stupidity.

But, it was not meant to be.

Loneliness washed over her. It was strange how one never realised the importance of something until it was gone. She'd always felt abandoned- by her mother, by her peers, but now she was truly utterly alone.

It scared her. Reyna didn't like admitting weakness, but Nico's death was devastating. Not just because of the actual event, but because she feared the aftermath.

The events of her dream came back to her and she felt herself pondering the harshness of reality. Could Hedge really have betrayed them? Surely the sarcastic and oddly caring demigod protector couldn't be a traitor. But that could explain why he was almost never at the camp. In fact, he wasn't even together with them for most of the quest- that was more than enough time to plot with Gaea.

Then her mind's eye turned to the dream she experienced when rushing back to camp with Scipio. She saw Hedge watching Nico again, and was puzzled by the concern and terror in his eyes. Surely no one could act that well.

There was only one way to find out- a direct confrontation.

After all, if he wasn't a traitor, they were both going to die here in the freezing cold of Iceland. If he was… Reyna vowed to avenge Nico before submitting to her fate.

oOo

She didn't bother putting on her armour. Hedge would no match for her if it came down to a physical fight. Her head spun at the thought of having to kill someone that she'd confided in and respected.

The Praetor exited the tent, trying not to look suspicious, but failing, "Coach?"

There was no reply and she drew her sword, comforted by its solidness in the silence.

Something moved a few minutes away and she was instantly alert. A shape rose from the ground, shaking slightly to rid itself of snow.

Reyna relaxed as she recognised Scipio. The pegasus shook snow from its body and the Praetor moved forwards to greet the animal.

"Hey."

The demigod spun around and nearly screamed in horror.

"Get away from me!" Reyna screeched in the heat of the moment, 'You're dead!"

Nico sighed in exasperation, taking his hands out of his pockets, "What? Not this again…"

He moved towards her, despite the sword now levelled at his chest, "I didn't die. Don't you remember saving me?"

"You're a monster of Gaea's, aren't you?" She made a swiping motion and the thing jumped back, now drawing its own weapon.

"Reyna, please…" The boy leaned his sword point casually on the ground, but the Praetor's trained eyes could see how his arm trembled, too weak to hold up the weapon. "I am not dead."

Reyna didn't back down, but she desperately wished that he… it was telling the truth.

"Did you actually see my body after I supposedly died?"

Now she hesitated, "I-"

The creature which looked amazingly like Nico moved closer, holding out his arms in a friendly gesture. His sword tip trailed on the ground.

"Why should I trust you?"

Nico smiled at her, his fingers loosening on the hilt of the deadly weapon trailing him. It dropped into the snow. It would take only a small thrust forwards to kill the thing. It wasn't even wearing armour. But something stopped her. Perhaps it was a sixth sense or something. Even when he pushed aside her blade, she didn't feel an urge to kill him.

"I saw what you fought to get the herb," Nico looked serious, "You shouldn't have put yourself in such danger for me."

She lowered her sword, "You would've died."

"So what?" his gaze was piercing "I'm just a method of transportation in this quest. You are much more important. It is not just the statue that must get to camp; you must also be there to make peace."

"We wouldn't have been able to get there if you were dead."

The other demigod was shouting at her now, "All roads lead to Rome- you two could've found another route!" He hissed, "You must never put yourself in such danger again!"

His reaction irked her and she reacted with equal ferocity, "I thought you might at least be a little bit grateful!"

He didn't meet her eyes and after a few moment of building silence, the young man pulled her into his arms.

Giving in and making peace was much easier than fighting and she gratefully returned the rare gesture.

She had never actually been this close to the Son of Hades, and it was a strange sensation. Reyna could feel Nico's body hum softly with energy both impulsive and violent. It made her feel safe and threatened at the same time. Sparks seemed to trail in her skin.

Now that the praetor had gotten over her shock, she realised that Nico was faintly warm, not as warm as a regular human, not definitely not cold and lifeless as she's presumed.

"You're right," Nico murmured near her ear, "I'm sorry. Thank you, Reyna."

She didn't really know to say, and had just started to pull away when Nico tensed.

Someone coughed behind them.

oOo

They sprung around. Nico swept up his sword and pointed it at the newcomer, glaring suspiciously. She followed suit.

The man standing behind them was familiar. Dressed in a purple toga trimmed with golden, the man was the epitome of royalty.

"Lord Jupiter," the Praetor hurried to give a bow.

"Why do you not address me, boy?"

"Zeus," Nico spat.

The man's form flickered and the air around them became charged, shadows whirred and clashed with miniature jerks of lightning. "Do not call me by that name or I will smite you!" He thundered.

"I'm sure you'll succeed this time," the son of Hades sounded resentful and Reyna guessed that their feud was a bit more than the typical Big Three issue.

"How dare you mock me? Do you think I won't?"

The Praetor opened her mouth to tell Nico to shut up before they all got blasted, but he silenced her with a glare. "I think that you would have killed me already if you could afford to, uncle."

The king of the gods fumed silently, and grimaced as though speaking the next words hurt him physically, "I may have wronged you in the past, nephew. But the past is worthless when compared to the future."

Nico's eyes burned with anger, but he kept quiet long enough for Reyna to join in the conversation, "How can we help you, my lord?"

"The fate of the gods rest on your shoulders, and until the rift between our forms is fixed; we cannot rise up against Gaea." Jupiter told her, "You must bring the statue to Camp Half-Blood and make peace with the Greeks."

His eyes bore into hers, alight with flashes of electricity, "But heed my warning. Beware the minions of the sky. Beware the vengeful mother."

With a bright flash of light and a clash of thunder the god was gone. Reyna stood dumbfolded for a moment longer before coming to her senses.

Behind her, Nico huffed in anger and slid his weapon back into its sheath, "Isn't uncle just so helpful."

"I'm going to go find the coach," he started to walk away, "Get ready to travel."

oOo

Does that deserve a favourite or a review? I do live and breathe them.