Hey guys, this is it, the end. I know that you're probably disappointed, but hey, I had a good run. Nearly 1k views on wattpad, and over 1k on Archiveofourown. Please leave a comment, as this is your last chance, and my final farewell to this story I honestly did not think I was going to write. Thank you so much for the amazing support from all my lovely readers. I love you guys. I might do a sequel (don't count on it) so this may not be the real end, but it is for me. I'm going to continue to focus my talents on my third story Life Is A Journey, which is a second Theyna work I'm on. It is a band au, so please check it out after you're done with this. -M
Perhaps it was just Reyna fate? No one, seriously, no one has that many people lay their lives for you, in the same way. No one. The first time had been her mother. A storm had come, the ship was shaking and shuddering with every crack of thunder. The lightning had been all the light she had, to see her mother jump in front of her, to keep her from getting impaled by a stray piece of driftwood.
The second had been her friend Gwen. They'd been in a raid aboard a french supply ship, and she'd jumped behind her, to keep a man's spear from catching her in the back. That had two months before she'd met Thalia. She remembered holding her, clutching onto her coat, as the light faded from her eyes.
The third had been Hylla. Sweet, stubborn, arrogant, persistent Hylla. She had the closest thing she'd ever had to parents. Her mother was a distant memory, and her father a mad man. Hylla had always been there. And, then in an instant, she was gone.
Now, it seemed the universe was determined to take away everyone she loved, the exact same way. Thalia stood in front of her, gasping for breath. Her shoulders heaving as blood sprayed down her front. The ship was silent, the ocean itself seemed to hold it's breath. Thalia spoke, her voice was raspy, filled with something much deeper with pain.
"You. Will. Not. Take her. Away. F-From. Me." Her voice was firm, but still it shook, the amount of blood dripping to the deck made Reyna's own run cold. She didn't even acknowledge she was fighting her restraints. Reyna couldn't feel the tears run down her face, couldn't feel the skin of her wrists and ankles tearing. But she wasn't numb. Not like with Hylla. There was no emptiness. After Hylla's death, everything had faded to background noise. Not this time. It was like an explosion of emotions in her chest, everything snapped into High Dimension detail.
"Thalia..." The blonde boy, who Reyna assumed to be captain, whispered. His eyes were wide with horror, settled on the gaping hole in Thalia's abdomen. Thalia did not waver though, her breathing settled, she appeared to double in size, anger plain in her stormy blue eyes. She grabbed her sword, not even wincing when she touched her wound.
"No, Octavian." she said, "I will not stand by and let them take her." Reyna felt her heart thump against her ribcage, as if attempting to fly out.
"Thalia," she managed to rasp between sobs, but the blue eyed soldier, nor anyone else, gave acknowledgement to her voice. The man who had fired the musket, tensed, anger burning in the depths of his eyes like two flames.
"Should've known you'd try to stop me, Pirate scum. These are your kind. You're no different than they are," he growled at Thalia, who smiled as if he had given her a compliment.
"Exactly," she said and in a flash of blinding speed, the man's head rolled on the deck, no longer attached to his body. His torso fell to the deck with a dull thud. The other soldiers backed away. Thalia bent down and picked up the man's gun. She loaded the musket and glared at the other soldiers.
"This is my ship now, I outrank all of you, and if you so much as look at these pirates the wrong way, you'll meet the same end Ares did." she spat, the soldiers all slunk off, to fearful to respond, or challenge the girl with the crazy gleam in her eyes. All except the captain.
"Thalia," he whispered and took a step towards her. Thalia just stared at him for a moment, then finally seemed to notice the hole in her stomach.
"Guess we could say I've got a hole lot of work done today?" she joked halfheartedly.
"Thalia?" Reyna called again. She whipped around, so fast that she nearly capsized. Reyna now realized the only reason she wasn't already collapsed was because of adrenaline. Now facing her, Reyna could see exactly how bad the damage was. Blood covered Thalia's entire front, so much so that she appeared to have lost at least three gallons. Reyna wasn't even sure people had that much in their bodies. Her stomach was a mess of shredded fabric and skin. Reyna gave one final tug on her restraints and they snapped. She ran, all she could think about was Thalia, just as she reached her, the girl's legs gave out.
Reyna caught her in her arms, cradling the other girl to her chest as if she were an injured puppy. Thalia's breathing was uneven and her eyes unfocused. Still, she stared at Reyna as if she were the world.
"Didn't hurt as much as I thought it would," she rasped through the pain, fighting the tears that she could feel in her eyes. She refused to let Reyna see her cry. Reyna, however, had no such feelings. After so long not feeling anything, being attacked by so many emotions all at once was making her chest ache.
"Idiot," she whispered, knowing she'd said that same word in the same situation not too long ago, "Don't you even fucking dare die on me," she whimpered in the other girl's ear. Tears slid down her cheeks, mixing with Thalia's blood.
"Don't plan on it sweetheart," she whispered, Reyna could tell she was delirious from blood loss, but she couldn't help but smile at that comment.
"Sweetheart? When was the last time you called me that?" she asked, voice thick with melancholy.
Thalia laughed tiredly, blood staining her lips. "Too long ago," she mumbled, her hand gently closing around Reyna. Her vision was dull and swimming, but she could still make out her Pirate. Long flowing black hair, deep, dark brown eyes. Skin the color of soft caramel, and a voice as warm as a summer breeze. A smile twitched at the corners of Thalia's mouth.
"You haven't changed a bit," she whispered and Reyna laughed without humor.
"You say that like it's a good thing," Before Thalia could comment on that she was aware of the boat shaking from rapid foot steps. She glanced over to see Octavian (though she had not noticed him leaving) returning with a girl with dark blonde hair and eyes like emeralds. Her vision immediately washed with black and she arched her back with pain. Too fast, she had moved too fast. When the darkness finally washed away the girl, Reyna, and Octavian were all knelt over her, the strange girl pressing a cloth to her stomach wound. Thalia winced.
"Ugh, my mouth taste like I swallowed a cannon ball," she groaned and Octavian shrugged.
"Well, you kinda did," He said and Reyna glared at him, in the weak firelight Thalia could just barely make out the classic expression of deadpan unamusement on Reyna's face.
"Not, right now Octavian," Thalia mumbled and tried not to throw up the contents of her stomach. "Wh-What did I miss?" she asked and Octavian and Reyna exchanged glances.
"Well, Lou here, managed to get the musket ball out, and the bleeding's almost stopped... but you lost.. a lot of blood." Reyna muttered, her eyes still puffy from crying. Octavian fiddled with his sword hilt. Thalia could tell he was uncomfortable with being so close to a pirate captain. Reyna didn't look as concerned. Thalia glanced at the girl pressing the cloth to her wound. Now she remembered the girl's name, Lou Ellen, a nice girl, but Thalia didn't think she was a trained medic.
"Wh-Where's Will?" she asked Reyna, her throat felt dry and hollow, her vision blurring as Lou pressed harder on it. Reyna's face fell, she looked down.
"He's not here. That's, partially the reason I came looking for you. Hades captured three members of my crew, and is holding them for ransom in exchange for the Royal Guard." she said and Thalia, suddenly understood.
"You thought that was me, so you went after me," She guessed, and Reyna nodded, ashamed.
"I was stupid. Stupid in thinking you could ever become a mass murderer," she whispered and Thalia managed a laugh, although her stomach stung as she did so.
"Reyna, 'the Royal Guard' is a myth. The whole branding thing, I accidentally dropped my knife into a fire and then a couple pirates tried to pick it up. Hades has been doing this gimmick for the past 6 months. We've had to deal with a lot of pirate crews trying to kidnap me. Not sure why Hades singled me out, maybe he thinks he'll have some kind of leverage over the king, but really. It's fake," she said and Reyna's eyes turned to molten lava.
"That fucker is going to get his sword shoved up his ass," she hissed, and Thalia chuckled tiredly. The world was starting to spin. She closed her eyes for a moment, only to have Reyna's voice floating back into her ears.
"Thalia? Thalia! Hey, stay awake!" it echoed and Thalia managed to pry her eyes open. Reyna was bent over her again.
"I'm up, I'm up," Thalia complained, but her eyes felt like they were made out of lead.
"Hold her down," she heard the other girl, Lou Ellen, instruct Octavian and Reyna.
"Wait wha-" Thalia began to protest, but suddenly her body errupted in pain as something burning hot was pressed onto the bruised skin of the wound. Thalia howled, her head flying backward, she faced the sky, and her vision faded to stars.
The next time Thalia awoke she was laying in a sick cot again, but this time it wasn't Octavian beside her, it was Reyna. The pirate captain was studying something in her lap, eyes dark and curious.
"You seem preoccupied," Thalia whispered hoarsely and Reyna nearly jumped out of her seat. She glared at Thalia.
"Don't scare me like that!" she complained and Thalia laughed softly. Her side still ached, and her entire body was still throbbing from the first attack. For some reason her head felt light, and her whole body burned with fever.
"Sorry, but I didn't know how else to get your attention," she mumbled and Reyna carefully put down the dagger she had been inspecting. Hylla's dagger. Reyna scooted closer to her and gently lay an hand on Thalia's forehead. Thalia closed her eyes for a moment. The Pirate girl's skin felt soft and cool against her own, as Reyna removed her hand, Thalia let her eyes flutter open again.
"Your fever still hasn't broken," she whispered softly, frowning worriedly. Thalia carefully rose her hand and took Reyna's clasping it tightly.
"Reyna, can I ask you a question?" Thalia murmured and the Pirated captain nodded. "Why did you send me away? Why did you shut me out? Why didn't you at least try to convince me to stay?" Reyna sucked in a breath and stared at the floor.
"First off, that's more than one question," she said, but the humor in her voice was fake, "Second... I didn't know what I was doing... I had just lost my sister, I... I felt like I was losing everything else too. I-I felt as if nothing... I did would be able to convince to stay. I already felt alone, I guess you leaving would just make it true," Reyna's voice broke and she sighed. Dropping her head to the cot she tightened her grip on Thalia's hand.
"I'm sorry, for what i did. I-I... I could've killed you. I-I I spent two years not able to feel anything. I c... I couldn't even recognise what it felt like to love someone. I forced myself to become numb... I let go of you. Simply because I couldn't bare the thought of you being gone when I was the one who sent you away." Reyna's voice came out in sobs, the last sentence diminishing into a whisper. Thalia tightened her grip on Reyna's hand. Her mind was still fuzzy from the fever, but she still understood what Reyna was saying. She hugged the other girl tightly.
"Reyna, that wasn't you. Not really. I know you never would've hurt me. That wasn't you. And even if it was, I don't blame you. I was a jerk, and that the biggest mistake I ever made in my life. Telling you I wanted to go home, because England isn't my home. You are. You are my heart, my home, my life, and soul." Thalia whispered and Reyna slowly turned to look up at her, and with nothing, but two years of pain and hurt between them, they kissed. Reyna's lips were exactly as Thalia remembered them. Soft, and sweet, tasting of cocoa and the sea. The kiss was gentle, and longing. The two had missed each other much more than they could ever put into words, but both knew that soon they would have to leave each other again.
Reyna was the first to pull away, gently setting her head against Thalia's, staring into her blue eyes. She had missed their brilliant stormy hue. Gently, she traced her counterpart's face with her fingertips, brushing them over her lips gently, Thalia's cheeks pinched up as a smile spread across her face. Reyna laughed softly and leaned over to plant a soft kiss on her lips again. Thalia raised a hand to tangle it in the back of her hair. Reyna only smiled against her lips.
Reyna and the other pirates stayed on the ship for only another week, until their ship was able to sail again. Thalia's fever did not go away, but Octavian assured Reyna that he would bring her straight to England, and then to a doctor. Thalia and Reyna's goodbye wasn't as much touching, as it was a promise. They essentially just made eye contact before saying at the same time.
"I will see you again," they had exchanged a single kiss, before Reyna left on her boat. Why? you ask, well, Reyna believed that if it had been much more she would've either kidnapped Thalia, or gone with her to England, both were not good ideas. Both girls did not change during this parting, for both were determined to see each other again. Still, time does some curious things. Reyna grew much taller, and for the first time in nearly 3 years visited her sister's grave.
"Hey, Hylla..." she muttered to the rock. It was a nice rock, but now seemed... still. Less of a grave, more of a memory. The rock gave no reply. Reyna sighed.
"Yeah, missed you too... I know I said I would'n't come back here... but I guess I've been breaking a lot of promises lately. Tell mom I said hi, I miss her too. Dad too, I found Thalia again, and we made up. We're good now.. heh," she rubbed the back of her head nervously.
"Hades is going to get his butt whooped soon, also Nico says hi. He didn't want to come on shore. Something about not being good with dead people, whatever that's supposed to mean. The crew's still holding together, still trusts each other, though I lost some of that with what happened on the ship." Reyna paused for a moment before setting down the violets she had picked on the walk to the grave site.
"I miss you," she repeated one last time. The grave did not reply. Reyna smiled sadly before standing and walking away. Perhaps it was okay to let people rest in peace.
"Well?" Reyna asked the British officer. Thalia turned to look at her, and for a moment the girls only stared into each other's eyes. Thalia felt a smile pull at the corners of her mouth. Reyna's eyes bore into her own.
"Maybe, it is time to move on. I mean, the kid's the prince, he's not going anywhere." she said and Reyna's face split into a grin.
"Are you serious?!" she yelled, reminding Thalia of an over excited puppy. Thalia laughed.
"Of course, dork. You know I love you," she said and nearly fell over from the sudden hug she was receiving from the Pirate captain. The other pirates cheered and Thalia closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of Reyna's arms around her. It felt like forever since they had done this. Reyna slowly released her.
"Sorry, didn't mean to tackle you there," Reyna laughed and Thalia smiled.
"Yes you did, and you enjoyed it," she said and Reyna laughed harder. Thalia looked down at the medals gleaming on her coat. She ripped them all off and crushed them beneath her boot. The other pirates cheered louder. Will was giving her a thumbs up from where he was holding down Octavian, but Octavian, unlike the rest of the crew, did not seem surprised. He smiled at Thalia and offered a thumbs up. She gave it back, only to be tackled by Reyna again. This time, however, was not for a hug.
Their lips met for the first time in years, and this time, they would not leave each other afterward. Reyna wrapped her arms around Thalia's back as the shorter girl reached up to wrap her own around Reyna's neck. She kissed her deeply, her lips still tasting like cocoa. Thalia decided she loved cocoa. She loved Reyna, every little detail every little fault, every little line. She loved ever second of time that was spent with her. Thalia grace loved Reyna, and she always would.