Chapter Twenty-five – Promise – Dissenter Camp: 94 - 96

"And promise me this, you'll wait for me only, scared of the lonely arms, surface, far below these burns, and maybe, just maybe I'll come home"

- Ben Howard, "Promise"

Rising early, Annabeth had already missed Percy, who had woken up sometime before the sun rose. A kiss on her head as he left voiced a promise of return but Annabeth couldn't wait for him, not when she was about to put her own plan into motion. She dressed quickly not bothering to eat, heading to her training room where she was unsurprised to see Grant in there, exercising quietly.

"So are you going to tell me what happened at the meeting or do I have to guess?" he drawled, facing her.

"Don't play coy. You already know what happened there," she snapped at him, grabbing her hand guards.

"Bit sensitive this morning, aren't we?" he continued lazily. "I would've thought being asked to declare love would give you some sort of light headedness joy that females have at that sappy stuff."

She glared at him, refusing to give his sexist statement an answer. She moved onto the mat, limbering up. Grant remained where he stopped watching her shrewdly, a smirk coating his features. "Maybe we should discuss how Juniper got her hands on my knife. After all, I last saw it in your possession," she added scathingly, not bothering hiding her emotions.

Grant's smirk lost its sheen. "I didn't realise she took it but makes sense I suppose. She did hate you something fierce. She got a hit in too." He nodded to the bandage peeking from her shirt.

Annabeth covered it quickly. "Are we here to talk or to spar?"

"Someone's changed their tune," he noted, eyes furrowing. "One would almost think you've got something planned…"

"Fight or leave, Grant," she stated in a hard voice.

His grin was feral. "Oh, I'm ready to fight."

The leaders met up around lunch time for a meeting to discuss their battle formation. There were only a handful of people at the compound that weren't fighting, mostly the kitchen hands and Chiron. Annabeth and Grant came in late, Grant's presence causing a stir among the others; their appearance appeared to have intruded on a rather tense argument which topic now swung to Grant.

"He's one of our best strategists despite his personality," she explained to all of them, looking at him and feeling the satisfaction of being the reason behind the bruise on his jaw. "We need him."

"Huh," said a stunned Travis. "Since when do you defend him?"

"Since he's too busy thinking of ways to pummel your arse," Grant countered in a low voice before saying to Annabeth. "I can defend myself, Outsider."

With a roll of her eyes she moved over to stand next to Percy, who silently queried her choice in companion. She gave him a reassuring smile, her fingers gently skimming his behind the table as Lee started to give the latest report from the snipers, the other argument momentarily set aside. Silena was smiling mysteriously at Annabeth when she looked up and she wondered if she saw their little exchange. Averting her gaze, she quickly tuned in to what Lee was saying.

" – The Extradites are moving swiftly now that they're not impeded by our obstacles."

"Uh, you mean, our obstacles," Travis interjected, putting his hand up. "And you forgot to mention that they were greatly advantageous."

"How many brain cells did you just use by saying 'advantageous'?" Percy asked wryly. Travis gave him the finger.

"Anyway…" Lee continued, ignoring the exchange. "We've pinpointed their passage heading this way but …"

"We'll direct them over to this field," said Jason, pointing on the map to what he was discussing with Malcolm and Kevin the day before. "They won't need too much persuasion considering all the vantage points for a ground battle. Malcolm, Kevin, Ryder, Annabeth, the layout of Castellan's army, if you please?"

"The Rogues will be out in front," said Malcolm, moving little wooden pieces into formation. "They're expendable so they'll be used first."

On closer look, Annabeth noticed the figures resembling key figures. Luke was there with a lopsided crown and several rogue figures with different crazy looks. Percy had a figure, as did Annabeth, much to her surprise, Lee and Kevin, the Stolls, Jason, Frank, Clarisse, Ryder and Jake. They reminded her of Arron's wooden animals and judging from Kevin's sad smile he remembered them too.

"Leaving Castellan and his guards in the middle," Kevin continued, moving Luke's piece and a couple of other Extradite ones. "They'll only get involved once the Rogue wall falls through or we look to be weakened."

"Snipers will line their army at these locations," said Ryder, flagging the areas. "Pretty stock standard formation, really. Now, can we focus on how we will counteract that?"

Percy's eyes followed Ryder's movements, gazing up at him at his last comment before meeting Jason and Frank's questioning gaze, nodding lightly for them to answer. Frank spoke for them.

"We'll have the majority of the army face him at the edge of the clearing." He moved Percy, Annabeth, Clarisse, Jason and his own figure head there. Annabeth clenched her jaw at her positioned piece but said nothing. The less they knew what she was planning the better. "He isn't expecting our numbers to be great, giving us the chance to branch off into smaller groups and attack simultaneously from all sides. This will confuse the Rogues and hopefully throw most of his army into disarray, giving us enough time to get a strong foothold. Travis, Connor and their Hermes comrades will cause headaches within their ranks."

"That's right, oh serious one," said Connor, slinking in beside him. He moved his figure into no man's land between the others. "Our people have already started deploying our little tricks of mastery."

"They better not hinder us," muttered Grant, glaring at him.

"Course not," said Travis, sounding horrified at the idea. He picked up his piece, threw it lightly in the air and caught it, before placing it across from his brother's. "We're digging small trap holes in this section of the clearing where half a dozen of us will wait. Once the signal is activated, we'll pop up, taking out as many as we can next to us."

"As long as I don't have to stand next to you and hear your commentary," Grant muttered.

"Actually Grant, you'll be in the main core of fighters with Percy," Annabeth interjected, causing half a dozen perplexed stares in her direction. "Luke will be looking for the strongest fighters, targeting them. Percy and me, obviously, but he'll think we'll have a protection detail too, like he has. We'll need our best fighters clumped together, taking a stand. Flank them on either side with the Extradites and Dissenters side by side. We need to show unity, not division. If Luke sees that, he'll falter slightly."

"Emphasis on slightly," muttered Chris but he was nodding at her plan.

"Guess we all know who's standing together," said Clarisse with a roll of his eyes, already gesturing to Frank's clumped figures. "Although we should get a better formation. I'll work on that."

"Count me out," said Ryder, grinning bemusedly. He took his piece with a lot of joy and placed it at the edge of the clearing, closest to the base. "Me and my cavalry will charge in from here at the signal. Sure you don't want to join us, brother?" he asked Percy, who smiled but said nothing. Everyone already knew where his place was.

"The Nomads will charge in from this direction," said Phoebe, in her silky voice. She held a piece that had not yet been laid of the table, and did so with light grace. Thalia's face looked down at the scene behind Luke's army. "Thalia will lead the charge, but all will be for nought if we can't ensure the extra time for their arrival."

"They'll get their time," said Annabeth, leaving it at that although she got many inquisitive gazes. Even Percy looked at her, with a look that suggested she would fill him in later and he left it at that.

"And the snipers?" Malcolm asked tentatively. "We need to dispose of them before we can even consider fighting them head on. They'll tear us to shreds if we can't get on top of them. I mean, if Lee's snipers are as good as ours they'll be spending the majority of the fight trying to pick them out with no avail."

"I'm not sure if there was an insult in there from the Bookworm but I do have to agree with him," said Lee, giving him a sidelong glance. Malcolm flinched but straightened his back.

"That's where the signal will come from," said Jason, eyeing the two of them. "A stealth team eliminates the snipers, gives us an all clear and we proceed to fight, once the Nomads are in place."

"Yeah and if you weren't listening before Outsider came in," said Connor, his voice rising. "We're stretched thin as it is. We can't be in two places at once."

"And as I said to you," said Jason, trying to control his own frustration. "The team doesn't necessarily have to be led by you or your brother. I'm sure there are many capable Hermes members that can do this."

"Bah, we're the best at this and you know it," Travis butted in. "Sure they're alright but we're their leaders so we take control of any party or team involving Hermes people. That's just how we roll."

"You could always split the jobs," Malcolm suggested. "I mean, do you guys have to do everything together?"

"Yes," the Stolls said simultaneously.

Annabeth tuned out their continued discussion, gazing at the board. Their plan was solid if they didn't have to try and buy time to get in reinforcements. She knew in her heart Thalia was doing everything in her power to get to their aide but they were sent for too late. Her gaze moved over to the Nomads girls, who also ignored the discussion, heads bent, whispering to each other and occasionally gesturing to the board. She calculated her own makings of her mission in her head, imagining where the pieces would move and its cause and effect. She realised their original plan wouldn't need much tinkering at all with her new moves in place and with both dread and relief, she knew it could work in their favour.

"We've already said we can't do this stealth mission so who else is going to lead it then, huh?" asked Connor loudly.

"I'll go," volunteered Nico in a firm voice. He stepped forward as everyone looked at him. The Stolls with stunned expressions whirled on him, not realising he was there. "I'm not one for face to face combat anyway. Stealth is my forte."

"Naomi and I will attend your mission also," said Phoebe after a hushed whispered conversation with the girl. "Our presence must not be discovered by Castellan or the core part of the plan will fail."

"We should send some of our own snipers too," said Lee. "We'll set up our own nests behind our army to protect them but it will be beneficial to have more stations behind Castellan. Better vantage points, plus it'll add to the confusion when we begin our strike."

"There's someone you have to watch out for. A sniper who won't go down easily," said Kevin seriously. "Will."

Annabeth stomach rolled. She had thought out of all of the Extradites Will would have left Luke. She remembered a conversation with him on their scouting missions, where he had told her he would do anything to survive and he must have seen the odds with Luke were better. It was a blow and she definitely didn't want to see him killed by a bullet in the back but it was necessary if they were to live. She would know his orders; leave her and Percy to Luke's mercy but take out any other threat. Her eyes moved to Jason, then Frank, Chris; they wouldn't stand a chance against him.

"He's the best sniper I've seen," explained Annabeth. "And will be in the best strike position. He needs to be, subdued, more than any of the others."

"Don't worry, Outsider, I'll find him," said Nico, giving her a grim smile. "He won't be troubling anyone."

Annabeth wanted to return his smile but in either case it wouldn't be an outcome she wanted. If Nico failed they would surely be in strife but the set of Nico's jaw and the tone of his voice suggested Will wouldn't see the outcome of the war. She glanced back to the figures, to her spot next to Percy's in the front line. Feeling his eyes on her, she faced him, giving him a sad but convincing smile that she was fine. She left the rest of the Extradite questions to the three boys, listening to them lock in a stable plan but still, there was the unspoken question of if the Nomads would reach them in time.

Annabeth was drifting asleep, her mind blissfully silent for the first time in a long time. She felt light fingers brush against her cheek, mapping her jaw as they travelled down along her neck and falling away at her shoulders. She turned her head towards the trail the fingers left, slowly opening her eyes. Percy was on his side, gazing at her with a ghostly relaxed smile on his face, his hand now lying on the limited mattress space between them. His eyes were intent, following her outline as if fusing it in his memory.

"Aren't you tired?" asked Annabeth, her voice thick with her own fatigue.

"Exhausted," said Percy, smiling at her. "But I wanted to create a collage of memories of you in my mind and I couldn't pass seeing you like this, honest, beautiful …"

"And naked," said Annabeth, making him laugh.

"Yes, you are but mostly … I've never seen you as relaxed and carefree as just now. The only time I saw you this calm was when I held you while you slept, do you remember?"

"Do you mean the time when I had an emotional meltdown in front of you? No, no I don't," joked Annabeth.

He smiled, his fingers running up and down her arm. "I know you've planned something, or at least have something in mind for delaying the army. Is it something I won't agree to? Is that why you haven't told me?"

Annabeth rested a hand on his cheek, her thumb easing the crease of worry from his forehead. "You once said you trusted me, I ask that you keep your faith in that."

"I thought you said you don't deal with faith?" he asked with a smirk. Her lips quirked at his smirk as her eyes moved above her to rest on the bare ceiling. There, she stayed silent, her heart shallowing at what she was going to do. "Hey," Percy whispered, his fingers moving up her arm to her chin, gently prying her gaze to his. "You asked me to trust your judgement and I do, and will. If you want to keep it to yourself I understand but I won't be from your side, not for one minute, even if you don't need me there."

Annabeth stared into the depths of his eyes, tracing the side of his face with her fingers. How could he just accept to follow her blindly? Because he didn't think she would do anything with reckless abandon. That's why her plan would work; because no one would expect it of her, not even Luke. Annabeth took in his words, brushing back the hair from his head. Sweet words and reassurances is what he needed to hear and although it would be truthful, her heart ached at the deception behind them as she spoke.

"I've always needed you. I've just been too scared to admit that to myself. Dependency doesn't always work out." She looked at him and smiled, placing her hand on his cheek. "But for some reason it does with you and I never realised how starved I was of being able to have someone to share your troubles and feelings. I'm so glad I saved your life despite every obstacle we had to face to be here."

His smile was one of pure love and affection and it made her heart soar with her own love for him and also be riddled with guilt. "Would it be really bad of me to say I'm not so tired anymore?"

Annabeth grinned playfully, pushing away her guilt. It would be to safe him, she thought to herself, it would be to save as many as possible. "Only if you don't act on it and get over here."

Percy's smiled broadly and he rolled over on top of her, cradling his weight on his elbows as he leant forward to kiss her soundly.

A bleak mood settled over the mansion. The scouts had reported the Extradite army was coming into sight and tomorrow they would reach the clearing. Training was disbanded as everyone prepared themselves with what could very well be their last day breathing and walking through the walls of their home. Couples, friends, family stayed huddled together, talking quietly, trying to not think about what was to come, whether or not it was their last opportunity to do so. Annabeth and Percy weren't immune to this, staying together throughout their meetings, stealing glances at each other when they could, trying not to say anything that could be construed as a farewell.

After lunch Annabeth went to the training room, wanting to be left alone to deal with her thoughts. Percy didn't stop her but his eyes followed her out of the dining room and when she looked back to him, he smiled at her quickly before being engaged in a conversation with Jason. In the quiet of her training room she meditated, letting her thoughts still and her breaths ease. The plan had been finalised, she knew exactly what she had to do and what that could lead to but even with the prospect of a sour ending she wasn't afraid. This was a war and she knew in her heart she would sacrifice anything if it meant she could give her friends a chance at survival.

Her gear lay at her side and with infinite grace and years of practise she polished, cleaned and sharpened her gun and her blades; Jason's pugio, Poseidon's knife and her own she recently gained back into possession. A bullet proof singlet Tyson had beautifully made for her waited to be made of use at her side. She tested its flexibility, eventually wearing it to test her range of movement. It was heavier than she expected but it moved with her body without digging in or irritating her. She took it off, folding neatly and placing it back near her weapons. A sigh left her lips, staring down at her equipment, knowing that some of these she wouldn't be able to take. She was about to polish her boots before a knock on the door interrupted her silent solitary.

"Percy said you wandered off on your own," said Silena, letting herself in as Annabeth rose gracefully to her feet, spinning slowly to face her encouraging smile. "Shouldn't you be with him, though? Every door I passed with couples I swear they were all saying their farewells in rather graphic ways, if you know what I mean …" When her joke fell flat, she continued. "What I'm saying is, shouldn't you be telling Percy you love him?"

"Silena …" Annabeth began with a hint of groan, staring at her wearily.

"Come on Annabeth, you do love him, don't you?" Silena pressed, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder.

"Yes," she admitted quietly, making Silena smile.

"But that's a good thing," said Silena, mistaking Annabeth's fallen expression. "You've finally admitted to each other, haven't you? Of course you have. I mean, you hide your emotions exceptionally well, took me a little longer than usual to see it but Percy is like an open book. If you saw the way he watches you when you're not looking … honey, what's wrong?"

Annabeth's head slowly dropped with each word Silena spoke, her eyes closing and her throat seizing as she spoke of the two of them with such happiness. Her face was contorted as she tried to keep the pain and tears at bay and she took a couple of deep breaths before looking up at Silena, whose gaze was worried and alarmed. She rubbed her eyes with her fingers, knowing that she would have to tell Silena the truth.

"The battle plan won't work," said Annabeth softly.

"Why not?" asked Silena, her voice full of optimism. "Reinforcements are coming –."

"They won't get here in time," Annabeth cut in, her voice gaining more strength.

"But that's what you and Percy are working on, right? You're declaration for each other will make Luke …" her voice trailed off as Annabeth's face showed her thoughts.

"It'll take more than just words and gestures to stop Luke," said Annabeth, sighing lightly. "I have, thought of a way, that doesn't need a declaration …"

"Well, that's good," said Silena, trying to sound upbeat. "We'll go tell …" Silena had moved towards the door, to no doubt find Percy but Annabeth moved swiftly and cut off her passage, staring at her calmly, waiting for her to understand. Her look of confusion turned to shock, then horror as her face leeched of colour. "No … there must be something else. Anything else."

"There is no other way." Annabeth gave her a grim smile. "I wasn't supposed to live after the war but I can give the others a chance."

"By turning yourself over to Luke?" Silena's blinked back tears. "No, I refuse to believe..." Her voice steadied, her gaze piercing. "And what about Percy?"

Annabeth dropped her head. "That wasn't meant to happen either," she said, her jaw clenching to keep from screaming. She steeled her voice. Now was the time to show no emotion, to fool even Aphrodite's pupil. "Please, this will give them a chance. Of that I am sure. The others, mustn't know, Silena. They will try and stop me and we will all die. Promise me, Silena, you will keep this to yourself."

Annabeth could see how torn Silena was about the knowledge that was just thrown upon her. She trusted Annabeth's judgement blindly but she also loved Percy like a brother and knew that her actions would cause him unspeakable pain that he has already endured once and what she herself had to live through. It took a long time for Silena to agree, after it looked like she deliberated every option she could think of and came up empty. When she finally did agree there were tears in her eyes and she hugged Annabeth tightly, not looking at her as she turned and left.

Annabeth's head drooped guiltily; she knew it was hard to admit her thoughts to Silena and then make her vow not to say it to anyone but she also didn't tell Silena that it wasn't all hopeless as she was lead to believe. In time, Annabeth knew Silena would admit it to Percy, hopefully after it was already set in motion and she knew by admitting it was a suicide mission the others would force Percy to stay and listen to reason before trying to charge after her. She had one other she would disclose the entirety of her plan to and he would stop any attempts of rescue but that would have to wait until the very last minute.

Silena was absent from dinner that night which worried Annabeth but she made sure her worry wasn't spotted by the others. They tried to talk about everyday things, tried to ignore the army looming up on their doorstep but silences came aplenty and the food was hardly touched. Annabeth watched as people left in twos or threes, couples holding hands and moving off for privacy. Chiron had concluded that any matters that needed fixing could be done so in the morning, giving everyone the chance to spend some hours with people that wanted to. Percy had ignored this and left Annabeth in their room for a few hours to speak to Chiron.

Annabeth had taken pencil to paper, roughly sketching the last remnants of the Dissenter people she had come across whilst she waited for him. The drawing calmed her mind, steadying the slight shake of her fingers when she thought about what she was about to do. She first drew Piper and Jason, the way their stood proudly and protectively for each other, Hazel in deep concentration tending to a patient with Frank hovering behind her, waiting to help; Nico skulking in the shadows, his face dark while the Stolls caused havoc in Silena's room. Last came the dark haired, green eyed man she loved with the light smile and raised eyebrow, challenging her to love him. She was just shaping his smirk as he entered, closing the door behind him.

"You're not going to wish me a heartfelt farewell?" asked Annabeth, light smile on her face as she placed her sketchbook down.

He smiled back at her, although his eyes were tight around the edges. "Do I need to?" he asked lightly in reply, taking off his shirt and pulling his singlet back down when it rode up.

"There is something I, I want to give you," said Annabeth, her voice fluttering with her nervousness.

With a raised eyebrow, Percy paused in the middle of their room, watching as she wandered from the bed. She pulled her necklace over her head, loosening it enough so it slid over his stooped head, nestling in its new home just over his collarbone. His fingers went to his new jewellery, grabbing the middle bead that symbolised Athena. His gaze roamed over the small bead before settling back on Annabeth's.

"It's a little act but –," Annabeth began as Percy cut over and ended it.

" – It means a lot to you and he'll know that." He smiled at her as he let the necklace fall back against his skin.

"It's not just that," said Annabeth hurriedly as he turned to leave. He faced her again. "I … uh … you should a piece of me …" she murmured, blushing slightly. "I read somewhere it's good luck for the partner … but it could be nonsense, I mean, there's no proof –."

Percy cut her off, picking her up, holding her underneath her bum so she towered above him. She gasped at the sudden change in height, gazing down at his eyes, burning brightly with his emotion. She wrapped her legs around him as he lowered her so they were eye level, his gaze piercing hers.

"How could he have let you go?" he murmured at her.

He took her to the bed, carefully crawling onto it so her head lay on the pillows. He gave her a quick kiss but didn't proceed any further, instead resting against her back, his arm wrapping protectively over her waist. Minutes passed with the two of them like that, Annabeth gently drawing tiny circles with her fingers on his forearm until she hear him murmur something unintelligible, his grip loosening as sleep took him. Annabeth lay awake, knowing she had to move but a part of her wanted to stay in his arms and watch the war from afar. She continued to stroke his arm until she knew he was deeply asleep. She slipped out, taking the time and care to change, prepare everything for her departure and all too soon it was done. She could rearrange everything again, change her clothes even after she had finally settled on one of Percy's three buttoned cotton black shirts over her singlet. Her jacket rested on her shoulders, the laces of her boots tied firmly. She was ready.

Annabeth looked at Percy one last time from the door. He looked so young and peaceful, even beautiful as the moonlight danced over his face. Her necklace dangled from his neck, coming free from underneath his singlet. It suited him, she thought dimly, almost as if he was meant to wear it. She hoped she would be able to see him that way again. Her other effects lay beside the bed, waiting for Percy in the morning. She had wanted to write a note but didn't know what to say that would be a satisfactory answer to her reasoning. She knew he would understand once he went down to demand answers. She quietly closed the door behind her, taking the back stairs.

Was she a coward for letting someone else explain her motives? Maybe but it was already done now and there was no turning back from that. She hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, knowing there was still an opportunity to abandon her plan and stay with Percy. She looked back up the stairs, as if he was there waiting for her and knew deep down that her plan would work. A deep breath later she continued, only to be stopped by a voice from the shadows, making her jump and reach for her knife.

"I know what you're doing."

Grant emerged from the shadows, from the exact same spot where he ambushed her months ago. His stance was casual, hands in the pockets of his jacket, shoulders relaxed but his gaze was piercing, his face devoid of emotion. Annabeth said nothing, her hand slowly reaching from the knife at her back to her side, her fingers twitching. She didn't care if she had to forcibly get past Grant, either way, she had made her choice and she was going to follow through on that no matter the cost.

"Wasn't too hard to notice you had some side plan you were going to implement without your dear beloved knowing." He casually stepped into the middle of the pathway, causing Annabeth to clench her jaw. He continued to talk casually. "It must be something rather life threatening, that will cause Percy to create a right ole stink and try to stop you doing it. He should've remembered the deceptiveness of Extradites. Old ways die hard. Oh, I'm not here to stop you," he added, seeing Annabeth's hands flex, her stance changing to move at a moment's notice. She paused, not following. "But I need to know one thing before you go off to die.

"The days where everyone challenged you in the training room, you let Jackson win. And I know why you did that too after some deliberation. Quite clever really, inspiring beaten down soldiers by proving a conceived invincible enemy can be beaten. He's a worthy candidate too. Better than Jason or myself, although I could argue that. You appear to have it all figured out. So what will happen when Percy throws all of that away? For you."

Annabeth blinked, her mind processing through what Grant was saying. "Percy won't be in the firing line, I will," she told him.

"Yes, the aggrieved and psychotic leader deal with his ex-lover and most prominent fighter turned traitor in a vicious display and once he's distracted by you, everyone will ambush his army with the Nomads on their way. Don't get me wrong, this is a solid plan, more plausible than that over dribble they have, but what will happen if you get publicly killed before we can get into position? Percy cares for you, everyone could bloody well see that when he arrived with you. He will abort any plan if it means saving you."

Annabeth lowered her head, jaw clenching. Grant was right. If Percy saw her in mortal peril he would do anything and everything to get to her, which would be what Luke would count on. She had already guessed this, already had a backup plan in place for that situation but hearing it aloud … it was a hard truth she had yet to come to terms with.

"Well than you have to stop him from interfering," she said, making his eyes widen ever so slightly. "You had to be wondering why I placed you so close to him. Despite our differences … we both want the same outcome for your people. You'll do anything to make sure that happens. I can at least rely on you for that."

Annabeth walked forward, watching him warily but his word was true; he didn't try and stop her as she passed. She made it to the end of the hallway before he called out softly, making her pause.

"Even if your plan works, we're still outnumbered with the reinforcements. We may not win this fight anyway."

Annabeth clenched her jaw again, looking back to his stoic face. He stood impassive, watching her, even after she had turned and moved silently to Chiron's office. She wasn't surprised to find Chiron awake, nor did he seem surprised to see her seeking his audience at the early hours of the morning.

"I need to ask you to do something for me," she said boldly. There was no time to show her fear. He raised an eyebrow. "And I know you won't like it but it's our best chance of surviving this war."

With a deep breath, Annabeth spurred her feet into action, calming down the fierce staccato of her heart. She had run quite a way to get this far and realising the prophetic nature of her thought, had to repress the sad grin that wanted to surface. She had washed her face by a nearby stream, getting ample water to hydrate her body, knowing it would be some time before she would be able to do so again. All in all, she reflected, staring down the path of the stream, Chiron had taken her plan rather well. He too, would have known its potential had a greater percentage of success. He had wished her luck, though said his task would be harder; in an attempt to make her feel either slightly guilty or drive home the risk she was taking, she didn't know. She had smiled and said nothing as she slipped away.

Her leather jacket crinkled and whispered softly with her movements, Poseidon's knife tapping against her thigh with each step. She could feel her body slowly uncoil as she continued, her façade dropping into place as she passed every tree, her face hardening, her jaw tightening, fingers curling and uncurling in her gloves. Her left hand went to the singular bead on her new necklace, her fingers tracing the trident etched into its surface. She thought of him briefly. The sunlight glinting off his black hair like a halo, the bright green of his eyes that crinkled at the edges when he smiled that sort of reserved smile he saved for only her, that was in itself a promise of his love. She was doing this for him, for all of them but at that moment, she couldn't be the person she had become; no, she had to return to the colder warrior hardened by Extradite culture.

The Rogues that first spotted leapt to their feet, brandishing their weapons at her face. Annabeth watched them with a hard stare, unmoved by their threatening stances, which confused them. They remained where they were as she continued past them, ignoring their stares as they began to part to let her through. She heard their whispers as they moved from her path and then follow her so she was cut off from retreating even if she wanted to. The talk moved through the camp of a stranger's arrival and when she came to the main tent, the fires were re-lit, their flames creating shadows that danced around the Rogues, making them seem more demonic-like, as if she was really delving into the depths of Hell and meeting the overlord himself.

And there he was, flanked as always by his guard. He stood outside his tent, his face calm though his posture suggested his tense threat at the stranger whispered to be approaching. His hand rested lightly on his weapon, though he didn't raise and aim it at Annabeth like his cohorts, their surprise at her arrival quickly replaced with their snarls and hushed threats. The fire washed out his eyes but brought his scar into harsh relief, his expression one of veiled contempt, though he too, was surprised to see her. She paused a few feet away, giving his cohort a quick but steadied glance before turning her eyes to him, unnerved in the slightest. This was her plan and she was going to finish what she started.

"Hello Luke," she said.

Aaarrghh! So sorry guys, I had hoped to start the war in this chapter but things had to be written for what is to come. I promise the battle will begin in the next chapter and from there it will be one hell of a ride … if I can do it justice. Thanks to all the reviews, favourites and follows. We're nearly there…