Chapter 37: Leaderless

All right, I am pleased to say that, until November 7, I have vacations from school. So, I am planning to make my chapters during that time a little short so that I can update more frequently. There could be days in which I won't have internet connection but I will try to write a new chapter during those days and I will publish it later. By the way, there was someone with the penname of Kronos Army that said that Hector killed Achilles in Troy and not the other way around in the last chapter. Let me say that you just misunderstood the chapter. Achilles did kill Hector and if you don' believe me just read chapter 36 more carefully. Well with that cover up have something else to say to those that celebrate it: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I don't own any of this except from the plotline.

Read, enjoy, and review!

Percy's POV

The celebration lasted all night long. The Greeks were literally drunk in victory for the triumph of Achilles and me. They were very proud and impressed that we manage to infiltrate Troy, something that very few people had ever done, face 50 imperial guards, defeat a prophesy kill the best warrior of Troy and live to tell about all of that.

Around dawn the celebration was over and the soldiers, a little drunk and dizzy by the delicious banquet, returned to their tents to sleep. I was going to do sleep too but, as I turned around someone hugged me.

"Oh Percy, I am so glad you are all right," Zoë said with a relieve expression in her face.

Then, she realized what she was doing and backed off. She looked down and I knew why: We hadn't hugged each other's since I told her that we couldn't be together. I was feeling guilty but decided to start talking before we made a scene.

"Well, yes I am all right," I told her. "I already healed my wound with magic."

"Why did you have to get in the way of an arrow?" She asked me worried and I knew at that moment that she had been worried sick all the time I was in Troy fearing that I might not return.

Before my face show guilt again, I decided to answer.

"Because Achilles is my friend and I would have never forgiven myself if I could have saved him and did nothing to stop it," I answered.

I wasn't going to tell her that my fatal flaw is personal loyalty. That will make her more worried sick about my welfare that she already was. I still don't consider that as a flaw, though.

Well, I am glad that you protect your friends but be more careful next time please, Zoë said.

"Don't worry, I will," I told her.

She left and Agamemnon came closer soon after.

"I must say Jackson that you have impressed me more than any soldier in my entire life," the chief king told me.

I bowed in respect and gratitude like a soldier in ancient times should do in the presence of a king.

"Thank you my lord," I said.

Now, you do not need to bow in my presence Percy, Agamemnon said. After all, the gods supporting us send you to help us so, like it or not, that could make you my equal.

I thought about that for a moment.

"I see," I finally said. "Well, if you excuse me I think I will go to sleep to rest and to know what the enemy is up to," I told him.

Agamemnon nodded in understanding.

A few minutes later I was in my room inside Achilles palace. Rachel was already sleeping and Zoë wasn't her yet so I just lay down without saying good night to anyone. Or saying good morning if dawn was about to come.

Pretty soon, I fall asleep.

In my dream, I was in the Trojan meeting hall again.

"King Priam, I know that you are grieving but I have to tell you that the amazons can't help Troy any longer," Penthesilea claimed.

There were angry protests from the generals and nobles.

"So all of you are cowards eh?" Deiphobo asked.

"Call us however you like but I am not going to let you get my people killed just to help you in a war you can't win, the queen said with strength in her voice.

There were protests again.

"Of course we can win this war!" Paris yelled.

"Big words for the one that started this bloodshed to begin with," Penthesilea told him. "You doomed your nation the day you were born boy and your big brother isn't here anymore to clean up your mess," She declared.

Paris looked at her with anger in his eyes.

"Silence!" Priam yelled.

He room became quiet.

"Is retreating what you think is best for your people?" He asked Penthesilea.

"It is king of Troy," The amazon queen said.

"Then you may leave whenever you want," Priam said surprising everyone. "At first, I didn't want to have you as our ally because every army that has helped us since this war started ended up dead." He drew a heavy sigh. "None of my men will stop you from leaving, you have my word," The king of Troy said.

"Then we will leave soon after dawn and thank you for understanding," The queen said and left the hall.

I looked at Priam more carefully. He was trying to hide it but I could tell that he looked devastated for the death of Hector. I felt guilty again but I kept telling myself that if we wanted to win this war and follow the pattern of history it had to be done. That didn't made me feel much better though.

Then I looked at Cassandra who was silent beside Deiphobo. She looked extremely confused and I knew why. I changed a prophesy she made and now she is pondering if what I told her is true: That we make our own fate.

Then she looked in my direction and I was sure that she knew I was there. Nevertheless, she didn't said a word like if it didn't matter. Like if she lost hope in all things.

Suddenly, I woke up.

Zoë was touching my shoulder to wake me up.

"Percy, there is an army leaving the city! You need to prepare yourself!" She urged.

"Don't worry Zoë there isn't going to be a fight for now," I told her when I remembering the first part of my dream.

She looked at me confused.

"But an army just left Troy," Zoë pointed out. "What makes you say that?" She asked me.

I smiled big before answering.

"We did it Zoë, we saved the amazons."

There you have it. Yep, it took me 15 chapters but I manage to save the amazons. Like I said I will make the next chapters a little short so that I can update faster during the next 8 days. I will try to update tomorrow but if I can't then I will update the day after tomorrow. Again, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Review!