Chapter 37

Gwen

Soft music filled the cave when they returned. The smell of a rich stew hung in the air. Gentle words in a language Gwen couldn't understand magnified the warmth of the blaze crackling within the fireplace. As she drew nearer Gwen's body became flushed with vitality. Strength suffused her system. Apollo's daughter hadn't felt this refreshed since before the attack on the camp. Though Gwen was unfamiliar with the sensation she knew healing magic when she felt.

Gwen brushed back the curtain that divided the sleeping area from the rest of the cave and saw Calypso playing and singing over Percy. The son of Poseidon was still resting, but no longer looked so pale. Gwen wondered just how much strength Percy had sacrificed to protect her and Reyna. Gwen contented herself to listen just a little longer, but had no need to interrupt Calypso as the goddess soon finished.

Without taking her eyes off Percy Calypso announced, "He is still very weak."

"I could help with that." Gwen responded hotly…then added, "If you'd let me."

Calypso replied, "Yes and no."

"What does that mean?" inquired Reyna.

"Percy's malady is one of the spirit." Calypso looked at Gwen, "You could nourish the body, but nothing more."

Gwen put her hands on her hips and stared down the goddess, "And I suppose you can?"

Tears filled the goddess's eyes as she shook her head, "No, like you I can only strengthen the body. Only time will restore his spirit."

Gwen's instinct and compassion overrode her jealousy when she asked her next questioned, "How long will that take?"

"I cannot say. The last time he came here wasn't as physically strong, but he hadn't been responsible for his arrival then." explained Calypso. "I still do not know where he found the strength to bring himself and the two of you to my island."

"Is it that difficult?" put in Reyna.

Calypso simply said, "It has never happened before, but it feels my heart with joy that he did so."

Gwen feared the question but had to ask, "Why is that?"

Calypso smiled as a tear rolled down her cheek, "Because it means he kept his promise."

Reyna was moved, but still on the outside looking in queried, "What promise?"

"He remembered me…" she said softly, "he remembered me." Calypso used the heel of her hand to wipe away the tear, "But enough of this sad talk. Come the stew should be ready. Percy's body will need sustenance while his strength returns…" she looked at Gwen, "you can feed him broth after we've eaten."

Gwen nodded and smiled her thanks, "Ummm, Calypso."

"Yes?" the goddess replied while scooping the hearty stew into bowls.

Gwen's voice held no malice as she said flatly, "I don't eat meat."

After they had eaten, and Percy had been fed the three women, two young and one timeless, settled in for the evening to talk.

Not wanting to start off too heavy Reyna launched a generic first salvo, "So how is it you came to live here Calypso?"

Calypso hadn't housed female guests in several millennia, was amused by the novel experience, and answered jovially, "I was born here."

Gwen joined in, "Oh. Well having seen the garden I understand why you never left."

Calypso chuckled, "But I did want to leave…initially"

"If you wanted too…why didn't you?" asked a curious Reyna.

"Oh you know, Zeus started his war with Kronos."

Gwen added, "So you stayed to avoid getting drawn in?"

"No." answered Calypso…the smile never leaving her face. "Zeus put me under house arrest for eternity after the Titans fell."

"But if you never got involved…" began Reyna.

"I did get involved." Calypso said hastily. "Honestly, I go through this every time a hero arrives on my shores. My father is the Titan Atlas. Like a good daughter I supported my father when he asked. For that I was punished. I don't regret my decision I have met some great heroes in my time here. Percy being the greatest."

Calypso's forthright nature and loyalty to her father stood in stark contrast to the way Gwen had chosen to live her life over the past few years. Gwen was honest to a fault but never volunteered any information if it could be avoided. She certainly wouldn't support her father no questions asked. Gwen had resented him ever since she had learned who her father was. Sitting here across from the goddess Gwen found herself feeling very small.

Reyna moved on, "What makes Perseus so special?"

The underlining meaning behind the question was not lost on Gwen. Reyna still hadn't made up her mind about Percy. There was no question that Percy was a threat to Reyna's position before they had begun to learn about his past, and now he was someone who's accomplishments surpassed even Jason's. If this other camp of demigods had somehow learned of the children of Rome, Percy would be the perfect choice to send in and seize control. Roman's respect strength, honor, and loyalty above all else, and Percy had already demonstrated he possessed all three virtues. Now Reyna was looking for a reason to either accept him or renounce him. Percy's fate may very well depend on Calypso's answer.

Calypso's answer was succinct, "Do you know of another hero that would turn down godhood, and instead use his reward to force the gods to acknowledge and amend their many mistakes?"

It was clear to Gwen that Reyna had no response to offer. Gwen saw an opportunity to further Percy's cause, "Would you care to elaborate, Calypso?"

It was all to obvious Calypso enjoyed talking about Percy and was only to happy to oblige. Calypso began by describing all she knew of the young man in question. It wasn't much because the goddess had been cut off from the world for untold centuries, but what she did know Gwen was thrilled to hear. Like many demigods Percy had been branded a trouble maker from childhood. He had been expelled from school after school, and grown up with virtually no friends.

As the goddess transitioned from one event in Percy's past to the next she made sure that the two of them knew she was only recounting what she and Percy had discussed during his previous stay. It had been a difficult time for Percy. He was struggling with the weight his position had placed upon his shoulders. Percy was down after learning of the devastation he had wrought upon untold innocents. And of course he agonized over the fate of the friends he had left behind. Gwen listened intently to any information surrounding Percy's friends. Of course Calypso had learned little of them from Percy the subject had just been to sensitive at the time.

As the hours passed by Gwen found herself glancing over at Reyna from time to time hoping to glean some insight into the Prefect's thoughts. Reyna though had assumed the unreadable mask of her office as she set near the fireplace listening to Calypso recount the tales of Percy's exploits. It was as favorable a situation as Gwen could have hoped for. Reyna was not allowing personal feelings to cloud her judgment. Gwen could almost see the gears turning as Reyna meticulously weighed the pros and cons of having someone as powerful as Percy as either an ally or an enemy. Calypso's insight into the world of these other demigods had at least to this point given Percy a fighting chance at true acceptance.

When Calypso stopped speaking Gwen didn't notice. So lost was she in her efforts to read Reyna's thoughts she had forgotten herself. It was only after Calypso made a concerted effort to draw Gwen's attention that the daughter of Apollo looked up.

Calypso spoke amenably, "It's getting late the two of you should turn in for the night. We can continue tomorrow. Hopefully Percy will be awake and can expand on my rather limited knowledge of recent events."

Reyna scoffed, "Not likely."

Calypso missed the meaning, "I admit that it is not likely, but this one…" nodding toward Percy, "always has the ability to surprise you."

"True," agreed Gwen, "but I don't believe that is what Reyna meant."

Calypso tilted her head and looked expectantly at the daughter of Minerva.

"He has amnesia." supplied Reyna. "Some kind of…what did you call it Gwen?"

"Lethe poison."

"I know of it, but it is not a poison." amended Calypso.

Gwen started to protest, "But…"

The goddess chastised, "But it is late and best discussed another evening." Calypso then spoke in a more compassionate tone, "I understand how you feel Gwen. Because of that I am reasonably sure what your next question will be. It is a very important question, and one that should be asked only after Percy awakens." The goddess's eyes appeared to deepen adding to the magnitude of her next question, "Do you understand?"

Gwen didn't but felt compelled to agree so she slowly nodded.

"Good, now let us retire for the evening. Tomorrow you can explore and enjoy the safety of Ogygia. Afterwards we will talk again."

The goddess certain her words would now be heeded retired to her own bed leaving the two demigods to fall asleep in their own time.

A flat grating music played across the landscape of Gwen's mind. The obtrusive noise churned her normally docile dreams into a cacophony of chaos. Never before had the cries of the injured entered her most private of thoughts. Gwen for the first time was made to remember all the patients she had saved, and was forced to experience the misery of casualties lost. Needless to say her sleep was not restful. When the sun finally crested the horizon Gwen found herself miserable.

Even without the morning bugle Reyna too roused early, and could tell something was wrong with her. Reyna had tried asking her about it, but Gwen didn't feel like talking. Truth be told she didn't know what to make of it. It wasn't the first time music had found her in her sleep. Her father was the patron god of art and that included music in all its forms…no matter how terrible. Then there was Calypso to consider. The goddess had demonstrated a knack for manipulating the body's processes with song. While it wasn't likely, given Calypso's helpful nature, Gwen couldn't discount the possibility that the goddess had intruded upon her subconscious. Until Gwen knew which…she preferred to remain quiet.

After breakfast the two Romans took Calypso's advice and ventured out across the island. However instead of just walking around and taking in the sights…the two chose instead to train. They spent the morning running, hiking, swimming, and stretching. Around noon the two found a secluded orchard and made a meal of: figs, pomegranates, dates, and olives. Once the food had settled Gwen and Reyna moved to a small clearing they had found nestled high above Calypso's cave. The floor of the clearing was covered in sand and at the far end an ancient tree had fallen amongst the stones of the small mountain.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon sparring and practicing with their preferred weapons. Gwen was no match for Reyna in hand-to-hand combat, but she did her best to push the Prefect's abilities. Gwen had her retribution during the archery session. She took an almost perverse pleasure pointing out the flaws in Reyna's rusty technique. Reyna had abandoned the skill after being claimed by her mother, and was now suffering the consequences. Every time a shot flew wide of the target Gwen could see the embarrassment lying just beneath the surface of Reyna's impassive facial features.

When the sun dipped down and was barely hanging above the horizon they began making their way back to Calypso's home. The workout had left them both exhausted, but it was the pleasurable exhaustion one could only feel after a hard day of training. Calypso met them at the entrance.

"Oh, no you don't." proclaimed their host. "You will not enter my home covered in filth. There is a hot spring back the way you came...go and wash."

"Back up the mountain?" they asked in unison.

"Yes, it's not far. You just have to look for the fissure in the rocks. The entrance will be to your right near the trails entrance. The spacing is narrow but widens into a large cavity after a few feet. Inside you will find a natural spring that you can use to cleanse yourselves. Once you are done you will be free to return."

Reyna pointed out, "It's late. The sun's going to set in a few minutes. How are we suppose to take a bath in the dark?"

"I keep torches inside the chamber." explained the goddess, "Once you make it through the fissure the torches will light themselves."

Tired and none to eager to make even a short trip back up the escarpment, Gwen commented, "And what are we suppose to wear once we're through washing up?"

"I keep clean linens and extra changes of clothes in the chamber as well."

The two girls sighed. The idea of a hot bath was enticing, but they would have preferred to eat and rest first. However, neither were too keen on drawing the goddess's ire and so complied. Reyna and Gwen worked their way back up the trail until they found the dark maw leading to the bath.

True to her word the torches came to life on their own. Once again the girls marveled at the island's splendor. The warm light of the torches glistened off the opal walls of the small chamber. The roof of the ten foot by ten foot cavern was open to the sky. The opening provided ventilation insuring the heat from the steamy water had an avenue of escape. The sconces holding the room's light sources were made of silver and trimmed in gold. A series of natural depressions lined one wall, and inside the make shift shelves were the promised towels and change of clothes. The two made their way across the solid granite floor. The usually rough stone had been worn smooth after centuries of use.

After removing the sweat and dirt stained clothes. The two girls stepped down and into the hollowed out space where the warm water pooled. They were instantly grateful Calypso had been so insistent. The aches and pains from the days many exertions slowly melted away. The girls sat in ecstasy, nearly falling asleep. Only Gwen's internal clock kept them from staying too long. Reluctantly they climbed back out of the water, dressed, and feeling rejuvenated seemingly glided back down the trail to the evening meal.

Once the meal was over, and Percy tended too, the previous nights conversation resumed. Of course the subject of the Lethe poison would not be mentioned.

Gwen started, "So tell us more about Percy's involvement during the war."

Calypso spread her hands, "I'm afraid I told you all I know. After Percy returned to your world…I was once again blind to all that was happening."

"But you said you knew more." interjected Reyna.

Gwen lent her support with a sharp nod.

Calypso tsked, and it took all of Gwen's willpower not to shudder, "I said we would continue, but I meant in a general sense. Up until the mention of the River Lethe I was quite enjoying it. Tonight I thought we could talk about the two of you."

With that the pattern was set. Over the next two days Gwen and Reyna spent the day training. Following dinner they would settle down and talk with their host. One night they would listen to Calypso recount stories of the heroes she had nursed back to help. Aside from Percy her favorite hero had been Odysseus. Gwen noticed all of Calypso's retellings contained a note of sadness. Then on the other nights the two would share stories from their own pasts. They were however careful to omit any information that might endanger the others back home. Things like the camp's location, defenses, and training schedules were understood to be off limits.

On the morning of the fifth day on Ogygia everything changed...Percy finally awoke.