Of Royalty and Love

"That will be enough for today. Thank you, Chiron." Young King Perseus told his sword instructor, the centaur.

The sweating king, drying himself up with a piece of cloth, started to jog through the corridor of the palace, which he knew by heart since the time he was three. He opened the main door, not waiting for the guard posted next to it to do so. He arrived in a magnificent garden, which generation after generation, kings of Atlantis had developed, bringing different plants from their various conquest.

He was always one to take some fresh air. So, as most every morning, when he didn't have to attend one of those long and boring letting where his only consolation was his lovely wife, sitting next to him. Queen Annabeth had come from Athens several prior and she and the heir prince had been married for two years now, since his eighteenth birthday.

Thinking of her made him remember how he had left her the morning, still asleep in their large olive wood bed. The whole part of the palace had been designed by his wife, as she loved architecture so. Thinking of her had made him want to see her again and so, after having taken a short walk around the park, and at what seemed to be eight o'clock, judging by the sun in the sky, he ran to the palace, climbing the stairs two by two.

When he arrived, he found that the whole room was dark and that the blades had been closed. As every time he entered the room and saw his wife was still asleep, he contemplated how lucky he was. He walked quietly to the bed and did what he loved to do: wake his wife up.

He kneeled on the floor and kissed her. She woke up with a jump and still when she realized it was her husband.

"Hello." she said, her voice still raspy from sleep. Percy found himself wondering how one could be so attractive having just woken up. Annabeth was a real Greek beauty: she was tall, quite thin with forms just at the right places, that her white nightgown highlighted perfectly, a strait nose, high cheekbones, tanned skin and beautiful luxurious golden hair and stunning grey eyes.

Few people saw Annabeth as Percy did. She was absolutely loved by the people but, she had a certain aura of power and people knew better than to mess up with her. She had pride, like all members of the Athenian royal bloodline.

Percy, however, was the total opposite. Tall, lean and muscled, with hair that could not be tamed and a very special type of color, that only the royal family of Atlantis possessed: eyes of the same color as the sea, a pool where green and blue seemed to fight for power but could never settle on one of the two colors. He was of course respected by the people but was considered as a friendly monarch. Everyone knew he was more loyal than anything to his people, country and to those he loved.

"Morning Love." the King answered as he got up slowly and picked his wife up. She squealed in surprise, a sound which nobody but a handful of people had ever heard from such a person. One could say she had changed since she was with Percy.

At the start of their marriage, the ever-lasting rivalry between the two Greek people they came from had drifted them apart. Slowly, they came to care for one another to a point where they could not dream of not being together and a separation for more than a few days was absolute torture. There bickering and fighting, which was inevitable with both their fiery temper, were know by the whole staff of the palace but it had become a habit and they all knew they love each other deeply.

For Percy, being married to a rational woman had calmed him down a little, and he had matured, and had made Annabeth, less severe, more joyful.

"Something planned for today?" Annabeth asked her husband, eye half closed.

"We have a meeting at ten." Percy sighed. How he hated those! Annabeth, however, loved them and got up instantly. She shook the bell on a tray next to the bell, signal for her servant to come.

"What time is it?" She asked, while putting a robe on and untying her hair.

"Around eight." Her husband answered while taking his dirty shirt off. Soon, the servant opened the door, looking anywhere but toward the King's only half covered body.

"Ma'am?" She asked.

"Yes Thelma. Now would you draw me a bath? Also please prepare my grey dress with the golden belt and the usual necklace and crown. Thank you. Oh! Please call Olivier. You may go."

The servant left, bowing as she did so. "Still afraid of you?"Percy joked. "Clearly doesn't know you're a big softy."

"Am not." She answered, outraged.

"Whatever makes you sleep a night dear." He replied cheekily.

"You know perfectly well I cannot sleep at night because of your awful snoring." She defended herself.

"I do not snore!" He exclaimed; mock shock painted in his face. "Now. I have to punish you for lying horribly about the King." He said, a look of mischief in his eye she knew too well.

"Oh, you won't." She tried to convince herself.

"You know I will," he returned, jumping at and tickling her without mercy.

"Percy... stop! I can't breathe! Please!" She giggled.

"Say I don't snore." he sassed.

"Fine. You don't! Happy now?" She squeaked. He nodded but kept her in his arm, as he started to brush her face with his lips, before kissing her full on the lips.

At that moment, they heard a soft knock on the door and tried make themselves presentable. Percy's usually messy hair where now a bird's nest and Annabeth's flushed cheeks were suspicious enough.

"Come in." she called, keeping her voice as steady as possible.

The servant from earlier entered followed by Olivier, Percy's personal valet. Both their bath was drawn and they got ready separately.

Just before they were about to get down, Percy joined his wife in her dressing room, carrying a small box.

"Annabeth?" He called.

"Yes, dear" he heard from the other side of the door. "Come in!"

He opened the door carefully. "Close your eyes." He asked in her ear, making her shiver. "You can open them." She looked down and saw the most magnificent necklace, which represented a carved snake that swirled around her arm.

"Percy... it's beautiful! Thank you." she kissed him gratefully.

"We have to go. We're going to be late." he sighed, presenting his arm so as for his wife to take it. They climbed the stairs down and entered the conference room, where magistrates were waiting for them. They all saluted the royal couple, waiting for Percy's signal to sit down. The king nodded and waited for them to settle down.

They talked about the kingdom's economy, which was doing wonderful and the people for several hours. Percy was sitting in a big marble throne, his elbow resting on one of the armchairs, his bead in his hand.

They were about to stop the meeting when one of the most ancient magistrates, an old philosopher sat up painfully. "Your Majesties. There is a matter that has been brought to our attention by the people, but it is rather... delicate."

"Speak up Manolios. We are listening." He reassured the old man, whom he respected and whom had been one of his preceptors.

"Your Highnesses were married two year ago." Percy sat up straighter and nodded, he didn't have a good feeling about this. "The people demand an heir. You are still young, but accident happen." He was referring of course to the shipwreck that had killed both his parents. He closed his eyes, not wanting to go down this road. He opened them and the flickered to his right were Annabeth was sitting much too quietly. Their eyes met shortly but she quickly lowered her gaze, guiltily.

"I see." He didn't know how to continue.

Next to him, Annabeth stood up and exited the room quietly excusing herself. Soon after, dismissing the assembly with a motion of the hand before he hurriedly walked after his wife, knowing she would probably be in their room.

He crept to his room as quietly as possible and wasn't surprised when he saw his wife curled on their bed, breaking down into the sheets.

"Annabeth." he whispered as he made his way towards her.

"Leave me alone." she sobbed, not taking her face away from the bed. Percy tried to get her to sit up, but she gripped the cover, not wanting to let go. Finally, he managed to make her turn slightly and got her to his chest, letting her cry.

"Shh." He appeased. "It's going to be fine Annabeth. It's not your fault, we'll try some more."

"But if I can't Percy? I've been married to you for two years. Two years! What if I can't? Then you'll repudiate me? I've already lost two babies. Two! What will you do?" She looked at him, her usually so lively eyes brimmed with tears than threatened to fall.

"Of course, not Annabeth! How can you believe that? I love you and I'm not letting you go. Never!" He vowed, stroking her hair, trying to soothe her.

She looked up, a sudden look of determination in her eyes he knew all too well that never meant good news. "You need an heir Percy. If I can't have one you will have to marry again. It is your duty as a King!" She declared, wiping her tears away and walking away from his grip.

"I won't have it, Annabeth. It's you I love, no one else! I don't care about an heir. There will always be family! I have cousins! They can have the throne if it means staying with you." He urged, trying to reach for, but she wouldn't let him.

"You don't you believe that. Your first duty is to the throne. And you know it." She trying to convince him, looking him in the eye.

"We're young Annabeth. We're twenty! My mom had me at twenty-five! You know women usually have miscarriages before they do have a child. Please Annabeth, we can try again." He made her promise. Annabeth didn't want to concede, but the look on his face was one of so much distress she could not say no.

"Fine. But we haven't heard the end of it, Percy."

"Sir! Sir!" A guard came hurriedly, gasping for air after the long distance he had had to fulfill in a record time. "Sir..." he breathed, "it's the Queen, your Majesty!"

Percy, who was taking a week with one of his advisors, rushed the guard, shaking his shoulders, "Where?" He asked desperately, shaking the man some more.

"In your room." He rasped. He had just finished his sentence that the young king was already running toward the palace.

Percy dashed to the royal bedroom but was prevented to enter by a doctor.

"Sir. It is not your place to come in. Wait here." He tried to restrain the young monarch from coming in.

"I am not waiting here. Let me pass!" He cried, releasing himself from the man's grasp. He opened the door, and rushed to his wife's bedside, where Annabeth was convulsing, her face distorted in pain.

"Annabeth!" He cried out, taking her delicate sweating hand in his big one. He saw the sheets covered in blood. Her blood.

"I'm sorry Percy." She panted. "I couldn't do it. I tried. Please forgive me." She gasped in pain and closed her eyes a moment to contain her screams, knowing Percy could not bear to see her in any kind of pain.

"Don't say anything, love. You'll do it. Your always do." He whispered, his voice shaking in uncontained sobs. He buried his head in her hair, breathing the lemon scent she always smelled.

She smiled through the pain and caressed his messy hair. Her throat clutched in pain but when Percy looked up to stare at her, he saw she had a look of resignation in her eyes.

"Kiss me Percy. Please. One more time." He sat up on the chair next to her, not letting go one second of his hand.

A midwife came next to him. He looked up at her, not liking the expression on his face.

"The baby is much too young. He cannot live. It is impossible. Your wife can be saved, but there is little hope."

He turned away, not wanting the old lady to see his tear-stained face. He kneeled next to Annabeth and whispered in her ear. "Annabeth. Listen to me. You must listen to the midwife; she was the one who assisted my mother at my birth. Listen to her. Can you promise that?"

She nodded her head, incapable of talking.

"How is she?" Percy urged the midwife.

"She lost a lot of blood. She is in the Gods hand now." She sighed. "She is strong, Sir. Very strong. Don't lose all hope. She might make it. Do you want to see your son before..." she finished, unsure how to finish.

Percy's eyes ripped form the now still form of his sleeping wife. "Yes, please." He stood up and looked at the tiny body of his son. His heir. He took him in his arm, his heart breaking as he saw the tiny toes and hands if the little boy.

"Please. Let me with him a little." He begged. The people in the room left, letting the mourning father with his child.

"Goodbye son." He whispered, kissing the already cold frame of his newborn. He rang the bell and let a guard take him away.

Several months passed, and Annabeth got better and better. However, every moment of happiness was marred by the traces of the past tragedy. As Percy and Annabeth had decided at that time that the pregnancy was not far along enough to raise the hope of the nation, only a restricted number of peoplelearned about the little prince's death.

He was buried in small comity, and being still too frail, Annabeth had been carried to the place in the garden where he was to rest for eternity. That is why people did not understand the sudden change in character of the grieving mother.

Percy managed to hide it rather well and only close friends did notice the change, the loss hidden deep. Annabeth had switched up to the person she was before marrying Percy: cold and suspicious. She only did seem to warm up toward Percy, who had shared the tragedy.

Annabeth had discovered for sure she was pregnant the month before and could not bring herself to hope and had fallen in a trance where she did not answer and did all she could to convince herself she was not, afraid as she was to lose yet another child.

With each month, Annabeth grew and soon enough, she was around eight months along. The doctors told her everything was well and that the baby would be fine, but she could not bring herself to believe it and kept persuading herself to think about it another day.

Percy was unsure of how to react. Every time he tried to talk about the baby, Annabeth would find a way to change the subject without him noticing until it was too late.

She refused to appear in public, while Percy was forced to attend the meetings, reunions, assembly and parties where he was always the center of the attention, he being the kind and all, and where talk about the baby was all he ever heard with remarks such as: "You must be relieved, after three years of marriage than the Queen is not barren."

When he heard that, he wanted to scream and explain all the pain she had been through, but he should not, and he was let to listen to conversation such as these where he had to appear overjoyed.

One day, he decided it was enough. The baby was due in a week or so and everything was going well. He went up and entered Annabeth's room where he knew she was. Annabeth now refused to share a room with him.

He knocked and entered without waiting for an answer, knowing if he did his wife would ask him to wait long enough to prepare herself to remain stoic, He saw his wife jump in surprise.

"Annabeth. We have to talk." He announced when she turned around and lowered her eyes as she saw him.

"Whatever about?" she said, trying to seem unaffected but failing miserably. Percy raised an eyebrow; sign he did not believe her.

"About the baby. We haven't got a name, or a room, or anything ready for it. We must prepare, Annabeth. This is happening. He or she will be here in a short time."

Annabeth seemed surprised and sighed. "Percy. Now is not the time. I'm tired and am going to sleep a little. We can talk about it later." She answered, but Percy saw her eyes close for a fewsecond.

"You okay, Annabeth?" He asked a bit concerned.

"Yes, Percy. Everything is fine, as should be. You said so yourself, didn't you?" She tried to sound convincing, but her eyes betrayed her pain.

"You're in pain." Percy stated, not a question, just an affirmation. "Don't try to lie. I saw it. How long has this been going on?" He pressed.

"It's nothing really Percy. Nothing at all. Completely normal."She assured, in complete denial although her jaw was set.

"I'll call the doctor." He affirmed as he opened the door and ask a guard standing next to the door to call for one.

A doctor had come to examine the Queen and confirmed whatthe monarch already knew: Annabeth was in labor.

In oppressing hours, Percy stood next to the door, unable to enter. The doctor had convinced him it was better for the patient and he did as he was told. Waiting in agony, the King heard all the screams of his wife.

The door opened, and a nurse ushered him in. "Come meet your son." She smiled at the face of her King.

"He is well and healthy. A beautiful baby, really." He grinned in relief and took the wrapped bundle from her arm.

He got and sat next to his wife, wanting to do the presentation himself.

"Annabeth." He whispered quietly, "let me present you your son."

Annabeth smiled; her face filled with pure joy. "Our son." she corrected gently. "Luke." She called him, discreet way of giving her husband her choice for a name. They both smiled sadly as they remembered their childhood friend. He nodded. Yes, he liked the name.

"He looks just like you." She chuckled.

"He has your hair. Your blond magnificent hair." He said, proudly, amazed at how he could love someone he had only just met.

"And your eyes." she added. "The eyes of the Kings of Atlantis. He will be a great king someday, Perce." He beamed at the use of his nickname. "Like his father."