Hermes P.O.V
I leaned over to Apollo and whispered "20 Drachmas, he doesn't wake her up" it was a fools bet, everyone knew Percy was way too chivalrous to wake the daughter of Athena up but I still baited him into a bet, as he nodded in response. The reading must really be affecting him if he didn't even notice it was a bet he wouldn't win. I looked over at my half sister Athena and I could see worry etched on her face, I looked at Uncle P and he too was worried. I could relate to Uncle P's and Athena's concerns I knew what it was like to worry about your favourite child, hoping beyond all hopes that they would be okay. Their favourite children had made sure that my favourite child had died a hero; Percy had even told me that Luke loved me in the end, and I hoped beyond all hopes that that was true. I was drawn out of my thoughts as Aunt Hestia continued to read.
Chapter 11 – Annabeth
Later she made the resolution: never EVER sleep in Tartarus...
"That bad?" Thalia asked her friend, who was sat beside her, Annabeth just shrugged and nodded in response and it didn't go unnoticed by any of the couple's parents.
"They really don't get much luck do they?" Apollo whispered to me and I shook my head, no.
...First she was a little girl again, struggling to climb Half-Blood Hill...
...From the top of the hill, Annabeth could see the camp...
... When they looked back, the monsters were only a few yards away – dozens of them surrounding Thalia...
... Annabeth crying, beating his chest and screaming that they couldn't leave Thalia alone...
Thalia put her hand on her friend's and squeezed it. I zoned out of what else was going on around the throne room as my thoughts drifted to my son Luke, who was in Elysium now.
Percy's P.O.V
I knew Thalia was lost in memories of the past, but I knew she appreciated Annabeth's fierce loyalty to her. She held Annabeth's hand and I placed mine on top of hers and smiled at her the best I could in my tired state to reassure her.
...The scene shifted...
...Annabeth was older climbing to the summit of Half Blood Hill...
...Thunder struck the valley...
...In the darkness stood Reyna, the praetor of New Rome...
"Me? You dreamt of me in Tartarus?" Reyna asked Annabeth.
"Kind of" Annabeth replied. I knew she didn't want to give anything away, and I could see all of our other friends wondering why she had had a dream of Reyna.
... "You have done well" Reyna said, but the voice was Athena's. ...
"Athena!" Zeus boomed "Olympus was closed"
"Brother!" Surprisingly, even to Athena, my father came to her aid, "Her daughter was in Tartarus, leave it." It wasn't a request, it was a command. Zeus looked like he was about to protest but Hera, of all people put her hand on his arm and shook her head. Begrudgingly he let it go, but you could tell he wasn't happy about it.
... "I must stand here" Reyna told her. "The Roman must bring me."...
"This is why..." Rachel started to say looking at us and Annabeth nodded, not everyone knew of here genius plan that had once again led to us saving the world.
...The hill shook...
...Gaia rose over Camp Half-Blood...
...Hellhounds poured over the hills. Giants, six-armed Earthborn and wild Cyclopes charged from the beach...
I squeezed Annabeth's shoulder, instinctively pulling her closer to me. I knew she had long forgotten about the dream of Gaia's army with everything else going on now, but I could tell it bothered her a little now, even though we had won the war.
"It's okay, it worked out" I whispered to her.
"I know" She replied "Just, its home, y'know?"
"I know" I replied and I really did, I had really missed camp in the last eight months that I'd been away and I also hated the thought of it being attacked like that again. I dared to hope that maybe it would be safe for now.
... "Hurry" said the voice of Athena. "The message must be sent."...
... Her eyes flew open. She cried out grasping Percy's arm...
I knew Annabeth was tense thinking about her mom, I looked at Athena and she looked worried and I thought it had just been about the reading, but now I was wondering if there was something more she worried about, that she felt Annabeth's resentment over the mark of Athena and she was worried that Annabeth wouldn't forgive her. I knew Annabeth would forgive her; I had no doubt about that. I sent my father a silent prayer.
'Dad, can you call for a break after this chapter please?'
'Are you okay son? Do you need a break now we can pause the reading?'
'No that's okay Dad, I'm okay. It's for Annabeth and her mom. They need to talk'
'Percy, you shouldn't interfere, Athena wouldn't appreciate you meddling'
'I'm not doing it for her, Dad please?'
'Okay'
'Thank you Dad'
I looked over at my Dad and offered him what I hoped was a thankful smile; he offered me a small smile in return. If anyone noticed the exchange they didn't say anything, which I was thankful for.
... "It's okay," Percy promised...
..."Is it –is it my turn to watch?"...
... "No, no. We're good I let you sleep."...
"Told you!" Thalia boasted loudly and Annabeth flinched a little with her being right next to her but just patted her hand in a 'there there' kind of way. At the same time a squeal went up from Aphrodite and in my opinion it was still too early for both levels of noise but that might have something to do with my lack of sleep. I also noticed Apollo passing Hermes a pile of drachmas like he'd lost a bet; I suspected that was the case.
"No-one doubted that Percy would let Annabeth sleep" Malcolm informed Thalia and she looked a little miffed but smiled anyway. Piper looked at me like I'd done something she approved of and I couldn't imagine what that would be. I liked Piper she was like a younger sister to me. Clarisse just rolled her eyes at me like she couldn't believe I had the audacity to let my girlfriend sleep. I appreciated Clarisse's reaction it felt normal, we weren't the best of friends but we had a mutual respect, I knew I could count on her to call me out on something like she could me.
... "Hey, it's fine. Besides, I was too excited to sleep. Look."...
... Bob the titan sat... happily munching pizza...
... "Is that... Pepperoni?"...
"Was it?" Nico asked.
"I don't remember" I answered looking at Annabeth for help as I always did when I didn't know the answer.
"I think it was" She replied to my silent plea for help and I pressed a kiss to her forehead in thanks.
"Anyone else want pizza?" Nico asked and I could see the hunger in his eyes, the boy loved his junk food.
"Maybe we could take a short break at the end of this chapter?" My dad said looking to Zeus for his approval.
"Yes, fine" Zeus replied testily, clearly still annoyed at dad for telling him to leave Athena alone. If I'm being honest I thought it was nice that dad had defended her even though I think it had less to do with it being Athena and more to do with what he would have done if it had been me that was asleep. Nico seemed please that a break was in his future, I knew he'd spend it eating pizza and other junk food that took his fancy. I thought to myself about reminding him to bring snacks back with him for the next chapter.
... "Burnt offerings," ... "Sacrifices to Hermes... We've got half a hot dog, some grapes, a plate of roast beef and a package of peanut M&M's."...
... Percy brought her the plate of roast beef... she'd never tasted anything so good...
Aphrodite squealed again, if she did that every time someone did something remotely romantic, well, it was going to be a long reading. I looked at mom and Paul to see how they were taking this morning's reading so far, they were both smiling at me and I knew it wasn't going to last long but I was grateful that they at least looked like they had slept last night being away from us. I was glad they had slept, I always felt so guilty that I woke them up at night and I knew Annabeth did too. I looked at Annabeth's dad and step mom, they looked a little better this morning too which I was thankful for as well.
... "I know," said Percy, reading her expression. "I think it is from camp Half-Blood."...
... Annabeth had never thought about where the food went when it was burned...
"The horror!" Leo exclaimed "Something Annabeth hadn't thought of" I had to admit that the thought was a little amusing but I tried not to laugh and show solidarity to my girlfriend but based on the raised eyebrow she gave me I don't think I did a very good job. The other campers were not so restrained and we're in full bouts of laughter, well all except Malcolm who looked like he was genuinely thinking about where the food went. Once the laughter died down, Lady Hestia started to read again.
... "Peanut M&M's," Annabeth said. "Connor Stoll always burned a pack for his dad at dinner."...
... "Hey, this is good. Actual food from home right?" She nodded...
Hermes smiled at the mention of his son and his offering. I thought Connor would have liked it too. I started to feel a little homesick and I could tell Annabeth was as well she looked at me and we had one of our silent conversations.
'I miss camp, from before that place.'
'I miss it too; I hope we get back to it'
'We will Wise Girl'
'I love you, Seaweed Brain'
'I love you too'
... "Should go now. They'll be here in a few minutes...
...Percy crept to the edge of the crater. He peered back the way they'd come...
... "Bob, which giants are we talking about? Which titans?"...
... "Not sure of names. Six, maybe seven. I can sense them."...
"SIX OR SEVEN!" Yelled our family, I flinched at the sound that echoed around the throne room and I felt Annabeth stiffen up too, it wasn't their fault that they were afraid of how many were chasing us, but it wasn't ours either. I looked at my mom and Paul and worry was plastered across their features and I felt so guilty. Annabeth squeezed my hand and I sent her a grateful look. She was reminding me of our agreement from last night.
... Annabeth wasn't sure her barbecue would stay down. "And can they sense you?"...
... "Don't know" Bob smiled...
The tension in the room was palpable.
... "Bob is different! But they can smell demigods... you two smell very strong. Good strong...Like buttery bread!"...
... "Buttery bread," Annabeth said. "Well that's great."
"There's that sarcasm again, Annabeth" Will chuckled, causing the other campers to also laugh. It was almost like they didn't know Annabeth at all she's always been sarcastic, at least with me. It's one of the many things I love about her, her witty sarcasm. I guess though for some of them it had been a long time since they'd seen it maybe as long as I'd been away/ missing thanks to Hera. Annabeth just smirked up at me as if to say, of course and I smiled in return. Gods, I loved her.
... "Is it possible to kill a giant in Tartarus? I mean, since we don't have a god to help us? ...
... He looked at Annabeth as if she actually had an answer...
"Whoa! Wait! You mean you didn't?" Leo interrupted.
Malcolm replied "would you have known the answer?" He sounded a little irritated because he didn't know either.
Leo conceded that he didn't and the reading continued.
... "Percy, I don't know. Travelling in Tartarus, fighting monsters down here... it's never been done before. Maybe Bob could help us kill a giant? Maybe a titan would count as a god? I just don't know."
"Would it?" Reyna asked looking at the Gods for an answer, it was Hades who replied.
"We don't know, like Annabeth said down there, it's never been done, as far as we know" He looked towards Annabeth and I as if expecting us to contradict what had just been read, but neither of us said anything.
...For years, he'd depended on her for answers...
...She hated being so clueless, but nothing she'd ever learnt prepared her for Tartarus...
...She hated being so clueless...
Annabeth looked at me, silently sending me an apology. I silently told her it was okay and I didn't blame her. It's not like anyone planned to go into Tartarus, how could she have prepared for it?! Her lips twitched and I knew she knew that I hadn't needed an apology.
... "Where to now?" Annabeth asked...
... "Bob says that way. Apparently the Doors of Death-"... "You told him?"...
... "While you were Asleep" ... "Annabeth, Bob can help. We need a guide."...
"I bet that didn't make you too happy" Thalia whispered and Annabeth shook her head. I knew at the time it hadn't, but I knew she wouldn't even question it now.
... "Walking straight to them would be bad. Too many monsters... They would kill Percy and Annabeth in about two seconds."
"NO!" Dr. Chase called and I could see her step mom visibly trying to calm him down.
"Dad, I'm here, we made it out" Annabeth said to him and he looked up at her as if realising for the first time that, yes she was here, and no she wasn't gone.
"Right yes, of course, sorry" He muttered out but looking at my mom's face I knew she also felt the fear that Annabeth's dad had expressed, she was just trying not to show it.
... "The death mist could hide you."...
... "Uh, what is death mist?"... "It is dangerous"...
... "But if the lady will give you Death Mist it might hide you. If we can avoid Night. The lady is very close to night. That is bad."...
... "Okay then," Percy said. "I guess we'll see a lady about some Death Mist."...
I felt all of the colour drain out of my face at the mention of the lady close to Nyx. I knew who that was and I knew what I'd done, I closed my eyes and tried to swallow down my fear but I was finding it hard I could feel my hands shaking.
Annabeth's P.O.V
I knew what Percy was thinking I could feel the fear as his whole body started to tremble. I pulled away from him and made him open his eyes and look at me. I needed him to know I wasn't scared of him, I would never been scared of him, he stopped for me, he pulled himself back for me and I knew he always would. But, at the same time I couldn't let him be scared of using his powers either, I just didn't know how to help him with that. Maybe Poseidon could help; I'd ask him in the break. Right now, I needed to work on calming Percy down; the throne room was starting to shake.
He opened his eyes and placed his forehead against mine and slowly the shaking of the room stopped as Percy started to calm down. By now everyone was watching us which I knew was making this worse for Percy but he kept his eyes on mine and I could see him actively willing himself to calm down.
"Sorry" he said to no-one in particular not looking away from me.
...Her mind was buzzing. She thought about her dream...
...She stared at the black altar. "Annabeth?" Percy sounded concerned...
...She...picked out a reasonably clean napkin...
"No way!" Malcolm said "This is how you sent that back?" He asked me and I just nodded but I refused to let my gaze leave Percy's he needed me.
... "Bob...offerings burned in the mortal world appear at this altar, right?"...
... "So what happens if I burn something on the altar here?"
...You don't know. Nobody does it's never been done."
"It has now!" Rachel cheered and I dared a glance at the Gods, there was surprise on a few of their faces, a proud look on my mothers. I tried not to frown, I was still upset with my mother about what she had said to me when she gifted me the mark and that she had gifted me the mark, and also that that gift had set all this into motion.
..."Annabeth?" Percy said again. "You're planning something. You've got that I'm planning something look"...
..."I don't have an I'm planning something look"...
"YES YOU DO!" Our fellow campers yelled at me, I rolled my eyes but didn't give them a response. Percy's eyes now looked amused and sent me an 'I told you so'; I rolled my eyes at him too.
..."Do you have a pen?"...
... He brought out Riptide. "Yes, but can you actually write with it?"...
...He uncapped the pen...
... "What if you touch the cap to the other end of the sword?"
"Did that actually work?" Jason asked, Rachel answered.
"It must have done." Percy took Riptide out of his pocket very much like he had then and uncapped it, as usual his sword appeared in his hand. He replaced the cap on the other end of the sword and it shrank back into a pen, just like it had down there.
"That's so cool! Do you think I could invent something like that?" Leo asked to no-one in particular and started pulling out his notepad and a pencil from his tool belt to start sketching his ideas to do just that.
... "May I?" Annabeth plucked it from his hand... flattened the napkin against the altar and begin to write...
... "What are you doing?"...
... "Sending a message,"... "I just hope Rachel gets it."...
... "You mean our Rachel? Oracle of Delphi Rachel?"... "That's the one."
Thalia started to laugh and the other campers joined picking up on my teasing of Percy. I looked at Percy it wasn't like it mattered anymore that Rachel used to be interested in dating Percy. It was ancient history when we were down there and it still was ancient history now. But, it had been nice to keep Percy on his toes; we hadn't done much of that since we had fallen into that place. I looked at Percy and he was just smiling at me knowingly, I knew I didn't need to keep him on his toes, I knew he'd love me for the rest of our lives.
... She was asking Rachel Dare to do something ridiculously dangerous, but it was the only way she could think of to communicate with the Romans...
... "Now I just need to burn it"...
...The point of Bob's spear shot from his broom handle. It sparked against the altar...
...Annabeth lit the napkin...
"Wait so it really worked? Rachel really went to speak to Reyna because she got your note?" Jason asked me.
"Must have, Reyna came to meet us for the statue" I replied. "Why do you ask?"
"I had a dream, wait did you really throw a hair brush at Kronos?" He asked Rachel, but Nico beat her to a response.
"Yeah she did, and it nailed him in the eye!" Nico cheered and those who didn't know looked at Rachel in shook, who just sat there proudly as if it was no big deal. She caught my eye and I rolled mine at her, she smiled back in return.
..."We should go now...
... "Right" She said "I'm ready."...
"That's the end of the chapter" Lady Hestia informed me. The campers got up and raced out of the room, to be honest I thought we were doing quite well at sitting still with our ADHD and all. I stood with Percy and made to move toward his dad but he pulled me back and stopped me.
"What is it?" I asked.
Athena's P.O.V
As soon as the chapter finished I received a prayer from someone I didn't think I'd receive a pray from for a while if ever, Percy.
'Lady Athena, could you meet Annabeth and I in the gardens?" I met his eye and nodded and flashed out of the throne room into the gardens, I didn't know what he wanted but it was a chance to talk to them, a chance to talk to Annabeth, I would take it.
I didn't have to wait long before I could see them making their way into the gardens, I could tell Annabeth wasn't happy about it but I knew she'd do almost anything Percy asked her to do, a thought which I wasn't please about but was coming to accept.
"Mother" Annabeth said tightly as they reached me, Percy bumped her shoulder and she sighed and said "Sorry, hi mom." It was less tense, it wasn't happy but it was civil, and for now I knew it was the best I could probably hope for.
"Annabeth, Percy" I greeted as warmly as I could, I was still struggling in showing my acceptance of Percy, but he literally jumped into Tartarus for my daughter so she wouldn't have to go through that horrible place alone, it would be most unwise not to accept him after that.
Percy's voice appeared in my mind in the form of a prayer again. 'Tell her how you feel, I know Gods don't do that normally, but she needs to hear it to help her let go of her anger."
I'm being counselled by a demigod, a son of Poseidon no less and his advice is wise, if I didn't know better I'd have said I was dreaming or having a nightmare. But, I knew this was just like young Percy to do, as Poseidon loved to remind us all, the sea did not like to be restrained and it appears Annabeth had been rubbing off on him; she always had been good for him. I decided to try and follow his advice.
"Annabeth, I – I know you're angry with me. I can't say that I blame you. I don't regret giving you the mark to follow, you are my strongest demigod child I knew you'd be able to figure it out and even defeat – her." I paused and shivered just the thought of Arachne made me shiver. Annabeth looked at me expectantly like she expected more and I had more to say so I continued before I lost my nerve, it's not often we Olympians parent, as such. "I do regret, however the events that followed you retrieving my statue, I never meant for you to fall, either of you, and I know we aren't even halfway through what you went through down there but I'm sorry. Sorry for the part I played in it all, sorry for the pain it's still causing you now. I hope you can forgive me in time." I finished, and glanced at Percy who discretely nodded to me, I looked at Annabeth, she had a question for me but she wasn't sure if she wanted to ask it.
"What is your question?" I asked and she sighed.
"You said I failed you" She told me "When you – when Minerva" I flickered into my Roman form and back again, ouch! That gave me such a headache. "Sorry when I received the mark. Mother how did I fail you?" Her voice was laced with sadness and it was my fault. Her was my best and brightest wanting to know how she had failed me and she hadn't she'd done nothing but make me proud.
"Annabeth you didn't, you haven't failed me. During the, let's call it a lockdown, during the lockdown of Olympus all the Gods personalities we're splitting between their two forms. Percy's father and I are not as affected as we are not as respected by Romans or at least we weren't, we both seem to get more prayers now from the Roman camp. But, that's another thing I'm getting side tracked, my point is while they flickered between their forms, mine grew angrier, more bitter at the lack of respect, and I know it's because of my own pride, I do. You were distraught at the time with Percy's disappearance-"
"I remember" She interrupted, and Percy squeezed her hand.
"I have never had a child of mine experience romantic love, the way that you have, they way that you do. I don't all together understand it as you know, I feel the purest form of love is a meeting of the minds, or well, at least I did. I'm beginning to understand through you, that the mortal side of my children allows them to feel love differently to how I feel it. But, even then none of my children have ever been as struck by love as you have, as you are." I paused I really hated talking about love – it wasn't my domain for a reason could you imagine me giving people love advice? Aphrodite would be laughing for weeks at the mere thought of it.
I rubbed my temples, my headache was getting worse. "What I'm trying to say is I didn't understand it and I can't say I really do now, but I am trying. And it made my counterpart more anger and bitter and I believe that is why I told you what I did, but I deeply regret it. I am so proud of you Annabeth, you have achieved more than I could ever have hoped for and I know you haven't even scratched the surface in all that you will achieve. I didn't approve of your relationship and I know you both know that, but I do now. I don't understand it, but I know it's true, I know what you would do for one another and I know you make each other happy. And, I hope one day you can both forgive me."
"Mom" Annabeth said softly and she walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me. It was something none of my children had ever done, I knew Percy and Poseidon had hugged a few times they had that kind of parent child relationship that just allowed it somehow. But, I had never had that kind of relationship with my own demigod children. I wrapped my arms around Annabeth as best I could, I'll admit it probably wasn't the best hug, but I hoped she appreciated it.
"I do forgive you, mom" She said as she let go stepping back to Percy's side taking his hand.
"Thank you" I said.
"I do too, y'know if it helps" I sighed mentally, son of Poseidon, this boy could be frustrating. Annabeth seemed to notice my internal battle and said "Mom, he's teasing you, but he does forgive you." She smiled and it was a happy smile one I've not seen on my daughter's face in so long. I'm not used to being teased in a friendly manner by anyone that isn't Artemis so his teasing through me, I just nodded in response and Percy smiled too. They excused themselves to go and get some snacks to take back to the throne room for the reading. Artemis appeared by my side a few moments later as I watched them walk together.
"He's good for her" She said and it surprised me, she normally hated men or as she called them boys, but I knew Percy had long since earned Artemis' respect, one of the very few who had and I wondered how he had done it.
"He is" I replied before asking her how he had earned her respect.
~Author's Note~
Thank you all for reading this chapter! Thank you all for all the follows, favourites and reviews! It really brightens my morning to read all the reviews I have received for this story hearing how much you all like it, so thank. Please let me know what you think of this chapter!
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Guest – Thank you for your review, I really appreciate it! I know the Ship name for Nico and Will, I just thought it or hoped the way I wrote that chapter conveyed how Aphrodite herself would have eventually got to it. I hope you are still enjoying let me know!
Hello - Thank you for your review, I really appreciate it! I actually in all honestly hadn't realised I'd missed him of the original list and I'm sorry that I did but I feel like adding him in now to correct my mistake when he would have already know what happened due to the empathy link would be an error. I might put something in at the end of the story where Percy makes a trip to ensure Grover is okay and I hope that's okay with you too! Let me know what you think!
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