Chapter 58
One of these days he was going to walk right up to this door and not feel nervous in the slightest. Percy had practiced over and over what he was going to say. He had thought it through and tried to prepare himself for what would happen should the king refuse. Despite all of that, he was nervous.
The guards had been surprised to see him, but had still gone to see if Poseidon was free. It was the third time Percy had come to ask. The first the king hadn't been in his room. The second he had been busy, and no matter how much Percy had tried to say it was important they hadn't budged on the issue. He was starting to think that this time would be the same given how long it took for the guard to return, but when he did the door was held open for Percy to enter.
Without hesitation Percy walked into the room. Despite his nerves he knew why he was there, and what he had to say, which made it easier not to hesitate. He needed to do this, and more importantly he wanted to, regardless of what the reaction would be.
Poseidon was sitting behind his desk, shuffling some papers around when Percy entered. He glanced up for just a moment and motioned to the seat in front of the desk for Percy to take before looking back down at the papers he was sorting through. It was a minute or so before he finally looked up, raising an eyebrow "From what I hear you've been trying to reach me most of the day, this must be rather important."
"It is." For a moment Percy debated staying standing, but decided to take the seat. Without waiting for Poseidon to prompt him, he added "I can't continue to court Princess Piper."
Poseidon's eyebrow raised more, but showed no other sign of surprise "You can't?"
"I won't," Percy correct, not saying anything else as he let Poseidon have time to process the statement. It didn't take long.
"I take it there is a reason for this sudden opposition, especially when I was under the impression that you and Princess Piper were getting along quite well?" The king's voice was calm, but there was hint of something else there as well. Almost like⦠amusement?
"Yes," Percy nodded, knowing they were leading up to the point "We are getting along. I have talked with Princess Piper already, and we have agreed that should everything work out we will still be good friends, but we are not suited to marry each other."
"What's her name?" The amusement in Poseidon's voice was clear now, and if Percy wasn't mistaken there was a smile starting to play on his lips.
"What?"
"You're a sixteen year old boy, Perseus, it's not that hard to figure out where your head is at," Poseidon was still fighting back a smile "So, what's the name of the pretty girl who has captured your heart?"
This was not how Percy had been expecting this conversation to go. He had been expecting to already be fighting for why this was the right thing to do. The best option for him. Not for Poseidon to be more or less laughing at him. Still, he did his best to remain professional and firm in the face of the amusement. "Annabeth Chase."
"Frederick's daughter?" Poseidon waited for Percy to nod, before doing so himself "I knew you two were close, but I didn't realize you were that close."
Percy was at a loss for words, brain spinning to process the conversation that seemed to be the complete opposite of what he'd prepared for. "You're not mad?"
"That you are young and have a heart? That you were won over by a pretty face? No, though I do wish you would have talked to me before talking to Piper," Poseidon replied, shaking his head as he added "Of course, you will not be calling off the arrangement with her over the fickle heart of a boy."
"This isn't just some fit of passion or because she's beautiful," Percy protested. Now they were getting more into the stuff he had planned for, and there was more confidence in that "I've been in love with Annabeth for years. I should have acted on it sooner, but I didn't. I'm making up for that by acting on it now."
"Enough, Perseus." Some of the amusement was dying out of Poseidon's voice now, though much of it was still there "Trust me, you'll get over it. I would advise against sneaking around with her, but if you must I understand. I'm certainly not the person to scold you for it given our situation. I'm sure Mr. Chase would prefer if you didn't though, and as his friend I feel it is my duty to tell him should you persist."
"I have been in love with Annabeth Chase since I was twelve years old," Percy replied, his words measured, trying not to grow angry though the amusement in his father's voice was starting to annoy him. This wasn't a joke. "This is not something I'm going to get over or a spur of the moment decision. I fully intend to begin courting her instead."
"That's enough," Poseidon repeated, and to Percy's relief the amused tone was gone "As I said, if you can't stop yourself then see the girl in secret, but you are a prince, and while I would trust Frederick with my life, his is not a noble. You can not marry or court a commoner."
"I'm a commoner," Percy replied, fists clenching a bit at his side as he tried to stay calm "No matter how you dress me up or who's blood I have, I am a commoner, that's how I was raised. If the kingdom can have a commoner as a king, why not a queen?"
"Because you're a bastard."
Percy started. Up until that point Poseidon had never actually called him a bastard. Any time anyone had started to awkwardly ask 'So he's-' when being introduced to Percy, Poseidon would cut them off with 'He is my son, and your prince'. Despite the claims that he didn't care about being a bastard, or what Poseidon thought of him, the comment stung. More than Percy would have expected or would ever admit.
"If you were my true born son, then maybe I could make a case to the lords. They would be upset that their daughters were being passed over, but at least Frederick is an honored member of court. Since you're not we are going to have a hard enough time convincing the lords to honor you as their king without adding a commoner with no claim to nobility as your queen," Poseidon sighed, shaking his head for a moment before looking back at Percy "Besides, you need a queen who knows what she's doing. You have learned a lot, and come a long way in the short time you've been here, but there are some things that can't be taught. Things that just come with being raised at court. You need someone who knows how court works, who has been living it their whole life."
"Annabeth already knows more about court then I do, and she knows everything there is to know about the history of this kingdom and others, well more than her father," Percy shot in return.
"Then make her your court historian when you're king. Or hell, make her your advisor, but she will not be your queen," Poseidon replied, giving Percy a look that would have made him immediately withdraw six months ago, but now just made him want to stand his ground "You will marry the princess, and with time I'm sure you shall come to care for her as much if not more than you currently care for Annabeth."
"Just like you came to care for the queen so much that you spent a summer with my mother?" It was a low blow, but Percy didn't care "Did you ever get over her the way you claim I'll get over Annabeth? Maybe the real reason you won't let her come to the castle has nothing to do with me and is actually because you're scared of how you'll respond if you see her again."
"Enough," Poseidon slammed his hands on the table and pushed himself up so he was standing, anger clear in his voice and face. Percy flinched, but then an old anger rose up. An anger at Poseidon, but also an anger at himself for being scared. He wouldn't be scared of men like this. Not anymore.
"You are a prince, you will do your duty and marry Princess Piper, for your sake and the sake of the kingdom. And you will not disrespect the queen, no matter how angry you are with me, is that understood?"
"You seem to be under the impression I was asking your permission," Percy replied, pushing himself to standing as well "Which I'm not. I have already talked with Piper, and made my intentions clear to Annabeth, I will court her with or without your blessing."
"If you are so in love with the girl then make her your royal mistress," Poseidon snapped "You would be far from the first king to have one."
"I won't do that to her," Percy snapped in return. To be fair, a royal mistress could be an honored position, but he doubted Annabeth would go for it. Even if she would, that wasn't what he wanted.
Taking a deep breath, Percy tried to calm himself down as he looked over at the king again. Despite the attempt there was still anger in his voice when he spoke "I am dueling Luke Castaline for Annabeth's hand tomorrow. You have till the end of the duel to decide if you want your son as your heir, or one of the precious lords you're so worried about offending. Either way, should I win the duel, I will begin courting Annabeth. The only part that's up to you is if I do it as a prince or a commoner."
Then he turned on his heel and left the room. If Poseidon said anything else, Percy intentionally didn't hear it. Nothing the king said at that moment was important, Percy had given him his options and nothing was going to change them.
