Thalia

Artemis was back and Percy wasn't with her. So, the Fates did know how to be kind. Though, judging by Artemis' defeated expression Thalia figured this just meant she had to go the ropes twice.

"Estelle, dear, you are the one who received my blessing while I was gone?"

"I am," she replied in a very bashful manner. Thalia winced.

"Milady, I know there might be some reservations in accepting her into the Hunt, but I did what I thought was right with the provided information." She kept her head high, refusing to show her doubts.

Artemis bit her lip and considered the two.

"He doesn't know?" she finally asked.

"No," Estelle said with her head low.

"And your mother?"

"I left a note."

"Go to her. My blessing goes with you, as it does Thalia when she has visited in the past. Receive your mother's blessing to join the Hunt and you will be welcomed among us. Have her offer me one of her famous cookies to a fire," she said teasingly, pulling a laugh from the nervous girl.

"And if I… If she doesn't…" Estelle cringed as she asked.

"Hmm. Then you-and Thalia-will be given over to Hestia's judgement."

Thalia didn't know whether to sigh in relief or cringe in fear. Hestia was kind, yes, but when she did find a reason to rise up in anger it was...unpleasant.

With a wave of her hand Artemis helped Estelle on her way. Idly, she wondered where the goddess had placed the girl.

"What now, Milady?"

"Now, we do damage control. Call your sparring partner."

She tried to hide her cringe and lift her head, but Artemis knew better. When had Thalia become this? She was supposed to face every challenge head on with no hesitation. It was just so much more difficult when the challenge took the form of people she respected.

.

Percy

Breathe. Just breathe, and do not use Riptide on Thalia.

"Where is she now?" he bit out between his teeth, even though he was searching for her himself as he spoke. Brooklyn.

"She's checking in with your mom," Thalia spoke evenly. Had he still been mortal he wouldn't have noticed her anxiety. She knew he was angry.

He parried and hit her with the flat of his blade as she tried to attack, bringing him back to the sparring match. That probably wasn't wise, so he capped Riptide. She lifted her shield and tightened her grip on her spear, refusing to back down. Trying to make him focus on the fight rather than his sister.

"Why would you give her Artemis' blessing?!" He tried to keep the venom out of his voice, but it was still harsh and unforgiving. Finally letting her arms fall to her sides Thalia sighed.

"Because you died and all she could do was watch. Because she knows that she's going to watch nearly every person she cares for die because we live in this world and she can't do anything about it. Because she has clear sight and all the things that go bump in the night are a lot less scary when she has someone to teach her to defend herself!" Screaming at powerful immortals, especially gods, wasn't really high on the list of intelligent things to do, but he was just Percy and Thalia was getting angry. He needed to remind himself that he couldn't just go toe to toe with her and scream back. He had to restrain himself. Gods he missed being a demigod right now. But, she had a point…

"Why didn't she ask me?" he asked, and was a little surprised at how his voice sounded so defeated, so weary, so hurt. Yes. It hurt that she hadn't come to him when she'd been living with these fears and memories.

"Percy," Thalia sympathized, retracting Aegis and stowing her spear. "You would protect her from anything. I know that, you know that, she knows that. But she doesn't want to be protected."

Percy thought that over. She didn't want protection.

"But she's my sister."

"But she's still Estelle."

"Estelle is everything good in the world, Thalia. She doesn't-"

"No. Stop." Thalia cut him off. "You don't want her to fight. You, Percy. What does she want? She's your sister and you can protect her but that does not include treating her like some fairytale Rapunzel and keeping her wrapped in bubble wrap 'for her own good.' Do you understand?" She was pointing her finger at his chest threateningly, sparks flying and eyes practically glowing that fierce blue. It made him think of capture the flag. He felt all the anger dissipate, replaced by heartbreak.

"Yeah," he smiled fondly at his cousin. "You'll look out for her, though? When I can't. I mean… I really can't now…since Artemis has claim to her."

Thalia blinked at him for a moment, eyeing him like she expected his calm to be some sort of trick. He laughed lightly at her suspicion.

"I give you my word," she said carefully. "My first loyalty must be to My Lady, Artemis, but after her I will watch over your sister."

He could feel her oath set into effect and he felt both relieved and guilty.

"Thank you."

Artemis joined them in the clearing and offered a smile. He couldn't meet her eye. It hurt. She was the one responsible for his sister now, and as much as he trusted her, it meant he could no longer watch out for her as he had.

.

Estelle

"Oh, my baby! I was so worried about you!" her mom cried and crushed her into a hug. Estelle enjoyed the hug, even as her mom yelled for her dad and he joined in on the hugging and the tears and the crushing love. When her mother pulled her back to check her over for injuries the smile slowly fell from her face. Estelle knew what she saw, the almost silvery glow of Artemis' blessing. Estelle had seen it every time Thalia had visited and when she looked at any other huntress. Others had it too, like Grace, though in different forms.

"So you're…"

"Kind of," she told her mom. "The Huntress was away, so...I had to convince Thalia to accept me into the hunt. She reluctantly agreed, but when the Huntress returned she asked me to gain your blessing to join her Hunt."

"Estelle," her dad broke in, "I know I'm not...I'm not a part of this. I haven't interacted with any...of them on my own, only through the family. And I can't see like you and your mother do. I don't know how you do it and I am so very proud that you have made it this far. I would have gone insane. I have nightmares about the very few things that I have been exposed to. I want you to stay. I want to say 'absolutely not, you will go to your room where I can keep you safe!' But I also want you to be happy and to be healthy. And if this is what it takes to keep your nightmares at bay I will only ask you to visit us throughout our years on this earth."

He and Estelle had tears in their eyes as he finished saying his peace, but her mom was breaking down and sobbing and messing with every piece of clothing she could touch.

"Your father is right," she hiccuped. "But I love you and I'm not ready to let you go," she took a shuddering breath. "I know this is what you need to do. And I will give you-" -hiccup- "my blessing. But you have to be careful!" Sniffles. "You can still die as a huntress! You have to be careful!"

"I will, Mom," Estelle said with tears in her eyes. "I'll be here when I can and you'll see. I'll learn and be safe and keep others safe too. I promise."

The three hugged again and cried until their tears ran dry. Then, her mom made a fresh batch of blue cookies and her dad started a fire in the hearth. The burnt offerings smelled like fallen oak leaves and warm fur.