Annabeth woke to a guard clearing his throat over and over again. The sky was turning into a light grey with pink hues. The guard had his back turned, but seemed to be desperately trying to get her attention. Then her head rose and fell, and with a start, she realized she was resting on Percy's chest. They had stayed up all night.

"Percy!" Annabeth exclaimed as she pushed herself off of him.

Percy groaned as he wrapped his arm tighter around her.

"Dawn approaches and your guard seeks your attention!" She said as she desperately untangled herself.

Percy squinted at the guard. "Frank?"

"I didn't see anything, your highness." The guard replied uncomfortably.

"Nothing happened." Annabeth said defensively.

"Well, we did kiss," Percy grinned.

"Percy!" Annabeth punched him.

"I don't want to know." Frank replied. He was doing everything possible to maintain deniability. Percy obviously didn't see him as a threat

"I have to go. Athena must be livid by now." Annabeth smoothed out her dress as best she could.

"Are you going to be alright?" Percy asked with a hint of worry.

"I can handle her." She tried reassured him and herself. Whether or not she could, she would find out.

Percy got up and led her out of the tower, with Frank behind her. It wasn't long before they were at a tapestry covering an opening. "Your room is just across the hall. Are you sure you'll be alright?" He looked at her with that same concern.

Annabeth steeled herself, trying to look as confident as she could. "Follow the plan." She kissed him one last time, before he could object, and slipped out of their hiding spot. She slipped wordlessly past the guards, ignoring their looks, and into her room. It was empty. She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't even bother to change her clothes and fell into bed. She let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes, when her door violently flew open.

"Get up!" Athena growled.

Annabeth quickly obeyed, moving to the other side of the room so she was out of her mother's reach.

"We're leaving." Athena pointed out the door.

Annabeth walked quickly by her and out the door. Did she mean to return Annabeth to Athens? The guards immediately flanked her. Athena led them in a brisk walk toward the entrance of the palace. Annabeth tried to hide the panic rising in her. Athena couldn't possibly afford to send Annabeth back to Athens. She believes that Annabeth is looking for the statue there? Unless she saw through Annabeth's ploy. Impossible. Perhaps Athena just didn't want to risk having Annabeth so close to Percy. A carriage was already pulled up and waiting. Athena ushered her in. Athena sat across from Annabeth, not taking her eyes off of her. It was as if she expected Annabeth to bolt. Annabeth stifled a yawn, which made Athen's eyes narrow, but she didn't say anything. Annabeth stared back at her, willing herself not to reveal anything. The ride was excruciating. Suddenly, the carriage came to a stop. The door opened and the scent of the sea washed over her. Athena exited the carriage with Annabeth behind her. They were at the docks. Large Tiremes towered over them. Athena led them to the only ship with an olive tree on its sail, the symbol of Athens. They climbed up the ramp and into the ship. Athena escorted her to the rear of the ship where their royal chambers awaited. Athena motioned for her to enter.

Annabeth had barely crossed the threshold when Athena said scathingly, "You'll never lay eyes on each other again."

The door slammed shut and Annabeth heard the lock of a key. "She is not to leave without my explicit permission." she heard Athena tell the guards.

So Annabeth was still going, but as a prisoner. Still, she regretted nothing. She had missed being able to just talk to him. How many times had she just talked about anything and everything with Percy, where she couldn't in literally every other part of her life. She took a deep breath and lay down. She wasn't sure how much sleep she actually got, but she knew it wasn't much. As displeased as Athena was with her, Annabeth began thinking of ways to get past her once they arrived across the sea, especially the pit.

She woke to a lot of voices and a lot of heavy objects moving. The crew had arrived and they were getting the ship loaded. It was such a ruckus that Annabeth decided to get up and look out the small porthole into her cabin. She scanned the area to spot a messy head of black hair. Her mood immediately improved. He was flanked by Poseidon and Amphitrite along with the guard she met earlier and the female guard she met in Olympus. Percy was frowning, which she couldn't help find cute. No doubt he was in a lot of trouble for his behavior. He was halfway up the ramp to his own ship when he looked toward her. Annabeth could have sworn that he was looking right at her, but it only lasted a moment before he turned back to watching his step. Annabeth sighed and returned to her bed, trying to get as much sleep as she could with all the noise.

Then she heard her mother. "I don't care if she is asleep, get the trunks in there, now!"

The door opened and two soldiers carried a large trunk in. Annabeth realized with a start that she recognized them. They had been in Percy's first troop. They fought by their side in the labyrinth. They gave her sympathetic looks as Athena ordered them in a loud voice, "Put it over there. No, over there."

Annabeth closed her eyes, trying to ignore her mother.

"Get the rest in here!" Athena snapped. Annabeth felt sorry for the soldiers. They shouldn't be punished because of her actions, well, Percy's and her actions. Athena continued to bark at them, until the trunks had been situated to her satisfaction. She then dismissed them in an irritated tone. The two soldiers scrambled to get out of there.

Athena then addressed the two soldiers standing guard. "You might want to check on her on occasion. She is not to be trusted."

Annabeth rolled her eyes at Athena's antics. Where exactly was Annabeth going to go? Percy was even on a different boat, so she wasn't going to be able to meet up with him again until they landed. Besides, she was exhausted. Miraculously, the crew quieted down as the boat began to move. There was a steady drum beat that lulled Annabeth off to sleep, with thoughts of Percy swirling through her mind.