Percy set up shifts so they could work through the night. He took off his armor in favor of work clothes so he could help dig in the trenches. The twins, Connor and Travis were busy setting their traps along the southern wall. Aphila got the majority of the people set up in the palace. Saleas was practically having a conniption about it, but Percy didn't care. Things were going to get ugly. He wasn't a fool to think that they could keep Kronos out of Olympus indefinitely. In fact, he had Connor and Travis set up the majority of their traps inside the walls. They would choose the terms where they would engage with Kronos. Gladys had an army of young girls learning how to make arrows, stocking up for the fight. Young boys were seen walking around the city looking for anything that would make a good throwing rock and put it in their bucket. The main hall in the palace had been staged with pillows, blankets, and several ripped rags at the ready.

"My lord, you should get some rest." Percy looked up from his digging. Connor was giving him a undecernable look.

"I'm fine." Percy grumbled. The majority of the people had taken to respectfully calling Percy, 'My Lord,' which made him extremely uncomfortable. He realized that the people literally saw him as this legend, who was a son of a king, but Percy knew better. Part of him felt like he was an impostor, pretending to be something that he just wasn't. But no matter how much he insisted that he should not be addressed in such a manner, the more they insisted on calling him that.

"Percy, get some rest right now. That's an order." Annabeth's voice demanded.

Percy looked up at her. He wanted to argue with her, but he also knew she was right. He climbed out of the trench and stuck his shovel in the ground in front of her. "Yes, your highness."

She narrowed her eyes at him but said nothing about his tone. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked toward the palace. Once they were out of earshot, she said in a low voice, "Kronos' army will be here by mid morning. You need to get some rest."

Percy sighed. "I don't know how much rest I'll get."

Annabeth gave him a look of understanding and concern. "Try."

"My lord," Aphila rushed up to him and bowed. Percy gritted his teeth at the gesture. "Artemis has Zeus' room and Thalia has Hera's room. And of course, Princess Annabeth is in her mother's room. I thought that Poseidon wouldn't mind having you in his room. He is such a kind and understanding king."

"I'm not sleeping in the palace." Percy objected. "I'll sleep in the barracks with the men."

"Oh." She looked almost disappointed.

"Thank you for the thought, though." Percy rushed as an apology.

"Of course, my lord." she said as she bowed and left.

Percy sighed in frustration. "Artemis and Thalia must be upset with this."

"If they are, they haven't said anything."

"What do you think?" Percy looked at her to gage her reaction.

"I think that they believe in you." Percy looked away unsure of himself. "So do I." Annabeth said softly. Percy looked back at her with surprise. "You're doing a great job, legend or not. Don't doubt yourself." Percy wanted to say something, but his mouth had dried up. "Get some rest." she said as she placed a hand on his arm and then entered the palace.

His arm tingled where she had touched him. Something that did not go away as he made his way to his bunk. He tried making the line between him and Annabeth clear. She was a princess, and he was a soldier, no matter how the people addressed him. Percy tried to sleep, but it was filled with visions of the oncoming army, the people looking to him with desperate eyes, and Annabeth's warmth. He woke with a start when Otic said, "Sir, you are going to want to see this."

Percy got up and rubbed what little sleep he had out of his eyes. "What time is it?" He asked.

"Just past ten." Otic replied.

He got his armor on and fitted his sword. He took a deep breath as he left the barrack. Otic led him to the southern gate. They climbed the wall to see a large army making camp at least a mile from the city. "Have you made a count?" Percy asked dreading the answer.

"At least a hundred and twenty thousand. They had some wounded." Otic replied.

"Is everyone in?" Percy asked.

"Finished up this morning. Everyone's in. They don't have a clue what we have in store for them."

"Good. Let's leave it that way. Make sure no one has any desire to leave the city."

"Everyone's ready."

"Otic, I mean it. I know that Olympus has spies."

Otic gave Percy a slightly alarmed look before he recovered and said, "I'm on it."

"Good." Percy looked back out over the large army. It was enough to strike fear into any man, and Percy was no exception.

Artemis, Thalia, and Annabeth soon arrived at the wall. They didn't say much as they looked over the scene. "Incoming." Thalia said calmly.

Percy looked and sure enough, a single rider on a horse carrying a white flag was riding toward them. "They're coming to ask for our surrender." Annabeth deduced.

"They won't get it." Thalia pulled out an arrow.

"No." Percy said alarmed. Thalia gave him a challenging look.

"Jackson is right. We can not break the rules of engagement, not yet." Artemis looked at Thalia expectantly. Thalia put the arrow back in her clutch.

The rider rode right up to the trench, "I wish to speak with Percy Jackson." he yelled up to the wall.

Percy swallowed nervously as all eyes turned on him. "What do you want?" Percy called back.

"Kronos would like a face to face meeting with you. You and only you."

"So he can kill him? No thanks." Annabeth yelled back.

"Kronos gives his word that no harm shall come upon him. He only wishes to talk."

Percy had a pretty good idea what Kronos wanted to talk about, something that made his stomach turn in knots. But he also knew that if he didn't confront him, it would forever haunt him. "Get Blackjack." Percy said tersely.

"Percy." Annabeth looked ready to pull her rank.

"If he tries to pull anything, you can shoot him." Percy told Thalia.

"I know you think you need to do this, but you don't. Whatever he has to say, it doesn't matter." Annabeth nagged as she followed him down the stairs of the wall. Percy looked at her trying to discern her meaning. She only looked back with pleading eyes. She couldn't know, Percy decided. "It's not worth the risk." she tried again.

"You know the plan. If anything happens to me . . ."

"Percy." Annabeth pleaded.

Blackjack trotted up next to Percy. He got on and gave her one last look. Blackjack lurched forward, anxious to leave, breaking his eye contact. "Open the gate." Percy ordered.

The thick gates opened and the planks were placed down for Percy to cross the trench. The moment they were across, Blackjack reared up neighing loudly. "What was that for?" Percy asked the horse. Blackjack merely snorted in reply.

"My lord." the messenger replied respectfully.

Percy rolled his eyes. He definitely hadn't expected that from the enemy. They walked their horses slowly toward Kronos' camp. He saw two riders approaching them at the same slow pace. Percy's heart was beating erratically, as he struggled to keep himself from panicking. The gate closed behind him, making him feel utterly exposed and alone. The minutes dragged as they kept their slow pace. Soon they reached the middle of the battle ground, where Luke and Kronos met him. Blackjack snorted loudly at them.

"So we finally meet." Kronos said as he studied Percy. "I've heard so much about you, that I expected someone much larger or at least with more meat on their bones." Percy clenched his teeth. "I guess legends really are larger than life." Percy didn't respond. "I have come to make you an offer. This is your chance to look the hero. Surrender and we will spare the city."

"Is that what you told the city of Thebes and Corinth? If so, we'll take our chances." Percy spat.

Kronos did not look pleased at Percy's response. "Thebes was nothing but backstabbers and thieves. I did us all a favor. Corinth was just to make sure you know that we mean business."

"Corinth was empty, and most likely, you just wanted to set your rabid dogs loose. And there is always good in a city, even Thebes, not that you would care."

"Watch yourself boy. I have pandered enough to this delusion that you are somehow sent to deliver this people. The legend defending the kings and queens of Olympus is a joke. A joke. They all treat the people as if they are nothing but their servants and sometimes worse. They have no respect for the people, including your precious Queen Athena."

"You think you are much better? You've already shown what kind of leader you are, burning down cities."

Kronos' jaw flexed. "I know you are not the legend, Perseus Ugliano. We have the legend here." he motioned to Luke beside him.

Percy clenched his teeth at the foul name. "I have never claimed to be this legend that everyone keeps going on about. And I don't care what threats you throw at me. The end is always the same. I will defend this city and the people inside it to my dying breath."

"So be it. I look forward to running my sword through you." Kronos glared at Percy.

"Luke, is this really what you want?" Percy addressed Luke for the first time.

Luke looked surprised for a moment, then he looked at Kronos and then back to Percy. "Surrender, Percy."

Percy shook his head in disappointment. "This conversation is over." As Blackjack turned, he rose up on his rear legs and neighed angrily. As soon as his hooves came back down, he took off at a run back toward the city. "Show off." Percy muttered to the horse.

The gate opened and Blackjack didn't even use the planks to get across as he jumped the full width of the trench. Percy landed roughly, but managed to stay on. The moment he got off, Annabeth accosted him. "What did they say? What did they want?"

"They wanted our surrender." Percy said.

"What did you say?" Thalia asked. Everyone looked to him, hanging on his every word.

"I told him that I would defend this city to my dying breath."

Everyone seemed to relax after he said that. "Is that all that was spoken?" Annabeth asked in a low voice, almost as though she knew what the conversation was about.

"Kronos is pushing for his army to believe that Luke is the legend."

"What?" Annabeth's eyes widened.

"Why would he do that?" Thalia asked.

Percy and Annabeth looked at each other then back to Thalia. Percy knew he needed to tell her, but before he could say anything, Artemis shouted, "Take position!"

"Blackjack get out of here." Percy shouted at him. The horse took off at a run up the main street of Olympus. Everyone took cover under something or up against the wall. They waited for the first attack with bated breath.