The action of opening my eyes was greeted with a sickening sight: campers scattered around the rim of the forest, the strawberry fields. Many were wounded, with others tending to them. The Apollo campers were working overtime, rushing from person to person. The wounded were everywhere and seemed to keep coming; they lay on cots under hastily erected canopies; the worst were taken into the Big House. Many were well enough to work and rushed around, feeding ambrosia and nectar, supplying water, rewrapping bandages, encouraging. Even a smile or thumbs up as they passed the lines of injured. I lay in one of these rows, one of Annabeth's brothers to my left and Beckendorf to the right. I was outside voluntarily, for when I first came back to consciousness, I was inside. But when I learned of the casualties and triage, I threw a fit, arguing there were more injured people than me. I had a severed hamstring; the sword had grazed the bone. Minor burns also patterned the right side of my body: apparently I had been laid near Juniper's tree but when it caught fire, the flames and heat seared my unconscious body. Will Solace was concerned with me walking again but I insisted that with ambrosia and nectar and rest I would be fine. It required enough medication to knock me out and three people because my screams of pain would disrupt those recuperating, but per my request they moved me outside. And it was not horrible, for there were more people for me to talk to when I was awake. But most hours were spent sleeping. Annabeth and Percy would bring me ambrosia and nectar, standing over me while I ate it all. And within a couple days I could walk with the assistance of a crutch.
Along with caring for the injured, repairs- mostly by the nymphs, satyrs and wood creatures-and preparations for the deceased were made. Not many hand died, but enough to make it too many.
One evening I was resting my leg near the deserted and dark fire pit. Percy finished wrapping Travis Stoll's arm then joined me. Poseidon had been protecting him or something because save a few scratches and bruises he was healthy. We were in shadows and with our backs to the rest of Camp, we felt alone. "You're shivering." He scooted closer and held out his arms awkwardly. "Uh, do you mind?" I shrugged and leaned into him for warmth. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. For a few minutes I could forget the pain and chaos enveloping Camp. Somewhere that used to be a happy and safe place. It would quite never be the same.
I woke to a clang but kept my eyes closed. I was still next to Percy, wrapped in his arms. There was something exhilarating about it. My mind was still groggy so I couldn't be sure if it was real or not when I felt him press his lips ever so gently to my forehead.
"We are going to get through this. All of us."
Grover, Annabeth, Percy and I were summoned to a meeting with Chiron. He sat in his wheelchair on the porch. I wondered how long it would take for his broken legs to heal, considering the older one was, the longer recovery time was-and Chiron was a few thousand years old. "The gods have requested a meeting. They want you-" he motioned to Percy and Annabeth "-to tell what happened in the Labyrinth and what you saw in Cronos' throne room. And Grover is going to explain Pan's final moments."
I was puzzled as to why I was here. "What about me?"
"You directed preparations at Camp and understand what was effective; what tactics and traps worked well for which monsters and for how many."
Percy clapped his hands and looked around. "Well ladies and gentlemen, put on your Sunday best because we have a date."
When we were to report for our visit to Olympus, Percy's mom was waiting for us at the base of Half Blood Hill. I had yet to meet Sally Jackson but when I saw her I knew I would like her. She had the kindest smile and honest eyes. Percy introduced the two of us and she took my hand in hers. "I have heard so much about you. And you are beautiful. Percy, you told me she was pretty, but-"
"Mom! Don't we need to leave?" Percy yelped and dove into the car. She winked at me and I knew we would get along wonderfully.
When I stepped into the throne room I was at a loss for words. The room was bigger than my school football field, with no ceiling, showing the starry night sky. There were a dozen thrones in a U shape. In the center of the room was a hearth, blazing with red coals. I was a mixture of emotions, this being my first time here. Percy and Annabeth acted nonchalant, like this was a daily habit for them. The gods were seated in their thrones, watching us as we walked into the throne room. There was so much energy gathered in the temple, I was afraid the room would explode. The only sounds were the crackling of the hearth and our footsteps echoing off the stone floor.
I glanced at Hera, sitting on an elaborate throne to Zeus' left. It was a shock as I realized this was the first time I had seen my mother face-to-face. She was beautiful in a regal way: high cheekbones, sharp jaw, thick black hair twisted above her head, eyes that changed color-just like Dad remembered. She nodded at me and I did not know what to do. Standing before the 12 Olympians, I felt small and insignificant. Percy stepped forward and bowed.
"Lord Zeus, Olympians," he began.
"Yes, yes get on with it," Dionysis droned from his slouched position.
Zeus waved a dismissive hand in his direction and when he spoke his voice echoed, even though he was not yelling. "Tell us what occured in the Labyrinth." Annabeth and Percy switched off on relaying their adventure, finishing with their return to Camp before the invasion.
"Mother, you understand what this means, don't you?" Annabeth asked Athena.
"Yes, Daughter. I understand what this means, and do not like it," the grey-eyed goddess answered.
Grover was next asked to describe the encounter with Pan and how he channeled the god's power in a shriek that won the battle. They were distressed to learn of Pan's passing, particularly Demeter, Hestia and Artemis.
I was startled when Poeisiden directed the attention at me with his prompting of, "And of Camp Half-Blood? How did the battle fare?" He was sitting in a woven swivel basket, with his trident in rungs attached to the seat. Like his son, he was handsome, but in a more laid back, scruffy Sunday sort of way. Then I immediately slapped my mental state of mind for thinking that. Percy looked at me, silent encouragement. I began with brief descriptions of the traps and snares, the Greek fire, how archers were positioned in the trees, all of which surrounded the tunnel entrance-or exit, depending on point of view. Then how the the majority of demigods were positioned with Camp to their backs, shields locked. Hephaestus kids were manning the catapults with the assistance of Tyson (Poseidon smiled at the mention of his son). I admitted we knew it was not enough but was all we could do, which Ares snorted at. I continued with the opposing army, the order of monsters and how many emerged. The Catapults were effective to an extent; the Greek fire was fantastic when several were in the vicinity, but archers were better for single monsters. I rattled off everything, from statistics that Annabeth helped me with, to positions that Clarisse and I had agreed on. I concluded with, "This was only a portion of the army Cronos has. We lost good demigods in the fight; everyone will have to come together for the real fight." When I finished, the hall was silent.
"My daughter speaks the truth," Hera broke the silence.
"Truth, truth!" Hermes exclaimed. "You broke your vow to never have children with anyone but Zeus! You of all the Olympians!"
"He does have a point," Apollo pointed out, and then dramatically held up his hands, "A poem!"
Artemis groaned. "Apollo, now is really not the time to-"
Apollo cut her off. "Hera lied to Zeus; she had a mortal child, Apollo didn't." He held out his arms, as if awaiting an outburst of applause for his haiku. Hera's cheeks were red now.
"My daughter will prove to be most resourceful. Just you all wait!"
"We are waiting," Dionysus yawned, twirling a grape vine between his fingers. Demeter shot him a look.
Hera opened her mouth as if to say more, but Zeus had had it. "Enough!" He bellowed, shaking the floor. "If we need to destroy this girl-"
"I would be more than happy to do that!" Ares volunteered.
"-then we will. But I would prefer to keep away from the arguments." I was becoming uncomfortable. I looked at Annabeth and received a look of sympathy and worry.
"Ares no. We will wait," Artemis said firmly. "I will have no harm done to this maiden." She wore a silver dress that shimmered when she moved, like it was made of light. Her hair was auburn and braided down the back.
The Olympians put their heads together and whispered among themselves. "Your deaths have been postponed," Zeus announced when they had sat back up. I let out a sigh of relief. "You are dismissed, if there is nothing else."
"Actually," Hera held up a perfectly manicured hand, "I would like to speak to my daughter." Zeus glared at me and I was convinced I was going to melt into a puddle of mush. But then he nodded. Following suit of my friends, I kneeled then retreated outside. Hera stepped out a moment later, the height of an average woman. I anxiously stepped behind her as she led the way down a winding path to a garden. Emotions spiralied in my mind. Do I say something? Should I bow? What do I call her? Is she disappointed in me?
When she turned and studied me, eyes starting at my feet and moving to my hair, I grew squeamish. Then she gave a small smile, like she was pleased with what she saw.
"Caitlin Hancock, you have proven your worth. Though I did not doubt you would." Her words echoed in my mind.
"Thank you. But I had quite a bit of help from my friends."
Hera smiled. "So modest. Just like your father. But you have done incredible things with no help. I therefore present you with this." She handed me a sword sheath. "It will disappear with your sword when not needed and when needed will reappear on your belt. Consider it a late birthday gift." I was awed and almost felt like crying, having just received my first present from my mother.
"Thank you. I will take great care of this." After slipping it onto my belt and watching it vanish, I hesitated before asking the question, "Why did you fall in love with Dad?"
She was thoughtful a moment. "I was on Earth on day and accidentally bumped straight into him. He was young, handsome, honest, and very kind. I watched him for a while before eventually going back down to get to know him better. The more I knew him, the more I found I loved this man.
"He told me he loved me and wanted a family dearly. Oh, Zeus was outraged, but when I told him it was no different than him leaving me, he wouldn't listen. Your father's life was threatened. I put a blessing on him as he slept to protect him; it still is today. When you were born I persuaded him to move to a small town where you would be safe. I stayed with you as long as possible, until you were old enough. Zeus searched all those months for you and I was only putting the family in danger. When he arrived in Colorado, I threw off his trail, but had to leave."
"Would you ever go back to see him?" She shook her head sadly.
"As much as I want to, it would be too painful for him. I would only have to leave again."
"Oh." I was at a loss for words. Hera took my hands, kissed my forehead.
"My beautiful daughter. I believe you will do great things. But be careful: the other gods-Zeus particularly- will search for a mistake to condemn you with." With a hand to my cheek, she then stepped past me, the curves in the path swallowing her from vision. Taking a couple minutes to collect myself, I then returned to my waiting friends.
"Come on, we had better get going back to Manhattan," Annabeth sighed. Reluctantly I drug my feet after with them to the elevator and to the mortal world below.
