As always, these characters do not belong to me.

Chapter Nine

They kept moving through the forest until the morning sun coated the tops of the trees in a warm glow, the light snaking down the trunks and making patches on the ground. Percy discarded his used torch, leaving it standing by the stream. Annabeth, spotting an edible weed growing by the water, hastily grabbed a few leaves to chew, giving her something to take her mind off her headache while she unfurled her armour bundle. Taking a quick look back to Percy, she headed a bit further ahead for some cover, having a few minutes to herself to outfit her acquired armour.

The dark leather chest piece she chose was a tighter fit than she was used to, but it was light and flexible, seamlessly contouring to her movements. It wasn't flashy with intricate designs or trimmings of gold or metal, but practical, which Annabeth preferred. The shoulder pieces were slight but curved and secured comfortably on her biceps without chafing nor did they have that annoying section that would constantly dig into the skin. Having opted for a sleeveless undershirt, it was important her range of motion wasn't impeded by irritation.

The bracers she selected weren't from the same armoured outfit, being a little flashier. Still leather, the left bracer was thick and layered, giving more protection to her forearms which was handy for a knife wielder. These were decorated with stitched-in symbol-like designs, the outlined stitching inlayed with dark fur, a wolf's maybe, but she wasn't entirely sure. While the left was heavily designed for protection, the right, whilst still a protective layer, was made to allow her to wield her knife with light and swift movements. It was a simple one-piece leather with a smaller but similar design as its twin at its base, minus the fur.

With her armour fitted, Annabeth turned her attention to securing her new weapons. A curved silver dagger, beautifully balanced with strands of leather woven into the handle, nestled against the small of her back, its belt overlapping her other knife belt. She added two smaller knives to the sides of her boots, before sliding her trusted knife into its sheath at her hip, feeling its familiar weight. She walked back and forth, testing her strides and flexibility with her new attire. Grabbing her bag, she headed back to Percy, stopping midstride when she saw him in his armour.

He cut a striking figure, especially when he turned upon hearing her footsteps. The armour she had selected for him was made of a thick black material covered with small, overlapping metal pieces. It looked like scales; light but very durable. The shoulder plates were rectangular and protruded more than Annabeth's, but they suited the armour well. The right side was identical in design to the chest piece with the left solid metal, a bear's snarling face dented on its centre. The chest armour was long-sleeved, but the sleeves were hidden underneath his silver braces. Three arrowhead styled silver plates overlapped and stitched together on leather to cover his forearms and tied with laces underneath. Annabeth was slightly envious that it wasn't in her size.

Recovering before he could notice the effect his appearance had on her, Annabeth strode to him, feeling more confident with the weight of armour on her shoulders. They walked on through the forest, Percy assuring her he would call for Blackjack once they put a bit more distance between them and the Gorgon's territory. She would have to train with her new armour, get accustomed to it before their next fight, which, considering their luck, would be inevitable. It had been too long without proper training and she would hate to become sloppy, but training would mean that Percy had to participate.

Fortunately for the travellers, Percy didn't need to call out for his equine friend. Blackjack and Silver Mist, along with another three horses stood hesitantly under a shaded clump by a rock formation, their heads tossing restlessly. Blackjack whinnied when he saw his owner, moving towards him without preamble. After a joyous cry, Percy met his horse, murmuring to him quietly as he placed his forehead against the horse. Silver Mist moved tentatively to Annabeth, her trembling lessening as her neck was stroked reassuringly by her rider, who was just as relieved. The three other horses kept their distance, until Percy's calming voice and expert touch had them more than willing to accept two new owners.

Having saddle bags of their own, Annabeth and Percy sorted through the contents of their new mounts, discarding what they didn't need and evenly dividing them and their belongings amongst the three extra mounts. The forest floor being too unpredictable, they walked the horses to the forest edge, changing mounts often under Percy's insistence so the new horses got used to their new riders. Armoured, armed and with enough supplies to get them almost in range of the Cave without having to stop, they set off in better condition than before they were ambushed.

Maybe it was the relief of escaping the clutches of the Gorgon, or the light shining on her face, but Annabeth didn't feel the need to snap at Percy for his ridiculous shanty he had either made up or heard from a very drunk sailor once they could put their horses to work. They made up for lost time and then some over the next couple of days, thanks mainly to the extra mounts. Though it also meant Percy spent a lot more of their down time checking the horses over, leaving Annabeth to train alone.

Only removing her bracers and shoulder pieces to sleep, Annabeth let her body grow accustomed to the weight of her new armour. The brown and white speckled mare had a bow and quiver tied to her saddle, so Annabeth hunted, managing to take down a buck after several attempts and a few broken arrows. Between grabbing the firewood, hunting and preparing their meals, she trained. Afterwards and in-between training, she stretched, assessing the flexibility of her chest piece before turning her attentions to her agility and her defence and attack manoeuvres. She was practising her strikes against a hearty trunk when Percy found her.

"Why didn't you ask?" he called out to her, amusement coating his expression. He had his arms folded over his chest. He too, wore his armour even when they stopped for the night, though he removed it to sleep. Annabeth found herself making more excuses to keep an eye on him as they rode, slightly jealous of how he looked riding in his armour.

She paused, facing him. "You seemed busy," she replied.

"If you're afraid to fight me, I understand," he said, striding forward. He drew his sword, holding it casually at his side. "It's only natural."

Annabeth shook her head, moving to stand opposite him. "First you think I'm volunteering to be your protective guard and suddenly I'm afraid to fight you." She raised an eyebrow. "Your mouth is going to get you into a hole you won't be able to climb out of."

Percy's grin was mischievous, his eyes alight with excitement as he moved into a casual fighter's stance. "Only one way to find out."

They circled each other, Annabeth's eyes roving over his body to find any weakness she could exploit. The first few strikes from both parties were experimental, each testing the limits of the other, warming up muscles and waking the training embedded deep into their subconscious. The first mark went to Annabeth, followed closely by the second and third. Percy, his grin fading a little in way of concentration, stepped back, breathing slightly heavier.

"Bit rusty?" Annabeth queried innocently, adjusting the grip on her knife.

"I've enjoyed a more, hands on approach to fighting," he answered, the glint in his eyes returning. "And there's been the occasional wrestle…"

"I'm sure you were just as terrible at that as you are here," responded Annabeth.

"Could it be that Annabeth, fierce Elite warrior, just made a joke?" Percy pretended to look shocked.

Annabeth gave him a tight-lipped smile, and then a volley of attacks he struggled to deflect. His smile vanished as he concentrated fully, a frown creasing his brow. The longer their sparring match went on, the more he began to retain his skillset. Then it was Annabeth having to backpedal and adjust, taking riskier manoeuvres just to remain on her feet. As he began to take marks, Annabeth got another glimpse of the Elite fighter he had been those years ago.

Their weapons were a blur as they clashed again and again, their attacks and counterattacks blocked repeatedly. Each unable to get past the other, each unwilling to yield. Annabeth kicked Percy away to give herself a few seconds to breath. With her arms and legs fatiguing, she could produce probably one last attacking ploy before exhaustion would make her sloppy. She charged in close, deftly darting in and out, waiting for the moment … and there!

Percy lashed out, Annabeth easily blocking it, using the momentum to spin away. Once in position, she would be poised at his back and force him into a submissive position. She brought her knife around, ready for the victory but then he moved, quicker than she expected, following her as if he had predicted her course of attack. His sword sliced along with him, kissing Annabeth's neck at the same moment she placed the tip of her knife against his chest piece, right over his heart. They froze, locked in a stalemate.

"How are we going to decide this?" asked Percy after a few seconds, his chest heaving.

"You could yield," suggested Annabeth.

Another smirk. He moved closer to her, letting the tip of her knife dig in further into his armour. "So could you," he breathed, capturing her gaze.

He shouldn't be attractive. Not when sweat dripped from the tips of hair that wasn't plastered to his flushed face. Not when half of the words that left his mouth was rubbish and annoyed her so. But Annabeth was, in that moment, very attracted to him. Her eyes, when not mesmerised by his, gazed down to his lips, her breaths shortening. There was a bright tinge to his green irises that made Annabeth want to lean in closer, the sword at her throat be damned. She was beginning to wonder how soft his lips would feel, when somehow, she snapped herself out of it.

"Draw then?" she concluded, a little breathless.

Percy nodded in agreeance, letting the cold steel drop from Annabeth's neck. "And she's conceding a draw. Do I need to check that you aren't still concussed from that head blow?"

Not granting his sarcasm with an answer, Annabeth rolled her eyes and returned to the horses. Despite their exhausting sparring session, there was a lift in their spirits, their evening meal even tasting that little bit more flavoursome. They struck out early, their horses eagerly setting a quick pace. Slowing to a walk to eat around midday, Percy was a little ahead of her, glancing back often with a smile on his face. Annabeth, feeling a little flushed at the constant attention, was about to say something snappish when they were ambushed, again.

This time, however, when the loud cry came from around them, Annabeth was ready. Her knife was in her hand, her horse turned so she could face them head on. The closest man came at her with a shovel, swinging as wildly as his cries. Annabeth dodged the first swing, glaring first in confusion and then annoyance. When he swung again, Annabeth dropped the reins in her left hand, grabbing the handle of the shovel. The man was too shocked to keep his grip on the makeshift weapon, Annabeth easily yanking it free, twisting it around and knocking him out with the spade. Sheathing her knife and turning, she took out a second assailant with a hard swing who attempted to steal one of her spare horses.

Annabeth circled her horses like a protective mother, raising the shovel threateningly at the next couple who tried. Silver Mist reared when they tried to attack her head on, almost throwing Annabeth from her back but it was effective against the bandits. They fled, which sent her mood from annoyed to irate. She turned, seeing Percy taking on, and overpowering, more of them. He moved seamlessly with Blackjack, twisting, darting, kicking against their opponents. Seeing as hers left, Annabeth slipped from her saddle, spinning the shovel in her hands as she walked determinedly towards the fray. She knocked down two before the others had noticed her.

The rest of the bandits scrambled in earnest. Percy stared after them, but Annabeth was focused on one she had struck from behind, trying to drag himself away. She walked up to him, her head tilting to the side as she took in his attire, mostly the straw wide brimmed hat that had fallen from his head. The clothes were worn, but there was some care to them, not like a bandit's usual haphazard assortment. She flipped him onto his back with the end of the shovel, his eyes wide with fright, his hands shaking as he held them in front of his chest.

"Is that a shovel?" queried Percy, coming up beside her with the horses in tow.

"One of his friends lent it to me," answered Annabeth, nodding to the man. "It achieved the same results as my knife would."

"Less bloodshed though."

"Didn't think that was necessary."

She could feel his eyes one her after her statement and tried very hard to ignore it. She narrowed her eyes at the petrified man, slipping into her Elite interrogative mode.

"Are you going to start talking?" she demanded. "Or do I have to persuade you to?" She twirled the shovel for emphasis. "I'm more partial to violent persuasion. Gets to the point across quicker."

"P-P-Please …" he stammered out, half-raising unto one of his arms.

"You forget who attacked who here," she stated. "Seems rather stupid for a group of men to attack two armoured travellers with shovels and pitchforks."

"Annabeth," chided Percy.

She scowled towards him, before rolling her eyes at his own scowl, facing the man again. "All I want to know is why, and then, depending on your answer, I'll decide your how much your life is worth."

"No! Stop!" came a shrill voice.

Annabeth swivelled, half-raising the shovel but letting it drop when she saw a woman and who she assumed was her daughter come racing towards them. She stood protectively in front of the man, the girl a little more tentatively at her side. The man protested and found his feet, trying to push her aside but she wasn't budging.

"They didn't mean any harm," the woman stated. Annabeth raised a sceptical eyebrow. "We're just desperate!"

Slowly, from the nearby trees, a number of men, women and children made their way towards the road. Two dozen or so villagers huddled together several feet from Percy, Annabeth and the family, watching with a veiled sense of fear and despair about them. Percy took in the people impassively, unlike Annabeth who eyed the newcomers suspiciously, letting them see her as a threat they dare not try to attack again. All that met her was the same dirtied and frightened look, which softened her resolve, though she tried to not let it show.

"Explain," Percy said to the man. It was a demand, but one with little force.

"Bandits took over our town, to the east of here," the man said shakily. "It was one or two at first and then they just kept coming. They overpowered our town guards, started taking everything for themselves. We're farmers, not fighters."

"That's obvious," muttered Annabeth. Percy glared at her to be quiet.

"We became slaves in our own homes," the farmer continued, not hearing Annabeth. "We sent for help, but it never came. We fled a few days ago and then we saw you with all of your belongings and we just … as my wife said, we were desperate."

"Will you help us get to safety?" the wife asked hopefully. "We can pay you."

"Wearing armour and carrying weapons doesn't mean we're mercenaries," Annabeth told them, crossing her arms over her chest.

"But you have fighting capabilities," the farmer insisted. Annabeth snorted.

"We're not heading in the direction you're going," said Percy sympathetically before Annabeth could say anything else demeaning. "And we're late as it is for an engagement."

Annabeth stared at Percy as the little hope the family had vanished. It was in Percy's very make-up to aid those who needed it. He continued to watch them impassively, even as Annabeth's stoic outside began to crumble. It was hard to see a family struggle, but Percy was right; they were way behind in retrieving the Crystal and detouring to help townspeople find new lodgings would only delay them further. Judging by their attire, Annabeth didn't think the reward would have been worth it for any mercenaries to come to their aid and her stomach sunk a little for them. They had done the right thing and fled, but with their inexperience with travel, she knew if they were set upon, they would be killed or enslaved.

"But," continued Percy. He glanced to Annabeth quickly and she could see he had the same train of thought. "We have supplies. More than we need. We can give them to you, as long as you don't attack us again," he added dryly.

Annabeth said nothing, letting her stare say all she was thinking as the family gushed and thanked him for his generosity. He waved away their gratitude, heading towards the pack horses to divvy it up while the townsfolk hurried forward to get their spoils. She sighed, throwing the shovel to the ground. She knew it was the right thing to do but it annoyed her that it had to fall on them to do it. She grabbed Silver Mist and moved her and her belongings away before they were snatched. She watched, clenching her jaw and breathing in deeply through her nose as Percy handed over the reins for two of the spare horses, along with the packs of spare food, clothes and blankets they held.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the wife break away from huddled group, smiling softly as her laughing daughter was hoisted up onto the horse backwards by Percy. The other children ran over to have their turn, the expression on their parent's faces now more cautious hope than dejectedness. Annabeth gritted her teeth when she saw the wife make a beeline towards her, Silver Mist shaking her head restlessly sensing her owner's irritation. She ignored the approach of the wife, hoping it would deter her, instead glaring at Percy as he accepted the gratitude of the villagers with a soft smile.

"Thank you," said the wife gratefully, standing beside Annabeth.

"Don't," Annabeth told her. She returned her gaze before watching Percy help the farmers add their supplies to the packs on the horses, speaking quietly with them. She hoped he was giving them advice to survive the journey. "This was not my choice."

"You spared my husband, after he attacked you," the wife continued. "I assume that was your choice?"

"Somewhat," she murmured, thinking back to a previous conversation between her and Percy.

"Because of that my daughter still has a father, even if he can make horrible decisions," she added with a smile. Annabeth snorted. "Because of your compassion, we are together and despite having to leave our home, we have a chance to find somewhere new. It may not be entirely of your choosing, but we are here due to you. Even though you don't think you deserve it, I will thank you for your help."

The mother smiled at Annabeth, turning back to her daughter when she called out. With another warm smile, the woman turned to leave. Annabeth watched the mother, thinking over what she said, before glancing towards the villagers, who were beginning to leave. She took in their clothes, their dirtied faces and the small bit of hope Percy had given them with the few donated gifts.

She stared at the mother, already growling inwardly at herself for what she was about to do. "Wait," she said, heading towards Silver Mist. The mother watched her curiously, taking the pouch from Annabeth's outstretched hand hesitantly. "You'll need these too."

Luke would've called it weakness, would've scoffed and stated her priorities were wrong. But another would've said she should've done it sooner. The mother held the pouch delicately, eyes widening in disbelief when she opened the pouch to see its contents. She gazed up at Annabeth in wonder. "How did you come by these?"

"Stole them from a Gorgon," answered Annabeth. She suppressed a sigh before having to elaborate when the mother grew confused. "The coins aren't wanted so you will be safe to use them. Consider them a gift. Find your new home and live in peace."

Annabeth flinched and froze in shock when the mother hugged her. Tears were in the woman's eyes when she pulled away and smiled at Annabeth. The smile she gave in return was probably not as genuine as it should be, but Annabeth was still in shock from being hugged that it was all she could manage. The mother held the pouch protectively as she re-joined her family and the other townsfolk, the small congregation leaving soon after. Annabeth watched her until she passed Percy, giving him a gentle pat on his arm. But he wasn't looking at them, he was staring at Annabeth. She averted her eyes, embarrassed but a little pleased, realising he had seen her give the mother the extra coin.

Percy was still looking at her when she walked over to join him, Blackjack and their last remaining spare horse standing idly at his side.

"Before you scold me," said Annabeth, busying herself with adjusting her bracer. "I kept them as a last resort fund. In case we had to bribe a guard, mercenary … you know the drill. It wasn't the entire fund, so we still have some there..." She trailed off, realising she was rambling. She snuck a glance at Percy.

Percy was smiling at her, but this was a different smile to one she had seen. There was something else in that smile. Admiration? No, that wasn't it. He seemed … touched, that she had gone to so much trouble to ignore her instinct to kill her attackers, and then to give a stranger coin from her own pouch which he knew wouldn't have been her first choice to either. Affection. That's what his smile was! Oh … Annabeth tried to focus on Silver Mist as her face heated.

"I'd rather not get caught in another ridiculous skirmish like that again so I think we should –."

Annabeth had known that Percy had moved to her horse, having kept track of him from the corner of her eye. He walked towards her with some sort of purpose, but she felt too shy to see why. He was only a foot or so away and she expected him to stop, but he didn't, not until he was standing beside her. His hands went around her waist and his head bowed and then Annabeth was cut off mid-sentence by his lips.

He kissed her! He had kissed her and not because of a distraction or a tradition. Annabeth was so shocked that she just stood there, letting him hold and kiss her. It was longer than the kiss they shared at the Festival of Lights but not excessively so. Percy pulled away, his hands still around her waist as he stared into her eyes. She stared right back, her lips tingling. When she didn't move or say anything, Percy placed a light touch to her cheek, his eyes softening with a small smile touching his lips … and then Annabeth promptly punched him in the nose.