The man who dragged me away from Luke's corpse sat across from me.

Luke's blue eyes staring glassily into nothing. I'm drowning in grief for all I have lost. The blue waves, turning red, still crest on the shore. I can see the iceberg yet the ship still sails forward.

I haven't said a word since he took me away. I had wept the whole way, he had to carry my limp body onto his horse, where he took me up to a large building of marble and stone, (A palace, bronze age, island style; whispered a small part of my mind that used to listen intently to Annabeth's info-dumping), and he gently laid me on a cushioned couch.

He'd wrapped his cloak around me when he'd carried me up to the palace, and I shivered as I pulled it even closer around me.

Shock: that would be my official diagnosis if I was back home, but I am not.

The man had dark brown hair, curly and tied back and the top of his crown. He was young, probably in his late twenties, and his Olive-Ochre skin held no wrinkles, only a few scattered sun-spots. His tunic was something I could only describe as ancient, bordering on a chiton but not- it's early in history yet. He wasn't very tall, but he was broad- strong in his chest and arms.

"My Lady," he began as if he truly believed me a lady while bloodied and in armour. "I am sorry for your grief."

"My grief?" I asked, looking up from my fingers that had the blood of so many under my nails (Ethan, Micheal, Annabeth, Thalia, Luke.)

"You knew that man, did you not? I have never seen a woman scream like such for a man she did not know."

"I suppose I did, and I suppose I'll grieve him." I answered numbly.

Suppose? You watched him descend into madness and then crawl back to the light. He died in your arms. You'll mourn him for as long as you breathe.

"Do you know where you are?" He asked kindly, looking like he genuinely wanted to help.

I've seen genuinely kind men less and less since the war began, despite how kind I tried to continue being, and his kindness surprised me. Perhaps it's because he is naive, but I'm suspicious that he has other motives.

"No," I answered. "Where am I? Far from home, that I know, but I cannot tell where he has sent me."

"You are in Ithaca. I am the king of this land, Odysseus son of Laertes. What is yours?"

My head snapped towards him.

Odysseus. The hero of the Trojan War. King of Ithaca. Holy shit.

One of the greatest heroes of all time is sitting right across from me. A man that I have idolised in my childhood is sitting across from me.

"My Lady? Your name?"

"Rhea," I managed to answer through my shock. "Rhea Jackson, daughter of Poseidon."

He blinked, unbalanced by my answer.

Right, can't be blabbing the fact that I'm a demigod around here, they will actually believe me if I say stuff like that.

"Jackson?" He queried after managing to regain his balance. "I have never heard of such a name before."

Huh, I told him who my dad was and he asked me about my last name? That's… actually quite nice of him.

"The land I come from gives their children three names," I tried to explain, but probably doing really badly. "A first, middle, and family name. One of my ancestors' was the son of a man named Jack, and his name was passed on through the years. My mother was a Jackson, and my children will be too."

He nodded, curiosity in his eyes. "You only gave two names, is it your first or middle name that you keep secret?"

I gave him a small smile, "Middle. It is said that without your full name, none can curse you. Even if it may not be true, I'll need any luck I can get."

An old superstition that I had giggled over with Annabeth once when we found the fact in a trivia book, but now that I'm here, I hope it might help to avoid a few curses.

He nodded, "The land you hail from sounds fascinating."

The light from my eyes dimmed. "It was."

Sympathy grew in his features, "Do you know what happened to bring you here? I saw the light of your arrival myself, the gods themselves sent you here, do you know why?"

The gods? Ha! Kronos is no god.

"My city was under siege," I spoke instead. "They had entered the throne room and we were overrun. I fought alongside my family, but the enemy was too strong. I managed to get his lieutenant to switch sides, but that only resulted in his death. Luke, foolish Luke, was a traitor. He taught me how to wield a sword then joined the enemy. They were about to win when I took a risk and handed Luke my knife, and he stabbed the enemy leader. He died, but so did Luke. And I have no way back home."

He leaned forward, "The gods have a reason for taking you away, they saved you."

"They saved me? My city still burns and my mother thinks me dead. I have no clue as to the reason I'm here, why here and why now?" I scoffed, "I should have been left where I was."

He gave me an assessing appraisal.

I have no patience for his 'The Gods are Merciful and Shall Give You Their Sign'- I've heard enough of that over the years. The gods have no hand in this anyways; the only things left is the corpse with blue eyes still open, a foolish promise, and my curse.

He nodded and stood up. "You are welcome here for as long as you need. I will have the servants set up a room for you and draw you a bath with fresh clothing, you will be comfortable here. I know my wife will enjoy the company."

I quickly stood too, "Thank you, King Odysseus, I'll endeavor not to be a burden. I only ask: Luke, may I give him the proper funeral rites?"

He gave me a smile, "Of course."

My shoulders slumped, tension leaving me.

How long have I battled? How long has the war gone on? When was the last time I wasn't afraid? The last time I slept peacefully? The last time I wasn't looking over my shoulder?

Perhaps it was when blue eyes turned gold. Or when I was told the prophecy. Or when I first killed a fellow demi-god. Or maybe it was that day, all those years ago, when my class took a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a bright yellow school bus. I might never know.

"If you would follow me, princess" he offered his arm out to escort me.

I gave him a surprised look. Princess? Me? Where on earth did he get that conclusion from, my parentage?

He gave me a knowing look and extended his elbow out to me again.

With a trembling hand, I took it.

"We fear the words, 'Atlas shrugged,' but why do we not commend Atlas on his freedom? After all, it is what he has given us for the price of his broken collarbones. It is only fair that we bear our own burdens for once."

I slipped out from under the water.

The large basin that was affixed to the floor of the room, and delicately decorated with mosaics, didn't let the water splash out.

At first, the cold water of the tub had shocked me. But then the servant women descended onto me with cloths and pumice to scrub the dried blood from my skin, and I forgot all about the temperature of water. Scrubbed raw, they helped me clamber out and then refilled the tub with water steaming hot. This is much nicer, the water has cooled to a soft warmth and my skin was pink. There were perfumes and oils lathered into my hair and it had dripped into the bath.

"Your hair is beautiful," a servant remarked as she brushed it. "Long and wavy, the only way you could be any more blessed is if it was tawny."

Some of the other servants tittered and giggled, eyeing me up and down.

"And so pale too! You have too much muscle, but you should lose that soon, our king feeds his guests well. In a moon or two you'll have curves for days!" Another young girl joined in.

I raised a brow, "I have plenty of curves, thank you very much. And my muscles are necessary for the battles I've won- do you think that I could have survived with just curves to stop the enemy?"

The girl flushed, looking down at her feet. "I meant no offence, Princess."

I sighed, sinking back down into the water. I was too harsh on her, she's barely a teen and has no idea of the life a demi-god leads.

The other girls had also paused, looking tentatively between their friend and I.

"If you are waiting for me to punish you, you'll be waiting forever." I remarked bluntly, "I do not care for people's opinion on my body. I've just left a war, watched my family and friends die, and now I might never see my people again. All I want right now is for this bath to be finished and for I to be allowed to rest."

"Well said," came a stranger's voice.

I shot back up, ready and waiting, my hand wrapping around the pendant in which Riptide lay hidden.

A woman, twice my age, stood at the doorway. She had the most beautiful bronze-gold skin, with small red suns tattooed on her cheeks, and her black hair spilled down her back in thick and heavy curls. She wore a light chiton, obviously not dressed up, yet at the same time the fabric was dyed in the subtle way that showed wealth.

The servant girls were hasty to bow down to her, showing respect, and I suppose this must be Penelope, Odysseus' wife.

"Queen Penelope," I greeted, and tried to give a joke. "I'm sorry for not being better dressed for our first meeting."

She smiled kindly and waved off the girls, who practically tripped to escape the room.

"It is I who has to apologise, Princess Rhea is it? When I heard from my husband what had happened and who we were hosting, I wanted to come greet you as soon as possible. I know I should leave you to your bath and rest, but you would not mind?" She picked up the brush that one of the girls was holding before.

"Oh, no, no! You don't have to!" I protested, realising what she meant to do.

"Nonsense, you are our guest." She gave me a motherly smile, and began to pass the comb through my hair.

I forced myself to relax and my heart to stop beating so quickly.

"My husband tells me you are from a far away land, one which is currently at war. I'm sorry for your loss, it must be difficult."

"It is, I miss my mother dearly." I said, fixing my sight on the way that the water slipped through my fingers.

She hummed sympathetically, "I understand. I too have lost my mother, it is a yearning that never leaves you."

I sighed. That's not very nice to know.

"How old are you my dear?" She asked casually.

"Sixteen today," I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Oh," she put her comb down to gaze down at me in pity. "I'm sorry that you had to lose so much at such a young age."

I turned away from her look, "There are others who have lost just as much at a much younger age."

"Yes," she takes the hint that I wasn't going to talk about it. "Let me help you out of that basin."

I shivered a bit as the cool air hit my body, and instinctively dried myself off.

"Oh!" Penelope stared at me, surprised.

I blushed, "Sorry, it's instinct."

"I was just surprised, I've never seen such a thing, but I suppose it is far more normal to the children of the gods." She waved me off, "I suppose that we can't use the oils on your skin since you're dried, we can do that tomorrow. Let's get you into a slip for the night."

Penelope led me to a connected room, obviously styled for their richer, more important, guests.

"You have no spare clothing, so I can have my older chitons and peplos sent to you until the seamstress and tailors come. Would you prefer to sleep with a slip or a light chiton?" She held up two pieces of fabric, one shorter yet smoother and obviously finely woven, and a longer yet lighter and near transparent fabric.

I gestured towards the light chiton, "It's a warm night."

"So it is," she helped me slip it over my head and clasp it.

"Would you like help with your hair?" She asked, already leading me towards a vanity.

I didn't have to answer as she was already braiding it.

"Are you happy here?" I asked her, curious. The myths never painted a pretty picture, especially not for any woman whose name I might recognise.

"I love my life with Odysseus!" She beamed, "I got married around your age, a bit older. I will admit, I miss the company of my sisters and cousins, but I love my husband. The only thing to make my life even more blessed is if I can give my husband a son soon."

I smiled at that, "I am certain you will."

She patted my head, tying off the braid. "You are a kind girl, you should try to hold onto that gentleness," she advised me.

"I'll try," I told her.

I once promised my mom that I'll always be her sweet daughter, am I still her even after all the death I've seen?

She stood, and walked to the door.

"Goodnight Rhea, I shall see you in the morning."

I gave her a shaky smile, "Goodnight Penelope."

She left me alone in the room.

The bed was stuffed with feathers, soft to the touch, and the starlight from the window above it illuminated the room.

I sighed deeply as I lay down, staring out of the window as the curtains blew in the warm night air.

What now? There's so many dead, so many gone, and now I'm gone too. Do they think I'm dead? Have they burnt my shroud?

Or do they not even know that I'm gone? Has the butterfly effect taken place? Will I ever even be born?

No. I can't think like that.

I brushed the tears that had begun to fall down my face and onto my pillow with the back of my hand. I have to stay strong, be smart, figure out a way home.

There's a few constellations missing from the sky.

I almost miss the familiar sight of Zoe hunting in the skies. I know that's selfish, to wish her constellation back, so I don't. I wish to meet her- though I know I'm a hundred years too late to do so- and to help her. Save her life.

Keep my promise.

"If we dream a thousand dreams, how many would you wish are true? I would wish for none, for I know that the truth is always a falsehood and that dreams are better to stay as sweet lies."

I slashed at the monster, but it didn't disintegrate.

The Minotaur roared louder, angry, and I fell backwards, Riptide skittering away from me and falling into the river below.

"Rhea!"

My eyes flew to Micheal, shooting arrow after arrow.

His eyes bore into me, serious, yet continuing to shoot at the enemy. "Why did you kill me?"

I screamed, horrified.

He was dripping wet. Fingers bloated and blue, the veins stark against his near transparent skin. His hair hung limp against his head. Ghostly white with blue lips and blood dribbling out of a cut on his forehead.

"Why did you kill me?" He repeated.

I was terrified. Weaponless, horrified, guilty.

Another body began to crawl out of the river and onto the bridge.

All the monsters had disappeared. The only monster here was wearing my armour.

Beckendorf pushed himself up, his skin varying between grossly bloated and decomposed from the sea and burnt and charred from the explosion I set off.

"Rhea," he rasped. "Why did you kill us?"

I shook my head frantically, "No! No! I didn't want to! I never meant to-! Please! Forgive me!"

I pleaded desperately at their walking corpses, but they were dead. They do not care for anything other than the truth that they died for.

I screamed again, high and chilling when I spotted the corpses of Silena and Ethan begin to rise.

A hand clamped on my shoulder and yanked me backwards, away from the dead, away from my dream.

I shot upright.

I'm in my room on Ithaca. It's two thousand years BCE and all those corpses haven't even been born so they can die yet.

"You shouldn't dwell on death, it won't help you." A too familiar voice spoke.

"Luke?" I gasped.

A man whose body lay on the other side of the palace, dead, stood in front of me. He wasn't like the corpses in my dream; he looked like that day when I was twelve and he stole a sleeping bag for me from the camp store. Kind.

"Heya, Ray." He gave a grin that made me want to slap him.

"That's it. I've gone insane."

"Woah! That's a bit hasty, don't you think?" He said.

"Hasty?" I gave a strangled laugh. "I think 'hasty' is you becoming a traitor, trying to kill me, switching sides at the last possible moment, and now haunting me!"

He put his hands up in a surrender, "Right. Okay. You're angry."

"I'm angry?!" I asked, incredulous. "I think I'm fucking beyond anger, Luke!"

He winced, "Sorry."

"Sorry? Oh no you don't! I have a bone to pick with you!" I hissed at him.

"Are you seriously going to yell at the dead? I'm trying to help you here," he raised an eyebrow at me.

You can't kill him, he's already dead. You can't kill him, he's already dead. You can't kill him, he's already dead.

I took a deep breath through my nose. "How are you appearing in my bedroom in the middle of the night, helping?"

"I pulled you out of that nightmare, didn't I? Where's my thank you?" He leaned back against the vanity.

I glared at him, I'm not saying 'thank you' to a murderer. "So you did. How are you here?"

He sighed, "Since I died here, instead of back home, I get to pass on into this Underworld. Which, since I haven't had a funeral yet and I have no money to pay Charon, means I get to haunt you until I do."

"Fuck you."

"You're so welcoming, I can really feel the love. Where's the girl who threw herself onto my corpse not even a day ago?" He drawled.

I gave him an unimpressed look, "You left me here alone."

"Sorry," he shrugged. "Are you giving me a funeral, or am I to haunt you forever?"

"Your shroud will be burned tonight, if you stop annoying me and actually help me out, I might even give you coins for your fare." I told him.

"Thank you," he met my eyes, and I could tell there was sincerity in them.

"Luke, what's going on? Why am I here?"

He ran a hand through his ghostly hair, "Kronos was pretty pissed that we killed him."

"No shit," I snorted.

He gave me a look, "So he took us back. Ancient Greece, about a year before the Trojan War. I bet that out there, right now, Paris is choosing between three goddesses. And we… we get to live in a world where we'll never see anyone we love ever again. Kronos' ultimate revenge."

"What do you mean 'never again'? It's the past, isn't it? Eventually time will catch up and we'll be there to greet them in the afterlife! That's if I don't find a way back first!" I insisted.

He gave me a look of pure pity. "He didn't just take us back in time, that's not how time works. Have you never heard of the Chaos Theory? Step on a butterfly and change the world. A bit dramatic, time isn't that malleable, but it's true. The moment we appeared we created a new timeline. A new world. Nobody's told you, but this is why Prophecies are so dangerous- they have the ability to create multiple new timelines with a single choice. There is no way back. There never was."

"No!" I threw a punch, but it went right through him. "You're lying!"

"Why would I lie about this?"

I backed away from him, horror overcoming me.

"He couldn't of- no, even he wouldn't be so cruel." I tried justifying.

"I'm sorry Rhea, there's no way back." He looked mournful, "I won't ever see my family again either."

"No." I was determined, "I'll get back to them. He cannot win."

"You may try."

I turned away from him, fury at his inaction rising in me. "What will you do?"

"Pass on, I suppose. Not like there's much else for me to do."

"And I will be alone?"

His eyes flickered to me, and he wet his lips. "I- My camp necklace."

"What?"

"I have it still. It's in my jeans' pocket. I don't want to take it with me, it's just… bad memories." I wanted to snort. Yeah, bad memories that you made yourself. "Will you keep it? Please?"

I nodded reluctantly. It's not like I have my own here.

The sun began to crawl over the horizon. If I focused, I could see the vague shape of Apollo's horses pulling his chariot.

"Rhea…" Luke spoke up, his form slightly faded.

"Yeah?"

"Did you ever love me?"

"You were my mentor, my friend, and then you were my enemy. How could there ever be any love in such a relationship?" I replied bitterly.

How could he ever expect love from me after all he's done?

He nodded sadly as if he expected this.

Dawn broke through the window and he was gone.

Hate and bitterness were the companions in their relationship. Fear and weariness that she'll end up like him. Hope and forgiveness that seems to shrivel up and die everytime they see each other again. Love was never there, but perhaps a passion for the fight.

"If I smile, can you sense the thousand and one emotions that I hide behind pearly teeth? Or does the comfort of a fake smile wash over you like waves on a beach?"

The servant girls returned to dress me for the day not much later.

Even in the future, I've never worn clothes so nice. The chiton they draped me in was beautifully fine, expensive and lightly woven to the point of being transparent, a pretty cream that was pinned with a delicate gold broach over my left shoulder. A peplos of a heavier blue material was draped across my body, pinned at both my shoulders and tied with a golden rope around my waist to accentuate my hips, just as fine as the chiton.

They sat me down in front of the vanity and braided then sewed my hair into an updo at the base of my skull. They pinned a head veil to a circlet made of seashells that decorated my hair, and it fell over my hair and shoulders, trailing down to my hips. One of them attempted to put makeup on me, but I refused anything beyond the crushed berry lipstick and kohl eyeliner. I'm far too aware of the fact that they used lead and poisons in historical beauty treatments to let that powder anywhere near my skin.

A different young woman came to greet me at the door. Her clothes and jewellery were nearly as expensive as mine, and she had her hair fully covered under a veil of thick yellow linen. She looked friendly and a bit shy from the way she fiddled with her bronze bracelet.

She curtsied to me when I approached, "Princess Rhea, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

I felt a bit uncomfortable with her deference to me.

I inclined my head back, "Likewise. What is your name?"

She blushed a bit, "Andrea, daughter of Andromadus. My father was one of Queen Penelope's father's generals, I was sent with her as a child to serve her as her lady."

"Ah." That made sense, politics are essential to any functioning kingdom- I've even been given a few scrolls on Atlantean Politics from my dad in case I ever needed to know who Atlantis' allies are.

"My Queen has sent me to lead you to breakfast, are you ready?"

Am I ready? I'm dressed, but I don't know if I'm supposed to do something else too. Damn it, I should have paid more attention in my Ancient Greek Culture lessons with Chiron.

"I believe so. Lead on, Lady Andrea." I nodded towards the door with a polite smile.

She gave me another curtsy and turned to lead me down the hallway.

I was surprised that three of the servant girls followed me, but I suppose they must be specifically assigned to serve me?

Gods, how am I supposed to pull off being a princess without revealing my total lie?

"Rhea! I am glad you made it."

Penelope rose from her seat to greet me with enthusiasm, and Odysseus gave me a small smile and nod from his seat.

I was surprised to see that the dining hall was full. Penelope and Odysseus ate at a table at the small platform overseeing the rest of the hall. Multiple young boys dotted the lower tables, and there was a separate table filled with young girls and women. I vaguely remember in one of the only books that I really loved in the future, The Song of Achilles, how Achilles and Patroclus were fostered and raised together- this must be a similar situation.

Penelope descended the platform and came to give me a kiss on each cheek. "You look well-rested, how have the accommodations treated you?"

"They are perfect, thank you." I replied sincerely.

She waved me off, "Come, come, as our guest of honor you will be sitting with my husband and I. You can share your story in more detail if you wish."

I nodded, feeling a bit awkward.

I followed her up to the main table, picking up my skirts and hoping I wouldn't stumble when I stepped up, I sat on her left, in between her and Odysseus. Dear gods, is it normal to sit in between a married couple?

One of my shadows- a servant whose name I am pretty sure is Deme- laid a plate of bread, cheese, and figs in front of me. My stomach gave a low growl and I delicately tried not to devour a slice of flatbread.

"I see my wife has taken a liking to you," Odysseus said with a wry grin.

"She has made me feel most welcome, I have taken a liking to her too." I gave him a warm smile back, hoping beyond hope that isn't some sort of Faux Pass or too awkward.

He chuckled, "Careful, Penelope has a tendency for fosters. You might end up being officially taken in soon."

"Odysseus! Leave the girl alone. Besides, I don't think there would be any problem with another foster," Penelope chided her husband before turning back to me. "You are more than welcome to stay as long as you need, Rhea. The gods have brought you to us, and perhaps it may even be for our hospitality- they knew you would be safe here."

I gave her a grateful look, "You are too kind, I hate to impose on your hospitality."

"Nonsense," Odysseus waved the thought off, but there was a slight furrow in his brow. "Unless you have plans? We can help you get to wherever you need, Princess."

Says the guy who managed to piss my dad off so much it took more than a decade to sail a 18 month maximum journey.

No. I shouldn't get angry with them. They're being kind, taking me in when nobody else would. This stupid bitterness should be directed at Kronos, not them.

"To be quite honest," I sighed. "I'd wish to see my father again. I have no idea what else to do, and I hope that he may have some answers for me about my situation- maybe even a way home or at least help in this new land. I mean, I've never been anywhere near the Aegean, and I fear that I may be disrespectful or dismissive to some of your beloved traditions. I have already seen so very many differences in culture, I fear that I do not know how to act in these new circumstances."

I was rambling. I knew I was rambling but I did not shut up! Dear Gods, Rhea! At least I was being honest, and now they know what to expect from me.

"It's quite alright," Penelope placed a motherly hand on my shoulder, cutting my embarrassed thoughts off. "I understand what it is like to be so far from your home and culture, and I know it must be a thousand times worse for you. Do you have any idea on how you may contact your father?"

I shook my head, blushing.

"Then you can stay here until you want to leave." Odysseus declared.

"Thank you," I felt like a broken record, constantly conveying my gratitude to them, but I have no idea what else to do.

He gave me a reassuring nod. "I know I should not spoil your good mood, but I have to ask of your companion, Luke."

My smile turned fixed as Penelope shot a glare at her husband.

"What about him?"

He was serious as he spoke, "We can hold a funeral for him tonight. His body has been prepared for the funeral, and I only mean to ask what you shall do with his armour and clothing."

I took a deep breath.

My own armour is half-ruined from the battle of Manhattan, and my clothes were destroyed beyond recognition. Fuck, even my camp necklace was missing, left in the hands of my mom in a promise that I've broken. Luke… I'll keep his armour. His greaves might fit me with some small adjustments and his clothes held the necklace that I told him I'll keep.

"If I may, I'd like to keep his belongings."

Penelope smiled softly, "Of course."

They didn't bring up Luke or my past again for the rest of the meal.

The day seemed to crawl by slowly.

Penelope introduced me to the ladies who served her, and two of her fosters that were my age.

Agnethe was from Libya; she was a stern woman, with a motherly and fussing tendency who took one look at me and said that I need to eat more. Cyanea is native to Ithaca; her family has worked for the royal family for many years and she didn't find my parentage something to fawn over me for, something that I was grateful for. Elene has been serving Penelope since childhood; she was cynical and her greeting wasn't very warm, but I could respect that.

Sofia was a foster from Athens, she was 15 years old and happily told me that she was to marry Leodros- another foster- in the coming spring. She was easily excitable and smiled often- she fluttered over me when I gave my name and she insisted that we become friends. She reminded me of Nico, back before I broke my promise to him, and I was drawn to her immediately.

Iola was from Thebes, and was the same age as me. She was a demure in the way that she'll let anyone say anything until they want to hurt someone close to her, and then she'll appear with blackmail she got from overhearing things because nobody thought she was listening. A true Hufflepuff and I could see her getting along with Cabin 10.

I spent the afternoon learning to weave with them in Penelope's solar.

I've never even touched a loom before and that was apparently something scandalous according to Agnethe who took to teaching me immediately. I wasn't doing too well, but I got reassured that I just need practice.

Sofia was chattering loudly about how two of her fellow foster boys kept sneaking off together when they're supposed to be helping tend the goats and Penelope had an amused motherly glint in her eye that said she knew exactly what they're getting up to.

"-and you, Rhea?"

That snapped me out of my concentrated thoughts.

"Hm?" I hummed, wondering what she asked.

"Do you have any men waiting for you?" Sofia gave me a knowing smirk, "You're so pretty, and a princess, there must be princes and kings lining up for you!"

I was a bit shocked at the direction this had gone. Sure, I knew that in the past girls married young, but it's different to know that objectively and to be asked if I have a husband.

"Oh! Oh no, I don't. I'm too young to marry where I'm from- I have to be 16, and most wait still until they're 18 at least. I never really gave much thought to such things."

"Did your parents not search for a marriage for you? No plans or alliances?" Elene frowned.

My hand rose to scratch a nervous itch at the back of my neck, "No. There was a war going on and that took the precedence."

Penelope nodded sympathetically, "We understand. Do you wish for a husband?"

Absolutely not. I'm a demigod, we live dangerous lives. Sure, I've thought about romance- kissing Rachel and Annabeth and Conner comes to mind- but I knew that that could wait until Olympus was saved.

"No," I gave her a small smile. "I've lost too much to risk doing so again."

They all gave me pitying looks.

Turning back to our weaving, the heavy weight of what I'd said pressed down on us, souring the mood.

I tried to keep smiling anyways.

"The pen is mightier than the sword, yet when all is said and done, we all say that Peace was impossible to maintain and War was the only way."

I stared out the window as Deme put a veil over my head, obscuring my face.

Around my neck, the weight of Luke's necklace burned against my collarbones. The servant girls had stared at it, likely wondering why I would wear the cheap painted wooden beads when there was a selection of gold and seashell necklaces I could choose from.

There's still so many constellations missing from the sky. I wonder if Kronos had never cursed me, would I end up as one of the heroes among the stars? Would Luke?

Does it even matter anymore?

"Princess," someone spoke up. "The king and queen await you."

I turned, feeling numb, and left the room.

Penelope and Odysseus met me in the hall.

"Are you ready, Princess Rhea?" The king asked, concern lacing his voice.

"No," I admitted. "But I have to say goodbye anyway."

Penelope nodded, putting a light hand on my arm in comfort, but not saying anything.

I was grateful for her presence- she may not know me, but she's shown me so much kindness in the little time since we've met.

"The pyre is ready on the beach," a man I didn't know told us when we reached the courtyard where the horses will take us down to where the sea meets the land.

I delicately climbed into the saddle.

He'll be burned where he died, how fitting.

I hate it.

Luke's corpse was laid on the pyre, covered by a single sheet to act as his shroud.

He seems so small, after all these years of his presence being so big- the councilor that accepted me, the traitor that tried to kill me, the enemy that wanted to destroy me, the hero who just wanted to make a difference- he's just a corpse now.

Maybe we'll all just be corpses someday.

There was a small gathering around the pyre. A few guards, young foster boys, a couple of soldiers looking curious, the small ring of ladies I met this afternoon. I was surprised to see Andrea standing there, giving me a sympathetic yet supporting smile.

I could barely hear the priest say the words that should bless his trip to the Underworld.

Odysseus met my eyes when he handed me the torch that would end the funeral in flames.

I hated the pity in his eyes.

The torch was heavy in my hands as I slowly walked towards the pyre standing tall in the sand.

I took a deep breath. I can do this.

I heard loud gasps mixed with a few horrified screams. I whirled around, expecting perhaps a monster or a god.

It was neither.

Luke's visage is pale. His hair, his clothes (in his camp shirt, surprisingly, faded to a point of barely being orange), his skin, his presence. The only thing that stood out, bright and in color, were his eyes.

Those too bright blue eyes, staring almost vacantly into me, with no light inside them.

"Luke," his name from my lips in a whisper.

"Rhea," he echoed.

In the corner of my eye I could see Odysseus' put his hand on his sword, his eyes wide in awe and horror as he took in the spirit's appearance.

"Promise me you won't let it happen again," he repeated his last request.

I frowned. I've already promised him, does he not remember?

"Promise me you won't end up like me." He pleaded, walking up to me, leaving no footprints in the sand. "Promise me that you won't become bitter and angry." He knelt down before me.

Oh.Oh. Tears gathered in my eyes as I realised what he was asking of me.

No more wars against the gods. No more anger and resentment. Peace and truth. Talk to them, convince them, show them that change is good.

A difficult task.

One I would gladly take on if it meant that no more demigods die.

"I promise," I whispered.

I fell down in the sand next to him.

I hate him, I'll always hate him, he's killed so many, but at this moment all I could feel was pity.

"I promise."

He nodded, and with a hand colder than the depths of the Atlantic, he grabbed the torch with me and lit his pyre.

"I'm sorry."

His last words were so fitting, begging for forgiveness for all he's done.

Just like the corpse and it's shroud beside me, Luke disappeared, blown into the wind like ashes.

I stared into the flames.

That war is over, those gods are gone, but a new war has just started and I am alone.

A/N

Okay! Just so people know and don't ask: Rhea is never going home because she is literally in a different universe/timeline, she won't be going back home. This story is about her in 1200bc, doing ancient things and getting caught up in the middle of the Trojan War. Rhea is also bi. Rhea is mixed, Sally is latina. This is Luke's last appearance, but he will be mentioned occasionally.

Historical aspects: Ancient Greece was way darker than you think, most of the population had dark skin and hair. Women also used veils to cover their hair, and sometimes face, like hijabs are used nowdays. Baths really were like that, I did research on them. Women married between ages 15 to 20, not anything younger guys that's just weird and made up and sexist (unless you talking about athens, cause athens was super sexist and girls married at 12-14). Yep, this is Ithaca and the actual Odysseus and Penelope, I've been reading a lot of the Iliad and Odyssey and I just think they're neat.