Homecoming
Chapter XV: All Roads
Touring New Rome was in a word, mesmerizing.
The pair of heroes had made their way to guarded city early Tuesday morning, greeted by Frank and Hazel at the foot of the Legacy Bridge that crossed over the Little Tiber. It took only moments for the four heroes to embrace, a tight bundle of arms squeezing close to this collection of friends who had become family in their journey to save the world.
As Hazel had clung to her friends the longest, she pulled away with hesitant reservation, searching the pair as if they were a puzzle missing pieces while she tried to sort out the picture she should be seeing. Frank, in his own understanding, placed a heavy hand on his girlfriend's shoulder and smiled at the pair. For her part, Hazel turned her eyes to her fellow praetor and offered a self-conscious smile in response.
"It's so good to see you two again," Hazel replied, her easy smile fitting perfecting to her face as she again moved to embrace her friends. "We got so much to show you but, duty calls..."
"We have a Senate meeting to attend to, but we have plans to take you two to dinner tonight. You're staying the next three days, right," Frank asked hopefully, his own excitement of spending time with Percy and Annabeth evident in his tone,
"Yeah," Percy replied, his hand finding its way to Annabeth's and squeezing as was accustom among their young couple.
"Good," Frank smiled as he nodded his head in the direction of the city. "We're going to put you up in one of the praetor's houses, doesn't really matter. We can have a sleepover, talk about how everything's been going."
"Sounds great Frank," Annabeth smiled as she leaned into Percy's arm, the young man releasing her hand and draping his arm over her shoulder to hold her close. The shift was barely noticeable, yet they seemed intent on ensuring they were as close as they could be. They were entering a city of Romans, and the last time they had stepped foot in this city, Leo had blown up large portions of the palisade.
Choosing not to comment on the action, Frank and Hazel offered only a brief glance towards each other before addressing their friends. "Anyway, we got you a tour guide to show you around, mostly the university. She'll also answer any questions you might have."
Before either Percy or Annabeth could ask who would be their guide, Gwen, former centurion of the Fifth Cohort rushed over the bridge to join the four heroes, pausing to place her hands on her knees as she bent at the waist in an effort to catch her breath.
"S-sorry I'm late," she gasped, still working to catch her breath as she finally stood up and offered the motherly smile she was so known for. "I tell you, after leaving the cohort, I'm out of shape." She offered only a brief joke before stepping forward and wrapping Percy in a hug before moving to Annabeth. "Anyway, Frank and Hazel...er, sorry, I mean Praetor Frank and Praetor Hazel have asked that I show you around the college and campus while they attend to some senate business."
Frank shook his head as he waved off the formal address Gwen offered. "The meeting should only take a few hours. Just need to iron out some details, but we got a surprise we want to share with you two. After we get that settled, we'll come find you and take over giving you a tour."
"Sounds great," Percy said, a genuine smile forming on his lips. He could not help but admire how much Frank had grown into his role of leadership. He was a far cry from the awkward teenager who so often doubted himself that he seemed an entirely different person. And yet, that gentle nature was ever present within the young man's countenance.
"Don't worry," Gwen smiled as she addressed the praetors, "I won't lose them."
"We know you won't," Hazel said as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. Finally she stepped forward again and gave both Percy and Annabeth another hug. "I'm so glad you two are here. But, we really should be getting to the Senate meeting, we'll talk later, okay?"
"Of course," Annabeth responded, smiling to the smaller girl who had threaded her fingers with Frank as the two stood for a moment longer, watching Percy and Annabeth as if trying to work out what changes they could observe from the pair of heroes. With a last wave, Frank gently guided Hazel from the meeting as they made their way over the bridge and, with a final wave, made their way into the city.
Despite the genuine joy of being reunited, there was an uneasiness in both Frank and Hazel that had never previously been there in their interactions with the pair of demigods. As they departed, Percy and Annabeth turned towards each other, a silent conversation confirming what they had feared. Everyone it seemed, who had known the pair of demigod heroes before their fall into Tartarus were treating them as if they were fragile, tainted...broken. The expressions they were met with ranged from deep concern to barely restrained sympathy, and Annabeth and Percy were never quite sure which extreme was worse.
Sensing the awkwardness yet not fully understanding the source, Gwen broke the silence. "Well, we should be going, there's like, a ton of things to see and I want to show you as much as I can before Frank and Hazel take over the tour. With a genuine smile of eager excitement to show off the city to the legendary heroes, Gwen marshaled the pair over the bridge and along the walking trail leading to the border.
Still, as they made their approach to the city, Annabeth and Percy were ever aware of how many eyes were fixed upon them. Word had already spread that they would be attending New Rome University in the fall, but there seemed to be an aura of reverence that seemed to follow them, a reaction that made the couple increasingly uneasy. Gwen flashed a smile over her shoulder as she waved off the disconcerted expressions of the pair.
"You shouldn't worry about everyone, they're just in awe of the two of you, that's all."
"That's all?" Percy replied, arching an eyebrow at his former centurion. "Gwen, how would you feel if everyone stared at you like you were some immortal god?"
Pausing in her pace to ponder the question, the young woman turned to the pair as if contemplating her response. "I'd feel uneasy, like I was being studied under a microscope. But let me ask you this, how would you feel if you met Hercules, Andromeda, Ulysses?"
After a pause Annabeth responded, "I get what you're saying, but we're not any of those people...we're just us."
"To you maybe," Gwen remarked, a small, sad smile tugging at her lips as she folded her arms across her chest. "But how many of us have ever saved the world? To fight and defeat Kronos, to beat Gaea, to fall in Tartarus and make their way out? I can tell you two don't like the attention and hero worship, but honestly, you two are this generations equivalent of those heroes we've all read about. Frank and Hazel deal with the same reverence, but I don't think its as bad for them, because they live here, people see them everyday. It'll get easier once you move here, I promise," she finished by flashing another brilliant smile and turning to continue the tour.
"I would have met Hercules if I didn't have to stay on the stupid ship," Percy mumbled, only for Annabeth to take his hand and give a support squeeze before the pair followed the older demigod. As they continued up the trail and into the city, the pair stopped in confusion at what they were seeing.
"Is that a McDonald's?"
Startled out of her own thoughts, Gwen turned towards what had drawn the attention of her two charges. While not on the main thoroughfare the golden arches were clearly visible through the alley between the following streets. "Yeah, apparently Hazel had tried chicken nuggets and felt it was a treasure every demigod should experience, so she brokered a deal to get a McDonald's in New Rome."
"But, how do you get deliveries?" Annabeth asked startled as she contemplated the infrastructure needed to have a fast food restaurant in the heart of a demigod city.
"We have suppliers all over. Not all Roman demigods choose to stay in the city, most go out in the world and of course, do what they can to support the Legion. We actually have 14 restaurants, not including the cafes and coffee shops. Then there are the parks, the grocery stores, we even have satellite television and radio. We're a fully functional city you know." She smiled, proud of her city and heritage as she glanced at the two heroes, yet her smile slid from her lips as she saw the dejected look upon Annabeth's face.
Percy noticed it too, his arm snaking around her shoulders and pulling her close to him and kissing her temple. "Hey, you okay Wise Girl?" Casting her eyes to the ground, she offered the barest of nods as she leaned into her fiance's embrace. Noting the physical cue of his partner, he offered a small glance towards their guide. "Can you give us a moment Gwen?"
"Yeah, sure," she replied awkwardly as she pointed towards a local cafe, "I'll just be over there."
Turning her gently so that he was fully embracing her, Percy merely held his beloved a moment, letting her absorb the overwhelming nature of New Rome. "What's the matter Annabeth?"
"It's stupid Percy, don't worry..."
"Telling me not to worry just makes me want to worry," he joked, pulling away slightly to look at her while cupping her chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifting her face until her eyes met his. "What's wrong?"
"It's just...look at this place Percy. An actual, functional city with a working government, entertainment and economy. And what did we have? A climbing wall and the knowledge that when you turn 18 you're thrown out into the world with the vague hope you can make something of yourself before some monster comes along and ends that dream. I mean look at this place Percy," Annabeth said, waving her arm at the surrounding scenery. "It's a literal demigod utopia. Why didn't we ever get a safe haven like this? It just feels...it feels like one more way the gods just disregard us, and I hate it."
Percy tightened his arms around Annabeth, kissing the curls of her hair before resting his forehead against hers, their eyes holding in a commitment to one another. "I know," he replied simply, a slight smile tugging at his lips. He did not add any further words, he didn't need to. They both knew and understood how hard the life of a demigod was, and there was a certain level of envy, and even a touch of bitterness to be addressed when seeing how Roman demigods lived as opposed to their Greek counterparts.
Annabeth closed her eyes and tightened her hold on Percy. She knew she was being reactionary to the idea of living in a place that seemed impossible only a year ago, but now, the reality was overwhelming, and she was taking her time to compartmentalize her feelings. For Percy, he simply stood there and held her, waiting for her to come to terms with sorting out vastly different this world was to Camp Half-Blood. He let her process it all, the way she needed, and she loved him so much for that support. When at last she had worked her way through the myriad of emotions, she leaned back just enough to give Percy a soft kiss on the lips.
"Come on," she said softly, taking his hand and leading him back to where Gwen waited, "we've got a whole city to explore."
As they made their way to education district, Gwen pointed out several attractions such as the movie theater, Caesar Park, the nearest of the four grocery stores in the city as well as the shopping district, and the Olympian Theater, where live performances were enacted every other day. In total, New Rome was largely one-fourth the size of San Francisco, and consisted of so much to cater to the needs of demigods, that it was staggering to measure the advantages between the two camps.
As they reached the university, Gwen began explaining the schedules, classes, and the professors, her excitement growing in rapidly increasing volume. "So yeah, the university has 46 classrooms in three buildings. Not a lot compared to other universities, but, we do have a partner program with UC Berkeley, so any overflow or classes that would not be managed here, you'd attend at the Berkeley campus.
"Now, don't get me wrong, regardless you can complete all of your general studies courses here, you'll just need to take the classes for your major and minor there, that is, if we don't cover it. But, let me walk you through the campus and show you around, you guys are going to love it," she gushed as she continued her tour without hesitation.
As they walked through the common areas, Annabeth and Percy could not help but notice how much attention their presence was attracting. Like Gwen had said, these two were living legends among the demigod community, and that reverence and respect was something so foreign to the pair, they were not certain how to accommodate it.
The university itself was comprised of three relatively small, yet ornately designed buildings set in an open-square format, each facing the common area that was lined with gardens, benches and a large central fountain. The building to the right was designated for English, history and theater classes. There was also a small department dedicated to arts and humanities. The building to the left was assigned for science and math, while the last building directly in facing the entry to the campus was designated for the two dozen bachelor's programs and the handful of master's degrees they offered.
"Now, because the city isn't really so big as to require it, we don't have dorms here, but there is off-campus housing. From what I'm told, you two will have a house to yourself until, you know, they build you that house over there on Victory Hills. HEY...do you want to see it?" The change in purpose for the conversation left Annabeth and Percy dealing with conversational whiplash as Gwen hurried off and attempted to lead the pair to the designated placement of where would be their manor. As they were making their way towards the road that led to the outskirts of the placement where Victory Hills resided, Percy and Annabeth halted their journey as they stared in disbelief at the road that they found themselves on.
The cobblestone path was adorned with two beautifully crafted fountains designed with various scenes of battle and heroics from modern events. Yet, it was the collection of statues lining the walkway that caused the pair of demigod lovers to shake their head in disbelief at the display.
"What the hell is this?" Percy asked simply, his eyes falling on the carved statue that was a likeness of himself, though significantly more heroic that Percy ever found himself feeling. Likewise, the street was adorned with statues representing each of the heroes of the seven, each with exceedingly exaggerated stances and positions.
Percy raised a bemused eyebrow to Annabeth, who offered an embarrassed smile in response.
"Oh, forgot about those, but this is Boulevard of the Heroes, which leads up to the Victory Hills. See," Gwen replied, her hand waving over several carved statues, not only of the seven heroes of the Great Prophesy, but of other champions of the past. Even Reyna and Nico had statuary of carved likeness positioned among the collection, but what had caused a deeper embarrassment among the two heroes were that titles had been carved into the golden nameplates on the base of each statue. Annabeth, for obvious reasons, was dubbed 'The Peacemaker,' for her retrieval of the Athena Parthenos that mended the rift between the Greeks and Romans.
Percy however could only furrow his brow as he stared at his own nameplate. The moniker 'Lord of Eagles' was engraved on the plating, causing the black haired demigod to roll his eyes at the absurdity of it. Not only was the name a complete misrepresentation of who he was, but his statue had him holding the Eagle Standard in his left hand, and Riptide in his right, as though he single-handedly saved New Rome with the weapons he was shown to wield. Beyond that, he was shown wearing a Roman toga, as though his legacy within this city would be forged in the memories of his always being a Roman hero.
"Why?" Percy asked as he shook his head, his face turning towards Gwen who seemed to offer an embarrassed smile in response.
"Hey, don't look at me, I'm not the one who designed it."
Before Percy could respond however, Annabeth replied, "My chest isn't that big," she said, scrutinizing her own statue before turning towards Percy. "I think we need to have Frank and Hazel order new statues made of us...or, you know, just take them down."
"That works for me," Percy said, only for Gwen to look troubled over the sentiment.
"What are you saying?" she asked, stepping forward to confront the pair of legendary heroes. "This is a tribute to everything you've done for us. I mean, the two of you, Percy, you retrieved the Eagle Standard and returned the Twelfth Legion's honor. I know you were with Praetor Frank and Hazel, but they told us of what you did, facing the dead legion to retrieve the standard. And no one else could have fought Polybotes and won.
"And Annabeth, you went on a solo quest to retrieve your mother's statue, to right a wrong centuries old. You brought peace between us and mended the warring personas of the gods. And together you two defeated Kronos and Gaea, and who know what else. Don't you think that's worth a little fanfare?"
"Why...Gwen, why is this so important to you?" Percy asked, his eyes turning towards his statue, still unable to fathom its design.
For the briefest of moments, Gwen's shoulders slumped and her normally cheerful mask slid from her face, showing the deep hurt that existed within. "No one told you about Dakota, did they?"
"What?" Percy asked, his eyes widening as he swayed slightly at understanding the fate that befell the gruff and exceedingly hyperactive young man who had taken him in and supported him when he was lost and scared and had no where to go. Hazel had spoken for Percy, but it was Dakota who accepted him as part of his cohort. "No..." he said, as though that single word could undo the reality of what he was faced with. For Percy, this was one more ghost to join the parade.
Annabeth immediately steadied him, allowing him to lean against her for support, as they had always done for each other.
"He died in battle defending New Rome. We're demigods, you know as well as I do, our lives are always at risk. That's why...we need to know what true heroism is. Whether you like it or not, you inspire us. Our world is always going to be in danger, but that's why we need heroes, to know people are there to protect us, to push us to be better, to encourage us to want to save ourselves. That's why we need to honor you."
Percy and Annabeth stood in muted silence for several minutes, staring at the statues, making mental changes they would ask to be done to their statues. "Okay Gwen," Percy said, a smile tugging at his face as he nodded simply in understanding. "But we're going to have a few changes to these statues...and that nickname has to go."
"I kind of like it," Annabeth teased as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "it's very macho."
"Right, the son of the sea god, given the nickname 'Lord of Eagles,' surprised Zeus...or Jupiter, whatever, hasn't already blasted me to atoms."
"Anyway, come on, I want to see our plot," Annabeth tugged on Percy's arm as he moved to follow. The pair only made it a few paces however before coming to stand in front of the statue of Jason. Bold and heroic, selfless and steadfast, the statue dedicated to the son of Jupiter was everything the embodied the lost hero. And as Percy and Annabeth stood, his arm around her shoulders, her arm about his waist, they remembered all the adventures they shared with their friend. It was a moment that sobered any previous levity between the pair as they rested their heads against each other.
It was at that moment they understood Gwen's admission to the need to immortalize the heroes of their world in the statuary that decorated this road. Jason was the greatest of them. He deserved to be honored and remembered. And if they were to honor Jason is such a way, what right did Percy or Annabeth have to reject their own measure of respect bestowed upon them by the demigods of New Rome.
They may not like, nor would they ever become accustomed to the accolades, but they would accept it for those around them, who wanted to honor their sacrifices and accomplishments.
For several minutes, they simply stood, staring at the statue of Jason and wishing desperately that he was still among him, to stand here and laugh at the ridiculously exaggerated proportions carved into the statue. But he wasn't here. He was dead, and this statue was the lasting tribute designed to honor the fallen hero. This statue, forged of marble, would last for centuries, his legacy would last even longer while his body had been burned to ash and scattered to the winds. Looking to his own statue, Percy wondered how much of their own story would be faithfully remembered.
Slowly, Percy and Annabeth began to turn away from the statue as one. The continued to follow the path up to the Victory Hills. Gwen had guided them to the location that was designated to be Annabeth's house, but would belong to her and Percy when it was built. With that, their guide had chosen to leave the pair and headed back to the city to tell Frank and Hazel where they waited for them.
As they stood outside the roped off area marking the border of the estate's property line, Annabeth began reciting key features of the house she had designed for them. The open kitchen with a bay window that would overlook the valley. The upper floor where their master bedroom would be. The large deck that would open up to the wooded fields behind their house. Annabeth imagined it all, and shared that vision with her beloved fiance.
"It'll be a beautiful home," a voice interrupted their musings as the pair turned to face a seemingly young girl who, a moment ago, was not there. "I look forward to seeing it when it's completed."
"Lady Hestia?" Percy asked, his eyes drawn to the goddess who offered a slight smile and gentle tilt of her head in recognition.
"Indeed brave one, though, here I am known as Vesta...not that it truly matters, very little influence changed from Greek to Roman. I am effectively the same goddess regardless of what name I'm given."
"You honor us Lady Hestia," Annabeth replied, bowing in reverence to the goddess of the hearth and home.
"Nonsense child," she smiled softly as she fixed her eyes upon the empty lot, as if viewing the house that was yet to be built. "You have both honored me beyond any other demigods. It is only fitting that I visit your home and bless it."
"But...you've given your blessing already milady, you've blessed our rings."
"I have done far more than that near nephew, and still, I have not honored even a portion of the kindness you have given me. You do not understand how significant the offering of Elpis was to me. Giving hope to the hearth solidified the unity of family and strengthened my resolve more than you can know.
"Because of that, I will be forever indebted to you my brave hero."
The choice of titles granted to Percy was puzzling to the young man who turned towards Annabeth, who seemed equally concerned by the label applied.
Sensing the obvious confusion of the two heroes, Hestia smiled as she turned to address them. "I suppose it is only right that I disclose what I have done for you both. It has caused quite an uproar in Olympus, but I in no way regret what I have done."
Understanding that whatever it was the goddess of the hearth had done, Percy and Annabeth were at the heart of it, they stood in silent reverence and waited for the goddess to explain.
"Truthfully, it was Juno who had given me the idea, a way to reward you both. Percy, my dear nephew, willing the spirit of hope to me was an offering beyond any I had ever received. And you, sweet Annabeth, when designing the home you intended to share with your beloved, you started with my hearth, and built your home around it. I am humbled by your gifts to me.
"So, when Hermes came to me with the request to bless your rings, I was deeply moved by such a sentiment, that I had taken the initiative to name myself your patron."
"Like Juno did for Jason?"
"Indeed," Hestia replied with a smile that was of genuine warmth and comfort. "You do not know the significance of being given patronage by a god or goddess do you?"
Annabeth chewed her bottom lip, as though unwilling to offer her understanding on the subject while Percy merely shook his head. He had known Juno was his patron, but did not understand how that impacted his life.
"When a god or goddess name themselves the patron of a demigod," Hestia began, a playful smile parting her lips, "it means that they effectively belong to them. That demigod is only permitted to be part of a prophesy made by their patron. No Olympian can make demands upon them unless given permission by their patron. As for the Prophesy of Seven, that came to be because of Juno's influence, forcing Jason to be part of that quest. And yes, while Jason joined Apollo on his mission, he did so on his own accord. Apollo could not force him to be part of that mission, because Juno was his patron.
"Effectively, what this means, is that no god or goddess, nor even the fates can decree a prophesy that you must undertake. And as I have never, in my immortal existence, summoned a prophesy or quest, I have, for lack of a better word, retired the two of you from the interference and demands placed upon you by my family."
The words seemed to slowly sink in as Percy and Annabeth looked upon one another, a new glimmer of hope for the future fully realized when considering what Hestia had done for them. As one, they rushed forward and embraced the goddess, thanking and praising her for what she had given them.
The immortal goddess returned the embrace and felt the warmth of the family and future these two would share.
"But," Annabeth began as she finally backed away, her hand finding Percy's as their fingers laced in a familiar grip. "I don't understand. Gods and goddesses are only permitted to name one demigod as their protectorate, but you said you've named yourself patron of both Percy and me, how is that possible?"
A self-mocking smile taunted the goddess's expression as she looked upon the two heroes. "For that, you can thank Hermes," she said simply her eyes drifting to the heavens before settling once more upon the pair of young lovers before her. "Whereas Juno blessed Jason and named him her ward, I chose to instead name myself the patron of the holder of a specific ruby, that was forged into a pair of rings. A single ruby, split into two, which allowed me to link those two to always find one another, no matter how far they may be, and to name myself patron of the owner of that ruby. As the ruby was split, my patronage extended to the pair of you.
"A crafty little working around the rules, but Hermes has always been good at that." She smiled, her small hands reaching out to take Percy's and Annabeth's hands in her own. "Now, I must be off. But I wanted to share with you this simple gift. You both have honored me in ways I cannot express, and I am most pleased to have done this for you."
With a final hug, Hestia offered one last smile before making her way down the sloping hill that led back into the city of New Rome. Left alone, Percy and Annabeth embraced in a joy for the future that was now laid out before them. And as they turned to gaze upon the empty lot that would be their home, they envisioned that future, and relished its place in their lives.
Truly, for the first time since their escape from Tartarus, they were hopeful for what was to come.
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A/N: Well, this chapter is in the books. I intended this to actually include the talk with Frank and Hazel, but this took longer than expected. Next chapter is going to be a bit more of a roller coaster. Some good things happening in New Rome, some troubling things happening with other demigods. But there's still a lot to deal with.
For the record, I always found it weird that so many stories are written about how the gods really love their children, yet, if you look at the series, that's never really shown. I could write an entire essay on how little the gods really love their demigod children, but don't want to stand on that soapbox.
Anyway, as always, if you are kind enough to read, please be kind enough to review, like, follow...whatever, just like knowing my stories are enjoyed.
Thank you.