Updated: 13/12/2021 (17.50PM - Australian Time) (12/12/2021: 22.50 - Los Angeles Time)
Chapter 2: Holiday Spirit and Joy To All
Everyone had now heard about the Godly Christmas Carols. And the spirits of the Camps had been lifted just hearing about it and getting to spend some time with their parents. Excited and joy had spread through the Camp. With Camper helping to decorate for the season and event.
They had heard all Gods would be able to see their children on the day of the Carols and Songs and on Christmas Day. That had children screaming, shouting and jumping in joy at finally being able to have a fun day with their parent and after everything they had been through, suddenly seemed worth it.
Percy and Annabeth were coordinating the effect of the Camps and making space for the Legion, Amazons and Hunters to come along.
The Demeter and Karmanor Cabins was decorating with holly and even some mistletoe and all manor of Christmas Foliage. With Katie, Miranda and all their siblings all going crazy with growing everything.
The Athena Cabin, the Aphrodite Cabin, the Minor Cabins were setting up decorations with the Ares and Hercules Cabins having gone to get several large Christmas Trees and carried them into Camp to the shouts of joy from the younger Campers. Who were eager to decorate them.
The Hermes Cabin had helped the kids get some of their own decorations from home and with some of the Athena Camps had made decorations for them. And the Hermes Cabin had sworn not to steal or ruin this celebration for them.
The Hephaestus Cabin was setting up the structure for the Stage with Lord Hermes and their Dad. While helping the other Campers secure the large Christmas Trees in place. And sorting out the wiring for the lights.
Hecate Cabin were levitating the decorations onto the trees and laughing with the younger children who begged to be able to put their Christmas decorations on the trees.
Hypnos Cabin weren't sleeping for the first time in a long time. They and the Morpheus Cabin were fixing up comfortable seating for the event with the Hebe Cabin.
Nike Cabin had heard about the part of the Carols that were a competition and had come up with the idea to surprise the Gods with trophies and with a member of Athena Cabin and Hephaestus Cabin the trophies were coming together.
Apollo Cabin were rushing around with setting up the music for the Carols. All feeling proud of their Father for organizing this and the Campers had been going up to them to pass along their thanks to the God who would make this possible.
The Dionysus Cabin was in charge of the food and drink and coordinating with the Natural Spirits for their help.
Nico had actually turned up and was offering trips into the City to get gifts for friends and family. He shocked them by telling them his Father, as the Rich One, had give as a gift to the Demigods a small allowance to be spent on gifts. And when the other Gods heard that they offered some money of their own to their children. Even the Minor Gods. So Nico, Chiron, the Councillors and Lord Hermes were ferrying kids to the City and pack with a couple of older Campers just in case of monster attacks.
What the younger kids didn't know their Elder Siblings and parent were getting 'special' presents. Everyone seemed to be willing to make this Christmas count for the younger kids.
The Legion had arrived within a day and got right into helping Camp Half-Blood with decorating and setting up. And there wasn't any badmouthing or fights between the Greeks and the Romans. It seemed that by Lord Apollo setting their all up their feud was easing more and more. Even the Legion had started to relax and get less ridged. They even bought people of New Rome and their younger kids to the Camp and trusting them in the care of the older Councillors.
The Hunters and Amazons arrived two days before the Carols and shocked everyone by asking what could they do to help and propose a truce between them and the Camps, especially the boys, for this holiday season. If the Gods could basically call a truce why couldn't they? And Thalia, Reyna and Hylla the Leaders of the groups had also pushed for it. The Councillors, Praetors and Centurions in the meeting also proposed something, Percy actually started the proposal with the backing of Frank and Hazel, so from their end to repay what the Hunters and Amazons were doing. It was agreed and sworn by the Councillors, Praetors and Centurions on behalf of their Cabins and Cohorts not to hit on or flirt with them or prank them and to respect them fully for the duration of the season. And it was agreed on by both sides.
Chiron had never been so proud of the Councillors and the truce was called now between the Hunters, Amazons, Romans and Greeks. All difference were now put aside. And the Campfire was now bursting with flames as the hope sored around the groups and unity was assured for the Holidays.
Meg's 'Siblings' the children of Nero. Also came with nervousness. But they were shocked by the change of atmosphere they had never gotten. And they had NEVER celebrated Christmas before and to their surprise the Campers welcomed they in warmly and offered their support and services to show them how Christmas was done.\
Hades did one better. Much to the surprise of ALL. He had given those who died in the past 5 years a chance. Of spending one last Christmas and celebration with their loved ones. And for some to be given a chance to forgive. And a chance for those loved ones to have one last day with those they loved. Siblings embraced, past lovers embrace. Nico was squashed in a hug with Bianca. Lee and Michael, children of Apollo were attacked in hugs and kissed from their siblings. Silena was met with joy by Clarisse and excitement from her newer sisters such as Piper, as she heard Silena was a true hero and one of the only heroes from Aphrodite Cabin. Beckendorf was also pounced upon by his siblings and a hug from and pat on the back from Percy. Castor was knocked flat on his back by Pollux who was weeping in joy at getting to at least see him one more time. Jason was pounced and cried on by his sister, but also Piper and Meg. With hugs from the rest of the Seven. Zoe was pounced on by the Hunters who showed more emotion then ever before, also the Hunters that were killed by Orion were met with the same enthusiasm. Dakota and Michael Kahale were also met by the Legion with joy and a hug from Percy in Dakota's case. Luke and Ethan also came and to their surprise Percy greeted them warmly and gave a speech and told the Campers Christmas was a time for forgiving and as they died as heroes like Silena they should be met with at least tolerance. But Octavian had refused to come.
And one a day before the Carols, great joy was bought as snow began to fall at the Camp. Cheers rang from the kids.
"It is snowing!"
"Snow!"
"Yah!"
"A white Christmas!"
Apparently when the snow started, they heard Apollo had gotten Khione to bring some snow to Camp for the season. As a sign of her probation from the Council.
Soon snowball fights and snowman making was happening around the Camp. The Hunters and Amazons even joining in for a friendly game. Sleigh riders were offered by Percy who got the Pegasi to agree to it. Sledding happened from Half-Blood Hill.
On Christmas Eve the Gods flashed, and they group of kids were delighted to see ALL their parents there. Not a single Cabin was left out, well all but the Hercules Cabin, but their Stepmother was smiling at them and her Cabin looked to be supporting them as well.
Percy and Chiron greeted them.
"My Lords and Ladies thank you for this. Thank you Lord Apollo. And on behalf of the Camp we wound like you Lord Zeus to turn on the lights for the Camps", Percy says with a bow as Leo comes up grinning with a button in his hand.
"This will turn on ALL the lights in the Camp. They are at the ready", Leo informs them handing over the button to Zeus with a bow.
"I believe Apollo should do it", Zeus says shocking everyone.
Apollo grins even through he was shocked.
He took the button.
"Everyone ready?!" he calls to everyone.
"YES!" shouts and cries from the Camps, Hunters and Amazons shouted.
Apollo presses the button with enthusiasm.
And a beautiful sight was met by all. The whole of the Camp was light up. Christmas Trees light up with lights outside the Cabins and one big one in the middle of the Camp. Lights ran along the rooves of the Cabins. Lights also hung between the Cabins all linking up and wrapped with Holly and tinsel in the colours of each God or Goddess. Christmas light up wreaths were hung on each of the Cabin doors with little figures of their parents symbols on them.
Lights ran along the paths between buildings and up the sides of them and the cabins. Lights turned one covering the Big House. The Legions and Amazons temporary set ups were also light up brightly. They had gladly accepted the help of the Camps in their decorating and had asked the Ares Cabin to give they each a tree too. Surprisingly the Ares Cabin had been happy to cut down no-Dryad trees for all AND carry them in with Clarisse leading the charge and calling a truce to all the bullying her Cabin had done.
So their Camps were light up and decorated too.
Handmade ornaments hung from the trees too. And presents were under the main Christmas Tree in Camp and surprisingly Hermes Cabin had offered to make sure the presents couldn't be stole with an alarm system that Hephaestus Cabin had helped with.
The Dryads and Natural Spirits had also all decorated their trees and places too. With solar lights lighting up their trees and tinsel too.
In short the Camp looked like a Winters Wonderland and a Christmas Village.
And then they got to the amphitheater was amazing. A stage had been set up with instruments and decorations, lights, tinsel and Christmas foliage lined the rows and columns.
The Gods were even amazed by the detail and time their children had put into this. Even the stands had Christmas Blankets and pillows. And a food and drink table were at the side filled to the brim with Christmas Food. Even ten large Gingerbread Houses had been made.
"This is amazing", many of the Gods breathed.
They could feel the hope and Christmas feeling this place was pouring out.
As the stands began to fill with people. They couldn't help but notice the peace and truce coming into effect. Greeks and Romans mingled together with even the Hunters and Amazons sitting through the stands and mixing with everyone. Natural Spirits also were going to sit with different Camps.
Tyson had come from New Rome with his girlfriend Ella and sat near Percy. Who sat with Annabeth, Piper, Thalia, Reyna, Hylla, Leo and Calypso, Frank and Hazel, Nico and Will, and Grover and Juniper, Bianca and to the surprise of some Zoe, Luke, Ethan, Silena and Beck.
They also noticed photos were being taken around the groups and families the mingled together.
"Apollo, I have to say this was one of your better ideas", Athena nudges him with a smile.
"This is likely is to be worth it. Even if we embarrass ourselves", Zeus admits.
Apollo beamed, "I do believe it is too"
"Peace is at an all-time high", Eirene says smiling softly.
"And hope too", Hestia adds with a smile.
"Well then lets see if we can top that!"
Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)
Next the songs start
