A/N
Let the blows come. I know you all are frustrated at this time gap that I am taking, especially when the story is just starting to get interesting. But I have some reasons for this.
Firstly, the whole of my November went in recovering from COVID 19. Yeah. I'm alive and recovered now, so don't worry about me dying and leaving this story. Nah, I'm gonna complete it.
Then after the gap, I had to go back and reread the last two chapters to see where I was and what I had to write in this chapter. Suffice to say, I love what I wrote.
Also, this time off has given me some inspiration. Here, I present to you the final list of the girls in the pairing. I felt horrible for the Nyx supporters, so here you go, people. Adding Nyx to the harem is my New Year's gift to you people.
Hestia
Artemis
Athena
Aphrodite
Reyna
Piper
Thalia
Zoë
Salicia
Calypso
Nyx
Annabeth
{THIS ONE'S A SURPRISE FOR THE FUTURE.}
Happy now? I included Nyx. I hope that calms you down. Like, I had seven P.Ms every week asking me to add Nyx.
Even more, I think you people liked my interaction between Percy and Annabeth a little too much, considering the number of P.Ms and reviews asking for the canon pairing. So, i took it as a challenge upon myself to write the very best Percabeth relationship you guys will ever see. I hope I succeed.
Moreover, we finally crossed 1.5k favourites for this story, and it completed one full year. I can't express how proud and happy I am feeling right now. Hope you keep giving this story the love that you have given till now. Only 100 follows remaining for us to reach 2k follows. Fingers crossed.
Also, please do not P.M me or hate comment me over the choices. It won't hurt me, but just waste your time and energy as I don't give two fucks what people think of this story. While I hope you like it, I can't force everyone to do so. Your opinions are your own, and I will only pay attention to compliments and constructive criticism.
Do join my server on discord. There you'll find the latest themes and other content related to the stories I am writing. Also, I try to provide graphic visualization for the stories there. The link is :
https/discord.gg/Zke3568Mds
It is also present on my profile.
Ok, now that this is out of the way, I want to inform you guys that this is the last filler chapter. From the next chapter, we start the Sea of Monsters arc. Yep, I have so many ideas in store for that, it makes me giddy just thinking of it. You guys are in for a treat.
Also, I'll address the reviews in the next chapter for sure.
So, let's not waste any further time and start with today's badassery.
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Last time :
After this, someone from the crowd shouted, "Hail Lord Perseus, prince of Atlantis!!"
The chant was soon taken up by the rest of the crowd. "Hail Lord Perseus, prince of Atlantis!!"
Perseus swept his gaze across the crowd, before climbing down from the stage. Salicia was the first one to greet him. "How was the speech?" He asked her.
"Are you sure you hadn't practiced it before? It was so good that I could actually see people repeating it." Sally smiled in awe as he chuckled and kissed her cheek.
"Excellent speech, son. But I hope you have something left for your birthday." Poseidon spoke, as he came from behind and patted his son's shoulder.
"I will make something up, don't worry." Percy assured his father, grinning along with him.
Perseus was about to say something, when Lady Amphitrite joined them and asked Perseus and Salicia to accompany them.
"Perseus, I would like to have a word with you. And I think it would be good for young Salicia to be there too." Amphitrite spoke with a kind voice, yet serious expression.
Perseus nodded his head and turned to Salicia. Taking her hand in his, he started to walk behind his mother, following the queen of the seas to his bedroom.
On the way, he heard his mother speak, "It seems like you have been busy even outside the quest, son."
Perseus immediately understood what this conversation was going to be about. Dread filled his heart as he stared at the sky. 'If you have any mercy, Ladies of Fate, please kill me and call me up.' he thought as he finally entered his bedroom with Salicia and his mother.
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Present time :
Third person POV
Place : Palace of Poseidon, Atlantis
Perseus immediately understood what this conversation was going to be about. Dread filled his heart as he stared at the sky. 'If you have any mercy, Ladies of Fate, please kill me and call me up.' he thought as he finally entered his bedroom with Salicia and his mother.
As they entered Perseus' bedroom, Amphitrite gracefully walked towards the sofas present, before taking a seat on one of the comfortable chairs. Raising her hand, she summoned a glass of the finest quality wine, taking a sip and thinking about the talk she was about to have. She had always imagined that it would be Poseidon who would be giving Perseus 'the talk', and not her. But it seemed like fate had other plans.
Perseus, on the other hand, was dreading the talk that was coming at him. If it were his father there in front of him, it wouldn't have been an issue, but with his mother, it was a completely different case.
Percy had always known that while his father could be strict when necessary, he was also very open-minded to mortal relationships and customs. But his mother, not so much. Lady Amphitrite was the absolute definition of royalty. From a young age, she had been groomed to be a royal, being the eldest of the Nereids.
The way the lady could easily switch in between being a loving mother and a cold, calculating queen still surprised Percy.
"Perseus, Salicia, have a seat." Amphitrite spoke slowly, not giving them a glance, but pointing to the seats in front of her with the glass in her hand.
Salicia looked at Percy, silently asking him about the next course of action. As much as Perseus wanted to grab her arm and run away from the room, he knew that once his mother decided something, she would undoubtedly complete the task.
Taking her hand in his, Perseus walked to the two comfortable seats across from Amphitrite and sat down. Seeing that his mother was in no rush to get on with the topic, Perseus leaned forward and lifted a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and poured himself and Salicia a glass each.
Although he knew what this talk was supposed to be about, he also knew that his mother wouldn't speak unless prompted to.
"Any specific reasons for this sudden summons, mother?" He asked curiously, yet maintaining the respectful tone in his voice.
Amphitrite's gaze locked onto her son. Yes, even blood-adopted, he was no less to her than a true son.
Gulping down the wine in her glass, she placed the glass onto the mahogany table in front of them. "A few nights ago, my dream-self was summoned by a…. being."
"As my dream-self opened her eyes, I saw a wall full of paintings about……. people. There weren't many, but the ones I saw were impressive, to say the least. But what actually shocked me was the painting of a couple in the end. The man had blonde hair, and a pair of royal-blue eyes, while the lady had raven black hair and kind, yellow eyes. The lady held a baby in her arms. A baby sporting the royal-blue eyes of his father, and the raven black hair of his mother."
Perseus' eyes widened at the description of the baby's painting. Amphitrite, noticing this, let a small smile tug at her lips. Always the perceptive one, her youngest son.
"Yes, as I see, you have guessed the identity of the child whose painting I am speaking about." Amphitrite answered Perseus' unasked question with a solemn nod.
"It's me." Perseus spoke softly, not knowing what to think of this.
"Yes, it is." Amphitrite nodded, confirming the identity of the baby.
"But as I was studying the painting, I heard someone approaching me from behind. Turning around, I saw the raven haired woman from the painting, the lady holding baby-you." Amphitrite paused at this, seeing that Perseus froze up and was staring at her in disbelief.
Sometimes, Perseus really cursed his perceptive brain. Sure, his observation and inference skills had saved his life a dozen times, but at times like these, he wished he wasn't so perceptive.
Then, his mind finally wrapped itself on the topic that had frozen him up. There was only one person that his mother could be describing - his birth mother. The raven black hair and yellow eyes explained it. After all, there was no mythological being in the entire pantheon who had yellow eyes.
"It was your mother, son. Your real mother. She….." Amphitrite softly stated, her face set into an emotionless mask.
"You are my real mother." Perseus spoke almost as if in reflex. Before realising that he had cut off his mother mid sentence.
"Sorry." He blushed in embarrassment.
Amphitrite finally let the mask slip off from her face. "It's fine, Percy. But as I was saying, I met your birth mother."
Perseus smiled at how his mother had refrained from referring to the lady as 'real mother'. For him, Amphitrite was his real mother. Triton was his real brother, and Poseidon was his real father.
"Did you speak to her? If yes, can you tell me about her?" Perseus requested softly, with hope filled eyes.
Before the talk had started, Amphitrite was feeling uncomfortable, insecure, and dare she say it, afraid. She feared that after hearing about his real mother, Perseus would get distant from her. Her little prince, her beautiful child, would see her as 'a mother-like woman' except for 'mother'. But the moment Perseus had interrupted her by saying that she would always be his real mother, all her fears had been destroyed. Now she knew that her son loved her just as much as she loved him. Thus, she didn't feel even the least bit insecure in complying with her son's request.
"Of course, my little prince." She smiled at him, taking pleasure in seeing his cheeks flush in embarrassment as he heard her nickname for him, while Salicia, who had remained quiet for the past few minutes, giggled softly.
"Mother!! Please don't use that nickname now. In about two years, I will practically be an adult according to Spartan culture." Perseus groaned as she just smirked in response.
"Perseus dear, let me make this clear for you. Even if you get fifty years old, I will still refer to you as my 'little prince'." Amphitrite spoke with finality, letting out a small laugh at the groan her son gave out at this.
"All that aside, of course I will describe her to you. She is your birth mother, Percy. It is your right to know about her." Amphitrite spoke.
"Your mother, well, I spoke to her for just about half an hour, but she was unlike any woman I have ever met, mortal or immortal. She radiated peace and calm, an aura of kindness around her that made me feel right at home. Yet at the same time, the waves of power rolling off her were enough to make me cower. A sharp, yet silver tongue like that of the lord of Time's yet a personality that alleviated my fears. She really was quite an enigma." Amphitrite recalled, still awed by her son's birth mother.
Perseus was listening with rapt attention. He still had no idea what to make of this conversation. The only memory he had of his mother, his birth mother, that is, was a soft, gentle voice singing him a lullaby in a language that was definitely not one of the 6500 languages spoken on the Earth. Not even Ancient Greek or Latin. Yet, surprisingly he was able to decipher each and every word of the song by default, as if it was a language planted into his mind. That, and the letter from his father that the Fates had delivered to him in his mindscape.
"I could see the love for you in her eyes, along with regret. Regret that she couldn't be there for you, that she couldn't personally watch you grow up into the fine young man you have become. But most of all, there was pride over your personality and your achievements." Amphitrite smiled, as she stood up and walked behind her son, running her hand through his hair slowly and gently.
"Oh." Was Perseus' reply, as he tried to hide his emotions behind a mask of nonchalance, but both Amphitrite and Salicia could see right through it. The youngest prince of Atlantis was blooming with happiness at hearing his mother's, both mothers' words. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears, which he immediately rubbed off with the sleeve of his robes.
"Yes, even I wouldn't know what to reply to this, Percy. But what she said is true. You are the best person I have seen in my entire life. A true hero and a true prince, but above all, a fascinating person." Salicia spoke up for the first time since the start of the conversation, blushing slightly as she smiled at the boy sitting beside her, who would most probably be the person she would marry in the future, betrothal agreement or not.
"T..thank you ladies. Just give me a moment to recollect my thoughts." Perseus spoke as he smiled at two of the most important ladies in his life. Standing up, he kissed Salicia's hand, before giving his mother a hug and walking towards his washroom. Entering, he turned on the tap and splashed some water onto his face.
"This was entirely different from what he had thought the conversation would be about, but he had a gut feeling that 'that' topic was also coming up soon.
But on the basis of what his mother had told him just now, a bittersweet smile spread onto his lips. Closing his eyes, he recalled the song, the lullaby which was all he remembered of his birth mother, and started to sing it softly.
Amphitrite had been the best mother she could to Perseus, and Perseus loved her more than anything, but he always found himself softly singing this song when he was alone, just as something to feel closer to his birth mother.
Now that he had been told that his birth mother loved him just as much as his adopted mother did, Perseus felt like he was soaring at the top of the sky.
Finishing the song, he opened his eyes and rubbed the lone tear that had made its way down his cheek. Drying his eyes, he turned off the tap and walked out of the washroom. His mother had retaken her seat, while Salicia was gazing at the huge painting of Amphitrite, Poseidon, Triton and Perseus that was hanging on the wall beside them.
Smiling, he spoke, "Beautiful, isn't it? Mother and I painted it when I was ten years old. It is very near to my heart."
Salicia turned around to look at him and nodded, mesmerized. "Yes. It is beyond beautiful. The details are right for even things as small as the cuffs on your shirt, Percy." She spoke in awe.
The soon to be Governor of New Atlantis just gave her a charming grin, before retaking his seat beside her. "Yes, well, let's get back to the topic, shall we?"
Looking straight into his mother's eyes, he spoke, "Firstly, thank you for sharing this… information with me, mother. I know how hard it must have been for you. But I know it is not the main reason you wanted to speak to me. There is something else, isn't it? Otherwise you wouldn't have invited Salicia for this."
His mother let out a small chuckle, followed by a small sigh. "Sometimes, I really wish you weren't as perceptive as you are, Percy."
Perseus didn't respond, putting all his focus in what his mother was going to tell him. He was happy to know that his birth mother was a good woman, and hadn't just abandoned him. But he also knew that what he was going to hear now was not only going to be a serious issue, but judging by the look on his mother's face, it was going to be something that he wasn't going to like.
"I guess the time has come for this, huh? Very well. While I was speaking with your mother, your birth mother, she gave me a piece of information regarding your future that was……. surprising, to say the least." Amphitrite started, and this was the first time in twelve years that Percy had seen apprehension on his mother's face, as if she did not want to discuss this at all.
"Ughh. I just can't do this any more. I have no idea how to say this tactfully. To put it plainly, you will not have just one partner romantically." Even Amphitrite cringed at how crude and blunt she had sounded.
For a few minutes, Perseus and Salicia were quiet, before the prince of Atlantis immediately shot up to his feet. "What???" He asked, shocked and confused beyond measure.
"I meant exactly what I said. Due to some mingling by higher powers that we cannot even comprehend, you are destined to have more than one lover throughout your life, my son." Amphitrite spoke slowly, making sure to not show her irritation at the fact that she had to repeat what she had said.
Perseus was silent for a moment, before he sat back down and muttered softly to himself, "Tia is soo going to kill me when she hears this." Before slapping his arm to his face and rubbing it.
Salicia, meanwhile, had been quietly listening to the conversation, thinking to herself. She didn't look particularly bothered by this. After all, she was going to be betrothed to a prince, and she knew that for royalty, taking more than one wife was a common occurrence. Right from the day that her father had informed her that she was going to be betrothed to the prince, she had been making herself comfortable with the fact that she probably wouldn't be the prince's only wife. At least, as comfortable as anyone could get with that thought and situation.
Perseus meanwhile, had a completely different scenario going on in his mind. While a small part of his mind was dancing in delight at the fact that now he wouldn't have to choose between Hestia, Zoë and Salicia, the majority of his consciousness was horrified at this information. He was a firm believer that every man and woman deserved a loving companion who could devote themselves completely to the one special person in their lives. He knew that this was a utopian concept, and could never come true in the real world, but he had always wished that when it was his time to find someone, he could cherish that one special person with all his heart and soul.
Also, added to it the fact that if Zoë found out about this, he would most probably lose his balls, and if he was unlucky enough, even Artemis would find out about this. That would immediately mean Perseus' life was forfeit.
He slumped back into his chair and rubbed his face with his palm. "Tia is soo going to kill me when she hears this." He muttered under his breath.
Slowly opening his eyes, he glanced at his mother, who was staring at him sadly. "That… is a lot to process. Anything else? Like, how many partners am I destined to have? Two? Three?" He asked her, already dreading the answer when he saw the pained look on her face.
Amphitrite was silent for a moment, before slowly lifting up both her hands and showing all the ten fingers on them.
Perseus' eyes bulged as he saw his mother lifting ten fingers into the air. Surely this had to be some kind of joke, right? Ten fucking lovers??? Nah. His mother had to be messing with him.
But even as he thought this, he knew that it was just wishful thinking. His mother would never joke about something like this.
Ahh. The irony of the situation. Perseus was trapped in what could be easily described as almost every teenage boy's fantasy, and while a small part of him was dancing even more jovially inside his head, most of his consciousness was terrified and confused.
Before he could speak up, a small gasp was heard from beside him. That is when it struck him that one of the women in question was sitting right beside him. Turning his head to face Salicia, he was dumbstruck to see that she was not as affected at this as he was. Surprised, yes. Confused, yes. But disgusted or horrified, definitely not.
"How are you not affected by this? This practically means that if we do get married in the future, you will have to share me with nine other women." Perseus exclaimed with indignation and a small amount of amazement in his voice.
"Well, it is not uncommon for kings and nobles to have more than one wife, you know. My father himself has three wives. While ten is a…… ridiculous number of ladies to fall in love with, I know that it was not completely your choice. It was what was put onto you by Fate. So, I'm not that bothered with it." Salicia replied with a small shrug.
Then as an afterthought, she added, "It also means that I won't have to battle against Lady Hestia for your love. Thank Poseidon for that."
"Wait a minute! How do you know about Hestia?" Perseus asked, utterly perplexed by now, both at the fact that Salicia had been so cool with the matter, and that she knew about him and Hestia.
"Oh come on! You kissed her while you were right beside the ocean. You know how big of gossip the fish are." And she giggled a bit, though it was not a happy one, as expected.
"Oh, right. Right." Perseus mumbled, getting the logic behind that.
Then he turned to his mother. "But still, ten lovers? What in Dad's name were the Fates thinking?"
For the second time in ten minutes, Perseus saw his mother lose her calm composure as she threw her hand in the air and shoot back in indignation, "Hey! How am I supposed to know that?"
As much as Perseus wanted to contradict it, he knew that his mother was right. She had no hand in causing this situation.
Seeing his confusion and anxiety, Amphitrite started to speak, "I know it is a lot to take in, dear….." but she was cut off when Perseus raised a hand, signalling her to stop.
Taking a deep breath, Perseus decided his further course of actions. Standing up, he softly, yet at the same time firmly, spoke, "I think I need some time alone to gather my thoughts and process this information."
Seeing that his mother was conflicted at leaving him alone with this, he spoke in a reassuring tone, "Do not worry, mother. I will not take any stupid actions. I just need to think about this new information and what it means for me. When I am ready, I will approach you to discuss this further. I give you my word as a son of the sea." He gave her a small smile as he walked towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze.
Amphitrite nodded slowly, before returning his smile and placing her hand on his, giving it a light squeeze. "Goodnight dear. If you need me, I'll be in your father's chambers." She spoke.
"Oh no. I am never going to approach that chamber now, especially after what I saw the last time I barged in unannounced." Perseus shuddered. (If you need to be told what Perseus had seen in the room, well, then I think you might be underage to read this fic).
Amphitrite blushed in embarrassment, before disappearing in blue mist, the lingering scent of her perfume being the only indicator that she had been there a few moments ago.
This left Perseus alone in his room with Salicia, who was currently checking the various weapons that Perseus had put on display.
Walking to her, he slowly placed a hand around her shoulders, a gesture that she appreciated. Pulling her into a one-handed hug, Perseus pressed his lips on top of her head. "It's getting late."
She hummed in agreement, before speaking, "I should get going, I guess."
"Yes, I think that would be for the best, right now. It would give us both some time to think about this." Perseus nodded in agreement.
Slowly removing herself from the hug, she spoke, "Yes. Well, goodbye, I guess."
Perseus nodded. "See you later, Sal."
"Hmm, Sal. I like that." She mumbled in approval, before surprising him by stepping forward and pressing a chaste kiss on his lips. "IM me when you are ready, my prince." She spoke gently.
Still somewhat surprised by the bold move made by the lady in front of him, Perseus responded with, "Huh? Umm yeah. Sure." Before scratching the back of his neck nervously.
Sal smiled one more time, before turning around and walking towards the door. Once she had exited the room, Perseus just numbly walked to his washroom and stripped down. Getting under the shower, he set it to the hottest temperature that he could. Hot water always helped him think properly.
First, his mind drifted to the good times he had had with all the three girls. Their first meetings, their first interactions, and their first kisses flitted through Percy's mind like a PowerPoint presentation, not that he knew what one was. To his immense surprise, he also saw his first confrontation with Artemis, followed by the duel that they had, and finally the cheek kiss she had given him before his departure from the hunt.
All this caused a small smile to bloom on his face. This smile then turned to a frown when he thought about how they would react to the bit of information that he had just received. Honestly, he expected to be killed, or at least castrated by the two huntresses. But what scared him even more was how Zoë would feel. Unlike Hestia or Artemis, Zoë had been betrayed by a man she liked already. If he did that to her, he feared that this time she would break for real.
He closed his eyes when he heard the annoying voice that resided in his mind. 'This has got to be the first time I have seen someone so mopy and depressed when told that he would have ten women love him forever.' Ikol spoke in his mischievous, silky voice which promised trouble.
'Oii! Fuck off! You are the last person whose advice I want on this topic.' Perseus snapped back to his Ikol.
'First of all, that was unnecessarily rude. Secondly, trust me you need my advice. So, I see that your mom, birth mom I mean, gave you some shocking information, huh?' Ikol asked, and it irritated Perseus to no extent that Ikol seemed indifferent to his earlier taunt.
Perseus sighed. 'Yes. So, now that you are here, might as well give me some advice, huh?' He asked Ikol, hoping he would give at least a half decent suggestion.
'For that, I have just one question for you. If I ask you to choose one of the four ladies right now, and the other three will act as if you don't exist, who will you choose?' Ikol asked in a shockingly somber voice, instead of his holier than thou one which made you feel that he was superior to you.
'Of course. I would choose……' That is where Perseus stopped talking, as his mind stopped working. He just couldn't make the choice. Even when he tried to lie his way out of the question, something in his heart stopped him from taking the name of any of the four girls. Hestia's smile, Zoë's grin, Sal's giggle and Artemis' smirk flashed in front of his eyes, causing him to get tongue-tied at the question.
'I.. I can't make the choice. I am unable to choose one of them. What the hell is wrong with me???' Perseus internally screamed at himself, disgusted at himself for liking four women at the same time and not being able to choose one of them. Disgusted for playing with the feelings of four women like this.
'And there you have the answer, child.' Ikol spoke in the same somber voice that still took Percy by shock.
'You know, I'm gonna tell you something, kid. Your father once was in a position just like yours. And you know what our mother said to him? She said, "Listen, son. The only person who can make a decision for you is you. Look deep into your heart, son. Such choices should never be made with your mind. In these matters, logic doesn't always have to work. The Heart works in mysterious ways, son. Let it work this one out too.'"
Ikol finished as he took a small break, letting Perseus grasp what he had said.
'She was right, you know. When my kids were born, they were not normal. They were…..scary. And naturally, my brethren termed them evil and ordered me to destroy them. My mind kept telling me that it was the best choice to make, the most logical one. But when I looked deep into my heart, I heard a voice tell me that no matter how they were, they were my children. To me, they would always be perfect. What I'm saying is, look into your heart, kiddo. Only your heart and soul can guide you.' Ikol finished somberly.
'Ikol….. thanks. That was actually very, very helpful.' Perseus thought back.
Then he asked again, 'So, my mother, how was she? Describe her please.'
As if to prove that he was a dick through and through, Ikol immediately started speaking, 'Oh she was hot!! Hot with a capital H. And her ass! Never seen an ass like her's till date. What I wouldn't have given to…..'
'Hey! Hey! I do not want to hear that, you dickhead. That's my mom. Even worse, she's the wife of your brother!!' Perseus cringed as he felt the need to throw up. Asking Ikol that was definitely not one of his best ideas till date.
'Yes. And your uncle Hades married his younger brother's daughter with his elder sister.' Ikol shot back almost immediately.
'You are the most insufferable creature on this planet, dude. Cut out the link right now, otherwise I'm gonna start playing Justin Bieber songs right now.' Perseus growled internally.
'You wouldn't. Not that. Anything but that.' Ikol seemed just a bit terrified at the prospect of the punishment.
'You know damn well I would.' Perseus shot back.
'Screw you, dickhead. And oh yeah. Your mom was soo hott….' Ikol spoke before immediately cutting off the link as an insufferable song started to play.
His mood completely ruined by now, Perseus stepped out of the shower, willing himself dry. He walked to his closet and grabbed the nearest pair of boxers and a nylon t-shirt, before putting them on and popping down onto the bed.
Although Ikol had generally been a complete dick like always, he had given some valid, useful advice too. Even now, Perseus could slowly feel his heart start to accept the prospect of being in a relationship with ten ladies.
Although not happy, but still satisfied that he had gotten some answers and advice, Perseus let the day's exhaustion get to him as he fell into a deep slumber, having a dreamless sleep like most days.
The next morning came far too fast for Percy's liking. Or maybe it was just the way he was woken up that annoyed Percy. He had been sleeping peacefully when he had been hit by a beam of energy that had thrown him off his bed and onto the floor.
Sitting up, Perseus rubbed his forehead, which had been the spot where the beam had hit him. Glaring up at the perpetrator who had earned his ire so early in the morning, he scowled at the sight of his elder brother.
Triton stood on the other side of the large bed, a smug smirk on his face over a job well done. "Come on midget. Time for sleeping is over. Now it's time for your training."
"Huh? What in father's name do you mean?" Perseus asked, still a little groggy, and heavily annoyed at his elder brother.
"In less than a month, you are going to become the Governor of one of the largest provinces in Atlantis. Mother has personally taken up the duty to train you in politics and administration to the best of her capabilities. It is about nine forty-five in the morning right now. Your first class for the day begins at eleven AM sharp. So, I suggest you get your ass moving and get ready. You know how mother gets when we are late." Triton explained.
Perseus shuddered at the thought. It was true. Their mother was hella scary when she wanted to be. "Umm. Yeah fine. Just give me a few minutes."
Triton nodded and disappeared in a blue mist, leaving the younger prince of Atlantis sitting on the floor beside his bed. Slowly getting to his feet, Perseus walked towards the washroom and carried out his morning ablutions.
Walking into his closet after a shower, Perseus decided to wear a white button down shirt, black tie and matching black slacks. His mother was a sucker for formality, after all.
Walking into the royal kitchen, he was met with exasperated faces of the royal chefs and waiters.
"Lord Perseus. You are not supposed to be here. Please go to the dining table and order what you wish to eat. We will serve it to you over there." Spoke one of the waiters, as Perseus groaned.
"Finee. Just serve me a glass of warm milk and two slices of bread along with some butter. Oh, and also some almonds." Perseus spoke, before walking through the door to the dining hall.
About two minutes later, his breakfast order was sitting on the table in front of him.
Finishing his breakfast, Perseus quickly moved to where his lessons would be held.
It was after five hours of lessons in politics and administration that Perseus finally managed to get to his room and change out of the formal clothes. Just when he was thinking about what he should do now, he was once again hit by a beam of energy, this time on his butt.
"What do you want, Triton?" The younger prince of Atlantis asked his elder brother, his disregard for the attack showing his higher than normal endurance.
"Come on, you still have to get your ass kicked by me." Triton spoke tauntingly as he leaned onto the wall beside him.
"If I remember correctly, our last three fights have ended with your sword at your neck and your ass on the ground, brother dear." Perseus shot back with the same taunting tone, still not turning to Triton, instead choosing to gaze at Poseidonopolis from his window.
"Yes, that's true. But forget not, that those were duels with swords. Today, we start your training in the official weapon of the sea, the trident." Triton spoke in a bored voice, before turning excited towards the end.
"You can't beat me in a spear fight too, brother. What makes you think you can teach me how to wield the trident?" Perseus still taunted his elder brother, before he felt a hand on his shoulder and the next moment, there was no one present at the spot he was just standing at.
The duo of princes appeared right in the middle of the training arena, which was unoccupied for once.
"Ughhh. Inform me beforehand next time you do something like that, huh?" Perseus groaned as he shook his head to get rid of the nausea.
"Where's the fun in that, huh?" Triton smirked back as he walked to the weapon racks and picked out a couple of tridents. Studying the first one, he immediately put it back, saying, "Nope. Too heavy at the handle."
He picked up the next one and immediately placed it right back. "Wouldn't fool even novices that this is a shitty trident."
Finally, Triton didn't seem to find a single worthy tri-pronged weapon in the entire weapon rack, and he turned back to his brother, not even bothering to hide his frustration. "One of the three wealthiest nations in the universe, and we don't even have a good trident for practice."
Perseus chose not to reply, instead stretching his body. He knew that Triton was just as stubborn as their father. He would find some way to obtain a trident to teach him
As Perseus had expected, Triton's face immediately brightened as if he had just had a great idea. "Show me your shield, brother." Referring to Percy's shield which Triton had gifted him for his fifth birthday.
Perseus shrugged and extended the hand with the watch on it. Triton placed his palm on the watch, just as his eyes turned into glowing orbs of energy. After a few moments, his eyes turned back to normal and he opened them, while withdrawing his hand from the watch.
With a huge grin on his face, Triton spoke, "Now summon your shield and see the magic."
Perseus cautiously pressed the button at the side of his watch, enlarging it into the beautiful royal blue shield that it was. But that was when he noticed a difference. There were now three prongs peeking out of the top of his shield.
"Now say this, τρίαινα". Triton said, as Percy nodded and repeated the Greek word for trident.
As soon as Perseus spoke the word, the three prongs on the top of his shield rocketed out of the shield, growing into a trident mid-air as Perseus caught the handle comfortably.
"Not gonna lie, that was amazing." Perseus spoke, impressed as he studied the trident made right from a part of the immortal essence of his elder brother. It was a beautiful royal blue colour which matched his shield, with three intricate carvings made of Atlantean silver present at the bases of each of the three prongs.
That is when he realised that the three carvings were actually three words. Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat. Fortune favours the bold.
Turning his gaze to Triton, Perseus laughed. "John Wick, huh?" He asked while still laughing.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Triton spoke as innocently as he could, but the huge grin on his face confirmed Percy's suspicion.
"Fortune favours the bold, huh? Well, it doesn't sound bad at all. Thanks, Triton." Perseus spoke with a smirk.
"Least I could do before I kick your sorry little ass to the ground." Triton replied with the signature cocky grin as he now held his own trident in his hand. It was a beautiful weapon made of pure Atlantean silver, with intricate patterns and extremely sharp prongs.
"Sure. When do we start?" Perseus asked.
The next moment, his senses screamed at him to step aside. Not one to ignore his gut instinct, he stepped to his left. Less than a second later, the hilt of Triton's trident passed through the place where he had been standing a millisecond ago. Sure, it wouldn't have pierced him, or even drawn any blood, but it would definitely have hurt like a son of a bitch.
"No time better than now." Triton grunted as he swiped at his younger brother's feet with the handle again, forcing Perseus to jump and do a backflip in the air, creating some distance between them.
"Sounds about right." Perseus growled right back, taking a ready position for a spear fight.
Triton saw this and narrowed his eyes. Jumping forward, he started to swipe sideways, straight at Percy's ribs.
Using his spear fighting reflexes, Perseus went to intercept the attack with the body of the trident, and planned on following it up with a stab. But what he had definitely not expected was for Triton to pull back his trident a small bit mid-attack, grab the body of his trident between two of the prongs of his own trident. Without wasting a moment, Triton twisted his trident sharply, causing a jolt to go up Perseus's arms, thus making the younger prince drop his weapon with a jerk. The next moment, Triton's trident was in Percy's face, with one prong pointed at his neck, one at his nose, and one at his forehead.
"Anddd dead within a minute." Triton grunted in a completely serious voice, making any sarcastic retort die inside Percy's brain.
"Let's go again." Continued the heir to Atlantis as he pulled back and got into a ready position, waiting for his opponent to pick up his weapon and get ready himself.
Perseus placed his foot under the trident's shaft, before pulling up with a jerk. The weapon flew straight into his waiting hands, as the slayer of Leviathan got into a ready position himself.
Triton again observed that his brother was in a classic spear-fighting position. He decided to let Perseus make the first move this time.
Perseus got the unspoken message and charged forward, starting what was a high-speed spear maneuver that had taken him a whole year to get perfect at.
To his absolute shock and awe, Triton, who always had trouble countering the maneuver when they were using spears, was now blocking his swipes with equal speed, side-stepping out of his jabs with practiced ease, and not even blinking his eyes at his feints.
Perseus kept going for a whole of five minutes, but to his utter dismay, he had not been able to land a single hit on Triton yet. He was panting slightly, but his elder brother looked unaffected, not even sweating lightly.
Soon, Perseus stopped his attack by trying another jab, before immediately backflipping to create a small distance between them.
Triton immediately took advantage of the time Percy had needed for his backflip, by stepping forward and planting the hilt of his trident firmly into the ground. Grabbing the shaft of his weapon tightly with both hands (fuck that came out soo dirty XD), he launched himself into a horizontal double legged kick to Percy's chest.
As soon as Percy landed from his backflip, he felt a pair of shoes strike his chest, launching him into the air as he was sent flying back by about ten feet. He fell into the sand, before skidding back another foot or two.
Slowly, he stood up holding his chest, spitting a handful of sand from his mouth. Looking up, he saw his elder brother standing with both tridents in his hands, staring at him with a blank look, suitable for a warrior.
"Tell me the reason why you failed." Triton spoke calmly, but with coldness in his voice.
"Maybe because you are a literal god, and because you have had two millennia more to practice than me." Perseus shot back heatedly as he summoned some water to clean his mouth of sand.
"First of all, being a god doesn't actually make me better than you at fighting with weapons. I have had to learn how to wield these weapons just as you did." Triton spoke.
"Also, your second point is plausible, but even with the training you have, you should have been able to land at least one hit on me. The way I see it, you just got demolished in a fight." Continued the elder prince, glaring at his younger brother sternly.
In the same tone, he then spoke, "Never forget this, Perseus. No fight in life will be fair. You may be at an advantage, or disadvantage. But there is no such thing as an equal fight. If ever there were a fight like that, it would go on forever, never ending. All we can do about this is to maintain our advantage in a fight if we are at advantage, or try damn hard to turn the odds in your favour if you are at a disadvantage."
"You knew you were at a huge disadvantage right after I disarmed you the first time. And yet, you just charged in blindly the second time, not even bothering to stop and see that I am way out of your league in a trident fight. Moreover, as I told earlier, there is a huge difference between fighting with a spear and fighting with a trident. Actually, there are two main differences." He said as he pointed to the two side prongs of the trident.
Perseus nodded, understanding the significance behind these words of his elder brother. "Makes sense, I guess." He spoke, still mulling over the advice, still depressed that he hadn't landed a single hit on Triton.
"Don't get depressed, kiddo. You definitely didn't stand a chance against me. I have been the defending champion of the Divine Trident tournament for the last one and half millennium. Not even father comes close to the skill I possess." Triton spoke again as he slapped Percy's back.
"Divine trident tournament? What's that?" Perseus asked him curiously.
"Oh right. You wouldn't remember it considering you were barely four years old.
Every decade, there is a huge tournament between all the divine beings. For the last two millennia, the three decided criterias have been swords, archery, and trident/spear.
For swords, Ares and Hades have been the major combatants for the title. For archery, as you can probably guess, it has been the twins of Leto. And for spears/tridents, I have been the champion ever since it started, with either father or Athena being in second place." Triton elaborated, as Perseus looked at him in shock.
"You're telling me that you can wield a trident better than father, and that you can beat lady Athena when she's wielding her spear?" Perseus asked, disbelief painted on his face.
"Of course kiddo. I was the defending champion of the tournament decades before Athena sprouted out of Zeus' head. And as for father, he relies on his immense raw power more than technique, making him easier to beat. Come to think of it, the next tournament will be held in about one and half years. Maybe I can make you presentable enough to actually perform well in it." Triton mused.
Perseus felt weirdly excited at the prospect. Divine beings like his brother and father were the only ones he could go all out against. The prospect of battling in a tournament with said beings filled him with a thrill that he had only felt once previously, the previous time being when he was staring down the mighty form of the gigantic Leviathan.
"So, when do we start training, brother?" Perseus asked Triton excitedly.
"Oh, we have already started, brother dear." Triton smirked back as he threw Percy's trident back at him. The moment Percy grabbed the trident, Triton began explaining the basic ropes of trident wielding to his little brother. He was going to bring his brother as high up in skill as he could. Also, it gave him the added benefit of kicking the shit out of the little brat. A win-win condition, if you asked the heir of Atlantis.
And so started day after day of rigorous training, with Triton teaching his younger brother everything he could about trident wielding. Every evening, Perseus's body was sore from the numerous times Triton had smacked him with the base of his trident when he made some mistake. Bruises and small cuts from their duels healed immediately, but were nonetheless painful and stinging to the younger son of Poseidon. But on the positive side, Perseus had finally managed to land a hit on Triton after about three weeks of this training. And due to the strenuous workout that Triton had designed for him, Percy's height had also shot up by five bloody inches, leaving him now standing at 5'9.
Linebreak
Time : Few days later
Place : Perseus's bedroom
Third person POV
Perseus was nervous. Scratch that, Perseus was terrified and nervous. For the past few days, he had been thinking about the news that his mother had given him about his love life, and by now, he had somehow come to terms with it. Sure, he still did not like it, but he had accepted it.
And then there was the small part of his mind that was still giddy at the prospect of not having to choose between the girls he liked.
Amidst all of this, he had completely forgotten that Hestia was going to be visiting him the day before his birthday. Something they had agreed on, before he had run off to the stupid quest.
As he waited, a chain of negative thoughts filled his mind. In the end, he reached the same conclusion he had reached when his mother had first informed him of the situation. 'Tia is definitely going to kill me.'
As if Fate wanted to screw him over even more, he heard the voice of flames cackling behind him. Slowly, he turned to face the goddess who had appeared behind him.
Hestia looked as cute as ever. She was still in her thirteen year old form, and for a change, was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans instead of the normal brown cloak. Her hair was tied in a ponytail as she smiled happily at him.
"Hey! It's been so long! Forgotten about me already?" Hestia pouted playfully as she walked forward and pulled her favourite son of Poseidon into a hug.
Perseus hugged back tightly, wondering whether this would be the last time he hugged the goddess. "You know I could never forget about you, Hestia." He mumbled into her shoulder, making Hestia squirm as she felt a ticklish sensation.
Pulling back, he said, "It's just, I've been too busy these past few days. Mother just started to mentor me in politics and administration. And Triton has taken it upon himself to make me a master in trident wielding." He chuckled softly, making Hestia laugh too.
"Ahh. Yes, he is quite the master in wielding the trident, isn't he?" Hestia asked with an appreciative look in her eyes. Normally, this would have made Percy try to tease her by reminding her that he was the one she liked, not his brother. But not now, Percy was already nervous enough to know that he wouldn't even be able to make a dad joke at the moment.
Being the perceptive goddess that she was, Hestia immediately saw through this and asked worriedly, "Percy? What's wrong? You don't look really happy to see me. Is it something I have done?"
Percy's eyes widened at the self depreciative tone that the goddess used. He mentally cursed himself. Of course the goddess was worried and nervous, she was about as inexperienced in this as Artemis. "Of course not! I could never get mad at you. Even if you stab me." He immediately cringed at the horrific choice of his joke.
Now, Hestia looked even more nervous. Mentally, he cursed himself loudly. 'Stupid, stupid Perseus. What is happening to me today?'
Finally, he knew that Hestia would only keep worrying and undermining herself till he told her the true reason behind his nervousness.
Taking a deep breath, he took Hestia's hand in his and led her to the couches. Making her sit on one of them, he walked across and sat on the chair opposite to hers.
"First of all, I want you to know that my nervousness has nothing to do with any of your actions." Perseus spoke as he leaned back into his chair. Hestia nodded, looking a little relieved at this revelation.
"About two weeks ago, on the night of the Royal Ball commemorating my quest, my mother asked me to accompany her for a talk of sorts." Perseus started, standing up and pouring some orange juice for both of them.
"The topic of our talk was interesting, to say the least. My mother had been visited in her dreams by my birth mother." Percy continued.
Hestia gasped at this. This sure was surprising news, though she still didn't get why Percy was nervous.
"My mother, birth mother, I mean, gave mother Amphitrite a piece of information regarding my…. love life, that is very unorthodox in today's age. She said that when I was born, the Fates thought it would be funny to mess with my life string. What they didn't know is that their actions brought forward some consequences that they had not expected. It caused my life string to diverge into ten parts. Normally, the life string of a person connects with that of another person, binding together to form what we know as 'soulmates', but in my case, the ten strings are attached to ten different strings."
Perseus stopped here, downing his glass of orange juice and placing it down on the table. He leaned forward, staring calmly at Hestia's unblinking face. He had resigned himself to the fact that whatever outcome came of this talk would probably be for the best.
He would respect Hestia's decision, whatever she chose. If she wanted nothing to do with him after this, he would accept it. If she was still willing to be with him, which Perseus found highly unlikely, he was sure he would dance in happiness. And he thoroughly hoped with all his heart and soul that Hestia chose the latter.
Hestia, meanwhile, had finally grasped what Perseus had just said. She gasped out loudly as her eyes widened in shock and surprise. Perseus was relieved to find no disgust or anger in them.
"What you just said. D..does it entail what I think it entails?" Hestia asked quietly, hoping against hope that she was wrong.
Perseus sighed. "If you mean I will love multiple women and they might love me, then I am terribly sorry, but you are right, Tia." He closed his eyes, a pained look on his face.
Hestia herself closed her eyes as she felt a magnitude of emotions well up in her heart. Yet again, the Fates had shown how cruel and manipulative they were. For the first time in her extremely long life, Hestia had felt romantic feelings for someone. She had believed, rather naively, that this would be her happy ever after. The charming, extroverted prince of the seas and the introverted maiden goddess of the hearth. But just when she had actually started believing in this stupid fantasy of hers, the Fates had given her a 'Surprise motherfucker' moment, breaking her of her fantasy and denying her the only male she had feelings for.
"Why? Why would they do this to me? Why would they do this to you? To us?" Hestia asked with her eyes still closed.
"I keep asking myself the same question every single moment I think of this, Hestia. And it tears me apart every time I think of it. But the only answer I receive back is dead silence from those manipulative old…. . Sorry.
I completely understand if you want nothing to do with me now, Hestia. Even now, my heart contains feelings for more than one lady, something which makes me disgusted with myself. And yet, however hard I try, it does not let me choose one of you and forget about the others.
A person as wonderful as you deserves the complete love and affection of a person, Tia. Something which I can never provide, however much I want to. For that, I am truly sorry." Perseus spoke his heart out, as a single tear rolled down his cheek. He immediately wiped it away and clamped on his snake eyes. One advantage of his snake eyes was that they were completely emotionless. Just cold, calculating slits that stared right into a person's soul. This way, Hestia wouldn't have to be subjected to the pain in his eyes.
For the next five minutes, the couple sat in silence, Perseus dreading the answer that Hestia was about to give, while Hestia thought about what her …. boyfriend? had just told her. Finally, after another five minutes of contemplation, she steeled herself and gave her opinion.
"I..I know that I should go away. It is logical. But I...I can't. You were, are, and most probably will be the only person I fall for. So what if I don't get you all to myself? At least this way, I get to be with you." Hestia responded, finally opening her eyes with a kind of firm resolve that shocked Perseus much more than a full powered lightning bolt from Zeus probably would.
"What!? Have you lost your mind? Why would you even say yes to that? Think rationally, Hestia. This is not you speaking, it's the heat of the moment. Take some time to think about it and you will see reason." Perseus spoke loudly, dumbfounded at the response he had received.
Hestia's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What makes you think that this is not a decision that I have made after full consideration? Also, might I remind you that I am a goddess. I know what I am doing, Perseus. I am ready to share you with nine other women, as long as that means we can be together. Do not try to talk me out of it." She angrily stated, glaring at Percy as she downed her own glass of Orange juice.
Perseus was visibly taken aback by this outburst of anger by the usually calm and shy goddess. He spluttered out his reply, "B..but …."
Then taking a deep breath, he spoke, "Hestia, I didn't mean to say that you can't take a decision properly. What I want to say is that you deserve so much more than what I can provide. I..I don't deserve you Hestia."
Hestia raised an eyebrow, while still glaring at him. "Oh really? Then tell me this Perseus, who deserves me, if not you?"
Percy immediately replied, "Someone who can love you with all your heart. Who can appreciate you for all of your small quirks like how you fiddle with your fingers when you are nervous, the way your smile is slightly tilted towards the right. The way that you try to hide your face with your hair when you blush."
Honestly, he could have kept on describing all the things he adored about her, but Hestia's voice stopped him from continuing. This time, her voice was soft and gentle, just like it normally was. "And this just makes me more sure of the choice I made, Percy."
Percy was getting exasperated by now. "B..but I don't deserve a goddess like you Hestia. Why don't you understand?" He asked, flabbergasted.
Hestia leaned forward and cupped his cheek with her right hand. "Isn't that for me to decide, Percy?"
Percy couldn't help but lean into the warmth of her hand. He subconsciously nodded at her question.
"Also, to answer the question, I feel you are more than worthy of me, Perseus." Hestia finally spoke with conviction as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
This action drained Percy of any more reluctance left in his mind. He let himself fully enjoy the kiss as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of her warm, soft lips on his.
His soul erupted in a series of explosions as he felt pure bliss and happiness within his heart. Hestia had accepted him despite the situation. And he couldn't have been happier at this. But, he needed to tell her about the others. Mmmm, maybe after the amazing kiss.
Once the mind-blowing kiss was over, the two lovers pulled back and sat on their respective seats. Hestia was supporting a wide smile on her face, while Perseus was grinning openly.
"By the way, I like the confident, borderline cocky Perseus, the proud Prince of Atlantis much more than the weepy, mopy Perseus from a few moments ago." Hestia giggled as Percy smirked.
"Sure, darling. Whatever you say." He replied in the charming tone Hestia loved.
After a few moments of just sitting in a comfortable silence, Hestia finally asked with a conflicted look, "So, who are the other nine?" And promptly winced at her bluntness.
As if a switch had been pulled, Perseus' grin disappeared as he put on a somber expression. "Hey, you don't have to be nervous or ashamed to ask that. You have every right to ask me about it. If there is anyone who should be ashamed, it should be me."
Seeing his... girlfriend? nod her head, Perseus continued, "To answer your question, I don't know all the other nine ladies. The only ones I know other than you are Zoë and Salicia. Well, there is one other, but I still can't tell whether she is supposed to be one of the ten, or not." Perseus shrugged.
Hestia nodded slowly. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Perseus let out a hollow chuckle and spoke two words. But those two words were enough for Hestia to jerk forward in shock and gape at him in disbelief. "It's Artemis."
"Noo. She wouldn't…. She's a maiden goddess…." Hestia spoke before she realised the irony behind that sentence. "Right. But still, she hates males with all of her being."
"Exactly. And yet, I feel it in my soul that she is very important to me. The need to be closer to her just like the need I have to be closer to you, Sal and Zoë." Perseus replied.
She had been so shocked at hearing Artemis' name, that she had initially overlooked the other two women.
"Do you perhaps have a thing for sworn eternal maidens?" Hestia snarked at him, making him blink his eyes in surprise. He had never seen Hestia do that.
"No. I think it was just Fate screwing me over as much as it could, by trying to make me fall for ladies who could never love me back. Hah, suck it old ladies. I got them to like me." He sassed the last part at the sky, hoping that the three bitches of Fate heard him.
Hestia just shook her head fondly at him. The sassy, confident and charming prince that she liked was back.
"Soo, when can I meet this Salicia you speak of?" Hestia asked with a neutral tone, making Percy sigh in relief that she didn't seem to be openly hostile to the other girls. Not that he expected her to ever be. Hestia's kindness seemed to have no bounds.
"I can ask her to come over when she's free, if you want." The prince of Atlantis spoke as he shrugged.
Hestia just nodded. "So, what should we do in the meanwhile?" She asked him curiously.
"Well, I don't have any lessons with my mother or training with Triton today, so I might have an idea." Percy spoke as he smirked, walking towards Hestia.
Tilting her head curiously, the innocent goddess asked, "What do you mean?" Her eyes widened when Percy leaned into her and pressed his lips to her, but soon went back to normal as she returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm.
Linebreak
Time : 18 August
Place : Throne room of Atlantis
"Nicee, kiddo! You clean up well." Were Triton's words as Perseus stepped out of his dressing room. The younger prince was currently wearing a pearly white dress shirt and black vest, along with black slacks, while a black tie similar to his slacks was hanging around his neck. He carried a similar black jacket on his shoulder, while he put on his Italian loafers. His long, messy hair had been gelled as they stayed in place for once, though they still looked untamed and wild. Well, at least he didn't give off the 'just got out of bed' vibe.
"I know that, brother. Oh, by the way, do me a favour, will you? Please go and find Sal, wherever she is. I am supposed to be entering the…. scene, with her." Spoke the younger son of Poseidon, as he finally put on his shoes and then proceeded to get his jacket on.
"Sure thing. Wait here, I'll find and send her here." Triton spoke as he stood up from his seat and walked out of the room.
Just as he walked out of the room, a cackling of flames was heard behind him, making Perseus turn around with a grin on his face.
"Hey Tia."
The goddess in question stood in front of him, studying him from head to toe, before stepping forward and dusting off some invisible dust from his shoulder. "You are looking every bit worthy of the prince of Atlantis." She smiled as she placed a small kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks Tia. You look nice too." Perseus replied as he smiled down at her.
"I am literally wearing the same coloured cloak I wear everyday, Percy." Hestia spoke indignantly.
"So what? To me, you always look beautiful." The son of Poseidon spoke cheesily as he stole a small kiss from Hestia.
"Save some cheesiness for me too, Percy." They heard an amused voice from the other side of the room.
The two lovers immediately broke apart as they turned in the direction of the voice. They let out a collective sigh of relief as they saw it was just Salicia. She was the only one who knew about their relationship, and the three of them planned to keep it like that for some time.
"Salicia" Hestia nodded with a small smile, but Percy could detect a hint of growling in her voice. Okay, so the girls hadn't yet become totally comfortable about sharing him with other girls, but then again, that was already expected. Percy was actually pretty happy that Hestia and Sal had not been downright murderous against each other. They were civil around each other, and respected their boundaries, which was pretty much everything Percy could ask for right now.
"Lady Hestia." Salicia bowed her head, but unlike Hestia, her voice didn't have anything other than politeness. She had accepted the fact that she would share Percy from long ago.
Speaking of Salicia, she was currently wearing a beautiful royal blue dress that matched Perseus's eyes almost perfectly. Her hair was tied in what Hestia termed as a 'high bun with braids', whatever the hell that is. To Percy, she looked as beautiful as Hestia.
Sal walked towards Percy and Hestia, reaching them and offering her hand to Percy.
The son of Poseidon took the palm of her hand in his and bent down to brush his lips against her knuckles in a welcoming gesture.
"Salicia, you look wonderful today." Percy smiled gently at his other lover, who smiled back with a small blush.
"Thank you, my prince. You look handsome too." She bowed her head slightly.
Percy just nodded, used to her referring to him so formally now and then.
"Well, now that we are here, let's get going, shall we?" Sal asked, before turning to Hestia and bowing her head again.
"Yes, I believe it is time." Perseus nodded as he turned to Hestia. "I wish you could be there with us, Hestia. But alas, my stubborn father refused to send an invitation to any resident of Olympus. And I believe he himself will be keeping a good watch on the scene."
"I know, Percy. But don't worry." Hestia smiled softly.
"How about you join us for lunch today, Hestia? I will speak to my father immediately." Perseus asked hopefully, wanting his lover to be with him on his birthday.
"I would love that, Percy." Hestia smiled once more, before kissing his cheek and disappearing in a flash of flames.
Turning to Salicia, Perseus spoke, "Let's get going, my lady."
Sal, deciding to poke some fun at him, replied, "Yes, let us proceed, dear future husband of mine."
Percy raised an eyebrow while looking at her, before chuckling and leading her towards the door, her hand slipping through his, interlinking at the elbow.
The couple reached the main hall of the palace, where they saw Lord Poseidon standing with Delphin, giving him some last minute instructions. Triton was standing in one corner of the room, speaking to Melite, while Mera was to the other side of the room, speaking to her grandmother/aunt, Lady Amphitrite.
When the members of the royal family saw Perseus enter the room with Salicia, they immediately dropped what they were doing and moved towards him.
"Ahhh!!! There he is! Happy Birthday, my son!" Poseidon boomed loudly, before walking towards Percy and clapping his back.
The next person to reach him was his mother and niece/cousin. Ughh. That stupid putá Triton. He just had to make his already confusing relations even more confusing by having a kid with his aunt, huh?
"Happy birthday, dear. You are looking every bit the prince of Atlantis today." Amphitrite spoke happily as she pressed a small kiss to his forehead.
"Happy Birthday Lord Perseus, slayer of the Leviathan, favourite son of the sea." Mera greeted him teasingly as she smiled at him, which was promptly returned with a huge grin from her uncle/cousin.
"Thanks, Blood rose of the ocean, you look pretty too." Percy shot back with a grin as Mera groaned audibly at the title bestowed upon her.
"Hey! Don't tease her like that." Sal scolded him playfully, earning a smile from both Mera and Amphitrite. At that moment, Poseidon called Mera's name, asking her to come over for something important.
"So, I see you decided to face the situation head on, huh?" Amphitrite asked Perseus and Salicia with a raised eyebrow, shifting her attention to their linked hands.
"Yes, mother. A... friend of mine advised me to look into my heart and soul for the answer, and this is what I got back." Perseus answered his mother's question with a small smile at his and Sal's linked hands.
Amphitrite's smile widened. "Good. I approve of it. You have my blessings." She spoke as she gave them a small nod, before turning around and walking towards her eldest son and youngest sister.
"See, your mother already loves me." Sal grinned at Percy, as he just smiled back.
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?" He replied, before turning around, hearing someone call his name.
"Hey kiddo. Showtime." Triton grinned at him from across the hall.
Perseus nodded and started to walk towards the door that would lead them to the majestic balcony of the Atlantean Palace. As the doors to the balcony opened, Perseus could hear the shouting and cheering of the crowd below him. The vibrations caused by the crowd's cheering and roaring was causing even the glass on the tenth floor of the palace to shudder.
"HAIL LORD POSEIDON."
"HAIL PRINCE PERSEUS."
"HAIL ATLANTIS."
Were the cheers that could be heard. Perseus and Salicia stood just behind the door, not yet entering the balcony.
They saw Delphin walk out to the balcony, as the cheering intensified.
In a voice that had been altered by his godly powers to be super loud, he announced,
"Fellow citizens of Atlantis, my dear brothers and sisters. Thirteen years ago, Lord Poseidon and Lady Amphitrite adopted a little boy. A boy not born to the sea, but yet accepted by it. That boy has now turned thirteen, and with feats to his name that match even Heracles' labours. That boy was none other than PRINCE PERSEUS, the son of our lord Poseidon and Lady Amphitrite. And today, we celebrate his thirteenth birthday.
So let's rejoice on this auspicious occasion, and send our well wishes to the prince and his family. TO PRINCE PERSEUS!!" Delphin ended by raising his right arm and placing it on his left pec in a closed fist.
The crowd roared loudly, "TO PRINCE PERSEUS!!!" As they too copied Delphin's actions.
"Now, my brethren, I present to you the lord and lady of Atlantis. The most powerful Olympian to ever live, LORD POSEIDON!! And his lovely wife, the pearl of the ocean, LADY AMPHITRITE!!" Delphin announced further as the king and queen of the seas walked out of the room and into the huge balcony. The cheering just intensified as the citizens of Atlantis got a glance of their king and queen.
Delphin slowly stepped back, letting his lord take the place at the railing, facing the crowd.
Poseidon gazed at the crowd from his place at the railing. Using his godly power and connection to the sea, he could sense that there were about three million mermen, mermaids, fish and other sea creatures in the crowd.
Letting the cheers tone down to a certain level, Poseidon finally spoke. "Thirteen years ago, I fulfilled a promise to a dear friend of mine by adopting his son and raising him as my own. And that has been one of the best decisions of my life. That little baby has since then grown up into a powerful, charismatic and overall amazing young man. A perfect prince of Atlantis. And I couldn't be more proud of him. So, without further delay, I want to present to you the man of the hour, the second in line to my throne, my youngest son, PRINCE PERSEUS."
Perseus walked out of the room and into the balcony, finally seeing the crowd. To say that it surprised him would be a gross understatement. He could tell with one glance that there were more than a million citizen of Atlantis present for the celebration.
"Accompanying him is a very special lady. The youngest daughter of General Dionirel, Lady Salicia." Delphin announced.
Salicia looked nervous at being the center of attention to such a large crowd. Wanting to reassure her, Perseus let his palm find her's, and then gave it a light squeeze. "Hey. It's fine. You look amazing and they can't get enough of you." He smiled down at her, as she grinned back.
"Lastly, let's call forward the heir to the throne of Atlantis, the firstborn prince of Atlantis, LORD TRITON. Accompanying him is his daughter, the blood rose of the sea, LADY MERA."
When Triton had entered the balcony and taken his seat, Poseidon again spoke. "On this auspicious occasion, I have an announcement to make. As you all know, the royal province of New Atlantis has always been the largest supplier of warriors for the Atlantean army. After thorough consultation from my family members and my most trusted Generals and Nobles, I have decided to name the most prolific warrior in all of Atlantis as the new Governor of this special province. My friends, here I present to you the new Governor of New Atlantis, Prince Perseus!!!"
The crowd was silent for a while, before a cheer much louder and enthusiastic than the previous ones rose from the crowd. It took fifteen whole minutes for the cheering to end.
Finally, Poseidon called Perseus forward to address the crowd.
Stepping in front of the railing, Perseus gazed at the crowd.
Taking a deep breath, he began speaking in a loud, confident voice.
"Citizen of Atlantis, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come and wish me. I can never repay the love and affection that I have received from you. You, my dear brethren, have played a very crucial role in making me the person I am today. You gave me just as much love as my family did. You gave me a reason to get better. You gave me a reason to be a better person so that I could help people. You gave me a reason to become a better warrior so that I could protect people. You are my family, citizens of Atlantis. And I just want you people to know that I feel extremely proud that you trust me enough to have me as the leader of one of the most important provinces of Atlantis. From this day forth, I pledge that from now on, Riptide will always, without fail, rise to the help and protection of each and every one of you. That is my promise to you. HAIL ATLANTIS!!!"
"HAIL ATLANTIS!!!!" The crowd chanted back again and again, making Percy smile and step back from the railing.
Once all the festivities were over, the royal family had a royal lunch, with Sal and Hestia joining them on Perseus' request.Poseidon had been initially confused that Hestia was present for the lunch, but luckily for Perseus and his lovers, Lady Amphitrite covered for them and told her husband that it was her who had invited the peaceful and gentle goddess. Poseidon accepted this reason without blinking an eye, happy that his eldest sister was present for the occassion.
After they were done, Perseus, Hestia and Sal walked back to Perseus' bedroom and plopped down onto the comfortable sofas.
"Soo, what do you plan to do later today, Perseus?" Hestia asked curiously, wondering what his plans for the day were.
This caused the boy in question to open his eyes and stare at her and Salicia with complete seriousness and a tinge of worry.
"We visit the hunt and tell Zoë about this."
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Anddd wrapp!
13.5k words!
A/N
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I'm back, baby! After about…. I don't even know how much time. But yeah, I hope I'm back for good this time. Life has been hard for me these past couple of months. Right when I had recovered from COVID 19, I had to attempt my class 12 Board exams. And after I finished them, tragedy struck our family as my grandfather passed away due to cardiac arrest.
So, I wasn't able to write for very long. Hope it doesn't happen in the future.
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Darkgamer08