Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter
The Unrelenting Frozen Seas: Symphony of Tempering
Chapter Two: Introduction to Atlantis
Beta: ShadowofAxios
Rhode was having breakfast with her father and her stepmother when the doors to the dining room were suddenly slammed open.
"Where is she?" Triton demanded loudly as he swam in radiating impatient excitement.
He was dressed in ornate armor, which made sense as according to what Rhode knew Triton had been out mobilizing their father's armies for the potential war that was brewing between their family and Zeus.
"Hello son. Welcome ba-" Father tried to say in greeting but Triton paid him no mind. Instead, he quickly zeroed in on Rhode and literally teleported to her side.
"Little sister, are you alright? Have the wounds from your fight with Electra been healed?" Her elder brother asked in quick succession as he took her hands and looked her over worriedly. "Do I have to go hunt that nymph down and introduce her to my trident?"
Rhode just blinked in shocked confusion. Not only because she was struggling to catch what the god was saying with how fast he was talking but also because she was confused by the sheer concern that he radiated. Sure, she knew her divine family cared about her wellbeing more than most gods did for their demigod relatives, but she never imagined it was to this extent.
"Triton," Amphitrite barked sternly. "Slow down. Can't you see you're startling your sister?"
"Oh," the god of navies said, looking chastised. "Sorry, Rhode. I was just worried."
"It's, um, okay. I get it." Rhode reassured her brother. "And I'm fine. All healed up. No need to go after Electra either. We don't need to escalate things into a war if we can help it."
Triton pouted at the last bit. "You are too merciful, but I understand where you are coming from. Though, if there is a war-"
"Then, son, you will have to wait in line." Dad said, shooting his son and heir a serious look. "I get first crack at Electra."
"Just leave something for me to smack around afterwards and we have a deal." Triton shot back with a grin.
Rhode felt heartened by the two gods' very serious declaration of intent to avenge her even as her stepmother rolled her eyes. Though since she didn't say anything the demigod imagined she agreed with the sentiment behind them even if not what they were saying.
Rhode was still getting over her brother's concern for her when said god turned to her once more.
"Rhode, does your wardrobe need updating?"
"I have handled that," Amphitrite said, chuckling with amusement at the pout her statement engendered from her son.
"Then has a welcome ball been organized for Rhode?"
"It's tomorrow night." Dad said, surprising Rhode who was hearing this for the first time. "We were waiting for some proper formalwear to be made ready for her."
If possible Triton's pout grew even more pronounced.
"Then… Ah! I know!" He declared, buoyed by whatever idea had struck him. "Why don't I take you out on a tour of our domains? I need to do a tour of them anyways as part of our preparedness review. Taking you along to see the sights would be killing two birds with one stone as the land dwellers say. What do you think sister?"
"Uh, I'm okay with that. Dad? Amphitrite?" Rhode asked, turning to her father and stepmother for their approval.
"You will have to keep a close eye on her, Triton, but you have my approval." Dad said easily enough.
"Yes," Amphitrite added. "An assassin already attacked her once where she should have been safe. We cannot let that happen a second time."
"Do not worry, Father, Mother." Triton assured his parents. "I will keep my little sister safe. I swear it."
Rhode's heart swelled at her brother's words.
In the afternoon later the next day, Rhode was talking to Luke and Annabeth over I.M. in her room. She had already caught them up on being in Atlantis etc. long ago. They weren't happy she was stuck in Atlantis but understood the necessity of it and hoped she could return to Camp soon, so right now she's just catching them up on the upcoming ball.
"All this getting you to pretend you're some kind of princess is bullshit, Rhode." Luke said with an annoyed shake of head. "I don't know why you're putting up with it."
"You do realize that I kinda am." Rhode reminded him.
"She is Lord Poseidon's daughter." Annabeth added. "And he is the King of Atlantis, so she is a princess in a way."
"Well, she shouldn't be forced to act like one if she doesn't want to." Luke declared with a roll of his eyes. "She's only doing it because Poseidon and Amphitrite are forcing her to."
"That's not the case at all." Rhode retorted with a frown. "Amphitrite explained why it would be a good thing but it was my decision to play along to not embarrass my family. I'm just helping them out while I'm here. Sure, it's kind of weird, but nothing I can't manage. Heck, it's even a little nice."
"Is that why you are always wearing those fancy dresses nowadays, Rhode?" Annabeth teased. "You're a regular reenactor now, dressing up in period dresses everyday."
"Hey, I make this corset look good!" Rhode mock raged with a small snort as she ran her hands over the corseted bodice of the dress she was wearing. "But to be honest… I actually do like dressing up like this. Not saying I'll dress up like this all the time when I get back. But sometimes? I think I'd like to."
"Ethan and Emily will love to hear that," Annabeth said with a smile. "But whatever the case, so long as you're happy. I'm happy for you too."
"Thanks Bethy."
"So~ Any other nice dresses you've got in your new wardrobe that you haven't shown me yet?" Annabeth asked, a sparkle in her eyes. "I want to see!"
"I think I saw one dress that was made out of seaweed! It's hilarious, but apparently it's highly fashionable down here."
"Really!? I've got to see it!"
"Sure, Estella- Oh, you've brought it over already. Thank you!" Rhode said, as the aforementioned Nereid handmaiden held up the aforementioned dress in front of the I.M. mirror so Annabeth could see it clearly.
"And you have handmaidens? You really are a princess now." Rhode actually blushed at this, but thankfully Bethy didn't comment and instead turned her attention to the dress. "And the dress? It looks actually nice, huh. Go figure. Guess with someone like Lady Amphitrite helping you pick it out, you couldn't go wrong."
"I know right? Anyways, there are a couple more nice ones I think you'd like to see."
"Really?"
"Yup," Rhode said with a mischievous grin as the discussion devolved into a chat between herself and Bethy about her new clothes.
Luke didn't add anything further to the discussion, just sat there looking pissed. Rhode didn't really know why. What got him so riled up? Was it because they had been talking about fashion and it was too girly for him? Surely not, right?
"Hey Luke," Rhode said, hoping to pull her friend back into the conversation. "What's been happening in Camp lately?"
"Not much since you checked in with Li yesterday," Luke said with a disinterested shrug.
"That's not true," Annabeth said with an raised eyebrow. "Chiron left Camp last night. Something about a new demigod that Grover found. Apparently he claims the kid is 'powerful' and he wanted a second opinion."
Luke had an odd look at the mention of how the kid was powerful. Rhode would almost consider it covetous. Like he somehow wanted the kid's power for himself.
Surely, he can't be thinking that. Rhode thought as she shook her head. I must just be imagining things.
"Well, I hope Grover has better luck this time. It's his last chance after going through training again, right? If he fails this time, he won't get another chance to get his Searcher's License, right?"
Luke and Bethy agreed with a shared nod.
"Apologies, my lady." Thekla, her other Nereid handmaiden, cut in. "But we need to start getting ready for the ball soon."
"That time already? Man, it flies." Rhode said with a sigh before she turned back to her friends. "Alright guys. I love you. Hopefully this whole thing blows over soon and we can go back to how things were. Tell Su and Lee I love them too and I'll catch up with them later. And help me drop by the infirmary to check on Jack too if you can find the time."
"We will," Bethy promises whilst Luke just gave a half-hearted shrug.
Rhode frowned at Luke's response, but guessed she couldn't get more out of him.
"Bye guys, Rhode out!" With that the daughter of Poseidon deactivated the I.M.
Rhode was dressed in a dark blue floral print, beaded dress made of tulle and satin and felt slightly uncomfortable.
She had been wearing a lot of dresses lately to fit in as the princess of the House of Atlantis that she was and she was somewhat used to them. They were a lot more feminine than she was used to sure, but those dresses and what she was wearing today were completely different. The stuff she had been wearing day to day since arriving in Atlantis at least covered everything or almost so and so made her feel safe. If she was to be put on display like a princess, she at least wanted that little bit of comfort at least. But the dress that Amphitrite had got her to wear tonight exposed her shoulders and the v-neck cut of its neckline showcased her bosom in a way that made her just a touch uncomfortable.
Now, don't get her wrong, she wasn't adverse to attention. Nor was it new to her. She'd had plenty of admirers since she started, ahem, growing into her figure but that was when she wasn't openly putting on a show for onlookers and could ignore them. But as a princess, like she said, she just couldn't do that. She had to give a good impression, in every way possible, so as to avoid embarrassing her family. Even if doing so made Rhode hyper aware of all the looks from the members of her Dad's court who were looking at her. Some of them, more than she would like to admit even, doing so like a slice of meat they'd like to devour. Some even literally.
"Relax, my lady." Estella whispered reassuringly into her ear as the three of them lurked in a corner of the ballroom where they had retreated to as soon as it was polite to do so.
Strictly speaking it wasn't exactly polite for the ball's guest of honour to hide away like this. But Amphitrite and Triton had assured her that it was fine to take a break after the introductions were done and had even escorted her to this very corner, so she supposed it was alright. If she was away too long, she was sure one of them would come fetch her.
"I'll try Estella," Rhode told the nymph with a grateful smile.
Both her handmaidens offered her reassuring smiles in reply and Rhode felt immensely grateful for their support.
Suddenly there was a burst of light accompanying an incoming teleportation and Rhode turned towards its source with a frown.
"I thought all the expected guests had already arrived?" Rhode asked as she swam/walked towards the new arrival.
"They have," Thekla said whilst exchanging a confused look with Estella.
They were just through the crowd and caught a glimpse of the unexpected guest when both of Rhode's handmaidens gasped at the sight of the woman that stood before Triton. Her hair was as dark as the abyss of the sea, her eyes a haunting blue that seemed to pierce the deepest of boundaries with a mere glance. Coral decorated her flowing black dress like little colored stars and she further accessorized her look by wearing a fishing net for a shawl.
She's got to be a goddess. But who though? And why would her showing up cause such a reaction from Estella and Thekla?
"Lady Despoina?" Estella said, blinking in confusion. "Why is she here? She never attends any events down here in Atlantis."
"Lady Despoina?" Rhode asked as she tried to place the name. "Isn't she the goddess of mystery? Dad's daughter with Aunt Demeter?"
"Yes, my lady." Thekla confirmed just as the goddess in question turned away from exchanging what looked like heated words with Triton and caught a glimpse of Rhode.
The look lasted only a few seconds, but somehow Rhode felt like Despoina had managed to see down to the darkest depths of her being with just that one brief glance.
It might have been the case too, as the goddess quickly looked away and with a victorious smirk she teleported away.
"Uh, what just happened?" Rhode said, giving voice to the confusion that permeated the entire ballroom.
"I do not know, Rhode," Amphitrite said as she drifted over, a frown on her face. "But I fear it is nothing good."
"Yes," Triton said in agreement as he too began making a beeline towards Rhode. "Nothing ever good comes with a visit from Despoina."
"You only say that son because Despoina won Eurotas' affections where you failed." Dad said with a laugh and a dismissive shake of his head as he too came over.
"And my concerns husband?" Amphitrite asked, with an arched eyebrow. "How are you going to dismiss them?"
Dad rolled his eyes.
"You're letting your feelings for Despoina cloud your judgement Amphitrite," Dad told her. "Everyone knows you don't like her."
Both Triton and Amphitrite frowned at Dad's dismissive attitude and Rhode was inclined to agree. While she wasn't sure Despoina meant her harm, Rhode couldn't shake the feeling that the goddess was up to something.
"Now enough of this foolishness," Dad said with a tone of mild rebuke. "This is a ball. Go mingle and enjoy yourselves."
"Yes Dad," Rhode said, even as it was the last thing she wanted to do.
Even as she said she'd go mingle, Rhode didn't know the first thing on how exactly she was supposed to do that. Thankfully, Estella and Thekla were there to guide her and with their help she made a circuit of the room and did her best to make herself look open to conversation.
Many approached her but generally did not make much of an impression on her. The nereids and various other daimons of the court all acted overawed in her presence. None of the gods present came over, seemingly content to just observe her from a distance.
They probably think interacting with a demigod is below them or something.
"It is more accurate to say my peers fear interacting with you and incurring Lord Poseidon's wrath." A handsome youth said as he came over.
"Greetings, Lord Palaemon." Rhode said with a curtsy, remembering the god's name from the formal introductions at the start of the ball. "Did you read my mind?"
"No, that would be rude." The Protector of sailors said with a grin that had most of the nereids, fortunately excluding Estella and Thekla, around them swooning. "But it was not hard to deduce based on your expression, Lady Rhode. It is a common misunderstanding demigods, especially those of the Big Three or the Olympians, make about us gods. That we universally look down upon half-bloods."
"My apologies, Lord Palaemon, it seems I have misjudged you and the other gods." Rhode said with an apologetic bow. All whilst thanking Lady Sophrosyne that she was able to manage any reply besides swooning.
Divinity really was unfair. Seriously, how could someone be so handsome? Rhode blamed her hormones. Her now highly questionable hormones.
"No offense taken. Like I said it is a common misconception to make. After all, your belief is not entirely untrue. However, it is often tempered and mixed with fear of a demigod's divine parent. It is not uncommon for such parents to take serious offense and exact retribution should they perceive a minor god has mistreated one of their children in any way."
"I see," Rhode nodded, feeling enlightened. "Though might I presume that you did not come over to teach me this, Lord Palaemon?"
"Oh, yes. When I heard about the vaulted daughter of our great Lord Poseidon had finally arrived here in Atlantis? I told myself I just had to see her for myself. My dear Princess Rhode, I know we have already exchanged introductions but let me do so again. I am Palaemon, god of sharks, harbors and sailors. I am honored to meet you."
Rhode felt he was laying it on thick, but then again in a divine court, these kinds of things were normal right? She nodded and offered her hand, which he readily took.
"Hello Lord Palaemon, it's a pleasure to meet you as well." Rhode curtsied with one hand as the god kissed her offered hand, his lips lingering a bit longer then she liked.
Pulling her hand away as gracefully as she could manage, Rhode took a step away from the shark god. It was a clear sign that she wanted to end the conversation but if the god perceived it, he chose not to acknowledge it.
"I would like to be friends with you, Princess, if it were possible." He said, offering her his supernaturally perfect smile once more.
"I would like that," Rhode said politely as she took another step away from Palaemon, even as he took one himself to close the distance.
Okay. This is officially crossing over into the uncomfortable category. Rhode concluded. Uh! I dunno if anyone can hear me, but Dad, Amphitrite, Triton? Anyone? A little help?
"Truly?" Palaemon said, his smile growing even more broad. "I am honoured. When is the next time that you are available my lady? I would very much like to show you my Megalodon."
Is he being literal or is that a metaphor? Rhode thought even as she suppressed a shudder. Either way she wanted no part in what Palaemon was offering.
"Palaemon! Ease off my sister." Triton said with a smile as he appeared out of nowhere and put an arm around the lower ranked god. "You're being too forward and making her uncomfortable."
"I was only wishing to show our Princess a proper tour of Atlantis. Nothing sinister, Lord Triton."
"Well too bad, Palaemon, because I've got that problem situated." Triton said, the smile that Rhode realized was forced never leaving his face. "It's my way of spoiling my sister. Father and Mother covered everything else."
"Is that so?" Palaemon said with a sigh. "That is disappointing. I had hoped to get to know Lady Rhode a little better."
"Well… Maybe you can help me on the tour of the sights? Join us for a bit even?" Triton suggested with just a tinge of frustration. "Tell you what! Let's go over there and discuss the details. We can give Rhode a breather in the meantime and surprise her with what we come up with. That sound good?"
"It sounds like a brilliant idea. After you, Lord Triton."
Rhode sent her divine brother a mental thumbs-up.
"Let us not let Lord Triton's sacrifice be in vain shall we?" A familiar voice said as Thetis of all people suddenly appeared out of nowhere and hooking an arm around one of Rhode's pulled her away. "He can't stand Lord Palaemon, so being so nice to him must be torturous for him."
Rhode winced and made a mental note to do something nice to repay her brother later. Now though, she had something just as, if not more, important to do. But first there was a minor mystery she had to figure out.
"Lady Thetis-"
"Just Thetis will do, Princess." Thetis said cutting her off, teasingly using Rhode's title as a mild rebuke as they stopped a safe distance away from the two gods.
"Thetis then," Rhode acknowledged with a nod as Thetis let her arm go. "What are you doing here? I didn't see you at the formal introductions."
"I wasn't one of the main guests," Thetis told her with an amused smile. "I am after all despite my fame, only a Nereid. I was not included in those you exchanged formal introductions at the start of the ball."
"Oh," Rhode said, blushing as she realized just how uninformed she was about court etiquette. Surely, knowing this was part of the basics.
"Don't worry about it, child." Thetis reassured her. "You will learn what you need to and Estella and Thekla will be there to assist you as you do."
"It is our honour to do so, sister." Rhode's two Nereid handmaidens said with a nod to their much more famous sister.
Well, I guess that's the mystery solved. Rhode thought even as she offered her handmaidens grateful smiles. Now comes the hard part.
"Uh, Thetis, there is something I need to give you."
"I have an idea of what you have in mind." Thetis said with a sombre expression. "It is my son's shield?"
"Yes," Rhode said with a grave look of her own as she turned to Estella, who presented the broken remains of the Shield of Achilles to the legendary warrior's mother.
Rhode had known that it was possible that Thetis would attend the ball and had made sure to have the remains of the Shield on hand for just the occasion, even going so far as to have contacted Su back in Camp via I.M. beforehand and had her ship it to her by Hermes Express.
Thetis' breath hitched in dismay as she looked at the wreck of her son's shield.
"I'm glad to have it back," Thetis admitted as she took the wreck back with shaking hands.
"I am so sorry." Rhode said, feeling saddened as if she had failed the Nereid in a way.
"No, no, it's not your fault." Thetis said with a shake of her head as she held the Shield to her chest. "I will have it repaired and returned to you as soon as possible."
Rhode didn't know if that was what she wanted. She knew how important the Shield was to Thetis and she'd already destroyed it once. Could she risk taking it back and putting it in danger of being wrecked again? Sure, it was a powerful defensive artifact but… She already had one of those already in the Pallas Armor didn't she? Did she still need the Shield of Achilles too?
Before she could decide though, Thetis departed cradling the Shield.
"Did you just make Thetis cry?" A burly man of a god said angrily as he stormed up to Rhode a moment after the aforementioned nymph had fled.
"She was crying?" Rhode asked, concerned. A pit forming in her stomach.
"Yes, she was." The god said, radiating anger. "Now tell me what you did, mortal, to bring one of the most kind-hearted women in all the world to tears!"
"I just was returning her son's shield to her, Lord Glaucus." Rhode told the god of fishermen. "It was broken in a battle…"
"Typical," the former mortal spat, sounding disgusted. "I suppose it was broken because of you?"
"Yes, it was. I-"
"And you waited till now to return it? Were you trying to embarrass Thetis in front of the whole Atlantean court?"
"I-"
"Didn't realize that's what you were doing?"
Rhode just kept her mouth shut, trying to keep her temper in check. The god would just talk over her no matter what she tried to say it seemed. Even she could see that he was just attacking her at this point.
"You mortals are all the same. I should know, I was one of you once." The god in the guise of a blue-skinned merman, with copper-green hair and a serpentine fish-tail in place of legs continued with his rant. "You get a smidgen of influence or power and you think you're above everyone. Just like you. Just because you're Lord Poseidon's favorite doesn't give you the right to treat people like Thetis like trash, you hear me?"
"I didn't mean to."
"No, you were just being a spoilt brat." Glaucus told Rhode, his eyes narrowed in loathing. "Just like the rest of you Western kids these days. All of you are 'rebels without a cause' while completely forgetting all the hard work society and your families put into giving you lot the space and freedom to be like that."
Why does he sound like one of those stereotypical 'back in my day' types? Rhode asked herself, as she settled herself in for a lecture.
"Just look at yourself, Lady Rhode." Glaucus continued, speaking Rhode's title with such disdain that spoke volumes of how little he thought she was worthy of it. "At that magical school of yours, you did things that should have got you expelled and you didn't get any punishment and was sometimes even rewarded. And then in your daily life, you do your best to defy norms just for the sake of it. What good does it do? Does it make you any happier? At whose expense? Your mentors' exasperation and worry?"
The only answer Rhode gave him was silence, her face looking as though it was carved from stone. Though even as she tried her best to ignore the god's rant. There was an uncomfortable feeling in her gut that his criticisms were at least somewhat valid. She was a rebel, but did she have a cause?
"Glaucus, I believe we've heard your thoughts loud and clear." Triton said, swimming over with a small frown on his face. "How deep in your cups are you to make such a spectacle?"
"You know I can hold my alcohol, Lord Triton." The god of fisherman retorted. "But I'll back off. Just wanted to give your sister a reality check is all."
"Of course, but perhaps we should return to the festivities instead of browbeating my half-blood sister with your 'wisdom'?"
"Ain't nothing wise about me." Glaucus said with a laugh as he turned away and began swimming away. "Just an old man being blunt about what he sees is all."
"Thank you for that, Lord Glaucus," Rhode said, offering the retreating god a grateful bow. While she didn't completely agree with him, if at all, his opinion did make her think and reevaluate herself a little. She was grateful for that if nothing else.
"Don't mind old Glaucus too much, Rhode." Triton reassured her once the other god was a good distance away. "He is just bitter because kids these days don't respect the old ways."
"Is that feeling common among gods?" Rhode asked, biting her lower lip worriedly as she felt she already knew the answer and didn't like it.
"It is," Triton admitted with a sigh. "But most say the good outweighs the bad about modernity."
"I see." Rhode said, feeling even more uneasy. "I need to think about this."
"Yes, but later." Triton said with a smile. "For now, you have a ball to enjoy. The dancing is about to begin. I actually came over to invite you to be my partner for the opening dance."
"Shouldn't I as the host have that honor?" Dad said as he appeared out of nowhere to loom over Triton's back.
"I asked first," Triton shot back immediately and the two gods quickly descended into an argument.
"Quick Rhode, while they're distracted." Amphitrite said as she teleported in, caught Rhode's hand and teleported them both directly onto the dance floor.
"That was cheating," Rhode observed with a giggle at her stepmother's little trick.
"Maybe, but all's fair in love and war." The Queen of the Seas replied with a mischievous grin. "Besides, since you're still new to our dances I'd avoid dancing with your father and brother as much as possible. They're horrible dancers and will leave your feet aching if you don't know how to avoid it which with your inexperience-"
"I get it, avoid dancing with Dad and Triton too much or get sore feet tomorrow."
Amphitrite nodded as the music began and she began guiding her carefully through the first steps of the barely familiar dance.
"Isn't this a little weird." Rhode managed to say even as she paid as much attention as she could on keeping up with the steps. "I mean we're both women."
"A mother teaching a daughter how to dance is perfectly acceptable," Amphitrite replied without hesitation, causing a surge of warmth to fill Rhode's breast.
As the night progressed, Rhode found herself enjoying things. The dancing and getting to know new people was surprisingly fun. And whenever things got too much her family or handmaidens would pull her aside so she could take a breather so she was never overwhelmed. All in all, by the end of it the daughter of Poseidon had to admit that maybe these kinds of things weren't so bad.
As part of the Atlantean court's activities, feasts were a regular thing. Not everyday, but at least once a week there was at least one feast for some reason or the other. At these regular feasts, Rhode tended to keep a low profile. She didn't know anywhere near enough about the court politics to get involved after all, so unless it was a conversation with her family or she was directly spoken to by someone else, she just kept quiet.
It was tough, but it was what Amphitrite recommended and she had come to trust her stepmother's advice. And it was working great. She'd been in Atlantis for almost a month already and she had survived her fair share of feasts and it was fully her intent to do so today as well. She was going to get a chance to spend the day with her Dad tomorrow and she was especially against getting into trouble today.
Unfortunately, Lady Tyche wasn't with her.
"Hey, I just noticed something," an old daimon said. He was a sponge type beast man that looked like a human with a giant glass sponge wrapped around his aged human face like an elaborate collar. "Doesn't Lady Rhode look a bit like Lady Rhea?"
"What nonsense are you spouting, Hexactinellid?" Another daimon, an octopus man that bore a somewhat unsettling resemblance to Cthulu sans the wings shot back. "Is that your age talking? Or are you just drunk?"
"I'll have you know, I've only had thirty six cups tonight!"
"Hmm… Actually, I think Hexactinellid has a point." One of the oldest Nereids said as she looked at Rhode critically.
"Really?" Rhode asked, surprised.
"I must agree," Dad said as he leaned over to give her a closer look. "There is a resemblance. You do have Mother's eyes."
There was a murmur of agreement among the gathered members of the Atlantean court inside the feasting hall.
"Aren't they your eyes?"
"I had to get them from somewhere." Dad smiled with a wink. "Besides I got the rest of my facial features from him, so that dilutes the similarities. Your feminine features on the other hand accentuates it."
"Oh." Rhode said with surprise, her face warming at being compared to her divine grandmother. She was a big deal after all, so it was a pleasant surprise.
"I wonder if that's the only similarity?" Hexactinellid mused. "Tell me, my lady, do you have an appreciation for the arts like Lady Rhea?"
"I do like to draw in my spare time." Rhode lightly confessed.
"You must show us sometime." Amphitrite said with a smile even as Triton nodded enthusiastically.
"I'll be glad to do so." Rhode said with a blush.
"This is pretty good, Rhode." Poseidon said with a thoughtful hum the next day as they stood in her room, the first stop in the one day her Dad had set aside from the hectic preparations for war to spend with her.
"I just sketch out whatever strikes my fancy. Though I do have to say, I never knew dolphins were so majestic on a pad. I mean, they've always been photogenic for me, but this seems nicer."
"Dolphins always take pride in looking their best, no matter the situation." Dad nodded sagely. "I could tell you a handful of times when a dolphin diplomat dressed in a suit helped smooth over a crisis."
"I have more back at Camp with the rest of my stuff." Rhode said as Dad picked up another of her sketches. "Uh, maybe, I can show them to you another time."
"I would like that." Poseidon said with a smile. "Let us hope that I find the time sometime."
"So how does my work compare to Grandmother?"
"Hm, she's more of a traditionalist. Then again she picked it up after the Titanomachy." Dad said with a nostalgic grin. "There was only what we'd call traditionalist styles back then."
"I guess you're right." Rhode said with a nod. "She into other arts?"
"Oh, all of them." Dad said with a chuckle. "She was very free back then and was exploring her options, falling in love with the arts in the process."
"That's cool." Rhode said with a smile.
"Anything else you want to show me?" Dad said as he put down the sketch that he was looking at.
"Nope," Rhode said with a shake of her head. "That's the last of the ones that I got finished."
"Then let's start the tour of the palace then." Dad said, offering Rhode an arm.
Giggling at her father's antics, Rhode happily slipped an arm into his offered one. "Lead the way, Dad."
Dad spent the rest of the day showing his palace off to her. She even saw her buddy Chomper doing some courtly business, namely herding some mackerel pilgrims. The shark had not only gotten bigger which only made what he was doing, wrangling a bunch of tiny fishes, look absolutely hilarious.
"You sure it's okay to spend time with me since things have been so busy?" Rhode asked, feeling a touch bad that she could be getting in the way of something.
"It's alright. I needed a break. Besides, Amphitrite has been spending so much time with you, I was starting to feel jealous!" He said with a hearty chuckle and flashed a reassuring smile.
Rhode blushed. She had been spending a lot of time with her stepmother lately. The goddess had taken her all over Atlantis. Mainly to its malls where they'd liberally added to Rhode's wardrobe and jewelry collection, much to the demigod's exasperation. Though she wasn't about to deny her stepmother. She got the feeling the goddess hadn't had a chance to spoil anyone like she was doing to her in a long time and was savoring the chance. Who was Rhode to deny her?
"Well, we can't have that can we?" Rhode said with a smile, even as she blushed. "You getting jealous of your wife, I mean."
"No, we cannot." Dad said with a chuckle.
"So where to now, Dad?"
"I was thinking perhaps the stables? Been a while since I was there, I heard a few new colts were born. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."
"I think I'll like to too."
The Atlantean stables were worlds away from the stables of the surface world. It resembled more a coral reef than their terrestrial counterparts with small nooks in between the corals rather than standard stalls and giant clam shells on hinges acting as the stall doors.
"Man, now I wonder how the stable at Camp is." Rhode said as she petted a sleepy little hippocampus colt inside one of those stalls. "Usually during the summer I handle most of the equine lessons and take care of the stable. I wonder who they have covering for me? Plus Flóga must be worrying her big heart out."
"Flóga should be fine, she is a fine mare from what I recall, she'll handle things I'm sure. And having a talent for horses is always a good thing. I swear Chiron nudges most of my children towards the stable just to keep them from misbehaving." Dad snorted as he was inspecting one of the other newborn colts. "Which is quite a sacrifice for him, I suppose. I know how much stables make him nervous."
Rhode laughed at that, feeding a young mare some kelp. "Thanks for confirming that! We always joke about it, but it's good to know we were right on the money."
"Shh, don't mention me when it comes up." Her Dad said with a mischievous grin.
"...Is it wrong to just wish moments like this lasted forever?" Rhode suddenly asked as she stroked the mare.
She knew that right now, she was possibly one of the luckiest half-bloods around. Actually getting to live with your divine parent? How many at Camp wished for a single day of this?
Dad pursed his lips, looking thoughtful while stroking his beard. "Not really. It's times of peace that I think are what we should hope for most. It's such an important thing. I still remember Winston praying to me for such as if it was only a few days ago. Mortal peace is a good thing, divine peace I think is even more so. Hopefully my brother can hold his temper long enough before it escalates further."
"Wasn't Churchill advocating for war?" Rhode asked, blinking in confusion as she recalled her history lessons.
"I didn't say he was unwilling to fight. He was praying for the war to end in victory as quickly as possible. That and as many naval victories as possible too. Triton loved the boy for that." Dad explained with a light laugh as he put the colt back into his pen.
"I think we should make our move." Dad said with a grin for the hippocampi. "The colts and their mother need their rest."
Thank you for your consideration, my lord. The mare said with a respectful bow. But please take your time. My colts and I are at your service.
Rhode had a soft smile on her face as she looked at the new family. It made her heart feel a little lighter inside.
"It's alright," Rhode told the new mother. "Dad's right. You and your babies need your rest. We'll be going now."
Thank you, my lady. The mare said, bowing to Rhode.
Smiling happily, Rhode turned to leave with Dad following behind her.
"And this is the palace's alchemical lab," Dad said some time later as they stood outside a large lab where mermen and nereids were busy crafting all kinds of potions.
The idea of potions reminded her of the boy who had drugged her with a love potion during her 5th Year at Hogwarts and how she never found out about what happened to him.
"Hey Dad, random question but what happened to that boy from my fifth year? You know the one who tried to drug me?"
"I remember who you're talking about." Dad said in an angry growl.
Rhode felt like there was an earthquake somewhere going off.
"So, um, what happened to him." The brunette asked, wary of her father's anger. She really saw where she got it from.
"No one will ever find the family's bodies," Dad explained. "Triton turned them into sea monkeys after torturing them for a few days."
"You're kidding?" Rhode asked, horrified. "What did his family do to deserve that?"
"The boy's parents, grandparents and most of his aunts and uncles were in on the plan to potion you." Dad told her, his face twisted into a rictus of anger. "His parents even provided the potion. They aimed to drug you into joining their family. We were fair though and let the innocent go, even used the Mist to wipe their memory of their detention."
"That's, uh, fair." Rhode said lamely.
"Yes, it was." Dad said decisively. "Now then, let's continue the tour shall we?"
"Sure, Dad." Rhode said with a tentative nod, doing her best to shake off the unease of what she'd just learned.
"There you two are," Amphitrite called out as Rhode and Dad made their way through the palace's central courtyard back from a walk through the gardens.
"Amphitrite," Dad greeted his wife. "You were looking for us?"
"Yes, I was." The Queen of the Seas told them with a smile. "I heard you two were having a tour of the palace but have not made any plans to visit the baths? Shame."
"The baths?" Rhode said with a nervous blush. She had steadfastly been avoiding the baths since arriving in Atlantis. She knew full well that an old school Greek bath, like the one that the palace had, was as much a place to socialize as it was to get cleaned up. Socializing in the nude! Rhode wasn't really comfortable with that and so had avoided that, choosing to use the showers in her rooms instead.
"Yes," Amphitrite said with a nod. "You must have a soak in one of the mineral water pools. Just like with your shower between the different chemical content and magic, it's the same as a terrestrial bath like you might be familiar with. So no worries on that front."
That wasn't what I was worrying about…
"You haven't tried them yet?" Dad asked, surprised.
"Uh, no, Dad. Not yet!"
"Then you must." Dad said as he put a hand behind her back and began pushing her in the direction of the baths. "A soak in the baths is truly a fantastic experience, especially after a long day."
"And don't worry about being uncomfortable about having to be naked." Amphitrite said, leaning in to whisper into Rhode's ear. "It'll only be us there. Surely, you're not embarrassed to be naked in front of family."
Rhode blushed. So she knew my real worries too.
"Uh, yeah." Rhode said with a nod. "Of course, I'm not."
Even if she really was. A little. But it did make things a little better. I mean, they were family. So it was perfectly okay. Right?
"We can have seaweed wraps too." Amphitrite cajoled. "They are great for the skin."
"Dad too?" Rhode asked teasingly, trying to change the topic a little.
"I'll stick to a simple massage but I'll keep you two company as long as you'll have me." Dad offered with a grin.
"You're always welcome, Dad." Rhode told her father as they along with her stepmother continued their way to the baths.
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless and Axios as always!
Man now this was a fun chapter! So many little things sprinkled on to a whole lot of other things! XD Rhode's been learning a lot so far, but also seemed to be reflecting on others. I don't think she's ever had a moment to just think about these things, mostly she's been in her routine. I think the change of scenery is doing her some good. I personally loved the stable scene and the ball scene.
Nameless: Reflecting on stuff and changing herself because of that are two different things though. Rhode will walk away from this experience a more mature person sure, but I dunno by how much. She is Stubborn. And yes that capitalization and emphasizing itacilization is necessary. She'll try though and will make at least some progress. It'll be uneven though with her growing in some areas where she is more open, like in dealing with her godly family, especially Amphitrite and Triton, as actual family, but might not change much in other areas like say the romance department. Tough to make any progress there considering the curses pinned on her.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!