My father was an impressive looking man – which wasn't hard when you're three metres tall – with dark hair and bright green eyes. He looked so much like Percy that it was almost impossible to tell that one was a god, and the other only half god. He looked so normal. Handsome, admittedly, but all gods were, but normal. I couldn't look anywhere other than his face, because there were crinkles at the corners of his eyes and on his cheeks from his endless smiling, and the way he was looking at me made everything inside me just burst with this pure emotion of unyielding and unconditional love that I thought that it would be a high I would never come down from. Now I knew for certain all those hints Hermes had dropped none too inconspicuously were true. Dad truly did love us. Even if we couldn't see or feel it, that didn't make it any less true. "Nerida, dearest daughter, as your father I am proud to call you my own, and would reward you for your tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty to your loved ones. I hope Percy appreciates just how much you care for him, and how much you have sacrificed for his sake." His smiling eyes then turned to Percy who I heard gulp behind me, making me grin slightly. "You lost something during your battle against Typhon. Unfortunately it was broken apart and only pieces salvaged, but I give you my word that it shall be forged anew, even better than before, and returned to you. You shall have Amaryllis again, my water lily."
All at once that old memory burst in my head again, but this time, it was all so clearer. Poseidon was holding me up in his hands, smiling brightly and the golden glow wasn't from his godly nature, but from the sunset as he walked with me along the beach, mom watching us whilst sitting on a picnic blanket with a baby Percy cradled in her arms. I was laughing as he lifted me high up before then bringing me back into his arms, which were firm and strong as I grasped at his beard which made him chuckle. I remember hearing him speak, the words echoing in the back of my mind. "Careful now, my little water lily. Don't pull on daddy's beard." It was so ridiculously mundane and simple, yet still I was near enough ready to cry. I forced myself to remain calm, lifting my head and managing a stiff nod with a near silent 'thank you' and an awkward bow before walking away to return to Percy and Annabeth. I was filled with a great deal of uncertainty, not knowing if the memory really was real, but hearing the nickname 'water lily' really had stirred something that I couldn't quite explain.
Turning, I kept my face focused on the floor, letting my sight fade without even really realising it so that I didn't have to look at anyone or anything. The tears were still threatening to spill, so I rubbed my face with the sleeve of the jacket which was the Golden Fleece, and hoped no one noticed that I was discreetly trying to dry my eyes. I listened as Percy was offered immortality but turned it down after looking at Annabeth and considering for a few moments. I'd switched back to sight – it was actually really useful, as my senses did not dull even when I could see – and instead asked for a different gift just as I had done, whereby Zeus rather coldly growled that brother and sister were very much alike. Dad just looked pleased. Honestly even as I listened to Percy's requests, I couldn't help but look around me in fascination. Despite being only partially rebuilt and fixed up, the throne room was still magnificent, though mainly due to its sheer size. I could also have gone on for ages about the gods and their thrones, but to be honest they were pretty much how you'd expect to see them, or at least how I had envisioned them if I'd already met them. Hermes I looked at first, but he must have sensed me looking because he'd turned his head and given me a wink and a smile so I returned the latter.
Aphrodite looked a lot like how I remembered my mom before I'd first been blinded, though more radiant and with more delicate features, so I wondered if her face just took on the image of the most beautiful woman to the person looking at her. To me, that would always be my mom. Athena was stern and proud, Apollo too blinding to look at, Artemis serene and pure, Zeus stoic and domineering…you get the picture. To be honest I wasn't all that interested in most of the gods, because now Percy was making his requests. He wanted all demigods to be acknowledged, even those of the minor gods, and they all were to have cabins at the camp. No more undetermined. There were a bunch of things, including the release of the gentle Titans from their punishments, but all in all Percy secured the vow of the gods to try and better their ways, and I never had been prouder as his sister than when Zeus swore on behalf of the council that his will would be done. So much had been accomplished in such a short time, I felt like celebrating and collapsing simultaneously. I settled for running to my brother after he had been presented with an honour guard in order to tackle him with my hug even in front of all the gods. "Percy! I'm so proud of you." I said to him, grabbing his face in order to look him all over. "We have so much to talk about, I've missed out on so much and there's probably things you want to ask me too…now that we've finally got a minute, we can take our time. First things first, we should go find mom. Though actually, before that, I'm pretty sure I was promised something." With a rather defiant glare at Zeus, he sighed dramatically before snapping his fingers. Luke appeared, blinking in confusion, but then I was springing on him like Percy had never even existed. "Luke!" He was startled but managed to catch me, however when Zeus boomed out his name Luke naturally shielded me behind him, growing tense and defensive.
"Luke Castellan, son of Hermes. Your crimes are grave and severe. Olympus was almost completely destroyed, and because of you, the evil of Kronos almost returned to the world. For these things alone, you should be punished…" Zeus began, before he then lounged back upon his throne and sighed wearily, like he was thinking about taking a nap after all this. "However, Nerida Jackson has spoken upon your behalf, and exchanged her reward for her valour in favour of securing your release and pardon, as well as all the half-bloods and minor gods that followed Kronos. I advise you to watch your step from now on. For we will be watching." With this warning, Zeus vanished from sight in a flash of lightning, the chains binding Luke's wrists dissolving as he did so. Many of the other gods and goddesses did the same including dad as well as the Cyclopes as there was work for them to do, though Aphrodite lingered to toss me a brilliant beam and an encouraging wave of her hand before also vanishing, though I had a feeling she was still watching us. Luke was now staring at me.
"You asked for my pardon? You did that for me?" I rolled my eyes because it was a rather stupid question. There was so much I wanted to talk about, but at that moment Annabeth nervously came forwards and Luke glanced towards her before stopping altogether and murmuring her name. The throne room was emptying, however some gods remained. When I saw Hermes looking into an Iris message, I decided to go over and talk to him so that Luke could have a moment alone with Annabeth, because in truth there were a lot of us who had a great many things to say to one another. When I reached Hermes, he waved his hand to dissolve the image of Manhattan and I was shocked when he turned and put his arms around me.
"Thank you." He breathed lightly, holding me tightly as I just stood there in a state of utter shock. "My son lives, which is more than I had hoped for. When I asked you to save him, Lily, I had only thought to save his soul, but you have far exceeded my expectations. I cannot thank you enough." He said to me as he pulled away whilst I was blushing lobster red and stammering.
"I-It was nothing, Lord Hermes…"
"It was most certainly not nothing. Perhaps now Luke and I might finally be able to reach some kind of understanding. Remind him to check up on his mother. I have a feeling that this time, things will be different. The prophecy has passed, after all, and I think there will be someone new to hold the Oracle very soon." His eyes twinkled at me. "Luke will still need someone to look out for him. I hope that you might be the one to keep an eye on him. The gods may have been forced to forgive him, but they will remain wary. So long as he has a watcher, or indeed a guardian…I think they will be well satisfied with that." Understanding I gave a single nod of my head as I turned my head in order to look at Luke. He was smiling as he and Annabeth embraced one another, and for the first time he looked utterly and completely at peace. He hadn't even seemed that way at camp when we'd first met. It was like all his troubles had simply melted away, and all the good things that life had to offer were spread before him. "He is lucky to have you. I hope that he is worthy of your sacrifices." Hearing Hermes final whisper, he was gone before I'd even turned my head.
Percy meanwhile was in a private conversation with Athena who looked like she was considering turning him into another gorgon, but let him go after delivering some stern words concerning Annabeth. I would not want to be in his shoes. At least Luke's godly parent seemed to love me. I blushed again at the thought then hurried to join the others in order to head downstairs back to the mortal world in order to see to the others, however when we first stepped off the elevator, I saw my mom with an unknown man arguing with the guy behind the desk. When she turned and saw me, however, and saw that I could see her, she screamed so loudly that everyone in the lobby stared at her as she came storming over. "NERIDA!" Suddenly I wanted to face Typhon again, because I think my mother was about to kill me.