(Uploaded Sep/21/19)
Chapter 16: Seas And Might Speak
(Author's Note)
Hey everyone! I'm not dead! Hurray!
I'm SO sorry for being away for so long again, but I have some good news. I've thought it over and I've decided to try to wrap COO up by the middle of next month! I know, kinda scary when you think about it. And after this we'll have 7 chapters including the Epilogue. So while it's possible, it'll definitely be a little hard to pump out so many chapters in such a little time. I'll be honest, I should have finished this story months ago, and since I'm waiting for it to end to start my next projects it's time to finish it. How do you guys think it'll end?
I'll be quick but I have a few things to say:
First, I created a Wattpad account, same name as on here. I've put the Prologue for The Half-Blood Wars(formerly Greece vs Rome) on there as well as my Hiccstrid Snoggletog Special. At some point I may migrate THBW to Wattpad but I haven't decided yet.
Second, I took the time and wrote out the *tentative* releash schedule for new, upcoming stories and projects. I'll be putting this schedule up on my FF profile soon, it's also my pinned Tweet on Twitter. Check it out below: (please note that almost all the stories came from the Poll on my Profile and they might move around if they're ready before hand or if I need a little more time)
(mm/dd)
~ 10/1 - HTTYD Hiccstrid one-shot
~ 10/12 - Ch23/Epilogue of COO
~ 10/18 - 3yr Anniversary on FF, Percy Jackson Rewritten For Pertemis Ch1
~ 11/1 - The Half-Blood Wars Ch1
~ 11/16 - Young Justice DickBabs one-shot
~ 11/30 - Hecate Day, Lou Ellen & Clovis one-shot
~12/1 - Young Justice: Two Earths Ch1
~ 12/21 - Potential, undecided X-mas one-shot
~ 1/1 - SUPER SECRET SPECIAL PROJECT
Feel free to ask any questions you have about the schedule. But to clarify, I don't know what my upload schedule will be for chapters. As I'll have a lot of projects going on at once there might be a little more time in between chapters going forward.
Lastly, if you follow me on Twitter then you'll know that I'm looking for an artist that can help me do a commision or two(or several) for upcoming stories. I REALLY want artwork done for upcoming OC's and would LOVE to get a big number of them(like 15+) done standing together in a group. So if you know or if you are an artist and willing to help me then let me know!
Chapter 16: Seas and Might Speak
[Recap: Leonidas, in search of information about the upcoming Promised Day, infiltrated New Rome under the disguise of his father. While he was attempting to leave, a large army of Monsters led by three Titans attacked New Rome with the intent to destroy it. Then without warning, with a decision that surprised Reyna, Leonidas saved her and Frank before killing the lead Titan himself. Causing the army of Monsters and their vile leaders to flee. But before Reyna and Frank could talk to the mysterious man and thank him for saving her people from certain death, he flew out from camp heading North East.
Now, a small team of Hunters is led by Percy and Thalia are on the hunt for the son of Heracles. So far their now four day long journey has led them to the Northern State of Maine. But what will be waiting for the group of Hunters and camper? Will Leonidas be willing to talk like Percy believes or will they be forced to fight again? Will Leonidas fight WITH the demigods on the Promised Day or AGAINST them?]
(June/8/2011 - Maine)
~Two days later~
"Can you still see his trail, Thals?" Percy, Thalia and the hunters Cleo, Medeia and Alexandra were pulled over on the side of a dirt road in a forest in Maine. Thalia was standing outside the truck, eyes glued to the sky as she searched it for the slightest hint of a disturbance from someone flying through it.
"...Just barely," She told them, moving her finger across an invisible line in the clouds that only she could see thanks to her father being the god of the Skies. "It's been four days since we started tracking him, so his old trial is all but gone." She moved to point her finger a few degrees and a few miles away.
"But I can see a new, more recent air trail coming from the West, heading in the same direction that the original one was."
"How 'recent' is recent?" Cleo asked her best friend.
Thalia gave a slight shrug as she hopped back in the passenger seat next to Percy. "About two days or so, give or take."
"So that must mean that he is somewhere around here," Alexandra said from the backseat next to Medeia and Cleo. "Maybe he and the Titaness live around here? Or perhaps further North-East?"
"If we keep going North-East I'll hit Canada, or the ocean." Percy told them, pulling back onto the road and following Thalia's directions. "Where on earth could he be going? Wait, is it possible that they're in Canada?"
Thalia shrugged. "Could be, but most gods and Titans live in the States, bar a select few, of course. They might be hiding out in Canada, in order to be out of the eyes of the gods. It's actually kind of smart."
"Well," Percy started, making his way onto a paved road. "Here's hoping we stay in America, I don't think Canada likes me very much. Whenever I'm there something goes wrong."
"Something goes wrong wherever you go, Kelp Head." Thalia jabbed him with a smirk when he glanced at her. "I swear, you can't go to Starbucks without blowing up the building."
Cleo let out a chuckle as Percy rolled his eyes at his annoying cousin. "Yeah, yeah, ha ha. It's not my fault everything goes wrong." He muttered. "I think the Fates just hate me."
After another hour or so, Thalia led them to a small state park along the coast that Percy had never heard of before, West Quoddy Head State Park. And if the signs were to be believed, it was the Easternmost point of the continental United States.
It wasn't until later that Percy realized that it was obvious that Leonidas and Eos would be hiding here, given who Eos was.
After parking and taking a dirt trail further into the park, Percy felt… a presence around him. Not like they were being surrounded by Monsters, but like they were being watched. It made his gut tense up like he was about to face something he would rather not meet.
"Do you feel that?" Percy asked the small group as they deviated from the main path and into a thin footpath in the tall grass.
"You mean the feeling that is making my entire body tense like I'm about to get hit by one of my father's lightning bolts?" Thalia asked from beside him. "No, no I don't."
"It is rather peculiar," Medeia answered with a slight shiver. "As well as foreboding. Like one is being eaten alive by nerves."
"Yeah, but I also feel… energized?" Alexandra spoke up next, looking off into the wall of trees. "And in the presence of something or someone extremely powerful? It almost feels like whenever I'm in the presence of Lord Zeus or one of the Olympians."
Thalia looked to Percy. "Any idea what it is, Kelp Head? What it means?"
Suddenly a low baritone voice spoke from behind them. "It means that you are getting close to what you seek, daughter of Zeus."
WIthin a second the four hunters and one camper spun on a dime, drew or summoned their weapons and came face to face with Leonidas Dione Reed, the man they were looking for.
Two things surprised Percy upon seeing Leonidas. First, he was dressed very differently to how Percy was used to seeing him. Gone were his shorts, muscle tank tops and oversized sneakers. Replaced by what appeared to be a hand-stitched burlap shirt and weathered, torn, patched and faded pants, his large feet bare and stained with dirt. But what was really surprising was that he wasn't about to attack them, but was kneeling in a small garden tending to what looked like ginger root. A garden, that Percy was positive wasn't there a few seconds ago.
Thalia was the first to speak, or technically, yell. "We finally found you!" She shouted, her silver bow pulled back with an arrow right between his orange amber eyes. "You'll pay for-"
Leonidas quietly cut her off, looking right to Percy, his once shining eyes dull. "How is the daughter of-, how is Annabeth?"
It seemed that even Thalia was surprised by his sudden question because she slightly lowered her weapon like the others. Percy considered not telling him, but something told him to tell Leonidas. "...She's on Olympus." He answered slowly, trying to figure Leonidas out. "Apollo was able to heal her a bit but Hypnos had to put her in a healing sleep because the gods are too weak to heal her right now. But she'll live."
The giant man let out a heavy sigh, briefly stopping his work pulling weeds. He offered Percy an apologetic look that he didn't know if he wanted to believe or not. "That's good. Brother, I- I'm so sorry. I- I didn't mean to hurt her-"
"I know." Percy cut him off, his voice tight, his jaw even tighter. "It was an accident."
Thalia stepped up beside Percy, her bow still aimed at the giant man. "How can you be sure, Percy? What if he-"
"I'm sure." Percy told her softly, looking her in the eye before moving them to Leonidas'. "He may be able to trick us with his words…, but his eyes can't lie. His eyes had the same fear as mine when he hit Annabeth."
The corner of Leonidas' mouth peaked slightly, his voice soft. "Mary always told me I was a terrible liar. That was the only thing I could not learn how to master." He dropped the wooden weed puller, turning his full attention to Percy. "Tell me, how is she?"
Percy paused long enough for Thalia to give him a careful look. "She's… pregnant."
Percy heard Thalia's breath hitch slightly, most likely surprised that he told Leonidas, the man who almost unknowingly seriously hurt or even killed her unborn child. Said son of Heracles froze when the word escaped Percy's lips. His dull eyes stared unblinking at Percy as his face fell.
"...I'm sorry."
Those two little simple words made Percy once again come to terms with the fact that no matter how much he wished to be able to, that he couldn't hate Leonidas. How could you hate someone who's voice and face broke so when he learned what he had done on accident to you and the person you love? How could you hate someone with a personality so genuine? Who only has the best intentions? Someone who you have come to call a friend?
Even though Leonidas lied to him, strives to kill the gods and hurt Annabeth, Percy couldn't find it in his heart to hate Leonidas.
Percy's next words stung his throat, but it felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders once they left his lips. "...I forgive you."
"Well I don't!" Thalia explained, pulling her arrow back even more. Her hunters following suit. "You nearly killed my best friend and her baby! And you slaughtered twelve of my sisters! I should kill you!"
Leonidas' face that had once lifted slightly at Percy's words dropped again, his wide shoulders following. "...I understand and accept your anger, daughter of Zeus… but please, lower your bow and your voice."
Thalia only got angrier at this, taking a bold step closer only for him to not even flinch. "Or what?! What if my hunters and I pump you full of arrows before you even summon your weapons? There's still the Prophecy to worry about, but what if I kill you right now before you can fulfil it? What's gonna stop us from finding your Titaness and killing her?"
Leonidas' low voice rumbled in their bones, his amber eyes growing visibly brighter. "I will." He rose to his feet slowly as if he were in immense pain, his knees shaking and creaking from the action. He climbed to his full height, towering over the group, but Percy could tell that something was wrong with him. His eyes were sunken in slightly, his skin that was once otherworldly was now dull and lifeless. Even his once impressive muscular body was noticeably thinner and he looked to have lost some considerable weight. He was still giant, the largest mortal Percy had ever seen, but he had obviously lost some weight.
But he faced off the hunters and Percy regardless of his condition, a testament to his resolve. But he didn't move to summon his weapons from his tattoos or even move towards them. He just stepped to the side and picked up a large, wicker basket full of an assortment of vegetables and placed a few ginger roots in it.
"I must ask again, daughter of Zeus, please lower your bow." He ignored her angry look and instead focused on using his trembling and numb fingers to pick a tomato from a vine. "This is sacred land, all violence is prohibited here, not even the gods would attack me here. As the gods followed mortals to this country, they traveled with the sun, or Apollo after Eos opened the gates of heaven. And as West Quoddy Head experiences the first sunrise in America, this forest is where the gods first landed in America. But it is also the home of my love, and I promised her that I would not allow my war to reach her doorstep. I don't fight in her home. Besides, you won't attack me."
"How are you so sure?" She demanded.
Leonidas gave a slight smile as he picked up the tomato he dropped with his other, less trembling hand. "Because, if you were here to confront me then you would have already attacked me." He looked from her to Percy. "You are here to talk, are you not? Ask your questions freely. I have no intention to fight or flee. I will answer any and all questions you have. You deserve that much at least."
Why did you kill my sisters?" Thalia demanded. "Why did you kill twelve of my hunters? We know it was you!"
Leonidas' face dropped. "I- I didn't mean for that to happen." He told her slowly, looking away. "I… I became angry and lost myself to my father's curse."
"Your father's curse?" Percy asked.
"Yes," Leonidas nodded. "His curse; Anger. It is his Fatal Flaw, and while I have not heard mine from the Sirens, I believe it to be mine as well. At least, one of them. When I get extremely angry I become blinded by my rage." He explained, not looking at them. "I become like a mindless beast filled with nothing but wrath. And it was my wrath that made me kill your sisters…" He paused slightly to move his now dull eyes to Thalia. "I am sorry, but I will bring them back, I swear. I will do as my father once did and travel into the Underworld while Hades is away and free the souls that I have killed and bring them back to the land of the living."
"That doesn't make it right!" Thalia yelled. "You can't just undo killing them by freeing their souls!"
"I'm aware of that!" Leonidas raised his voice for the first time, his low voice rumbling the ground below them. "I've caused the deaths of people not only precious to you, but to me as well! I got my adoptive family killed because I lost myself to my rage! I killed an innocent woman in front of her child because of my rage! I killed a dozen innocent hunters and two campers because of this rage!" He clenched his fists with enough pressure to shatter steel. "I know better than anyone that it won't make up for it! But it's the only thing I can do!"
Percy took advantage of the silence that followed and looked to Leonidas. "Leonidas, why did you get angry enough to kill the hunters if you didn't mean to?"
The son of Heracles let out a calming breath through his nose. "I… became desperate for a time to find a cure for myself and Eos. And I… thought that Apollo might be able to help me. So I… planned to lure Lady Artemis out by targeting her hunters."
"And do what?" Medeia demanded. "Kill her?"
Leonidas quickly shook his head. "No, of course not. I told you the truth when we met all those months ago in Colorado. I respect Lady Artemis, more than any other god due to her hunting abilities, skills and code of honor."
"Then what were you going to do?" Thalia asked.
"...I planned to capture her." He admitted, visibly ashamed with his words. "Then, because her brother would no doubt come to her aid before any other god, I would exchange her safe return for a cure for myself and Eos."
Cleo gave the large man an astonished look. "You must have balls of Celestial bronze to willingly threaten Lady Artemis in front of Lord Apollo." She muttered, looking him up and down. "He has killed mortals and immortals alike for even trying to hurt her. You must be insane."
"More like desperate." He told her, letting out a breath. "But you know what happened then, I could not draw her out and I, in fear of losing Eos, lost control and killed your sisters. I am truly sorry."
"I don't want your apology." Thalia muttered. "What I want is your head on a platter."
Percy let out a slow breath. "That's not going to help anything now, Thalia. I don't forgive him, and I never will, for killing Clovis and Damien, but I can try to move past it. And so should you."
Thalia looked like she was going to say something but Percy lowered her bow with his hand. "Drop your weapons, all of you." He ordered, giving his cousin a look when she tried to argue. "We're not here to fight." Looking back to Leonidas, he let out a breath.
"Tell me one thing, Leonidas, and tell it to me straight… why?" He took a half step closer, putting his sword away. "Why are you doing… all of this?"
The massive man was silent for a full minute, thinking over his words as he slowly and methodically tended his garden. "You want to know my reasoning for aiming to kill the gods despite experiencing my reasonings first hand." He said instead of answering, pausing his work to look at Percy.
"As I said before, this world, is on the brink of collapsing in on itself. And it's not humanity's fault, but the god's." He picked up a ripe tomato and studied the fruit. "Look at this, brother. Can you imagine something so small affecting the world for the better? Even saving lives?"
"What?" Cleo asked, confused.
Leonidas gently put the tomato in his basket with weak fingers. "Hunger." He told them simply, letting out a soft sigh. "You have probably never experienced it as a hunter of Lady Artemis, so you can't understand what something as simple as a tomato can mean to a starving man. Or a drop of water to a man dying of thirst. Every minute of every day, across this vast world, with an uncountable number of agricultural gods and goddesses, who can cure the world of it with a snap of their fingers…" He looked right to Cleo's face. "Fifteen people die every minute from starvation. Can you even begin to fathom twenty one thousand deaths every day from starvation? That's more than a fourth of the total number of people the average person meets in their life. A fourth of the people you could meet in your life could die from starvation tomorrow."
"And what do the gods do? What does Demeter do? Who's mere presence blesses crops and can even bring them back to life? Nothing. She, just like all of the gods on Olympus, instead chooses to sit on her pillows of silk instead of lifting a single finger to help us."
"They toy with our lives, incite incidents for their amusement, treat us as nothing but their playthings." He slowly shook his head before looking to Percy. "I told you, brother, that I don't wish to rule in their stead, I don't seek a throne, nor a kingdom. All I wish for is a just, righteous world in which mortals can be born, live, find love and grow old without self-serving gods interfering. Tell me, do you honestly believe that the gods care about us?" He looked to Thalia with a sad expression. "That your father cares about you? Because mine doesn't."
Thalia's face dropped slightly and Percy could tell that he struck the truth. "Some might think that I am doing this because I simply hate the gods, and while I admit that I hold some strong feelings towards Ares and Zeus, I honestly don't have anything against the rest of the Olympians. That is why I plan to destroy their thrones so that I don't have to strike them down. They deserve mercy, not murder."
"But why?" Percy asked. "Why not just kill Zeus and Ares then? Why do you have to kill all the gods if you don't have anything against them?"
"Because they had their chance." Leonidas told them, pointing his weed puller at them. "While they may not have ruined this world like Zeus, Ares and Aphrodite, they were still all compliant and did nothing as their king abused his throne and neglected the world. In that, they are guilty."
The son of Heracles paused his gardening to eye Percy. "Tell me honestly, brother, do you think that the gods shouldn't be held accountable for everything they've done to humanity? Done to you and your campers? Did not the king of the gods send you off to fight an army of Titans and Monsters alone while he and his fellow gods sat comfortably on their thrones? And did not one hundred campers die because of it?" Percy's shoulders sunk slightly at his words. Leonidas continued with stride.
"So wouldn't you say that Zeus is responsible for those one hundred lives? As well as the thousand demigod children that sided with the Titans during the battle of Manhattan? Because I would. If the gods had only treated their children as children and given them the slightest amount of affection then Kronos' army would have been halved." He let out a long breath from his nose as he lightly shook his head. "But no, the gods don't care for us. They don't love us. They consider us weapons and tools to be used to do their bidding without a single thought about us or our safety. And I, for one, am of the belief that their time ruling over this world has come to an end. They don't deserve to rule as they do now."
"What if I can make them change?" Percy asked him suddenly. "I've done it before, I'll do it again."
Leonidas offered him a hollow smile. "My brother, not even you can change the nature of the gods. I have been given this destiny by the Fates themselves, the only way to change the world for the better is to rid the world of the gods. Tell me, honestly, do you believe that the world would be better off without the gods?"
"...Yes." Percy's reply was delayed and followed with surprised gasps from the hunters but it was what he truly thought. He may not have admitted it a year ago, but after everything he'd experienced in his life, he had to admit that maybe the world would be better off without the gods. Or, at least, with new, better people on the thrones.
"P-percy, you- you can't really believe that, can you?" Alexandra asked him, astonished.
He gave a slow nod. "Yeah, yeah I do. Zeus caused a hundred of my campers to die and was willing to kill all of us in order to kill me. Ares took control over the minds of his own children in order to kill me. And Zeus threatened to kill Thalia, his own daughter, when she refused to kill me… He also almost let Annabeth die and won't let us get married because he thinks our parents will unite against him…" He shook his head, his fists gripped tightly. "For my entire life since I was twelve years old, I have been used, threatened, attacked and mistreated by Zeus. And now he wants to kill me despite me still being loyal to him? No, not anymore. I'm done."
Cleo gave him a cautious look. "What do you mean, Percy?"
"I mean that I'm done fighting for Zeus." He focused his eyes on Leonidas. "I'll still fight for Olympus because I honestly think that there are dozens of innocent gods and I can't betray my dad, but I understand your reasoning. I don't agree that they should all die, but I agree that something needs to be done." He looked to Thalia. "Thals? You agree with me, don't you?"
But the daughter of Zeus didn't answer, instead choosing to stay quiet. But Percy suspected she agreed with him.
"Swear it." Leonidas said to Percy, slowly rising from the ground again and taking a small step towards them. "Swear to me that you will do everything in your power to change the gods for the better. Swear to me that you will save the world and remove Zeus from his throne."
"And what?" Percy asked.
"And I will swear to you that I will not cure the world of them." He said simply. "If you look me in the eye right now and swear that you will change the world for the better then I won't kill all the gods. I will still kill Zeus and Ares and steal two Golden Apples of Immortality, but I will spare the rest of the gods. It is as I told you, I don't wish to harm them. So if you can change them for the better, then so be it."
"What makes you sure that I'll keep my promise?" Percy asked slowly. "What if I only agree to stop you from killing the gods?"
Leonidas gave him a soft smile as if he were amused. "Because you are a man of your word. And because I want you swear it on the Styx." Percy's eyes widened slightly and he heard Thalia's breath hitch. "Swear to me on the Styx that Zeus will no longer be king after the Promised Day and that you will protect the world from the gods after Eos and I ascend into the sky after the Promised Day. I was given a duty by the Fates to save the world from the gods, after I leave the world it will fall to you as it has before."
"...If I swear it, then you need to swear that you won't harm any other gods besides Zeus and Ares." Percy told him back. "And you need to swear that you will help us defend Olympus when the Titans and Monsters attack on the Promised Day."
"You can't be serious, Percy!" Thalia exclaimed. "You can't swear something like that! You'll die if you don't achieve it!"
"And if we don't make the gods change then what's the point?" He asked with a little bass in his voice. "Leonidas is right, the gods need to change. They've screwed the world over bad enough as it is."
"And what's your plan, Percy?" She demanded. "Are you gonna take my father's throne and become the king of the gods once Leonidas kills him?!"
"Of course not!"
"Then who'll take his throne then?!" She yelled back. "Name one person in this world that you'd trust to take his throne and rule over the gods without letting the power go to their head! Name one person that won't become just like him!"
He answered softly, his voice almost broken. "You." He told her, looking deep into her electric blue eyes. "I'd trust you."
Thalia looked like she was going to reply but bit her lip, cursing to herself in Ancient Greek. "Well, what if I don't want my dad's throne, Percy? What if the gods won't accept me, huh? Are you gonna kill them too?"
"Of course not." He told her adamantly. "I don't want to kill any of them."
"But you're fine with my father and Ares dying?"
"...Yes, I am." He admitted after a few seconds. "I hate to admit it, but I agree with Leonidas. Zeus and Ares need to die, I just won't be the person to kill them."
"Allowing them to die is the same thing as killing them." Cleo told him, her eyes narrowed. "How can you betray Lord Zeus and the gods like that?"
"He betrayed me." Percy told her slowly, enunciating each word. "I've done nothing but serve him and the gods for the past six years, and I'm still loyal to Olympus and the other gods, I don't have a single problem with them, but I'm done serving Zeus. Besides, I already swore on the Styx that I'd make Zeus pay for everything he's done when I took Annabeth to Olympus. I have to follow through with it."
"Swear to me that you will change the gods and I will swear that I won't harm any of them besides Ares and Zeus." Leonidas told him slowly. "Not that I don't trust you, brother, but for the sake of the world, I'd rather have your sworn word."
Percy wore a contemplative face as he thought, it was crazy, but his gut was telling him to swear it. Thalia apparently noticed his face and spoke out again. "You can't agree to it, Percy. You could die."
"The way I see it, Thals, is that as soon as Zeus returns to full power after the Promised Day, he'll just kill me outright. And there'd be nothing I or anyone could do to stop him. Not even you, me, Jason and Nico together could kill Zeus at full power… Maybe Ares or any other god on the council, but not Zeus. So I'm dead anyway." He shook his head slightly. "I can't leave Annabeth, not right now. I will do anything to protect her and our child."
Percy slowly looked up to the taller man before letting out a breath. "If I agree then you must also swear that you will help us defend Olympus against the Titans and Monsters."
Leonidas nodded. "On that, brother, you would have my word either way. I told you, I aim to protect this world with my life, be it from the gods, Monsters or Titans."
"Alright then, ok," Percy nodded to himself a few times, letting out a breath and pacing in place for a few seconds. "I, Perseus Jackson, swear on the Styx that I will do everything in my power to change the gods for the better and I swear that I will do everything I can to prevent Zeus from being king of the gods after the Promised Day."
An extremely loud rumble of thunder sounded above their heads, shaking the ground below them. Leonidas nodded to Percy in agreement. "Then I, Leonidas Dione Reed, swear on the Styx that I will not harm a single god other than Zeus and Ares as well as help defend Olympus and the world from the Titans and Monsters on the Promised Day." Thunder sounded again, even louder this time.
Thalia looked to Percy and whispered, "I hope you know what you're doing, Percy. There's no going back from this."
"I know, Thals." He answered her back, offering her a reassuring smile. "For the past several months I've had this feeling of dread and impending doom in my gut, telling me that I need to do something important, that everything I've done up to now is leading me to something, this may be it."
"And what if it isn't?"
The son of Poseidon tore his eyes from her and looked to the ocean off in the distance. "...Then I trust you to look after Annabeth for me if I fail."
Thalia swore under her breath before turning her glare towards Leonidas. "Let's get something straight, Leonidas." She started suddenly, her eyes narrowed dangerously as they began to shimmer with electricity. "If you betray us and hurt Percy then my hunters and I will come after you and Eos. I don't care if I have to bring every member of Camp and New Rome, I'll kill you myself."
Leonidas, to his credit, didn't flinch. He only nodded firmly before taking a step forward and offered her his hand. "You have my word, Thalia. I will protect Perseus with my life, I swear it on the Styx." Only when the thunder boomed over head did Thalia shake his hand in return.
After letting go, Leonidas looked off in a direction that Percy could only see bushes and trees like he was listening to something or someone. And now knowing that Eos could speak to him in his mind, Percy didn't doubt that she was speaking to him.
"I am sorry, brother, Thalia, hunters." He nodded in acknowledgement to the hunters. "But I am being called. I've been away for long enough." He paused to step to the side and reached into a bush- no, not into, but through like it wasn't even there- and pulled out an old and worn watering can and began watering the garden.
"How did you do that?" Percy asked, watching closely as Leonidas put the watering can back like he was putting it on a shelf and not inside a bush that flickered for a second before returning to normal.
Leonidas smiled, "Here in Eos' land, all you need is to know where something is to obtain it."
"Then could we look for your house later to find you and Eos?" Thalia asked. "What's to stop us from doing that?"
The giant man chuckled softly as if she said something amusing. "Around here, you won't find anything if you look for it." Offering no other explanation than that.
He made to turn around but Percy stopped him. "One last question, Leonidas."
"Yes?"
"Why did you go to New Rome?"
"I am not surprised you found out." He admitted. "I trust that the Praetors told you?" Percy nodded. "Then you would know that I did not harm a single Roman. I only traveled there to speak with their Augur to gain insight on the Promised Day. For the first time in my life… my Fate, my destiny, my duty isn't clear to me… I don't know what I'm supposed to do… and it scares me."
Percy was about to open his mouth when Leonidas looked back to the bushes and nodded. "I'm coming, my love. I'll be there in a second." He faced Percy again and said, "For now, this is farewell, brother. We may not be true allies, but know this; if you- if the world needs me, I'll be there." With that he stepped through a shimmering bush and out of sight. Percy not even being able to sense him anywhere around him.
oooOooo
(Please answer the QOTD below)
oooOooo
(Later)
"I've brought the ginger root, love." Leonidas announced as he made his way into their small, white stone cottage. He slowly made his way to the small kitchen where he found her making food from scratch because she was no longer able to summon it into existence. She was so weak these days that she had to live her life as a mortal instead as a formerly powerful Titaness.
"I thought I told you to get some rest?" He asked as he carefully took the knife from her hand as she cut vegetables. "Let me finish dinner, please. You get some rest."
She smiled as she let him direct her to the large couch. "I'm fine, Leonidas. I've only been resting the last few weeks. I'm going stir-crazy from being cooped up for so long."
"I know, Eos, but rest is the best thing for you right now. The Golden Fleece can only help us so far. We've barely used it on ourselves and your body is growing weaker by the day."
She pulled him to sit next to her and ran her rosy fingers over his sunken face, recalling how he looked in his prime. "As do you, my love. It is a true miracle that you can even stand and walk around right now. Let alone tend the garden and patrol the park." She lightly dragged her fingers across his skin. "You are so weak now. You've lost so much weight in only a few weeks, it isn't healthy."
He gave her a smile and pulled her in close. "I'll survive, Eos." He whispered. "I have you two."
"I hope so," Eos mused. "She needs you, Leonidas. She is growing more everyday and with you gone for the last few months she doesn't know who you are."
The trembling man let out a breath. "I know, I know. And that's why I promise that I'm staying home until the Promised Day. I just have to do one thing first."
Eos nodded like she wasn't happy, letting air out of her nose. "Just be careful, alright? This opponent won't go down so easy. I mean, he's-"
"I know who he is," He told her, taking her small hand in his. "I've been preparing to do this for most of my life. The Fates have willed this to happen, I could not choose otherwise even if I wanted to."
"Would you?" She asked softly. "Would you go against what you must do? Would you not fight him?"
"If I had my way?"
She nodded weakly. "Yes."
"Then of course." He answered slowly. "I don't wish to kill him, truly, but it has been foretold in a Prophecy. And you cannot fight fate." Eos bit her lower lip and Leonidas could sense she was uneasy so he changed topics.
"How is she? I don't see her out here, so I trust she's asleep?"
Eos nodded, looking off to the far door painted a pastel pink color. "Yes, she's asleep. Her shakes have become less common and destructive with the help of the Golden Fleece, but they still take a lot out of her." The beautiful Titaness let out a breath as she looked towards the door and everything she held dear in the world. "Let us pray that she will be fully healthy soon, so that she can survive being granted with Immortality when you steal two Golden Apples."
Leonidas nodded solemnly. "Yes, but that fight is going to be the hardest one I've ever fought. As well as the last."
A smile washed over her face. "I cannot wait for such a day when you will no longer bleed on my carpet." She smiled and he felt himself smiling as well before following her eyes to the door.
"I haven't had the chance to see her today, I'll sneak in and see her." He slowly rose from the couch as Eos softly took his hand.
"I just got her to sleep, Leonidas." She warned with playfully narrowed eyes. "If you wake her you'll have to stay up with her until she falls back to sleep."
He gently rubbed her knuckles before letting her hand go and making his way to the pink door. "I know I know, don't worry, I'll be quiet." He said in a hushed whisper before silently making his way in.
He stalked ever silent to a small, wooden crib painted a soft pink in front of a beautiful mural of a sunrise on the wall. Leonidas couldn't help himself from smiling as he looked down and his eyes fell on the form of a beautiful baby girl sleeping peacefully under the healing aura of the Golden Fleece.
Her pinkish-blonde hair and small, undeveloped feathery angel wings and faint, shimmering aura identified her as clearly something other than an ordinary human child as well as the child of Eos.
She was so small and weak, barely able to breath as she slept and extremely underdeveloped for her age. It made him worried whenever she slipped off into the realm of Hypnos that she may never return. He only prayed that even if he and Eos didn't survive past the Promised Day, that she, his beautiful girl, so filled with promise and potential, could survive.
With slow, shaking hands, Leonidas ever so gently brushed her hair from her face. Wishing now more than ever that his useless hands could feel the warmth of her skin.
"Sleep well, child." His words just over a whisper, barely even audible. "I pray to the Fates to protect you." He paused slightly when she moved in her sleep and recovered her with the Golden Fleece. "Sleep well, my lovely Astraea."
(Author's Note)
Ha! I had you all fooled when I asked for those names! Didn't I? You all thought it was for Percy and Annabeth's kid, whom, won't be revealed until the end, sorry. But nope, it was for Leonidas and Eos' kid! She's 10 months old right now, btw. But as for Annabeth we'll have to wait a little bit since the Promised Day is in like 2 weeks and she's only a few months pregnant, we have to skip a good amount of time. Thanks to everyone who voted on their favorite names!
I'm sorry AGAIN for the huge delay in between chapters. But I'm wanting to wrap the story up next month before the 18th, my 3yr anniversary on FF. *whispers* Something special might be coming out to celebrate, hint hint, wink wink.
It's like 3am and I gotta do like half a days worth of yard work at my grandpa's house, so I should try to get some sleep. Don't have an idea when ch17 will release, but I'll try to get it out in the next few days. It'll be interesting at least.
Fun Fact: I totally forgot this until recently, but Astraea, the name of Leonidas and Eos' daughter, is not only a virgin goddess but also Eos' daughter in Greek myth. I totally forgot that when I first researched Eos before this story and when I randomly came across the name Astraea looking up ideas for their daughter's name. So while they have the same name, they're NOT the same person. I've changed Eos' history a little, at least the end.
Question of the day: 'How do you guys like the recaps?' A few people asked for them so I started doing them a while ago, but do you want them to be longer and have more detail from previous chapters or are they fine to stay as they are?
Another Question of the day: I like to make playlists for main characters I write, specifically ones I create. I recently made one that LOVES Nightcore with a burning passion, so I need some good recommendations. Female vocals and sassy/diva/badass girl songs are her favorite. But she also listens to more depressing songs alone at night. Feel free to try to figure out who I'm talking about from that basic and nondescript information!
Bonus Repeat Question of the day: Any American Football, Wrestlers or Lacrosse players out there? I need some help with a future project I'm starting up(It's only in the early ideas phase and won't be announced for some time! I'm excited though!). I'm creating a female character that plays girl's lacrosse but is also on the boy's football and wrestling team and I'm trying to figure out the best position for her to play in football and lacrosse. I was a band geek in HS so I've never done these sports so I don't know what position she should play. Any ideas? Let me know. I know that when girls play football in fiction they are usually the Quarterback, but her personality, size and skills better lend themselves to a defensive/offensive position in my mind. But here's some background: she's very tall, 6'5"+ and about 160lbs+ at ~16 y/o and very muscular and fit. Think Clarisse or Mika in terms of size and build. Oh, and she's not exactly human, so she's faster, stronger and tougher than the normal person. I was thinking of having her be an Offensive Guard in football due to her height, weight, build, strength and bursts of speed but don't know which position would suit her best, let me know. I was getting a sort of Larry Allen Sr vibe when coming up with ideas for how she plays if you know who that is(he's her idol in the story, btw). Feel free to Review or PM me and I'll give you some more info on her, or at least as much as I can without telling you what story she's a part of and the plot. Thanks for any help on this, and yes, we'll see her in a future story but I can't say what it is yet. Man am I excited for it. (Thanks to parafron for already giving me some feedback!)
Next Time: 'Something About Him'
