The first thing Percy saw when they entered the throne room was the huge pillars on the sides. Unlike those of some temples, these were richly decorated. Numerous frills and wave samples ran through the surface of the rock. Then Percy's gaze wandered to the other end of the throne room. There stood on a mighty throne, the sides of which were adorned with solid gold.
Uther Pendragon was a man with slightly gray hair, whom Percy would estimate to be about fifty years old. His head was decorated with a crown made of gold, as the throne was. The King was just leafing through a pile of scrolls of parchment when Gaius cleared hiss throat.
The king looked up, "Gaius!"
The court physician made a short bow, Percy did likewise. The son of Poseidon noticed a feeling of tension spreading through his stomach. If this king really had sentenced people to death only based on their magical abilities, he had to be careful. He couldn't help but think of the countless schools he had attended and been expelled from. If anything like that happened here, if a disguised monster showed up or anything else happaned that he could be held responsible for, the consequences would be much greater and much more final.
"And who are you?", the king asked.
Whereas ask wasn't the right word. Rather, Percy felt it was an order to tell him. He looked the king straight in the face for the first time. His green eyes looked at him thoroughl. Percy almost felt as if the king would jump up at any moment and say, "Ha! The boy has magic. Execute at once.
""Sire, this is Percy. I met him in town," Gaius spoke up, for which Percy was grateful.
"I've never seen you here in Camelot before. Where are you from?", the king asked him, while eyeimg at him closely.
Percy took a deep breath, "I come from a village a little further away. My parents died a few years ago when an evil wizard attacked our village. I - uh - heard that magic is forbidden in Camelot, so I came here."
Uther Pendragon didn't bat an eye, apparently Percy's story hadn't impressed him in the least. "When did this happen? he asked.
Percy looked at the king questioningly, "Uh, what?"
"The murder of your parents," replied the king. "A few days ago? Weeks? Months? Years? What was the sorcerer's name? Is he still at large?"
"Uh, does it matter?", Percy asked, frowning.
The king sighed slightly annoyed, adding to the uneasy feeling in Percy's stomach, "The reason I ask is because I need to know if this sorverer is an immediate threat to the city and its people. So, when was your village attacked?"
Percy tried to turn off his inner nervousness. What was he so afraid of anyway? Even if the king somehow found out he wasn't a normal boy, that didn't mean it was all over. He'd been in much worse situations, had fought Greek monsters and even Titans. He would be able to escape somehow - only then he was on the run in a world that was completely foreign to him.
"That was many years ago," he finally replied. "And the sorcerer was driven aeay."
The king's facial expression relaxed, "Forgive me if I was perhaps a little . . . brash. We all know all too well here the evil that magic carries. Rest assured, you will be safe here in Camelot."
Percy unwittingly wondered if magic was really evil. In his life, he only met two people who had applied magic. Circe and Calypso. At the thought of Circe Percy shuddered, he could still remember too well how it felt to be groped in a cage as a guinea pig together with other fellow sufferers. The memory of Calypso also hurt, but in a different way. She had never wanted anything bad for him, had cared for him after his meeting with the Telchines at Mount St. Helens. And how'd he thank her? He had left her behind. Alone with her curse on the island of Ogygia. Even today, therefore, the thought of his farewell hurt immensely.
Gaius brought Percy back to the present from his thoughts: "My lord, Percy has a talent and vast knowledge with herbs. So I wanted to teach him, maybe one day he could become Camelot's new court physician."
Percy had to be careful not to break out in laughter. He was everything, but certainly not an upcoming doctor. He already had problems using an ordinary cough mixture bottle. He still too well remembered the day when his mother and Gabe went somewhere (yes, sometimes the son of a bitch actually had something like guilt after beating or yelling at her) and he was alone at home and suddenly had a strong cough attack. And what had he done? Instead of just taking a spoon, he had tilted the whole contents of the cough mixture into his mouth. His mom - and especially Gabe - didn't find that so funny back then.
Uther cheekily raised an eyebrow: "I hope you don't intend to leave us soon, Gaius."
"Certainly not, Sire", replied the physician. "Well," Uther said, rising up. „I don't know what's against it. We can always need people with healing skills.. " He turned to Gaius. „You will take care of the accommodation for the boy." Then he sat down again. „I think that would be all. "
He then turned back to the parchment rolls. Gaius meant Percy to follow him with a movement of his head. Together they left the throne room. When they were outside and closed the doors, Percy ejected a sigh of relief.
"Go back to my room, Percy. I have to do a small errand, "Gaius said.
Percy nodded and went the wy that Gaius and he had gone to the throne room before, only this time in the opposite direction. After a while he arrived back in the room of the court physician, where he had woken up. Sighing, he sat on a chair, placed his face on his hands, and thought. How'd he get here? And something that interested him even more: Why was he here? And who brought him to Camelot?
Darkness was over Camelot, night had fallen. The moonlight shone through the windows and illuminated the corridors of the castle. A door was quietly opened and a figure slipped out of the castle. It had become routine for Morgana to sneak out of the castle and the city at night. Nights like these, however, when the moon was shone, proved to be more difficult. There were more ways to be caught. Something she was trying to avoid. She has already been caught by one of Uther's knights during a night trip. Although she was able to quickly take him out of the way, the incident had of course raised questions. Not that it bothered Morgana very much, as long as Uther did not increase the number of his guards significantly, she was able to leave Camelot relatively easily.
To a place where she was free. Where no one would harrass them because of their special gift.
When she came into the courtyard, she glaned at a very specific spot. A spot that reminded her time and time again why she hated Uther so much. The memories of the days when Uther had one of her brothers and sisters executed were still too fresh.
'Soon,' she thought. 'Soon you'll be there. Right there where so many innocent people died. And no matter how much you ask for forgiveness, you will not escape your just punishment."
She went on, leaving the castle and soon the city behind. She entered the woods. By now, she knew the way inside and out. The way to Morgause, her sister. Silently, Morgana entered the secret hideot.
"Sister!", she was greeted by Morgause. "Is everything all right with you."
"I'm fine," she replied.
Morgause looked at her with a warm gaze. She was the first one who hadn't treated her like a monster. "And Uther? Does he still suspect nothing?"
Morgana grinned, "He's as clueless as the rest of Camelot, except for You-Know-Who."
Morgause's face became thoughtful, "Yes, we need to get rid of this Merlin."
"Why?", Morgana asked. " He's just a servant."
"He's very close to Arthur", replied Morgause. "It's a small problem, but still a risk. He will remain a threat as long as we have not brought Camelot to his knees."
Morgana shrugged. Merlin was annoying, true. But he couldn's seriously threaten their goals. He was a simple servant, nothing more. Even if he told Arthur she had magic abilities, she could just deny it. Her word would then be against Merlins. And she was more likely to be believed than a mere servant.
Morgana was abruptly ripped out of her thoughts when suddenly a voice said, "Good evening, ladies. I hope I'm not interrupting." The sisters were wheeling around. At the entrance to the hideout stood a young man, his left shoulder leaning casually against the entrance. His sandblond hair framed a face with a jagged white scar on the right side. His blue eyes had something sly, his mouth was shaped into a self-confident smile. The man looked handsome, but Morgana didn't care at that moment.
"Who are you?" she asked. "What do you want?"
The young man looked at her calmly, "My name is Luke Castellan. And I'm here to make you an offer."
Morgause stepped forward, "What kind of offer?"
"I have something that can help you conquer Camelot and take down Uther Pendragon."
Morgana saw Morgause's eyes narrow, "And that would be what?"
"An army. One this world hasn't seen in eons. With it, storming the castle should be a piece of cake," Luke replied.
Morgana looked at the young man suspiciously. Who was he? A sorcerer?
"What kind of army are you talking about?", Morgause asked.
Luke smiled, "An army full of ancient Greek monsters."
Morgana saw Morgause raise an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"
"They appear in the legends of the children of the gods, the demigods", Luke replied. "But these legends aren't legends. All those stories really happened. The gods, monsters and, of course, the demigods exist. I know that for sure."
"And why?" asked Morgana.
"Because I am one myself. I am a son of Hermes:" The young man said the name of the god with so much disdain that Morgana involuntarily backed away.
"You don't seem to think much of him", Morgause remarked.
"I don't", Luke said. Then he looked at Morgana: "And I guess I'm not the only one here. You surely hate your father aw well, don't you, Lady Morgana, princess of Camelot?"
"The king is NOT my father," Morgana replied loudly. "I'm his ward, not his daughter."
Luke looked surprised, "Oh. So I guess you don't know yet."
"What don't I know?", Morgana asked.
"That you are the illegitimate child of Uther Pendragon."
Morgana felt, anger flare up inside her. She felt her magical power gathering, ready to smash that Luke guy against the nearest rock wall. "How dare you say such a thing!", she hissed.
"I'm telling the truth," Luke replied dryly. " You are the king's daughter. You are therefore entitled to the throne of Camelot. "
Morgana felt the anger inside her continue to grow. But it was not directed at Luke. But against Uther. As far-fetched as she found the thought at first, she felt it was the truth. Which caused her anger to grow once more. Uther had lied to her all these years. And Morgana could already guess why. Of course, an illegitimate child would hurt his oh-so-great reputation. But soon he would have quite different worries, she scwormed to herself. "If true, that would be glorious news," Morgause said. She looked at Morgana, "You would become queen if our plans are successful."
"Indeed you would," Luke confirmed. "Of course . . . you would have to conquer the castle first."
Morgause walked slowly towards Luke and stopped just a few feet in front of him, "You said you would help us. What do you ask in return?"
"That you help me bring my master back to life," Luke replied.
"Your master?"
"Yes," Luke replied. " I serve the titan Kronos. Father of the oldest gods. Torn into pieces by his own children and cast into the depths of Tartarus. He sent me to you. He said you were powerful enough to bring him back."
Morgause exchanged a glance with Morgana. Morgana knew that look. "It is possible," Morgause finally said to Luke. " But such a spell is complicated - and it requires a sacrifice. A powerful sacrifice."
Luke nodded, "I'm aware of that. Therefore, we have already found a perfect candidate for this task. He has only recently arrived at the castle."
Luke's gaze darkened: "He is a son of the sea god Poseidon. And his name is Percy Jackson. "
Yeah, guys, so that's chapter two. Did you like it? Do you have any suggestions? Feel free to let me know your thoughts, I'd really appreciate it!
