Greece, or at least parts of her, return to the roots of it all

|Chapter 19| Return to the Festival

Annabeth and Percy were cuddling.

Percy's arms were wrapped around her, her head resting on his chest. One of his hands made slow, methodical movements through her hair, trying not to pull. Annabeth's arms had been loosely wrapped around his waist.

Annabeth looked up at him and flashed a toothy grin, which he returned.

Suddenly, a warm feeling filled her. She met Percy's eyes to find him looking just as confused as she was. He shrugged.

Annabeth got the sudden urge to turn on the TV in the Poseidon Cabin and go to the news, so that's what she did, right after untangling herself from Percy.

She flipped to the channel, to find it was a commercial break. The current commercial was for everyone's favourite, Kars for Kids. Percy groaned as the annoying jingle came on, resting his head against the headboard of his bed.

"Did you turn on the TV just to annoy me?" he asked her.

"No," she defended, "I just had the urge to turn on the TV and go to this station. I'm willing to bet this urge wasn't related to Kars for Kids." she shook her head.

Percy laughed.

By that point, the commercial break had ended, and the news anchor had started to speak, "...Worshipers took to the streets of Athens today and held a festival to the gods. We have reports of feasts, dancing, and sacrifices happening at the festival."

Percy and Annabeth looked at each other. They slowly started to process the words, and to understand what it meant.

People in Greece, the homeland of the gods, had returned to the pagan religion of their ancestors. They had sacrificed animals for the gods, thrown festivals.

And judging by the warm tingly feeling Percy and she had gotten, the festival included both the older and newer gods. A wide grin broke across Annabeth's face, and she glanced in disbelief at the TV screen.

"Perce…" she said.

"I know Annabeth, I know," he told her, taking her hand and pulling her closer.

Annabeth was smiling the widest she had in months, giddy from joy. Some of the people of Greece hadn't forgotten their gods. They had chosen to go into Athens, the city of her mother, and worship them, strengthening them again.

Percy sat behind her, arms around her, Annabeth's hand resting on top of his. They watched the news, watched the videos of the festivities going on in Athens.

Festivities for them.

Greece had returned to the festival.