Chiron…..
When Jason burst out, that, that Perseus and Annabeth had fallen in to Tartarus, I wasn't shocked to tell you the truth. I thought I was dreaming to be honest. Standing in one of my nightmares, wishing to wake up. I was shaken back to reality by Iris requesting more drachmas. Her voice was shaking slightly, a quiet whisper doing her job. Had she known the demigods? The ones in Tartarus? I had feared this for months. My dreams had warned me, but I had always dismissed it, now, now it was too late. Half of my conscious heard the story, eidolons blowing up Rome, Nemesis, Topika, Charleston, Rome, Nico, the Mark of Athena, Annabeth finding the statue, it being aboard the Argo II. The other half was falling with them. I saw through the corner of my eye the camp wasn't going to take it well, and neither had the remaining 6 demigods on the ship. There was a moment of silence and I spoke, "Thank you for telling us, I'll inform everyone else who should know." Jason nodded, and with that the connection broke.
As soon as I said it I realized my day had just gotten a whole lot harder. Not only were my two favorite campers falling to their deaths- I had to explain this to their parents, and schizophrenic gods why exactly it happened. Why? The Fates, would be the only answer I could calmly provide. Even the gods, who knew better than anyone that the Fates do as they wish, didn't take 'the Fates' as an answer. I stumbled over my own hooves, called out a dismissal from dinner and galloped away. I heard shouting, crying and a crash but don't turn around now. Of all my years, which is to say quite a few, this is the worst draw back I have had. Ever. Even Achilles death made more sense than this. I had lost two wonderful people. And there had been no way to prevent it. A tugging voice said in the back of my mind warned me, Percy's fatal flaw was loyalty, and one day the world would be destroyed because of it. Was now that day? I silenced the voice- having more important things to worry about. When Percy had gone missing the first time, on Calypso's Island, I had overcome his death easily, we weren't that attached. But add a war, and a year to the mix; he is like a son. And Annabeth a daughter.
I wasn't surprised at all that she had found the statue. What they were going to do with it, well, I had never considered that. To me it had always been a situation I would never have to plan for, a scenario never going to happen. Every time I sent an Athenian camper off on the Quest of Athena, my heart weighing more than ever before I knew I would never see them again. So planning for their return, along with a statute the size of a small house had been unnecessary. Unthought-of.
I suppose I would never get to ask Annabeth were exactly the Athena Pantheos had been, or what hardships see had to endure. I wouldn't be able to see the pride light up her face, and hear her rambling on about architecture. I would never be able to see her smile again.
Perhaps it was meant to be that way, Annabeth falling to her death in the arms of the person she loved most, yet I didn't understand it. The Fates were cruel, this was a commonly known fact, yet her life was by far one of the hardest I knew. Her father remarrying so soon, making Annabeth feeling abandoned and ignored, running away at only seven. For weeks living she lived by herself, until she found her new family, Thalia and Luke. When they made it to camp she lost Thalia, and a few years later Luke. Luke's possession from the Titan Lord Kronos broke her heart. And then there was Percy. It took them 4 years to find each other, and then she lost him after only two months. For three fourths of a year her life was dedicated to finding her Percy. And when she did… Even I had believed death was not the way they would be spending their reunion party. And yet I was mistaken.
No one had survived Tartarus, alone or with help. And as much as I was concerned Annabeth and Percy would have no help in Tartarus. They would, relying on Annabeth's wisdom survive one, two days down there. After they died, their bodies would be devoured by monsters, their belongings lost forever in the depths of Tartarus, and their souls? I couldn't answer that. Would they make it out of the lower hell and in Hades' domain for a fair trial? Or would they life forever in the monsters prison?
I broke free form my thoughts and concentrated on my current problem. I still had more campers to protect. The death of two wouldn't be the end of us and their legend would live on forever. I cantered around the woods, diminishing all signs of trouble I could find. Once or twice I would see a camper who's eyes I couldn't meet. I made it to the edge of the woods and collapse in a soft bed of hay and fell asleep.
The dreams followed me of course. I had been expecting this, the dreams I mean. Perhaps screams of terror, or Percy and Annabeth's current state. I was surprised by what is saw, a scene I had not once in a thousand years seen before. A small hut, with a garden, standing proudly in Tartarus. The air in my dreams even smelt like Tartarus. I saw Percy and Annabeth along with a Titan in a janitor's outfit holding a broom smiling at Percy. Though Annabeth looked tense Perseus was at total ease. The picture faded as quickly as it appeared. I awoke almost immediately. They were alive. And they had help. No I told myself, it was impossible. They wouldn't survive; I couldn't get my hopes up.
The look on Percy's face haunted me. A handsome smiling face, covered in blood, dust and cobwebs. Annabeth had looked no better. I tried to persuade myself the dream was sending a message. They would survive. I didn't want to believe and be let down. For once, I thought about Percy. He would believe until proven wrong. He would never let harm come to Annabeth. And even if they were in Tartarus, if they had help…. Percy was known for some extraordinary things. Blowing up mountains, defeating Kronos, refusing the Gods offer of immortality were all on his list. Surviving Tartarus? Could he possibly?
I debated the possibilities all night. By morning I knew he would be able to. I had moved on from my shock and chose to prepare for the next hurtle. Whatever that might be. Well, then again I have a pretty good idea. Have you ever tried to tell a mortal mother that her demigod son, whom she had thought missing for the past 8 months only to then find alive, had fallen to his possible death because his girlfriend (and soul mate, may I add) had recovered the most important artifact of all times because her mother, who was not in the right mind, because of another demigod camp, had sent her to find it, and handed her an almost certain ticket to death. Or in this scenario coin to death. Well, if you haven't I'll tell you it is rather difficult.
Peep. Surprised to hear from me are you all? Well, umm let me tell you something. I started 8th grade (which includes lots of homework) and have had like no time. On top of that the laptop's battery died with all the stories on them so it took awhile until that was fixed. Sorry! Next up.. I don't know really! Please review! Oh, side note. I have had some trouble accessing my story "What do you Mean?" so for now I will be working on An Average Day in New York City, Moving On and maybe a couple cute one shots I have in mind. Read and Review!