Just Be Held
Artemis could see that Percy was falling apart. The giant war was taking its toll on him, she could see it in his eyes, even from afar. They looked dead, as though he couldn't hold on anymore.
"Hold it all together, you're our- my hope."
He was fighting a war on two fronts, and everybody kept pulling him this way and that until he was forced to go on this insane journey to Europe.
Percy had been living just fine, it wasn't fair at all that he had to get dragged into this, especially not after he had fought enough in the first war.
There was one thing keeping him in the fight, and that was the fact that he knew that She was watching over him, and was helping.
Apparently, even before he had remembered her fully, she had gone to the Amazons and had given them a royal decree that he was to be trusted and given anything that he wanted. This of course had caused some rumors that he was her secret lover among the Amazons, but at Percy's heart swelled once he remembered everything after the poison incident.
And so Percy followed Annabeth's plans for taking down the Giants, she was the most intelligent, after all, and even Reyna had taken a liking to her.
But things don't always go according to plan.
He was dangling off the edge of the world, peering into the abyss with Annabeth clinging to him like the lifeline that he was.
"Let go!" She screamed at him.
He had known that she had a crush on him since he helped Luke take down Kronos, hell, possibly before. But he had only ever had eyes for a certain auburn haired Goddess.
"I'm going to send myself into the pit, Annabeth. It's the only way that i can assure my way out. Meet me at the Doors of Death."
And with one last push of his strength, she was airborne, and then in the safety of her friends arms as Percy fell into Tartarus.
Artemis knew what had happened the second that he let go of the ledge to hoist his friend up, and she knew that she could not stop a few tears from appearing on her face as her love fell into hell.
Days passed without word of the demigod, the questers having not reached Epirus yet, until finally at last Apollo came to her.
"I'm not sure if you're going to like this news or not, but Percy is just barely hanging on down there."
"How is he? Is he at least in decent condition? What's the situation like?" Artemis instantly jumped him with questions about his well being, and Apollo was hesitant to answer.
"Percy is enduring, but only just. He has been consuming the fires of the Phlegethon to keep himself alive and energized, but that has to be taking a toll on his throat, as well as him digestive system will need months to stabilize after he gets out. Not to mention that he's had run-ins with monsters none stop, and with barely anything to keep him sane down there, i'm afraid for his well being. I-"
"How do you know about this anyways?" Artemis demanded. It was no secret that she had been pulling back from the other Olympians in the past week, and for all she knew, Apollo had made it up to get her spirits up, even slightly.
"Calm yourself. Percy happened to find one of my old lost temples down there, and apparently thought that getting you some information about him was incredibly relevant. He was certain that he was almost there to the Doors of Death, and he said that he might be bringing some friends with him. I don't know what kind of friends he could have down there, but if you want to make something happen, then we should probably aid the demigods.
He left her with her thoughts, and thinking she was. It was technically agianst the ancient laws for her to assist the demigods, unless she was on a hunt, but since she had been forbidden from seeing her Huntresses, she could not leave Olympus. Stupid Zeus and his fear.
"Percy, i know you probably can't hear me, but in case you can, i'll be there. I'll do whatever it takes to see you safely out of Death's Doors. You're not alone, i'm with you till the end. Just hold on. Everything will fall into place, and i'll make things right."
Percy woke up with a start. His heart was filled with warmth, and he looked over to the sleeping figure of Bob.
"I sure hope what you said about this Damasan is right. We could certainly use the ally down here."
Bob grumbled, but didn't wake up. With a Titan on his side, there were significantly less monster attacks, seeing as how he was incredibly powerful.
He sighed, and resumed his now peaceful dreams.
The doors were open, and he had a clear path to it.
"Percy, take the Doors to the surface, i'm sure all of your friends will be happy to see you again." Damasan was fighting off hordes of monsters with Bob, his spear in hand.
"Yes, take the elevator, we will cover for you!"
But Perseus Jackson's fatal flaw wasn't loyalty for nothing, and he leapt back into the fray.
Artemis paced outside the doors of death with the demigods. It had taken a lot of arguing, but finally it had taken Apollo joining her side for Zeus to give in, but finally he had given her permission to assist the demigods in saving the son of Poseidon.
Golden dust was strewn around the room, with a Goddess, and the one of the hunt no less, it had taken less than a few minutes to render the giant's forces useless. She could only imagine how difficult it would have been for the demigods had she not been there to assist them.
"So, i hope he's going to be alright, you know, i haven't properly thanked him for saving me back in Ariadne's room, you know and…" The young daughter of Athena was rambling. It was clear that she was infatuated with the son of the sea, but if Artemis knew Percy, Annabeth would never have a chance with him.
At least a little crush was less painful of a heartbreak than developed love's sorrow. The demigoddess had not endured the wracking anxiety that Artemis had, know that the only one she was in love with could die in a moment's notice.
Suddenly, a rumbling came from the Doors, and the demigods around the room readied their weapons, but Artemis knew in her soul. He was coming home to her. The doors opened, revealing a Titan and a Giant.
The demigods stood, mouths gaping. Even with a Goddess, it would be hard to take down the two adversaries, and were clenching their teeth until Artemis laughed.
"Trust you of all people to befriend a Titan and a Giant, Percy."
True to her words, the Demigod walked out of the Doors with that infuriating smile on his face and looked for the source of the words until they settled on her figure.
"Artemis." He breathed, just light enough for everyone in the room to hear, and then he came rushing towards her and engulfed her in a hug.
"I'm really holding you, you're really here." The Goddess just nodded, and the raven hair man let out a hollow laugh.
Had the Goddess been paying attention, she would have seen the sorrow in the child of wisdom's eyes at seeing the clear display of affection.
"Percy, I need you to listen to Annabeth, it's important." Artemis said once the hug was released.
Artemis had explained that she couldn't talk to Percy thanks to Zeus being a horrible person, and the wise demigoddess had been confused, at least until she had seen what had happened, and happily told him that Artemis was off limits until further stated.
He looked at her and said, "Don't worry Moonbeam, i'll be with you soon, but first i have to help take down the world." He gave off that smile again, and turned his attention to his friends, introducing them to Bob and Damasan.
Artemis took off. She had a fight to participate in, and an island to get to. She would see Percy in the final battle, and then later at the Council meeting afterwards.
