Chapter 15: Hope is Kindled

A/N: What's up guys, I know this took forever and I apologize for keeping you waiting. My unit just got back from the field so I haven't had much time to write. But without further ado, here is chapter 15. Enjoy and don't forget to leave a review. Peace out, and User 1525 I finally added them, thanks for the idea.

Annabeth POV:

Several days had passed since the disaster at the Mississippi River. Annabeth and the survivors of Thalia's army had set up camp about a day's march away from Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth had just finished contacting Jason and the rest of the Seven, telling them to travel out to where she was. Almost instantly Annabeth saw four flashes of light appear outside her tent, signaling her friends arrival. Seeing the four of her friends again after seeing how Percy had fallen nearly brought Annabeth to tears but she pulled herself together and said to them,

"Alright guys, you're probably wondering why I called you here so urgently."

Jason spoke up,

"Yeah kinda. What's up?"

"During the last engagement with Percy's army, some of Thalia's soldiers captured one of Percy's soldiers."

The other for minor gods looked lost. Frank said,

"Ok? What's this have to do with us?"

"We can ask this soldier some questions regarding why he serves Percy and how large the army is."

"That's obvious, but why are we here?"

"So we can plan together once we have the information we need."

"Oh, gotcha."

Annabeth nodded and lead the group towards where the soldier was being held. The soldier had been tied to a chair and blindfolded, and he was seated facing away from the tent entrance. When Annabeth swept the entrance flap aside the soldier looked around and asked,

"Who's there? Hello?"

Jason spoke up,

"No one you need to concern yourself with, scum."

"Jason! Stop it."

Annabeth said. The soldier spoke up,

"I can see now Angmar hates you so. If this is the way you treat someone who is mentally enslaved to serve a master he has no wish to fight for, I'd hate to see how you treat a willing enemy."

Annabeth asked,

"What do you mean you're mentally enslaved? Is all of Angmar's army like you?"

"I mean that I have no free will. I fight because Angmar has sway over my mind. Forcing me to do his will. I can still feel him in my head, beckoning me to lash out and attack you. And to answer your second question no, the army isn't wholly like me and my comrades. Angmar considers the Sangheili and his Knights of Angmar to be the elite of his army."

"What's your name soldier?"

Annabeth asked.

"Private Fürst."

Annabeth nodded and said,

"Private; if we help you regain control of yourself again, will be willing to help us in our fight against Angmar?"

The young soldier laughed and said,

"If you figure a way to break the will of one of the most powerful beings in existence then yes. I will help you."

Angmar POV

Angmar strode through the carnage that still lay on the banks of the Mississippi River, hardly thinking about how many died during the battle.

"I'm so close to achieving my goal. Soon Camp Half-Blood and Olympus will burn with unquenchable fire."

Just then Angmar heard his communicator go off.

"What is it?"

"My lord, the mortal soldiers report one of their men was taken prisoner."

"One soldier means nothing to me, tell them that yourself."

Angmar then shut off the communicator and thought

'If they decided to rebel I could use them as an example to the rest of the army.'

Angmar proceeded to stroll through the corpse ridden banks of the Mississippi noting how many of Chaos's soldiers had been slain. The Sangheili Arbiter picked his way towards Angmar and said,

"Leader, do. you have a moment?"

Angmar turned and replied,

"Of course Arbiter, what is it?"

"My people wish to gather more soldiers to your righteous army."

"I sense you already have an idea as to who?"

"We do Leader. We call their species 'Mgalekgolo'."

"The what?"

"Mgalekgolo, they are a species of worm like creatures with a hive mind. Their normal form, they are just that worms. But when threatened they can band together by binding and forming a hulking creature. Our two species have had contact before and we Sangheili have made them suites of armor in the past, and armed them with massive shields and a plasma cannon that is mounted on their right arm."

"I like these creatures already. How soon can they arrive?"

"My warriors already arms and armor for four separate Mgalekgolo warrior forms. And the creatures can be transported with your ships in a matter of a few hours."

"I'll ensure your warriors receive proper transport. Will you be accompanying them?"

"No my prince, my place is by my Leader's side."

Angmar nodded and the Arbiter turned and headed towards his warriors' barracks area. Angmar continued his stroll through the battlefield. Order suddenly appeared in front Angmar, who instinctively bowed before his father.

"Rise my son, we have much to discuss."

"Of course father."

Order and Angmar walked in silence for a few minutes,

"My son, I sense a great power is rising in the Olympian camp. Many godly and primordial beings have pledged their power and armies to our enemies' cause."

Angmar thought for a moment and replied,

"Father I still doubt that even with their combined power, that they would be a threat to our powers and army."

"Don't be so sure of yourself Angmar, the Nordic gods haven't waned in power as the Olympians have. And the primordials include Nyx, Cronos and Tartarus."

Angmar was momentarily stunned,

"Tartarus is defending the Olympians?"

"Yes, and the Titans are leaning towards the Olympian camp, leaving us with few allies."

"I understand father."

"I have some plans in place to assist in your match towards Olympus, but they will require some time to be prepared. So for now you're on your own, aside from any help you manage to secure."

Angmar bowed and Order teleported back to Barad Dür. Angmar then teleported to his command tent and called his officers for a war meeting. Once the officers had gathered, Angmar began,

"Our situation is slowly slipping into our enemies' favor. Many powerful deities have pledged themselves to the Olympians, bolstering their army to a size thrice that of our own. I need your help in figuring how to strengthen our forces."

Sauron spoke,

"My lord, might I suggest we attempt to gather more mortal forces?"

"Sauron, while that would possibly work; mortals are weak. They are easily swayed and killed."

"Use them as sword fodder m lord."

Achilles suggested. Angmar laughed and said,

"That isn't a bad idea, though I'd prefer reinforcements that can defend themselves."

Hector said,

"Would it be possible to raise a force of deceased warriors? I know that is Hades' domain but your power dwarfs his by a massive margin my lord."

"We can consider that, Arbiter you've been quiet."

"Leader, as you already know some of my warriors have already been dispatched to secure the help of the Mgalekgolo."

Angmar nodded and said,

"I do, how many warriors will we receive?"

"At last report we will receive 20 or so warrior Mgalekgolo."

"Do we have the armor and weapons for them?"

"We will Leader."

Hector asked,

"What are these... Mgalekgolo?"

Angmar lost himself in his thoughts while the Arbiter explained what Mgalekgolo were. Angmar then said,

"Arbiter, do your people have any vehicles we can acquire?"

"We do, we call them Wraiths. Their main armament is a plasma mortar and they are repulser lift tanks."

"Can your warriors stop and pick some up?"

"I will ensure they Leader."

Angmar nodded and listened to the rest of officers brainstorm.

-Annabeth POV-

Annabeth and Private Fürst had spent the past few days working to break Angmar's hold over his mind; without success. Annabeth had just finished another session when she nearly bumped into Chaos himself. The creator had been spending more and more time on earth as the threat of Angmar grew larger. Annabeth bowed her head and apologized.

"No need for that child, I have learned how to forgive even my more misguided children."

Annabeth nodded and asked,

"Have any of your children ever acted as Angmar is?"

"This isn't the first time this has happened, though it was on a different world then."

Annabeth fought the urge to dig for more information, since Chaos didn't seem to want to talk about it. Annabeth remembered the first Olympian war council that Chaos was present for and remembered the creator's look of disgust at that Olympians.

"Lord Chaos, if I may. Why do you wish to defend Earth so much? I noticed months ago that you seem to despise the way the Olympians act."

Chaos smiled knowingly,

"Child, I do not despise the way the Olympians act, they have just disappointed me with their actions the past few centuries. Namely the way they treated my heir."

Annabeth was confused. Chaos noticed this and said,

"Do you remeber when Percy was disowned and everything he loved destroyed? That was Order fiddling in the affairs of mortals, the Olympians weren't under his influence but they were more than ready to get rid of what the felt was a threat to them. All your memories of those weeks are all fabricated by Order to drive my heir into his arms."

Annabeth was shocked,

"Percy was your heir?"

"Is my heir. I spent the most time forming him, even placing some my own essence into his spirit. That sadly was what helped in his fall, as the essence I gave him was undying loyalty and compassion. These two traits usually are the most dangerous when they are snubbed by they are focused on."

"So you're saying Order manipulated Percy into the monster he is now?"

Annabeth was getting angrier by the second. Chaos nodded sadly and said softly,

"It is my belief that you are our best chance at redeeming Angmar and remaking him into the Percy Jackson we all knew."

Annabeth nodded, her resolve now strengthened to almost invincible levels.