Chapter One
'I swear to protect the Goddess Artemis. For she is my charge, she is my duty. Her life is my own. My loyalty is to her above all else. This I swear."
Percy woke up before dawn. Every day he started the day by going outside and taking in the nature. He tended to the plants he grew outside. Then he would inspect the outside of the temple for any damage. He thought it was better to fix anything as soon as it appeared, rather than dealing with a larger problem later on.
Then he went into the temple. But only briefly. Just long enough for him to grab his bow and arrow, as well as his knife. He came back out of the temple and climbed a tree at the edge of the forest.
Once in the tree, he leaped from branch to branch. His feet were silent as he landed on each branch with his bare feet. The moon shone above him, providing all the light he needed to see. The wind blew through the cold night, making him shiver slightly as the wind hit his bare chest.
His ears moved as he tried to listen for the sounds of an animal. When the wind paused briefly, he was able to make out the sound of a branch's crunch. Percy leapt from his branch towards the sound. Remaining in the trees, he jumped from branch to branch.
He spotted a deer in the foliage. He unslung his bow and drew an arrow from the quiver on his back. He took aim. He felt the wind and adjusted his aim a tiny bit. He let go of the arrow. It soared through the air, before landing in the heart of the deer. It fell silently, dead on the spot.
Percy leapt off of the branch and landed on the ground without a sound. He walked towards the deer, avoiding tree roots that could trip him up. He reached the deer and slung his bow over his shoulder. He picked the deer up and threw it over his other shoulder.
He walked back out of the forest, emerging before the temple. The temple was reminiscent of the Parthenon in Greece during its prime, only smaller. The pillars on the outside mostly hid the walls on the inside. The doors were on the front, made of a nice mahogany wood. There originally hadn't been any, but Percy decided to add them to keep the cold out during the winter.
He laid the deer down in the grass.
He went inside and grabbed some plates and took them outside. He laid them next to the deer.
He grabbed some firewood and laid it on the fire pit. He grabbed his firestik, some kindling, and put them next to the firewood. He started the firestick process, using the stick to create heat with the friction. It took forever, but he would eventually get it. He set the firestick aside and picked up the kindling. He gently blew on the ember. It flamed up before dying again when his breath went away. He laid the kindling on the firewood and started to blow again. He kept blowing, only pausing to regain his breath. When he was done, the fire was roaring.
Percy started to skin the deer and cut the meat off of its bones. He laid the meat on the fire and smiled slightly as he heard the sizzle as it cooked. He flipped it over a few minutes later, once again hearing the sizzle. He took the meat off when it was done. He set it aside on a plate. It wasn't for him.
He took another piece of meat and laid it on the fire. He let that one cook even more before flipping it. When that was done, he put it on the other plate. He walked over to the temple and grabbed a bucket.
There was a stream nearby that he got water from on a daily basis. He took the bucket there and filled it up. He took it back and poured it over the fire, dousing it. Charcoal was left in the pit. He left it there. He would add it to the pile later.
He grabbed the plates and took them inside. Inside the temple was a hall with rooms on either side. At the end of the hall was an altar with a brazier next to it. The brazier was special. A gift from his goddess, enchanted to never go out. But he didn't use it to cook.
He sat in front of the altar. He laid both plates before him. He grabbed the left piece of meat and threw it into the brazier. "For Artemis." He said quietly. The fire glowed silver for a split second. Artemis always loved venison.
Then Percy started to eat his venison. It was quiet while he ate. He might've been alone, but it was better this way. If any of the other Gods knew he was alive, then he would be dead on the spot.
Once he was done, he took the plates to the stream and washed them in the water. Then he washed his hands. He took the plates back to the temple.
His next order of business was to sweep the temple and clean it. He didn't like a dirty temple to his goddess. So, every day, he would clean it.
After that, was training. He had installed an archery course outside so he could keep his skills sharp. He might've had Artemis's blessings, but he still needed to practice to make sure they weren't being wasted.
His bow was custom made. Artemis had made it for him and gifted it to him. One of the last occasions that they actually saw each other. It was made out of the antlers of one of her sacred deer, the ones that pulled her chariot. The craftsmanship was perfect.
His quiver was enchanted to fill up with arrows every minute. It definitely helped when in a fight. Not that he had been one in a couple thousand years. During training, it played a role in an exercise where he would shoot as many arrows as possible in the minute and then add all of the points together. He had consistently gotten the most he could for the past few years.
Once training was done, he made lunch. Lunch was the same as breakfast, using the deer he had killed earlier in the morning. He once again cooked the venison before putting it on two plates and going back to the altar.
He once again ate in silence, only broken by the crackling of the brazier.
After lunch, he had free time. He often spent his time meditating. It helped calm down his hyperactive mind. Sitting in a silent room, focusing on his breathing, sorting his mind out. He sat for two hours. When his eyes finally opened, he had to blink a couple of times to let his eyes adjust to the light.
He stood up and stretched. He walked outside, heading behind the temple. Behind the temple was his garden. He grew vegetables and a couple of fruits, constantly planting them and gathering the ripe ones. During Winter he had to stop since the cold withered the crops, but he could survive on just the meat. He was partially immortal after all. He could only fall in combat.
He gathered a couple of carrots. Then some potatoes and tomatoes. With his bundle of crops, he took them back inside to the kitchen. The kitchen wasn't some modern one with high tech appliances, no, it was just a room with counters that he prepared food on.
He took out a knife and started to chop up the vegetables and fruits. He gathered them in a bowl and realized that he needed something. He went back out to his garden and grabbed a head of lettuce. He took it inside and started to chop up the head. He put the lettuce in the bowl and marveled at the salad he made. He made another one.
Then he went outside and used the last of the deer to cook two last pieces of venison. When he was finished, he took the plates inside and set them by the altar. He grabbed the two bowls of salad from the kitchen and set them next to the plates of venison.
He kneeled before the altar and picked up the plate and bowl. He dumped both items into the brazier and closed his eyes. "For the Goddess, Artemis. Thank you for the life I live. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Thank you for your protection. I am still your guardian, until I die." He finished his prayer and opened his eyes.
Curiously, the fire didn't flash silver. He must've missed it when he had his eyes closed in prayer. He got off of his knees, shifting to sit crisscrossed. He picked up the bowl and started to eat his salad.
As he put the first forkful in his mouth, there was a knock on the door. Percy set down the bowl and stood up. He went to his room and put on a tunic. The knock sounded at the door again.
He idly wondered who it was at his door. It wasn't the government, as far as he knew, he didn't exist to them. Door to door salesmen didn't visit, as he was in the middle of a forest. Jehovah Witnesses didn't come by anymore, not after the first two. Who could it be?
He opened the door and froze. At his door was a girl who looked his age. She had auburn hair that was braided in one long braid over her shoulder. Her skin was pale. She wore a green chiton that ended below her knees. But the most defining trait—one he would recognize anywhere—were her silver eyes, glowing like the moon in the sky.
His goddess was at the door.
Artemis had come to visit.
A/N. So, after all this time, I am finally trying my hand at one of the most overused tropes in Pertemis fanfiction. That's right, a Guardian of Artemis story. (Technically it's Guardian of the Hunt, but in this, it's just Artemis.) Don't worry, as you can already see, this isn't a typical Guardian of the Hunt story.
Another thing, this story is a frame story. That is a story that takes in place in another story. Think 'The Princess Bride'.
Anyways, thoughts?