All right, so I'd like to apologize for taking so long, but life got in the way. You would not believe all the stuff that happened. That doesn't matter though, I finally got this written and I really hope you all enjoy. Thank you for your patience!
A special thanks to all my reviewers! But one in particular made my day when I read it:
Thank you PicturePerfectMe for your review. I'm sorry I couldn't post this sooner. :)
I really hope you all continue to enjoy!
Enjoy Chapter 4! :)
Atlantis
Stepping inside, Percy immediately noticed how exposed he felt. The room was vast and mostly empty. On either side of the room towered long windows which spewed light into the space and made stealth a feat only possible at night. A warm breeze made Percy feel suffocated, which didn't help with his anxiety of the king. On the floor, he followed a single blue carpet to a type of stage on which sat two thrones. Above and behind the thrones hung a vast electric blue banner depicting a lightning strike on a shield. Percy wondered if the moment depicted was of an important piece of history, after all it seemed to be worthy enough to be the kingdom's crest.
Percy heard an annoyed and deliberate cough as he lowered his eyes to the thrones. Sitting on one of the blue cushions of the bronze seats was a very intimidating man. He had cold electric blue eyes that examined the prince of Atlantis from head to toe, seemingly forming ice on Percy's skin whenever his gaze lingered. Atop his head was a golden crown, decorated with precious stones, below that a thick mop of, long, jet black hair combed down and behind his neck. On his chin, jet-black whiskers equivalent to the length of his hair, did not hide his incredibly obvious frown. His thick, dark eyebrows were knitted together in an almost permanent expression of impatience.
Percy had come to the conclusion that the man sitting on the throne was, in fact, the king and it wasn't crown that gave it away either, believe it or not. It was the sense of danger that struck Percy in the heart when he met eyes with the king, extreme hatred flooding into those pointed pupils. What the guard outside the door had said to him flooded into Percy's mind once more and he wondered if he was destined to die in this throne room, under the spiteful eye of the king.
Percy noticed movement in his peripheral vision and shook his eyes away from the king and to the right of the throne where Thalia stood, waving her hand beside her father with an almost apologetic look in her eyes. "Avoid his eyes." Her electric blue orbs seemed to say. Percy closed his eyes and took a deep breath, lifting his head, and trying to keep his focus away from the king's icy irises.
"Tell me," The king's voice radiated off the walls. A surge of power shot up Percy's spine the moment he had spoken. His voice was nothing special, but the tone almost made Percy want to obey everything this king…this mere man, told him to do. It was as if there was some sort of powerful being hidden behind-or perhaps in-the man that sat before him. "What brings the unwelcomed presence of the prince of Atlantis before me on what was to be a fine day?" When he said "Atlantis", for a second Percy felt as though the king's gaze was searing through him rather than on him. It was as if the king saw the father of the young man before him instead of the son.
"It seems you would rather attempt to roast me in the growing fire behind your eyes than listen to all I have to say." Percy pointed out. The king scowled and slid the fist he had clenched in his gestures to the armrest. Percy stood firm and ready, keeping his mind clear, as though to put a wall up behind his own sea green irises. They only stared at each other for a minute, when suddenly the king turned his eyes downward and smirked.
"A peasant's rags are fitting." He said and Percy could tell he was just daring the prince to try something. And Percy wanted to try something, so desperately. He clenched his teeth, balled his fist, and set a hand on the hilt of his blade. The king's smirk grew wider in amusement and something told Percy he was enjoying this. Thalia gave Percy a warning gaze and he lowered his hand from the grip of his blade, taking a deep breath.
"I find myself in this most splendid kingdom, your highness, in search of the princess of Athens," Percy took a step forward and continued. "I have heard tales that she has been cursed with no smile." Percy explained the plan Thalia and he had strategized, giving as few details as possible in case the king should disagree with any of it. All the while, the king's smirk grew wider and wider until mocking laughter slipped from his lips. "What is it?" Percy finally asked, a bit miffed.
"You speak madness," the king stated. "Have you come before me this day simply to jest?" He continued to laugh for a little while before he frowned. "Leave my presence immediately. I grow impatient with your nonsense." Percy stood there both miffed and offended.
"I am no simple jester." Percy scoffed. "I have given you this information under the most serious of intentions." The king narrowed his eyes and obviously deciding he wasn't going to believe Percy's opinion alone, he turned to Thalia.
"Daughter, what do you have to say?" he asked. "Does the boy not jest?" He laughed as though he already knew Thalia's reply.
"His intentions aren't any more believable then the beasts foretold to live under our bridges, this is true." Thalia agreed. Percy rolled his eyes. "But he speaks the truth."
"I would believe that beasts reside under our bridges before this." The king said. He smiled. "Very well, if he chooses to walk into his death, he has my full support." The king laughed mockingly once more. "God be with the boy!"
Percy had had it with the mockery. "With all due respect your highness," he said, venom nearly seeping through his words. "I did not come here for your permission, I came here as a courtesy to your daughter." Percy gestured to Thalia. "I will not make you the judge of my decisions."
The king entwined his fingers together and leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "Choose your worlds carefully, boy, or perhaps one day soon, you won't find just yourself on your knees but your whole kingdom falling behind you in the wake of your ignorance."
Percy scowled. "Starting a war on the sole ramblings of-in your own words-a mad prince would seem to give you the appearance of a child, your highness." He shot back. The king looked almost amused with the answer.
"You misunderstand me, boy," he said. "What I give you is no threat, I by no means need a war in my kingdom. No boy, what I give you is a warning. You'd do best to stick to the advice." Much to Percy's displeasure, he realized the king was right, but he was certainly not going to admit that.
"I think I'll take my leave." Regretfully, Percy bowed and turned to the door. He glared over his shoulder at the king. "It was a pleasure." He hissed through his teeth, making his exit.
"I look forward to the day I receive word that Athens has conquered your kingdom, prince," The king called after him. "Maybe then you'll change your tune." Percy clenched his fists but kept walking. When he had finally escaped the throne room he thought his head couldn't have returned to him sooner.
…..o0o…..
It was outside next to Blackjack when Percy started to look back on the king's words with a cool head. He had no idea he could be so angry just simply being in someone's presence, it was dangerous behavior for someone of his title. There was truth to the king's words. If he acted like that in front of every person he met on this journey he was going to find himself in a cell faster than a murderer.
After some moments attending to Blackjack and processing his own realizations, Jason approached him. "I heard the discussion with my father wasn't well with you." He stated, perhaps putting in the simplest of words what Percy could never have described.
"That was only moments ago," Percy pointed out, tightening the straps on the saddle.
"I could hear the queen's cries of impatience through the walls." Jason explained. Percy blinked and turned to Jason. The boy had said "queen" instead of mother and Percy didn't think Jason chose that word out of respect.
"Is the queen not you mother?" he asked hesitantly, wondering if that was a sore subject. Jason sighed and leaned against a tree.
"No." He said, distastefully. There was a silence after that. Percy already knew the story, he needed no further explanation, he knew what nearly all kings were guilty of. He was sure Electris' king was no exception. After Percy had mounted Blackjack Jason finally spoke. "Why are you doing this?" He asked. "You said you wanted adventure did you not?" Percy nodded. "Why this then? Certainly, there were other journeys more suitable to your liking."
Percy found himself lost in a question he wasn't sure how to answer. He thought for a moment and sighed. "It would seem something about this particular journey called out to me. I felt as though this was my one and only chance, I suppose." Jason nodded.
"A twist of fate." He commented, looking up to meet Percy's eyes.
"Destiny." Percy corrected. Jason smiled.
"Destiny." He agreed. Percy smiled back and yanked Blackjack's reins.
"You would best not leave before my sister has a chance to bid you farewell." Jason warned him, a smirk on his face. Percy cringed at the thought of what would happen if he decided to ignore that warning. Somehow, he thought he might be hunted down.
"So be it." He replied, dismounting Blackjack.
It was not moments later when the princess of Electris approached, a darkness in her eyes. As soon as Percy met her eyes, however; the darkness seemed to just disappear. She sighed placing her hand on his arm in as a reassuring gesture, which was a type of gesture only males give to one another. "I do apologize for my father," she said. "He's a stubborn old sot if ever there was one."
"I won't hold his accusations against you." Percy replied, with a smirk. Thalia smiled and rolled her eyes.
"I will miss you. You were the most exciting thing to walk into this kingdom in a few years." She told him. "The princess with no smile was the last." Percy raised an eyebrow.
"The princess was here?" he asked, shocked. Thalia laughed as if she had wanted to drop that bomb on him the moment she knew his intentions.
"Yes, the princess was here." She answered, with a smirk. Percy smiled. He felt this sense of satisfaction having received this new information, as if he was closer than ever before to his goal. It made him feel victorious.
"Why did you not tell me this sooner?" he asked.
Thalia grinned slyly. "Now where would be the fun in that, Perseus?" Percy snickered.
"You are a She-demon." He told her, smiling. Thalia's grin spread and she took a mock bow.
"That I am." She said, with a laugh. Her smile faded away just as her father's smile had in the throne room; it was gone almost as suddenly as it was there. "I do wish you well on your journey, Percy." Percy frowned to himself, he didn't like the way she said that, as though she knew he wasn't playing his cards right. "God be with you, my friend. May you find your princess with no smile."
Percy spared a smile and mounted Blackjack once more, looking from both Thalia to Jason. Jason pushed himself away from the tree and walked up to meet Percy. "I bid both of you farewell." He said. He turned to Jason with a smirk, not forgetting the seamstress. "May God be with you on your journey as well, Prince Jason." For a second Jason seemed confused but then his cheeks pinkened and Percy thought it was a satisfying enough reaction. He laughed.
"Thank you." Jason said quietly. "I wish you the same." Percy turned to Thalia.
"I hope to see you again one day, as ruler of this proud kingdom." He told her. Thalia laughed.
"I should hope to see you a lot sooner than that, Perseus." She smiled. "Farewell." Percy gave them one last smile and whipped Blackjack's reins.
"Let's be off now." He told his horse, as they began to gallop away.
"Be wise, Perseus!" Thalia called behind him. Her voice seemed to echo off mountains, valleys, and trees. The message was carried with him through the whole ride to Athens. Be wise? Be wise? He thought. Eventually he had to wonder what wisdom was to him. I do not command wisdom, He decided. It can be with me, or it can be against me.
…o0o…
He decided that it hadn't been wise of him to climb up to the princess's balcony. He felt foolish having been caught doing something so disgraceful. The princess's stormy orbs searing hole's in his soul, brought to light some of his most foolish decisions, as well as his most wise. Who are you? A most intriguing question. He wasn't willing to answer it, he had given too much information to her as it was. Still…those desperate eyes lingered on him and his heart beat faster, he could feel boiling blood pumping through his veins.
He needed to answer her truthfully, he decided, but he also needed to be cautious about it. "My name is Percy, princess." He told her.
"Do you have a last name or title…Percy?" She asked. She pronounced his name as though it was foreign to her, which it might save been. The "correct" name was Perseus, no man owning the name ever dare call themselves Percy instead.
Percy couldn't help but think her struggle to be an attractive quality. She was obviously one to enjoy receiving knowledge, but patience didn't come to her very easily. Her fierce eyes the color of storms seemed to command his sea green ocean to grow wild and sink ships. Her blonde curls fell past her shoulders elegantly, making her features appear softer than they already were. A blue silk dress that formed to her body near perfectly, went nicely with her royal blue hairpiece. She was as handsome of a woman as there ever was and Percy had been introduced to many suitresses in the last days since he left his kingdom, not one of them looked as professional as she.
"No, I do not, your highness." He answered.
"Not a title or a last name?" She asked. "Surely you must have something, sir."
"I never had learned of my last name and I have since abandoned my title." He told her. It wasn't really a lie either, he abandoned his father, leaving his title behind him as soon as he entered Athens. He didn't even know why he was still here either, perhaps it seemed too soon to go home, perhaps he was dissatisfied with his journey.
"Abandoned your title?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Might I inquire, why?"
"The past is behind me, princess." He answered. "You would do well to put your past behind you." He hadn't forgotten about her not having a smile and how she felt about it. By the glare she gave him, he knew she had understood.
"I shouldn't put a past behind me that is effecting my present, or else the world may think me foolish." She told him. "How can I ignore what can't possibly be ignored."
"I did not say you should forget it, I was simply saying you should accept it." He explained.
"What's there to accept?!" She scoffed. Percy didn't like that he was upsetting her.
"Why must you know my name?" He asked, changing the subject. The princess was struck still, after a moment she seemed to be shaking, as though she either didn't want to approach the subject or she didn't know how. Her cheeks grew red and she turned away.
"You would think less of me." She told him.
"I wouldn't." He assured. Percy could hear the princess sigh loudly and he felt his heart sink in the passionate emotion behind it.
"There was a prophecy foretold by the witch who cursed me." She admitted. Percy swallowed this with ease, it wasn't unlike anything he'd heard before.
"Might I hear it?" He inquired. She turned back around and stared straight into his eyes, nodding.
"You must." She replied. "The words spoken to my parents, which I will never forget, were: Because of your unwillingness to trust people like me, I hereby curse your baby girl to have something you'll never see. Because of your own fatal mistake, an expression of happiness she will never make. Until she finds trust the curse will remain, only through love will she suffer less pain." Percy had a knot in his stomach, the words of a witch spoken with hate were…shocking to say the least.
"Why must I know this?" He questioned, confused. The princess sighed again.
"You see, my mother and father have been trying to find me suitors to marry in hopes that the marriage will result in my smile returning to me. I had already known it wasn't working and I didn't think it would ever work. That is until I talked with you, Percy," She explained. Percy didn't think his reaction would have been any different if the princess had slapped him. He stood their dumbfounded, hardly believing this was happening.
"You're mistaken…" He argued, weakly.
"Yes, you would think so." She agreed. "But as I was talking to you, I stared into my vanity, and I saw it…"
"A smile?"
"My eyes…" she said as though she were in a daydream. "…Haven't you heard stories of the eyes being able to smile just as the lips." He wanted to write her off as mad, but then he looked into the eyes she had spoken of and he saw it…a glow outshining all the rest.
"I…" He trailed off, he had no idea what to say. His heart beat fast in his chest. Right, because this is exactly what he needed. To have made a scene, something he wasn't going to come back from. Fate was certainly twisted. "I…I should leave." He decided, turning away from her and heading back to where he tied up Blackjack.
"You can't leave!" She told him, sounding angry and hurt. It broke his heart, but what else was he to do about this? He needed time to think.
"I must think." He told her, with a sigh. He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation as he mounted Blackjack and headed off. Madness, He thought as he road. Complete madness! But something inside him thought otherwise, a voice louder than his own doubts. No, Destiny. It corrected.
…o0o…
Athens
It wasn't hard to see that Percy was running from something, that was obvious. She thought for a moment it was what she said, but upon further consideration, she came to the conclusion that that couldn't possibly be. Or at least, that wasn't the full story. Or perhaps that was her own desperate thought trying to convince her it was so.
Annabeth didn't know what to do…her hour was almost gone and her mother would be in her room any minute. The man she thought was destined to make her smile was gone and he was a peasant. Could it get any more chaotic then that?! She paced the floor anxiously, tapping her chin in thought. She needed to go about this right the first time, instead of charging into the problem and losing the battle.
Moments later a thought occurred to her. Her mother didn't care who it was, just as long as they would make her smile. And she knew Athena could change her father's mind. So, having decided what she was to do, she made her way out the door and down the stairs to the throne room, where more suitors waited in line to ask her hand in marriage. She rolled her eyes upon seeing them and approached her mother.
"Mother," she said excitedly. Athena sat up straight, intrigued with her daughter's tone.
"Yes, Annabeth?" she replied.
"I found him." She cried. Athena's eyes grew wide. "I found the man who is to make me smile once more." Athena tilted her head.
"I see no smile on your face." She pointed out.
"Look into my eyes, Mother." Annabeth urged. Athena examined her daughter's eyes calculatingly for the longest time, it took so much time that Annabeth began to feel uncomfortable. Athena then gasped and smiled joyfully.
"Praise God!" she cried. "Who is it?" she looked over to the men in line and then back to her daughter.
"Not a single man in this castle is the one I speak of." Annabeth answered. Athena leaned forward a little.
"Where is he then?" She demanded.
"He ran off into the forest." Annabeth replied, explaining a bit. Athena narrowed her eyes and immediately called over the page.
"See these gentlemen off." She ordered, gesturing to the line of suitors. The page huddled the men out and Athena called over the guards. "I need you to find a man in the forest." She said. "Daughter, would you describe him please?" Annabeth nodded and went over a description. Of course she wasn't altogether sure why she remembered him so well, but perhaps it was simply the realization. "Be off with you!" Athena ordered, when Annabeth was done. "And do make your business quick."
As the guards left, Athena rose from her seat, turning to walk away. "Where are you going, Mother?" Annabeth asked.
"I must speak to your father." Athena explained, exiting the room.
Alone, Annabeth rejoiced in her discovery. She would soon find her smile. Something inside nagged at her, however; He didn't seem happy about it. A voice said, discouraging her. What gives you the right to be selfish and not care about what he thinks. He did say he just wanted to think after all. Annabeth frowned for real this time, letting the guilt chew her out. What's done is done, now that she told her mother there was no going back. She could live with her guilt if she had too.
After all, the truth was, she didn't know what Percy thought. He might like her. Although, the possibility that he would hate her for this, seemed too powerful a fear to ignore. Please don't hate me. She thought, even though she knew he wouldn't hear her. Relax, we'll wait and see. She told herself, finally.
So how was that? I know I've been writing a lot of Percy lately, I don't know if that's acceptable to you guys, feel free to leave a review and tell me if you'd like me to continue on doing whatever or if you'd like to see more Annabeth. I can't promise anything however.
Please read and review. Constructive criticism is always appreciated. Flames will be ignored.
Thanks for reading! :)
Samantha's Library.