AN/ I'm so sorry that I haven't updated, but today I'm going to post two chapters! I want to give a special thanks to my beta reader, arianscorp!

I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Annabeth

I had never been to battle field, nor had I ever dreamt of the fact that I'll find myself on one. I had let alone never even thought about battle. Being a Daughter of Athena didn't mean that I had seen several battles however I was certainly privy to the wisdom part of it, a little more than anyone should have been but anyway back to reality.

While standing there besides my throne on the dais surrounded by my friends, family and the countless nobles, ministers, warriors and other dignitaries of Athens, I felt that my father's royal court and Atrium had turned into a battle ground, or rather was soon to be made so by the Spartans dressed in full body armour.

Once the entire wedding party had filed in to the large royal chamber, the King of Spartans, a tall man with wheatish skin, slight stubble with salt and pepper cropped hair walked forwards along with his royal guard to greet my father. The King wore an armour of what I thought was gold, but as he neared I realised it was more that gold rather a combination of two or more metals to make the armour strong and resistant against arrow piercing, interesting, I must bring this up with my generals if the Spartans can be innovative so can we.

It felt like forever as the crowd of nobles parted to make way for the king and his guards to reach the dais where my father and I stood. I felt someone stand beside me, and without even stealing a glance I knew it was Thalia, maybe Piper as well. I held my head Each Warrior was at least six feet tall garbed in either brass or copper breast and back plates with a thick woollen cloak billowing from their shoulders to ankles. Not only that, each soldier wore matching bracers and greaves along with sandals made of leather with brass fittings. Their Copper shields reflecting the light of the sun gave an illusion of being on fire. Their iron spears, proudly held, ready to skewer any mortal to cross their paths while their swords remained sheathed, a gesture of peace I suppose however ineffective it might , I would be strong, I would be confident I wouldn't bow down to him.

The King approached us slowly and steadily, marching in co-ordination with his guards. Each step that he took towards us felt like a stone thrown at my face and my independence. I slipped into a daze, lost in my thoughts, only to be revived by a mild pinch from Thalia.

The king was now shaking hands with my father, and my father held his right hand with both his hands an act of gratitude and respect. A sign of welcome, my father had officially welcomed my end or the end of my independence as I thought it was.

He then turned to face the gathering, a gathering of over hundreds of men and women including the Spartans. He opened his arms in welcome and spoke in a loud joyful voice, full of warmth I knew was fake "Welcome! A hearty welcome to our guests from Sparta, soon to be the home of my only daughter, Princess Annabeth, Heir to my throne of Athens." The entire room broke into applause, the Athenians cheering at the mention of my name and the Spartans rejoicing at the announcement of my marriage with their Prince. He then looked towards me silently asking me to join him.

I took one deep breath and with my head held high I walked to his side, bowing to the King of Athens and then waved to the crowd.

"Thank you, for your warm welcome" The King of Sparta said, he stood beside my father. "I'd now ask Perceus, Prince of Sparta and the Heir to my throne to ask for Princess Annabeth's hand in marriage." The cheering and the applause that came from the Spartans were deafening. It sounded like thunder as the Spartans banged their spears on the shields and cheered for their Prince.

I wanted to see him, I had heard Piper say more than once that he was as handsome as Adonis and as powerful as Achilles but he was nowhere in sight. He wasn't with the wedding party, nor could I see anyone making their way towards us through the crowd.

"I'd like to introduce my son." The King's voice boomed and from amid the cheering, from the bottom of the stairs I saw another figure climb on to the dais. Garbed in armour of gold with a cloak the colour of copper clasped to his shoulders, his face covered with a helmet, the Prince of Sparta was one o the most handsome man. True that I hadn't seen his face yet but he had the physique of a celestial warrior.

He was over six feet tall, broad shouldered, lean and muscled. His armour was well fitting and only emphasised is strength and the strength in his body. He had a golden wheatish complexion from what I could see but I was yet to see his face as it was hidden by the helmet. I was definitely marrying a warrior, a battle and conquest obsessed Spartan warrior. I shuddered at the thought but that was before he decided to surprise me.

It didn't actually quite surprise me, but shocked me from the core outwards on what he had just done. Never had I expected a Spartan to do such a thing, never.

Down on one knee, the helm of his sword in his hands and his sword pointed to the ground, the tip resting downwards. He looked at me, and all I could see were his beautiful and enchanting see green eyes, eyes so mesmerising that I felt that I'd drown in them, lost forever in their serenity.

But I soon was brought back to my dream world as the hall went quiet only to be followed by another booming loud voice, "I'd like to request your hand in marriage Princess Annabeth of Athens" and my world came crashing down upon me, my heart broke at such an unromantic proposal but what was I expecting, before me was a barbaric warrior whose sole interest was to slash, cut and gut and as if that wasn't enough he continued, "I promise to defend your honour always and that of your family. I promise to protect you from any harm that might come your way and if the Gods so desire it I will sacrifice myself for you" Something inside me broke, it seemed he was reading of a piece of parchment that some had written the proposal on to be read word by word.

He then revealed a ring, holding it in his right hand. It was an elegant looking platinum band, with intricately carved olive leaves around the body of the band, nestled at the centre of the leaves were sapphires and aquamarines, in various hues of blue and green.

I didn't want to do this but I had no choice, with a stone on my heart I gave my hand into his and slipped the finger, a perfect fit I might add, on my ring finger. Instantly, a fresh cool breeze of air began to blow lined with the fragrance of sweet salts, never before such a breeze had blown from the sea, fragrant over that. It left me wondering if not mesmerized.

Without wasting any time, the Prince and now my Fiancé stood up, took my hand in his and then stood facing the crowd of Athenians and Spartans, who were now applauding and cheering on the engagement of the heirs of the two rival nations and as I stood waving to the crowds, I realised that he held my soft delicate hands with utmost care in his rough and scarred one. An explicable smile came to my lips but they were soon followed by internal fear of unknown, anger at the present and pain which too was inexplicable.