Hey there! It's Ajluv! I was very motivated by the response, so here's a quick update. For The First Marauderette, who was my first reviewer. It's Charlene because I want the Chrisse chapter to be special for you, and I have to think of an idea. If anyone had any suggestions, let me know. Also couple requests!
Charles Bekendorf was like most Hephaestus children, uncomfortable around other humans. Machines were their forte, and they had always relied on machines instead of social interaction. It was the fatal flaw of many a demigod, and a pain in the butt for Beckendorf.
He was no good with words, so how did he tell his gorgeous, sweet, perfect, human girlfriend that he loved her? He suspected that she felt the same way, so that wasn't an issue. Confirming those suspicions was.
He had asked Nyssa for help in a desperate attempt to save his sinking boat. She was a girl, and therefore the best consultant.
She had pulled of her favorite silver bandanna, and had wiped her face, mocha eyes staring him down and analyzing his face in that special way of hers.
"Well it's obvious, isn't it." She shrugged, slightly smiling. "If you don't have a way with words, do what you do best."
Beckendorf realized what she meant and immediately felt stupid. Of course...
She smiled and had turned back to the complicated mess of bronze gears on the table behind her.
"You know what to do."
And he did.
...
It was a gorgeous promise ring. Celestial Bronze and white-gold woven together, representing the two cabins they came from. On the inside there was a flattened piece of gold, almost like a plaque. On it were etched the words "I Love You, Forever And Always."
Charles had never felt more proud of himself.
He had asked Silena to meet him under their special tree, where they had, had their first kiss. He figured it was good luck.
She was waiting for him, looking like an angel in her dark blue dress that matched her eyes perfectly. He had never understood how girls managed to make a guy slack-jawed like that. It seemed like a magic power.
He swallowed nervously, his knees shaking. If his father had seen him, he would have laughed at the huge, scary, tough, Beckendorf shaking at the thought of making a speech to his girlfriend.
He clenched his teeth, focused on Silena's gorgeous smile and forced himself to talk.
"I'm not good with words." He started clumsily.
Her face seemed aglow, her eyes encouraging him. Silena understood.
"But I do know when I love someone." Her face seemed to change into an even more radiant expression, if it was even possible.
She looked ready to cry with happiness.
"Silena, I hope you will take this ring as a token of my love."
A tear slipped down her cheek, and he carefully wiped it away, treating her face like a prized possession.
She accepted it, looking at it.
"Gods!" That was all she could seem to get out, before she threw herself into his arms, kissing him with passion and gratitude. Never again would they be alone. The ring bonded them and made sure of that.
They broke apart and gazed at each other and he felt himself break out into a grin. She smiled back, looking like a goddess.
Even the ring couldn't express the love they felt for each other right then.
...
"OH MY GODS! A ring?"
Silena nodded, showcasing it proudly as her siblings crowded around.
Several girls broke out in tears and fanned themselves with their hands dramatically.
"It's too much to bear!"
"C'mon! You guys are acting like a couple of fangirls!" Silena protested, but not one demigod, monster, or god could mistake the look on her face for anything but pure love.
It was the most happy and giddy moment of her life.
But all good things must come to an end.
...
Silena sobbed, holding the ring close. It would keep her rooted, and safely on Earth, with the help of Clarisse and Percy's sweet memorable words.
But even so, she couldn't bear to wear it. Too many painful memories. She couldn't make herself completely get rid of it, so she placed it on her shelf. It held a special place next to the shells she had collected with her father and her lipstick/dagger.
Whoever it was on cleaning duty, was instructed by the others to carefully dust the ring, and not ever, EVER move it.
A pre-teen named Juliet had dug some ugly corrective shoes from her closet as punishment to anyone who broke the sacred ring rule.
...
She buckled the armor, smoothing the leather and polishing the bronze. Everything was in place. She was giving Camp Half-Blood a fighting chance. Just like Charles. She was charging for him, despite her Ares war cries.
A glint caught her eye as she clunked over to the door. She smiled, welcoming the dull ache in her heart, as it brought back sweet memories.
Why not?
She slipped the ring on its designated finger, feeling the flawless workmanship. Perfect, just like him.
...
Gods, it hurt. It was an ironic, cruel death for the child of Aphrodite. Her face, her beauty was being burnt off. Her claim of a demigod in the Aphrodite cabin, was gone now. No more beauty.
She imagined Charles next to her, stroking her burning face. Clarisse and Percy and the others blurred out of focus, and he became clearer. One thing remained clear though.
The ring.
He smiled, filling her darkening world with light and she smiled back. He held out his hand and she took it. They danced away toward the sun. After all, the only thing they needed was love.
In other words, they had everything they needed and more.
The ring was proof enough of that.
Summertime Sadness came on Pandora while I was writing the final scene. Coincidence? I think not. Anyway, I really like this. I think it's one of my best. What do you think?
Peace!