People were staring at Aricia in a mix of awe and fear. Hera wasn't supposed to have a child, it just wasn't possible. Annabeth went over and gave her a hug and smiled broadly. "You're right when you said a lot of things were going to change."

Aricia looked up and stared at the slowly fading peacock. She swallowed the tears in her throat and tried to smile. Her mother had claimed her before everyone; Hera wanted the camp to know about her at last. Chiron stood up again and smiled down at her. "It seems your mother feels it is time for you to be where you belong."

"How is it possible to Aricia to be Hera's daughter?" One of the Aphrodite boys called. "She's been in Cabin 10 for almost four years!"

"Would you like to explain?" Chiron asked Aricia.

The daughter of Hera threw her arms up and shook her head. "I'll let you handle this one Chiron."

The centaur looked at his heroes in training, all on edge as they waited for him to speak. He looked at Leo and the other Hephaestus kids before starting.

"You all are familiar with the story of the god Hephaestus' birth. How Hera created him without the aid of Zeus just as Athena was born without a proper mother. Aricia was created by the very same means by her mother Hera seventeen years ago, without the help of a father."

Aricia and those who knew the full truth all knew that it wouldn't be right to also announce that it had been revealed that Hera and Zeus were Aricia's parents. Better to let the others think she was just half-immortal, like they all were. Chiron continued,

"Because it was not safe for Hera to claim Aricia upon her arrival to Camp Half-Blood, Aphrodite who had blessed Aricia to not be ugly like her brother Hephaestus thought it proper to house her in her own cabin until the time came for Aricia to move to Cabin 2."

"But why wasn't it safe?" Someone else asked. "Why lie to us for years?"

"It was because Zeus would have killed Ari."

People turned as Thalia, who had been kept waiting at the Big House came forward and stood beside her brother Jason. She had thought Chiron and the others were taking far longer than usual to disband after she her the conch shell, so she had come to see what was going on. Thalia looked at Aricia and smiled.

"Zeus himself ordered me to kill Aricia within the first week she arrived her, even though only Silena, Annabeth and Percy knew the truth. I am ashamed to say I nearly did it, out of fear for my own safety, but…" Thalia's smile faded as she continued to stare at Aricia. "But, you wouldn't fight back. You wouldn't even defend yourself because you thought it would only be worse with Zeus." Thalia turned to the rest of the camp. "Look at her eyes, purple from being tied to the side of Mount Olympus and tormented by Zeus' lightning for days. Not once did she fight back, because she honored Olympus and did not want harm to come to her mother or to her friends. Zeus feared if we knew the truth then Aricia would be used to rebel against Olympus all because Hera had created her. Well, it wasn't true and Silena Beauregard made him see the truth that Aricia is the most loyal servant of Olympus that ever lived. Now that Zeus accepts her, and even calls her daughter it is safe for her to take her mother's name. And I too proudly claim her as my sister."

Thalia's words touched Aricia deeply. To the camp, they thought the sentiment was just symbolic, a child of Zeus and a child of Hera forming a peace treaty, or an alliance of some sort. Very few knew that it was Thalia publically telling Aricia she accepted her as her half-sister. Jason nodded and said loudly, "As do I. We all must work together now against the giants, and so let us start with the friendship of Cabin 1 and Cabin 2."

There was a sudden and unexpected eruption of cheers from the campers as Jason said those words. People came up and patted Aricia on the back, Aphrodite kids apologizing and some even telling her they hoped she would continue to allow them to think of her as their half-sister too. Ares campers, her nieces and nephews playfully punched her arm and admired her strength. Her bright purple eyes became a badge of willpower and strength to many who looked upon them now.

At last, Drew walked by and hissed; "Now I see I was right about you all along. You really didn't belong with Aphrodite. That's why you never challenged me for leadership."

Aricia looked at her and nodded. "Yup, you were right. I am not your sister at all Drew. I don't belong under your leadership anyways." She looked at Piper. "But now I guess, you aren't a leader anymore. But you know what Drew? You never were a true leader."

Aricia walked away and went to Piper who was standing with Leo and Jason. Leo, the elf –like Latino grinned like a loon and patted her. "So, you get your own cabin now huh? Need anything repaired or built just come on over to my digs and we can crank something out for you."

"Thanks Leo, that means a lot." Aricia said and then said to Piper, "I'm only sorry that I didn't get to see you take leadership from Drew, but I'm so glad you did. You were the only one who ever could finish what Silena and I started."

"I wish I had been here when Silena was alive." Piper admitted. "The way you speak about her, and the way you are…she must have been an amazing person. You must miss her terribly."

"She was, and I do." Aricia admitted. "But the wounds are closing at last, and I'm healing now. I know she is with Beckendorf, and that she is waiting for me when my time comes." She chuckled. "And hopefully, that won't be for a long time." She left them there and ran over to Rahl and kissed him right in front of everyone who was there.

"Well, I need to go to the cabin leader meeting now, but I'll see you at the campfire."

"Okay, I'll save you a seat." Rahl promised, ignoring the kissing noises his brothers were making at them.

In the Big House everyone sat down and listened as Leo explained Bunker 9 and about the plans for the flying ship. The Romans weren't going to like seeing that on their horizons, but it was worth the risk. Chiron ended the meeting and then looked at Aricia.

"Well, I think now would be an appropriate time to move in to your mother's cabin." He said with a grin. "She must be eager for you to do so."

"I'm sure she is." Aricia agreed and looked out the door towards Cabin 2. "For years I've dreamt about the moment I get to walk in their without hiding, the day that I don't need to lie about myself anymore." She said wistfully. "It's been a long road; I never thought this day would come."

"You've earned it." Thalia said softly. "Really, you have."

"Thanks sis." Aricia said and stepped out the door.

"Do you need anything from Cabin 10?" Piper asked and stepped out with her. "I can go grab it if you don't want to go back there."

"Thanks Piper, but I am fine. Mom will have something waiting for me."

"So that night when I first was here and we were walking…" Piper began as the two headed towards Hera's cabin. "When you said that no one ever lives in Cabin 2, I'm sorry I made you say that."

"You had no clue that I wasn't who I claimed to be. Mostly everyone else had no idea either." Aricia reassured her. "And now, someone does live there. If you ever get sick of being in Barbie's Dream House come pay me a visit. Mom doesn't mind company, as long as it's family."

"Aren't we all family here." Piper asked.

Aricia winked. "Yup. Well, this is my stop."

Piper waved goodbye and kept walking while Aricia pushed open the doors of her mother's cabin. Her bed was still there waiting, her mother's statue smiling down at her warmly. The pomegranates on the walls were large and ripe and filled the cabin with their sweet scent. Hera had provided her child with plenty of clothes, clean sheets and a rug on the floor of the cabin.

Aricia heard something behind her and whirled around to see a peacock staring back at her. She smiled and knelt down to its stature. "Hi!" She greeted it enthusiastically. "Where'd you come from?" Then she noticed the note tied around its neck and gently pried it off.

Aricia,

I hope that all is well now that Camp Half-blood knows the truth about you. I am so proud of all you have done, and am glad you finally can live where you belong. So that you are not too lonely I have sent Herakles, this majestic peacock before you, to keep you company. Remember, just because a few good things have happened doesn't mean life is going to get easier my dove, as you know it is going to get more difficult with the impending battle with the giants. Stay safe, and train hard but also enjoy your youth and time here at camp. Make new friends, be a child for once. But if that boyfriend of yours EVER comes in here alone with you…well I do not guarantee his survival.

~Love Mom

Aricia read the letter and laughed. Poor Rahl, he was afraid enough of Hera as it was! She bowed her head in respect to the peacock and rubbed his head. "Pleased to meet you Herakles." She greeted him, assuming by the name that the bird was male. "I'm glad you'll be here with me to keep me company."

The bird chattered away, as if he expected Aricia to understand him. Aricia nodded and then shrugged her shoulders. "Really? You think the walls need decorating. I think…" she stopped. "Oh sweet Olympus now I'm talking to my pet peacock."

Herakles puffed out his feathers as if to assert, 'Who are you calling pet? As far as I'm concerned you are my pet."

"Oh!" Aricia broke out in to laughter that echoed throughout the cabin. "We'll get along fine I think Herakles. But yeah, maybe the walls do need a bit of something."

Aricia stood up and pulled the picture of her and Silena from her back pocket. She infolded it and sighed with a brief flush of grief. If only she could go back to that moment, but she knew that she could only keep pressing forward. She tacked the picture up over her bed and stepped back a bit.

"There, perfect." She said and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll fill it up with more soon."

The peacock strutted away and settled himself by the fire at the statue of Hera's base. Aricia saw the packages from her mother on the bed and began to open them one by one. There was nectar, ambrosia, clothing, a small dagger for her to use, toiletries, and a small bag filled with golden drachmas and a spray bottle filled with water.

Aricia gasped a bit and then nodded in understanding. "Alright, if you think so mom then I understand." She said and picked the two items up. She knelt next to the fire and began squirting water until a small rainbow appeared.

She tossed in a drachma and nervously waited. The rainbow shimmered and flashed and for a moment Aricia hoped that it would just dissolve. However, after a few moments a girl's face appeared.

"I see you are in Juno's cabin." The girl said.

Aricia nodded. "She has claimed me, at last. Things are different now, it is safer."

"I hope you're right." The girl said and grinned. "I hope then, that means I'm next."

Aricia grinned as well and nodded. She looked at the face in the Iris message, the identical face starring back at her. Only this face still had her brown eyes, unlike her older twin sister. "Don't worry Carynn, I'm sure mom is working on you as we speak…."

TO BE CONTINUED…..