YAY! I'm excited to write this chapter. Well, more so than usual.
I hear trumpets toot, and a loud voice announce me as
"Princess Annabeth Athena Lerina Malocorn Jensu, of the Royal family Chase of Athens." The door opens and people clap for me as I gracefully glide down the staircase, my hand lightly resting on the banister. I make my way to Malcom's throne, which is slightly bigger than mine and I am instructed to use for tonight. I sit down and the procession of men starts.
Hundreds of men are presented to me, from ages 12 to 80. I am smiling fixedly and staring at the spot were the man stands, when, suddenly, a familiar figure appears.
"Presenting Prince Lukas John Castellan, son of King Hermes of Hermia." I see Luke for real this time, and he smiles at me knowingly. I roll my eyes minuscularly. "Prince Lukas enjoys helping the poor and playing rugby. He is of 20 years of age. Next!" I snort to myself. If helping the poor means stealing stuff and giving it to random people, then yeah, he likes helping the poor. And I doubt he likes rugby.
"Presenting Lord Hatter of the Land of Aphrodite. Lord Hatter owns a lot of land east of the palace and enjoys serving feasts to his townspeople. He is of 46 years of age." I am distracted by the gold buttons on the man's coattails so I don't year the next one's name. But I do hear, "Son of King Poseidon. He is of 16 years of age and enjoys sword fighting. He is also heir to his father's throne." I am slightly triumphant, since I know a little more about this mysterious green-eyed person who haunted my dreams last night. He winks at me, making Mother harrumph and me blush.
Lots and lots of boring men later, I am released to "dance and socialize." I never manage to dance with anyone interesting for at least and hour. Then, I manage to extricate myself and follow a curious man out into a courtyard. He hears me and turns, eyes twinkling.
"Princess Annabeth," He says with a bow, kissing my hand. I open my mouth, close it and nod. "This is the part where you graciously say my name in response."
"My apologies, I didn't catch your name."
"No? Must have been to busy staring at Lord Hatter's buttocks."
"I wasn't!"
"Uh-huh."
"I wasn't!"
"Course you weren't. What were you looking at, anywho?"
"The buttons on his coattails."
"I have buttons on my coattails. Would you stare if I walked away?"
I splutter, too flustered to say anything. He walks away, watching me over his shoulder. I roll my eyes pointedly, looking anywhere but his coattails. He comes back sitting on a bench behind me. I sit next to him, and slouch against the wall.
"You look frustrated."
"You would be too, if your father decided that 80 year olds were eligible for your marriage."
"Well, on the bright side, they'll probably die soon enough, leaving you children, an estate, and a reason to remarry."
"True."
"Princess Annabeth! Her Majesty the Queen requests that you return inside to socialize. She also requests that you don't go flaunting your legs at bad-mannered boys." Likker looks at the bad-mannered boy beside me apologetically.
"I wasn't flaunting my legs!"
"What do you call that, then?" I blush and stand, brushing my dress off.
"You're going to listen to her like that? With nothing to say?" The sea-green eyes seem to pierce me. I hesitate, then turn to Likker.
"Tell Her Majesty that this 'bad-mannered boy' is a prince, and I may flaunt my legs to whoever I choose."
"Perfect." He says with a laugh. Likker scampers off.
"Your name, please? So I have something good to refer to you as?"
"And where do you describe me? Your diary?" I snort. "What do you refer to me as, then?"
"Pea-Brain," I tell him as we head inside.
"Ah ah, this isn't filled with a pea!"
"What, then? Certainly isn't a brain. Hmm…Posieden…the sea….got it!"
"Care for a dance?" He asks me. I take his hand and we start to dance.
"Seaweed Brain," I say. He laughs.
"But really, I want your name."
"Perseus Remafold Lornalo Joseph, of the royal family Jackson." The song calls for us to switch partners, and I don't see him for the rest of the night.
But we will be seeing more of each other, Percy Jackson.
Yay! So tell me what you think, I was rather proud of myself for that ending.