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Perseus started to haul a length of rope on board in tandem with another crewman. "Heave!" he shouted, "Ho!" said the other man, Grover. "Heave!" It took but a moment to bring the heavy net onto the deck, spilling fish and the smell of saltwater aboard. Just because young Perseus was captain of the Andromeda, didn't mean he didn't have to work. He enjoyed working, feeling his muscles strain and sharing the camaraderie with his men. They seemed to respect him in that. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, effectively coating his black hair with seawater and sweat. Together, Perseus, Grover, and a few other men loaded the fish into barrels, then took them to the hold. "See?" Perseus started, "More hands, less time." A few tired smiles cracked, and Grover threw an arm over his shoulders. "Let's to get a drink, aye?" A chorus of ayes followed. Perseus smiled and added his soft aye. The thunderous sound of leather boots on wooden stairs resounded in the hold. Perseus rubbed his scruff of a beard, counting the total amount of barrels remaining for the shipment.
Seven. Seven empty barrels remained. Perseus had no clue why the King had need of so many fish, but he was paid handsomely for it, so he kept quiet. Trudging up the stairs, his thoughts and eyes turned towards the direction of land. His internal compass was never wrong. A girl with hair the color of straw came to his mind, she with gray eyes as piercing as the winds of a hurricane. He'd never met anyone quite as beautiful. Though she dressed in tattered clothing, everything else about her was immaculate. He had seen how she acted when someone questioned her, and how she was angry, so he knew to pretend not to notice. "Captain! C'mon Percy, or all the wine will be gone!" Perseus rather enjoyed being called Percy, as when it was said, it sounded like something he loved, the sea. "Oh ho, no finishing that without me!" He called, striding over the deck with confidence.
Princess Annabeth grew tired of trying on dress after dress for the Grand Gala. She thought she must have tried on over twenty dresses, and finally decided on a plain turquoise gown with a bow. Her attendant, a girl oddly named Drew, loaded her arms with the discarded dresses and left Annabeth in her room. Annabeth strode to the window, looking longingly to the shimmering sea. Her beau of sorts didn't know her secret, nobody did except the princess herself. Her younger brothers were oft kept occupied with a tutor, as Annabeth had long since received the maximum education that was required for a girl of the royal family. When she wasn't forced to parties with her stepmother, she kept occupied reading. Homer fascinated her, as did Socrates and Plato. The Iliad had to be her favorite. The bright tans of the common houses, the greenery of the rolling hills, combined with the deep blue of the Mare Nostrum provided Princess Annabeth with one of the best views from the castle. A soft knock was heard, then the doors opened silently. "Annabeth? Annabeth, come here child. You'll catch the ague next to that window!" The queen, Annabeth's stepmother, gently but firmly moved Annabeth from her window and leaned out to close the shutters. The room, now greatly dimmed, looked cold to Annabeth now. "Is this the dress you decided upon? Hmm?" "Yes, stepmother." She gently slapped the side of Annabeth's face. "Stand straight girl, have my lessons not been getting though your thick skull?" The Princess wasn't sure how to answer that, so she decided not answering would be in her favor. "I see. Well, turn around and let me see you in it." Slowly, Annabeth turned, letting the queen look upon her and the gown. "Fine, fine. It shall do nicely for our announcement." "Announcement? What announcement?" Annabeth had heard of no such plans. "Your father has an announcement. I know nothing, of it." Her tone had changed keys, clearly signaling that indeed she did know. Once again, she kept her mouth shut. "Well, I'm off to find some new dancing slippers. Would you care to join me?" Shaking her head no to the queen, the queen nodded curtly and closed the chamber doors once again.
Annabeth lay on her bed with a book in hand, when the doors opened once again. "Hello, Drew." "Princess Annabeth. I returned the dresses and checked on the princes as you asked." "And do they fare well?" Annabeth's eyes never left the sentence she was on, pretending to not care, when in reality she loved her brother dearly. "Their studies are almost complete, and they themselves are getting their wardrobes ready for the coming Gala. Is there anything else you wish me to do for you, my lady?" She dropped the book to her stomach, gazing intently at the ceiling above her. "No," she turned her head to face Drew, "you are dismissed." Drew curtsied and mumbled a thanks, and left Annabeth alone once again.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson nor any of the characters as of this chapter. I only own the plot.
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