heyo guys! Thank you to everyone who loved this story and reviewed! Love ya all!
Reply to lady Adidaa: Don't worry! There will be some Caleo and Jasper, but I'm more focused on Percabeth! ;)
Chapter 18
"Annabeth!" A loud voice boomed through the door of the princess's bedroom. Annabeth let out a small groan, rolling from her sideways position in her bed to laying flat on her back.
"Annabeth!" The voice boomed again, accompanied by the creaking of an opening door.
Annabeth opened her eyes with difficulty, blinking several times. After a few seconds, she found the overly joyed face of her father staring down at her. She sat up in her mattress, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Good news!" The king exclaimed, holding up a white envelope. It's red seal had been broken, meaning it had already been opened. "You're seventeenth birthday ball is approaching!" He grinned cheerily. "The princes, dukes and duchesses have accepted to come!"
Annabeth quickly shot up in bed, awoken by the news. She stared wide-eyed at her father. "I'm not getting an aranged marriage, am I?!" She half-screamed. It was the thing she feared oh so much. She hoped her father was as open-mined and kind-hearted as he seemed. She didn't want to get married to someone she didn't love! Nor did she want to NOT get married to someone she DID love.
The king smiled humorously and shook his head. His blue eyes glinted with amusement. "No, Annabeth." He said. Annabeth sighed with releif. "You'll get married when someone proposes and you accept. I trust your judgment of who you would marry someday. After all, that was how your mother and I were married." He laughed. "Me, trying to woo her every day since I met her. After eight long months, she finally said yes." He sighed contentedly, staring out into space. Annabeth had a small, amused smile on her face. She wished a certain someone would look at her like the way Frederick looked at Athena.
"Ahem." The king cleared his throat, snapping himself out of his daze. "Anyway, I expect you to be here by dusk." He smiled mischeviously at her. "You have the day off."
Annabeth broke into a wide grin. She hugged her father, catching him a bit off guard. "Oh gods, thank you, thank you , thank you, thank you, father!" Annabeth said. Frederick had missed this, her hugs and smiles. She had only ever smiled ever since that servant boy came... and the new knight... Frederick breifly wondered if the knight and the boy were the same person. He'd have to consult Susan about that later. She recalled everything.
"Oh gods, I have to get dressed!" Annabeth squeeled. She jumped out of bed and ran to her closet, pulling out a pair of trousers and a grey, long-sleeved shirt.
Then, she quickly turned to Frederick, a smile on her face. "Thanks, dad." She said. She then moved to push him out the door hurriedly, screaming. "Sorry but I have to get dressed! I'll be out of the castle for the day!"
"Alright!" Frederick's muffled voice rang through the door. "Just don't stray past the Den!"
"I wont!" Annabeth replied, changing out of her night dress from the other side of the door. "I'll be fine, dad! Jeeze, I'm not a little kid anymore. I can defend myself. I've trained with Chiron, remember?"
"Yes, yes. Just be careful!"
Frederick remembered Chiron. One of the greatest masters there ever were. He never fought, or lead and army, but he was amazing at training the best knights and even normal people who he deemed worthy. A misterious man, he is. Almost as strange as the beleived oracle who lived in her cave on the hill.
Urban ledgends. Frederick never beleived them. He thought about all this, heading back to his room to get changed himself as he was still dressed for sleep.
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Annabeth slipped on her leather gloves as she rushed to the balcony, pushing the doors open. Grabbing hold of the rope tied to one of the railings, she jumped off the balcony as she did a hundred times before. Halfway down, she clutched the rope, slowing her descent, stopping completely just as she was only a foot away from the ground. She jumped down, breaking into a run for the hedges.
The found the blue-stone mark, but she didn't even need the mark anymore, as she memorized every nook and cranny of the pathway.
She ran, gradually slowing down and coming to a stop just as she reached the ruble wall-stairway. She stared up at the tree, it's leaves sheilding her eyes from the light of the morning sun. She hoped Percy was here.
She started to climb up expertly, not slipping, not looking down even once. As she reached the top of the rope ladder, a blast of cool air hit her so suddenly she almost fell over. She sat down on the huge branch, catching her breath.
"Hey, Wise Girl." A familiar voice greeted as she felt a presence slide next to her. She glanced up to see Percy, sea-green eyes twinkling, lopsided smile intact.
"Hello, Seaweed Brain." She smirked. He swung his arm over her shoulders, causing Annabeth to blush slightly. She leaned into him, his warmth sheilding her from the cold breeze.
"The winter's close." Percy muttered, his breath tickling the top of her head.
"Only a month away." Annabeth confirmed. She looked up, trying not to drool over him. Okay, what? Did she just think that?!
Annabeth shrugged it off, trying to keep a straight face. "Hey, Percy?" She asked, as he glanced sidewards at her, their faces only an inch appart. He stared into her eyes, still not taking his arm off her shoulders. Not that Annabeh was complaining... SHUT UP! Annabeth told her brain, shutting out all thoughts of... that.
At least she tried to.
"Hm?" Percy asked.
"Aren't you supposed to be training? You know, with you being a soldier now?"
"No. Our training starts later at noon." Then his eyes lit up as he remembered something. "Hey, I got a new sword!"
"Oh really?" Annabeth raised her eyebrow, grinning at how child-like he acted.
"Yeah!" Percy confirmed. "It was named Riptide, and it's blade was bronze. It was apparantly cursed and no one would take it for like, six decades, but I found it and it's perfect!" Then he pouted. "But I left it at home so I can't show you. But it's still a sword!"
"Oh yeah?" Annabeth challenged, her hand moving to her waist, to where a leather strap was, supporting a seath. "Well, I got this!" She said, pulling out a knife. It's blade was bronze, just like Percy's. But it's blade seemed to reflect a tint of grey instead of green.
Percy smirked, moving the tip down with his finger. "Do you even know how to use it?"
Annabeth quirked her eyebrow up, grinning in a way wich almost scared Percy. Almost.
She pulled up her knife again. "Oh, is that a challenge?"
"Oh this is gonna be good!" Jason cheered. They were in a circle, watching Annabeth and Percy, weilding their perspective blades.
It was Jason, Grover, Thalia, Nico, Rachel, Piper, Leo, Sally and Poseidon watching. They were huddled at the back of Percy's house. It was fairly wide enough, moving the chicken cages and chopping board to the side.
"Ready?" Annabeth smiled, challengingly.
"Oh, yeah." Percy grinned back. "You better get ready, Princess! I'm gonna whoop your butt!"
"Let's see you try."
"OHHHHH!" The small crowd cheered.
"Oh," Rachel grinned at them, the hood of her cloak pulled down. "I think I know who wins this battle. Even without the visions."
Annabeth charged, knife and sword clashing together. At one point, she kicked Percy backwards, and he defended her attack with his sword. Annabeth had to admit, he was good, but not good enough.
A few times Percy had come THIS close to beating her, double the times Annabeth had almost beaten him.
"Ready to give up,Jackson?" Annabeth smirked, jabbing at his side. Percy quickly caught her blade with the hilt of his sword, interlocking them.
"As if, Wise Girl." He grinned back.
Annabeth had caught him off guard. "So you preffer to be... beaten?" She pushed her knife downwards, quickly twisting it up.
Percy's sword flung into the air. Rachel calmly stepped backwards, Riptide imbedding itslef in the ground where she had just stood a second ago.
Annabeth had her knife pointed at his neck, Percy's hands were in the air , surrendering.
The small crowd around them cheered and laughed. "Beaten by a princess!" Jason laughed. "Oh, sweet revenge!"
"Hahaha." Percy mocked laughter as Annabeth seathed back her knife. Percy had went and taken back Riptide as Rachel clapped him on the back. "Yes indeed." She laughed. "The greatest hero."
Annabeth laughed as well, approaching him. "Good fight, Seaweed Brain." She held out her hand, which Percy simply looked at glumly. "I have to admit, you were the most formidable enemy I fought."
Percy raised his eyebrow. "Enemy?"
"I meant while sparring." Annabeth blew a strand of hair out of her face. "You really are a Seaweed Brain." Percy still felt a bit cross, it shown all over his face.
"C'mon, Percy." Annabeth punched his arm lightly. "You could at least smile."
Alright, another little filler chapter. Well, not really. I just wanted to do this little chappie. See? A new update as promised! And Percabeth as Promised!
Next chapter: something part of the plot.
Hihihihi.
~Apollo'sPirateDaughter✌