OMG GUYS. I Am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY.
Listen, I had a HELL A LOT A STUFF I need to do the past month. You DO NOT know, or need to know, what Tartarus I've been through. So now, here I am, updating again, and you can expect another chapter soon enough.
Again, I AM SORRY.
But I hope you like this one. I'll be back soon! :)
Chapter 27
"What?" Annabeth exclaimed in disbeleif. "Percy... you can't..."
Percy let out a frustrated sigh, taking both the princess's hands in his. "We... we have to go to war soon. Sometime around this month, we'd have to fight against the army of the kingdom of Tartarus." He explained. Annabeth remained quiet. "The king's enemy is Kronos. And basically, he's going to declare war on Olympia in a week or so. And the army, of course, would have-"
"To be sent to the battle field." Annabeth finished. "To fight for the kingdom."
Percy nodded. "Annabeth, I would stay if I could, but-"
"You already left." Annabeth said, her voice low and serious. "You left for FOUR years. And now you're leaving again? Why- how-? "
"I promised you I'd come back, didn't I? And I kept it. I kept that promise. And I can keep it again. I always will." Percy said, keeping his hands on her's. "I've never broken a promise, remember?"
Annabeth nodded. Percy smiled making her smile too. He ever so slightly lifted her chin up with a finger and leaned in close until their foreheads touched. "Although I may have to break one promise."
"And what would that be?" Annabeth inquired.
"Being just your friend." He said and closed the distance between them, stealing another kiss from her. She felt her heart race and her cheeks burn. Her hands found their way around his neck, entangling themselves in his raven black hair as his interlocked themselves around her waist.
"Really, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth laughed after they broke the kiss. "That is so cheezy." She grinned. "Been taking lessons from Piper?"
Percy laughed as well, his green eyes glinting. "Yeah, whatever Wise Girl." He muttered. "I love you."
"What was that?"
Percy ramined silent, his cheeks glowing red. "N-nothing."
Annabeth laughed. "Oh, please. You already kissed me. Might as well say it. " she said.
Both of them laughed into the night, and then, silence descended.
Things immediately got solemn. Annabeth's face fell and she turned away, her hands resting on the railing of the balcony. "So, when are you leaving?" She asked, her voice turning serious again.
Percy sighed and rested his hands on the railing beside her. "Unsure. Maybe by next week."
There was another long silence, up until the distant dinging of the clock tower striking midnight interrupted it.
"Midnight." Percy said, his hand going protectively over Annabeth's and she held on back. "We'd better get back to the carriage." Annabeth nodded and the two made their way down the dimly lit hallway and back to the ballroom.
...
As soon as they were back in the carriage, Annabeth sat next to Percy and rested her head on his shoulder. Suddenly, she felt the heaviness of her body crash down upon her. She felt tired and weak and diceded to just let sleep overwhelm her, slowly closing her eyes to the rocking of the carriage, her head still resting on Percy's shoulder. Exhausted both physically and mentally, Annabeth decided that sleep would be very, very good for her.
...
For some reason, when Annabeth woke up, it was morning. She sat up blindly, tossing back her velvety sheets. After blinking a few times, she realized that she was in her bedroom, the morning light streaming in through the glass doors of her balcony. She also realised she was in her night gown. Wait a second. She didn't recall going up to her bedroom last night, much less changing out of her gown...
Annabeth felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
A sudden knock from outside her carefully carved bedroom door echoed through the large room. The door opened just enough for a person to slip in through.
"Morning, Thalia." Annabeth greeted her daily visitor, sitting up properly in her bed. Thalia was wearing her long-sleeved, brown shirt and her usual long skirt. "Morning, Annabeth. " the dark haired girl said as she smiled politely. "You've woken up rather late this day. Probably worn out from last night, huh?"
Annabeth only nodded in reply as Thalia continued talking. "You won't even believe Piper's reaction last night. " she said, her polite smile replaced by a playful grin. "She was waiting for you to ask how it went, but you we're so asleep Percy had to carry you up to your bedroom." She let out a small laugh, feeling excited as Annabeth felt the heat creep back up her cheeks. "And then the scene was so "romantic" Piper almost fainted. By the way, she admires you two. A lot. And I didn't know weather to vomit or coo. So I went for laughing." Thalia gushed as Annabeth was sure she was the shade of a bright red tomato. "And basically Percy went into your room and seeing you now, he probably changed your clothes for you, too."
"Alright, enough." Annabeth scowled, her cheeks still redder than a shiny red apple.
Thalia burst out laughing. "I'm sorry." She said, wiping a tear from her eye. "But either way, what Percy did was really sweet." She said, turning serious.
"Then why were you laughing?" The princess inquired, crossing her arms.
"Because you'd be so embarrassed. " the maiden stated simply, a small grin on her face.
Annabeth fummed at her friend saying nothing more in reply. Then, she left the room with a sharp click of the door knob.
The princess groaned in frustration and begrudingly swung her legs over the side of the bed. She stood up shakily as dark flashes dances before her eyes. After recovering, Annabeth instantly walked over to the balcony doors. Swinging the glass doors open, she stepped outside.
A blast of late morning sunlight spread upon her skin. She calmly walked over to the stone railing of her balcony and set her hands upon them, letting the breeze blow upon her tangled hair and night gown.
She closed her eyes, thinking of every little thing that had happened last night. She felt that everything was still, until a stone bounced up into her balcony.
Annabeth opened her eyes at the clink of stone right next to her. Soon enough, another stone made it's way into her balcony. She leaned over the side and saw there Percy with a hand full of pebbles. He wore his normal, everyday clothes and was looking up to her with shining green eyes and jet balck hair ruffled in the wind.
Annabeth couldn't help but smile. "Percy, what are you doing?" She asked with a laugh.
"What are you doing, still in your night gown?" Percy smiled similarly. "It's almost noon."
She shrugged. "Sleepy. Hold on, Seaweed Brain." She laughed and took the rope pile at the side of her balcony and tossed it off the side of the railing. As usual, the one end was tied fast to it and it dangled down for Percy to climb.
The knight took it in one hand, looking up at the princess. "Really now? You're making me climb up this rope?"
"Well would you rather take the stairs?"
He paused for a while. Then he said "Nah. I'll climb. Here I come, Rapunzel."
"Oh, shut up and climb."
After a few minutes, Percy rached the top and Annabeth helped haul him up. He sat on the stone railing, panting a little. "Did you enjoy your trip?" Annabeth smiled at him.
"I would've done better without the wind." He muttered, but was smiling nonetheless. "So, um, about -uh- last night...?"
Annabeth felt the blush from earlier creep back onto her face. "So you actually... meant it? What you said?"
Percy swung his legs over the side of the railing, facing her this time and standing up. He was taller than her by an inch or so, but still Annabeth felt like he was so much older and matured. But inside she knew he was still that same, playful and childish Seaweed Brain who she'd come to love.
"Well, yeah." Percy said, looking into her eyes. "I love you. No denying. "
Annabeth felt her heart beat hard againts her chest. She felt dumb for staring, but she couldn't help it. Even though she wouldn't admit it, she loved him too.
Percy smirked. "Tongue tied, I see." He said, laughing.
Annabeth rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not tongue tied, Seaweed Brain."
"Admit it. You think I'm hot."
"You are an idiot."
Percy just laughed at that, and Annabeth laughed as well. But before she could say anything else, a loud bell coming from the west sounded. Percy paled and Annabeth was worried.
"What is it?" The princess asked.
"Emergency traning. That's the bell from the arena." Percy replied.
Annabeth felt her heart sink at him having to go so soon. He just got here, and now he's leaving. Great.
Percy tried to give her a reasuring smile and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon, okay? Tonight." He said.
"Promise?" Annabeth asked hopefully, yet he only stared at the ground. Annabeth had as much doubt in her heart as Percy did, and they both felt like screaming to the heavens of how unfair the situation was.
"I..." Percy started, not meeting her eyes. "I can't promise you that. I'm sorry. But I will do everything I can. And I can promise that."
Annabeth forced a smile. "Okay, Seaweed Brain. Just be careful."
He simply smirked. "Alright , bye! I love you, Wise Girl!" He said, grabbing the dangling rope and jumping off the balcony like an idiot and disappeared over the railing. After a few seconds, there was a loud thump and a groan of pain. "Remind me to never do that again!"
Percy was out of breath and was drenched in sweat when he reached the arena. There was a large crowd of muttering soldiers gathered around the central platform where- not Reyna or Clarisse- but where General Ares was standing.
Percy gulped. If Ares was there, it would mean serious business. He joined the crowd, putting on his chain-mail armour like the rest of them.
Ares was a tall, buff man who always wore the traditional silver and gold armour of the kingdom. His face was always hidden under his iron helmet and his eyes shone like blazing fire in the darkness. After a few minutes of observing the crowd, Ares raised his hand and immediately halted the muttering soldiers.
"As you all know," Ares's voice boomed around the arena. "We are all at war. The neighboring kingdom, Tartarus, has declared war against our kingdom. That wretched King Kronos," he spat the enemy's name out as if it was venom in his mouth, " has declared war against this kingdom. We are this land's defense. We are its protectors, saviours, heroes. We must all stand against the army of Tartarus in the Battle Field the day after tomorrow. This is what you have all been training so hard for. And we will be training today up until tonight. And we will train tomorrow without rest. Our only rest will be our sleep. And at dawn the next day, we will march towards the Battle Feild and fight your first war. Be alert. Be strong. Do not let the enemy win. Some of you may not return from this war, but know that you will always be honoured and remembered as a hero who fought for Olympia. "
Percy felt both a surge of courage and heartbroken at the same time. He had no problem with fighting for his kingdom, but he won't be able to see Annabeth at all. Maybe not ever.
"Alright, maggets!" Clarisse's voice screamed from behind Ares. She and Reyna stepped into the light. "Time to start hardcore training 101!"
Well then... imma leave you at that. Its extremely hard to write in a school bus that drives like the ground's covered in large stones. I swear.
Ciao! XD ~Apollo''sAwesomeWriterLittleGirl