Grand Council

Annabeth's POV

Wisdom isn't inherent. Being wisdom's daughter didn't ensure that I'd be wise as well but then that's where genes come to play or should I say our Godly parent's blessing. Over the years I had come to be known as Wisdom's Daughter but I won't call myself wise at all.

I might be a good architect, a good learner and definitely a master strategist. I agree to be all those things but definitely not wise. The reason for that being that I had made the same mistake over and over again and not learnt from them over the years. They might have been small mistakes but it so happened that they led to drastic consequences. My pride was my flaw and I had paid more often than once for giving into hubris.

I looked over the city from my window and beyond it at the emerald forest, the mist traversing through the trees and retreating back to the mountains with the coming dawn. I breathed deeply. Today was the day when we left for the Grand Council at Olympus. With one last look out of my window, I swung my legs of the divan ext to the window and walked to my wardrobe at the other end of the room.

When I reached it, instead of opening the double doors I looked to my armour resting on my life like mannequin, polished and decorated a night before. I stripped my clothing and ran a hand over the polished surface of the silver coloured armour, taking in the fresh scent of formaldehyde and feeling the texture of the silk cape.

One by one I donned the pieces of my armour. I appreciated how each piece fit as if it was especially crafted for my body by Hephaestus himself. I smiled to myself, hubris again. I had been doing that a lot lately. I slid my linothorax and then strapped on my corset. Over my corset went the breast and back plates, followed by platinum bracers; a gift from my mother along with the customary greaves.

To complete the look I strapped my sheath to my waist and the crimson silk cloak on my shoulders. I decided to carry my helmet in hand and wear it if need be or maybe after reaching Olympus. Looking at myself in the mirror I couldn't help compliment myself and with a slight nod I exited my room to go and meet with the rest of the council in the Crystal Chambers.

Percy's POV

I sat on my seat at the head of Council of Sentinels in the Crystal chamber. Looking around I saw many of my fellow councillors grieving Reyna's loss. Reyna's wasn't the only seat that was vacant, besides me Jason's chair and a few seas from his Annabeth's seat too were vacant.

Strange, Annabeth was usually on time for all council sessions. I wondered what kept her waiting and as if she was reading my mind the double doors opened and Annabeth marched in, wearing her armour and her word strapped to her waist. Her dagger clasped on a sheath on her arm.

She beamed at me and then took her seat. Jason was the only one who we were waiting for as of now. I looked towards Thalia and tapped her arm gently to draw her attention.

She leaned towards me but kept her gaze on the doors.

"Is he coming?" I asked her in a hushed voice.

"He better." She said, "I don't wish to listen to my father's wrath alone."

She then leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes not willing to discuss her brother anymore.

I slumped back my chair my mind reminiscing about Reyna's funeral the previous night. A large procession had been led through the city and the barracks to the central plaza where the pyre had been set. Reyna covered in the shroud of Bellona was laid to rest on the pyre.

By a majority consensus it was decided that Jason would set Reyna's pyre on flame. He had known her the longest and the best. On the other side everyone knew Reyna would want Jason to be the one who placed the drachmas as a bribe for the ferryman.

I pinched me nose with my thumb and forefinger. I just couldn't get over Reyna's loss. Although I didn't show it but I knew I'd miss her too. There was no other leader in the battlefield like her, no other.

"Percy", Thalia whispered bringing me to attention. I looked at her and saw her pointing towards the entrance. A smirk tugged on my lips. Jason Grace had finally decided to make an appearance. Dressed in an armour of gold with a scarlet red cloak clasped to his breastplate with gold fastenings he marched to the centre of room with his hand clasped on the hilt of his sword. A grim expression marred his face, his eyes red.

"So you finally decided to show up "asked Thalia getting up from her seat and walking down the altar to join her brother. It sounded like a question as if she knew that he wouldn't show up.

Jason too pissed off decided not comment and muttered something under his breath.

I stood beside Jason and Annabeth while Thalia stood to Annabeth's side. We had decided to put as much distance as possible between the siblings. They worked like magnetic fusion bombs when in each other's presence.

"Get ready everyone! We are about to phase to Olympus." said Hazel in a haunting voice. She had been like that ever since Nico's injury.

I lightly held on to Annabeth's hand. Shadow travelling still made me uncomfortable.

I closed my eyes as soon as I saw the dark wispy smoke emanating from within Hazel. She began to levitate off the ground and the smoke began to coil around us, engulfing us. I felt the familiar shiver down my spine and the feeling of being squeezed through a pipe; an intense cold wallowing its way through my body. I couldn't even feel Annabeth's hand anymore but I knew she was there, right beside me.

After what felt like few minutes I felt the warmth return to my body. My eyelids forced themselves open, momentarily blinding me with the intense light.

"Welcome to Olympus demigods." Said a loud and cheerful voice and there was only one person on the whole of Olympus to whom such a voice belonged. Without another thought all gathered demigods and councillors bowed down before Hermes, god of Travellers, Messengers, Merchants and Doctors.

Caduceus in hand, wearing winged sandals and his trademark smirk plastered on his face he greeted us all, showing us the way to the Grand Council hall. Entrance to the Hall was gained after passing through the Coliseum gates. Adorned with the symbols of power of the Big Three and the sigils of the other gods, the doors were open to all who were invited Directly beyond the Great Door was the large Atrium of the Council. This grand circular chamber was lined with statues of the Gods and various demigods who had done truly heroic deeds, as well as busts of the members of the Council of Senate, the atrium continued on deeper into the building before proceeding on into the Grand Council Chamber just beyond the Coliseum gates.

The first tier at the base of the Coliseum was meant to seat the fourteen Olympians. The second tier was mean to house three minor gods under the dominion of each of the fourteen Olympians. However this number largely varied with Gods like Zeus, Poseidon and Demeter having multiple minor gods under their dominion while others like Hestia, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite had either singular representation or none.

The third tier housed the low ranking minor gods while the fourth tier housed an enumerable number of immortal personifications and along with them sat the demigods and the rulers of the independent democratic nations.

It was caste system at its highest form. While Triton, Melinoe and Hercules sat in the second tier behind our Parents, we the demigods who had given our life for them were made to sit in the furthest row, away from them emphasising the fact that they didn't concern themselves with our affairs. I expected such behaviour of Zeus and had a feeling that he had forced Hades and my father, Poseidon to obey his command. Such was the nature of the king of Gods.

I trained my stare on my father sitting beside Zeus at the centre of the Coliseum. His eyes sparkled when he saw me and acknowledged my presence with a nod.

With a smile directed towards him I took a seat between Annabeth and an immortal personification, who I knew to be Caca, Goddess of mild fire. Although she was a minor god she preferred to sit in the fourth tier to avoid her father, Hephaestus.

On her other side sat Jake Masen her demigod brother and member of the Council of Sentinels.

"I wonder why they called this assembly of the Grand Council moths before its scheduled date." She said aloud. I was surprised to hear that though.

"You don't know the reason either?" I asked mildly hiding my surprise.

She turned her gaze at me, her eyes glowing like embers bore into my sea green eyes as if threatening to evaporate. However, she gently smiled and then looked away.

"I have heard rumours but then I'm not the one to believe them." She said absentmindedly. I too averted my gaze and began to search for other familiar faces.

There was Athena sitting beside Poseidon, which was strange since they didn't like each other. Hades sat opposite Zeus, flanked on one side by Hermes and an empty chair on his other side, probably Hestia's since she was the only one not present on the council.

She was never known to be late for any proceeding, especially the Grand and the Olympian councils but then again Hestia had been behaving strangely off late.

During the second Titanomachy, Hestia had been a pillar of strength for the demigods. A constant support and source of strength and courage, it was a known fact that Hestia truly respected the importance of demigods and went out of her way to protect them. Sending help when need be and always answering prayers of those in need of guidance, Hestia in true sense was a selfless Goddess.

Lost in thought I was brought back to concurrency by Annabeth. "Rise Percy, Hestia has taken her throne." All around me I saw people shifting in their seats.

Hestia had decided to make an appearance as a young woman instead of the girl child she usually took the form of. For the first time I realised that her beauty was second only to Aphrodite.

With waist length dark brown hair falling in waves and curling at the back, smooth milk white skin tinged with a shade of cinnamon and almond shaped eyes the colour of molten gold, Hestia looked absolutely divine. She had decided to wear the customary robes of a Vestal which included a beige gown with an intricate golden border and semi transparent drapes in similar colours.

With pride and honour she took her seat between Hades and Hephaestus.

I don't know why but she looked different. She felt different. There was a felling of uneasiness around the Coliseum and I was ready to bet that everyone felt it and all I could think of was, why?

Hestia's POV

I took my seat between Hephaestus and Hades.

I greeted Hephaestus plainly while he looked at me dumbfounded. Clearly he had not seen me in this form in a very long time and had probably forgotten how I actually looked. Suppressing a snicker I turned my gaze to my brother, Hades, Lord of the Underworld.

"You look beautiful Hestia. "He said with a smile across his pale and sallow face.

I simply smiled.

I hadn't taken this form in a long while. I tugged at my veil to cover my head properly allowing a few wisps of hair to peek from the corner. For the first time in centuries I felt liberated. I looked to the far end of the chamber. Zeus was bemused while Poseidon winked at me with a smile etched on his face.

My sisters were a completely different story and I wouldn't want to waste precious time describing their expression. All I can say is that they hadn't aged well.

A smile crept to my face and I did my best to hide it as Zeus called for attention and order in the House with an echoing thunder clap reverberating through the skies.

This was going to be one interesting council, the smile still lingering on my face.

A/N: Finally the Grand Council, Review.