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Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson nor do I own anything affiliated with it. Percy Jackson and all his friends (as well as his enemies) belong to the brilliant mind of Rick Riordan.

Chapter 9

Apollo stood outside his hut in Ecuador perched in his chariot. A smile played across his lips. Today was the council meeting. It wasn't that he was excited about going to a council meeting, but he knew a certain someone would be there. How he looked forward to seeing his sister again. He looked up and saw a figure flying toward him.

"Hermes!" He called as the god stopped next to his chariot.

"Apollo! Are you ready to go?" Hermes greeted him with a warm smile.

"Absolutely." Apollo pulled his chariot in to the sky, Hermes right next to him. "I can't wait to see Artemis."

Hermes dropped his gaze, lifting an awkward smile. "Right." He said in a shaky voice.

Apollo turned to him with a furrowed brow. "What is it Hermes? You look like you're hiding something."

Hermes gave a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, well, um, about Artemis…" He looked at the ground, keeping his false smile. "So, funny story."

Apollo grew more concerned with every word. "Spit it out Hermes."

Hermes chuckled nervously again. "So, Artemis kinda, maybe, sorta isn't coming to the meeting."

Apollo gasped. "What?"

"Yeah. She, uh, might have, kinda, confronted Zeus and shot an arrow at Hera's head and got banned from this meeting and you are to have no contact with her whatsoever." He gave another nervous laugh. "See? Funny, right?"

Apollo's jaw dropped. "Wait, what happened?"

Hermes sighed. "She went to talk to Zeus about your moving, then Hera walked in, the two of them got in an argument, Hera said some nasty words that aggravated Artemis, and, you know your sister, she ended up firing an arrow at Hera's head which Zeus deflected, sending Hera on a fit of fury nearly choking Artemis to death and Zeus stepping in telling her to stop and now as a punishment Artemis can't come to today's meeting or make any contact of any kind with you until such time, quote, 'that they both learn their lessons', unquote."

Apollo could feel his heart sink to the floor. He had spent the last week preparing for his reuniting with his sister. All his built up excitement now fizzled in to disappointment. "So this is pointless. All my hope was for nothing."

Hermes laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "This meeting won't be pointless. It's about you after all. You can still have some persuasion that moves them to allow you to move back."

Apollo gave a half-hearted nod, keeping his gaze on the sky as his chariot flew toward Olympus. "Did she get my letter?"

Hermes nodded. "Yes. I didn't see her reaction to it, but she got it."

Apollo gave a sigh of relief. "Good. So does that mean you could deliver more?"

"Unfortunately no. Zeus won't allow it. I was only able to deliver that one because she was distracting him, but now he'll be even more on guard when it comes to messages. I'm sorry."

Apollo nodded. "Alright then. Well, thanks for that one at least." They continued on until they got to Olympus. There Apollo sat through what he had predicted was a meeting that got nowhere. When asked how Ecuador is he simply replied "It's good," and that was the last he was asked to give any input in the situation. At the end of the meeting he turned to Hera. "And how, may I ask, is my sister?"

He saw Hera tense up a bit at the mention of Artemis. She turned to him with an expressionless face. "I won't lie to you, she is suffering. As we speak she is sitting in her camp, drowned by her grief. She appears to have lost the will to even so much as move. I have to say I am quite surprised her beloved hunters aren't responding to it."

Apollo put his head in his hands. "May I please see her?" He knew it was a long shot.

"Absolutely not, and there will be no discussion over the matter either."

With a sigh Apollo left the throne room. Hermes was waiting for him outside. "Sorry for how that went buddy. Well, ready to go back to Ecuador?"

Apollo hesitated before responding. "Yes, let's go."

They flew on until Apollo took an unexpected direction. Hermes was confused. "Uh, Apollo? This is a little out of our way." He noticed Apollo was holding something to his chest and whispering. "Apollo?" Apollo opened his palm revealing a ring with a turquoise design band on the outside that reminded Hermes of cracked bits of a shell. Hermes recognized it as a ring Apollo always wore. Suddenly Apollo materialized a silver ribbon tied around it with an engraving Hermes couldn't make out. Hermes looked forward and saw the glow of a fire in the woods. The glow of a camp fire. "Apollo, you can't go to Artemis' camp! If Zeus or Hera find out they'll only double the harshness of your punishment!"

Apollo turned to him, a mad look in his eyes. "Then it's a good thing I'm not going in to the camp."

Hermes watched as they flew over the camp and Apollo timely dropped the ring, having it land safely within the barriers. They then both flew back to Ecuador, Hermes more nervous than before, yet Apollo with a little bit more peace of mind.

Sierra halted outside Artemis' tent. "My lady? May I come in?" She waited before hearing a soft reply.

"Yes, come in." Sierra slowly walked in, and stifled her shock. Artemis was sitting on her bed, staring straight ahead, yet her face was emotionless and her posture atrocious. If Sierra didn't know any better she would have though she was sick. "Have you and Kari healed well from your injuries?"

Sierra nodded. "Yes, my lady, and thank you for your concern."

"What have you come for Sierra?" Her voice was barely audible and nearly emotionless except for a hint of sorrow.

Sierra held up an object in the palm of her hand. "This thing, it fell from the sky."

Artemis' brow furrowed and she turned her gaze to Sierra. "Fell from the sky?"

"Yes. Madison and I saw it just fall in to the camp while we were patrolling with the wolves. We think it's meant for you."

Artemis paused for a moment before holding out her hand. "Let me see it." Sierra stepped forward and dropped the object in to Artemis' palm. "What led you to believe it was meant for me?"

"The silver ribbon, my lady. It's inscribed 'To The Moon'. We could only assume it meant you."

Artemis stared down at the object and her eyes widened. It was a ring. Her brother's ring. She'd recognize it anywhere. "Thank you Sierra, you may leave now." Sierra gave a bow before exiting the tent. Artemis untied the silver ribbon and inspected it. Surly enough 'To The Moon' was written in beautiful black letters. Artemis squeezed the ring in her hand. It felt warm, like her brother had just very recently taken it off. Suddenly she felt a pulse come from the ring, almost like it was trying to speak. She hesitated before lifting it to her ear. After a moment, she heard a small whispering sound, followed by a voice she could never forget.

"I love you Artemis, with all my heart."

Artemis nearly choked on her sobs. It was him. It was his voice, his words. It was really him. She found herself crying, but this time the tears were accompanied by a smile. She slipped the ring on her finger and lay down in her bed. For the first time in a long while, she was able to sleep at peace, holding her brother close to her.