So hello, thank you to all of you lovely reviewers, followers and favouriters, and everyone else who read the story and enjoyed it.

Hopefully this chapter will be a bit more Percabethy, but, you know, to go straight from hatred to love is a big jump.

So friendship first?

Or mere acquaintance?

READ TO FIND OUT.

Percy walked over to where Annabeth was standing, her hair beginning to frizz from the warmth of the room, her dress seeming uncomfortably hot.

"We're supposed to dance together," Percy said, trying not to seem like he was regretting his decision not to ride off earlier in the afternoon when he had his chance. "Our first dance after properly conversing."

"Ah, yes, about that," Annabeth said. "We are supposed to have been sending letters to each other since early this year. I told your mother after she inquired into our relationship. I suppose people randomly playing the song that reminded me of my father was a little too unbelievable."

Percy frowned. "Pardon my forwardness, but didn't your father die when you were very young?"

Annabeth smiled. "Why of course, he died before I could stand. Not to mention, from what I've heard, he was not one to sit down with me and sing lullabies. However, your mother was distracted and I took my chance."

Percy grinned back. "Ah, to fool my mother is one of life's easiest entertainments."

Annabeth frowned a little. "From what I can tell, your mother is not as bad as some."

"Oh, yes, I truly feel for Thalia and Jason, and soon I shall feel for Piper once she enters their family, for the king and queen are cruel and uncaring, and often think for themselves before anyone else."

"Ah yes, but I think that the Queen from Regem, Artemis, is the wisest of them all," Annabeth said. "Is she here this evening? I would not mind speaking with her."

"Oh yes, she came one week ago to speak to my father of boring subjects," Percy said. "I do not know why speaking only of trade and commerce could fill up the whole of a week, but there you go."

"Boring subjects that one day you will have to handle," the Princess said, seemingly before she could stop herself.

The two looked away awkwardly.

"May I intrude?" Percy looked up and saw Athena standing behind them, smiling politely, with her son, Malcolm hanging directly behind her.

"If the cause is just," Percy said, before he could attempt to take the rudeness out of the statement.

But Athena simply smiled. "The two of you are to dance very soon. I assume you are both aware of this fact."

The two nodded.

"Excellent. The dance floor is being cleared and the music will very soon be playing. You will be first on."

Percy shuffled uncomfortably. He hated balls, he hated the suits he was forced to wear, he hated the patience he had to show to everyone, he hated the shoes that cramped his toes and he hated the food that could feed far more than it did.

He supposed so much negative was, as his mother called, damaging, but he always felt better after ranting internally for a few hours.

But soon the music started and Percy looked warily over at Annabeth.

"I suppose running away at this point would be unrealistic," Percy sighed.

"Not to mention, near impossible," Annabeth agreed.

They looked at each other a moment longer. They, as odd as it sounded, understood each other. Percy sighed, extended his hand, and Annabeth accepted it. They walked awkwardly onto the dance floor.

Before they truly began, Percy whispered to Annabeth, "I am an awful dancer. I skipped most of my lessons."

Annabeth smiled slightly. "Do you wish for me to lead, then?"

"Can you make it look like I am?"

Annabeth raised her left eyebrow slightly. "No one is that good of a dancer."

"Then I must ask you to prepare yourself for embarrassment," Percy sighed.

"Embarrassment has not hurt me before," Annabeth assured him.

"If you're sure," Percy placed his hand on her waist and held onto her hand. She placed hers lightly on his shoulder, and allowed him to hold her hand.

They danced as though they were stood upon hot coals, but managed to avoid maximum embarrassment, for sooner then they'd hoped, other people from the gathering had begun to dance as well.

Percy and Annabeth retired as soon as they could.

"You are quite to horrid dancer," Annabeth told Percy.

Percy feigned offence. "And to think I was just about to compliment you!"

Annabeth smiled.

Thalia walked over, smiling at them. "That was certainly not something that I would actively strive to watch."

"Well, we all know the truth behind you not dancing," Percy said. "The death by sheer awkwardness by the importance of the land might be something to be avoided."

Thalia sniffed. "You know why I wish not to dance. To dance means selecting a partner, and all men here are not worthy of my attention."

"Are any men worthy of your attention, my friend?" Annabeth asked.

"None that I have met as of yet," Thalia sighed. She had a slightly odd look on her face. Percy decided to ignore it.

"Piper and Jason seem to be getting on well," Percy said, smirking a little.

Thalia grinned. "Oh, I would certainly say that. Piper certainly is a precious oddity. Never have I met someone so good looking with such a reasonable composure."

"Am I allowed to take offense to that?" Annabeth asked.

"Of course you are," Thalia replied.

Annabeth raised her eyebrows and smiled a little. Percy smiled as well, it was so typical of his cousin to begin fights with every lady other then (and sometimes even including) herself.

"Careful cousin," Percy warned. "You might start another war."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "War is such a throw-away term to you and my father. Slightly raised voices hardly constitutes a war."

"I have heard of that," Annabeth said, grinning. "Was it true that you truly ripped her dress? The most valuable piece of clothing to be found in all of the six kingdoms?"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "That is so typical of the royalty of this continent. All I did was spill a little wine on her wrap. Is that so criminal?"

"Are you telling the 'Silk Wrap' story again, Thalia?" Jason asked, appearing behind her. "You know that you're the only one that believes it."

Piper appeared next to him. "What 'Silk Wrap Story'?"

Annabeth watched as the people she was speaking with divided into their separate conversations. She watched and smiled a little as Piper smiled and laughed through the 'Silk Wrap Story' and then Percy and Thalia who were teasing each other and laughing.

"Perseus?" Amphitrite's voice cut across the hall. Percy looked up, and then around.

"That would be my cue to leave," Percy said apologetically. "Do you know where Grover is?"

Thalia smiled a little. "Yes."

Percy glanced around him, eager to be gone. "Where is he?"

Thalia just grinned a little broader.

Percy huffed and ran off, squeezing through the people that surrounded the dance floor.

Thalia watched her cousin go, smiling to herself.

"Where is Grover?" I inquired, curious now that it was so taboo.

Thalia turned. "The maid, Juniper."

Annabeth smiled, more to herself than anything else. "Young love. So sweet."

Thalia shrugged a little. "Young hate is far more interesting."

Annabeth simply rolled her eyes.

Thalia now looked nervous. "May I speak with you?"

"Is something wrong?" Annabeth asked nervously, noting her friends worried expression.

"No, no," Thalia said quickly. "Nothing like that."

"Then talk away," Annabeth said.

"Perhaps privacy would be best," Thalia said, nervous again.

Thalia lead her friend through the ballroom and through to a darker, less occupied area of the room. There were very few people here, and of those people they were too far away from the whispering girls to be of much consequence.

"I…" Thalia started. She began again. "You know of the Queen Artemis?"

Annabeth nodded. "Who doesn't?"

Thalia nodded a little. "Well, she has been running, for quite a few years now, this all woman warrior group."

"That's known to many people," Annabeth said, eyebrows raised.

"Yes. Yes, it's simply…" Thalia paused again. "She has asked me to join."

Annabeth frowned. She was certainly taken aback. What did this mean? Annabeth had thought of applying, not only as a way to get out of her marriage (which now was not so ominous) but simply because those women were feared and respected all throughout the continents. They lived mostly out in the wilderness, with Artemis visiting as often as she could, and hunted almost all that they ate.

Annabeth smiled up at her friend. "You should say yes."

Thalia looked worried. "I am heir, though. Once I join, I will not be able to accept my role as queen."

Annabeth looked at her friend knowingly. "To be heir, your father will expect you to marry. You know this. You will never marry Thalia, you have never desired anyone after…"

She left Luke's name hanging in the air.

"That is not all," Thalia said, biting her lip. "Artemis offered… she offered me the position of second in command if I accepted."

Annabeth frowned a little. "Is this not a good thing?"

Thalia looked lost. "If it seems as though I am just the second because of my birth—"

"You are worried that they will not accept you," Annabeth finished. "You wish to prove yourself."

"And I know I can," Thalia said, her voice raising slightly. "I know I am strong, as strong as a leader of them, I am not sure, but strong, yes. And I know eventually I will prove myself, but only if the opportunity comes my way. Only if there is a war or something for me to fight in. Some of these women have been with Artemis for most of my life. I cannot just…"

"Take away what they recognise as theirs," Annabeth finished again. "But Thalia, you do not know this. You don't know it for certain. It is a possibility, the size of which we do not know, that they already respect you. Perhaps Artemis has told them of you. Perhaps they are eager to meet you and respect you and work with you."

"But then I will be a legend I cannot hope to become," Thalia said, miserable. "Then they will look to me for things I cannot give them."

"Thalia, you are not being yourself," Annabeth scolded. "You are stronger than this! Why not see this as simply another challenge? Why not try? You will be accepted and you will be respected and the women and girls will welcome you. Accept the role, accept the responsibility, relish in the freedom you have desired for so long. Please Thalia, as your friend, as your near sister, that has worried for you and lost sleep over your restlessness and warriors spirit, do this. Do this for all who care for you."

Thalia paused. She looked deep in thought. Annabeth wished for nothing more then to see what she was thinking, to nudge her in the right direction, to add arguments where she see fit.

Finally, her friend spoke. "I will write to Artemis in the morning."

Annabeth waited. Acceptance or refusal?

Thalia looked at Annabeth with warring eyes. "My heart tells me to leave, but my mind requests that I stay."

"Then trust neither. Trust your instinct, trust the decision you would regret not making for the rest of your life."

Thalia nodded. She turned slightly, and watched the pampered people talking, laughing, mingling; people with smiles, people who had no such decisions to make. Leave everything you know, or stay and miss the freedom and adventure you could have had otherwise?

Annabeth bid her friend goodbye and stepped back into the light.

The rest of the night passed smoothly. She and her husband to be spoke only slightly in that time. The night's celebrations pressed on well past midnight, and it was only at dawn did the last of the carriages not staying disappear around the bend.

Annabeth stood with her family. She remembered the sadness at seeing Thalia's carriage disappear, carrying her friend from her sight for maybe forever, but also remembered a sort of joy, as though radiating from Thalia herself. She had made her decision, and it was a decision she was utterly thrilled with.

Annabeth was lead to her chambers, a large room with a four poster bed, an assortment of lavish furniture, a bathroom and a private dining area, but took very little of it in.

She removed her clothing herself, to be undressed by a maid was something she had vowed to never allow. Then she climbed into bed, sighed in relief as her muscles and bones relaxed into the mattress and barely a second after she had pulled her covers over herself, fell into a deep sleep.

So that's another chapter.

Yay.

Anyway, R&R!

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