Hey guys, this is chapter five, hope you like it, hopefully this chapter is longer to make up for the last one ;) Also, Malcolm gave Annabeth her first weapon, I know it's supposed to be Luke, but I thought that he should be giving her, her first weapon would show their sibling bond. Also I am sorry if Percy's speech was kinda crappy, I am not good at making speeches, announcements, etc. Yeah I know that it is a bit different from the last chapter, but that's alterations I am making here, since most of you have already read it. Anyways I switch POVs a lot, so you get the side of the story a lot, I know I could've written it in third person but it is so much easier to write in first person. Man, that's one heck of an AN to type. So anyways, read, review, no flames, and enjoy! xoxo lol (lots of luv! And yeah I know lol means laugh out loud…but ehh…you get the point ) -theasianwritergirl
Reunions and the Dagger
(Annabeth)
As soon as I entered the camp, I feel to have some doubts about my volunteering for my dad and now it's too late to turn back. One part of me wishes I could've just stayed home, took care of Bobby and Matthew, my father and the tiny little cottage and just waited for Acantha to find me some older drunk, lunatic man I would spend my miserable life with. Another part says that there might be more adventure to this life than my small cottage life, like I have always wanted, but this time, this might cost me my life, besides I am not the only girl here, there's Clarisse, I might try to make friends with her….or on second thought…that's not such a good idea. Why am I having these thoughts? Since I saw the Greek army camp, filled with tents that were raised up from the ground, large spaces where people could fight, some stands holding deadly Greek weapons, and such things. I clung to Luke's arm, nervously, I mean, what if I just died in training even before the real battle begins, but a part of me wanted to pick up a weapon and fight somebody. I glanced at one direction and saw a dagger, which looked deadly and is made of bronze…somehow, if I got the chance, I would get that one.
Everyone started to gather around the middle, a wooden makeshift stage was constructed there, but for a structure like that; it looked sturdy enough to last a few days. Suddenly I saw two men, who looked like the two highest officials, both of them wore Greek robes and armour, they also had their helmets on, as if they were about to go on battle, and they were accompanied by several men. One of them stepped up and removed his helmet. As soon as I saw him, he's like the type of man that most girls from Atalanta would fall for. Black eyes, muscular but lean body structure, good looks…but the one feature that attracted me a little was his sea green eyes…which remind me of the ocean….
"Soldiers," he started to say. "I think you know that we are amidst a war invasion with Sparta, so we all summoned you here to train to be soldiers of the army. When you are ready, we will bring you out here to the battlefield. These men behind me will help me train you all. Who am I you ask? I am your new commander, Perseus Jackson and this man beside me is my second-in-command, Malcolm Chase. So if anything goes wrong, you have to answer to both of us."
Oh gods, this is a bad idea... I thought…Malcolm! I miss my brother so badly but he might get furious when he finds out I am here. I know this since I could see his piercing eyes, looking at me. I felt my eyes look down as commander Jackson said. "You are dismissed!"
I started to go away with the crowd and I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, I looked back and saw the person whom I expected would summon me soon, but this is too soon. "Annabeth, we need to talk." He said in a firm tone. He motioned for me to follow him and I did. As I followed him, I mentally prepared myself for a talk.
We reached a far end of the camp; somewhere someone won't be likely to find us. Malcolm sat down on the ground and he motioned for me to sit beside him. I did and he started to speak.
"Annabeth, what are you doing here? You know that the army's a dangerous place."
"I know, Malcolm," I said as I started tearing up. "But father is getting weaker and he couldn't serve, the officer won't leave without a person, so I volunteered."
"I knew this would happen. But not this soon." He muttered to himself.
"What do you mean by you knew what would happen soon?" I asked with tears streaming down my face.
He sighed as he wiped tears the tears off my cheek, then he continued. "That they would take you from home, away from everyone, that is why I joined the army, so as to protect you all."
"I know you did, Malcolm, but we can't do or say anything about it, it's too late, they took me away from home." I said as I tried to dry up my tears and stay strong for Malcolm. He gave up everything, his social life, a chance to have a wife and family (well…technically, but every girl in the south western district, I hear, would be willing to be his wife), and practically risking his life to protect us. The least I could do was stay strong.
"Don't cry, Annabeth, I can't stand to see you cry, I want you to stay strong, remember that's what I said the first time I left for the army?"
~~~Flashback~~~
"Malcolm, you don't have to go."
It was a gloomy day there in Atalanta, I was just fifteen years old at the time, and he was around seventeen that time. Malcolm was packing in his room, he would be leaving in a few hours and the chariot would pick him up. He had that sad, but determined look in his eyes. He tried to smile for me and put a steady hand on my shoulder.
"I have to, Annabeth, it's the only way to prevent anyone from this family from joining the military."
"You know you have a choice, Malcolm, to stay…"
"I know I do, but it's my choice too to join, and it's too late to stop me." He said interrupting me.
I started tearing up because I am going to miss him, he's been my best friend, aside from Thalia, Katie , and Piper, who knew me the best, he was my protector and brother, and he's always been there when I needed him. And that time I was a vulnerable little girl.
"Don't cry, Annabeth, I know I am going to miss life here in Atalanta, but just stay strong for me….I won't be gone forever."
I nodded and wiped my tears, as an officer unexpectedly came into the room. "Chase, it's time to go."
"Alright, officer." He said as he slung his rucksack on his shoulders. "Goodbye Annabeth, remember, be strong, for me…take care of father and the boys for me."
~~~End of Flashback~~~
"Yes…I remember...Malcolm." I said fervently.
"Well, I guess since you are here, I guess I better ask you a bit about home, how are the boys and father doing?"
"They are doing fine, the boys miss you especially father, who is burying himself by reading philosopher's scrolls."
"I should have known that, but did father try to find you a fiancé?"
"He tried to, but he got Acantha to try and find me one. She didn't succeed, so I think I am stuck like an old maid for life, unless she finds me some lunatic, drunk man that I have to live with for the rest of my life."
He smiled and patted my head. "I am sure some decent high official here would get you, I am not sure about my commander though, and he's decent but lonesome most of the time."
"I doubt that it will happen, Malcolm, I won't be an out for auction girl for a high official, I'll just do my best to stay in the army."
"Well, I think as long as you are here, I better protect you." He smiled as he said this. "I don't want anyone harming or doing anything to my little sister."
"I don't think even a knife cut won't count, I am used to blood." I said as I try to suppress a smile.
"That still counts, Annabeth." He said as he grinned. Suddenly a man came to us and said "Malcolm, there you are, Commander Jackson is requesting your presence at the commander's tent."
"I will be there in a while, tell him that. I just need a few moments." He said stiffly.
The man nodded and left to give the message, leaving us to privacy.
"Well I can't stay for long, but mind that I will be checking on you whenever I can, and I'll do anything I can to make sure you are not involved in too much combat." He stood up and he dusted off his robes. "Also you would need this, to protect and defend yourself when I couldn't, use it well and see you around."
He unsheathed a dagger and threw it on the ground and left. He left me dumbfounded for a few moments, he acts differently in the army, but I think that's pressure going to him. I like him better in his intelligent, carefree self. I then noticed that the blade was pierced on a spot of the ground beside me. I pulled it out from the ground and wiped the mud and soil off the blade with a small part of my skirt. I examined it and realized that it was the same blade I had my eye on earlier…but I knew what this means, it takes a clever warrior to use this weapon, Malcolm told me once…but it's small but it would protect me. I sheathed it on the belt sheath that was on my waist (Malcolm left one of his belt sheaths around at home, so I packed it too), stood up, and walked away.