Chapter 3: The Opportunity
Artemis POV (Surprised right?)
I was nervously pacing in my brother's temple, waiting to see if Perseus was okay. 'Why am I even worried? He's just a stupid male,' I thought. 'Yeah but he's the best male to ever live, and I don't want to see him die,' I thought back. I was about to go on with my mental argument when I heard footsteps.
"Apollo, is he okay?" I asked nervously, still pacing.
"Why don't you ask him little sis?" He asked. I glare up at him for calling me 'little sis' when I saw Perseus standing next to him.
Before I knew what I was doing, I ran straight at Perseus and gave him a huge hug, like he might disappear. After a moment or two, he wrapped his arms around me. I tried to hold back the tears, and I successfully did but barely.
"It's okay Lady Artemis. I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Then, I realized what I was doing. I slowly disentangled my arms from around his extremely chiseled body, 'BAD ARTEMIS, YOU ARE AN ETERNAL MAIDEN!' I thought to myself. I had a slight blush on my cheeks.
"I wasn't worried about you... I... I was just afraid Olympus was going to lose their greatest hero. That's all," I stammered a little bit while I was staring at my feet.
"Of course, m'lady," He said politely. 'Gods he is just perfect, isn't he?' I thought to myself and didn't even reprimand myself for thinking that.
"Okay guys let's head to the throne room. Percy said that he wanted to go there anyway, and I promised to update the others when Percy was awake so let's get on our way," Apollo told us as he led us out the door. As we were walking, I slipped my hand into Perseus's for comfort and for the thought of knowing that he was still there. He looked at me surprised, but I didn't give him any attention, I just kept walking. I didn't want to admit it, but I knew I had a small crush on him, ever since he saved me from the sky. I just never accepted those feelings until, well I guess about now. He just was so kind and polite. I knew I was falling for him, but I didn't care. I was falling in love with a man and I didn't care. 'Gods I must be going insane, what is wrong with me?' I thought.
"We've arrived!" Apollo announced when he opened the doors. As they were opening, I took my hand out of Perseus's and headed to my throne along with my brother. We sat down, and everyone turned their attention to Perseus.
"Perseus Jackson, it's good to see you're okay. Why do you wish to see us?" My father boomed as everyone, me included, looked at him in shock to what he said to Perseus at first.
"I have a request Lord Zeus."
"What is it boy?"
"I wish...
"...
"...
"I wish to die..."
Then, chaos erupted in the throne room. Many looked appalled (Poseidon, Apollo, Hestia, Hades (A/N Both received their thrones thanks to Percy at the end of BOO), Hermes, Aphrodite, and me), some looked shocked (Hephaestus, Zeus, Hera, Demeter, and Athena), while some looked bored (Ares and Dionysus).
"What, why?!" Poseidon asked his favorite son. I wanted to ask the same, but I knew that if I did, some people would start to catch on to my feelings.
"I... I don't have a purpose anymore, no one wants me and... I... I just can't continue on with this life."
"Oh, you poor, poor darling. I don't know how you survived that. It must've been awful," Aphrodite said, actually sounding genuine.
"What about Annabeth?! Are you just going to leave her?!" Athena asked in outrage that he might do such a thing.
"No m'lady, she left me, and I swear on the Styx that she cheated on me," Thunder rumbled but nothing happened to him.
At this, Athena looked like she was hit with a truck full of surprise, "What, she can't be that stupid? She's supposed to be my daughter."
"I'm sorry m'lady, but apparently, you sent me on that quest for nothing," Perseus responded. I wondered what he was talking about, "And if you must know why... I... I can't say. I'm sorry."
Then Iris appeared and put her hand on his shoulder and whispered comforting words into his ear. I felt this ugly feeling starting to rise in my chest as I glared down at them. Then I realized what it was. It was jealousy.
"Perseus has allowed me to show you what happened, be warned, the end is a little... much," Iris said as she started to create an Iris Message. The message shimmered and started to show us why Perseus was asking this.
A couple hours later
When it finished all the gods looked at Perseus with either pity or shock. Wondering how he didn't go insane from the depression and loneliness, or just the physical torture he had to endure, form the campers and the twelve labors.
"So, I'm going to ask again, may you please fulfill my request?" Perseus asks.
Daughter I have an idea, I heard father speak in my mind.
What is it father? I replied
What if he became the guardian of the hunt? Then he would have a purpose and be able to continue his life, My father suggested, As long as you promise to keep him safe and from harm from your hunt.
Yes father, that should be okay.
"Before I fulfill your request, I have a request for you."
"What is it Lord Zeus?" Perseus asked, sounding dead tired.
"I want you to become the guardian of the hunt."
"What? But aren't they man-hating maidens? They would never accept me. Why would I want that job?"
I was slightly hurt by this comment, I thought he didn't trust me enough to do it, "Perseus, I promise to keep my hunters from harming you. You've been through enough that the hunters would accept you."
Perseus seemed to think it over a little bit, "Okay, at least I'll get to see Thals a little bit more then. I accept your request, and I swear on the River Styx to not flirt or harass any of the hunters," Perseus swore, thunder rumbling overhead, signaling the oath.
I just looked at him in shock, "Thank you," I said and most of the council looked at me in surprise while my brother just gave me a smug smirk.
With that, everyone flashed out except for me. I walked up to Perseus, "Are you ready?" He just gave me a nod and looked away. I flashed us down to the hunt, and five arrows were instantly fired, all imbedded into Perseus. He instantly crumpled.
"What have you done?!" I screamed.
"He was touching you m'lady. He was obviously going to take advantage of you since he is a disgusting pig," One of my hunters responded.
"No, he wasn't! He is our guardian and the only decent man alive. Now, Phoebe help me bring him to the infirmary," I said and started to lift him up along with Phoebe, who got to work healing him since she was a daughter of my brother.
"M'lady, was that Percy?" Jade asked.
"Yes, it was young one, he'll be staying with us for a while now, so you can see him as much as you want," As I said this to her, she got really excited and hugged me. I just chuckled as she ran around with excitement and energy.
Thalia then came up, "Is he going to be okay?"
"Yes Thalia, he will be fine."
"Good, but, can you tell me what happened?"
"I'll tell everyone at dinner while Perseus gets some sleep."
"Of course, m'lady."
I then walked back into the tent to see Perseus starting to wake up, and Phoebe finishing up with the wounds. She looked over at me, and I told her to continue with her daily chores. She said okay and walked out.
I sat in the chair next to Perseus and held his hand. I felt so sorry for him, and I just wanted to tell him how I felt, but I knew he just recently got his heart broken, so I wouldn't do that to him, not then. As I was thinking this over in my head, he started to stir a little more. I gave his hand a squeeze. His eyes fluttered open, and then, they focused on me.
"Hey moonbeam, how're you?"
I just chuckled at the nickname, "I should be asking you that question."
"What? No, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. It'll take more than just five arrows to take me out," Perseus said and smiled at me in the end. That smile sent butterflies in my stomach off, just like fireworks. I just smiled back with a light blush on my cheeks.
"So... you ready to meet the hunt?" I asked and his face paled considerably.
"Uhhhhhh... yeah sure."
"Then come on, I bet Jade and Thalia will be happy to see you."
"Yeah..."
We walked out and right away, questions were being fired at us. Everyone was screaming over each other; I couldn't make out what anyone was saying. It was absolute mayhem. It was starting to get on my nerves, so I shouted, "QUIET!"
All the girls immediately went quiet. They all seemed to glare at Perseus, except for Thalia and Jade, and he shifted uncomfortably. I smirked at him for being so uncomfortable around the girls.
"Girls, I know you don't like the idea of having a male in our vicinity, but this male is different. He respects women and will respect you if you respect him. Now I just wanted to introduce to you our guardian, Perseus Jackson!"
"It's just Percy m'lady."
"Okay 'just Percy', your first job is to do the laundry and come back to rest. When you wake, you will eat. We will probably be done by the time you wake up so just grab some food that has been left over and come to me for your nightly chores."
"Of course, m'lady," He said and walked off towards the lake. 'He is so polite, kind, charming, handsome... Okay, I need to stop. Yes, I may like him, but I can't just go around thinking that. I'm still a maiden goddess.' I thought to myself as he walked away.
All the girls looked at me in surprise at the joke I made and how I treated him with respect.
"Okay, girls at dinner I will tell you why Perseu- I mean Percy is with us."
"Of course, m'lady," They all chorused together and walked off to train and do chores.
'Maybe this won't be so bad after all. I just hope the hunt can see he has suffered enough and will treat him with respect and kindness.' I thought as I walked back to my tent. When I arrived at my tent, I instantly fell asleep on my bed from the crazy day that just occurred.
(A/N This relationship is very quickly forming and I know that might not please many of you, but this story is mainly going to focus on action and the upcoming threat. This is a harem so look for those relationships, but I hope it doesn't bother you all too much that the first couple of chapters seem kinda rushed. Anyways guys, see you Wednesday.)