Disclaimer:Nothing familiar is owned by me
A/N: The note at the end of the chapter is extremely important please read it fully, thanks in advance
Chapter 5: Gott Mit Uns
(Percy POV)
(A/N:this is just after lunch at the Chase manor)
I'd like to say I enjoyed my meal with Fredrick, but a certain blonde made me lose my appetite. It wasn't that I hated her, ok maybe I did a little. She just made my chest hurt every time I looked up at her, it didn't help things very much when I caught her staring at me. Gods she drives me crazy. I decided I would busy myself with building up defenses within the town in case it was attacked. By the time the sun had set the town was far more fortified than I had hoped, a trench line defended the main roads whilst barricades blocked off all side streets and alleys. I knew we would be overextended if we tried to defend all of our defense points but it was a precaution. Luckily the constant digging and building kept a certain blonde haired girl off my mind, gods I love her. I know I shouldn't after what she did, but if it is willed by the gods that's how it must be. I posted men on the outskirts of Breitenfeld to signal the rest of the platoon incase of enemy attack during the night and I quickly fell asleep.
(Annabeth POV)
On the morning of September 7 I awoke to the sound of a massive army marching past the town, I quickly ran to my balcony and saw a massive army of Swedish soldiers marching off to defend the German pagans of northern Germany. I was moved by the sight of the massive army and how they put their lives on the line for people they didn't even know, they did it for the defense of our faith. My father walked up behind me, he would be staying behind to govern the town while the mayor and the men of Breitenfeld went to fight with the Swedes. My father said, "See how their morale and disincline unites them, their common faith keeps them strong. They seem to be always on their way to heaven. In the name of Olympus their enemies will fall." (From the Sabaton song Caroleans Prayer you guys should look 'em up) I didn't know how or when my father became so poetic but it was heart warming. I heard marching footsteps below the manor and saw Percy's platoon marching towards the army, I was scared at first that they were leaving us but I saw them form a single line and halt. Percy shouted out, "Företag! Önskar våra bröder bra!" (Company! Wish our brothers well!) "Ja sergeant!" (Yes sergeant!) and fifty voices began singing a hymn in Swedish.
(This is the chorus of the song En Livsted i Krig/A lifetime of War by Sabaton)
A/N:If you can't tell I'm a major fan of Sabaton
För kriget det kan (for the war there can)
Förgöra en man (destroy a man)
Jag ger mitt liv
för mitt fosterland (I give my life for my country)
Men vem saknar mig (but who misses me)
Så se mig som den (so see me as)
En make en vän (a spouse, a friend)
Fader och son
som aldrig kommer hem igen (father and son never come home again)
Men vem sörjer mig (but who mourn me)
The hymn brought tears to my eyes but it obviously inspired the main Swedish army as they shouted back, "Seger! Seger till Olympus!" (Victory! Victory to Olympus) Percy's platoon stood at attention until the army was out of sight, and he then walked a few paces ahead of his men and said something I couldn't hear. He must have allowed them to rest for the day because all the men but one broke away into small groups speaking about going back to sleep. The man who stayed behind must have been his second in command because they had a quick debate and they both went their separate ways, Percy, it seemed, went to pull his shift on guard duty. His second must have gone to rest up. He glanced up at me and I could see the hurt still in his eyes. Gods, I wish I hadn't done is done to him all those months ago. I regretted it as soon as he left me at my house. I wiped the last few tears from my eyes and followed Percy to his post.
(Percy POV)
-hooray for constant POV shifts-
Seeing the Swedish army march off to war without our platoon really hurt the men's morale, which is why I gave them the day off. I myself planned to take guard duty for as long as possible before changing with someone else in the platoon, either Leo or Frank. Just as I released the men to get some RnR, Leo walked up to me and said, "We should be with them Percy." I turned to him, "I know that Leo I don't like it anymore than you do, but orders are orders." He grumbled but didn't say anything more, "Leo can you guard the south end of town while I take the north?" He snapped to attention and said, "Yes sir!" He turned and jogged to his post. I chuckled and glanced up to where I knew Annabeth would be standing on the balcony over looking the field. Making eye contact with her brought a lot of pain so I quickly looked away and jogged to my guard post. I stopped at the platoon armory to grab my musket and proceeded to my guard post. Once I arrived I shouldered my musket and stood at attention facing away from the town. I heard steps walking behind so I quickly turned, crouched and aimed my musket at the intruder. "Percy! Is this how treat everyone who comes to talk to you!?" It took me a second to realize it was Annabeth, gods why did it have to be her. I stood up and lowered my musket and ran my through my hair and sheepishly replied, "Sorry, I thought I was about to be stabbed in the back... Again." I said the last part under my breathe so she wouldn't hear, which luckily she didn't. "So how's the army life?" She asked sounding genuinely curious, "I love it it's the greatest adventure I've ever had." She shook her head smiling, "Percy you're starting to sound like a town crier when they try to rally the men to fight. 'I like it when she smiles.' I thought to myself and replied, "Maybe that's what I did before the army." "Percy you and I both know you were in school before the army. I actually don't know the reason you even joined." Of all the questions she could have asked she had to ask that one. I nervously started moving my feet. She laughed at my reaction, "Annabeth!" I complained, "you aren't making this easy for me." She laughed and said, "I'll never make it easy for you Seaweed Brain." My heart melted when she said that and I walked up to her and wrapped her into my embrace. She didn't seem to struggle, in fact she seemed to melt into my embrace. She rested her head on my chest, I looked down at her and she looked up. We made eye contact, and for the first time in a long time I was perfectly fine with gazing into her eyes, I felt myself lean towards her. She sucked in her breath but she leaned towards me, and before I knew what was happening, we kissed. I didn't realize it but even though this was only our second kiss, I really missed kissing her. I felt like the happiest man alive, but then I heard the gunshot.
-Should I end it here? ... Nah I'll continue-
We broke apart quickly and Annabeth asked, "What was that?" Her voice cracked at the end and she look genuinely worried. "I don't know Annabeth but it sounded like it came from..." Realization hit me when I realized where the shot came from, "Leo!" I shouted as I took off running towards Leo's post, "Annabeth get the townspeople into your manor it's bigger than the town hall!" I shouted as I ran. I didn't hear her reply but I looked behind me and saw run off towards town. When I got to Leo's post I saw Leo crouched down aiming down his muskets barrel. "Leo." I hissed, "Why are you firing?" "I saw some Austrian soldiers sir." "Shit." I ran back to the barracks and woke the men shouting, "Få dina åsnor flyttar, österrikarna är här!" (Get your asses moving, the Austrians are here!) the men quickly got ready for battle and rallied at the town square.
A/N:all orders that are shouted by Percy or the other swedes will now be in Swedish. Translation will be in parentheses as before.
(Percy POV)
I strode in front of my platoon, they were at rigid attention ready to give their all in defense of Breitenfeld. "Män! Jag vet vad jag ska fråga dig är något som ingen människa någonsin skulle ställas, men jag ber er att gärna sätta ditt liv på spel för de människor vi svor att skydda! Alla vi kommer att lämna denna stad, men en del kommer att ha gått vidare till livet efter detta! Och om du ser dig själv laddar genom gröna fält ensam, inte vara orolig därför du är i Elysium och du är redan död!" (Men! I know what I'm going to ask you something that no human could ever be, but I ask you to please put your life at stake for the people we are sworn to protect! All of us will leave this city, but some will have moved on to the afterlife! And if you see yourself charging by green fields alone, do not be worried because you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!)
A/N:Last line is from the movie Gladiator
The men's reaction was a thundering shout saying, "För fosterlandet!" (For the fatherland!) I smiled at their reaction, "Alpha trupp, ta dig norr diket linjen. Beta tar söderut. Charlie och Delta kommer att hållas i reserv. Omega truppen kommer att föregå med mig och bli vår mobila insatsstyrka." (Alpha squad, take the north trench line. Beta takes south. Charlie and Delta will be held in reserve. Omega Squad will be lead by me and become our mobile response team.) "Ja Sergeant!" (Yes Sergeant!) Came their response. The men went their separate ways and dug in. I lead Omega squad towards the Chase manor and prepared for battle. Throughout the town I heard the men shouting out, "Gudarna är med oss!" (The gods are with us!) my squad joined in the yelling, but it subsided quickly. I turned to Frank, "Frank, kan du titta över män för mig? Det är något jag måste göra." (Frank, you can look over the men for me? There is something I must do.)
He nodded and I went off to find Annabeth. I saw her beautiful blonde hair through the crowd of people in the manor and ran to her. "Annabeth, there is something I must ask you." She turned to me and said, "What do you need Percy?" She seemed to smiling slightly at my nervousness. "I ask that I may court you if I survive." She seemed shocked but recovered quickly, by recovered I mean she jumped into my arms and screamed 'Yes' over and over again. When she calmed down a bit she glared at me and said, "This means you better come back to me, or I'll haunt you. Even in the afterlife." I kissed her then said, "My love I swear on my life that I will return to you." She blushed and I kissed her again. Our kiss was cut short by the sound of marching and cannonballs smashing through buildings. Gods save us.
The battle of Breitenfeld had begun.
A/N: Holy Hades that's the longest chapter yet at over 2k words. Please rate and review, constructive criticism is appreciated. Also I have an idea for my next story I just need a female OC. PM me the first and last name, physical description, age and instrument they play. Thanks in advance I'll pick the winner when there have been five entries, don't worry you'll get a shout-out next chapter. Anyway I've rambled for far to long, goodnight and thanks for reading.