Hey there, lost the device I usually write these chapters on and while I still haven't found it I've wrote the next chapter a week late, hope you don't mind too much!

I think this is quite an important chapter though nothing really happens in it. Anyway, I really enjoyed writing it so I hope you like it too.

Percy stared at the poor son of Hades intently; Nico looked to be growing paler and threw a pleading look at me. It was faintly amusing watching the two of them struggling (Percy was clearly desperate for some familiarity) but I intervened. Already it was obvious that Nico didn't want to reveal their past and I was more than happy to play along. Maybe I was just delaying the inevitable but I hoped to evade what was sure to be a painful confrontation.

"Perhaps you've met one of his half-brothers before and were reminded of him," I suggested quietly, giving the lost demigod a gentle smile.

"I don't have any half-brothers," Nico blurted out immediately.

I shot him my fiercest glare. Why were we friends again? Now I had to craft some other lie just so Percy didn't realise that Nico was deceiving him. At least Nico flinched, realising his error.

"Nevertheless," I continued swiftly, "the chances of you having met Nico in the past are vanishingly low; it is likely that he is similar to somebody you used to know." I kept my face expressionless as I said that before, again, smiling gently.

Percy frowned, continuing to gaze at Nico. (How well had he known Nico? He'd not recognised me at all.) "That's probably it," he said finally. "I wondering if you've ever met someone called Annabeth?"

Nico again looked to me; this was beginning to get aggravating. Could he not lie at least a little convincingly? "Regrettably I don't believe so," he somehow managed to answer coolly, yet in a voice unlike his own. Wait, was he imitating me?

"…Oh."

The utter despair in the normally upbeat person was just upsetting. And I was at least partially responsible – why was I doing this? What was I supposed to do now? I'd been waiting for his arrival forever and now I was practically stamping on his hopes. I couldn't let this continue. Nico was looking away from us, clearly wanting us to vanish for he was also affected. How could he let a friend wilt like this?

So I grabbed his arm, feeling that intense emotion I couldn't describe. Anger at the sombre mood? I didn't like sad, dark things. That's why I pulled on his arm and dragged him down the hill, wanting to get his mind off the dreary past and into the very real present. We ran as fast as we could, or at least I did, feeling pleasure at the wind tangling my hair into an unkempt state. I could only hope Percy wouldn't dwell on his past for too long.

It was one of those hot, lazy summer days so we soon slowed down to a stroll and I just soaked up the sight of the vivid green grass and the regal roman architecture. Like most people I loved nature, something I'd at some point lost appreciation for during my many years as a huntress. The guilt I'd felt just minutes ago due to lies and secrecy was at the back of mind. It was not the time for Percy to regain his memories so until then I hoped he'd be able to enjoy himself without them.

"Where are we going?" He asked serenely. I was still gripping his arm and leading forwards though his dark moodiness had vanished quickly.

Where I usually went when I was feeling frustrated. "Sometimes I love walking, experiencing just how Real life is," I said, not answering his question but nevertheless trying to be expressive.

Percy had to look around at the comment, trying to get what I meant. "You'll get your memories back one day, for now just enjoy the moment," I added softly.

"Is this some sort of arena?" He asked as we did indeed walk into the arena where swordfights took place.

"You were good against those gorgons this morning; I assume you're skilled with a sword?"

Inside a fight was going on against two guys I didn't know. People sat in the audience, casually chatting; some of them were watching the fight. At some point the arena had become a place to hang out. Most of these campers didn't come here for the purpose of watching a fight rather because there was a great atmosphere. Fights were just a benefit.

I didn't head to the stands but to the bored manager. He was an officer in his late teens and a son of Mercury whom often watched over this arena as supervision. Talking to him was also a convenient way of organising the order of fights. He perked up as we approached.

"Hey there, you can have a match as soon as these guys are done." He was used to my visits. "You're the new camper aren't you? Be careful around Nightshade but from what I've heard you're pretty powerful," He said with a smirk, addressing Percy.

"Wait, so you just wanted to fight me?" Percy asked me.

"Could I, uh, see your sword?" I asked in reply.

Percy looked at me oddly, taking a ballpoint pen out of his pocket. "You could answer my questions, you know," he mumbled.

"What was that?" I said sharply. I feared some disrespect; nobody at this camp really gave me the proper respect I'd had when I was in lieutenant in the hunters.

"I don't get you! One minute you're acting all carefree, the next you're being cold like some aloof princess!" Percy retorted, not backing down.

The manager actually choked down a snort at that and I glared at him for a second before turning on Percy with a look of disdain. How could he say something like that to me? Did he not respect me either?

"You shouldn't be questioning me! I've experienced so many things, am I not allowed to ever relax without losing all my respect?" I shot back, icily.

"It's you who's treating me like some sort of lost child! Do you listen to no one else, Princess?" Percy said loudly, uncapping his pen.

As Anaklumos appeared, I drew my sword, getting into a defensive position. Percy's body likewise relaxed into a combat position. I couldn't believe him, saying such things to me. Princess? I narrowed my eyes, preparing to launch some sort of assault.

"Woah guys, relax! Get into the arena before you start stabbing each other – and that's an interesting sword," the manager was still standing there, though he'd backed away a little.

Percy was standing nearer the entrance to the actual arena. I nodded forward. "Well go on then," I challenged, holding my sword loosely in my hand. He nodded back.

He ran into the centre of the arena, whilst I waited for him to get into the proper position. In the centre, he stopped, turned back to me and waited. I charged at him, ready to defeat him. Ready to defeat his words too.

He was far from an inexperienced fighter and our blades clashed with a wave of sparks. He hit hard but I didn't pause and quickly swung at him again, to catch him off guard. No good, he easily retaliated and exhausted my arms with the amount of energy he put into his swings. Odd how he wasn't jabbing at me, it'd been a long time since I'd fought someone who used the Greek style.

I retreated, forcing Percy to attack me. As his blade approached me I neatly dodged, spinning away from the vicious attack. We exchanged several more blows over the next minute but neither of us gained much of an advantage. I wasn't used to these long drawn out fights preferring to finish them quickly before I got tired out. Usually defeating one opponent wasn't enough to ensure safety so conserving strength was important. But Percy was giving this fight everything he had.

Maybe I had come into this battle overconfident, I thought. Percy's next swing came faster than I was expecting, coming right under my guard and I had no way to avoid it quickly. Naturally I had to let him knock my sword of my hands so I could recover. Before he had too much of an advantage, I slammed into him, using all my body-weight to knock him down.

We landed on the floor together, but he had a sword. Mine was lying on the ground just out of reach and I backed away as he jabbed his sword forward. There was nothing I could do. He'd somehow beaten me. How had this happened?

We left the arena in silence. Maybe I hadn't really been respecting him? I couldn't forget what he'd said to me but perhaps there was a way to mend relations? Was I really expected to apologise? That was ridiculous. But didn't I want peace? He was a friend, wasn't he?

"May I… see your sword?" I asked. We were walking alone down a rugged path.

Wordlessly he got out the pen and hesitantly handed it to me. Maybe he wanted to make up too.

"Anaklumos, the current that takes one by surprise," I said mournfully. Now I too was being engulfed by sad memories.

That's it! Hope you enjoyed reading it because it was fun to write. Please do review as I'd love to hear your comments. I find Zoe can be a little arrogant, Percy's just brave enough to call her out on it. And yes she has now been dubbed 'Princess'. Any questions about it?