Hey everyone,
I'd like to announce that although some myths contradict with others, I may need to change the order in which historical myths took place to be able to fit the characters I want into the story.
Although the setting is ancient Greece, I will make the characters talk in English and informally, as if they were regular boys/men or girls/women in the modern world. It makes writing this a little bit easier, and the characters more relaxed than if they talked formally all the time.
I would like all of you avid readers to vote for the poll. That's right, there is a poll up on my profile page regarding this story. It is regarding pairings. I have figured out a couple of ways that Percy might be able to pair up with someone fairly soon through this story, even if getting to know them is a little short. It will be a quick process in terms of the chapters as I jump from the end of the Argonautica right into the Trojan War if you as the readers choose a girl that is available in the ancient times. If the modern girls are chosen, then it will be a different story. Either way, vote vote vote! Vote, vote, vote!
Just a note about copying and pasting author's notes...in the past, I have had readers who did not read the author's notes until later chapters. I just want to keep reminding. If you have already seen the author's notes, you can just skip them and go straight to reading the story. Thank you.
I would like to note that this is a short chapter, a filler for what is to come after.
With best regards,
SharkAttack719
Chapter 11
The Sardinian Sea
They followed the river, sailing through the many branches of the Eridanus. The Argo had been sent north, away from Greece.
Why? Well, Percy assumed that the gods were indignant at the brutal murder of Apsyrtus. He did not care anymore. Like what most of the other crew were feeling, he felt blood guilt. Sure, Medea had wanted to stay with Jason, never to go back to Colchis. Death was a part of everything. It did not mean Percy had to like it.
The Argo had gotten lost, sailing through the arcing Eridanus River. They had sailed way up north, until the point that during so called summer it felt like early winter. Snow covered the trees up north, no cities or lights in sight. When the broke into the ocean, Percy knew they were out of range from the gods. They had gone too far. They were at the ends of the world.
The morale of the troops had gotten considerably low, even after the success of stealing the Golden Fleece. Cold, bitter winter threw their final blasts at them before it dissipated into summer. The sun would shine overhead, but still, they were lost.
Hours, days, weeks were spent trying to find their way back home, but instead they sailed much farther north of Greece. Percy called the sea the North Sea. They saw barbarians encamped in the north, watching the Greeks as they sailed past. Surely, they had not seen a ship of this caliber before.
Some barbarians, however, did try attacking. The Argonauts wiped them out quickly. The encampments were loaded with food and supplies, so they eventually made it a daily routine to kill barbarians to scavenge for food. That only made the morale of the troops worse. Some Argonauts became sick, medical supplies running low. A couple died.
This was almost as bad as a war, not as many casualties, but knowing the dying people suffered before their death was a horrifying thought. Percy was so depressed that he didn't even bother to try practicing his powers, though the water still reflected his emotions. Wherever they went, the water was as calm as can be, the color a depressing dark blue.
Percy was thirteen by the time they found the entrance to the Eridanus once again.
The Eridanus led them back south, where everything became warmer. Summer grew plentiful here. It was still not enough to raise the spirits of the Argonauts. Most of the men grew tired of paddling and let the wind try pushing them along.
Not even Jason felt good. They spent most of their time below decks. Medea and Jason had many nights of passion, Percy could hear that well enough from where he slept. But could tell from both of their expressions when they were outside that even passion was not enough to raise their own spirits.
Percy had a feeling that most of the Argonauts knew the gods had punished them for murdering Apsyrtus. None were happy.
Atalanta barely hunted anymore. She spent most of her time holding the necklace Meleager had given to her. She would stare out at the forests and plains and mountains of the lands they passed while playing with the necklace in her hands. Percy thought she had lost it; she must have found it in one of the lower decks, hiding from her.
Theseus was the exact same as those two. He would talk to Percy now and then, but he said he contemplated giving up on his quest to Athens. He had contemplated whether or not he should receive the royal life that he should have had.
Others, like Castor, Polydeuces, Calaïs, Zetes, Periclymenus, Argus, Orpheus, Ancaeus and Peleus had even said they didn't have the spirit to move on. The gods had cursed them, so why should they go back to their homes where Zeus could strike down their families, breaking them even more. The paranoia and fear of the Olympians had struck the Argonauts hard.
"We're in the Sardinian Sea," Ancaeus announced bluntly after exiting another mouth of the Eridanus River.
"After months of getting lost and killing barbarians, I am glad we are back on track to Greece," Jason muttered, Medea at his side.
Percy nodded tersely and walked away. Unlike those he talked to, he did not feel bad because of the gods' curse. He could not care less about what the Olympians bestowed on the Argonauts. It was the murder that was eating away at Percy. The murder and being out in danger was eating him up from the inside.
Before Colchis, he had tried to stay strong. Apsyrtus' death broke him, finally.
"Death happens for a reason," a deep, strong voice said from behind him.
He turned around to see a man wearing a simple green tunic. He had a proud face, sea-green eyes and jet black hair. The beard the man had was well-trimmed and neat. In other words, Percy recognized him. It was his father, Poseidon.
"Father," Percy bowed. "What are you doing here?"
The sea god smiled sadly. "I have watched over your quest much like Athena and Hera have. I am forbidden to intrude on mortal quests, but I help secretly when it has to do with sea voyages." Then his face turned grim. "The Argo sailed far north, much too far. Depression has washed over the crew like a tsunami, crushing them. They fear the gods, though, whereas you are lugubrious to the murder."
"Lugubrious?"
"Discontent, another word for depressed," the god replied.
Percy looked down at the ocean. "Can the others see you?"
"None, only you can see me."
"Then tell me why you came, not about how you watched our journey," Percy demanded trying to stay as respectful as possible.
"How do you feel about Apsyrtus?" Poseidon asked. "How do you feel knowing that Zeus punished your ship for his murder, the desecration of a Colchian prince? Answer the question and I will explain why I am here."
Percy scowled but answered the question. "Terrible. We could have settled it by battle, not by trickery and murder. Even if they gave Apsyrtus' body back to the Colchians I would have felt better. Medea just had to make Jason cut him to pieces and dump him in the sea. King Aeëtes will never give his son the proper funeral rites."
"Even after King Aeëtes was about to trick you out of your prize, had Athena not come up with the plan to send another group of soldiers to fight the drakon?"
"Even then," Percy nodded. "Then...up north, the men died. Illness. I watched them scream in pain." The son of Poseidon shut his eyes. "It is horrible, father."
"Death happens for a reason, as much as you may not like it," the god said wisely. "I do not favor my brother as he does not favor me, but his duty is the hardest of all of ours. That is why I told Hades to stay in the Underworld. He never listens me out, but keeping the souls in check and holding Tartarus together is a very challenging job. Zeus would never be able to do that, and neither would I. But mortals die, not because the immortals wish for them to perish, but because the greatest glories come in dying, Percy."
"What glory is there in watching mortals suffer?" Percy asked his father.
Poseidon shook his head. "There is none, Percy. But tell me what the world would be like without illness and death? It would be overrun. Saving people's lives does not mean we are better people."
"And killing them is?" Percy snapped.
"You cannot be so distraught over death, Perseus," his father said sternly. "I see your destiny, Percy. You cannot be so sad over the death of your closest friends and family. It will lead to your downfall."
"I would rather die than see my friends pass on suffering," he seethed. "Maybe you are right. The greatest glories coming in dying. Because when you live, your path to the end gets ragged, filled with pain, fear and hopelessness. Sometimes a name is as powerful as an action."
"Percy—"
"People will remember the name Perseus forever because of the first," Percy said turning his back on his father. "If I die, I will be remembered as well. If I live, generations and generations later many will forget me."
Poseidon closed his eyes and exhaled. "May Zeus witness I tried. You always find something that is worth fighting for, Percy. You do not have to be immortal, but remember that Thanatos and Hades are closer relatives than you think."
Then the god was swept away in a sea breeze.
"Always find something that is worth fighting for," Percy muttered. Then he realized he'd used what his father told him against him. "Glory in dying..."
He turned around and went below deck. He found everyone sitting dejectedly in the dining room and kitchen, muttering about where they were headed next that the gods wished for them to be punished.
"We need to get home," he said, making all heads turn to him.
Someone started, "The gods—"
"What? Made us sail off course? Cursed us until we die?" Percy suggested. Many of the men in the room looked at him warily and nodded. "So what?" Percy took a deep breath. "I just spoke with Lord Poseidon, my father. He made me realize something using trickery. While all of you worried about being cursed by the gods, I felt bad for all of the death around us. I hate death to those around me. Hades is one of my father's rivals amongst the gods and goddesses, but understanding that everything has an end... It may not be so bad. Let me ask all of you a question. Did you come on this quest for glory, personal fame, and to be remembered throughout history as a great hero?"
"Yes," everyone chorused.
"So let me offer you all a choice: return to Iolcus, to Greece, give the Golden Fleece to Jason and become the greatest heroes that sailed the world forever known as the Argonauts or die here at sea with no one ever knowing us ever again, our names disappearing as history passes on?"
Jason stood up slowly. "What do you mean, Percy? Our names disappearing as history passes on."
"Gods care little for mortals, only for a small period of time do they regard us as something," he said. "Think of the original Perseus. He could have rejected the quest to kill Medusa. He could have chickened away from the quest. He would have had a safe life. Instead, he chose to take the quest. He defeated the monster and married Andromeda. But his life was cut short. In spite and rage, the son of the former king of Argos, who I do not remember the name of, killed him. That is a well known fact all over Greece. Perseus died happy but young. Apply that to our situation. We arrive back to Greece and become legends. Should we die, it does not matter, for our names live on forever."
Percy watched as the men looked at one another slowly, as if to see if others agreed with him. Percy knew that was the purpose of Poseidon's visit. Percy had to rejuvenate the spirit of the Argonauts. Long had they forgotten of what they came here for. Only once he reminded them, they remembered. They were in it for the glory, not for the death and pain.
Atalanta stood up. "If we die, our names live on forever. I agree with Percy."
A smile slowly broke out on Jason's face. "The Argonauts, led by Perseus the Second. How does that sound?"
Theseus stepped up. "I think that sounds great."
"Percy. Percy. Percy. Percy." Periclymenus said. "Chant with me! Percy! Percy! Percy! Percy!"
Slowly, more and more people joined in on the chant. For once, Percy didn't mind that he was getting all of the attention. He kind of liked it now. But before everyone began chanting "Percy," the one mentioned started chanting, "Argonauts! Argonauts! Argonauts!"
The chanting changed as Percy led. The son of Poseidon led the men above deck and made everyone grab onto a paddle. "Row! Row! Row! TO GREECE!"
"Greece!" echoed the Argonauts.
"We are the Argonauts!" Jason shouted from his position at the helm. "We are the retrievers of the Golden Fleece and the explorers of the world! Let the word be spread! We. Are. The. Argonauts!"
"HOO! HOO! HOO!" came the cry from the rowers.
Percy grinned and raised his hand before pointing straight forward. The waves behind them got larger until the Argo was being propelled along the water faster than anything had traveled before, on land or water.
"Argonauts!" came the final cry before an island appeared in the distance.
Jason and Percy shared a look, before looking down at the rowers, who were rowing with renewed strength.
Then they made their decision: "To the island!"
Hey everyone,
I would like to note that this is a short chapter, a filler for what is to come after.
Hope you enjoy this chapter.
I apologize for any grammatical errors in the chapter above and if any historical facts are actually wrong. I have spent my time looking through different websites, and even a couple of books, but the story that will continue may have incorrect historical info. Still, I believe it just adds to the effect.
With best regards,
SharkAttack719