AN: Another chapter! Let's see if it'll be good.

Annabeth anxiously waited next to the boat for a few minutes...those turned into ten, then fifteen. Annabeth worriedly looked through the spreading fog, apprehension rising. What if he doesn't come back? No, he'll come back, he has to, he has to lead me back. But that was only because I had his crown, what do I do now! Her thoughts screamed at her.

Then she saw a shadow through the fog. She sighed in relief.

"I was starting to think you ran off with the crown and left me." Annabeth said stepping forward. The figures got gradually bigger, bigger than Percy's lithe frame. Then the shadow split into two shadows and became clearer. The two large men approached, evil smiles on their faces.

"He did, your prince is gone." The guy closest to her said.

"What? No, he wouldn't," Annabeth denied. The brothers flanked her.

"See for yourself." Annabeth looked to where he pointed over the lake, and saw a shape of a boat. She saw someone at the tiller, and recognized Percy's unruly hair and blue vest.

"Percy?" She said quietly in disbelief, "Percy!" She cried.

"Fair trade." The lead thug said, going behind her. "A crown, for the girl with magic hair." He caressed her braid. Annabeth turned to face them, her grey eyes wide. "How much do you think someone will pay to stay young and healthy forever?" He said and his companion opened a human-sized sack.

Annabeth back-peddled and protested. She ended up running, but her hair got caught on a log. The men surrounded her. One held her arms while the other moved to throw the sack over her. But before the sack even touched her, there was a crack, followed by another and the two thugs fell down, unconscious.

"Annabeth!" Annabeth heard a welcome voice.

"Mother?" Annabeth said, seeing her mother standing over the unconscious men.

"Oh my precious girl!" Hera said embracing Annabeth. "Are you alright, are you hurt?"

"How did you-?" Annabeth asked, relieved but confused.

"I was so worried about you dear. So I followed you, and I saw them attack you." She frantically looked Annabeth over for injuries. "Let's go, before they come to."

"You were right mother, about everything." Annabeth said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I know darling, I know." Hera said, leading her daughter home.
_

Percy slowly became aware of a rocking sensation. He groaned, and woke up more when he was jostled as the boat he was in hit something.

A boat? What? Wait, the Stolls, Annabeth!

He opened his eyes and struggled to get his hands free, but they were securely tied to the tiller of the boat. The bump into the pier had alerted the guards to his presence and they hurried down.

"Look, the crown!" One said.

"It's Percy Jackson! Arrest him!" said another.

"Annabeth! ANNABETH!" Percy shouted. The guards untied him, but immediately shackled his hands behind him. "Wait wait wait, guys, you don't understand! Annabeth!" The guards manhandled him across the cobblestone pier to the castle. "You don't understand, I'm not a thief, well I am, but not to begin with. Im Prince Perseus, let me go!" He protested, not caring if his identity was known. He had to get to Annabeth. The guards ignored him.

They threw him into a cell, leaving him to shout all he liked. Percy eventually stopped shouting, and resorted to pacing until someone came along. He paced for a few hours before Captain Jason came to get him. Percy had clutched the bars of his small window trying to think of a way out of this. When Jason came in, Percy turned.

"Let's get this over with, Jackson." Jason said.

"Jason, I need to get a hold of my parents!" Percy said, going to clutch the lapels of Jason's uniform. The flanking guards stopped him. They wrenched his arms behind him, and pushed him to his knees.

"Let's move." Jason said.

"Where are we going?" Percy asked as his hands were shackled again. Jason gave him a look. "Oh," Percy said, swallowing hard, knowing that execution was unavoidable, despite who he really was.
_

Unknown to the guards and Percy, Blackjack had seen Percy get arrested, and knew something was wrong. He didn't see Annabeth, and when Percy had cried out for her, the noble horse knew she was in trouble. He set off to rescue her, knowing exactly who to call on for help.

AN: There it is. Just a few dialogue deviations, but I hope it's good. Please let me know!