A/N: Here's chapter 18. Writing this chapter was an experience I never want to relive; even though it's pretty straightforward, my mind just wasn't helping this time.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson and related stories.
Chapter Eighteen : Sally
Percy woke up to the gentle caress of sunlight on his face, casting a warm glow over the room. As the demigod stretched and rose from his bed, he noticed Diana's empty bed, indicating she had already woken up.
Being a goddess, Diana had little need for sleep. In fact, she possessed the remarkable ability to go years without it. It was an ability that Percy was most looking forward to receiving, not that he would be able to use it for long; he had not forgotten Apollo's lingering warning and the fact that his days on Earth could be numbered now.
Sitting on his bed, Percy took a moment to savor his surroundings. It was a cool winter morning, and he could hear the chirping of the birds all around him, outside the tent.
Mixed with the freshness of the morning, Percy could also smell the earthy fragrance of leaves, acorns, and pine cones sprinkled with hints of vanilla. It was the fragrance the demigod had now come to associate with Diana and Artemis; it was the essence of Amaranth, Artemis' sacred flower.
But Percy didn't get too long to soak in his surroundings, as just as he was beginning to get comfortable again, he received a wake-up call from his goddess of the moon.
"Percy, you're up!" Diana's voice rang out, her head poking into the tent to greet the son of Poseidon. "That's good. It means you can prepare for your first hunting session," she declared, stepping into the tent without feeling the need to provide any further explanation.
Diana was, as always, stunning. Clad in a flowing silver dress that effortlessly harmonised With her lustrous silver hair, she was a vision of grace. A beautiful smile rested on her perfect lips, and her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.
Percy's mind was still foggy from sleep, and he couldn't stop himself from wondering aloud, "How do you always look so beautiful?"
It took the demigod a hot second to realize what he had just said, and when he did, he felt his blood freeze in fear.
"Oh no, I am so sorry," he began, but as he looked into the goddess's eyes, expecting to see anger, he instead found her averting those eyes, her face heating up from the compliment.
"Don't be," Diana intervened. "I don't mind it when you say these things." Somehow, her face looked even redder as she said that.
And it was true, Diana had begun to enjoy these silly little interactions with Percy; never before had she sought compliments from someone, but when Percy did it, she felt something inside her that she couldn't quite understand.
Her words had left Percy speechless as well; he did not know how to respond to what he had just heard, and he was also unsure about the warm feeling suddenly inside his heart.
The next few moments passed in awkwardness as Diana helped Percy choose suitable hunting attire before stepping out of the tent so that he could change.
Finally, after slipping into his new attire, the demigod left the tent, dressed and ready to take on his newest challenge.
"There you are," Diana exclaimed, her cheerful demeanor returning in full force, a side of her that seemed to be reserved solely for Percy. Her earlier awkwardness appeared to have vanished completely.
Another intriguing aspect that Percy had noticed about the goddess was her mood swings. He had never encountered anyone whose emotions could shift so drastically during a complete one-eighty in mere moments. Although he had heard that such behavior was common among the gods, living with one was an entirely new experience for Percy.
"So... what am I hunting then?" The demigod inquired, scanning his surroundings curiously. The campsite appeared mostly deserted, except for Diana's tent and a dwindling campfire a short distance away, which had burned out sometimes before dawn. A small perimeter separated the campsite from the majestic towering trees encircling them, but otherwise, there seemed to be little else in sight.
"Before we embark on our hunt, I would like to assess your archery skills," Diana declared, her tranquil face now displaying a determined expression.
A gentle breeze danced through the camp, causing Diana's hair to sway gracefully with its rhythm. Standing there, bathed in sunlight, her radiant presence left Percy momentarily speechless, struggling to find the right words.
These were the aspects one only truly noticed with time. When Percy first laid eyes on the moon goddess, he had been utterly overwhelmed by her unparalleled beauty. Her radiance was so awe-inspiring that he could hardly gaze upon her for more than a fleeting moment without feeling his sanity beginning to slip away.
However, as days turned into weeks and their bond deepened, he grew accustomed to her divine presence. Now, he could observe her in finer detail, perceiving features that had once eluded him. The subtle curve of her lips when she smiled, the gentle furrow of her eyebrows when deep in thought, and the way her face would light up whenever she spoke of her hunters. All these intricate facets that Percy found himself falling in love with, the tender charm of her being that enchanted him in ways beyond words.
"Fine…" Percy said, his voice a bit shaky as he tried to break the spell that had taken hold of him, "I will do what you want, but— Just don't get your hopes up." Percy advised as he followed the goddess to the other side of their camp.
He did not know what had changed in the previous weeks, but he had never felt closer to the goddess than he did now. This change had been so sudden that it did not make any sense to him. He used to resent his life stuck with his fiance, but now he couldn't get enough of it. Percy did not know what came next, he had no idea where he should turn for advice, after all, there were no books written on what to do when one begins to fall for a goddess.
Unaware of Percy's thoughts, Diana continued surveying the area to find a suitable spot, and when she did, she stopped to gather her thoughts.
With a graceful flick of Diana's hand, a series of target boards materialized in the distance. Each board appeared to be strategically placed, designed to test the archer's accuracy and precision.
Diana then reached for her own bow, a masterpiece of craftsmanship, and held it for a moment. She looked at Percy, seemingly assessing him for a moment, before finally passing it over to him, her eyes fixed intently on him.
"Here, take my bow. If you can't hit a target using it, then we might have some serious concerns, she remarked, a playful glint dancing in her eyes. Diana understood that hitting the target on the first few attempts was unlikely for Percy.
At that moment, Percy remained blissfully unaware of the profound significance of what had just happened. For he had just been entrusted with the very symbol of the moon goddess' power, a bow that no mortal had ever touched before, not in the thousands of years that it had been with Artemis.
It was a big thing, one that spoke volumes about the deep trust that the goddess had begun to place in Percy. In handing him her bow so willingly, she had made it clear that he was no ordinary mortal in her eyes. It signified recognition—he was someone deemed worthy of wielding the very symbol of her divine power.
It was only as the weight of the bow settled in his hands, and Percy could feel the immense power coursing through his veins, that the demigod began to understand what she had just done. He was a man, a mere demigod, welding the weapon of Artemis, one of the mightiest Olympian goddesses. She was the same goddess who had turned men into animals for the smallest of slights.
Symbols of power were much more than mere weapons, they were tangible manifestations of a god's divine essence, almost inseparable from their very being. As their name suggested, these objects also carried immense symbolic value, representing the very core of a deity's authority and identity. The gods rarely shared or relinquished their symbols of power, for doing so meant entrusting a fragment of their divine essence to another.
Yet, in Percy's hands lay a symbol of power that defied all expectations. He now held the very bow that represented Diana's authority. The demigod did not know what to feel about the level of trust Diana had placed in him—whether he should be happy or terrified.
Despite his best efforts to hide it, Percy couldn't conceal the hint of trepidation on his face as he readied himself to take aim. He had no illusions about his archery skills, fully aware that Diana might be in for a profound disappointment once she witnessed his performance. He felt a deep desire not to disrespect her trust and gesture, but h knew how useless he was with a bow.
Before Percy could shoot the arrow, however, Diana intervened, saying, "Wait!, What are you doing, You're holding the bow all wrong, with this grip, you will never be able to hit the target."
"Ok... So what is the right way to hold it?" Percy asked with a frown, the demigod was pretty sure he had seen others hold bows in the same manner... He guessed that the moon goddess must know of a better way to do that; it only made sense that she would expect a high degree of skill when it came to archery.
"Straighten your back and stretch your arms, extend your right leg a bit further, and look straight, the Goddess of hunting instructed.
Percy nodded and did his best to follow Diana's precise guidance. He felt the strain in his arms as he held the bow in the proper stance. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he struggled to maintain his composure. Standing still and focusing on a target proved to be a challenge for him; it was as if his mind was hardwired to be a train wreck when it came to archery.
"No, no, no, Percy No, this is worse than before! How did you not get what I am saying?" Diana sighed in defeat as Percy failed to follow her instructions properly.
"What? This is not what you wanted." Percy asked, confused, he had thought that he was doing it right.
"No, listen to me again, perhaps I can be more clear this time. Stretch your back and grip the bowstring with your left hand," she said patiently, guiding him step by step. "Good, now extend your arms fully, keeping them in a straight line with the bow. Turn your head slightly towards the target and fix your eyes on the spot where you want the arrow to land", she explained, providing precise instructions to help him improve his stance.
Once again, Percy tried his best to follow her instructions.
"Very nice," Diana complimented when she was finally satisfied with how Percy held the bow. "Now, finally, take a deep breath, draw the bowstring back, and release the arrow with a smooth and controlled motion. Remember, the key to a successful shot is a relaxed and confident posture."
The demigod took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, and followed her instructions carefully. Drawing the bowstring back, he tried to find the right balance of tension and poise before finally releasing the arrow.
The projectile sailed through the air and lodged itself firmly in the bull's eye of one of the targets. Diana's face lit up with a wide smile.
"Excellent," Diana exclaimed, clapping her hands in approval as she observed Percy's shot. "It appears my worries were unfounded. You seem to be a natural at this. I mean, sure, that shot was a bit wonky, but it landed in the right place, so who cares? Straight shots are much easier to pull off than what you did just now. To be honest, I expected you to fare much worse than this. If you purposely chose a more difficult target to impress me, then consider me impressed."
Percy was mortified, he did not know how to tell her, she looked so happy. So proud of his achievement... But he had to come clean.
"Diana no…" Percy said with a grimace, feeling the weight of honesty. "I was not trying to impress you... Nor was I trying to hit that target. I was aiming for the one directly in front of me, not the one I hit."
Diana's smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"You mean to tell me... That you hit this target by... By mistake?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes..." Percy confessed. He knew how bad it looked, but it was what it was. He just couldn't lie to the goddess, not after seeing how much she trusted him.
"Well, this is just great, isn't it?" Diana muttered, her frustration evident as she threw her hands up in the air. "I guess we'll be here all day if we want to see you hit a target on purpose."
The next couple of hours were spent with Diana trying every possible way to teach Percy archery. Despite her best efforts, Percy's archery skills remained abysmal. She tried every technique in the book, from adjusting his stance to correcting his grip, but nothing seemed to work.
"Couldn't teach a demigod how to use a bow; some goddess of the hunt I am..." Percy heard her muttering once.
Finally, she decided to give it one last try; if her efforts failed once more, then she would give up on her futile attempts and let Artemis take responsibility for teaching Percy archery. "Let me show you the proper technique again," she said, taking the bow from Percy's hands for what must be the hundredth time.
Diana stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. She stood in front of the demigod and fixed the bow in his hand, her fingers deftly adjusting the grip until it was just right. She positioned his hand on the bow and guided him into the perfect posture.
"Don't move a muscle," she warned sternly before coming to stand beside him. "Now, keep your focus on the target, Percy. Let your instincts guide you," Diana said. "Keep your eyes on the target," she murmured, her voice sending shivers down his spine. "Feel the bow in your hand. Let your instincts guide you."
Percy focused on the target, his mind clear and his eyes fixed on the bull's eye. He drew back the bowstring, feeling the familiar tension build in his muscles. With a deep breath, he let go of the arrow, watching it sail through the air... and land with a resounding thud in the target next to the one he was aiming for.
Diana let out a groan of frustration. "Please tell me you were aiming for that one this time," she said.
Diana's question was answered soon after, but not as she had expected.
Suddenly, the goddess felt a deep rumbling beneath her feet as the ground started shaking violently, and the air was filled with a deafening roar.
Diana could barely maintain her balance as the Earth cracked and crumbled beneath the targets before completely caving in, swallowing her conjured target boards whole. The ground around them heaved and shook as if an invisible giant was attempting to rise from within the earth.
The goddess's eyes widened in surprise as Percy's glowing eyes caught her attention.
Agh, Stupid Targets! — Wait, what's happening?" Percy exclaimed as he noticed the ground shaking. What the demigod could not see, however, was his own pair of eyes glowing eerily. "Wait! I think I am doing this; am I doing this?" He cried as he felt an immense draw on his powers.
The goddess could see the trees far in the distance shaking with the force of the earthquake, and she knew that this was no localized event.
The sheer power Percy was displaying was a stark reminder of just how formidable he was. No son of Poseidon had ever possessed the ability to summon earthquakes of this scale. Diana had witnessed Percy do something similar only once before, and it was not a memory she liked to recall.
Percy's journey toward godhood had been both a blessing and a burden. While he had grown in power, he was still lacking compared to what he would possess as a true god. Surprisingly, he found himself weaker than when he was just a demigod. A significant portion of his powers had been dedicated to facilitating his transformation, leaving him with less to wield in his current state.
Witnessing the sheer strength and potential of this demigod, even while underpowered, was nothing short of humbling for Diana. She couldn't help but imagine what Percy would become once he achieved his full potential as a god.
Despite the intense struggle, Percy finally managed to regain control of his powers. He looked around at the aftermath of the earthquake-like upheaval in the forest, feeling a mix of guilt and remorse. As he stared back at his own hands, he could sense Diana's unease. "I am so sorry for this; I don't know how this happened," Percy apologized, his voice filled with genuine regret. "I know I overreacted, and I shouldn't have let my emotions get the best of me."
Diana let out a deep sigh, her eyes scanning the damage that Percy's outburst had caused. "I don't think 'overreacted' covers what just happened here, Percy," she said, her gaze meeting his.
He looked at his hand again and said, "I have been having these mood swings ever since that day on Olympus... Sometimes I lose control over my emotions. Even over small things. Sometimes these mood swings are accompanied by accidents, but never of this scale…"
Diana's face softened a bit as she listened to Percy's words. She could sense the pain and confusion that he was feeling, he had no idea what was happening to him. "I would be surprised if you didn't, you are becoming a god, Percy, and mood swings will be the least of your worries as you progress down this road."
"So what do I do when these things happen?" Percy asked.
"I don't know, I was born a goddess." Diana answered honestly, "Perhaps thinking of the people you care about would help?" she suggested. That was probably something that her aunt Vesta would say, and she was usually right.
"Yeah… Maybe it might," he repeated.
"Try thinking of your mother when this happens, I am sure thinking about her would help you when you feel angry." She suggested with a kind smile, Diana knew how much the demigod cared about his mom.
"Hmm… Perhaps you are right. Before I knew I was a demigod, she used to help me deal with my emotional issues, I had a lot of other problems back then." Percy said as he got lost in old memories of him and his mother.
Diana's voice carried a gentle concern as she
inquired, "Percy, when was the last time you met your mom?"
"Hmmm? I think it's been more than two years now. I mean, after what happened with Zeus and my father, I had to disappear and stop all communication with the outside world, sadly including her as well. After what happened in Olympus, I iris messaged her once, but that's all."
"Hmmm," the goddess looked thoughtful for a moment before she got an idea, Alright, I know what we are doing today, since I don't think we should continue hunting for now, why don't we go visit your mother?" She suggested.
"Visit my mother?" Percy asked skeptically.
Yeah," Diana nodded, "It will be good for you and her too, I think."
"Um… And you want to come as well?" Percy asked, looking nervous all of a sudden. Nothing would make him happier than seeing his mother again, but it was not as simple as it sounded. There was a lot Percy hadn't told her yet, and Diana coming with him would raise a lot of questions.
"Of course I do; it's about time she got to meet me, don't you think?" Diana chuckled. She had heard Percy talk a lot about his mother, and from his description, she sounded like a wonderful woman. Diana wanted to meet the woman who had raised Percy Jackson.
"Yeah… But…"
"But what, Percy? Surely she would want to meet the woman who's marrying her son?" Diana asked because she was getting the feeling that Percy didn't want her to meet his mom.
"I mean, she would if she knew I was getting married, yeah," Percy replied with a grimace.
"You still haven't told her..." Diana realized. Now it made sense; it would appear that Percy had kept the news of their upcoming marriage hidden from his family.
"I would have told her; I was just waiting for the right time." Percy tried to defend himself.
"And what exactly is the right time, Percy? This is serious you know, it's our marriage, she should have known about this from the start, how could you keep it from her?"
"I was planning to tell her, I promise, I just didn't want her to worry about me," Percy said.
"Worry? Why would she worry about you? Won't she be happy that you are getting married?" The moon goddess questioned. She thought that mortals were supposed to be happy when their children married someone.
Diana, you have to understand that I was gone for a very long time, and my life was in danger almost constantly... After our engagement, I contacted her and told her that the war was over. She thought that was it, that I was safe but... I was getting married to you, wasn't I? And… Do you understand what I am trying to say?"
"Understand what, Percy?" She asked.
"That there are stories about you; you aren't exactly known for being a big fan of men, are you? What do you think my mother would have thought if I told her that I was being forcefully married to the powerful goddess Artemis, who had sworn off the company of men for eternity? And what would she say if I told her that it was happening against your wishes?"
"Oh," Diana said in a small voice as she understood the problem, "She would think I would hate you too."
"She might." Percy agreed apologetically, he knew the stories about his future wife were greatly exaggerated, but it could not be denied that there was some truth to them. Percy had seen Diana engaging with others in Camp Jupiter, she was just as cold and threatening as the stories described her. It was only for him that she appeared to make an exception.
"But I don't hate you, you do know that, right, Percy?" Diana asked.
"Of course, I do, Diana." Percy stepped forward and said
Well, this makes me want to meet your mother even more now," Diana said. "Take me to her; I will show her that she has nothing to worry about."
Percy sighed before nodding in defeat, There was no changing her mind now, it looked like he would have to tell his mother the truth after all…
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Here we are," Percy whispered as he and Diana stood before Sally Jackson's door.
As Percy and Diana stood outside Sally Jackson's apartment, Percy couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On the one hand, he was excited to finally see his mother again after such a long time. On the other hand, he was nervous about introducing her to Diana. He had no idea how she would take the news.
Diana noticed the tension in Percy's body and gave him a reassuring smile. Percy took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing a woman with curly brown hair and warm brown eyes. Sally Jackson's expression quickly changed from confusion to shock as she took in the sight of her long-lost son standing with a beautiful woman beside him.
"Percy?" she whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes as she saw her son.
Without wasting another second, Percy pulled his mother into a tight embrace, feeling a sense of relief and warmth wash over him. "I missed you, Mom, I missed you so much," he whispered.
Sally hugged her son tightly, not wanting to let go. "I missed you too, Percy," she said. "Where have you been all this time, son? I've been so worried."
"I had told you, Mom, I had to go somewhere far away, somewhere the gods could not find me." Percy whispered back as he let go of his mother and smiled, "But as you can see, I'm back now; no more hiding."
"When you iris messaged me some weeks ago, I thought I would get to see you sooner. But it doesn't matter now. You're here; that's good." Sally said as she held her son by his shoulders, almost afraid that he would disappear if she let him go.
It was difficult to describe just how much Sally had suffered worrying about her son. She knew Percy had a dangerous life, and she also knew that his enemies were literal gods and demons. Going about her life, constantly panicking about the well-being of her son had been very difficult on her health. His lack of contact for over a year only made the situation that much more painful for her.
"Sorry about that, Mom, I wanted to come earlier, but things had become complicated back at Olympus, There is a lot I need to tell you before you can understand why I couldn't come," Percy said with a grimace.
"Of course," Sally nodded, her voice still heavy with emotion, "Why don't you come inside and sit with me,"
It was then that Sally noticed Diana again. She looked at the woman, taking in her striking beauty and powerful aura. She felt a sudden wave of caution wash over her, knowing that it was a powerful and dangerous being who was accompanying her son.
Sally did not know who she was, or why she was there with Percy, but she knew she should be careful around her.
"Oh, this is Diana." Percy answered Sally's unasked question, "What I need to tell you also involves her."
"Hello, Please come inside," she asked the goddess.
Percy and Diana followed Sally into the house as she led them to the living room. "Paul's out at the moment, but your sister Estelle is here; I'll bring her to meet you in a moment."
"You have a sister, Percy?" Diana was surprised, she did not know Sally had another child.
"I did not tell you about her, did I? Wait till you see her, you'll love her," Percy said fondly as he thought about his half-sister.
Once Diana and Percy were seated, Sally offered the two some cookies.
"Sorry they aren't blue, I would have added some food color if I knew you were coming," Sally said apologetically as Percy nibbled on his cookies.
"It's alright, Mom; I missed these so much that I don't even mind the color."
"Oh, it's just something of a tradition here; Percy really liked the color blue, so I started adding it to his food," Sally explained as she noticed Diana's puzzled look.
Oh," Diana nodded in understanding.
Sally stood uncomfortably, she wanted to ask a question but wasn't sure how to ask it. Sally knew there was something special about the woman, She had seen demigods before, and this was no demigod. There was something different about her, something powerful that she could not hope to describe, so many things stood out about the lady sitting beside her son.
"If you don't mind my asking, you are a goddess, aren't you?" Sally finally asked the question that she had been wanting to ask ever since she had seen the woman standing beside her son...
It was abundantly clear that the woman wasn't a mortal. Sally had never seen someone so beautiful before, there was something impossibly alluring about how Diana looked, the only way to describe her immense beauty would be divine and otherworldly.
There was also the grace with which she walked, it was almost as if she glided over the floor like she had been doing that for thousands of years. Then it was her sheer presence, Sally could feel the impossible power originating from her, it reminded her so much of Poseidon.
"I am," Diana nodded in confirmation, "You do not recognize my name, but perhaps you would recognize me by my other name: Artemis." She revealed.
Sally's eyes widened in shock as she heard that. She did indeed recognize that name, but the woman had not expected the lady accompanying her son to be an Olympian.
Sally had read a lot about the Greek goddess of the moon. Artemis was supposed to be the daughter of Zeus and the Titan Leto. She was described as a powerful goddess who was feared and respected by all. Although one thing that Artemis was most famous for, was her dislike of males.
"It's an… It's an honor to meet you, Lady Artemis." Sally said nervously, she had no idea of what she was supposed to do next. Should she bow? Had she somehow offended the goddess by not recognizing her instantly?
Sally knew that Poseidon was an Olympian too but he was different, he was her lover and he never appeared like a god before her. But the woman accompanying Percy was known to hate men, what if she punished her son for Sally's mistake?
"Please, there is no need to be so formal," Diana said, easing some of Sally's worries, "You may call me Diana, it's only right you do." She said.
This left Sally confused. Why would an all-powerful Olympian goddess give her, a mere mortal, such respect?
"Mom this is what I wanted to tell you, Diana and I we are— she is—" Percy tried to tell her but found himself at a loss for words. How could he tell her the truth, how could he make her understand?
"I am to be your son's wife Mrs Jackson." Diana completed Percy's sentence when she saw him struggling. It needed to be said, the demigod could not be allowed to hide the truth forever, what was happening to them was important, both to her and to Percy.
The news hit Sally like a speeding locomotive.
"Wha— How— How did this happen?" Sally was struggling with her words, she couldn't understand what was happening. Her son was getting married, and the woman marrying him was the ancient Greek goddess of the moon, Artemis. How could Percy be marrying Artemis when she was a maiden goddess?
Percy could see that his mother was suddenly looking a lot paler so he jumped in to clarify.
"This is not what either of us wanted mom, we were forced to do this…" Percy explained, "When I told you that the war had ended, I never told you how it ended. It was us, we are how it ended."
"Percy I really don't understand— Is this really happening?" Sally tried, but nothing was making any sense. Her son couldn't be getting married so soon, especially to a mythical goddess who hated men.
Sally could understand falling in love with a deity, afterall she herself had fallen for the lord of the seas, but gods weren't supposed to form long attachments with morals, they just couldn't.
"It was the Olympian council, they needed a way to stop Dad's war with Zeus. So they used us, their children, to get what they wanted. It's a peace treaty of sorts" Percy continued with his explanation.
"What?"
So Percy told her everything, he told her how he had been in hiding, how Hermes had tricked him into going to Olympus, how there he was faced with a choice to keep his freedom or save Artemis from being married to someone she despised.
It took Percy almost half an hour to explain everything that had happened to him, and when he was done, Sally sat dumbfounded, unable to make sense of everything that had happened to her son.
The woman was feeling a little faint from everything she has heard, she could not say she liked what was happening, but there was nothing she could do to change it.
"Percy I can't say I can understand what all of this is… I guess the only thing I can ask you is: how are you now?" Sally asked.
How was he now? Percy looked at Diana, and for some reason, the question wasn't as difficult to answer as it should have been. Percy looked at his mother again, "I am… I am ok Mom, despite everything that has happened, I am happy when I am with her."
Percy could feel Diana's eyes burning on him but he did not dare look at her. He was not lying to his mother, he was happy. For the longest time, Percy had been the most miserable person on the planet. When he was trapped with Artemis, it had been one of the worst phases of his life. But slowly, he had somehow grown to care for the goddess, even Artemis. So much so that being around her had the opposite effect of what he earlier used to feel.
"That's all I want Percy…" Sally smiled.
Percy smiled back at her, he did not want his mother to worry about him. Sally had already suffered enough because of the divine world, Percy knew that she was stressed thinking about his safety, and it broke his heart that he could do nothing to stop it.
"So… You said that you were getting married, but you never told me when that would be happening," Sally asked.
"That's because I don't know, it's up to Hera, she's the one who is pulling all the strings," Percy answered, the queen of Olympus had only given them a rough estimate, nothing more.
"And when this happens, would I even be allowed to see it? I mean, I imagine it would be an event full of gods…" Sally asked in a small voice. Knowing the gods, she did not expect to be invited, even though it was her own son's marriage.
But before Percy could say anything, Diana answered for him.
"You will be there to see it, Mrs. Jackson, I give you my word. You will not be kept away from your own son's marriage, I will not allow it." Diana reassured Percy's mother.
"Thank you," Sally said surprised, she did not know what to think of the goddess. On the one hand, Artemis' reputation told her to be cautious around the goddess, but at the same time, she had been nothing but kind to her so far. Seeing how the goddess interacted with Percy, gave her hope that perhaps his son could have a happy life after all.
"But why didn't you tell me earlier Percy? This happened months ago."
"Mom…"
"No Percy, do not try to get out of this!" Sally said sternly.
Percy looked at Diana, he could tell his mom the truth but he did not want to hurt the goddess.
"You can tell her Percy, I won't mind." The goddess reassured him.
Percy looked towards Sally again, "Mom… It's just that I— I didn't want you to worry about me."
"Percy, it isn't your place to decide whether I should worry about you or not… I am your Mother."
"But mom—" Percy tried.
"Just answer me, son, why didn't you tell me? What made you think I didn't deserve to know all of this? I should have been the first person you told this to, but you kept it from me, why?" Sally demanded.
"I thought Artemis's reputation would scare you, I thought you would worry about me even more than you already do." Percy finally admitted.
"I would not lie it would have scared me," Sally answered after a brief pause, looking towards the goddess cautiously, "But after today I know I have no reason to be scared about my son's safety…"
Sally looked at Percy again, "But that does not excuse keeping it from me… Never do this again.
Percy nodded, admitting his defeat, "I won't Mom, I won't."
"Good boy," Sally smiled, "Now why don't you wait here while I go fetch your sister." The woman said as she got up and left the room to find Estelle, leaving Percy alone with Diana.
"Percy…" the demigod heard the moon goddess call him.
Turning his attention towards her, Percy responded, "Yes, Diana?"
Diana was looking at him with an unreadable expression, there was an intensity in her stare that the demigod had not witnessed before. Something about the say she called him told Percy that he needed to be careful.
There was a fleeting moment of uncertainty in the moon goddess's demeanor as if she grappled with the decision to broach the topic. Eventually, she spoke in a hushed tone, her words delicate as a whisper. "Percy, did you truly mean what you said?"
"Mean what?" Percy asked with trepidation. He had a good hunch of what she was about to ask, the demigod had been foolish to think that the goddess would ever let it go.
"That you feel happy when you are around me. Did you truly believe I will miss it?" She asked her tone a mix of curiosity and vulnerability. Her eyes were glued to Percy, leaving the demigod with no room to escape.
Percy's heart was pounding, he felt his entire body heat up as he was all but cornered by the moon goddess.
"I— I mean I—" Percy struggled.
"You know I only like straight answers son of Poseidon." The goddess warned, her eyes becoming even more unnervingly intense as she said that.
Facing the truth, Percy found himself unable to deceive her. He closed his eyes briefly, then nodded weakly. "I meant what I said," he admitted, his voice low yet clear.
Surprising Percy with her lack of reaction, the goddess merely emitted a thoughtful hmm as if acknowledging his statement before shifting the conversation's focus.
"I anticipate the opportunity to meet your sister," she remarked, her words redirecting the dialogue toward a different path.
Percy felt confused, he did not know what he had expected, but that certainly wasn't it…
"I too am excited to get to meet her…" Percy said, happy to be able to move on despite having many questions.
Just when he thought he was off the hook, the demigod noticed a flash of hesitation appear on Diana's face once again, almost as if she was having an internal debate, like she was about to say something before she seemingly decided to say something else entirely, "I have been feeling it too you know— Happy I mean— when I am around you."
Diana avoided Percy's gaze as she revealed her feelings, a subtle evasion that conveyed the complexity of her emotions. Before Percy could delve deeper into the matter, his mother reappeared, accompanied by Estelle. The demigod couldn't shake the suspicion that the goddess of hunting had been attuned to their approach, strategically seizing the opportune moment to share her sentiment without requiring any elaboration...
The next couple of hours passed way too quickly for Percy's liking, it turned out Estelle automatically became a fan of Diana the moment she lay eyes on her, even the goddess seemed to enjoy entertaining Percy's sister as she spent almost an hour reading stories to her.
In the end, it was time for the goddess and Percy to leave and return to Nentis where Diana would drop the demigod.
"Before you both leave," Sally started, "Can I talk to Lady Diana for a moment, alone" she requested.
"Umm… Sure mum, I guess I'll wait outside then…" Percy replied awkwardly, suddenly feeling a bit nervous about what her mother might want to discuss with the goddess.
Once Percy was gone Sally stood there with the goddess awkwardly, "I—" she began, "I don't know how to say this but—"
"It's alright…" Diana reassured her, "Speak your mind without any fear Mrs Jackson," she said kindly.
Sally's voice carried a hint of apology as she opened up about her internal struggle. "I am sorry if I appear to be struggling with this; it's just a bit difficult, you see. I am Percy's mom, and the circumstances make it hard for me to remember that you are thousands of years older than me. I must seem like a child in comparison... Oh, I'm rambling again," she concluded, shaking her head with a self-deprecating smile.
Sally's voice turned earnest as she expressed her heartfelt request. "There's something I wish to ask, my son. Percy is important to me, he means everything to me. I can't bear to see him in pain, life has already been so cruel to my boy… But you are a goddess, you must be so powerful. You can protect him, you can shield him from further hurt..." Her voice trailed off, her words carried by a soft, pleading tone.
Diana sighed internally, she wished so much she could do that, she wished she could shield Percy from what was coming but she remembered Apollo's words…
A genuine emotion colored Diana's words as she responded, "You know what, strange as it may sound, I feel the same way… Your son has woven his significance into my life as well, Sally. Despite— Despite all the stories you might have heard about me, many of which I admit are true, despite my distrust of men, Percy has carved out a place in my heart that I'm reluctant to relinquish." The goddess admitted.
"I wish I could promise you that he will be kept safe, but promises are tricky things… I do not dictate your son's fate, my part in his life is only as a companion… What I can promise right now is that I will always do everything in my power to keep him safe. No matter what it takes." Diana said. It was her responsibility after all, as his wife it would be her right to worry about his well-being.
Sally nodded in understanding.
"And given my reputation, I can understand if you would worry about how I myself will treat your son, Sally, I will not blame you if you think being with me puts him at more risk"
Sally tried to protest but Diana cut her off.
"It's only right you do… He is a mere demigod, you might think he would be helpless before an Olympian goddess. And it would be true, had it been any demigod other than Percy." She said.
"W—why?" Sally finally asked, she could not lie, the thought that her son could be hurt by the man-hating deity had indeed crossed her mind a few times.
"Because Percy is not just any demigod, perhaps you would find some comfort in knowing that beings much more terrible than us gods would also think twice before confronting your son. Percy is exceptionally powerful, even now, as a demigod, he can defeat most gods without much effort… With time he will only become stronger, his destiny will take him to wonderful places Sally, yes the road to that destiny might be perilous, but if anyone can do it then it's your son.." Diana explained.
"The only reason I cannot guarantee his safety is because even those who are able to peer into the future can be blind when it comes to tomorrow," Diana said.
Diana had given Percy's mom a lot to think about, "Thank you…" she finally said, "A couple of hours ago I was terrified of you, terrified about what marrying you would mean for my son… But now I know I don't have to be scared." Sally said.
A smile graced the goddess's lips in reaction, a sense of accomplishment radiating from her. She had managed to bring solace to Sally's heart, knowing that her words would likely bring comfort to Percy as well. She had achieved what she had set out to accomplish, she had shown Percy's mom that she had nothing to worry about, and that was sure to be a very important milestone in their rapidly evolving relationship.
-End of Chapter-
A/N: The ending is definitely rushed but this seemed like a good place to wrap it up, the chapter has well over 7000 words so I hope you found it worthwhile. I wanted to go for a more natural ending for this chapter but I honestly can't think of anything more.
Moving on, I know I haven't been reasonable with the uploading part, but I was amazed to see that people were still coming to the story, reading and reviewing.
Thank you to everyone who is still sticking around, and thank you to the new readers for giving the story a chance.
I always read your reviews, and while most of them are overwhelmingly positive, some of the readers are understandably upset with some aspects of the story…
I do try my very best, but I cannot write a perfect story… Which means that I cannot make everyone happy. There will be things in this story that you might dislike, and if you point them out in the reviews, I might go back and reread it only to realize that I too dislike them…
But the thing is, it is very difficult to account for every single possibility, every single way a paragraph can be interpreted. So I will continue to make mistakes… All I can do is try not to repeat it in the next chapter.
That being said, I hope you liked this chapter, despite how little happened in it, it was undoubtedly one of the hardest writing experiences of my life… for some reason, my mind would just blank out whenever I tried coming up with something.
The coming chapters would be better, they would also have more action, and yes, Artemis would also make a return soon, I feel like I have already developed Percy's relationship with Diana to a satisfactory level for now, it's time to work with Artemis now, she would, of course, be more tricky than her roman counterpart but it means that writing her interactions would be more fun.
I really can't wait to get started with the next chapter so let's end this here and as always, I'll see you in the next one.