Chapter Two
DISCLAIMER: I do not own PJO, the Hobbit, LOTR, or any recognizable characters.
Perci woke the next morning well rested. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the aquatic animals swimming on the other side of the dome.
Her bed was a king sized platform bed placed in the middle of the room. On both sides were nightstands. On the far right were two comfortable circle chairs placed around a table facing a large window that showed more of the scenic underwater view. Across from her was a long bar that had two day beds on either side for her to lounge on. Down the hall on one side was a large closet and across from that was a large bathroom with a shower, toilet, and double sinks. She was glad that she had indoor plumbing here. Then at the end of the hall was a large circular staircase wrapping around the kitchen that led up into the palace.
Once you made it up the stairs if you went to the left, it led you to the outside where a large pool, patio furniture, and a circular lounge with a fire pit were. And if you continued straight it took you to the living room, dining room, sun room, upstairs kitchen, and bar. Her quarters were a bit away from the palace and was protected by any land threats as she could easily escape to the sea if need be.
She sighed deeply as she rolled off the bed and stood up. She figured it was time to start her day. After showering and doing her morning routine, Perci styled her black wavy hair over one shoulder. She put on a really pretty long dress that was pale blue on top and the bottom was a darker blue that almost shimmered in the right light. Perci put on a silver ring, earrings, and necklace that looked waves. Lastly she placed one of the several crowns that she was given on her head. She took a deep breath and headed towards the stairs, grasping the trident that appeared at her side as she began ascending the stairs. At the bottom and top of the steps on either side were two statues each so in total four statues guarded her while she slept and she knew while exploring the night before there were an additional six stationed throughout her home.
Perci knew that in this new world, in her kingdom, she was protected and safe from harm, something that hadn't happened in so many years that Perci didn't even know what to do with these new feelings. After getting a small breakfast of some fruit, bread, and cheese, Perci exited her home and began exploring her kingdom. She loved doing things like this and preferred doing this in every new place she goes until she knew the area like the back of her hand.
Perci didn't spot any of her animal guards but knew that they trailed around her as she walked around the palace and the inner circle of the city. She even felt the wind of aurae a couple times as they passed her by. It was midday before she finished exploring the inner circle, which basically the inner circle had the palace and her home.
Perci turned to go back inside to gather something to eat when an aurae swooped around her and a sandwich and a water appeared in front of her. With a grin, Perci took it.
"Thank you, dear one." Perci said as she moved to sit on one of the benches in her courtyard so she could lounge and eat comfortably.
And that was how her time went. She would wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and then explore her kingdom. Sometimes she would hide herself in the library, reading more in depth of the new world she had found her home in. Other times she would keep her skills in top shape by battling with stone statues. She also grew to knew each and everyone of her four legged guards. She followed this routine for sometime, never growing bored, nor concerned about the outside world until before she knew it - twenty years had passed.
And that's when they came.
The wizards.
POTS
Perci was just walking out her front door when Aslan approached her.
"Your Majesty, two-loggers are approaching the tunnel."
Percy frowned, summoning her trident before beginning to move quickly. "I'll meet them in the throne room." They met up with the other lions. She got the sense that they frowned at her words. "Aslan, can you meet them at the outer bridge with a few others and then lead them here? Remember, dear ones, we don't start anything but we do end it. We will not be painted as the aggressor in any situation unless it is needed. Now go."
The lions bowed their heads and headed off to do their tasks while Percy moved to go into the palace and towards the throne room. She had on a navy blue dress with the top half of the dress covered in black lines and sparkles. Her upper arms were covered in sheer like material and ended just before her wrists. She had on her customary wave themed jewelry - necklace, earrings, and ring - and her black hair streaked with dark blue was piled up on top of her head. She had on her 'siren' crown which was basically a bright blue large jewel that rested on her brow and smaller ones around her head. She had her trident in her hand and she could sense the trident summoning a bit of water that moved with her as she walked. And lastly she felt a light blue cape settle on her shoulders courtesy of aurae.
Finally, she arrived in the throne room and settled on her throne and began to go into almost a meditation state. She sensed the statues around her throne moving more into an attack position than the normal rest position so that they would be ready if anything occurred.
Perci's eyes locked onto the doors as they swung open to see Aslan and Scar leading five cloaked men with staffs and six tall pointed ear two leggers. So, looked like the Istari and Eldar have come to visit her.
Aslan and Scar stopped at the base of the steps to her throne and turned to faced the newcomers while the Istari and Eldar looked around in awe.
"Why have you come to my kingdom?" Perci asked, her voice echoing slightly in the large room. They all snapped their eyes to her and she could tell they were awed and slightly fearful being in her presence.
The one in the white cloak stepped forward and bowed, the others echoing although one elf did so reluctantly. Perci could tell three of the six elves were just guards for the three that were there, which made her wonder who exactly she had in her kingdom. He had pale long blonde hair that was almost white and had a crown of twigs on his head.
"My lady-" the white Istari was interrupted by Aslan.
"You are in the presence of Queen Persephone of Atlantis, defeater of gods, defender of the light. You will address her properly, wizard, or not at all." Scar growled out with his teeth bared. Perci didn't say a word. She knew that all of her four legged companions at the upmost respect for her and as such, did not tolerate it if another showed her disrespect.
One of the dark haired elves stepped forward, this one also adorned with a circlet, bowing once more. "I apologize for my companion, he meant no disrespect, Your Highness. I am Elrond, Lord of Imladris. I was led here by a vision that I've had for some time now but I knew that I could not seek you out unless my companions joined me."
"And your companions? Surely I am not that much of a threat that in which brings the five Istari and six Eldar to my kingdom." She knew she shocked them by her knowledge in what they were but that didn't phase them much.
The pale elf stepped forward. "I am Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm, King of the Elves of the Wood." He then stepped back. The other pale elf - although not as pale as the King - stepped forward.
"I am Celeborn, Lord of Lothlórien, Lord of East Lórien, Lord of the Galadhrim, Lord of the Golden Wood." Perci could tell that Lord Elrond and Lord Celeborn were extremely wise and she could learn much from all three of the elves, if this moved in a positive direction.
Perci inclined her head in respect to the three elven lords. "Greetings, Lord Elrond, King Thranduil, Lord Celeborn. I welcome you and yours to Atlantis." Perci turned her sea green eyes onto the five Istari. "Do not think that my welcome to them, extends to you." She warned them. The gray wizard stepped forward this time.
"Your Highness, I am known as Gandalf the Gray. Of my companions: Ragadast the Brown," the brown cloak nodded his head in a bow, a bit more nervous than the others. Perci suspected he preferred the company of feathers and fur than the two legged variety. "Alatar and Pallando the Blue, and Saruman the White - the Head of our order."
Perci knew that she would most likely get along great with Gandalf and Radagast. The two blue Istari seemed only interested in a new place and she was almost positive that she would not have any thought about them after they left.
Now, Saruman.
She knew it could go either way with him. He seemed arrogant but maybe once she got passed it, she would like his true self.
"Thank you for introducing yourselves to myself. But that still doesn't explain why you are here. We have lived peacefully for twenty years here and will continue to live on peacefully after you leave." She began to walk down the steps until she stood on the last step. "Why are you here?"
The males exchanged glances between them. Perci watched with her eyes narrowed. Lord Elrond stepped forward once again. "Your Majesty, like I said, I had a vision that led my companions and I to your kingdom."
"And what did this vision contain exactly, Lord Elrond?"
"It contained a being that could control water as easily as breathing. I never saw the face of this being, it was almost as if I was watching the actions through their eyes. I also saw the path needed to arrive here and those that I would need to bring."
Perci looked at them with guarded eyes.
"Who sent you this vision?"
"The Valor do. As for which one, I do not know. All of the Valor have been known to send visions to the seers among the Eldar and as such, no particular one stands out that would of had a reason to send us here."
Perci retreated into her thoughts as she began to try and ponder Lord Elrond's news. Suddenly one of the Istari moved sharply out of the corner of her eye and she found herself staring at the back of a stone guard as it stood between her and the guests.
The gasps of surprise and slight fear that came out of her guests at the stone statues that they had thought were just decoration came to life and came to protect their queen at a perceived threat.
"Stand down!" Perci commanded.
Instantly the weapons that had been pointed at the guests were lowered but the statues remained where they were. Perci stepped around the statue in front of her and stepped down the last step, moving towards her guests, the statue and two lions shadowing her. The other three statues moved so that they were at the back of the guests whom had turned at her voice.
Perci's eyes locked onto one of the blue Istari.
"My guards can sense when I'm about to be attacked - physically, magically it does not matter. What were you about to do, Blue One?" All of them turned their heads towards the Istari, none hang had noticed his movements until she voiced them.
He looked at her, a touch of arrogance in his face. "You know the location of the being in Lord Elrond's vision. I was simply going to have you be more inclined to tell us."
Perci's face turned to stone.
"You just admitted to basically mind raping a sovereign of an unknown land that could be friend or foe. Pallando the Blue Istari, you are hereby banished from entering Atlantis and any others that I might one day rule over. To return, will be severe consequences to you and any companions you bring. Guard, remove his staff from his hand. It will be returned to him once he is off of the bridge leading to the cave. Scar, Guard, escort him away."
Scar and the guard that had been standing behind the blue cloaked wizard did as they were ordered and none of the Istari's companions put up a fuss.
Perci had no qualms about doing the exact same to any of them and they could sense that.
She turned her gaze back onto the remaining guests.
"Are we going to have any more issues? Also, I don't believe you asked me anything pertaining to this being Lord Elrond saw in his visions. They were only described to me" They all still looked stiff and uncomfortable, as if she was going to treat them unjustly by association. "Do not worry, my Lords, Istari, his actions do not tarnish any relationship we might have from this point on… In fact, come."
She moved through them, Perci knew her guards did not like her getting that close on purpose and she secretly basked in this feeling of doing things she is not supposed to be doing. She had her back to them signaling that to her - the Eldar and Istari - were no threats to her nor did she consider them as such.
Perci began to lead them out of the throne room, her stone guards moving back into their previous positions, knowing that their brethren placed around the palace would protect her just as well as they brought up the rear to make sure none would attack her with her back turned.
She led them to a large dining hall where food was being set out for them.
"I have not had time to break my fast yet. Join me and tell me what it is you are wanting from me." Percy sat at the end of the table and waited for the males to slowly settle themselves. She saw the Eldar guards standing behind their respective lords. "Come, sit if you would like." She said to the three. The elves looked at her and then to their lords. The lords not wanting to offend the mysterious queen, indicated for the guards to do as instructed.
Then they ate, the males were surprised with the different foods that were served than what they were accustomed to.
After a bit of eating, Lord Elrond whom was sat at her right, and Lord Celeborn, whom was sat at her left, turned towards her.
"Would you mind if we asked some questions?" Lord Celeborn asked.
"No, I would not mind at all."