AN: I'm sorry about the delay. My desire to write has been nonexistent for various reasons. Especially given the topic of this chapter it's been hard to get in the right headspace to do it justice. I hope that my problems haven't dampened the mood I hoped to set with the chapter.
Reply to a review time. As skotos07 pointed out there were quite a few misspellings of Triton's name as Trition. I have gone through all the preceding chapters and I think I got all the instances, but please let me know if there is anything else amiss. I do most of the writing on my phone and for whatever reason when I use my computer to edit, Grammarly doesn't seem to tag Trition as a misspelling. I will do my best to check for this in the future so thank you for pointing the mistake out to me. I am by no means a professional so I appreciate the help in finding my mistakes and figuring out where I can do better going forward.
As always I own nothing you recognize from officially published/licensed works, only my imagination.
Chapter 6: Just the Beginning
"Less than a week to go right?"
Percy nodded, unable to keep himself from smiling. Not he wanted to but he knew that he'd be incapable of wiping the smile off of his lips if he cared to try. It was six days before the wedding and he was flying high. The only flaw in the days was that he was unable to spend time with Calypso. She had insisted that they spend the week preceding the wedding apart to which he agreed. That was how he found himself here, on his throne, despite there not being a meeting. Hestia was seated by the hearth, in the position she had occupied for millennia.
"I am looking forward to the day as well Perseus. It is always good to see our family growing."
Percy froze at her words, his mind moving far too fast for his liking. He knew what she had meant but he realized that of everything that they had discussed, children had been relatively glossed over. He knew that Calypso wanted children, and he knew he wanted a family, but the far-off idea was different than being confronted by it being his possible immediate future. However, Percy soon realized that despite everything, the idea didn't scare him. At one time the idea of bringing a child into this world had seemed not only impossible but positively cruel to Percy. After everything he had lived through and suffered how could he justify forcing this life on a child? Now though things were different. The world hadn't changed, he had.
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it too. Though I've gotta say, I am glad last week is over!"
He could see Hestia's smile even without being able to see her entire face.
"I suppose you would be. Was it so terrible?"
Percy felt his cheeks burn again just thinking about the prior week. If he had known...
The week before...
"Hey... uhh... Calypso?"
"Yeah, Percy?"
"Can you come down here I uhh I have something for you."
He heard her footsteps on the floor above him and he felt his nerves starting to get worse. He wasn't even sure why he was nervous, it was a good surprise. When she came almost bouncing down the stairs she came up short when she saw him.
"Percy? Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I don't know why I'm even nervous. I... Just stay... Stay right there okay?"
He backed up toward the door and almost laughed at the combination of nerves and concern on Calypso's face. Then he opened to door and stepped back. Silence filled the room and Percy saw that Calypso was rooted to the spot. Looking out the door Percy saw tears growing in the brilliant blue eyes of the woman outside. A pang of regret broke through the moment's heaviness in Percy's mind but he shook it off. The woman outside stepped inside and extended a hand to touch Calypso's face.
"Ca...Calypso? Is it... Are you really...?"
As if a spell had been broken Calypso surged forward and flung herself at the woman.
"Mom!"
"Oh, my sweet child... You're free... How can this be?"
Calypso pulled back slightly tears streaming down her face even as her face was transformed by pure joy.
"Didn't Percy tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
Percy gulped and took a half step toward the door.
"Oh no, you don't. Stay right there." Calypso narrowed her eyes at him but she couldn't keep her smile away for long. "What my Fiancée may have forgotten to..."
"Fiancée?!"
Tethys rounded on him still clutching Calypso tightly in her embrace. Almost without thinking Percy straightened slightly though his sloppy half grin hadn't faded.
"So I forgot to mention a couple of details. All's well that ends well right?"
Tethys didn't quite seem to agree, however. She released Calypso then stalked toward him and stood oddly close to him. The effect would have been quite intimidating had she not been almost a full head shorter than him much like her daughter. He forced the smile off of his face and stood completely still not breaking eye contact with her. Then suddenly she sniffed him and her expression relaxed somewhat.
"I knew you were somehow related to the ocean but you smell too strongly of the sea and your presence is too strong for a minor god. Who exactly are you Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon?"
At this point Calypso interjected.
"Wait you introduced yourself as Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon? That's it?"
Percy's face flushed gold immediately and he opened his mouth but it seemed like Calypso wasn't going to let him.
"Wait what do you mean that's it Calypso?"
Tethys was now studying him closer and Percy felt like a specimen under a microscope. Then without waiting and giving Percy a chance to interrupt her Calypso started talking.
"Well Mom," Calypso couldn't help but smile and hug her mother again as she said it, "This is Perseus Jackson, or as most people call him, Percy. Hero of Olympus and Last of the Seven. Finder of the Masterbolt, the Golden Fleece, and Pan. Friend of Bob, Damasen, the Hunters, and more importantly my sister Zoe..."
It seemed like Calypso was only getting going until she got to her sister's name where she hesitated. Zoe was her half-sister on her father's side. Tethys didn't seem bothered by the mention of the Hesperide so she continued, though slightly subdued at the thought of her fallen sister.
"...Bearer of the Sky, Explorer of the Labyrinth, and Survivor of Tartarus. Bane of Hyperion, countless Giants, he helped Apollo slay Python for the second time, and he stopped Gaea from waking once more by destroying her physical manifestation. He is the Patron of Heroes, the God of Loyalty, of Weaponry, and the Currents and Tides. He is also the fifteenth Olympian. He is the reason I am no longer trapped on my island and I will spend the rest of time at his side."
Tethys seemed to be impressed as Calypso continued until she mentioned 'Bearer of the sky' at which point her mouth grew into a thin line. The mention of Atlas' age-old burden seemed to bring back memories for her. Percy's face was glowing bright gold by now, even the mentions of his fallen friends, and the darkest moments of his life were not enough to quell his embarrassment. Tethys too seemed to be speechless, searching for words to respond to her daughter.
"It sounds more impressive than it is."
Even to him, his words sounded kind of silly compared to the list of titles and feats. Unsurprisingly Calypso looked at him with her eyebrows about as high as they would go. Tethys however was looking at him with a strange expression on her face that was a little too familiar to Percy.
"You're not exactly surprised are you my Lady?"
She met his eyes and he saw the truth in them. He sighed heavily and reached down to fingers with Calypso's.
"After she was born I received a vision. I didn't understand much until after Calypso had already been cast adrift in time. The last of it makes sense now. All that matters now is that you love my daughter because she loves you."
Percy felt his embarrassment flood out of him at her final words. He turned and looked down at Calypso, her hand still in his. He found himself staring into her eyes as he began.
"More than anything, including my domains. I left her once. That will never happen again."
The surge of power that pulsed off of him and seemed to race outward like a shockwave was the most powerful he had felt. He had made many promises, and witnessed uncountable others' promises, none held the depth of intent that one did.
"What was that?"
Percy didn't break eye contact with Calypso to answer Tethys' question and Calypso answered for him.
"As god of Loyalty Percy is also the Guardian of Promises. You will find far fewer broken promises on Olympus than in even the old world."
"Well it certainly seems like I have no reason to object, but I've got my eye on you... Oh! When is the wedding?"
Percy and Calypso answered at the same time.
"Next week."
"Next week?!"
Current Day
"I am glad you were able to find Lady Tethys in time Perseus. You never cease to amaze do you?"
"I just do what I can. Always have, always will."
Hestia nodded and he saw the embers flare brighter, burning suddenly white hot. From it came a small box that Hestia plucked from the flames as nonchalantly as anyone might have picked it off of a table. Turning she rose and grew into an adult version of herself. Percy felt a lump grow in his throat as the look in her eyes so closely mirrored the way his mother had used to look at him. It was an expression that had always made Percy feel like nothing could go wrong in the world. When he had been growing up his mom had been his whole world and he would never not miss her. Hestia's voice jolted Percy out of his momentary reverie and he focused on her again.
"This is for you and Calypso. A gift of the Hearth so that no matter how far apart you are you will always be together."
Percy accepted the small and bowed deeply, using the opportunity to dash the film that had gathered from the corners of his eyes.
"Thank you, Lady Hestia. It is most appreciated though you didn't need to give us anything."
Hestia smiled warmly again and held out her arms to him. Percy hesitated for a moment then embraced her. She was warm and smelled of freshly baked bread as she always did. A feeling of maternal affection he sorely lacked rushed through him and he smiled through the pain that welled once more.
"I have watched you ever since you were small Perseus Jackson. I can honestly say that I have not seen a young man of your like in many hundreds of years. The last was... must have been in England. Arthur was even greater than the legends say, and all that without an ounce of immortal blood."
At the mention of the King, Percy stiffened slightly. He knew all too well that history loved to echo, and it was starting to sound oddly familiar again. The biggest question now was how is this going to go wrong. For Arthur, it had been his son, turned by the influence of Moros. Percy sighed and pushed it all to the side. He had other things to think about this week.
"Okay so we have the venue, entertainment is a non-issue, food is covered, drinks are covered albeit grudgingly. Are we missing anything?"
Apollo was pacing back and forth while Hermes was lying on a couch upside down. His head hanging off the seat and his legs over the backrest.
"Uhh yeah, what are we gonna do? Gotta have something entertaining right?"
Apollo continued pacing for a moment then abruptly came to a stop. Spinning to face Hermes with elation on his face he looked like Apollo from before his most recent stint as a human for the first time.
"Scavenger hunt."
"What?"
"We'll set up a scavenger hunt!"
Hermes stared at him for a long minute.
"Okay. Just to be clear. To celebrate Percy Jackson getting married you want to set up a Scavenger Hunt?"
"Yeah... Is that bad... What am I missing?"
"Oh, absolutely nothing I think it's a fantastic idea. The look on your face was priceless though."
Apollo groaned loudly and flopped onto another couch.
"You're the worst. You know that right?"
Hermes just laughed at Apollo before clambering to his feet and walking over to Apollo.
"Come on get up. We've got work to do."
Apollo swatted his offered hand away then groaning some more got to his feet too.
"Let's get this done. I'll talk to Athena. She'll probably love to help with this. You talk to... On second thought just come with me. I need backup in case she tries to trap me with a lecture or something."
Apollo nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good. Let's get moving!"
The pair of excited gods vanished with a flash of golden light and the sound of wings.
Percy awoke to a storm of sensory information. Within fractions of a second Riptide was in his hand and half a dozen other blades appeared in the air around him. When the haze of sleep faded seconds later he found himself pinning a smirking Apollo to the floor.
"Apollo? What are you doing? Why are you..." Percy released him before continuing, "Why are you smiling? I could have hurt you."
Apollo just started laughing and by the sound of it, Hermes was behind them. Then Percy glanced down and saw why the two of them were nearly crying with laughter. He thought he was holding Riptide, but instead of his familiar sword a rubber chicken on a hilt was in his hand. He just stared at it not sure if what he was seeing was real. His reaction was only funnier as Apollo collapsed to the ground laughing so hard that all sound had ceased coming out of him. Percy wacked him across the shoulders with the chicken which resulted in even more giggles from Hermes. Percy couldn't help but laugh too but after he managed to regain control Apollo interrupted.
"Oh, that was so good. Wow. Though we are burning daylight, and you've only got so long Percy."
"Wait what? Burning daylight? For what?"
"For this!"
Apollo held out a scroll of paper tied with a white ribbon before vanishing into a flash of golden light. Hermes rolled his eyes and winked.
"Good luck Perse, you'll get there."
Hermes vanished too with the usual sound of wings. Percy just stood there utterly nonplussed staring at the spot his friends had vanished. Percy realized that he was still holding the rubber chicken and willed it to disappear. He sat on the bed and untied the scroll then opened it. He groaned loudly and yelled into the air knowing Apollo was probably watching him.
"If this is the start of some scavenger hunt I swear..."
"Okay okay. Relax it's just a fun little hunt. Nothing crazy."
Hermes popped back into the room and Percy rolled his eyes.
"Nothing crazy? How many states am I going to be visiting Hermes?"
"That is for you to find out."
Percy just stared at him and then gestured with the unrolled scroll.
"Hermes. You know I'm an idiot, right? How am I supposed to figure this out? Like what... What is this?"
Where shadows fall in the ancient glade,
A teacher with a unique chariot's aid.
Seek the sage who's half in each realm's fold,
With secrets and wisdom, his story is told.
"Seriously Hermes? How in the name of Olympus am I supposed to know what this means? I am terrible at riddles!"
Hermes walked over and laid a hand on Percy's shoulder. At first, he wasn't sure what Hermes was doing but then it registered that the mirth had left his friend's eyes.
"You are many things Percy, but an idiot is not one of them. I have faith that you will find the answer. Besides if you don't you don't get what's at the end."
Hermes' teasing smile had returned with the last sentence and Percy turned back to the paper. He noticed when Hermes left for no one probably knew where. Sitting back on the bed he collapsed on his back grumbling to himself under his breath about Hermes and Apollo. After a while, he returned his attention to the paper still clutched in his left hand. To no one but himself Percy started thinking aloud.
"Unique chariots aid? Half in each realm's fold? What them... I should go talk to Athena. She could help me. Though she's gonna refuse and try to make me learn something else. Maybe I could ask Chi..."
Like a bolt of Zeus' lightning smiting a tree, the answer to the riddle was right there. Now that he knew what it was it felt stupidly obvious. Without waiting Percy appeared in the grassy area before the Big House in Camp Half-Blood.
"What? Ho! Percy? Aren't you normally teaching around now?"
"I could ask you the same, but I'll have you know sir that I am teaching."
Chiron nodded and smiled at Percy.
"I suppose that means you figured out the first clue?"
"Yes! I knew it! Oh, suck it, Apollo. Clown bastard."
Chiron's human half was laughing but his horse half seemed slightly nervous with the insulting talk toward an Olympian. Percy gave him a look and he shrugged.
"Old habits die hard. Especially where you're concerned Percy. You did manage to get the god of war to when you were only twelve years old if I remember correctly."
Percy waved a hand dismissively and replied with almost no delay.
"Psssshaaw. Ares and I are good now, ish. Isn't that right Ares?"
His question was directed at the sky which elicited a rumble of thunder in the distance. Percy gave the sky a rude gesture which Chiron did not approve of.
"Percy! Don't antagonize the other Olympians! I thought it would be easier to keep you alive when you became immortal!"
"Ahh stop worrying. Ares and I..." Percy's volume now went up and he directed his words at the sky again, "Have an understanding! Dont we? You don't curse me, and I don't curse you!"
Chiron eyed him appraisingly and Percy wasn't quite sure what caused it.
"I knew that you were different. That much is obvious, and I have watched you change so much in the past decade. I do not think the old you would have done that. Insulting the lord of war, however, I would not put past the old you."
They continued to talk for some minutes, getting lost in the past as much as the current goings on of the mythological world. It wasn't until a familiar voice said his name that he remembered why he was here originally.
"Percy! Times a wasting!"
Percy looked around but didn't see Hermes anywhere in the area. He turned back to Chiron and groaned again.
"I guess I've wasted too much time for Apollo and Hermes. Do you have..."
Before he had even finished asking Chiron held out another roll of paper bound with a bright orange ribbon. He cantered away before Percy could say anything else and Percy figured he had probably been instructed not to help him with the riddles. Percy untied the roll and opened it then read the riddle.
Within the shroud of twilight's domain,
In the forest's core where mysteries remain.
Seek the elusive one, a silver-lighted chase,
Where constellations hold her hidden grace.
"Okay, now you're just screwing with me, Apollo. What was I worried about?"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Percy was sitting at a table smacking his forehead against the heavy wooden surface. He had found his way through six riddles, all of which had seemed easy even to him. Now he knew why, Apollo in all his wisdom had asked Athena to write a riddle. It had taken him less than three hours to get through six riddles, and that had involved Chiron at Camp, Artemis in Montana, his father in Texas of all places, Hermes in Maine, Hestia in South Dakota, and even Blackjack whom he had found standing on the Space Needle. Now here he was in the Library of Congress, though in a hidden section that Athena had claimed as her own. He had been here for almost seven hours already as Athena had decided just a riddle wasn't good enough, he needed to solve a crossword puzzle and then using the answers construct a riddle to solve.
He was less than a word from the end of the crossword, much to his amazement, but it was continuing to elude him. He had solved the rest with lots of help from a dictionary and a thesaurus, well two dictionaries, he had accidentally destroyed one. Now here he was with supposedly less than an hour before he would run out of time, and he was stuck.
"Eight across, seven letter word for chin? Blank R blank M blank O blank?"
Percy hit his head on the table again and again. Then he rested his chin on the table and then all at once it hit him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I not gonna hit her, I'm not gonna hit her. This is fine. Not totally annoying or anything, no it's perfectly fine. AAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
Just to be safe before he wrote the answer in he checked to see if it fit, and of course it did. Grumbling under his breath about the wisdom goddess asking him a question about a kid's TV show he started to fill in the riddle with his bank of words. Soon enough he had the entire riddle at least constructed and he was if possible even more annoyed than before. The riddle was incredibly similar to all of the others he had solved until this point with one big difference, he was pretty sure this one was a location, not a person. That simple difference however seemed to be making this much harder for him. After so many years living with the mythological world, Percy felt reasonably comfortable that he knew many of the incredibly various gods, spirits, and even titans still roaming in their pantheon. That made it much easier to guess the answers but a location was a different story.
Amidst the world of thorns and green,
In a fragrant realm, a vision serene.
A symbol of love, in hand, it repose,
A crimson enigma, what am I enclosed
The only thing that came to mind for Percy was a flower, more specifically roses. The thorns and reference to love made that the obvious answer, but was the obvious answer the right one? More importantly what in the world did roses have to do with a location? Percy pressed his hands against his eyes he saw stars for a moment. He must have sat there like that for a dozen minutes before anything changed. He heard and felt someone rap their knuckles on the table at the opposite end from where he sat. Cracking his eyes open he was unsurprised to see Athena looking down her nose at him. She looked so much like his teachers used to that he had the urge to raise his hand before he spoke but he shook it off.
"So are you here to be helpful or...?"
He let the question sort of trail off into silence and he pushed the papers he had been working on toward her. She didn't so much as glance down her steely gray eyes boring into him.
"You do not need my help. You correctly solved the puzzle, though it took you much longer than it should have. You spent less than a quarter of your time in this room attempting to be productive."
Percy felt his cheeks flush slightly golden at that comment. She was right of course but he hated libraries and studying. Who could blame him for getting distracted?
"Wait I'm right? What does a rose have to do with a place? Unless there's some sort of magical rose garden that is in some way significant to our history that I'm forgetting about?"
She just shook her head.
"Go find Hermes. I am sure he will..."
Before she could finish there was a flash of light and the sound of wings. Apollo and Hermes stood on the table in front of Percy dressed like they were ready to party, Olympian style. They hopped down to the ground on either side of Percy, ignoring Athena's choked squawk of indignation at their disrespect of her library. Hermes examined the papers Percy had been working on and looked up at Athena annoyed before shoving the sheet at Apollo.
"A crossword? We asked for a riddle like the other ones. Why did you have to overcomplicate it? No, don't answer. No time."
Apollo snapped his fingers and Percy yelped in surprise as his clothes vanished. They were replaced by a blue-green chiton trimmed in silver. Percy glared at Apollo who either didn't see the look or was just ignoring it on purpose. Now Hermes spoke up and Percy felt his blood run cold.
"You figured it out so now it's time to party!"
"No. I don't want to party. Why don't we just..."
Both Apollo and Hermes shushed him immediately, the latter speaking over him as well.
"No. No, just, no buts. We are celebrating your upcoming marriage. There will be no complaints."
Percy grumbled a bit more but when they arrived at the location Percy had a bit of an Ah-Ha moment. The location was a building in the upper district of Olympus and its sign simply read 'The Garden.' The words were stylized to look like twisting vines and a cluster of roses seemed to bloom below the words. Though looking closer he realized they were just real blooming roses. Apollo dragged him inside and he was surprised to find the room much quieter than he had expected for Apollo and Hermes. The room was lit by the same magical lamps that lit the interiors of most buildings on Olympus and it had a familiar warm atmosphere that Percy found immediately more comfortable than most of the bars Hermes and Apollo had dragged him to. A single table was set in the center of the room and around it, there was only a handful of people. His father, Triton, Chiron in his wheelchair, three empty seats, and to Percy's surprise Hephaestus. The semi-reclusive god was rarely seen outside of council meetings when he was on Olympus and Percy was glad he had come.
"What do you think Percy?"
Apollo seemed surprisingly nervous given his earlier bravado and Percy beamed at him.
"It's perfect. Is this everyone?"
"We asked Nico if he wanted to come but he and Will didn't want to leave their new family member alone for the evening. She's already very attached."
Percy smiled, if possible, even wider at the news that Will and Nico had gone through with it. A small part of Percy felt a twinge of melancholy but it was nothing he wasn't used to after all and he would carry it for as long as he lived. Soon enough the three of them found their seats and the party, for lack of a better term, began. Food, drink, nectar, and ambrosia all flowed as freely around the table as the conversation did. Even Hephaestus seemed to open up after a while and his booming laugh filled the room almost as often as Poseidon's did. As the hours passed Percy barely noticed and by the time they were ready to call the evening complete the moon was almost ready to set. Soon enough it was just Percy, Apollo, and Hermes standing on the edge of Olympus looking out over the world to the west. For the first time in years, Percy truly wasn't worried about the future, or anything outside of that very moment. Then after the silver disc of the moon sank below the horizon, Artemis joined them, and if her reaction was anything to judge by they were all far more drunk than Percy had realized. They began to make their way back to Apollo's palace, with Artemis assisting them with navigation. Just as the sun was beginning to rise the three of them collapsed onto furniture in Apollo's bedroom. Everything was a bit fuzzy after that and the only thing Percy remembered for sure was the massive smile that had been plastered on his lips until he finally found sleep.
The Day - Percy
Percy woke to sunlight on his face and he was incredibly comfortable. Stretching like a cat he realized that he wasn't in his normal bed. Cracking his eyes open he found himself on a couch in Apollo's room. The night before came back to him and he couldn't help but smile. He lay on the couch content for a while before something started to bother him. He knew there was something he needed to remember but for some reason, it was just out of his reach. He heard Hermes or Apollo shifting around and one or the other fell off of whatever they had been laying on. Percy again cracked open his eyes to see Hermes lying on the floor still dead to the world. Apollo was out on the balcony basking in the sunrise as Percy had first seen him do on their quest together.
Thinking about the quest finally reminded him of what he had been forgetting. He felt as though an electric charge had raced through him and he flew to his feet. His wedding was in just over twelve hours, at sunset. A nervous energy bubbled up in his stomach as he joined Apollo on the balcony. To his credit Apollo didn't seem to be interested in teasing him this morning. Percy saw him glance over and eye Percy before looking back to the sky.
"Nervous?"
"Yeah, a bit. I don't know what to expect except for the instructions Hera gave me earlier this week."
Apollo nodded and turned to lean his back against the railing.
"Yeah, Hermes and I know a bit more so don't worry. I promise you'll be where you need to be when you need to be there."
Apollo seemed uncharacteristically serious, though there was a light in his eyes that Percy rarely saw. Over the years of knowing Apollo, and to a lesser extent Hermes, Percy had learned that they all too often cloaked their true feelings behind dazzling smiles and often inappropriate humor. Now was not one of those times, Percy couldn't feel the guardedness he so often did from his friend and that widened the smile already firmly in place on Percy's lips. Apollo clapped him on the shoulder and steered him inside.
"Let's go get you fed then groomed. No reason to get dressed quite yet. We have a few things that need to happen before the final ceremony."
Percy just nodded, he knew there were a few ceremonies that they would be a part of today, and only at the final ceremony would he finally see Calypso. Apollo roused Hermes and the three of them found their way to Poseidon's palace on Olympus. They were greeted at the door by Triton who grinned and embraced Percy then Apollo and Hermes. Inside they made their way to a traditional, and surprisingly small, dining room. A table ran around the room on three sides and it was laden with all sorts of communal dishes. Percy, Apollo, Hermes, Hephaestus, Triton, Poseidon, and to Percy's surprise Zeus, all sat around the table. They shared a meal that consumed the greater part of the morning as they talked, and ate. After the meal, Zeus stood and gathered attention.
"As king of Olympus, it is my duty to oversee the transition of a young god into full adulthood as is our tradition."
Percy looked at his father with his eyebrows raised about as far as they could go. Poseidon rolled his eyes but gave him a look that screamed, 'Just roll with it.' So Percy did and an hour later after having bathed and then being 'anointed with oil' the ceremony was completed and Zeus disappeared to wherever he spent his free time.
"What the..."
"Don't worry about it. If it makes you feel any better Calypso is dealing with something similar. It's an old tradition but it's important. This ceremony marks the beginning of your legal adulthood. You will always be a member of my family, but now you are no longer bound to my house. Congratulations Percy."
Percy was still kind of confused as to some of the details but he trusted his dad and got the gist. He relaxed for a few hours more in his father's house before the second of the three major ceremonies was to take place. As a group, they left and returned to Percy's palace where Hephaestus had created a magical brazier in front of the palace. Only now that he was thinking about it his father's palace, both his uncle's palaces, Hephaestus' palace, and even Dionysus' palace had a brazier in front. The other gods and goddesses did not. Poseidon stepped forward and held out a hand to Percy.
"This brazier and flame are the hearth of your House. Cut your palm and let your Ichor be consumed by the flame as you respond to me."
Percy stepped forward and summoned a small knife into his right hand. Stepping forward he cut his left palm and held it over the brazier allowing his ichor to slowly drip into the flames.
"Perseus Jackson. Do you solemnly swear to uphold the traditions of hospitality so long as you are respected in return?"
"I swear."
The flames seemed to flare with a tinge of golden light for a moment.
"Do you solemnly swear to be a pillar of strength and aid those who would beg it of your house?"
"I swear."
"Do you solemnly swear undying loyalty and to cherish all those whom will be a part of your house until the end of your days?"
"I swear."
The flames were burning pure gold now and with each word Percy spoke.
"Perseus Jackson. As your father, I now recognize your House. May it be as fruitful as my own."
Poseidon stepped around the brazier and embraced Percy. He returned the embrace gladly but couldn't stop himself from asking.
"So what was all that?"
Poseidon held him at arm's length and smiled.
"That was the ceremony to formalize your house. It's unique to family lines and that is ours. It is the same promises that Triton made, and the same promises your sons shall make one day."
Percy couldn't help but wonder if it could be called a tradition as it only went back a single generation. He supposed the fact that it was a multiple millenia spanning generation would probably make the difference but what did he know?
"Okay... So uhh now what?"
"Now we wait. The next ceremony will be at sundown Percy and you'll not return here until then."
Percy felt a flutter of nerves in his stomach once more but it was far outweighed by his excitement and eagerness to be with Calypso. They made their way back to Poseidon's palace but Percy realized that Hephaestus wasn't with them.
"Go on guys. It's not like I'll get lost."
Apollo, Hermes, Triton, and Poseidon agreed that he wouldn't be too hard to find if the time came before he was back. Percy walked to Hephaestus' palace as it wasn't too far and because he was enjoying the day. Soon enough Percy heard the ringing of metal and he made his way inside. Sparks flew as Hephaestus' hammer smote what Percy guessed was a layered bar being folded back on itself. Each strike of the hammer meant another spot had been forge-welded. Layers of hot steel become one piece under the falls of the hammer. It was a process Percy had grown incredibly familiar with over the last few years. Many of the children of Hephaestus created pattern-welded steel for tools or weapons that the children of Hermes would sometimes sell at Renaissance festivals around the country. Percy had gone on one such trip and had enjoyed being in a place where for once the mist wouldn't hide his weapons from sight.
As he approached Hephaestus didn't even glance up at him, his eyes boring into the hot metal on his anvil. Percy thought he knew why Hephaestus had left and why he seemed as frustrated as he did. After the last few thousand years in an empty political marriage that had only come after the one he had loved had been murdered, Percy wasn't surprised. Percy summoned a few weapons that he had been 'gifted' to get them to Hephaestus. He left them on the table then snapped his fingers and the hammer in Hephaestus' hand froze just before Hephaestus was going to bring it down. Was Percy not also a god he would have been worried for his safety as the temperature in the room skyrocketed just as it had under Mt. St. Helens.
"Release my hammer Perseus."
"No, and you should know I spoke with her."
Hephaestus almost seemed frozen, torn between anger, curiosity, and more Percy didn't bother to identify.
"You can't have shes..."
"Are you calling me a liar Hephaestus?"
Percy wasn't angry, he knew exactly what Hephaestus was feeling. It was how he felt right after Hades told him that he was going to get to say goodbye. A strange combination of fear, denial, and hope that choked you.
"But how...? She's been... It's been so long..."
Percy felt a cord. A string of loyalty grew tight as though it had lain dormant for so long that it had almost been forgotten.
"I was in Lake Superior. I heard her. Before you ask, no it wasn't a naiad, I felt someone, someone, so unlike anything I've ever felt. I know this is hard but I want you there with me Hephaestus. I can feel just how much you care about her, I..."
Percy bit his tongue to stop the words. A suspicion he hadn't voiced to anyone, even Calypso, had almost slipped out. Now wasn't the time for that.
"There will be a place for you if you come. I'll leave you alone. You know where to find me."
Percy stepped back even as he willed himself to reappear in his father's palace. His last sight of Hephaestus was his hand rising to reach for the hammer hovering in midair where Percy had frozen it.
The Day - Calypso
Calypso woke to sunshine and a whispered, but intense, argument. Cracking her eyes open she saw Artemis and Aphrodite standing across the room arguing while trying not to wake her. Calypso looked around and grabbed a couple of pillows. The arguing goddesses seemed too involved in their argument to notice her so she threw the pillows at them both. As soon as they left her hand she brought her palms together and a sound like a distant wind seemed to rush out from them as the Mist began to twist about her friends. The pillow she had thrown first whacked Aphrodite across the head and she spluttered in surprise. Both to Artemis' credit and her slight inconvenience, she caught the pillow aimed at her. The reason it was unfortunate was that as soon as Aphrodite managed to fix her hair she saw Artemis holding a pillow and standing there looking at the bed. Aphrodite missed the look of confusion before assuming that Artemis had somehow whacked her with the pillow. Stooping she grabbed the pillow from the floor and swung it at Artemis, who dodged it and just gave Aphrodite a derisive look. Calypso realized something passed between the two because moments later they both swiveled to face Calypso even as she felt her control of the mist break.
"You're lucky it's your wedding day! You could have ruined my hair! You should really..."
Calypso cut Aphrodite off before she could get going.
"What were you two arguing about? And why does my head hurt so much?"
The smirk that Aphrodite gave her wasn't entirely unexpected but the almost feral grin on Artemis' lips unnerved her slightly.
"Don't you remember any of last night? Remind me to show you the pictures after the honeymoon."
Calypso felt her cheeks burn and she knew they were likely glowing faintly golden. She remembered the first few mortal bars they had visited but after they had returned to Olympus the night got very fuzzy. She wasn't really worried about having done anything rash given her company but she was sure whatever pictures Artemis had would be plenty embarassing. Aphrodite soon enough dragged her off to get ready for the first ceremony of the day which, like Percy, she was mostly in the dark about having lived on an island alone most of her life. Luckily for Calypso, her mother arrived and managed to get Aphrodite to let Calypso breathe.
"Come on Calypso. It's almost time for the first ceremony."
Calypso could hear the emotion in her mother's voice and pulled her into her arms.
"I'm glad you're here Mom."
They rested their foreheads together for a moment, just sharing in each other's presence.
"I am too Calypso. It's a pity your father cannot be here for today as he ought."
"Y...Y...Yeah. A pity that."
Calypso tried to hide her nervous laugh as she thought back to the visit to her father she had insisted they take. Percy had objected but he had agreed as long as she agreed to bring him with her. Atlas had been overjoyed to see her but decidedly less so to see Percy, and even less when she had told him why they were there. Percy had told her he didn't mind what her father had said but she knew it bothered him more than it should. Returning to the present she saw her mother looking at her in a way that told Calypso that she had seen through her words.
"I think there's a story there but it can wait. Let's go."
They made their way to the intimate dining room where Calypso was surprised to find Poseidon.
"Shouldn't you be with Percy today?"
"I am but your mother asked if I would take your father's place in this first ceremony."
Calypso surprised him and all but tackled him in a hug.
"Thank you."
Her voice was slightly muffled but Poseidon heard her and returned the embrace.
"After today you will be my daughter-in-law though I have considered you family since Percy asked for your hand. I'm glad to be able to be a part of this for you."
Calypso felt like her face was going to crack from smiling and it wasn't even midday yet. As the meal began her mother explained the ceremony in great detail including what Percy was dealing with and how his was different from her ceremony. Soon enough the meal ended and Calypso looked around at everyone present. Artemis, Aphrodite, Athena, her mother, Hestia, and clearly to both their chagrin, Hera. She followed Hera's instructions, even when that involved cutting a lock of her hair and being 'anointed with oil' as Hera insisted was oh so important. The ceremony over Calypso stood covered with significantly more oil than she thought was necessary. That was confirmed by Poseidon and her mother though their feelings about it were different, to say the least. Poseidon seemed to be fighting a laugh which didn't surprise Calypso, she thought Percy would be the same. Her mother on the other hand was fuming, Calypso caught her muttering under her breath several times as they finished the meal and before Hera departed. After they returned to her mother's palace, Calypso was surprised that her mother had a palace on Olympus at least at first.
She was slightly exasperated and her affection for Athena had grown exponentially when she had learned that her mother had not had a palace until recently. Poseidon and Percy had worked to convince Zeus to allow it, and Athena had constructed the beautiful building in record time. Calypso rushed off and scrubbed herself clean of the excessive amount of oil and donned the chiton she had been given as a part of the ceremony. It was beautiful pure white fabric, but the edges had been stitched with tiny moonlace flowers all along their length. Looking closer she even noticed that there was blue-green stitching that ran between the flowers and linked them together with almost invisible stitching. Rejoining her mother and her friends she saw a film of tears fill her mother's eyes for a moment. She embraced her and they did their best not to shed tears but they weren't entirely successful.
"Oh, you are so beautiful my daughter. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me you are free and happy. My greatest regret is in not being able to be a part of your life."
"I love you, mom. I didn't blame you before and I don't now. I'm just glad you're here now. Though couldn't you have found out on your own?"
Her tone was joking but her mom looked at her confused.
"What? Why?"
"Because now I owe Percy and I didn't need to owe him anymore!"
She couldn't keep her face serious and dissolved into giggles. Her mother soon followed and they just let themselves laugh together. It felt good to hear one another's laughs again after spending so many thousands of years apart. After they recovered enough a voice sounded directly next to them and they both jumped.
"You know Percy won't exactly see it that way."
"Yes, I know Artemis. That is one of his more frustrating yet endearing qualities."
Artemis cocked her head as she looked at her. Calypso gave her a questioning look and Artemis smiled.
"I've known Percy for, well ironically not much longer than you but I got to watch him grow into the man he is now. I know you know this but he is like a little brother to Apollo and I. If a maiden such as yourself is to marry a man then there is no better man than he."
Calypso threw her arms around Artemis who returned the embrace after a few stiff seconds of surprise. After that, they began to talk and discuss anything that came to mind. They had time to kill and as they had made Aphrodite promise not to go crazy on the preparations for the ceremonies she wasn't dragged off to get ready until just before the midday ceremony. She picked up the pythos that had been made specifically for her, inside were a number of items symbolic of her transition from her childhood House to the House she would lead alongside her husband. Three silk cloths to represent her weaving, a loaf of bread to represent her cooking, a small urn of medicine to represent her healing, and a glass sphere filled with mist to represent her control over the same. She brought it to Percy's palace and set it on the steps where it would await them both tonight as they returned for the first time as husband and wife.
Now all that awaited was the ceremony itself.
Sunset - Percy
Percy sat at the far righthand side of the u-shaped table in Calypso's mother's palace. Directly across from him sat Calypso, veiled and breathtaking. She almost seemed to glow with an aura of beauty that Percy normally associated only with Aphrodite herself. He could barely keep his eyes off of her even as the ceremonial meal began and their two 'families' talked and laughed, ate, and drank until after the sun had fully set. Then Poseidon stood bringing quiet to the room, normally it would have been Calypso's father but Percy was more than happy to have him serve in Atlas' place after he had all but disowned his daughter. Only the happiness he felt at that moment kept his temper from flaring as the memory of their trip to Mt. Tam rushed through his mind. Luckily his father began to speak and he focused on that instead.
"We are here to witness the joining of our houses in Perseus and Calypso. Blessings have been given, and now it is time for the promises."
Percy was on his feet and offering his arm to Calypso before anyone else had even begun to move. He stepped outside into the still warm night air and found a chariot pulled by Black Jack waiting outside.
"Yo Boss!"
"Hey, buddy. Thanks for this."
"Course Boss, nice and slow right?"
Percy nodded and Blackjack shook his mane as he waited for Percy's signal. Percy helped Calypso into the chariot and as he stepped up torches ignited one after the other. They formed a flickering gold and orange path that Percy knew led to the gate before his palace. As soon as Hermes flashed back to tell them that they were ready Percy gave Blackjack the signal and the pegasus started moving. The chariot rolled smoothly over the path that had been scattered with thousands of flower petals and as they approached his palace he squeezed Calypso's hand. She squeezed his in return and he could feel the anticipation bubbling up in his chest. When they arrived at his front gates Blackjack came to a stop and nickered tossing his mane once more. No one but Percy and Poseidon seemed to notice and they shared a look.
'Blackjack?'
'Somethin' feels off Boss.'
Percy glanced back at his father who disappeared for a few moments reappearing where he had been with only Artemis, Athena, and Percy seeming to notice the action. Percy helped Calypso down from the chariot and they walked together to the steps of his palace. Poseidon and Tethys joined them while the rest of the group arrayed themselves on either side of the brazier that was burning brightly. The whole area from the front of his palace to the inside of the gate had been strewn with flowers of all kinds, and there were even new trees that Percy was sure were new even since this morning. Instead of the torches that had lit the path from Tethys' palace to here, the area was lit by tiny glowing lights that pulsed and bobbed in the air lending the area an almost aetherial quality. Was Percy not so distracted by his veiled bride he would probably have spent longer just looking around at the decorations but as it was he found he could no longer look anywhere but at her.
"Perseus, Son of Poseidon, do you swear to love, protect, provide for, and sacrifice for Calypso so long as you both shall live?"
Percy's eyes never wavered from Calypso's veiled face and for some reason hearing his full name didn't bother Percy quite so much that time. He felt his lips form the words though strangely he didn't hear himself speak. His attention was too focused on Calypso's face. He saw her lips move as well and felt a surge of power rush through him. Then she was kissing him and all he knew was the feeling of her lips on his and the sound of cheering. Eventually, their lips parted and Percy rested his forehead against hers for a moment. Then a grin grew on his lips and he opened his eyes to see hers still closed.
"I told you I'd remember."
Calypso just laughed and kissed him again before turning to her right still clutching his right hand in her left and everything went wrong.
Sunset - Calypso
Calypso stared into Percy's face even as he helped her down from the chariot. As they walked she looked around and had to stop herself from stooping to grab some of the flower petals to identify what flowers they had come from. As it was she recognized rose, tulip, marigold, and even moonlace petals without looking further. Then they reached the stairs and her attention returned to Percy's face. She knew that her mother and Poseidon were standing only a few feet to her left and she didn't particularly care. Then Poseidon spoke.
"Perseus, Son of Poseidon, do you swear to love, protect, and provide for Calypso so long as you both shall live?"
Percy had told her that he had something he was going to say and she had teased that he wouldn't be able to remember when the time came, but as she listened she couldn't tell if he was simply speaking from the heart or if he had remembered properly.
"That I swear and more. All that I am and all that I will ever have is for her and our house until the very end, this I swear on my power and my love."
She could feel the surge of power that made her teeth buzz like just before a lightning strike. His words too filled her with a warmth that she thought nothing would ever truly quench, she knew how he felt, knew how far he would go for those he loved, but hearing the passion and conviction in his voice almost took her breath away. Then her mother spoke.
"Calypso, Daughter of Tethys, do you swear to love, serve, and care for Perseus so long as you both shall live?"
After hearing Percy's declaration she felt that she couldn't say just the traditional response.
"That I swear and more, I will love and care for Percy and any children we may have with everything I can. I have loved him since I set eyes upon him and I will love him until the very end, this I swear."
Another surge of power seemed to emanate from Percy, but this time Calypso felt it rush into her and she couldn't help but jump slightly. thought she stifled the small involuntary gasp that had parted her lips. She didn't wait for Percy to lift her veil as he seemed to be almost oblivious to anything other than her face at that moment. Sweeping it over her head she leaned forward and her lips met his for the first time in so long that she cursed her own decision to remain separate until the wedding. It just felt right every time they kissed and every time his hand touched her it was like an electric spark jumped between them. She felt him pull his lips back slightly as Percy rested his forehead against hers though she left her eyes closed. The cheers of her new family and her friends filled her ears until Percy spoke.
"I told you I'd remember."
She couldn't help but laugh even as she kissed him again. A moment later they broke apart and turned to face the crowd, their hands joined and smiles upon their lips. Then everything went wrong.
AN: Yes a cliffhanger and again I am sorry about the gap between chapters. I will finish this story even if it takes much longer than I would like. As I said at the beginning of the chapter it's been challenging, to say the least, to do this chapter justice.
I can't promise to be better about timing in the future, it's been hard to find motivation in general as of late for anything and I don't want to make a promise I can't keep. The one thing I will promise is that I will not abandon this story. I know how annoying waiting for updates to stories is, trust me I read enough on this website, but I would rather wait and have the chapter and story be of high enough quality that I am not disappointed with myself.