"I find these to be incredibly boring." Percy noted, taking Annabeth's side. It'd been a few months since she'd joined Ruthage's mage ranks, quickly accelerating upwards to becoming one of Achilles' top advisors, as well as working closely with Percy.
"I think it's against my interest to agree with you, but if you intend to keep a secret…" she looked up at him, mouthing 'agreed.' The event was a part of a courting- for Orion, who intended on marrying Reyna Braaten of Astibad- the woman Percy had met at the Hyphen ball many years earlier.
"I thought this potentially would be a boring event but seeing these all-mighty men in such delirious states makes me hopeful." Annabeth continued.
"Are you thinking of using your magic to take control of Ruthage while these men are drunk, Annabeth?" Percy joked, looking down at her, and she shrugged in response.
"You're too sober to be so easily influenced, Perseus, I think it'd be too much of a challenge. How long will this thing take anyways?"
"I wouldn't plan on leaving any time before dawn, as the Astibad have a mean reputation to uphold when it comes to…" he watched as an Astibad general and a Ruthage warrior traded ale chugs, "drinking."
"To Triton!" someone yelled at one of the tables, and the other drunk men agreed, raising their cups and taking elongated drinks. "Prince of Ruthage! Heir to the throne!"
"Too drunk to toast to the correct man, I see." Annabeth noted. "I've picked up on this doubling as your father looking for suitors for Andromeda, care to inform me on that?" Percy looked over to his younger sister- only eighteen years of age, looking miserable behind the table. He remembered the look on Piper's face that dreadful night in Hyphen, and the two did not seem too far apart. Percy grabbed Annabeth's wrist.
"Walk with me?" he offered, and she nodded, pointing for him to lead the way, grabbing a glass of wine on the way out. "My father sees the potential in wedding my sister to a powerful man, but from what I've seen, no man is worthy of her hand. The only alliance we could truly benefit from is one with Astibad, but Orion has already secured them, therefore the only other place to look is…" he trailed off.
"Olympiad." Annabeth mumbled, and Percy just nodded.
"No northern kingdoms have resources or armies that either aren't already in our control, or under our influence, therefore we'd gain little to nothing wedding her to a northern prince." Annabeth glared at him.
"The way you talk of your sister in such a manner disgusts me, Perseus." she hissed. Percy grabbed her arm, stopping her in her place. They were on an upper balcony looking over the dance floor before Poseidon's throne.
"Do you seriously want to question my love for Andromeda? I risk my life every day for this kingdom- for everyone here, for her. I merely look at things from a strategic standpoint, I have no doubt you're no different." he spat. The anger in Annabeth's eyes subsided, turning to an understanding.
"You're right." she huffed, leaning over the railing. "If you had to guess then, who's your coin on?" Percy sighed.
"If I had to guess, I think nobody. My father will likely use Andromeda as a negotiating piece to barter peace between Olympiad and Ruthage." Annabeth looked at him, almost in shock.
"You admit that so easily?"
"Only after my blade has kissed Zeus's throat, of course." he smirked, and Annabeth rolled her eyes, looking back down.
"And what of you? The greatest swordsman on the continent, who nobody dare challenge?"
"My father has cursed me with the burden of war, but blessed me with the ability of freedom. He and my mother made it clear to me once I turned of age, who I marry is my choice, as my service to Ruthage isn't in politics." He said, and Annabeth turned to him.
"Are you saying if you wanted, you could marry a lowly mage?" her grin grew as she took a step towards him.
"Are you offering yourself up, Ms. Chase? If so, I wouldn't mind arranging something- only if you swear not to mind-control me in my sleep." She scoffed at him.
"Please, if anything, I know a dozen mages from Azotela who would jump at the opportunity to marry into this family."
"And you wouldn't?" he questioned, and he sensed her breathing catch, before resuming its calm, calculating pace.
"If you think you can banter your way into my pants, Perseus, then you're sorely mistaken." she whispered to him, her lips adjacent to his cheek, and he just smirked.
"I'm a patient man, I have no problem breaking down your walls." he said back, bringing his hand up to her far cheek- "Did you know, at Roden, they had defenses built to last decades- we didn't have the siege machines, so we needed to work slowly. One piece of the wall a day. It took us nearly six days just to see inside, and another eighteen until we fully breached the wall. As I'm sure you've picked up on our proximity over these last few months, I can be…" he craned his head until he was speaking into her ear, "very patient." he was so focused on her that he'd not heard the commotion below them, before he looked down. Two men were getting into a shouting match, both with ale in-hand. He turned back to Annabeth, whose blush was brighter than the sun mid-day, staring him down.
"If you'll excuse me, milady, I must play disciplinary to some unfortunate men." he stepped past her, "but I will come seek you out after."
"You lie, you little shit." one of the lords spoke up, "you've never faced a bad meal in your life, let alone an army of that size. I on the other hand," he waved his ale around, "have faced a thousand-man army with a hundred-man battalion! And won!"
"I've had armies thrice as fat and ugly as you perish under my boot." the other spat, and they grabbed onto eachother, as nearby men tried to break them apart.
"Enough!" Poseidon's voice rang across the hall. "I have no doubt in either of the esteemed lord's accomplishments, but I think we all know the truth as to who the mightiest here is." As he finished, the click of boots down steps rang true, and heads turned. Percy, in his full royal getup, walked down from where he was with Annabeth just a moment prior, sashes of honor slung across his chest, blade at his side, his face stone cold.
"If we need get into a measuring contest, lords, I'm sure there's many guests here tonight who wouldn't enjoy that sight." Percy announced, to a chorus of laughs across the hall. "You brag about thousand man armies, hundred men battalions, but I can trump anything you bring my way, for I have slain a thousand men at the battle of Roden before turning of age, and defended Ruthage territory from ten-thousand man armies sent by Lord Zeus himself, with the intent on returning with my head. Now, lords, unless you intend to prove it," he lowered his hand to the hilt of his sword, "I suggest we all return to the ale and the celebration." he grabbed a nearby cup out of someone's hand. "To Orion and Reyna!" he boomed, and the hall reciprocated his call, and he drank. Percy continued his walk to the throne of Poseidon, kneeling before his father.
"Rise, my son." Percy rose and was met with the beaming smile of his father. "I always love it when you get theatrical."
"My specialty, father." he turned to Reyna, who sat next to Orion. "Orion," he started, before taking Reyna's hand in his and kissing it, "Reyna, I must welcome you to the family, and I will pray for your marriage to my brother to be fruitful and everlasting." the woman merely nodded in response. Percy walked to the opposite end and took his place next to his sister.
"Did you really have to say all of that?" she said, and Percy just smiled at her.
"If one of these men has to be the one to wed you, they must know their place."
"Beneath you?"
"Andy, everybody is beneath me." he smirked at her, taking a swig of the cup that was brought before him.
"Lord Ruth of Kaedwen" the herald announced, as a man approached the center of the hall, bowing before the royalty. Percy's eyes flicked up to the balcony to see Annabeth leaning over, staring at him. He caught her gaze and winked at her.
"King Poseidon, my marriage to your daughter will unite the strongest hand in the north, as well as a contending hand in the south, forming an impossible alliance that none would dare cross." he swallowed nervously, "and I am one of five brothers with no sisters. My seed inside of the beautiful Andromeda Jackson will produce the strongest of male heirs, one I have no doubt could contend with the mighty Perseus Jackson." he finished, and there was silence around the room.
"Lord Ruth, not only do you disrespect Ruthage's culture failing to acknowledge my family's presence, but you disrespect my son by name, who happens to be sitting with us." Poseidon turned his neck to Percy, who just shrugged. "What do you think of this, Perseus?" Percy looked across the table, and raised his eyebrows and nodded to Triton, who stood.
"Your disrespect to the Ruthage royal bloodline knows no match, Lord of Kaedwen. I find it most urgent you leave before you become another body being dragged by our horses." Triton spat, and the court before them jeered and laughed at the failed lord, who went back to his table. At that moment, the doors opposite the hall opened, revealing a fully-gowned Lord Zeus and an Olympiad escort. Percy stood, sword drawn, as well as the guards drawing their own.
"Stop!" Poseidon barked, "for I have invited him here." Percy looked at his father wide-eyed.
"Father, he launched a twenty-thousand man assault on us merely months ago!" he hissed, but Poseidon waved him off.
"He heard of the courting of Andromeda, and offered to bring his own lineage, so I allowed it. Same as you did with Hyphen, young Perseus." Poseidon spat the 'young' out, as Zeus and the escort advanced. Zeus didn't bow to Poseidon, but his mages as well as the three guards he'd brought did.
"Lord Poseidon, seeing as how recent times have exposed our differences, I thought the courting of your daughter, Andromeda Jackson, to be the perfect opportunity to unite both Ruthage and Olympiad under similar interests, thus justifying peace across the continent." Zeus moved to his left, revealing a son Percy hadn't seen before.
"I present before thee, Hercules, son of Zeus, pride of Olympiad, commander of the seventh battalion." Zeus announced his son, and the man took a knee, before rising.
"Lord Poseidon, my marriage to your daughter will unite the jewels of the North and South, creating not only an unbreakable bond but an invulnerable alliance that will surely stand for generations to come. Not only could we form the strongest alliance the continent has and will ever see, but the heir Andromeda and I create will surely be the greatest warrior this world will ever see." Percy caught the man's eyes flick to him for a moment, before he took another bow.
"I request you state your accomplishments, esteemed Hercules." Poseidon asked.
"I graduated top of my class at all levels, was ranked the highest at the Olympia Training Academy, the strongest academy in the south, ranked behind only Ruthage's own, milord. My feats on the battlefield know no end, I commanded and oversaw the toppling of Yewthi, as well as the slaughter at the Red Creek! My glory and accomplishments are unmatched by any of the Lords present tonight." the room remained silent. Percy felt more eyes on him, a bit frustrated that everything has seemed to come down on him tonight. Poseidon rose beside him.
"While you have presented yourself well, young Hercules, as well as being easily the most qualified Lord here, I must deny your proposal, as we will continue to find a more eligible suitor for my daughter." Poseidon grabbed his cup, "may we all celebrate the marriage of Orion and Reyna Braaten, Princess of Asti-"
"I say we duel for it!" Hercules interrupted, the court looking at him wide eyed.
"You dare?" Poseidon growled.
"As the rules of honor state, 'if a King see a suitor in his realm unfit, the suitor reserves the right to duel a champion for the hand.'" Hercules finished, hand on the hilt of his sword. "I ask you, Lord Poseidon, to send forward your champion." Even Zeus seemed skeptical about this behind Hercules, and Poseidon's eyes squinted, glaring at Hercules, before turning to Percy.
"My son, would you like the honor?" Percy didn't respond, instead rising, stripping himself of the restricting sashes and jacket he had on while he walked down from the platform the throne was on to Hercules' level.
"The terms?" Percy asked simply.
"To death." Hercules spat.
"No!" Zeus cried, but there was nothing he could do- and he knew it. Percy smirked evilly at Hercules.
"The great Lord Hercules of Olympiad has requested to duel to the last breath, does anyone here wish for blood not to be spilled?" Percy loudly asked the court, and nobody said a word. "Lord Zeus, as much as I respect you, I must ask you to move your escorts back as your son may need more space." Zeus angrily ordered his escort back towards the door, as Hercules drew his sword, a long, double-sided black iron sword that was surely forged by the greatest that Olympiad had to offer. Percy scoffed internally, before drawing his. Gasps came up from across the room. A wicked, six-foot long blue katana twirled in Percy's hand. Hercules' eyes grew weary of the blade- Percy knew he hadn't had experience against this weapon before.
"As you are the challenger, the duel is on your command, Hercules." Percy asked, not offering to lower into a fighter's stance, instead just staring down the man opposite him. Hercules charged, swinging precisely three times, but Percy managed to parry them all, and they'd flipped sides- Percy's back to Zeus, Hercules' back to Poseidon.
"You are fast, Hercules. Taught well, no doubt." Percy easily parried two more attacks, "but you have sealed your fate." Percy lunged forward, the length of his blade penetrating Hercules' defense and slicing his arm open lightly. Hercules cried out in pain, but the cut was not deep.
"You disrespect me and my family in this court, you will die a slow, painful death." Percy spat at his feet, before parrying a wild swing by Hercules and flicking another light cut open on Hercules' shoulder, and the man stumbled to the ground, before slowly regaining his positioning. Percy had a moment, and looked up, seeing Annabeth's grin gave him all the confidence in the world. He dodged an attack, sliding through Hercules' guard and cutting his hamstring, and now Percy's back was again to his father. Hercules was stumbling, barely able to stand on his one leg.
"Perseus! I implore you to have mercy!" Zeus roared. Hercules charged again, locking his blade with Percy's, anger raging in his eyes. Their blades slid against one another, Hercules' just barely catching Percy's cheek, as Percy's blade went down, cutting off both of Hercules' hands, his sword cluttering to the ground. The man cried in pain, falling to a kneel in disbelief before the son of Poseidon. Percy stared down Zeus.
"As you wish, Lord Zeus." he sheathed his own sword, picking up Hercules' sword, and ramming it through Hercules' sternum, and the son of Zeus dropped dead on the floor of the Ruthage court. The room was silent. Percy looked over to a nearby guard, signaling him forward. The guard understood, bringing a white cloth with him, and Percy wiped the minor cut on his cheek.
"I let this serve as a warning Zeus, for the next time you send twenty thousand men to Mengi. For every time you so much as see a drop of blood come from Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, Blade of Ruthage, you will lose a son, a daughter, a wife, a brother." Percy spat. Zeus's fists grew white with rage. "Go on, Zeus. Send your best at me right now, as surely you've brought your best. I will take all three of them on. Your mages can even boost their abilities if you wish, and they will all fall dead to their own sword, as your son has, or you can leave this court at once, and never come back." Percy hissed.
"A declaration of war, then?" Zeus said back.
"If you wish for your own son to be the blood spilled for you to finally declare war, so be it. The continent will know, as all of these lords present tonight have seen, the great Hercules died to his own blade, kneeling before a son of Poseidon."
The night continued with more drinking, more celebrating, and no blood, thankfully for Percy. After he killed Hercules, he'd helped dispose of the body while others cleaned the blood. Once he was done, he walked back to his father.
"I do hope I followed the plan correctly, father." Percy smirked, and Poseidon just smiled and nodded.
"You always were too clever for me to deceive, Perseus."
"Were you sure that he'd challenge for her hand?"
"Why of course I was, and I knew that you'd win. Nice sword, by the way." Poseidon winked, before looking up. "I think our newest mage is expecting you somewhere else, Perseus." Poseidon smiled at his son, who returned it. Percy bowed his goodbye to Reyna and Orion, and kissed his sister on the cheek before making his way upstairs.
"I never took you for a showman, but tonight has changed my mind, Perseus." Annabeth started.
"If we're going to engage like this, I ask you call me Percy." he said, meeting her by the railing.
"Are you going to reintroduce yourself to me, Percy the showman?" she grinned at him.
"I'll reintroduce myself to the most beautiful woman in this court, Annabeth Chase." he held his hand out, and she placed hers in his, and he kissed hers. He pulled her towards her, leaning lower to her face. He could feel her rushed breaths on his cheek.
"Are you allowed to engage like this with a mage, Percy?" she mocked him, her smile still beaming.
"I don't see why not." he leaned closer, but she turned away, and he kissed her cheek. She pulled away, the smile growing more wicked.
"I am not so easy, Percy, I told you this."
"And I am as patient as ever, Annabeth. I just do hope that you aren't so distracting on the battlefield." she scoffed at him. "I am surprised you aren't upset with that course of events, however." he turned over the railing, looking down at the many drunk men and now, women.
"I've seen plenty of men get bloodied at Azotela, as well as back home. That was incredibly tame, I'd even go as far as to say that you took it easy on him." she met him over the railing.
"I did, to be fair. How were you not protected from such atrocities where you were from?"
"My father cared little for me. I took care of his pigs, he was forced by my mother to give me food. When Lady Artemis came, he jumped at the offer to sell me to her, knowing he'd seal my life away to magic. Twenty five credits." Annabeth said quietly. Percy turned to her.
"How could your father do that? I can't even fathom thinking you're worth anything less than an entire kingdom. A hundred ships, at least." he said, and she rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm a little ashamed you can only compare my worth to soldiers, Percy, but my father could not see the potential that Artemis could. She brought out the best in me, and has given me a path to greatness in this life."
"Annabeth, I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay, Percy." she reassured him, bringing a hand to his chest, "it's how you were raised to think, just as I was. I'm getting awfully tired, Percy, do you think you could escort me to my quarters?"
"Of course, Annabeth."
He walked her out of the court, through the cheers and compliments of the many drunks present, and through the Ruthage palace to where she had been staying for the last few months. He opened the door for her, and let her in before she turned on him.
"Thank you for your company tonight, Percy, despite the drama."
"Drama at those types of things is always inevitable, Annabeth." she laughed, before stepping towards him and bringing him into a hug, which he returned. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
"I hope you're as patient as you are ruthless, Percy." she whispered into his ear, "For I have no intention on making this easy for you." pulled away, grinning. She tried to walk into her room, but Percy grabbed her wrist and spun her back into his chest.
"I could have any woman in this kingdom, any woman in the North, but that difficulty is what makes you more attractive than them all." he quietly said, before letting her go.
let me know what you think :D:D:D:D
