Artemis POV
The moon hung high in the night sky as I made my way to a secluded clearing in the heart of the forest. The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated the path, guiding me to where Thalia awaited. The air was crisp and carried the scent of pine, a familiar fragrance that marked the territory of my hunters.
Thalia stood at the clearing, her silver eyes gleaming with an air of anticipation. She wore her usual attire, a reflection of her fierce and untamed spirit. As I approached, a wry smile crossed her lips.
"Artemis, good to see you," Thalia greeted me, her tone holding a hint of mischief. I returned the smile, acknowledging the unspoken camaraderie we shared.
"Thalia, always a pleasure. What's up?" Thalia's expression shifted, her eyes holding a knowing glint.
"Oh, you know, just passing through. I heard a certain goddess might have some interesting tales to share." I arched an eyebrow, curious about her playful demeanour.
"Interesting tales? Pray, enlighten me, Thalia." She grinned, a mischievous spark dancing in her eyes.
"Say some tales about the quality time you've been spending with Percy Jackson, the former demigod turned god. Care to share the details?" A faint blush tinged my cheeks, a rare occurrence for a goddess.
"Honestly, it's going pretty well, thank you very much. Percy and I… We just click. It's like he's the person my soul's been waiting for all these years, and now that we've met, I can't get enough of his love." Thalia grinned.
"My, my, the huntress has fallen prey to something more elusive than any creature in the wild—the mysteries of love." I rolled my eyes at her teasing behaviour, but even I couldn't help but notice it's truth. The mysteries of love were indeed very… captivating.
"All jokes aside," Thalia said, her eyes softening, and she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "Artemis, I'm genuinely happy for you. Percy is a good man, and if anyone deserves happiness, it's you." A genuine smile tugged at my lips.
"Thank you, Thalia. It's a new experience for me, navigating these emotions. But Percy is different, and I find myself drawn to him in ways I never thought possible." Thalia chuckled, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
"Love does have a way of catching even the most untamed hearts. Just be careful, Artemis. Mortal or not, love can be both a strength and a vulnerability." I nodded. No matter what, I was determined to make every effort for our relationship.
After a few more jokes, I sensed an unspoken weight on Thalia's shoulders. The girl was shifting uneasily, as if she wanted to ask me something but was too scared or nervous to.
"Thalia," I began cautiously. "There seems to be something on your mind. You can confide in me, you know. I'm your sister after all." Thalia's eyes flickered with a mixture of surprise and vulnerability. She hesitated for a moment before exhaling a slow breath, as if releasing a burden she had long carried.
"Artemis," she started, her gaze fixed on the forest beyond, "there's something I've been wrestling with. It's about Nico." I arched an eyebrow.
"Nico di Angelo? The son of Hades? Percy's main man? The same guy you're supposedly in love with?" Thalia nodded, her expression conflicted.
"Yes, him. I... I like him, Artemis. More than I thought I would. But there's a problem." I waited, sensing the gravity of her words.
"What is it, Thalia? You can speak freely. If it's about your oath to me, I'll make an exception. I want you to feel happy and complete the same way I do with Percy." She shook her head, glancing at me with a hint of uncertainty etched on her features.
"No, no… It's Percy. I know he's protective, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Nico and I have a connection, but I fear Percy won't approve."
A thoughtful silence settled between us as I considered the complexity of Thalia's predicament. Percy's protective nature, particularly concerning matters of love, was well-known. So was his anger at Thalia…
"Thalia," I began carefully, "love is not always an easy path to tread. It requires honesty and understanding. If you truly care for Nico, perhaps it's worth exploring. But, I understand your concern about Percy." Thalia sighed, her gaze returning to the moonlit landscape.
"I don't want to do anything more to Percy. He's already so cold towards me, and I'm worried if I make a proper move with Nico, he'll get Aphrodite or someone to break us up, or he'll send Nico on a quest, or he'll do something to prevent us from ever getting together. But I can't deny what I feel for Nico." I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, offering silent support.
"Thalia, love is not always logical. I know you want Percy's approval, but what I don't know is what you want from me?" Thalia looked at me, a mixture of unease and uncertainty in her eyes.
"Artemis, I need your help. Percy trusts you, and I believe if you were to talk to him, explain how I feel, he might understand. If I speak to him, I don't even know if he'll give me the time of day. At least with you, he's more likely to talk and maybe work something out."
"Thalia…" I began with a frown. "It's not that I don't want to help you, but I genuinely don't know how that conversation will go. Bear in mind even after everything I've done with Percy, the scars run deep. I did some things I regret, and I don't want to jeopardise what we have-"
"Please," she asked with a deep sigh. "I'm not asking for much, just a few minutes so I can have a chance at what you already have."
I considered Thalia's request, recognizing the delicate balance of emotions at play. Percy's protective nature was rooted in genuine care for his friends, and I understood the need to approach the situation with tact.
"Thalia," I said finally, "I will speak to Percy. I will convey your feelings, your sincerity. But understand that the outcome is uncertain, and I can't completely change his mind. I can only talk to him, and attempt to persuade him, but that's as far as I'll go." Thalia nodded, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Thank you, Artemis. I appreciate your willingness to help. I just want to love and to be loved by someone, and Nico… He ticks all the boxes." I smiled, understanding the complexities of Thalia's heart.
"Love is a journey, Thalia. I wish you the best on yours. Who knows, I might even find myself witnessing your marriage to Nico someday." Thalia's cheeks flushed with a deep blush, and I couldn't resist teasing her.
"Ah, the fierce daughter of Zeus, blushing at the prospect of love. It's a rare sight indeed." She huffed, attempting to hide her embarrassment.
"And what about you then?" she retorted. "I'd never seen a goddess blush before I caught you looking at Percy." I chuckled, appreciating the honesty in her words.
""Fair enough, Thalia. But that's because you haven't seen how kind and compassionate he can be sometimes."
As our conversation continued, a new presence made itself known in the moonlit clearing. Charlotte who'd been busy helping the gods fix up Olympus after the war approached us, her bow slung over her shoulder.
"Hey," she greeted, a friendly smile on her face.
"Hello, Charlotte," I replied happily. The huntress seemed to be in a good mood today. Honestly, so was Artemis. It was Percy who'd managed to get her and Charlotte to reconcile, and now, it was as if none of the stuff that had happened between them was ever real.
"I'm glad we were able to put our differences aside," Charlotte admitted, her eyes reflecting sincerity.
"As am I," I replied, genuinely appreciative of the newfound camaraderie.
"Percy has a way of bringing people together, even in the most unexpected ways." Thalia, ever the observer, grinned mischievously.
"Speaking of Percy, Artemis, shouldn't you be looking for him? Charlotte, have you seen Percy around?" Charlotte nodded.
"Yeah, he went into your tent not too long ago, Artemis." I thanked Charlotte, realising I had been caught up in the conversation and lost track of Percy's whereabouts. With a nod of gratitude, I turned to Thalia and Charlotte.
"It seems Percy is in my tent. I should go and check on him," I said, feeling a sense of eagerness to be in his company. Thalia nudged me playfully.
"Go on, Artemis. Don't keep the mighty Percy Jackson waiting." I laughed, appreciating the light-hearted teasing from my fellow immortals.
"I won't. Thank you both for the conversation. Thalia, I'll do my best with Percy. Charlotte, it's good to see you again."
As I made my way to my tent, a mix of emotions swirled within me. Happiness for Thalia, gratitude for the reconciliation with Charlotte, and an eager anticipation to find Percy awaiting me.
Carefully, I entered my tent with a mix of emotions swirling within me, creating a whirlwind of anticipation, happiness and gratitude. The glow of moon filtered through the fabric of the tent, casting a soft illumination on the space within.
"Percy?" I called out as I entered, the eagerness to be in his company heightening my senses. The tent was dimly lit, and I saw Percy sitting on the edge of my bed, his gaze fixed on his lap.
"Hello, I've missed you," I greeted with genuine warmth, appreciating the quiet intimacy of our shared space. However, Percy's reaction caught me off guard. As he looked up, his eyes were filled with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. There was anger in his gaze, a storm brewing beneath the surface.
"Is…Is everything alright?" I asked cautiously, my earlier eagerness giving way to a growing sense of unease. Percy stood up abruptly, his movements sharp and agitated. He began pacing around the room, his silence more frightening than any words he could have spoken. I watched him, a knot of confusion tightening in my chest.
Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with accusation.
"How could you?" The question hung in the air, leaving me bewildered.
"What do you mean, Percy? What happened?" He looked at me, and in his hands, I noticed Riptide. The sword glinted in the dim light, and a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. Percy's anger was directed at me, and I struggled to comprehend why.
"Percy, I was keeping it safe for you," I stammered, attempting to explain. "I never intended to—" He cut me off with a sharp glare.
"No, you weren't. I've been here so long. Do you know how helpful this could've been in the war?" I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. The realisation hit me, and I stumbled over my words, trying to form a coherent response.
"I... Percy, I didn't mean to withhold it from you. I thought I was protecting it, keeping it safe until you returned." Percy's eyes bore into mine, his anger unwavering.
"Protecting it? By keeping it from me? Artemis, you had no right. Riptide is a part of me, and I needed it. You should have trusted me to take care of my own weapon." I took a deep breath, attempting to steady myself.
"Percy, I'm truly sorry. It was a lapse in judgement, and I never meant to hurt you. I thought I was doing what was right, but I see now that I was wrong." His stern expression softened, but the anger still lingered.
"You should have told me, Artemis. I trusted you, and you betrayed that trust." I nodded, the weight of my mistake heavy on my shoulders.
"I understand, Percy. I can't undo what's done, but I promise you, it was never my intention to betray your trust. I'm truly sorry."
Percy sighed, and for a moment, the room was filled with an uneasy silence. Finally, he spoke, his tone measured.
"Good." He started walking towards the exit of the tent, and panic gripped me.
"Where are you going?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Percy didn't turn back, his words cutting through the tense air.
"Away. Away from here, and away from you."
Yeah... That happened...