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365days365movies · 3 years

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March 15, 2021: Clash of the Titans (Review: Part One)

Please. Let me write a Greek mythology movie. I’m tired.

I am SO TIRED of Greek mythology being so...misused. Do y’all realize how much potential lies in an adaptation, a PROPER adaptation of Greek myths? Because it’d be fantastic if done well. Look, I’m not a writer, let alone a script or screenwriter, but I could write a better adaptation of Greek mythology, I swear I could.

Full warning, you might wanna skip this part. It’s gonna be...REALLY long.

So, yeah, this “review” is getting broken up into two parts. The first part here is really just a rant/hypothetical Perseus film that Id make if I had any screenwriting ability. Yeah, it’s basically a fanfic, so feel free to, like, not. Check out the Review here. Read ahead at your own peril.

You might be saying, “OK, bet; how would you adapt the story of Perseus?” Fair question, metaphorical yet judgmental person; how would I do it, exactly? Well, I’d mostly do it straight, to be honest. But you need to make this a cinematic adaptation, right? SO story changed need to be made, I get that. And I think that needs to start with the gods.

First up, you need Zeus, if for no other reason than to father Perseus. I do like the fact that he’s a patron for Perseus throughout these movies, but I don’t like Zeus as a straight-up dad. That’s for various reasons, but I’ll get there. Perseus’ main patron, instead, should be his half-sister: Athena.

Seriously, Athena needs to be a big part of this movie. She’s not exactly one of the biggest patrons for heroes, but she does like them. In the case of Perseus, she should sympathize with him. Perseus, after all, is one of the first major Greek heroes. Yeah, he really should be one of the first, and that needs to be fully acknowledged. Athena, in her LITERAL INFINITE WISDOM, should see the young demigod for what he could become: a bonafide hero. And so, she needs to be a part of this movie. One of her key allies should be...

Hermes should be, well, mercurial. Always moving, never truly still, because dude is CONSTANTLY busy. Not only is he a messenger, but he’s also the god of medicine, AND a psychopomp that escorts spirits to the underworld. Yeah, he wears a lot of winged hats. He’s also another extramarital child of Zeus, giving him sympathy for Perseus as well.

While he’s mostly a neutral god, he could also serve as a messenger from Athena to Perseus, delivering to him the gifts from the gods. He could even be the one who gets the Helm of Darkness from Hades, given his relationship to death and the Underworld. So, he’s gotta be in there as an ally of Athena. Hell, he could even be the one who finds Perseus and tells Athena about him in the first place. OK, Athena and Perseus now have an ally, so what about a villain?

Well, this movie had Calibos and technically Thetis, the 2010 had fuckin’ Hades (because of course they did), but no. Both are the wrong choice. The right choice here, in my humble opinion, is one that MAKES FUCKING SENSE.

Hot take: POSEIDON IS AN ASSHOLE. I realize that this statement has doomed me to a death at sea, but that won’t stop me from hiding the truth. Yeah, dude’s the god of the ocean, and of horses, but he’s also the father of countless monsters, nearly as horny as his younger brother Zeus, and the god of earthquakes. He’s a petty, tempestuous god, as angry and ever-changing as the ocean that he rules. And he’s ABSOLUTELY the right choice for a villain of a Perseus movie.

The movie would begin in the ocean, the source of all of the troubles in this movie. 20 years before the main events of the film, we emerge from the ocean and soar over an island, on which is a beautiful temple. Waves wash over the island, enveloping it. A woman’s scream is heard in the background, as we soar over the island, following an owl that is flying away from the island. As we fly over the ocean, narration tells us that this is a world of gods and monsters, and the owl flies over creatures in the ocean, like hippocampi and other such creatures. The owl flies over another island, which on screen text identifies as Argos. Here, a shower of gold dust flies up from a building. Perseus has just been conceived.

Cut to a day not too far afterwards, where King Acrisius is meeting with an unseen trio of women, in a cave on a mountainside. The king tells them that his daughter, Danae, has become pregnant, although he knows not by whom. The women reveal that Zeus is her lover, and that this will bring great ruin onto the kingdom of Argos, especially onto Acrisius himself. This is a big problem, too, as the kingdom of Argos worships Poseidon as their patron god. Acrisius, see, was planning on saving Danae for Poseidon, as a perverse offering to the god. But Zeus beat him to the punch, which has made Poseidon angry. And so, Acrisius sacrifices his daughter to Poseidon...by putting her in a box, which he casts out to sea.

Poseidon is about to destroy the box and Danae, who is still pregnant with her child. However, Zeus won’t have it, and in a battle between the two gods, a storm with golden lightning rages over the sea, and sweeps the box away, to the safety of an island where it washes up on shore, AWAY from Poseidon’s wrath. Zeus’ protection saves Danae, who has given birth to a son: Perseus. Poseidon, spurned of his revenge against his brother, makes a child of his own. But we only see its shadow beneath the waves. He’ll come back later.

Time passes, and a few things happen. The kingdom of Argos falls, and Acrisius is brought to ruin, as the mysterious prophetesses predicted. They are starved of fish, and the king is blamed, for condemning his daughter to death. He is driven into exile, and Argos is destroyed...by Poseidon’s mysterious child, who is only known by the name Cetus. The city still exists afterward, so that Perseus has a place to return to, but it’s wrecked.

Meanwhile, Perseus grows up, into a young man. He’s not particularly strapping, but he’s still surprisingly strong and hardy for his size. All the while, he’s watched over by a little owl, the same one we saw in the beginning of the film, flying over the ocean. Appearing below the owl is a rooster, which flies up next to the owl. Both of them watch the young Perseus, then look up when they hear the screech of a golden eagle, flying high in the sky above them. They look at each other, as the eagle flies up to the tip of a nearby mountain. The owl and rooster fly off, with the rooster flying higher than a rooster should be able to fly.

We follow them as they pass through the clouds, and they turn into their true forms: Athena and Hermes. They watch the golden eagle fly into a separate grand temple, as thunder and lightning appear. We’re not gonna see Zeus until nearly the end of this movie. Athena and Hermes discuss Perseus in Athena’s temple on Olympus. Hermes is a bit busy, so he’s off in a hurry, but Athena sits and ponders Perseus’ situation.

Perseus, meanwhile, has a different problem: surviving. Poseidon’s been particularly dickish lately, and the fish stock around Perseus’ island is low as FUCK. His mother, meanwhile, is older now, and struggling with her health. An old hermit walks into the village one day, and hears Perseus’ troubles. The hermit tells Perseus that the fish market is good near the nearby kingdom of Aethiopia, which includes a large and prosperous city that may also have medicine to help his ailing mother. Perseus decides to go on the journey there. As he leaves the hermit, we see the hermit’s eye color change to a sparkling electric blue.

Perseus heads onto the seas, with a fishing boat leaving for Aethiopia. The second that boat hits the water, Poseidon senses the blood of Zeus on his ocean. Being the petty asshole he is, he sees his chance to finally exact revenge on Zeus for stealing Danae from him. He sends his child, Cetus, after the ship to sink it. We don’t see the Cetus brings rough water with it. However, Zeus again protects the ship on its journey, and Poseidon’s SUPER butthurt now. He watches Perseus make his way to Aethiopia.

Aethiopia, in this movie, is a city that doesn’t particularly worship any one god. It’s not exactly the least theistic place in the world, though, because its residents will still fear any action that the gods take against them. That’ll come in handy later. Perseus lands there with the boat, and is immediately overwhelmed by the city’s grandeur. Additionally, he stands out here, as the people there are mostly, surprise surprise, black and brown in skin color. BECAUSE IT’S NORTHERN AFRICA!!! YEAH! Andromeda COULD BE BLACK, FUN GODDAMN FACT. Aethiopia was used to describe southern kingdoms below Libya, which was northern Africa! Come on, man!

While wandering blind through the city, Perseus bumps into a young woman, shrouded in plain vestments as she walks through the village. And it’s immediately love at first sight for Perseus, although the young woman seems somewhat nonplussed. This is the beautiful and radiant Andromeda, and YEAH! I’M RIPPING OFF ALADDIN A LITTLE! SUE MEI! See, Andromeda’s trying to explore her kingdom, as she’s been somewhat sheltered throughout her life, protected in the castle by father King Cepheus and shallow mother Queen Cassiopeia.

The two part quickly, but her visage remains in Perseus’ mind, horny Zeus’ kid that he is. He finds out who she is later on, considering what’s about to happen. See, there’s a festival going on, and it’s actually leading up to Andromeda’s 20th birthday. The overly clingy Cepheus honors his daughter unnecessarily, setting up an entire 2-week celebration leading up to her birthday.

During the nightly celebration, which Perseus attends, there’s a great feast. He bumps into Andromeda once again, and the two start talking. Andromeda is kind, if naïve, and wants to be a good queen to her people. However, she feels like a trophy, set aside for any given suitor wanting to win her heart. Perseus sympathizes, and feels a bit guilty, as her beauty was what struck him most at first, but has now begun to appreciate her as a person, over the course of this conversation. Said conversation is watched by Athene, in owl form once again.

The conversation’s interrupted by Queen Cassiopeia, who makes a speech about her daughter, and you know what’s coming here. She says that her daughter is beautiful, moreso than any of the Nereids, or anything that the sea could produce. And everybody laughs, it’s real funny, people agree...and then, we zoom over to a nearby fountain. The water begins to shake, and then, the ground itself begins to shake! Because Poseidon is the GOD OF EARTHQUAKES. COME ON, USE THIS SHIT!

Poseidon, pissed off, manifests from the water of the fountain, and we now see his visage in full for the first time, and it needs to be IMPOSING. He looks at the queen, and at Andromeda herself. He says that for Cassiopeia’s hubris, they are to be punished. Her child will meet one of his, the great Cetus, and then they’ll be able to compare “prowess and beauty”. This is certain death for Andromeda, obviously, and everybody knows it. This is to be done on her 20th birthday, or all of Aethiopia will fall. It’s then that Perseus steps in to defend Andromeda.

Poseidon looks at him, and says something like: “And look! As if to perfect this offering, Zeus’ bastard steps in the save the day! Well, child, do you offer yourself to me, after evading my justice for so long?” Everybody, INCLUDING PERSEUS, if totally shaken by this revelation. See, Perseus had NO IDEA that he was the child of Zeus. But he swallows his surprise, and offers himself in Andromeda’s stead. As Poseidon’s about to kill him there and then, he hears a hoot from the rafters, and sees the visage of Athena overlapping the little owl. Not comfortable with this situation, he offers a deal: if Perseus can complete a task for him, he will spare Andromeda’s life. Perseus accepts IMMEDIATELY, without hearing the task. And that task?

Kill the Gorgon Medusa, and bring her head back to Aethiopia before Andromeda is sacrificed.

Yeah, not good, and definitely unfair. Perseus isn’t exactly a warrior of any prowess, so this won’t end well for him. Poseidon laughs, and disappears into the water of the fountain. Silence befalls the hall, and all eyes turn to Perseus. Athena leaves, and flies up to her temple, angry and frustrated. She then decides that, if Poseidon is going to meddle in the affairs of the mortal world so strongly, then she will do the same. She finds Hermes, and the two start to conspire.

The next morning, Perseus heads out on the journey, although he has no idea what to do. Andromeda begs him not to do it, but he says he has little to lose. King Cepheus, humbled by Perseus’ intentions, promises whatever Perseus wants if he succeeds. Perseus states that he wants little, but will take assistance for his mother and village. It’s done. And Andromeda, to the surprise of her mother, almost offers her hand in marriage to her as well. But she stops short, still hesitant.

Perseus is about to go the distance, when a little owl catches his eye. Something tells him to follow the owl, and he does. Athena reveals herself, and Perseus is struck, not knowing what to do. She tells him to find the Greae, as they will tell him how to get to Medusa. He asks how he will get there, and Athena gives him his first divine item: Hermes’ winged sandals, loaned to him by the messenger god himself. The sandals will guide him to the location of the sisters. And Perseus accepts.

He makes his way to the sisters, the shenanigans with the eye stay about the same (it’s pretty solid in the 1981 film, not gonna lie), and from there, he finds out where to go. In the meantime, Athena’s and Perseus’ deeds are being noticed by the gods, eventually making their way to the three brothers. Poseidon is, of course, enraged at these happenings, considering them dishonorable to him, and also incensed as this is coming from Athena, a long-standing rival of his. Hades seems neutral about it. And Zeus...we’ll come back to him. Hermes, joined by Dionysus, speaks with Athena in Olympus, and delivers something to her to give to Perseus: Hades’ Helm of Darkness. He’s curiously chosen a side, but why isn’t known even to Hermes. Will that reason ever be revealed?

I have my reasons. Dionysus, also inspired by Perseus’ origins (which mirror his own as well), gives to Athena a wine-colored cloak, impervious to harm from all poisons and corrosive items. Inspired by this, Athena thinks on her history with Medusa. And, uh...remember that scream from the beginning? Yeah, Medusa’s “birth” coincides with Perseus’ conception. While Poseidon was...busy...Zeus went for Danae behind his back. And we’re going to sanitize Medusa’s origin...a little. But for Athena’s sake, specifically.

Poseidon raped Medusa. That’s a given. And Medusa was a priestess of Athena, but not a great one. Although Athena was angered at Poseidon’s actions GREATLY, the one who inevitably suffered for it was Medusa. Poisoned by Poseidon’s actions, she was transformed into her current form. And in this case, it’s not made clear whether or not Athena directly caused it...but it’s clear that Athena did nothing to stop it. This can be changed in some ways, but this is how I’m changing it for the movie. If you disagree, entirely understandable, I’m open to suggestions here.

OK, after that flashback, we see that Athena’s kind of ashamed of her actions, but not entirely. I realize that this is a stretch for Athena’s character, but this is a movie for wider audiences, so we’ll go for it. There’s a reason, I promise. Athena delivers the gifts to Perseus, which he finds once he’s left the cave of the Greae. That’s the cloak from Dionysus, the Helm of Darkness from Hades, and Athena’s offering, a mirrored shield. Perseus heads out to slay Medusa.

Poseidon, meanwhile, has his own ideas. He goes to speak with Hera, a shadow antagonist who’ll get her day later on. He persuades her to help take care of Zeus’ bastard son, and she reluctantly gives him permission to use one of her creations. What this is is left a mystery for the time being, but not for long. Perseus is busy flying with the winged sandals, and is thinking on how easy the journey has been. He’s getting a little cocky, in other words. But that’s quickly stopped when he’s blind-sided by something hitting him in the sky. He’s sent flying, and when he focuses up again, he sees what’s hit him.

YUP. HARPIES. Now, at this point, you may be saying: “365, you hypocrite! That never happened in the original story of Perseus! You sonuvabitch!” To that I say:

This is supposed to be a movie, and it’s gotta be a little exciting.

The origin of the harpies is entirely unstated, and Hera loved her some birds, so it makes sense that she would have some. In fact, I kind of want to make them women that Hera punished with this form, possibly for their association with Zeus at some point.

I’m setting something up, just trust me here.

Harpies as a concept are a familiar enemy to most audiences.

They’re cool, and an aerial battle’s even cooler here.

Perseus needs some mortal peril, because of something that’s about to happen.

OK. With that, the Harpies attack Perseus, and Perseus realizes that he doesn’t have a weapon to fight them with. He’s forced aground, on a seemingly desrted island. The Harpies fly off for now, ready to pick Perseus off later. Perseus, now stuck on the island, wanders around. At the same time, Zeus, sees this, and turns into an eagle once again. He flies off to a volcano, as an irritated Hera looks on. At the volcano, he flies into a cave, lined with veins of many metals. This is Hephaestus’ forge.

Hephaestus is another of those gods that I feel like never gets his day in court. There are many reasons for that, to be fair, but I’d like him to have a role in this story. He’s a relatively neutral god, mostly caring about his work at the anvil, moreso than anything else. I also like the idea of having him almost be a running joke in his scenes, in that he always comes up with devices far beyond their time. Like, at a certain point, he offers something for Zeus to give to Perseus, which he calls a “thunderblast”. And it’s a fucking CANNON, YEARS ahead of its time. You also see sketches for smaller versions, which are just straight up guns. But, y’know, eus will refuse that.

Speaking of that, THIS is the first time that we’ll see Zeus’ true face, lit by the light of the forge. And there are a few reasons for this, one of which being that Zeus’ casting should be a big name, and a surprise in marketing. But other than that, Zeus’ really shouldn’t have too much import in the story, outside of Perseus’ creation. However, looking at Hephaestus, who is himself a cast-out and neglected offspring of the gods, Zeus actually manages to eke out a little guilt for his actions for one. He asks Hephaestus to make something for him and Perseus. Hephaestus is hesitant, but agrees upon hearing about Perseus’ origins, because Hephaestus is ALSO HIS HALF-BROTHER...in this movie. Hephaestus’ origin has changed in different tellings, but I want him to be Zeus’ kid. So, yeah, Hephaestus agrees to make something...simple.

Perseus is on the island. There, he’s being watched by YET ANOTHER mysterious figure. Because, yeah, that’s how these people should work. See, there’s another benefactor for him that I want to bring in for various reasons. This island appears to have been inhabited at some point, but was abandoned for unknown reasons. Perseus wanders around, and stumbles upon a ruined Great Hall, open to the sky. He wanders in, nervously. But then, to his surprise, he sees a great feast before him, as a fire roars in the hearth at the end of the hall. He looks at the fire for a moment, and sees a woman tending it. But as the fire bursts, it produces a flash of light, and the woman is gone. Who was she, though?

The LEAST used and talked about goddess in all of pop culture. An unofficial/occasional Olympian, and far less popular than Dionysus, who usually takes her seat. I actually want her to have given Dionysus her seat, as she will be wandering the world, bestowing blessings on the households of those worthy mortals who honor her. To Perseus, she gives this gift, and this hall with maintain this gift in the future. This goddess is Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth and Home.

AND YES I AM AWARE OF HESTIA IN THE ANIME DANMACHA. Doesn’t goddamn count, because that obviously isn’t Hestia. The Greek goddess deserves some respect, as she’s literally the oldest of all of them, and was VERY respected in Greek culture, by LITERALLY EVERYBODY. So, yeah, Hestia’s going to appear here, ever so briefly.

The other reason for this is...well, the Harpies show up, as Perseus eats. They perch on the roof of the Great Hall, and watch him eat. He notices them, and as he reacts, they come down to take the food and attack him. Perseus realizes that the food has revitalized his weary body, and he runs. However, the Harpies prevent egress, and he still has no weapon. Until...

Thunder clashes, and lightning strikes in the middle of the Great Hall! The fire goes out, but light is coming from something in the center of the table, as Perseus and the Harpies look on. With the lightning bolt, there traveled a harpe, a type of sword, which is embedded in the table. But this is no ordinary sword, as it chines silver, almost blue in hue, as electricity arcs off of it. This is a divine sword, forged by Hephaestus on the order of Zeus himself.

But the sword is nameless...for now. Perseus uses the flashes of the sword to fend off the harpies. When one of them lunges at him, he quickly moves in response to it, and strikes it just, slicing off a wing. The other Harpies fly away in fear, but not too far. Perseus takes the opportunity, and leaves the great Hall, maybe grabbing some food on the way. Now armed, he has a way to kill Medusa, and to take her head. He heads to the island, with new purpose.

Meanwhile, in Aethiopia, the people are starting to panic. Remember when I said the city wasn’t particularly religious before? WELL THEY ARE NOW, since they’ve realized that they’ve profaned Poseidon with their arrogance. The vain Cassiopeia is now terrified, for herself rather than for her daughter. Cepheus is terrified for Andromeda, and Andromeda...well, Andromeda is putting hope in Perseus, but she is also prepared to sacrifice herself if necessary. But deep down, she doesn’t believe it will be, because she oddly believes in Perseus.

However, Cepheus won’t be able to hold off the hordes forever, It’s been nearly a week, and Andromeda is to be sacrificed soon. And if Cepheus won’t do it, the newly religious Cassiopeia and the crowd will.

Poseidon realizes that his plan with Hera’s Harpies didn’t work...perfectly. Damn, he’s still alive. Plus, the Harpies won’t get off of the island now, especially seeing that food seems to be magically appearing every night, due to Hestia’s gift. Maybe and island with magically appearing food beset by Harpies will, I dunno...come backcoughcogchJasoncoughcoughArgonautscoughcough. Nevertheless, Poseidon hatches another plan, a back-up plan to get revenge on Zeus and Perseus. He tells a nymph to “find him”. We’ll get to “him” later.

However, this is a problem for Perseus still, because he’s been thrown WAY off course from the island of Medusa. Even with the sandals, he’d be cutting it close to get back to Joppa with Medusa’s head. And that’s if he gets back with the head. Still a big if, that. In any case, he’s headed there to do what he must. He’s already faced the Greae and the Harpies, so, hey! Not too bad so far, right? Just Medusa next, and then a giant sea monster! Hahaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Well...whatever. For Andromeda, and for something else, he’s going to do it. Perseus looks at the sword, and wonders what’s up with the whole “Zeus is my dad” thing yet again, but shakes it off as he continues flying. Above him, an eagle flies. Said eagle is soon joined by an owl, and the two share a look as they follow Perseus. He’s close to the island, and Medusa’s island is prominent on the horizon, shrouded in a dark eerie fog.

Perseus lands on the island, after hovering above it for perhaps too long. This is, unsurprisingly, the same island from the beginning of the film, now in ruins. He gears up, and this includes the Helm of Darkness this time. He creeps into the temple, and is struck by surprise when he sees a Gorgon slithering next to him. OH SHIT

On first glimpse, the invisible Perseus notes that the creature is indeed monstrous, standing 6-feet tall, with snakes for her short hair and fang-like teeth protruding from her mouth. And while there are some details not actually in Greek mythology, I do like some details given in the films. Firstly, this Gorgon is armed not only with her looks and teeth, but bows and arrows, as seen as she takes an arrow, and coats in in poison dripping from her teeth.

Perseus realizes the danger that he’s in, but also doesn’t realize that this ISN’T Medusa. YUP. This is one of the Gorgons, but not Medusa. He approaches the creature, confident in his invisibility. However, he isn’t careful enough, and accidentally kicks a pebble. The Gorgon looks directly at him, into his EYES, and he’s paralyzed! But...he isn’t turned to stone, curiously. This is how he figures out that this isn’t Medusa, but simply another Gorgon. He also realizes how careless he’s being, and takes care to avert his eyes from the Gorgons and Medusa.

He gets over his paralysis eventually, then carefully makes his way to the main temple. On the way, he encounters another Gorgon, completing the trio of Gorgons present in mythology. He walks into the temple, and as he does, a door slams shut behind him. Now the Gorgons up until now have been monstrous and fairly tall women, with snakes for hair and hideous visages, but also with mostly humanoid bodies, with legs that they can walk upon. Medusa, though...Medusa’s different.

As the door closes, Perseus is clearly unnerved. The temple seems empty in front of him, but he also sees statues littered around it, clearly those of mortal men turned to stone by Medusa’s gaze. He walks carefully, and as he does, he hears a voice call out, asking who’s there. She can smell him, sense him, and he is not completely invisible to her. Perseus says nothing, as not to completely give away him position. But he is TERRIFIED, and the audience should be as well. Because we see glimpses of her throughout the temple. You ever see the new version of Disney’s The Jungle Book? Remember how they first showed Kaa?

In the same way, coils of a snake’s body are seen, slithering around Perseus, who’s looking for Medusa. All the while, a hissing voice speaks to him from the shadows. She recognizes that his patron is Athena, her former priestess. She explains her rage, both at Poseidon for what he did, and for Athena for abandoning her and condemning her to this terrible fate. She asks why he’s come, guessing that it’s to kill her. He confirms this, but upon hearing her story, expresses his doubts.

But Medusa...Medusa doesn’t really care. If this is a favored beneficiary of Athena, as she used to be, she wants him fucking DEAD. And she doesn’t care who he is, or what his mission is, or about his feelings. he’s going to turn him into stone, and display him in her collection, so that Athena can see something she loves turned into a monstrous form. And now, we see Medusa in full. And I gotta say, Harryhausen had it right. So did Warner Brothers in adapting it.

Half snake, half woman, with long, LONG snakes for hair, and a long snake body as well. She’s also surprisingly beautiful, as I actually do like the idea of keeping her beautiful, in a way to remind her of what she used to be. She’s armed not with a bow and arrow, but with a stone spear. And she’s BIG in form. Her head is still human-sized, but she was clearly a tall woman when she was human. She uses her body to rear up to terrifying heights, though, and Perseus can only see glimpses of her as she reveals herself.

She attacks him, and Perseus has to think fast. In the original myths, he gets her in his sleep. In the movies, it’s a combination of luck and mirrors. But here...here, it’s going to be different. See, we’re going with the old fallen pillar gag. Perseus enrages her, and tricks her into knocking over pillars of the temple that they’re in. She attacks with the spear, with statues thrown by her snake body, with her snake body, and also with an addition: spitting venom, like that of a spitting cobra.

But he manages to either dodge it, or block it with the corrosive proof cloak. All the while, he avoids her gaze, but his helmet is knocked off in the process. She can see him now, and that’s bad news. But only one more column needs to fall. Perseus tricks her into knocking the temple down around her, and she’s trapped in the rubble.

Perseus escapes, and the other Gorgons outside are knocked out by the debris. However, Medusa’s definitely not dead. He stumbles across her, under the rubble, and still enraged. She’s trapped now, though, and he can kill her easily. She actually asks him to, and he refuses at first. But Athene, in owl form, lands on a still standing pillar, in Medusa and Perseus’ eyeline. They see it, and they know that it’s a sign of what Perseus needs to do. Perseus closes his eyes. And he swings.

The blood washes over the sword, smoking. Now christened in an act of mercy and strength, the blue-silver turns to gold, and a name appears on the blade: Chrysaor (and yeah, I know Chrysaor was a dude, but I am TAKING CREATIVE LICENSE HERE). But Perseus is upset by this, feeling that he wasn’t a great hero at all. But Athena appears, and notes that mercy is also a quality of heroism. Something even the gods could learn (referring to herself, and her actions in reference to Medusa). He looks at her, unsure of what to think.

Not that it matters, since he’ll never get back to Aethiopia in time to save Andromeda. And then...the rubble begins to shake. Perseus arms himself, and he points the sword at the rubble, expecting to fight a Gorgon. But instead, an unexpected creature springs up from the rubble: Pegasus.

YUP. I’M STILL DOING IT! I realize that Pegasus is NOT Perseus’ mount, but he is actually linked to the myth via Medusa. So, yeah, Pegasus is born of Medusa. Perseus looks at Athena, who notes that Pegasus looks swift, and seems to be a way back. Pegasus is also pretty grateful to Perseus, as he’s technically responsible for his freedom. So, yeah...he gets ONE ride.

Perseus puts the head of Medusa in the cloak of Dionysus, and gets on Pegasus. As Perseus takes off with Pegasus and Chrysaor, Athena looks at the body of Medusa. Zeus, as the eagle, looks on, and follows Perseus to Aethiopia. Athena stays behind, and then is joined by Hermes. He notes that he’s here for Medusa’s soul, as Hades has been waiting for her soul this whole time. There’s his ulterior motive. But Athena tells Hermes that she’ll be accompanying them. She will speak to Hades.

But enough of that, because Andromeda’s set to be sacrificed! The angry mob has hit a fever pitch, and it’s day before her birthday! Cassiopeia, now fully in the cult of Poseidon with the rest, brings her daughter to the rocks to be chained up. Cepheus tries to stop this, but the mob stops him instead, imprisoning him on the command of Cassiopeia. Andromeda is also taken captive, set to be sacrificed to Poseidon to gain his favor.

Perseus gets to Aethiopia, and lands near Joppa, the capital city. Pegasus takes off, bidding goodbye to Perseus, who thanks him. Pegasus has a date with a kid named Bellerophon. And Perseus is finally feeling confident. Although, he’s not entirely sure what he’ll do when he gets there. But he’s got the head, so what could go wro-BAM!!!

He’s blindsided, with a hit to the face by a rock! And here, we get a bit of an aside from the myth to add something. See, Perseus wakes up, as he’s been out for a WHILE. As he wakes up, he sees an old man, clearly bedraggled and haggard. The man notes that he’s awake after all, and Perseus notes that he has the sword and Medusa’s head in the cloak. This old man introduces himself as an old banished king. He explains that he is there to kill Perseus, on command from Poseidon. You see, he’s been given a chance at absolution, for offending him via inaction many years ago.

The two have a heart-to-heart of sorts, about the expectations of the gods, and Perseus asks why he hasn’t killed him. The king doesn’t reveal his full reasons, those being that Perseus is, of course, his grandson. But Perseus asks him to let him live, in order to save someone with the item in the bag. Curious, the old king looks in the bag...

Stone. And thus, Acrisus’ prophesied downfall is done. Shocked and saddened by this, Perseus nevertheless takes the head, his sword, and his sandals. and takes off to save Andromeda. More time’s been lost, and Andromeda’s lost her hope in Perseus, as has everybody else. By the time he gets there, Poseidon’s released Cetus, who can look however, but I will say I think the incarnation in the 2010 movie was pretty solid. Cetus heads off to kill Andromeda, under the watch of Cassiopeia and her cult of Poseidon.

But then, Perseus shows up to present the head, and sees Cetus having arrived to devour Andromeda. Instinctively, he presents the head to Cetus, and turns him into stone (because I think that’s a cool way for him to go). Andromeda is saved, but Poseidon is PISSED THAT HIS PLAIN FAILED. He rears up from the ocean, complete with earthquake tremors, ready to kill Perseus himself. BUT ZEUS IS FUCKING DONE WITH HIS BULLSHIT.

He steps in the way of Poseidon, and screams that there’s been enough damage done! At the first full appearance of Zeus, EVERYBODY in Aethiopia reacts. While everyone bows in reverence, Cassiopeia’s so freaked out that she runs away. She’ll be leaving the city altogether, and when she does, she’s watched over by a cuckoo (or a peacock). This is Hera, and as a god of women AND OF MOTHERS...she’s going to be punishing Cassiopeia for her deeds.

Zeus and Poseidon speak, and the two come to tentative peace. This is settled in the courts of Olympus, where everybody involved comes together to speak about this affair. They note that, despite Poseidon’s petty bullshit, something unique has happened. A mortal child of a god, spurned on by their actions, has managed to outsmart and defeat countless obstacles. And now, celebrated for saving Andromeda and the city of Joppa, Perseus is celebrated. Zeus predicts that he will be made king, with Andromeda as his queen. And this pleases Zeus greatly. Poseidon, still angry, is not convinced. But Zeus directs his attention away from Perseus’ celebration, and towards one of his children: Pegasus.

A new age is now dawning in the world of man, and in the world of gods. As Pegasus flies over the oceans, he flies over an island, as Zeus narrates on the nature of this new age of heroes. And as Pegasus lands, we see the city of Corinth in the distance. The narration concludes, as we are introduced to a young man, a prince named...Bellerophon.

Cut to black.

Well...almost. There’s a mid-credits scene, where a newly crowned Perseus goes back to his island with a fleet of ships to see his mother, and bring her to Aethiopia to live happily. And then, there’s an after-credits scene, with Athena. She’s looking at the mortal word, and looking forward to this age of heroes. She sees that some divine intervention may be needed in the land of Boeotia. She asks her attendant to fetch her shield. And Medusa, saved from the Underworld by a penitent Athena, brings her the shield, Gorgoneion, now adorned with the image of Medusa’s former self, as a reminder to Athena to be merciful. And off she goes, to help another burgeoning hero: Cadmus

AND SO THE AGE OF HEROES BEGINS

Alongside a theoretical franchise, of course.

If you read this nonsense, then...wow, why? But also, thank you! Mostly for putting up with my mad ravings. I’ll be putting the the straight-up review of this film later today, but...I really needed this off my chest. Any thoughts? Any ideas? Any criticisms? Any petty insults? I’ll take it, whatever it is! THanks again for putting up with this.

See you in the ACTUAL REVIEW!!!

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dorkzrul · 3 years

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Demigods Deck The Halls

A sweet Percabeth fanfic about the first time that the two families meet, that is for Christmas Dinner at Sally's apartment. Lot of fluff and told mainly from Sally's perspective. Written for DeadKidWalking in the Percabeth Discord Server Secret Santa. Read and Review :) Sally’s P.O.V

I hear the bell ring just as I'm finishing up, setting the table. They must be here! I check the clock and see that it’s exactly 7 PM, they’re perfectly on time. I wipe my hands on my apron as I call out to Percy, “They’re here!”. I hear him scrambling down the stairs, probably fiddling with his hair or tie. He was so nervous when he was getting ready, I was thoroughly amused by it all. But, it’s cute that he wants to look his best for Annabeth. I hear the door open and I hear Percy greeting the Chase’s. I check on the food once more before joining Percy at the door.

I see Percy blushing as Annabeth teases him and Frederick laughing along with them. “Hi! Welcome!”, I shake Frederick’s wife’s hand. “It's so nice to finally meet you! Thank you for having us over for Christmas dinner in your lovely home, Mrs Blofis. I’m Helen.” “I’m happy you came. Please, call me Sally.” “I hope we’re not early, Sally. Annabeth refused to let us leave any later”, Frederick adds with a laugh. “Oh no! We’re so glad that you came, early or late”, I respond. “It’s nice to meet you Annabeth, Percy talks a lot about you”, I smile at her, as Percy blushes, before bending down to be at eye level with the twins, “Hi, what are your names?” “ I’m Matthew and this is Bobby”, the taller boy tells me enthusiastically.

I offer to take all of their coats as they take off their shoes and enter. “Careful Annabeth! While taking off your coat, don’t mess up the hair you spent a half-hour on”, Frederick comments jokingly. Everyone, except a blushing Annabeth, laughs slightly. “Trying to look good for me, were you Wise Girl?”, Percy teases. “Don’t worry Annabeth, even Percy took an hour to get ready. He was so nervous before you came, his hands were wet with sweat!”, I reassured her. “Mom!”, Percy exclaims with a red face as Annabeth giggles lightly along with everyone else. Paul comes down the stairs just then and introduces himself to everyone as he shakes their hands.

I lead them all to the dining table, where the food is set up in the middle of the table with plates for each seat and cutlery along with it. “I had to add two more chairs because the table only seated six so I hope that it isn’t too tight a fit”, I say apologetically. “Of course not, we’ll all be okay!”, Annabeth quickly adds. As everyone sits down at the table, I uncover the dishes and take out the cutlery for serving. I can see everyone’s gazes on the food I made. “This is wonderful, Sally! It must have taken you ages to make all this”, Helen comments. “Not really, it was fun to make. I’m glad you like it”, I reply with a smile. The past two days, I’d busied myself making the meal, which included turkey and roast beef with drizzled cranberry sauce with a side of gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots and green beans for the main course; and Christmas pudding and fruit cake for dessert.

“Annabeth dear, can you say grace?”, I ask her from across the table. “Sure, Sally!” She says grace and then we all sit down to eat. No one talks much as we all dig into the delicious meal. “This is delicious!”, Paul remarks and everyone else nods and makes sounds of agreement. I blush scarlet, “Thank you so much!” As we eat dinner Helen, Frederick, Paul and I all talk about our respective jobs. We talk about my novels and some of the difficulties Paul faces dealing with and teaching high school kids. I learn that Frederick is an American and Military History professor at West Point and Paul and Frederick exchange notes on their styles of teaching. I also learn that Helen used to be an interior designer before she met Frederick and got married to him. After that, she moved to San Francisco with him and left her old job behind. She also tells me how her ex-husband (Bobby and Matthew’s father) had a drinking problem and is now in jail and she was so happy when she met Frederick and he wasn’t a bit like her first husband and how he has really helped her deal with things and has been a great stepdad to Bobby and Matthew. I also tell her about Gabe and how glad I was when I was finally rid of him, and then how I felt when Paul came along.

Percy and Annabeth are excitedly talking about school and how Annabeth’s father has finally agreed to let her move to New York and attend Goode High School and how Annabeth and her dad are going to be looking for a place for her to stay sometime during their time in Manhattan. Matthew and Bobby are playing some game with their hands and cutlery which results in food falling all over the place and Helen has to stop every few minutes to reprimand them. I tell her that it’s okay and to let them play. It kind of reminds me of Percy at that age and how much fun we would have...

After we are all done eating Matthew and Bobby drag Percy and Annabeth away to play a game of Hungry Hippos and Paul and Helen volunteer to clear up the table and do the dishes in the kitchen. Frederick and I sit in the living room with cups of coffee looking at the four kids laughing and playing happily on the floor. I notice both Percy and Annabeth are playing with only one hand and upon closer inspection, I notice that they’re holding hands under the table. Percy looks at me for a second and I raise my eyebrows at him gesturing to the clasped hands under the table. He blushes and turns back to the game as I laugh at how embarrassed he looks to be caught.

I point this out to Frederick and he laughs heartily. Then he sighs and looks fondly at Annabeth. “I’m so glad that Annabeth decided to come back and forgive me. Also, that the war is over and all the worry and stress is no more.” I nod, “I felt the same way with Percy and more so because he’s Poseidon’s son. But it must have been worse for you, having to part with Annabeth so early on.” Percy had told me about how Annabeth had run away young and I am sure that it must have been extremely hard on Frederick. I have a lot of sympathy for him.

He replies, “Honestly, at first, it didn’t seem like much. After Athena left her to me, I loved her but I always resented Athena for leaving me with a child I hadn’t wanted at first. Furthermore, to me, she was just a reminder of the time I spent with Athena and as she grew up, she began to look more and more like her mother and it eventually became too much for me to bear. When I met Helen, I was so glad to finally move on from Athena and settle into a normal, non-mythical life that I think I seemed to move on from Annabeth too because she was a reminder of my past and seemed to symbolise all my old feelings and troubles. I did love her but I always put her second, behind Helen and the twins. I think that made her feel as if I didn’t love her at all. Also, my work kept me quite busy and I think Helen always had a grudge against Annabeth as she seemed to her a reminder of my previous relationship with Athena and apparently Annabeth was mistreated by her and the twins hated her too. However, in my perspective, Helen and the twins seemed to be making an effort while Annabeth simply hated them and put all of us in trouble due to her being a demigod. This all lead up to her feeling unwanted and unloved and so she ran away. Helen and the twins didn’t seem to care much and at first, I thought it was just a mood and of course she would come back. When she didn’t, I was very worried and I tried my hardest to find her but I only found her after many years when she wrote to me, and I hear that was because Percy encouraged her to. I am extremely grateful to him for that.

“I was stunned. On one hand, I know that he loved Annabeth to bits and it must have hurt him tremendously when she ran away, but it was also partially his fault for making her feel unloved enough to run away and seemingly preferring Helen and the twins over her. But overall, I do understand his plight and I feel bad for him. As a parent, I understand how painful it would be to lose your child, and at such a young age too. It would break my heart if Percy was to run away and I might not be able to endure it. “I understand your pain, Frederick. When Poseidon left me with Percy, I wanted to run away and create a new life for us where we could be normal and Percy would never have to face the dangers. He also looks just like Poseidon and every time I looked at him, I would be reminded of my past with Poseidon. But I would never have been able to bear him running away. I am sorry for that. I tried my best to prevent that by marrying Gabe. However bad of a husband he may have been, he kept Percy safe and I was grateful for that. Even finally having him learn his true origins and leaving me at twelve hurt me. I cannot begin to understand your pain”, I respond.

He smiles sadly, “After I finally reconnected with Annabeth, I felt such relief. I had honestly not known if she were alive or dead for those horrible five years. But even after that, I was always filled with worry at the thought of her going on those dangerous missions and quests and after each one, it felt like a great weight had been taken off my shoulders, until I learned she was going on another, more dangerous quest.” I nodded, “With Percy, I was always scared of the Great Prophecy that I had been told off by Grover and every quest seemed more dangerous than the last. I almost wanted to lock him up somewhere secret just so my baby could be safe. I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to him.”

“I feel that. When Annabeth and I had our falling out about my move to San Francisco and she left, I was terrified of something happening to her and me not knowing of it. When Percy turned up at my house with his friends and told me Annabeth was in trouble, I almost felt my heart stop. Even after they left, I couldn’t help myself going up to the battlefield and helping her out myself. I wanted to see that she was safe and sound with my own eyes. When I finally met her, it felt like all was right in the world again.”

“I went through something similar when Percy and Nico came to ask for my blessing for Percy to become immortal with a dip in the Styx because I knew that if something happened, I would only have myself to blame as I was the one who allowed him to do that in the first place. I knew the risk of letting him do it and I knew that there was a chance that he could drown in the Styx but I still let him do it. He wanted it so badly and I knew that I couldn’t stop him but to this day, I fear for what could have happened that day because of my decision. When I didn’t hear back from him, I immediately thought the worst and drove as fast as I could to the Empire State Building to see if it was true. That was when the city fell asleep and after I woke up and saw him, it felt like I was floating. We were in the middle of a war and I almost didn’t care just because he was alright. Letting him go into that building alone was extremely hard and it seemed that I couldn’t breathe properly until the Empire State Building lit up blue and I knew he was okay. I felt like I could finally live again after that. I had been consumed by terror and worry before that and only when I knew he was okay did I feel okay”

“All the way from San Francisco, I had no idea what was going on in New York and when I saw the news, I knew immediately that something was wrong and I was panicking because Annabeth wasn’t picking up her phone, despite knowing that demigods and technology don’t bode well together. Until she finally Iris messaged me and told me that everything was okay, I felt like I was being pulled apart by anxiety. I felt light-headed at that, I was so overjoyed. I couldn’t wait for the end of summer so that I could finally meet my baby girl. I am so proud of the mature, beautiful strong woman she has become, despite all the hardships she faced. She has come a long way and I am filled with pride at the person she is today.

“I smile at that, “I am equally proud of Percy. He has grown up so much and has become so strong and brave. I know that he’s no longer my little boy anymore and he has blossomed into a wonderful young man. I’m also glad that he has found his match in Annabeth, she’s a wonderful girl and they look very happy together” “I think so too. They make a wonderful couple but I do long for those days when she was just my little girl”. “Don’t we all”, I say, laughing. We get up and go to the kitchen just as Percy and Annabeth disappear into Percy’s room. “Leave the door open”, I say, jokingly. “Mo-o-o-o-o-m”, Percy cries, embarrassed.

Annabeth’s P.O.V

Percy and I were playing Hungry Hippos with Matthew and Bobby when he suddenly tells me to come over to his room because he wants to give me my gift. I’m so glad he got me a gift! I got him one but I wasn’t sure if he would. We get up and I quickly grab my gift for him before we go into his room and just as we reach, we hear Sally call out, “Leave the door open”. I giggle as Percy blushes scarlet and responds to his mom, embarrassed. He tells me to close my eyes and hold out my hands.

I do it and I feel him place a small, velvet box in my hands. I open my eyes and then slowly open the box to find a beautiful pendant made of a piece of red coral. I gasp, “It’s beautiful! I love it so much! Where did you get it, Seaweed Brain?”, I ask him as I hook it onto my camp necklace. “I found it when I was swimming in the sea once”, he said, grinning. “Thank you!”, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, softly kissing him. He grins wider. “You’re welcome”, he says hugging me tight.

“Now open my present”, I tell him excitedly, handing the small, festive bag to him. He eagerly pulls out all the colourful paper and tosses it aside, pulling out a box. He opens it to see a thin rope bracelet with a trident charm I had Jake (the head of the Hephaestus cabin) make. “Thanks Wise Girl! It’s so cool!”, he says as he pulls it on. “But that’s not all”, I say excitedly as I press the bottom of the trident’s handle and a little spark of electricity shoots out of the trident onto the wall. It makes a sizzling sound as it hits the wall and leaves a small black mark on it. “Ooops”, I say, guiltily. I turn to Percy to apologize but suddenly feel him lifting me off the ground and twirling me around, tightly hugging me. “That’s awesome! I love it!”, he says grinning widely. I smile widely at him, “I’m so happy you like it.”

Just as he puts me down, I hear my dad calling out for me. It must be time to leave. I kiss him quickly once more before we come out of the room and walk to the door. I quickly put on my shoes and coat as dad, Helen and the twins say goodbye to Sally and Paul. I hug Sally goodbye and shake hands with Paul to say goodbye. I hug Percy tightly and whisper “Goodbye”, softly into his ear. Dad and Helen once more thank Sally and then we leave. Before we get into the lift to go down, I quickly turn around and blow Percy a kiss. He jokingly pretends to catch it as he waves goodbye one last time. I laugh as I get into the lift. This was the best Christmas ever!

THE END

#percabeth #percabethfanfic #fanfic #percy jackson #annabeth chase

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fantasyfandommaiden · 5 years

Text

ML Counsellor AU: Sass’s Session

Carmine gets an interesting visit from another kwami one night. It’s not Tikki or Plagg, but another one who calls himself Sass.

Dedicated to @nerdasaurus1200 for their wonderful idea about previous snake hero’s.

[[MORE]]

It was now becoming a common sight for super hero’s and Kwami’s to make an appearance at her apartment, to the point where Carmine had placed a small sign on her back balcony door that said ‘Open’ on one side and ‘Closed’ on the other. If her friends ever asked, Carmine simply said it was so birds would stop saying into the glass door, which was partially true.

So when she returned one day after buying groceries and saw that the small stress balls she used as kwami chairs were on the table, she knew she had company. She closed her door and locked it behind her as she walked towards the kitchen holding the bags of groceries “I’m alone.” She called, giving a sort of all clear for the small god like beings “Although you guys are very early.” She placed the bags on the counter and looked over to the table to see the Kwami’s... and saw one she had never seen before.

The kwami itself resembled a sort of lizard almost, but Carmine guessed it was suppose to be a snake. He had sea green skin with dark green diamonds running down its back, he also had small fangs and piercing yellow eyes.

The kwami looked at her appraisingly before speaking, his speech having a slight lisp to it. “Greetings.” He said to her, his ‘S’s extended in a hiss like a snake “You are the psychologist Plagg and a Tikki spoke of I take it?” He asked her.

Carmine looked at him long and hard, confused, was there a snake hero and no one told her? “... yes, although I would hope you checked before coming into a strangers home, least you get discovered by someone else.” She said slowly “Do you drink tea, Mr...”

“Sass.” He stated evenly “And I believe Plagg and Tikki was said to call you Carmine, correct?”

“Yes, my name is Carmine Regal, it’s a pleasure to meet you Sass.” She said as she brought over a tea cup for herself and a small doll one for Sass. She sat down, looking st the Kwami somewhat confused expression as the kettle boiled.

Sass sat down on one of the stress balls, looking up at Carmine “You are wondering why I am here, correct?” He asked her, seeming to answer the unasked question.

Carmine nodded “I know that Plagg and Tikki aren’t necessarily suppose to be speaking to me, and I know the other Kwami’s for Queen Bee, Rena Rouge And Carapace are protected when not in use, so this is somewhat surprising to me.” She said calmly.

Sass nodded, looking thoughtful for a moment “... The Guardian doesn’t know I am here, but Carapace’s Kwami does. He didn’t approve of this either, but he understands enough to not tell the Guardian unless I don’t return.” He explained to her “I’ve come for a similar reason as Tikki did her first visit.”

The kettle chose to whistle at that moment, making Carmine stand up and got get it for the tea. Tikki’s first visit had been to speak of her previous Chosen, Joan of Arc and her tragic downfall... “Do you have a preference of tea?”

“... I think Sideritis would be fittingly you have any, it is also called mountain tea or shepherds tea.” He said. Carmine looked over her shoulder at the kwami, nodding “If it’s a tea I most likely have it.” Low and behold she did.

She brought it over, and allowed the tea to brew as Sass spoke again.

“One of my chosen had a very rough beginning to life.” The snake Kwami began “Her legend is well know, however the true story has been forgotten.” He looked up at Carmine with his yellow snake eyes “You know the legend of Medusa, yes?”

If Carmine had been drinking her tea she would have spat it out. Instead she looked at the Kwami in shock “Um, yes...” she said slowly “... she was one of the Gorgon sisters, who had been cursed by Athena when Poseidon had his way with her within Athena’s temple. She was cursed to have snakes for hair, becoming hideous and that anyone who looked upon her turned to stone.” She stated, looking at Sass who held a neutral expression “... I take it some of that isn’t true.”

“Indeed. Most points are true. Posidon did have his way with a Gorgon within the goddess temple, and Athena was responsible for the curse of Medusa, and any man that did stare into her eyes was turned to stone.” He said to her. “However some facts were altered to better suite a male ego, as well as was lost to time.”

The snake Kwami took a sip of the tea, looking at Carmine “The woman was a priestess if Athena, she had been defiled by Posidon. She was not in the wrong and Athena knew this. However she had to keep up appearances with the other gods. She had to make the priestess ‘suffer’ for ‘defiling’ her temple.” He stated “So, she cursed the child that came from that awful union with a curse that made her ‘hideous’ and snakes for hair that turned men to stone, for what was worse to a god than to be hideous and to never allow themselves to be near a male without turning him to stone.” He said with slight eye roll.

“What the gods failed to realise was that Athena, in her own way, had given the child a gift. No man could ever do to her what had been done to her mother, she could never be hurt like her mother had. Women were safe from Medusa’s gaze, thus why here symbol was and still is used as a symbol for shelter for women escaping their abusers.” He said smiling “... my little Medusa was an amazing snake... her mother, had she lived through the child birth, would have been proud.”

Carmine looked at Sass “... how did you meet her?” She asked slowly, and Sass smiled “... I was with her from before the day she was born. Medusa’s mother, May she rest in piece, had been the guardian of the Kwami relics at the time. It was a great responsibility, and Medusa’s mother took it very seriously, as did Medusa when it was her turn to look after them.” Sass explained, a small smile on his face “... I was the one to name her ‘Medusa’. It means ‘Guardian and protectress’. Any woman that came to her sanctuary was protected from their abuser, none dare crossed her.”

“... my little hatchling was filled with so much anger.” Sass continued sadly “Anger at the men, at the gods, at Athena for the ‘monster’ she had become. Myself and the other Kwami’s tried to help her as best as we could however...” he looked down sadly into his small tea cup “... she never truly got over her rage. She wasn’t always angry, not when she protected the woman who came into the temple for her protection. But of course, history forgets the kind things she did, for they had to paint her as the perfect villain, the most hideous monster. Not the sad, scared small child who was put into a situation beyond her control...”

The snake kwami takes another sip of his tea, letting out a sigh “... Humans have this notion, that there should always be two sides. The right and the wrong, the righteous and the villains.... they have a hard time looking at the whole picture.” He looks up at Carmine “... I just want my hatchling to be remembered for the kind, protective woman she was, not the monster they painted her to be.”

Carmine gave the small being a sad smile “... I understand that.” Carmine said softly “Maybe not to the same degree, but I understand wanting to be remembered in a better light, and not the shadow.” She took a sip of her tea, looking at the small snake kwami “Do you have time to tell me more?”

Sass gave a small smile “... I believe I do, if you don’t mind.” He said, before speaking again about his beloved, of misunderstood wielder and the good she had done for Greece.

#ml au #ladybug au #counsellor au #carmine regal #ml sass #tea time with kwami’s

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arrowheadproductions · 6 years

Note

Percabeth arranged marriage au?

This turned out… differently than what I expected… And probably different from what you wanted, but it’s still an arranged marriage. I might make this a bigger piece because I liked this concept so much.

Crossed Unions- Rated T

I met Percy Jackson almost 6 years ago when he was discovered as the sole heir to the Atlantean throne. He, like every other heir to an Olympian throne, received a banquet in his and his father’s name. My mother, Queen of Athens, begrudgingly took my siblings and I to this event out of sheer respect for the virility of the crown. She and the Lord of the Sea never saw eye to eye on much, (outside of a brief project that included the invention of the chariot- but I digress) so it was no question that this was purely out of formality and respect to the High King, Zeus.

He was a scared little boy no older than 12, like myself, and I didn’t regard him as royalty material. He looked like he’d been taken off of a farm after wrestling with some pigs, hosed off, and wearing clothes that didn’t have holes in them for the first time in his life. His hair was deliberately unruly and dark as the deepest depths of the ocean. He looked absolutely terrified and positively unaware what in the name of the River Styx was going on.

I scoffed. It wasn’t unlike Poseidon to make such a brash decision at claiming this boy as his own. He was better off giving his kingdom to the children of his wife, who at least grew up in that environment and would know how to manage an entire group of people. Instead, like with many of the fine rulers of Olympia, pride got in his way and he was determined to find his singular bastard child.

Mother finds it unlikely that the Sea Lord has just one illegitimate child out there in the realm, but somehow he’d managed to convince his brother, and that was what truly mattered. This was especially scandalous, as the three offspring of the fallen Lord Kronos took a binding oath of loyalty to their wives.

This led everyone in the kingdom to either hate or love young Percy Jackson, which was a situation he’d never been in before as squalor. He was used to being underestimated and ignored, not plastered on every flyer in town about every movement he made.

One of the dangers of being claimed as a son of the higher lineage (also known as the “Big 3″) was the idea that he would have to prove himself worthy by fulfilling a prophecy along with 2 companions. He chose a satyr named Grover, despite his father’s insistence he take one of his noble half-siblings, but Percy Jackson was loyal more than anything and Grover was trying to earn his searcher’s license like many other satyrs. To do that, he would need to fulfill a quest alongside a hero.

As for the third companion? Well, he didn’t get much of a choice. His quest was to recover Lord Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt to prevent war amongst the 12 kingdoms. It was a heavy one and I felt it was unfair to bestow this upon a kid so new to this world. He barely knew how to swing a sword. I was the most capable and readily available.

The court was pretty against a girl going, which was super annoying since I’ve kicked all of their sons’ butts in dueling, but Athena sided with me and relented that it was high time I prove myself in her name.

I can’t say I liked him very much upon meeting him, though I will admit to some flickers of jealousy that he was inevitably getting a quest and I haven’t seen the outside of Athens since I was taken in by Lady Athena.

“So, you’re a daughter of…?” He trailed off as he approached me. I analyzed him carefully and could tell he was obviously nervous. He couldn’t stop alternating between staring a beat too long at me and quickly reverting back to looking at his shoes. They were shiny and all, but not worth gazing at. I would have argued that I wasn’t exactly worth staring at either, but the boy seemed dumbstruck.

“Athena.” I supplied.

He blinked.

“Of Athens.” I said more impatiently. Maybe he was just dumb.

He wrinkled his brow and I could almost see the wires in his seaweed-filled head trying to make out just how that was possible.

“Oh.” He said stupidly and his face reddened. I could tell he was battling between asking me or not. “I thought she was a… Nevermind.”

“I’m adopted.” I sighed, taking pity on him. “We all are, technically.”

“Oh.” He said again. Didn’t he have anything else to say? He was about to embark on a dangerous quest, after all. It would do a lot better to ask someone as trained in the arts of planning and history of our land to converse with me about it. Actually, I had mistakenly believed me was going to do just that at first.

Nope, instead there we were making weird small talk.

“You drool when you sleep.” I offered, like he needed to know it.

His green eyes widened and it was the first time I’d noticed their impressive likeness to the actual sea. There was no question this was Poseidon’s boy. Though, he could use some training on how to act like a capable person.

“H-How do you-?”

“Who exactly do you think helped nurse you back to health with Chiron after that Minotaur attack, Seaweed Brain?”

“I’m not a Seaweed Brain!”

“Could have fooled me.” I shrugged and slunk away before anyone thought we were getting too comfortable. Had I only known that I’d just met my best friend.

Athena is a virgin leader, so all of her children are actually unrelated to her directly. Those that biologically produce the children are doing so as surrogates and are always the wisest and most intelligent people with whom Athena has built a mental connection with. She is always present at the birth and retrieves her child to Athens. It is as though we are hers through something bigger than blood- fate.

I am forever grateful to be hers and am rightfully placed, however, I have been waiting for my chance to prove my wit and my strength for the past few years. I am the best swordsman (or woman) in Athens even if I prefer to fight with a knife. No one outside of the great lady herself strategizes like me. I spend all day reading and training, even if mother does not always know it. She is certainly more progressive than some of the other figureheads and wants her daughters to be just as intelligent as her sons, but there is still a standard to be made. She does not think with love like a typical mother might, but in what is strategically best for the good of mankind.

My mother was unlike many of the other Godly leaders and placed her children with a choice. We were to either marry in the name of strategy and arrangement or to be virgins forever and focus solely on enriching our minds and bettering humanity. At 10, I chose marriage, as it seemed like the best thing for the current climate of our kingdom. Mother had certainly approved of my decision and that was enough for me back then. Hermes had an eldest son a few years my senior named Luke Castellan who was directly in line to obtain his throne. Mother and King Hermes got along well enough and it was always ideal for wisdom to spread beyond the gates of Athens. It was always a goal for the higher up’s to get their children on as many thrones as possible. If I were to marry Luke, I would be in line for Queen of Arcadia.

This was all good and great back then. I even developed a fixation on Luke Castellan. He was tall, blond and good-looking, not to mention seemed to carry a protectiveness of me that seemed fit in a husband. I was 10 though and more than trying to rationalize the idea that the then 15 year old guy would be my betrothed. I’m sure he didn’t see much in me back then. We were not to marry until we were both of age at 18 and at 10, this seemed like lifetimes away.

And what does any of this have to do with Percy Jackson? Well, I did my best to dislike him as Mother vehemently dislikes King Poseidon, and at first, I did. I couldn’t stand Percy Jackson. He was ridiculously brash and impulsive, but so thick skulled that I wanted to shake him senseless just about every time he spoke. He wore this stupid smirk that exposed himself with those stupid bright green eyes that told anyone in sight that he was up to no good. I thought he was ridiculous and was glad to be marrying a respectful knight in Luke.

And then, a very dangerous thing happened.

Well, two very dangerous things happened in line with one another. Luke began to betray his father’s realm and planned to overthrow the High King. And, I fell madly, truly, hopelessly in love with the son of the Sea King. It was a slow progression, but it happened and I fear I cannot think my way out of it.

Worst of all? He fell in love with me too.

My engagement to Luke fell through the wayside, due to his own death during his attempted uprising, but our problems in this matter did not end there. I was suddenly supposed to marry the son of King Apollo in an attempt to achieve his throne. Percy was set to be married to a princess from a different country altogether in an attempt to create peace between the Greeks and the Romans. He and Princess Reyna were to be married when they are both 18.

We’re 17 and marriage is no longer lifetimes away, despite how much we pretend it is when we sneak around. When we hold hands and walk together, we pretend we are a normal couple living a content and unplanned life. When we steal dances at galas, we pretend everyone knows about us. When we make love in the protective confines of my room in the high tower, we pretend it’s practice for something bigger than the two of us. There’s a bit of security in knowing I’ll always have Percy as a first everything in my life and likewise. That is something no amount of arrangement can change.

We wear promises that don’t come in the name of rings, but in symbols. I wear a necklace with a coral pendant on it while Percy in an impulsive (it’s become mostly endearing at this point) stunt, permanently branded “AOE” in small letters right over his heart in dark ink. This typically stands for “Of Athenians” and is often accompanied with the owl.

“What if somebody sees this?” I asked one time while we were sweaty and still recovering from being wrapped up in one another. He hovered over me, his muscular chest on full display and I traced patterns into his bare back.

He smiled that lopsided grin that now made my heart melt and heat grow between my legs if he caught me in the right mood. Sometimes I think he knows what he does to me, but he’s too thick-skulled to see his own beauty and is honestly somewhat surprised every time we arrive in an intimate situation.

He leaned down to kiss a growing mark on my neck. “Who’s going to see it, but you?”

Your future wife.

I didn’t say it, but I don’t think I had to. His smile flickered a bit in his gorgeous eyes and it yanked at my heart strings. Maybe sometimes we pretended a little too well.

Worried I’d ruined the otherwise pleasant mood we’d cultivated in the wee hours of the morning, I leaned forward and kissed the engraving.

“I like it.” I decided. “Now you’re mine forever.”

He leaned in close so our noses were brushing against each other. “As if I ever wasn’t.”

I grow increasingly bitter about the situation as the days go on, even if it could be worse. I am now betrothed to the son of Apollo, who does not lust after me either, but for the son of Hades. For obvious reasons, he does not come out with this claim either. Percy’s bride to be is in love with a lady of the hunt, Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus. For the same reasons as well as a shared duty to her country, she remains loyal and quiet.

I toy with the idea that we can time things just right. After all, a baby will be expected from both of our ends. If I were to have Percy Jackson’s baby instead of Will Solace’s, it would not be a problem. Unless, of course, that baby popped out with his beautiful dark locks. That wouldn’t solve Reyna’s predicament either. We get together and vent, occasionally, though all of us return to this binding loyalty we have to our parents. What would we sacrifice in order to protect the greater good? What would we lose? Would we regret it?

It’s hard to think I wouldn’t when Percy’s hands slip so perfectly in mine as we stroll in private by the water.

I no longer side with my 10 year old self, unsurprisingly, though my Mother will hear none of it. Strategically, this makes sense, but I am not thinking that way anymore. My siblings know of my affair and tease me by accusing me of being a child of Aphrodite instead. It isn’t like the Sea King’s son and Wisdom’s daughter as a union would be negative. In fact, it might force the two to actually sit down and get along for a change. It would just be unprecedented.

We weren’t meant to get along and we certainly weren’t meant to fall in love.

#percabeth #percy jackson #annabeth chase #ap's fics #pjo #au #arranged marriage #medieval au #request #myfics #fanfiction #seriously i might make a series from this #annabeth's pov

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hearthfirehandworks · 7 years

Text

Pantheonic Ramblings

When I was growing up, books of mythology were always among my favorites. Often these books would include a list of gods, a “cast of characters” that comprised the pantheon of deities who were featured in these stories. More often than not this list was also the list of deities worshipped among the culture that created the myths.

A pantheon, the way we usually use the term, is the group of gods worshipped by a culture. We can get some idea of a culture’s pantheon from its mythology, but it’s not a complete understanding, and it is often not the same understanding that we get from a study of the religious practice of the culture. Stories are one thing, custom is another. And in either case there can be a certain artificiality to a pantheon. The gods and their interrelationships are not limited by our conceptions of them; myth can help to provide deity with an overlay of humanity that can aid our understanding but it is necessarily an incomplete understanding. What is also true, however, is that a pantheon is not a modern construct but one that has existed for a very long time.

The Greeks

The Greek gods are arguably the best-known of ancient pagan deities and constitute a pantheon well documented by both myth and practice. Even so, their grouping is not as stable as, say, Edith Hamilton would lead us to think.

While there are a great number of Hellenic deities, the dodecatheon or primary group of twelve are those we think of first. In Athens and in many other places these were Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon, Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaistos and Hestia (in Athens this grouping is first attested in the 6th century BC, although there is of course no way to know how long it existed before that).

But while the notion of a group of twelve gods was consistent throughout ancient Greece, the specifics could vary regionally. Hestia and/or Ares could have their places occupied by Hades, Dionysos and/or Heracles. In Pherai, a place was held by Themis rather than Hera as consort of Zeus, and another by Enodia who perhaps took the place of Artemis. At Olympia a radically different dodecatheon has been attested, including not only Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis and Dionysos but also Kronos, Rhea, the Charites (Graces) and the river god Alpheios.

(Of course you don’t have to limit your worship of the Greek gods to twelve, and you don’t have to include them in your worship if other less well-known deities call to you more strongly–it just shows how much even communities could vary in how they related to the gods.)

The mythic nature of the gods’ relationships to one another also varied. Aphrodite was the daughter of Zeus and Dione, except that she was also created from the blood of the castrated Ouranos when it fell into the sea and thus an older deity than Zeus himself. Eros was the child of Aphrodite, but he is also a much more ancient and primordial deity, self-created at the beginning of existence.

So while the Greeks clearly perceived their gods as interrelated and as part of an immortal community, the nature of those relationships was variable, and the mythology was neither linear nor consistent.

The Norse

What we know of the grouping of the Norse gods worshipped in Scandinavia comes mostly from myth, particularly the Elder (Poetic) and Younger (Prose) Eddas. That’s where we find the names of the gods, their attributes and what we know of their relationships. This literary evidence is not always supported by what is known about religious practice, either from historical writings (such as those of Tacitus or Adam of Bremen) or from archaeology. We do know that there was a temple at Uppsala, Sweden where Odin, Thor and Frey were worshipped, so we know that these gods can be said to have comprised a pantheon in practice.

All in all, though, there’s plenty of evidence to support dealing with the Norse gods as a related group. Modern heathens may disagree on who was, is, or should be considered a part of the Norse pantheon, but there is generally agreement on the fact that it existed.

There is also some disagreement on whether certain deities are in fact deities or merely manifestations of other deities. Frigga’s handmaidens (Saga, Eir, Gefjon, Fulla, Sjofn, Lofn, Var, Vor, Syn, Hlin, Snotra, Gna) are considered by some to be aspects of Frigga herself. It’s not a wholly unreasonable thought, since the Norse gods are known by more than one name (Odin in particular has so many that it’s hard to keep track of them all!).

Personally I am inclined to see them as separate, individual deities, partly because several of their number do in fact appear independently, partly because of my own natural polytheistic outlook, and partly because I feel that regardless of whether an entity is “God A Under A Different Name” or “Totally Different God B,” it’s only polite to use the name they provide because there is certainly a reason for it.

(Please note that this section is about the Norse gods specifically, not the Germanic deities in general or as a whole.)

The Celts

It is not really proper to speak of a “Celtic pantheon.” Just let me get that out there to start–it’s important to be regionally specific about the gods of the Celts, because there are great differences despite their sometimes being etymologically related.

While there is literary/mythological evidence grouping the gods of the insular Celts, this information is very much lacking with regard to the continental Celtic deities.

But let’s begin with what we know of Celtic myth. The gods of Ireland and other Gaelic lands, the Tuatha de Danann (including Brigid, Manannan, the Dagda and their relations), can probably be considered a group in that they were featured in some of the same stories. Likewise the gods of Wales. There is some question as to whether specific entities are deities or lesser beings (heroes and so forth), in part because those who wrote down the stories had a vested interest in this issue, but if you decide a pantheon exists based on whether the gods were perceived as a group, when it comes to the insular Celtic deities it seems that that may well have been so, although without direct historic or archaeological evidence of worship of specific deities there’s a certain level of supposition there as well.

When you get off of the islands (or into the Roman-occupied areas of the isles), however, the evidence for a Celtic pantheon is much less clear. The lack of a surviving mythology means that there is no evidence that most of the gods were seen as interrelated in any way. There are exceptions–according to Tacitus, the gods Esus, Taranis and Teutates were particularly honored among “the Celts.” And there are existing sites where more than one deity received offerings; often a male and female deity who seemed to be “paired” although it is not always clear whether they were considered consorts or were simply worshipped in the same place.

But although some of the continental Celtic deities were more widely worshipped than others (for example, the Matres–mothers–were worshipped over an incredibly broad area), that’s not to say that they comprised a pantheon in the same sense that we know there was a Greek pantheon. Regional and tribal variations existed and the gods worshipped in one place were very often entirely different from those worshipped in another.

So, short version–while it may be reasonable to talk about a Gaelic or Welsh Celtic pantheon, the same does not hold true for the Gaulish deities. You can certainly worship the gods of Gaul, but to call them a pantheon is almost surely inaccurate. It is, for example, unlikely that the British Sulis and the Iberian Endovelicus would have been worshipped side by side in the normal course of things, simply because they are gods who come from vastly different and distant regions.

Please note that I’m not saying that you can’t worship gods from different regions of Gaul. You can. Just recognize that they probably did not have an existing relationship with one another in ancient times.

It’s also good to keep in mind that nearly all of the archaeological evidence that lets us know who these gods were dates to the Roman occupation, the effects of which on the local religion are nearly impossible to know.

Why does this matter?

Whether this matters will depend on your own religious practice. So for you it may or may not matter (although I think it is always interesting to know these things).

I’m writing from the point of view of a multi-faith polytheist who tries to honor the gods in ways that are somewhat familiar to them. I feel like it’s the polite thing to do. I’m not a strict reconstructionist but I do rely on what I know of history to inform my practice. (It makes less of a difference, I find, in day-to-day household practices than it may with regard to larger or seasonal festivals.) That means that I generally try to worship the gods within their own cultural context. As (almost) always, YMMV.

#polytheism #celtic gods #norse gods #greek gods #hellenic gods

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welldamnshawn · 7 years

Text

Chapter 6: I trust him // Shawn Mendes

Chapter 5: https://welldamnshawn.tumblr.com/post/165682718231/chapter-5-is-that-really-what-you-want-shawn

Chapter 4: https://welldamnshawn.tumblr.com/post/165578764896/chapter-4-i-think-you-should-kiss-him-shawn

Chapter 3: https://welldamnshawn.tumblr.com/post/165507431011/chapter-3-for-a-walking-dictionary-you-can

Chapter 2: https://welldamnshawn.tumblr.com/post/165456105886/id-never-hurt-you-shawn-mendes

Chapter 1: https://welldamnshawn.tumblr.com/post/165397348631/you-might-need-to-buy-another-lock-shawn-mendes

“I get the right to freak out this time, I’m just letting you know.” April says, closing the door behind her as I lay on my double bed staring at the ceiling, contemplating my actions from before.

“Join the club. Its all I’ve been doing since he left.” I sigh, lifting my head to see her curling up in the small sofa I had beside the window that I often sat in to read or do homework.

“So let me get this straight.” April begins the lengthy conversation we’re sure to have. “Last time you told me you just slept in the same bed. That was lunch time.”

I nod solemnly. “Yeah.”

“Now it’s around 2 hours after dinner, which by the way you didn’t attend for the second time in a row.” She scolds gently and I perk up by the mention of food.

“Did you bring me anything?” I ask, and she gives me a ‘are you serious?’ look.

“Of course I did, what kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t provide some food for our little late night chat?” She gets up to hand me a take a way box. I open it and the delicious aroma of fried rice fills the air.

“Thanks April.” I grin, digging into my meal.

“Back to the story. I get a text saying- Shawn came by, we slept together.” She pauses and I don’t meet her eyes. “Y/n when I said I think you should kiss him I didn’t think you would take my advice so literally.”

“I don’t know what happened.” I groan, running a hand through my hair tiredly.

“I’m going to clarify just to make sure. You meant slept together as in he puts his di-”

“April!” My cheeks heat at her language.

“Hey! You can’t act all innocent now.” She defends herself, smirking at my horrified expression.

I don’t say anything, instead shoveling more rice into my mouth.

“Y/n, are you okay?” April asks after a moment, her caring side making an appearance.

“I guess.” I trail off, fiddling with the fork I was using to eat. “I mean, Shawn was so nice about it and he wasn’t.. bad.. at it.” I feel my cheeks heat.

“Can I be honest with you for a second?” She asks, tilting her head slightly.

“April... I don’t really expect anything else.” I laugh, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Right, but I just wanted to make sure because I don’t know how you’re feeling and I didn’t want to upset you.” She rambles.

“Just say it.” I shrug, chucking the empty take away bags in the bin beside my bed.

“Are you sure he wasn’t just using you? You’ve only really gotten to know each other for 3 or so days and now you did this? Can you even trust him?”

I freeze at the word, my stomach twisting. “I trust him.” I murmur, a silence filling the room. “I know that we may have been moving too fast but I don’t believe that Shawn’s a bad guy.”

She nods, moving to sit next to me on my bed.

“Then I think he’s a good guy to. I want you to know that what ever happens next- I will always be your friend, no matter what.”

I smile, tucking my legs underneath me. “Thanks April, you’re the best.”

She flips her hair over her shoulder dramatically. “I know I am.”

It was 5 days before I saw Shawn again. I was walking into my Power of the Gods class and as if there was a pull my eyes immediately snap to Shawn. He was sitting in the third row, writing something on a piece of paper. As if feeling my gaze he looks up and his dark hazel eyes catch mine.

I send a small smile before turning away and taking my usual seat in the second row- diagonally across from Shawn.

Slowly the rest of the class begins to trickle in- Peyton grinning at me maliciously as she walks past to take the seat right behind me, the one next to Shawn.

Our teacher was a man in his 30′s who we called Adrian. He was tall with curly blonde hair that was often tied back and he always had a book on him. He was one of the few teachers who was actually interested in teaching a subject that did not involve a sword.

“Good morning,” he calls out to the class as we fall silent. “Last class we worked on Poseidon and what he controls. We also covered how to fight back should we ever face a child with his abilities in a fight, can anyone tell me some of this powers?”

Someone raises their hand in the back and I zone out, my gaze stuck on the blackboard where there was some work left from previous classes, perhaps from a first year class.

We had 3 levels of education at the camp. When we are 16, our parents claim us by sending a signal to the head of camp where we are then brought into camp to learn about the basics of what we are. In the second year we practice more physical skills, our training focused on fighting. In the last year- the year I’m currently in- we tie all our skills together to help us when we are let back into society to live beside humans.

“Y/n?” I’m drawn out of my trance and I meet Adrian’s eyes shamefully.

“Sorry.” I squeak, feeling many eyes on me.

“Please try and focus as I think you may find our next Goddess very interesting.” He smiles warmly at me and I feel my heart sink. He wouldn’t have chosen who I think he did, would he?

“We do happen to have a child of Athena in the class, I said this when we covered Apollo and I’m going to say it again. Please no unnecessary treatment of the individuals.” The class murmur in response and I slid down in my chair a bit, my cheeks flaming.

“Can anyone tell me what abilities children of Athena have?” Adrian asks and the class falls silent.

Then a voice speaks. “Intelligence. Reason, wisdom and arts.” Shawn’s says, and there’s a collective shock in the room. Shawn never spoke up in class.

Adrian looks delighted however. “Yes Shawn, correct. Athena’s children can have any one of these talents. Although they may seem harmless they should never be underestimated in a battle. Their quick thinking can be your downfall.”

I can feel Shawn’s gaze on me and when I turn my head to look, he’s smirking at me. I gulp, turning around to face the front again.

“Children of Athena do not make rash decisions, they think everything out thoroughly and almost always know what to do to get out of any situation.”

The blush never fades from my face throughout the rest of the lesson. When the bell finally rings for lunch, the day divided into two sections of morning and afternoon classes, I bolt.

I feel embarrassed. Regret fills me as I hurry towards the girls bathroom, tears slipping out my eyes before I could stop them. I can’t work out why I’m crying except for maybe I made the wrong decision.

For someone whose supposed to be intelligent and wise I was feeling pretty stupid.

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gatesofember · 6 years

Text

Yellow Balsam: Chapter 3

PJO Arranged Marriage/Royalty AU Part 4

Rating: G | Pairing: Solangelo

Prev | Next | AU directory | Read it on AO3 (Recommended) | Arranged Marriage AU Masterpage

Summary: Will returned to Venadica early in the spring to help prepare for the Grand Expo — an international fair held to showcase national talents, encourage cultural exchange, and share discoveries and innovations. Nico is eager to visit his fiancé after being apart for so many months — with the excuse of visiting the Expo as Pluto’s Prince, of course — especially now that their betrothal has been formalized. However, the trip does not go quite the way Nico envisioned.

Nico was not having the best of days. To start with, Reyna had woken him up by dousing him in cold water. Later, he’d had a wonderful lunch with his fiancé only for it to be ruined by his fiancé’s offensive scheduling conflicts. To make matters worse, he now had to meet with Reyna’s former fiancé, who he hadn’t seen since he was a child and had no desire to meet with. Nico’s mood was too sour to enjoy the Expo, so he stayed inside and sulked for the rest of the afternoon while Reyna continued to work on her reports. When Reyna started to collect her papers and informed him that Jason should arrive momentarily, Nico was still simmering in irritation.

Jason’s blond hair was much more well-groomed than Will’s, which only made him look pretentious, in Nico’s opinion. He also wore a pair of ridiculous spectacles, and his eyes were not nearly as pretty as Will’s. Nico hated him instantly.

Jason was accompanied by a woman who Nico hoped was a new suitor. Like Jason, she was blond, but their similarities in appearance ended there. While Jason’s smile was meek (and, quite frankly, annoying), this woman exuded an air of intensity that reminded Nico of Reyna. She even wore her hair up in a simple, elegant style that was similar to Reyna’s and they both wore gowns with the same functional style. It appeared Jason favored a particular type of woman.

Nico tried to smile when Jason greeted him, but it probably looked more like a grimace. “I am glad to see that you have arrived safely,” Nico said, even though a large part of him thought that it would have been better if Jason had run into some bad weather that delayed his visit until after Nico had left the city, taking Reyna along with him.

“The same to you, Prince Nico,” Jason replied. “I hoped to have the chance to meet with you while in the country.”

I’d hoped to avoid it, Nico thought bitterly.

“I don’t believe we’ve met since we were children,” Jason continued.

“We have not,” Nico coldly confirmed. I wish it would’ve stayed that way.

“And I look forward to becoming friends again.”

“Right.” No. Absolutely not.

Jason cleared his throat and waved the woman beside him forward. “And this is my adviser, Lady Annabeth,” Jason said. Annabeth bowed.

So she wasn’t Jason’s suitor; a pity. However, Nico knew that Annabeth was already engaged, which at least meant that she wouldn’t try to take Reyna away from him.

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Annabeth,” Nico said politely. Annabeth was quite famous, and not just because she was engaged to marry King Poseidon’s second son. She was the ward of the notorious heretic Athena, Emperor Zeus’ eldest and only legitimate child. In the most scandalous event in modern memory, Athena publicly rejected the existence of the Protogenoi—and not just the Protogenoi, but all gods, even Aegyptian and Scatinavian ones—on the basis that there was “no empirical evidence of their existence.” The scandal had led to her disinheritance, and Thalia, the next eldest child of Emperor Zeus, became the heir to the throne despite her illegitimate parentage. Athena was not cut off from the imperial family completely, however; her intellect proved invaluable and she was hired as an adviser to the Emperor. It had caused quite a stir when she returned from a visit to Scatinavia with a young girl and announced that she was her ward.

“And an honor to meet you, Your Highness,” Annabeth replied.

Having introduced his adviser, Jason turned to Reyna and offered her a nervous smile. “Lady Reyna,” Jason greeted. “It has been a long time.”

Nico tried to bury the flash of irritation that was sparked by Jason even addressing Reyna. True, he did not know what exactly had transpired between Reyna and Jason when Reyna broke off their engagement, but Nico was not going to let Jason take her back.

“It has, Your Highness,” Reyna replied. Nico rarely saw Reyna’s composure break, but she looked clearly uncomfortable to see her former fiancé. He took that as further evidence of Jason’s bothersome nature. “I am glad to see you are well.”

“Yes, and the same to you,” Jason said too quickly. His eyes darted around, looking anywhere but Reyna, and Nico could tell that neither of them wanted to continue the conversation.

“Why don’t we sit down?” Nico suggested. “And perhaps we can fetch a runner to bring us tea, Lady Reyna?”

Reyna looked both relieved and suspicious. “Right away, Your Highness,” she said, fixing Nico with a glare to say ‘behave yourself. I’ll be back in a moment.’

Nico didn’t want to behave. He wanted to make Jason leave. Still, he sat down on a couch beside a dozing Asterion and gestured for Jason and Annabeth to join. Reyna was only gone a matter of seconds before she came back, apparently distrusting Nico’s ability to control himself when he was alone. She was probably right to.

“I had heard that you entered the service of the Pluton royal family, Lady Reyna,” Jason said as Reyna joined them. “It’s not surprising; you always were a talented political theorist.”

Nico narrowed his eyes. Was that any business of his? And how would Jason have known about that? Was he keeping track of Reyna’s activities?

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Reyna said, smiling proudly. Why did she have to smile at Jason? Why did Jason deserve a smile? Everyone knew she was brilliant, Nico most of all. He could applaud Reyna’s skills as often as she wanted. Jason didn’t need to compliment her, too.

“She’s a very good adviser,” Nico blurted out. Reyna looked surprised by Nico’s words, but pleased. Nico did take pride in his adviser; although Nico loved to irritate Reyna, he also had a great deal of respect for her. He probably didn’t tell her that often enough.

“I would imagine so,” Jason said, giving Reyna a weak smile.

“She would have made an excellent consort,” Nico added offhandedly. “It’s a pity she ended your engagement.” He left his implication unstated: She’s mine now, so back off, Spectacles.

Reyna’s lips pursed and she glared at Nico in embarrassment and rage, but she restrained herself from lecturing Nico in front of Jason. Nico grinned back smugly. Although he respected Reyna, he also loved to irritate her.

“I am sure His Highness will have no trouble finding a better consort,” Reyna said, still glaring at Nico.

Jason did not look so sure. Annabeth, on the other hand, looked greatly amused, but she swept to Jason’s rescue anyway. “It seems Lady Reyna was destined to serve elsewhere,” Annabeth said. “To be sure, it was a loss for Jupiter, but there is little doubt that a new betrothal will be arranged soon, especially now that His Highness is approaching his 18th birthday.”

“Of course,” Nico said. Jason could find all the fiancées he wanted, but Reyna was staying with Nico.

“On that topic, I understand that your wedding is soon, is that correct, Lady Annabeth?” Reyna said, wisely drawing the conversation away from herself and Jason. Nico didn’t want to talk about it. Who had brought it up in the first place?

“Yes, Lady Reyna, this spring,” Annabeth confirmed. “If I may, His Highness—that is, Prince Percy—has asked me to deliver a wedding invitation to the Pluton royal family in person.” Annabeth reached into the pocket hidden in her skirts and procured a sealed envelope, then she stood and offered it to Nico. “His Highness would be honored if your family would attend.”

“Thank you,” Nico said as he accepted the envelope. When Nico was young, he had greatly admired Percy, but those feelings were all but forgotten. It was not long after the inauguration that everything went wrong—first Lady Maria, then Bianca and the beginning of those horrid years on the countryside. The whims of a smitten child became irrelevant when Nico’s entire life crumbled to dust.

Nico pushed the memories away. It was all in the past; true, he might have felt a twinge of disappointment when he returned from the countryside and learned that Prince Percy was engaged, but he had gotten over it fairly quickly. Percy wouldn’t have wanted him, anyway.

“I must deliver this to the Palatium de Divitae, but I am sure I will be able to attend for my family,” Nico said.

“The Prince will be eager to hear from you,” Annabeth said before taking her seat again.

Nico hoped his father would permit him to go; a part of him had always longed to travel. He had not had the opportunity to do so in his childhood, when he was confined to the manor on the countryside during the outbreak of the Scarlet Delirium. In recent years, he had not travelled outside of Pluto’s borders—it was even rare to leave Divitia.

As a puella from the kitchen arrived with their tea, Nico considered that if he attended the wedding, he would travel across the entire Juvian Empire to reach the Prata Pontia before sailing to the archipelago of Neptune. Perhaps he might even be able to veer south and go to Diana. If it was early spring, Will might still be there. Nico could visit him. Nico could even take Will to Neptune with him, if allowed. “May I bring my fiancé if he is able to accompany me?” he asked before he could think to hold his tongue.

“Of course,” Annabeth answered, but before she could say anything else, Jason interrupted.

“You are engaged?” he asked. “I had not heard.”

“He is indeed,” Reyna answered, not even giving Nico a chance speak. “It was recently formalized. His Highness is quite pleased with the arrangement; I am sure he has much to say on the matter.” She gave Nico a triumphant smile. Nico scowled.

“Yes, I have a fiancé,” he said. “Lord William, son of the Duke of Diana. He is in the city, although he is currently occupied with consor business.” Nico tried to keep the bitterness out of his tone when he said that; he didn’t need Jason thinking that he was any more or any less than content with his intended.

“We have met him,” Annabeth said, turning to Jason. “It was very briefly at the Grand Expo in Olympus several years ago, Your Highness. If you recall, he accompanied his aunt, the Matestra.”

“You are engaged to the Matestra’s nephew?” Jason said. “My, Prince Nico, that is quite a match.”

Had Jason not made the connection when Nico informed him that his fiancé’s father was the Duke of Diana? Thickheaded idiot.

“It may have taken many, many failed attempts before Lord William arrived, but it was well worth the trials we endured to find His Highness a husband,” Reyna said with a saccharine smile.

Nico made a mental note not to embarrass Reyna in front of her former suitor again. He’d prefer it if he didn’t have to speak to her former suitor ever. He didn’t want Reyna to talk to Jason, either; Nico hadn’t expected to feel so insecure about that. He knew that was ridiculous and selfish of him, but the idea of Reyna leaving terrified him. Reyna was his only friend in Divitia. If she left, he’d be alone.

Again.

Maybe try to be nicer to her, suggested a voice in Nico’s head. If you’re not nice, she’ll want to leave.

Nico took a deep breath to settle his boiling temper. “Yes,” he said, finally managing to respond to Reyna’s goad. “Will has the potential to be a suitable consort.”

“Will?” Jason asked. “You call him Will? How long have you known him?”

Nico cleared his throat. “Well...I....”

“Not yet a year, Your Highness,” Reyna answered for him.

“But we write to each other—” Nico started, then he cut himself off. Jason didn’t need to know that.

“They exchange letters on a nearly weekly basis,” Reyna finished anyway.

“I’m only trying to get along with my future husband,” Nico insisted, careful to keep his tone as even as he could.

“I’m surprised I haven’t heard of it before now, with his father being the Duke of Diana,” Jason said.

“As Lady Reyna said, it only became official a short time ago,” Nico said, then he muttered, “A month, a week, and four days, to be exact.”

Not that he’d been counting.

“But that’s enough about my engagement,” Nico said before Reyna could do something else to embarrass him out of retribution. He quickly searched for another topic without much success. This was not going well; Nico couldn’t even have a conversation. Nico hated conversations. He was terrible at them. Nico hated Jason, too. By the gods, Jason was obnoxious. Stupid spectacles.

“Prince Nico is fond of fencing,” Reyna said, once again sweeping to Nico’s rescue. Nico was relieved; at least she wasn’t too mad at him.

Fortunately for Nico, Reyna always knew how to balance uncomfortable conversations; Jason immediately began to rhapsodize about his love for the sport. Annabeth, apparently, enjoyed fencing as well, and Reyna had been one of the most skilled fencers in Venadica before she moved to Divitia to serve the royal family. She and Nico liked to spar together when they had time to spare.

While Jason was busy enthusing about the Juvian school of fencing and its differences from the Pluton and Neptonian schools, Nico caught Reyna’s eye and nodded to her thankfully. He didn’t know how he would ever manage to make it through meetings like this without her. In spite of his communications lessons, Nico was awkward and quite often rude—sometimes on purpose, but other times on accident. Nico was not a speaker, but Reyna was. When Nico lacked the qualities of a good prince—which he often did—Reyna was always there to step in. She was the real royal of the two of them.

She’s not leaving, Nico tried to tell himself. He didn’t believe it.

By the time they had to leave for their dinner appointment with Artemis, Annabeth had informed them that there would most definitely be a fencing competition during the festivities held in honor of her wedding to Prince Percy, and they had all agreed to enter. Mostly Nico was looking forward to utterly vanquishing Jason. If only he could use a weapon heavier than a foil.

Artemis brought Thalia with her to the dinner, and she was embraced by both Jason and Annabeth in what Nico thought was an excessive display of affection. It made him think about Bianca, and thinking about Bianca made him upset, and being upset made him unpleasant company, so Nico remained silent through most of the meal. At some point, Reyna, who sat beside him at the table, noticed his hands shaking. Her expression told Nico that she was able to guess what had him upset. “Do we need to leave?” she asked in a soft voice, so that no one else could hear. When Nico shook his head, Reyna discreetly waved over one of the puellae waiting on them to ask for a cup of chamomile tea be brought for him.

“Thank you,” Nico said when the meal had ended and Reyna was leading him through the palace, Asterion following at their heels. Annabeth and Jason had remained behind to visit with Thalia, but Reyna had made excuses for Nico to leave.

“Think nothing of it, Your Highness,” Reyna answered.

He wasn’t going to ‘think nothing of it.’ Reyna always cared for him, and she deserved better than the way he sometimes treated her. “And I apologize for embarrassing you earlier,” he mumbled.

“I asked you not to bring up the engagement.”

Nico hung his head and fiddled with the buttons on his coat. “I know, and—”

“I knew you’d do it anyway.”

Nico sighed in shame. “Lady Reyna, I...I truly am sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t right.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Reyna agreed. She suddenly stopped walking and turned to face him. “But I embarrassed you, as well. I should not have teased you the way I did in front of Prince Jason. I also apologize.”

“Oh,” Nico said in confusion. “Well, of course. You did not even need to apologize—”

“Yes, I did,” Reyna said, silencing him with a look. “And I think we should talk about this, Your Highness.”

“Right,” Nico mumbled. “I—”

Reyna held up her hand. “I ask that you allow me to speak. I should have made this clear to you already and I apologize for not doing so. Your Highness, everything that occurred between myself and the Prince is in the past. The reason I do not talk about it is because I do not consider it to be of much importance anymore; to me, it feels like it happened in a different life. I chose to take my Oath rather than marry Prince Jason, and I have never regretted that decision. Since then, I have devoted myself to three things: the Sorority, Pluto, and you. As long as you’ll have me, that will not change. Do you understand that?”

Nico swallowed. “Then...you won’t leave?”

“Do you want me to?”

He shook his head quickly.

“Then I’m not leaving.”

Nico felt as though a weight had been lifted off his chest, finally allowing him to breathe again. “Thank you, Lady Reyna. I needed to hear...I...I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did this evening.”

Reyna looked him over calmly. “We both made some mistakes earlier, but we’ll do better tomorrow, won’t we?”

“Yes, Lady Reyna.”

“Good,” Reyna said, starting to walk again like nothing had happened. “Now, before I take you back to your chamber, there is another meeting I've arranged for you today. I did not receive a final confirmation until just prior to sitting down for dinner, so I apologize for the late notice.”

Nico sighed tiredly. Hadn’t he had enough conversations for one day? First there had been the disappointment with Will, then the Jason fiasco, then he had to sit through a meal with Jason and Thalia reminding him of his dead sister, all while doing his best to behave in front of the Matestra, who also happened to be his fiancé’s aunt, and then he had an exhausting talk with his adviser. “Alright,” he relented, thinking that he should behave to make Reyna’s job easier. “With whom?”

“Lady Hestia,” Reyna answered.

Nico looked at Reyna in surprise. “Lady Hestia?” he repeated. He rarely got the chance to see Hestia alone anymore. He had tried to speak to her when she visited the Privilla with Will and Artemis the year before, but they had only managed to exchange a few words when she found the time to meet him late one evening after Artemis had retired. “Thank you, Lady Reyna,” Nico said, feeling truly grateful that she had gone out of her way to arrange that for him, especially considering that Nico was not sure if Reyna and Hestia got along.

“I knew you would want to see her, Your Highness,” Reyna replied. “She is quite busy with the Expo, but she made time.”

“I’m glad. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to speak to her.” Now if only Will would make time for him, too.

“You could always ask me to set up a meeting, Your Highness,” Reyna pointed out.

Nico’s eyes wandered away from Reyna. “I...I was not sure that you would be comfortable with that.”

“Why would you think that, Your Highness?” Reyna asked, sounding genuinely confused.

“Well, you were both....” Nico trailed off. Reyna and Hestia had been the two final candidates to become Nico’s adviser. Nico had requested Hestia specifically, but Artemis had suggested Reyna instead, stating that Nico and Hestia had too much of a personal history. Hestia had agreed, so Nico reluctantly acquiesced. He was, of course, very pleased with Reyna now that he had spent time with her, and he trusted her despite his inclination to be suspicious. Reyna had become just as important to him as Hestia. Nico worried that Reyna felt self-conscious about Nico requesting Hestia, but if she did, she never showed it.

Reyna shook her head. “That never caused any problems with Lady Hestia and I. I have told you this before, Your Highness. Now, Hestia should be waiting for you. I’ll wait outside the room for you, then I will escort you to your chamber for the night.”

“Thank you,” Nico said again when she stopped in front of a door.

Reyna smiled at him before knocking, and, at a call from inside, she opened the door for him. “Take your time,” she said as he and Asterion passed her.

The drawing room he entered was not large; it was a cozy space with cream papered walls and a tin ceiling. One wall was lined with windows overlooking Aether’s Square, which was beautifully lit as always. There was a tea tray waiting on a table and two large, inviting chairs by the window. Hestia was standing in front of one.

Nico smiled; he always felt better when he saw Hestia. She was older than Nico—close to Reyna in age—and she exuded a constant air of comfort. As a soror, she always wore silver, but whenever Nico thought about her, he pictured her the way she dressed before joining the Sorority: usually warm shades of brown in simple, practical designs. She still favored the simpler style of dress, as most sorors did, but it always took Nico a moment to adjust to seeing her wear silver.

“I’m glad to see you, Lady Hestia,” Nico said, bowing politely. “Thank you for meeting me.”

“It is my honor, Your Highness,” Hestia answered, bowing in return. “I’m afraid we cannot meet for long this late in the evening, but I am glad to have made the time. Would you like to sit down? Tea?”

“Yes, thank you.” Nico took a seat in one of the chairs by the window. Really, he’d had enough tea for one day, but he’d always preferred the way Hestia made it.

“I see Asterion is doing well,” Hestia said as she filled their cups. Asterion was busy sniffing the hem of her skirt with interest.

“Yes,” Nico said, taking his tea when Hestia offered it to him. “He’s becoming less timid.”

“I noticed that when I saw him at the Privilla,” Hestia said as she settled in the chair next to Nico’s. Asterion followed her to continue sniffing her skirts, and Hestia patted his head fondly. “Will has a way with animals, but Asterion still took to him more quickly than I expected.”

“He’s growing,” Nico said, looking fondly at his dog.

“So, I think, is his master.”

Nico smiled over the rim of his cup. “I’m hardly the child I was when we first met, Hestia,” he said in amusement. “And neither are you.”

“Not at all,” Hestia agreed. She was quiet for a moment while she gently stroked Asterion’s ear. There was a moment like that between them whenever they met. they’d exchange pleasantries, then they would be silent as they remembered everything that had happened during the years of Nico’s exile in the countryside while the Scarlet Delirium rampaged through Pluto. Because of Hestia, Nico hadn’t been completely alone. She had been a maid in that manor—the Lotussium, as it was called. Nico thought the name Tartarus pit might suit it better.

Nico and Hestia never spoke about the Lotussium anymore other than to make a few passing comments about how things were better than they had been. Neither of them wanted to discuss it more than they had to. Nico tried not to think about it at all.

“Tell me about your engagement,” Hestia said. “I know enough from Will, but I’d like to hear your perspective.”

Nico blinked in surprise. “Does he talk about me?”

“Quite often, yes,” Hestia answered. “He was excited when he heard you were coming to the Expo.”

Nico scoffed and slumped in his chair—his posture didn’t matter to Hestia. “Well, I’ve hardly seen him since my arrival.”

Hestia nodded. “Unfortunately, he has a very full schedule. The Expo has us all busy.”

“But I expected at least a walk, and I haven’t even gotten that much,” Nico protested, absently swirling his cup.

“Perhaps let him know you would like that,” Hestia suggested. “It could give him an excuse to make more time for you, when he can.”

“But I have asked him. He has said no.”

“Then he either has very important duties that he cannot work a way out of—which is probable, as he is scheduled to present his research soon—or he does not realize that you want to spend time with him. I would think it is most likely both.”

Nico frowned at her. “How would he not know? I have asked.”

Hestia chuckled. “Will can be rather oblivious, Nico, and you often do not make your motives clear. He thinks you ask if he has time to spare only out of obligation and that you are in Venadica for diplomatic purposes.”

“I am here for diplomatic purposes,” Nico protested.

Hestia raised an eyebrow. “Are you?” she asked.

Nico opened his mouth to answer in the affirmative, but no sound came out. He sipped his tea instead.

“Lord William does not realize you are here to see him,” Hestia went on. “He never once considered that you would want to spend time with him, other than a few obligatory conversations. However, he would very much like to spend time with you.” Hestia took a sip from her teacup before setting it on the table beside her and folding her hands on her lap. “Aside from his scheduling issues, are you happy with Lord William?”

“Yes,” Nico answered. “He’s very kind and he always smiles. I thought that was only in an effort to be respectful, but he really is like that all the time, isn’t he?”

“Undoubtedly.”

“I like reading his letters,” Nico went on. “I’m glad to know he hasn’t forgotten me. He’s always the same—always polite, always kind. He writes about his family and peers, his schooling, and Expo preparations. It’s like writing to a friend. Like writing to you, Hestia—which, by the way, you ought to do more often—except Will....”

“Except Will’s more charming?”

“Well, yes, but don’t think that you aren’t charming, as well; I only mean that with Will, it’s....”

“He’s courting you,” Hestia finished with a knowing smile.

“He’s...yes. Yes, he is.” Nico frowned in thought. “I’ve never been courted before.”

Hestia continued to give him that same smile. “Well, he’s never courted anyone the way he tries to court you.”

“So then he truly does think highly of me?”

“Yes, very much so. You are on his mind all the time.”

Nico blushed, tightly gripping his teacup. Will was on his mind quite often, as well, if he were honest. He was always anxious for Will’s next letter. Every time he went to the stables, he thought about how he could take Will out for rides the next time he came to visit, or perhaps after their wedding. He had shyly asked Persephone a few questions about southern Jupiter, which had led to one or two conversations about things that might make Will feel more at home in Divitia. Nico even kept Will’s letters, and every so often, late at night when he couldn’t sleep, he’d reread them by candlelight until he was too tired to hold his eyes open.

“He will be a good husband,” Nico said.

“I agree,” Hestia said. “I know I can trust him to care for you. No one deserves to be cared for as much as you, Nico.”

True to her word, Reyna was waiting patiently outside when Nico entered the hallway after wishing Hestia goodnight. He was quiet while Reyna led him back to his room, lost in his own thoughts until Reyna asked, “Did you enjoy your talk with Lady Hestia?”

“Yes, I did,” Nico said. “Truly, Lady Reyna, thank you for arranging that for me. I...I didn’t even ask for it.”

“You can always ask, Your Highness,” Reyna said. “I know what she means to you. I do not want you to worry about asking.”

Nico took a deep breath. Despite what Reyna had said earlier, Nico still felt like he had to explain himself. And, after all, hadn’t Reyna been honest with him about Jason earlier that evening? “Lady Reyna, you know that Lady Hestia and I...well, I’ve told you about what happened,” he said. “You know that I have a special relationship with her. So when I requested her, it was because I already felt comfortable around her, but that request was several years ago. In that time I’ve also developed a relationship with you and I hate to think that you feel uncomfortable about Hestia because I am very happy with you.”

Reyna shook her head and slowed to a halt as they reached Nico’s room. “As I said before, Your Highness, there has never been an issue. Perhaps at first, I worried that I was not what you wanted, but that was long ago. Lady Hestia and I have different relationships with you; she is your friend and I am your adviser.”

Nico frowned. “But you are my friend, as well, are you not?”

Reyna gave Nico a barely perceptible smile. “Yes. I like to believe that I am.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“As am I. Sleep well, Your Highness.”

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