Annabeth sat in her room waiting for her mother to call her. She was beginning to regret agreeing to this. Over the last few months suitors had begun to come around. Of course, mother had invited them all, showing Annabeth off like a peacock. Annabeth knew that she would be courted eventually. It was part of her job description to be married to a future king. But so soon? She was only fifteen. Courting didn't usually start until you were sixteen. Her mother's explanation was the sooner she started the better she could judge the character and make a good choice. At least her mother claimed that she would get to choose. Annabeth wondered how much control she would really have over her choice of her future husband. There was a knock at the door.

"Enter." She commanded.

"Annabeth!" Drew, Annabeth's least favorite royal, entered.

"Drew! What are you doing here? I wasn't told you were coming to visit." Annabeth put on a false smile and hugged her lightly.

"I know. I rode with Michael. Thought I would keep him company. Anything to get out of that boring horrible palace." Annabeth rolled her eyes when Drew wasn't looking. Aphrodite's palace was anything, but horrible or boring for that matter. "I can't believe you are courting already. I begged mother to let me court, but she had the gull to say I was too young. Can you believe it? Also, I thought I would come and check out this Percy Jackson that everyone has been talking about. Is it true he tamed a wild stallion with just a look?"

Annabeth tensed at that. Fortunately she didn't have to respond as there was another knock at the door. "Enter." Annabeth called.

The boy himself, Percy Jackson stepped in looking smart in his Athenian uniform. Drew eyed him out of mild curiosity. "Queen Athena requests your presence." He stated, showing no emotion. He looked just like any other faceless soldier in the army. Annabeth was grateful for that.

"Thank you sergeant." She rose and made her way to the door.

"Have fun." Drew sing-songed as she made herself comfortable in Annabeth's room.

Annabeth made her way down the hallway with Percy one step behind and to the right. Like always when she was with Percy during the day, she had a strange feeling that she couldn't quite place, like something was off, but she couldn't figure out what. Perhaps is was the fact that he was so distant as he filled his role of soldier and escort to perfection during the day, but at night while they dueled was so different. His wit was sharp and made her laugh. She could be herself around him and he was fine with that. How many princes that she had courted would be able to do the same? None she wagered. She had as of yet been unable to get any more information out of Percy. She hadn't even been able to find anything on the Legend of Abercio. She was jarred out of her thoughts when they arrived. Annabeth took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and entered.

"Ah, there she is." her mother announced. "Annabeth, you know Prince Michael."

"It is good to see you again." She formally replied.

"You as well." He replied.

"Well, It was a pleasure catching up with you, but I have duties to attend to." Athena said as she left the room.

Annabeth smiled politely at Michael. "Would you like to go out to the gardens?"

Michael smiled warmly at her and stood to escort her out. Percy followed in his regular place. She could see Michael glance nervously at him. This made Annabeth smile. Percy did have quite the reputation as her escort. Only a handful of her suitors had tried something on her and everyone had ended up with a smarting whack on the hand and a sword to their throat. All of them had tried to bribe him, but he always refused. When she asked him why he didn't take the money, he simply said he wasn't in it for the money. Michael, though, was one of the more milder princes. He was more shy and reserved than the others. His manner was formal, too formal. Annabeth sat near a fountain, waiting to see what the prince would do. Percy stationed himself a couple of feet behind her.

"Lovely weather we're having." He stood formally nearby.

Annabeth wanted to yawn right then and there. "It is rather sunny." she replied in a bored manner as she dipped her hand in the pool.

"Would you prefer to go inside?" He looked worried.

"No." She splashed some water toward Percy. She didn't hit him, but as she glanced at him out of the side of her vision she saw him eyeing the water and then her. She'd have to work a little harder to break through his visage. It had become a little game she started playing during her more bored moments of being courted to try and do something to crack through Percy's emotionless face he put on while being her escort.

"Oh. How have your injuries healed?"

"My injuries have fully healed. Otherwise, I wouldn't be seeing company." She made another attempt to splash some water at Percy. He remained motionless. She frowned in disappointment.

"Oh. I am glad to hear it." He seemed to be having a hard time coming up with anything else to talk about.

Annabeth was losing her patience. Yes she was to marry a future king, but Michael was so reserved that she doubted he could make an executive decision on anything. While that would make it easy for her to rule and have her way, she craved something more. She wanted to have someone who would be her equal and love her for who she was, not because she was a princess with a large dowry. "Tell me Michael, what are some of your interests?" She took control of the conversation.

"Interests? Um, well, I'm interested in politics. Uh, and in agriculture."

"Really? How do you think the council performed during its last meeting?"

"Um, uh well, I didn't pay that close attention at the last meeting."

"What do you think is the best way to water a crop?"

"Uh . . ."

"If we are going to be courting, the least I expect from you is complete honesty." Annabeth sighed as she turned to look him straight in the eye. He seemed to freeze. "It is a simple question. Who is the real Michael and what are his interests?"

Michael paused for a moment and then said, "I like to draw."

"There, that wasn't so hard." She smiled at him while she made another splash at Percy catching him right across his face. Percy's blank expression broke into a grimace as he blew the water out of his nose. He caught her eye and gave a small smirk. She felt a tingle rush up her spine as she smirked. She knew she would probably pay for that tonight. But it was worth it. She stood from her place at the fountain and walked with Michael through the gardens. She spent the rest of the afternoon asking Michael questions about his art and trying to learn more about him.

Dinner was incredibly trying. Drew had been completely insufferable the entire evening, taking great pleasure in humiliating Michael. If their was one thing she could not tolerate it was bullying. Evidently, Drew had spent the entire afternoon chasing after the help and asking a disturbing amount of questions about Percy Jackson. Thankfully, Percy didn't have to escort her to her meals, so he wasn't there. After dinner, she said her goodnights to Michael as he escorted her to her room.

As soon as the door closed between them, she couldn't get changed fast enough. She jumped off her balcony and made her way to the arena. Percy was there. His silver blue armor glinted in the firelight. She felt her stomach clench as she snuck up to him. She had hoped to get the drop on him, but just as she went to hold her knife up to his throat, he turned last minute to knock her blade to the side with his sword. His eyes glinted as he smirked at her.

"That wasn't nice."

"Just a bit of fun." she smirked back.

Percy advanced, swinging his sword. She parried and advanced on her own. She felt satisfaction with each clang of metal. Percy's swordsmanship was improving drastically. Of course it would with having a custom sword. Percy now fought as though the sword were an extension of his body. He moved with fluid grace. Annabeth parried or dodged each swing. She knew all his moves well, but she also knew that he knew all of her moves as well. She tried a fient to the right, but he quickly prevented the attack and attacked in return. He was stronger than she was. She couldn't fight him blow for blow, but she was smart.

"What did you think of Michael?" She asked.

"It doesn't matter what I think of him." He replied as he advanced on her again.

"Oh, come on. You never hold back." She parried and kicked her leg out to knock him off his feet.

He easily jumped over her kick and advanced again. "He's not interested in anything but his own daydreams. How is he supposed to be fit to rule?"

"I could rule for him." she backed up looking for an opening as he advanced.

"Is that what you want?" he asked.

She hesitated for a moment. He took advantage of her hesitation and rushed her. She quickly recovered and fought back. His sword swung swiftly toward her neck. She quickly ducked and found her opening and pressed the tip of her knife to the opening of his armor on his side. His face was inches from hers. "I win." She panted.

"Are you sure?" She felt his sword up against her back. She felt a tingle from more than just the sword as she stared into his eyes.

He removed his sword from her back and stepped away, "Your highness." He mumbled as he looked down.

She frowned. She hated it when he did that. "Thanks for the spar. I really needed it after today." She said as she lowered her knife.

Percy smirked as he walked to the edge of the arena. "It wasn't that bad. I didn't even have to draw my sword."

"No, Michael is too much of a prince to actually challenge a soldier. Besides, your reputation precedes you."

"Just doing my job." He shrugged as he scooped out some water from the barrel. "Your highness." He offered the water.

She frowned as she took the offered ladle and took a drink. "Percy, you know you don't have to call me that. Not here."

Percy didn't meet her eyes as he took a drink himself. "You never answered my question. Is that the type of relationship what you want?"

Annabeth sighed and turned her attention to the arena. "It is likely the best sinerio."

"That's not what I asked."

She turned and looked at him. "No, it is not the ideal relationship, but for a royal, it is the best one could hope for." She looked away from him again. "A royal never gets to marry for love, only power."

Percy was silent for a while before he cleared his throat and said, "I'll see you tomorrow, then." He bowed, then turned and left.

"See you tomorrow." She murmured to his retreating back.