I apologize for the extremely late update. For the past few months life had been hectic and it was a pain in the bloody ass - projects, lessons, culinary labs and family shit thrown into one and you get a mega stressed Syrlai. Being a college student its to be expected after all but I'm still sorry that it took me so long to update.

On a different note, has anyone known SOPA is back again?

I've already signed the petition and the last time I was there they needed about 27,000 left to complete the 100,000 signatures. So if you guys want to continue reading fanfics, looking at fanarts, and watching fanmade videos then please do help out

petitions. whitehouse. gov / petition / stop- sopa -2013/LMzM VrQF

Just remove the spaces. I warn you though, you'll have to make an account! But if the signatures had already reached 100,000 or maybe more then its up to you if you want to still sign.

Anyway, you've all been waiting too long! Let's get this show on the road!

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO and LOTR. This is not a copyright infringement SOPA! YOU HEAR ME?

Sword. Check.

Extra clothes. Check.

Nectar and Ambrosia? Check.

Invincibility? Double check.

If I was going to go on this road trip, I really need to make sure I'll live. Relying on my curse too much could get me killed – as Chiron says – so I need to be prepared. A son of Morpheus once told me that I might trip over something and fall into a thorn bush. If I died just because a thorn stuck itself on the small off my back, then that would be the most pathetic death in Underworld history.

Besides being over conscious of my weakness, I was seriously worried. How long was this quest going to take? Not that I don't like the people I'm going with but I miss my mom. I miss Camp, my dad, my friends and Annabeth.

Those dates that we had before feels like a dream to me now, I would give anything just to see how things were doing back at home.

When I finished packing, I went outside. I leaned on the balcony and just took one last look on Rivendell. I'm pretty sure that we won't ever come back here, so engraving this place in my memory was the last thing I wanted to do before leaving.

I was out there until the sun came up. Thalia knocked on my door.

"Come on Percy, we're leaving."

I followed after her, picking my stuff on the way. When we got to the courtyard, everybody was there. Lord Elrond watched us as we left. We climbed up a long steep path out of Rivendell. I was gonna miss the place and my bed. I was totally not looking forward to sleeping on cold dirt. We went on foot so that we'd go unnoticed.

I'll be honest. I wasn't used to traveling on foot only. I was kinda wishing that Blackjack came along with us. Yeah, Percy Jackson and his trusty flying steed; bet they never saw anything like that before. The sun was up high in the sky and my feet were aching like I've never felt in my seventeen years of life. Granted, the boots were totally sweet and were nice and comfy but walking for miles and days without stopping tends to wore you out. Invincibility doesn't stop you from feeling tired.

We stopped by for a bit of rest when everyone couldn't handle Merry and Pippin's moaning. They only stopped when Gandalf threatened to feed them to ogres. We traveled for a few days when Frodo approached me after a bush break. I was fumbling with my belt when he showed up.

He looked nervous, like he was going to stand out on stage wearing an embarrassing big bird costume in a third grader's play. He looked down on his feet. While he was busy being nervous, I was trying to buckle my belt up to keep it from falling. Thank the gods he was preoccupied or this would have been extremely awkward. When he raised his head, he held out his hand and then he smiled.

"I never got to thank any of you for saving me," he said. I might-have-not-so-subtly wiped my hand on my pants before shaking his hand.

"It was nothing man, I'm just happy you're alive."

"I wanted to thank the other two as well but… I wanted to thank you first. Gandalf told me that you were a seer. That you had a vision of me when the Nazgul attacked."

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I was no seer. That was Rachel's job. "I'm not really a seer. It's just something that Demigods have every now and then."

"So what can you do other than have visions of our friend here?" Merry suddenly showed up and wrapped an arm around Frodo. He winked.

"Merry I'm ashamed of you!" Pippin popped out beside me. Seriously, where are they all coming from? I couldn't even hear the little guys at all! "He's real powerful. Set him off and you could… what was your Father god of again?"

"He's the god of the seas."

"Ah," Pippin nodded. He raised a finger, opened his mouth but closed it again. He frowned. "What does your father do to people who he don't like?"

Thalia dropped out of nowhere from above, effectively startling the three Hobbits. My cheeks burned suddenly. How long has she been there? Scratch that. She better not had seen anything.

"For a start, he floods the offender's land or dries them up." The expressions on their faces made me add quickly, "But he only does that when someone seriously offends him - like desecrating his temple."

"Or killing his favorite son." Thalia was checking out her nails when she said that. I scowled at her.

"I could say the same for you," I said right back at her face. She smirked.

"Pardon me for interrupting," Frodo said. "But can you tell me more about Demigods?" Frodo looked really interested and I'm sure Merry and Pippin were too.

"Sure," I said. It wouldn't hurt to tell them – it's not like demigods exist here. Walking back to camp, I told Frodo about just about everything he asked. I tried my best to answer them and when I couldn't, I let Thalia take over.

When we got back to camp, I saw Nico chatting with Gandalf. Sam was close to them, listening to whatever they were saying. We got close enough for me to hear what they were saying:

"Is it tiring?" Gandalf asked.

"Shadow travel takes a lot out me. I don't know why though. Dad told me that some of his other children could do it for four or five times."

Gandalf thoughtfully stroked his beard. "Perhaps it is your age. Your body is still quite too young to handle such great powers."

Nico sulked at that. His shoulders sagged and he looked like what Tyson looks like when I can't give him peanut butter anymore.

He sighed. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to wait," he said. Gandalf nodded.

"Until then, you should develop your current skills."

"Those are my current skills. Other than controlling the dead and shadows, that's the only thing I can do." Nico frowned and tapped the hilt of his sword. "Controlling the earth and minerals are difficult and they aren't my specialty – except for obsidian – because I only have one sphere of my father's control."

"Death?" Sam asked. Nico nodded.

"I presume that the other is Riches?" Gandalf curiously looked at him.

"Uh, yeah," Nico replied.

"What you do is a form of magic, right Nico?" Sam asked. He looked really into it.

"I suppose…"

"Is it possible that you can learn spells?" Sam asked excitedly. He jumped up from where he was sitting. "Think you can do magic like Wizards do?"

That made me feel pretty strange. Nico? Doing the kind of stuff that Gandalf does? I mean that would be cool and all but robes plus a really long beard doesn't match up to his style. I left Thalia with the Hobbits and walked towards Nico's group.

But… among the three of us, Nico had most control over his powers. I can do just fine but when my emotions get the better out of me I tend to do some really stupid stuff and I lose control. For short, everything that I do with my powers is spontaneous. I don't practice my powers that much so it takes me a while to concentrate.

And don't even get me started on Thalia. Her aim is awesome but she's just as bad as I am when it comes to emotions. Unlike us, Nico can keep his cool anywhere, anytime - as long as he doesn't fall asleep right on the spot.

"I – " Nico started to say but Gandalf cut him off.

"It is possible." Nico looked like he couldn't believe it.

"Me? Using magic? I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not?" I said and sat down beside him. Nico shoved my shoulder. "Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to listen in on other people's business?"

"They did. But I still do it."

Nico rolled his eyes and turned back to Gandalf. "You heard?" I nodded.

"Back to the subject, you say Nico can probably use magic? Like yours?" Gandalf shook his head.

"No. He cannot perform magic outside of his sphere of control." I was confused. Earlier, he said that Nico can probably perform other kinds of magic. Gandalf wasn't being straight.

"But," Gandalf took out his pipe and lighted it. "That does not mean he cannot expand his control over his gifts. Magic is like a tree. There are branches of magic and from it, several more branches root from them. Necromancy and Darkness Manipulation are those branches that I speak of. You would be foolish if you think that it ends there." Gandalf smoked his pipe. Wisps of smoke rose up into the air and formed into a perfect circle.

Nico blinked. "Can I really do it?" Nico asked slowly.

"I think – no – I really believe you can do it Nico." I ruffled his hair.

"But how will I do it? I can't learn it by myself."

"Why don't you teach him Gandalf?" Sam said. "I'm sure you have enough free time."

Gandalf's beard twitched and I realized he was smiling. "Of course I do. It's not every day you can teach a demigod. It will be an honor."

Nico was gaping at all of us. I closed his jaw for him. Didn't want a random bug find its way in there. "I-I-I that's… really… cool," he said absently, like he still couldn't believe it. I laughed and clapped him on the back.

"It's not cool Nico." I grinned at him. "It's awesome." I stood up suddenly, cupped my hands around my mouth and said in a really loud voice, "Gandalf is going to teach Nico magic!" Thalia and the other Hobbits stopped talking, Aragorn and Legolas, who were keeping watch, turned to look at us. Boromir and Gimli came towards our group.

"Magic you say?" Gimli said.

"Percy!" Nico punched my shoulder. Bad mistake. He clutched his hand tightly around his chest. "Gods dammit…" he said.

Despite all my worries, I was feeling really good. Chuckling, Gandalf rose from his seat and look out to the horizon.

"If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east, to Mordor."

"Luck? Who wants to bet that we'll be finding a new way to get to Mordor?" Nico challenged everyone.

I gave a short laugh, when Gimli came forward with Boromir following. "Don't want to do this but you have to face reality sooner or later boy – a bet it is." Gimli grinned.

"Easy on the lad dwarf," Boromir said. "He may not offer much if he loses."

"Nico, you sure about this?" I asked him. Nico just smirked.

"I never lose a bet." I couldn't explain it but the way Nico's eyes gleamed made me swallow.

We travelled for a few days when we stopped to camp at Eregion Hills for the night which was just a hill with plenty of boulders to move around in. At dawn, I was watching Aragorn and Boromir giving Merry and Pippin some sword lessons one-o-one.

"Get away from the blade, Pippin...on your toes...good, very good...I want you to react, not think," Boromir instructed Pippin.

Pippin adjusted his stance, his expression completely focused on the lesson.

"Should not be too hard," Sam commented.

"Not everyone knows how to use a sword the first time," I said.

"Move your feet." Boromir tapped Pippin's feet.

"Quite good Pippin," Merry complimented him.

Pippin grinned in reply. "Thanks."

"Percy." Aragorn came up to me with a smile on his face. His hand was on the hilt of his sword and I immediately knew what he was asking for. I grinned and stood up, uncapping Riptide. It grew to size, the celestial bronze gleaming in the early rays of the sun. I twirled my sword in hand as I went to position. I haven't sparred with anyone from the Fellowship before, too suspicious of the other races. I mostly spent my time sparring with Nico back in Rivendell. My blood started pumping in excitement. Aragorn was an amazing swordsman from what I heard from Legolas and I wanted to see what he had.

"Careful boy, you might hurt yourself." I heard Boromir jeer at me. I ignored him. He hasn't seen me fight yet.

Aragorn drew his sword and lunged at me. I was surprised on how fast he was for his size. Maybe living with the elves was an advantage when it came to speed. Didn't matter for me though, I parried him and twisted his sword in a lock. Our faces were close by inches.

"Not bad," he said. I pushed him off and rushed at him, never giving him the chance to fight back. I slashed and hacked, backing him into a boulder. I was surprised when he suddenly found an opening and had managed to flip the situation. Literally. I ducked and he used that chance to get behind me. This time, I was the one backed up. If he thought that the fight ended there, he was wrong.

"Go get him Percy!" Nico cheered. He looked like he had just woken up. His bed hair was a dead give away. He still looked tired – shows how tiring Gandalf's lessons were.

"Is that the best you got Seaweed brain?" Thalia teased behind him.

My answer was to shove my weight against my sword, clashing against Aragorn's. He took a step back and I circled around him, my left arm pushing him down to his knees with Riptide pointing at his neck. He seemed momentarily stunned at what happened.

Aragorn chuckled when I pulled back. "I shouldn't have underestimated you Percy, well done." He held out a hand. I shook it, grinning.

"You weren't too bad yourself," I said.

Sam and Frodo were clapping. Boromir clapped slowly but there was an appreciative look on his face.

"I supposed I was wrong," Boromir admitted. "I don't give you much credit. I haven't seen that kind of skill before."

"It's Greek," I said.

"We have many things to learn from each other my friend." Aragorn clasped my shoulder with a smile. He let go when Pippin dropped his sword and tackled Boromir with a cry. I started laughing with the others. Since we'd left Rivendell, there was tension in the air. Looking at things now, my heart felt a little lighter since we started this quest. It was just our luck though when things started to turn bad.

"What is that?" Sam pointed to the sky.

I looked up at what he was pointing. At first, I thought it was just some cloud. A dark, menacing, brooding cloud that looks something like what Thalia would conjure when she has PMS. Probably. Could be worse.

"Nothing… Just a wisp of a cloud," Gimli grunted.

Didn't look like a cloud to me. It was moving too fast to be a cloud. No, it looked more like smoke. Boromir had every right to look worried. Pippin got up and stood behind us. Suddenly, Legolas cried, "Crebain from Dunland!"

I had no idea what was going on. "Hide!" Aragorn said and we all started scrambling around to hide.

I was the only one left without a hiding spot and it sucked.

"What are you doing Percy? Hide!" Thalia hissed.

That was exactly what I was doing! I had dibs on her spot in the first place. I could have squeezed in with her but what I did instead was that I dived into this thick bush nearby. I thank the gods just as thousands of crows flew above us, wheeling and circling. When they left, I crawled out. Gandalf staggered to his feet. Nico caught his arm and helped him up.

"Spies of Saruman. The passage of South is being watched." Gandalf worriedly exchanged looks with Aragorn then looked at the rest of us. He gestured to the mountains.

"We must take the pass of Caradhas!"

I found out that I wasn't immune to the cold. It was freezing. I rubbed my hands together for warmth as we trudged through the snow. Looking ahead was Legolas who scoured the way. He didn't look cold in the least, he hadn't even worn a coat or anything, just his usual cloak. The rest of the fellowship weren't looking all too great either. Seems like I wasn't the only one not happy hiking up a frozen mountain where were likely to freeze to death.

Up ahead, Frodo slipped and fell. I was about to help him but when he scrambled back to his feet, the Ring fell out of his shirt. I stopped moving. Nico and Thalia also stopped when they felt the Ring's presence. If I could, I would have stuffed it back into Frodo's shirt. Instead, the worst thing happened.

Boromir picked it up. He held it by the chain and watched it dangling before his eyes. I couldn't see his expression but from looking at Aragorn's, it was something to be weary of. My hand was in my pocket, ready to dish out Riptide if Boromir became crazy with power.

I waited, tense. Aragorn approached Boromir. "Boromir?"

Boromir started talking funny. Like oh-no-this-is-bad talk. "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing...such a little thing."

I couldn't hear what Aragorn was saying but I saw his hand move to the hilt of his sword. I just needed one move. Just one wrong move from Boromir and I would have flattened him. But he didn't, thank the gods. He snapped out of it and handed the Ring back to Frodo.

"As you wish, I care not." He ruffled Frodo's hair like nothing happened. Me and Aragorn exchanged glances.

I gripped Riptide. My first impression of Boromir hasn't changed but I traveled with him, sparred with him, and watched for enemies at night with him. I can't completely call him my friend but he wasn't my enemy either. He reminded me of Clarisse. I knew if the time ever came he turned on us because of the Ring… I would have a hard time.

I hoped in my gut that it wouldn't happen.

Legolas was a very cool person. He was so cool I was starting to hate him. I mean, come on. He's not bothered by the cold, he moves on the snow like he doesn't even have weight and for the gods' sakes, he still looks like a super model even in this weather!

I can let go of the super model thing but the way he moves over the snow was really starting to bug me. Okay, I admit. I just hated the snow. It was cold and we've been out here for over three days. Nico pulled his coat around him as a gust of wind blew at our faces.

"There is a fell voice in the air," Legolas said from the front.

Gandalf raised a hand and halted us. "It's Saruman." The mountain began to shake violently and thunder rumbled from above. Rock and shale fell from above. We grabbed on anything to make sure we don't fall.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain. Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn shouted over everything.

"No!"

"When I pictured dying, I didn't mean falling off a mountain!" Nico yelled. He ducked when a huge rock almost took his head.

Gandalf rose and raised his staff. He started shouting, "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho I ruith. Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath!"

It didn't work.

Thunder rolled above us. We all looked in horror as lightning struck the mountainside, causing a huge snow avalanche. We threw ourselves against the cliff face as snow crashed into the narrow ledge. Legolas and Thalia pulled Gandalf to safety.

"Thalia!" I shouted as snow piled.

She whipped her head to clear her vision and summoned a powerful gust of wind. We held on tightly as the snow that was meant to bury us alive was blown away.

"I can't control the storm! We have to go now!" Thalia said with gritted teeth. Her arms were held before her, creating a wind barrier that protected us from the onslaught of avalanches.

Boromir held Merry and Pippin by their cloaks. "Make for the gap of Rohan and take West road to my city!"

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn argued.

"We cannot pass over the mountain. Let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria," Gimli said.

"Make up your minds already!" Thalia growled at them. I wanted to help her badly but I can only create storms, not control them. I did what I could - I focused on keeping the snow out. For a while, nothing happened at first but then the snow started to moved under my command. The tugging in my gut grew strong as I forced the avalanche to stop. The snow above us froze, creating an arc above our heads.

I couldn't risk losing concentration. I've never tried this before. Frozen water was harder to control, it felt like trying to hold a thousand little beads in your hands without letting a single bead fall out.

"Frodo." I heard Gandalf say.

"We will go through the mines."

"So be it."

We were forced to turn back. It wasn't easy but we managed to get ourselves down. It was night time when we got to a shore of a lake.

Gimli was looking up at awe. "The walls of Moria!" he marveled.

I didn't care about what was so great about a wall. All I wanted was to drop on that log and sleep there until morning. Thalia and I had covered the Fellowship as we made our descent. Saruman was being a complete jerk the whole time, he never let the storm up. Not that I expected him to but I can dream.

"Whoa!" Nico gasped and I turned around. Moonlight poured from the sky, hitting the wall. It was like that UV light shone on CSI when looking for unseen clues. Lines started appearing, making an outline of a door. Words were etched on it as if an invisible hand was writing on it.

"It reads, The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter", Gandalf read.

"What do you suppose that means?" Merry asked.

"I know what it means," Nico said, staring at the door. "We need a password to get inside."

Gandalf nodded. "Exactly." He raised his arms "Annon edhellen, edro hi amen!" Nothing happened. Gandalf grunted and started chanting. No matter what he chanted though, nothing seemed to work. I even tried saying 'Open Sesame' but it didn't help. Gandalf glared at me for that but I can't say I didn't try.

I saw Aragorn and Sam saying goodbye to the pony Bill.

"Bye Bill, safe journey." I waved at him. Aragorn slapped him on the rump but didn't move yet. He turned to me and bowed. "Safe travels Son of the Sea god." When he left, Aragorn and Sam stared at me. I shrugged. "Back at home, my father created the horses," I explained.

"Wait, you can talk to them?" Sam said, bewildered.

"Anything equestrian."

"What?"

"Horse-like."

Aragorn shook his head. "I've seen so many things I wonder if I should be surprised anymore."

"Don't be," I grinned. He smiled at me but it slipped off as he looked over my shoulder. I frowned when he marched pass me and grabbed Pippin's arm. Merry and Pippin were throwing stones at the lake, I remembered.

"Do not disturb the water," Aragorn said ominously. He let go and watched anxiously. My radar senses suddenly buzzed to life and I could feel something in the water.

"Thalia," I called quietly, so that I won't scare the others and because she was closer than Nico was. She got up and went to my side immediately.

"What's up?" I pointed at the water. She muttered something in Greek that I couldn't hear. Probably insulting the gods here.

"Merry, Pippin, come here," I ordered them. They came without question.

"Sea creature?" Thalia asked. I nodded. "Do you think you can convince it to go away?"

I grimly shook my head. Whatever it was down there, it wasn't willing to listen. It was hungry. I couldn't understand what it was speaking, some kind of ancient language but I know what a monster sounds like when they're hungry and this one had a bad case of the munchies. Even my usual VIP access with sea critters won't help me here.

Behind me, Gandalf gave up in despair.

I backed up to them, never letting my eyes leave the water. "Still can't open the door?"

Gandalf shook his head. "It might be until the next night to open the door."

"We don't have that much time," I said, growing anxious by the second as ripples broke out in the water.

"Speak, friend, and enter… speak, friend, and enter…" Nico kept repeating. He stopped. "Is there another language for friend?"

"What's the Elvish for friend?" Frodo asked.

"Oh… mellon." Gandalf gaped in surprised as the door divided itself in the middle and swung itself open. There was nothing but blackness inside but I'd take it any day than face whatever it was in the water. Usually, I'm not afraid to face anything in the water but this was not my world and I knew nothing about it. Better not risk it.

The Fellowship goes inside, too slow for me but I couldn't force them. I didn't want them to panic.

"So, master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarves; roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin...and they call this a Mine..." Gimli snorted. "A mine!"

I noticed Nico was staring warily into the darkness. "Nico?" I approached him.

"Percy… it feels like death."

"What?"

Light suddenly filled the chamber. Everyone stepped back in horror as skeletons littered the floor. It didn't need a genius to figure out that there was a battle here a long time ago if the skeletons had anything to say about it. Rusted armor, shields, arrows and axes…

"This isn't a mine. It's a tomb," Nico gravely announced.

"Oh… no… no… no!" Gimli said in horror.

Legolas pulled out an arrow from a skeleton and inspected it. He dropped it after a second later, drawing his bow. "Goblins!"

We backed towards the entrance with our weapons drawn out.

"We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should have never come here," Boromir said.

Just then, Frodo suddenly falls to the ground before getting dragged away like those scenes in horror movies where you're suddenly dragged by your feet. Instead of a ghost, a tentacle wrapped itself around Frodo's ankle. Frodo cried out as he hung upside down.

Thalia didn't hesitate to shoot, as Legolas did. I ran outside and did a double take. First I saw a tentacle, a lot of tentacles; second, I think I just met the Kraken. Granted I never saw one, just the giant squid back at my Dad's palace and that didn't count. This thing could give the giant squid a run for its money. They fired a volley of arrows at it, shooting its multiple tentacles out of the way as Aragorn and Boromir charged in.

They sliced Frodo out of its grasp and came running back inside with the Kraken on their trail.

"Quickly!" Gimli shouted at Thalia and Legolas. They turned around and bolted as it swiped at them. Thalia rolled in front of me and quickly stood up.

"Seal the doors!" Gimli roared.

"It's too late!" Sam cried.

The Kraken's tentacles slithered inside and I went into action. Willing for the water outside to do my bidding, it shot out and grabbed the Kraken like a lasso. I jerked my hand backwards in a pulling motion and watched as the Kraken held to the walls as it was being forced out. The place cracked and groaned as the Kraken held itself. I lifted my other hand up and with both, I summoned two watery hands from the outside and grabbed the Kraken.

The Fellowship backed away and watched.

Enough with the tug of war, I thought. I brought my hands back in one swift motion and watched as the Kraken got yanked outside, taking the doors of its hinges and practically causing the ceiling to collapse on us.

Rocks fell on the entrance, completely sealing us inside and throwing the Fellowship into pitch blackness.

Faint light glowed from Gandalf's staff, throwing a creepy glow across his old face.

"We now have but one choice...we must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard...there are older and fouler things than the Orcs in the deep places of the world."

It couldn't have been worse, I thought. But I was so wrong. So very, very wrong.

Aaaaaaand we're finally getting to the action!

Don't kill me if I'm late updating, just know that when I start a story I will make sure to finish it!