So I thought of another story idea and here it is. This will probably only be three chapters, but that's fine because I think this is really, really good. If you are a fan of Chain and Counting the days, don't worry I am finishing up the next chapter for those as well. But for now, lets get into it shall we?

The last thing I expected to find on my way home from Killing Medusa was a naked blond girl chained to a rock, facing the sea who looked entirely done with the world. Me, being the gracious hero that I was, decided to fly down to her. My winged shoes obeying my mental commands like extra limbs. As I touched down with a soft pat, behind the rock, I heard her groan.

"For the last time father, I know that mother never meant to offend Poseidon by calling me more beautiful than the nereids. No, I do not want some other maiden to sacrifice their life that just happens to look like me, I am a princess. I am supposed to protect my kingdom, right? This is better than marrying that gross Phineus anyways." She spoke snappily, annoyed by my very presence, it seemed.

"Well, that wasn't the greeting I expected from you, but I guess it works." I walked around the rock, curious as to what the girl who was chained here looked up close. Once there, I saw her skin, beautiful and tanned from her legs all the way up to her face. Her face broke out into a blush, hands moving to conceal herself on reflex, but the chains stopped her hands from moving.

"Ah! What the Styx?! Who are you!?" I guessed that was to be expected, her being so angry at a strange man seeing her naked, but I still cringed a little bit from her shriek. Soon, I turned my eyes back to her, my sky blue orbs meeting with her sharp amber ones. Their color looking much like fine honey, and I could easily get lost in them like a fly if there weren't more pressing matters now.

"My name is Perseus, Son of Zeus and Danae. Nice to meet you, now can you tell me what you are doing on this rock?" I grunted some, soon removing my outer cloak and draping it over her nude body to save the woman some modesty before I stepped back, blushing a little bit.

"Hm, well, my name is Andromeda, daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia and princess of Ethiopia, not that any of that matters right now. Because I am about to die, and you should really get out of here before then. Thank you for the clothes though, I would hate to be sent to Lord Hades in the nude." I smiled a bit at her snark, before looking around, this was a...Strange place to have a sacrifice, and as far as I knew, Uncle Poseidon wasn't really a human sacrifice kind of god. That was more the Maenads' deal though I don't think my brother appreciated those sacrifices either.

"Why are you about to die? I am a bit of a monster slayer myself, so I could help you."

"And what exactly would you want in exchange for my help, huh? My hand in marriage? Well, sorry to say , but my hand is already promised to another. Or...It was before my brilliant mother decided to brag to the gods that I looked better than them. And well, you know what happens to mortals with Hubris." She rolled her eyes, a defeated grunt coming from the girl who seemed so defiant at first.

"So you're the one being punished for your mother's mistake? Did you agree with her statement or something like that?" I didn't really want to anger Uncle P, but this girl seemed to be being punished for no good reason! The mother I could kind of understand, but why Andromeda here?

"No, I told her that she was crazy! She only said that after big ol Phinaus decided I would be his wife out of all the pretty little girls in Greece." Andromeda looked like she was about to throw up at his name and probably would've if she didn't look half-starved. "But the sea god still got all angry and sent a Sea Monster to ravage our town, and that the only way to get him to leave was sacrificing me. Also, you never answered my question before, what do you want from this?"

"Oh, that. I don't really want anything from it, I just don't want to see an innocent girl die. Do I need motives other than that?" I smiled at her plainly, though she looked away with a little dusting of red on her tan cheeks; oh, why was she blushing now? I could never really understand women, not even back home, when they all seemed to pay so much attention to me.

"No..I guess not, though ...Perseus, why were you even passing by Ethiopia? This cloak isn't one you typically wear in warmer climates like my home."

"Oh, I was off slaying Medusa to stop some jackass from marrying my mom and using her as like, an object only meant for producing heirs because she is the most beautiful in our country. The guy sent me off to kill the monster, now I wasn't going to do it but then mentioned that the monster had killed dozens of innocents...I couldn't very well let that continue, could I?" I growled a little bit, thinking of that man and his...Horrible stench around my mother, the woman who had given so much to raise me! It was infuriating! I could almost feel my body shaking with anger at the thought when Andromeda's cough brought me back to reality.

"Ok then... Well, I guess you should be on your way now, you may have slain Medusa, but you won't stand a chance against the monster sent by Poseidon himself. It's better I sacrifice myself than you try to save me and fail... But thank you, Perseus, for at least showing me some brief kindness before my death." She spoke in a wistful, accepting tone. One that told me she had utterly resigned herself to her fate, and I stared at her there, looking at her blond hair fallen over my cloak, tears welling up in her eyes as the waves crashing behind us.

I envisioned the sea monster coming here, devouring Andromeda slowly, its teeth tearing through her flawless bronze skin. The light fading from her honeyed eyes as Thanatos carries her soul down to the underworld for judgment and anger once more filled me. This woman had done nothing wrong! Yet she was still wearing the weight of a horrible punishment to protect her people, I let loose a growl from my throat before turning to the ocean and drawing my blade and shield. The celestial bronze glistened a bit in the sunlight as Helios's chariot was at the end of its journey west.

"No."

"What?" She looked shocked, her eyes going to the blade in my hands, then slowly drifting to the satchel on my waist in which I carried Medusa's head as a proof of my victory over the wicked creature.

"I said no. I am not letting you die here, I am not letting some overgrown fish kill you without a fight from me first! If no one else is going to defend you, an innocent woman, then I will! I vow to save your life, Andromeda. Even if I die trying!" I screamed it aloud, mainly towards the ocean. Challenging it to send the monster to take Andromeda's life while I was going to stand vigil to protect her.

"What!? No, Perseus, you barely even know me! You shouldn't be willing to sacrifice yourself, what about your mother? You have to protect her, right? You have to defend your mother from the man who wants her hand, right? Right?!" She was yelling at me. My will wavered a little bit, imagining my mother marrying that man. But then I imagined how disappointed she would be in me once she learned what I did to save her...I knew how guilty I would feel if Andromeda's soul was sacrificed while I did nothing, selfishly running off to save my mother alone. I would never be able to live with myself.

"She...She would understand, I would rather die defending a life then run in fear of giving my own." I spoke, resolutely as the waves got more abundant below the cliff, the ocean becoming a choppy mess before a large creature emerged from it. The massive body reptilian, connected to five necks covered in obsidian scales, reflecting a bright orange in the sunset while the creature, likely a sea dragon, stared me down. Looking up at the thing, it towered over me, it must have been tall as Zeus's temple! Its gaze seemed to pierce into my very soul, and I wanted to cower, but then I remembered the girl behind me, and I stayed firm for a few moments—the tension sharp between Demigod and Monster. One of us needed to make the first move.

Deciding to take the initiative, I ran forward, sword and shield in hand headed to the edge of the cliff with a battle cry as Andromeda let out a final call to let her just die. I ignored her. Soon enough, I was on the last two steps, the monster's necks lurching back to lunge forward at me when I placed my feet firmly on the ground. "Maia!" I took a leap forward, the wings sprouting from my shoes as I soared into the sky, ready to do battle with the horrible beast.

Lancing forward with its mouth filled to the brim with razor-sharp teeth, I did a quick spin to avoid the first head, scales nearly scalping me, I swung my blade across the beast's neck, my sword catching within the muscle and stopping my rotation. At the same time, I continued to fly forward, sword shearing through the beast's neck and leaving a long trail of blood dripping from it as I pulled away from the first head. The massive wound I left making the thing thrash around in pain, the rest of the heads whipping around, each one threatening to take me down, thankfully, my superhuman reflexes kept me aloft when combined with Hermes' sandals.

"You like that Kelp Breath!" I yelled at the beast as I dived forward again, driving my blade into the back of one of the monster's heads, the nearest one, letting the creature whip itself onto my sword, the bronze slipping past the scales and right into the brain, the thing freezing up before going limp and I flew off with a grunt. Trying to assess my work when the beast suddenly jerked all of its heads one way and the sea itself erupted in a geyser headed right for my body, and I was just barely able to raise my shield in time to block it and not be shot across the sky. The force of the water leaving a dent in the polished surface. Welp, I guess this wouldn't be acting as a mirror again anytime soon. Still would work well as a shield, though. Doing a roll in the air, I lowered my shield to look at my handiwork; there should be two heads down, right? Two-fifths of my job done. I expected Andromeda to be cheering me on now, but she was only screaming louder, making what gestures she could from her chained state, and I soon found out why as I turned around.

The two heads I had pierced with my blade, they had...Regenerated somehow, each one up and functioning just fine. Ready to eat my friend and me right after, I steadied myself in the air, retaking a calming breath. I was not going to let that happen, I was a son of Zeus dammit! I charged in again. The beast raised its claws too fast for me to dodge, so I brought up my shield, cringing at the sound of the claws raking against the metal, tips nearly piercing through the sheet of bronze, but it held steady thankfully. Though it probably couldn't hold another hit, so I needed another way to beat this thing...Then an idea ran through my head as I targeted the thing's abdomen. I hope this worked.

Going into a swift dive, I increased my speed, urging the wind behind me to speed me up as I struck my blade forward towards the beast's back I thrust my sword down into it while letting loose a prayer. "Father! Please grant me lighting to save this maiden!" I called out while imagining a large arch piercing the bright sunset, reaching out and pulling the electricity from the clouds down onto us. I felt a tug in my gut before it came, the white-hot wrath of the gods slamming down on me, conducting the electricity into the monster through my blade as I cried out in pain. The lighting surged through my muscles, causing every single one of them to spasm uncontrollably while the heat singed every single hair off my arms and legs. A scream of pain ripped through my body, but I held true there.

I imagined pumping volt after volt of energy into the monster below me. At the same time, I was fried alongside the monster, the seawater conducting the electricity and becoming charged, dark ocean depths lighting up bright before the lightning finally died. The monster went limp underneath me, hopefully, shocked to death as I pulled my blade from the wound. The distinct smell of Ozone was lingering on my body as I flew up on the cliff again, panting, exhausted, and in pain. I could barely take two steps before I lurched forward, I had never used that much power in...Anything before but the idea of losing Andromeda, even after having just met her, was unbearable in a way I could not yet comprehend

I smiled as I landed, though. "See, I told you that I am a bit of a monster hunter, right?" I gulped some, the satchel on my waist suddenly feeling very heavy as I stumbled forward, swinging my blade towards one of the chains and breaking it as she chuckled at me.

"I guess you were right, hero...Now, how am I going to.." She never finished the sentence as her golden eyes suddenly pointed behind me in horror. I quickly spun around, watching in horror as the beast started to slowly rise from the sea, its burnt, charred form still clinging to life somehow, and beginning to regenerate. No! I couldn't, I didn't have the power to fight anymore!

"There has to be some way..." I then took a shaky step forward, but felt Andromeda's hand on my shoulder, her eyes desperate full of hope, she was still clinging onto something I couldn't quite see.

"Don't Perseus, you have fought well enough. Don't push yourself to death, not for me, I am not worth it."

"Like Hades, you aren't...I can see it, Andromeda, you are smart, you are willing to give everything for your people, even your life...Even if you can not become a leader on your own, I truly believe that you are worth more than my life when you survive this. You will probably be able to save all the city-states in the world if you were pushed so, that's a few thousand lives I am saving just by giving my own." I went to turn away from her, ready to go forward and face my death again, when I caught her expression, eyebrows knitting together, lips pursed and hand on her chin. Trying to think of something a plan that could likely save both our lives. But the sea dragon was regenerating and fast, I couldn't afford to let her plan out anymore and stepped forward.

"Wait! Perseus! You said you slew Medusa before, right? Do you have proof of that deed?" Was now the time for her to be doubting me? After all of that? Anyways I nodded and pat the satchel on my hip.

"Yes, Medusa's head is right here, if you want to see it before I die you may I can't say I recommend looking though, even in a mirror."

"Well, of course, her gaze turns anything that looks at it to stone in an instant, which means that...Perseus! Use it! You have the whole head, right? Her gaze, her ugly, cursed gaze, was what turned the men to stone, right? So it should work for us here to kill the dragon!" I looked to her, a little incredulous, it sounded ridiculous, using a severed head to kill this beast in an instant but...It wasn't like I had any alternative plans, and the creature almost seemed to be full strength now.

"Alright, I will...Trust you." I chuckled lightly, I had a feeling that her plan would work much better than anything I could come up with as I reached into the satchel as the seadragon's eyes finally came back in and pulled out the head of Medusa wrapping my fingers in the head of snakes. At the same time, I got a bit closer to the edge, my arm hanging by my side now.

"Hey, salty! Take a look at...At this!" I let loose a scream to get the thing's attention once more, the dragon glaring at me was all five heads lunged at me at once, and I brought up the head, looking away from the scene with my eyes closed expecting my death, but it never came. Instead, I heard a bright cheering from behind me, and slowly placing the head back in the satchel, I opened my eyes to see the sea dragon there, turned into a statue. Dead, panting a little bit, I chuckled to myself before turning to Andromeda, who seemed to be crying tears of joy. Rushing over to her, limping the whole way, I soon shattered the rest of her chains before falling forward into the girl's arms.

"You did it, you did it, Perseus...You did it, my hero." I bearly had the strength to smile at her when she gave me one before leaning forward to place a kiss on my lips, a soft one, fleeing before she pulled back. I weakly croaked out the first thing that came to my mind at that.

...

"What about Phineus?" I didn't want to ruin a relationship here, even if the woman currently holding me, setting me down into her lap as she looked lovingly into my eyes, did, in fact, look more beautiful than any goddess.

"That guy? He can go to the hellhounds for all I care, I never liked him. He never would have faced a sea dragon down for me after half an hour of talking. You, however, I think I like you." Those words, they were like the sweetest victory to me and filled me with warmth as I nodded, world starting to blackout around me. My exhaustion finally starting to fully catch up with me.

"I like...You...Too." I smiled at her before I passed off into the darkness, smiling to myself as Andromeda cradled my head in her lap. The sunset making her golden curls shimmer beautifully as I went under.
-

I woke up to the smell of stew being cooked, the sweet smell of goat meat boiling in a bot with other fragrant herbs making my mouth water while my eyes slowly opened. Blinking as the bright sunlight invaded my eyes. Why was my whole body in pain? Sitting up, I heard a door creak open, and soon Andromeda came in with a bowl of the stew I smelled, her eyes bright when she saw me up.

"Great, you're awake, I would have hated for you to miss out on the wonderful dinner I prepared once we got home."

"Home? Am I in the Ethiopian Palace? This room seems...Small for a palace, no offense." I looked around. The room was, in fact, tiny, about as big as my own back home with my adopted mother and father. I didn't mind it though, I don't think I could get used to living in a palace. I was raised a fisher's son, and that was where I was most comfortable.

"Oh, this is one of our servant's houses, they freely offered it up when I dragged your body back here. Couldn't have you be eaten by lions after going through so much to save me now, could I?" She grinned at me softly, something about it making my heart thump in my chest, and I found myself nodding before it really hit me. Servant's house, I was talking to a princess now that meant that...I couldn't marry her even if we both wanted to.

Pushing those thoughts away from my mind, I looked to the stew and picked it up, stirring my spoon in it a bit before picking up a spoonful of it, goat meat accompanied by carrots. Completely normal except for one thing...

"Blue Carrots? Why only blue?" I took the spoonful into my mouth, smiling at the taste before I started to eat more, noting that every carrot in there was a natural blue. I knew carrots came in all colors and shapes, but this was a strange quirk.

"Because those taste best, of course. Now, we should probably get to discussing some things...Like why you didn't inform me you were a prince yesterday." That knowledge almost made my choke on my soup, a bit of it catching in my throat, forcing me to reach desperately for some wine to drink it down with, and after a hard swallow of the stuff, I was left panting.

"What? I'm a prince? Mom, dad, and mom didn't tell me that." She raised an eyebrow at me before bringing out some parchment with royal families printed o nit, pointing to a specific line with Acrisius, following down, and sure enough, there was my mother's name as his only child. Under her name was an "unnamed grandson."

"I presumed you were the grandson. I talked to my parents about it, after explaining your little heroic escapade, and they told me that Danae had supposedly been lost at sea with her child years ago and wondered why I brought it up even, and I told them." I held up a hand to stop her and compose myself a bit.

"So I am a prince it turns out, prince of a pretty strong nation in its own right." She nodded, and I looked to her eyes, brightening with the same hope and affection that I was feeling for her. I quickly wolfed down the rest of my stew and placed it to the bedside table, reaching for Andromeda's touch and taking her hands in mine. Feeling a pleasant tingle up my spine when we touched and I grinned at her.

"Right, and my parents are pretty eager to repay you for saving their beloved daughter... I know you said you didn't want a reward other than saving an innocent girl, but...Well, they are going to insist on giving you a reward." I chuckled a little bit at what she was hinting.

"Would you like my reward to be your hand in marriage Andromeda? From your tone yesterday, I would have thought you hated being married off as simple as that." She grumbled, lightly smacking my chest while shaking her head.

"Idiot. I didn't want to be married to Phinaus because he is a disgusting human being who only sees me as human chattel. You, however, I like you. I am going to be married off soon anyway, it's all a woman in Greece is good for anyways, so I at least want to be married to a man I know I can stand." With that, she leaned in and planted a soft kiss on my lips, warmth filling my very soul just like her last chaste kiss. When she pulled away, i had to suppress a small whine in the back of my throat. Lord Zeus up on Olympus, what was this woman doing to me?

"Then, I will gladly take your hand in marriage Andromeda." I reached out, gently taking some of her golden hair in my hand and pushing it behind her ear to see that beautifully tanned face of hers, the skin contrasting to my own alabaster.

"Then we should inform my parents, shouldn't we? Don't want them to regret this decision, right?" I nodded and felt her slowly crawl off of me while I got out of the bed, stumbling slightly before Andromeda caught me.

"The son of the sky god can't keep his balance? I am going to have to keep saving you when you trip, won't I?" I leered at her for that comment, leaning on my soon to be fiance as we walked. Gods, I really exerted a lot of power yesterday, didn't I? If only there was some Nectar or Ambrosia around, that could get me into ship-shape.

"I can keep my balance perfectly fine when I am flying. Or did you forget watching my daring swipes and dodges at the sea monster yesterday?"

"How could I forget? My life was only on the line, dependant on the heroic idiot who decided he could take on a dragon alone."

"Oh, but I am your idiot now, aren't I? Someone to charge in a thousand more times to protect you." She broke out into a blush then, it was cute. Really, really cute, in fact.

"Well, you are not going to be mine. But I am going to be yours, that's just how marriage works here."

"That may be true legally, but that does not apply to us. I am not my father, I will never stray from you Andromeda, I doubt that anyone could compare to you anyways, other than the goddesses themselves." I looked nervously to the sky, trying to make sure that she wasn't going to be punished again for my claims. "Besides, it was your plan that saved us both in the end, I would wager that I am in your debt now."

She laughed again, a soft, flute-like laugh, melodic and beautiful, I decided. Walking side by side with her, everything felt right. We continued to chat about random things, like the flowers in the garden, a few of the strange fruits they had here in Ethiopia before we arrived at the palace. Looking at her nervously, she nodded, and I opened the door. Heavy marble moving easily with my superhuman strength before I strode forward, Andromeda following closely behind before I came to the king and queen and bowed to them.

"Rise Perseus, son of Zeus, you do not need to bow to any in my court after your deeds yesterday. Saving my daughter and my city from Poseidon's wrath." I nodded and slowly rose, looking the king in the eyes, his eyes seemed to be full of amusement looking back and forth between his daughter and me.

"Now. What reward do you request for such a feat? We of Ethiopia like to repay our debts, no matter how much a kind stranger likes to deny one." I blushed, Andromeda must have mentioned what I said to her parents before gulping. This was the moment, now or never.

"If you insist on giving me a reward. Then I humbly request Andromeda's hand in marriage, I do believe that the moment I saw her Eros's golden arrow had pierced my heart. Leaving me lovestruck for her." I then went silent, holding my breath for a few moments as the king looked at me, his gaze was intense as if he was assessing me up and down for a long time before nodding.

"I shall allow this. However, we do not have much of a dowry prepared for you. It had already been given to Phineas before the...The incident, and your saving of my daughter's life and my city is sufficient enough for her bride price, I suppose." I shook my head, standing up and walking to Andromeda, grasping her hand in mine.

"I have no need for a large dowry, my lord, all I require is your daughter's hand and the chance to make her happy. Even a meager few drachmae seem excessive as a dowry when I have her by my side." The king seemed to like that, not having to give up a ridiculous price for his daughter? I guessed the idea appealed to him, he nodded at us, and I had to suppress a yell of victory, and settled for merely kissing my love on the cheek and turning to exit the palace when a man barged in, stomping through the hallways.

His bright blond hair flowing through the wind, contrasting against two cold, nearly black eyes while he stared forward. Fury evident in his eyes when he saw my hand intertwined with Andromeda's. "Cysaphus! What is the meaning of this? I heard a rumor that you were giving Andromeda's hand to another man! We had agreed on a price and dowry! She is to be my wife, not this...This vagabond's! No matter what he did, you made an oath to me, and I will have Zeus smite you for breaking it!"

So this was Phineas, looking him up and down, I could see why Andromeda was so disgusted with him, his stomach was bulging out of too-tight armor, and his face was scratched up, angry. He gave off the weird smell of rotting fish that almost made me throw up the stew I had eaten earlier. I felt Andromeda's hand leave mine suddenly, and I watched in awe as she approached the man, rage clear in her eyes.

"The rumor is true, you pig! If I recall, you broke the engagement first when I was to be sacrificed to the sea monster! My father has just agreed to my new engagement fully and legally to Perseus, sole male heir to Acrisius!" She screamed and slapped the man before turning and strutting over into my arms again.

"Oh, and I don't think Zeus will be striking me down anytime soon. He hasn't been much of a father, but I doubt he wants to see my death at his hands." I gave the man a smirk, seeing his eyes widen in the realization of who he was messing with before his face turned red and he turned to go.

"Alright, but mark my words! I will return to Ethiopia, and with my full army to slay you and claim my right as Andromeda's husband before razing this lost city to the ground Sufficient vengeance for humiliation and to get back the bride price I already paid to the king and queen." He then left a bad taste in my mouth when he went out of the door as I cursed slightly.

"Perseus, I'm sorry that you had to encounter that. If you wish to leave for home, then I will not stop you. You have already done enough for our city. We can defend ourselves best we can while you and Andromeda get to her new home." The king made his announcement, but I shook my head.

"No, I don't think I will be able to leave for home for a while yet. I need to stay for when he comes back." I grumbled; every day I remained here was another day that Polydectes had to marry my mother! I couldn't leave Andromeda and her people behind though, that wouldn't be right. I felt my engaged gratefully grasp my hand in hers, making my negative emotions start to melt away while I looked to her for some emotional support. Her eyes were thankful once more, I just shook my head. There was nothing to thank me for.

"My wife's people are my people, as well. So, to abandon them would just be an act of pure cowardice, something not looked upon well by the gods." I smiled at her before bowing to the kind once more as he dismissed us, Andromeda and I running off into the garden, finding a nice spot beneath a large Apple tree, the bright red fruit drooping from the branches. Smirking a bit, I picked one right from its branches and offered it to her.

Andromeda just let out a few giggles. "A proposal? Perseus, we are already to be married." However, she still took the bright fruit and took a large bite from it, the crunch echoing through the quiet garden before she started chewing.

"Yes, but I wanted to make sure once more that you wanted this by actually proposing to you formally." The woman shook her head, clearly suppressing a groan before she swallowed the bite of fruit.

"Well, aren't you a gentleman? This isn't exactly a formal setting, but I appreciate the gesture, I don't think I would have ever rejected you. Want a bite?" I nodded, lending over and taking a giant chomp of her apple.

"Every time," I spoke and through my chewing Andromeda did not appreciate that it seemed as she picked another apple and threw it at my head, the soft fruit making an audible thunk before it rolled off and down the small hill we were on, a bruise forming on its surface.

"Ugh don't speak like that, it's gross. That's gonna be like, rule number one. Don't talk with your mouth full in front of me." I nodded and swallowed audibly before pulling her into a hug, shivering at the sensation of tingles shooting through my skin when I did so. Apparently, she felt them as well, if the gasp she released was any indication though my engaged soon leaned her head against my chest, softly breathing. Her weight was comfortable against my own.

"So, how long do you think I will have to stay here?" Andromeda shrugged.

"You have to stay long enough for us to have the wedding at least. Once we have that, Phineas wouldn't dare attack us and claim me as his wife. To do so would anger so many gods at once that the ground might as well open up then and there to swallow him."

"Well, because we can not return to my home until we are wed, and my father can't exactly present me considering he is a god and we can not get my adoptive family for this... The wedding is going to be atypical anyways." Andromeda nodded in confirmation, her mind racing with possibilities on how to get through it easier. We probably didn't have the weeks of build-up that would typically be afforded a young couple.

"Also, the longer we take to have the proaulia, the stronger Phiniaus's forces can grow...Let's give it a week, we start it a week from today and spend the next two days on the proaulia and gamos then we forgo the cart. You carry me home through the air, and it should be fine, right? The gods will understand that these are strange circumstances." I nodded a week. It seemed like a long time, but I knew it would go by in a flash. Still, I was going to use the week to be with Andromeda. Yawning a bit, I felt some tiredness encroaching on me, in the warm summer sun. Underneath a tree with someone, I was probably in love with wrapped in my arms.

"A week it is...Now, let's take a small nap, shall we? Today was pretty intense, emotionally, if not anything else." I yawned more, making the blonde giggle.

"Gosh, you really get tired easily, don't you? Well, I guess that's something I will have to adapt to. I hope you are a good cuddler." She spoke before resting her head against my chest, her steady breathing lulling me to sleep easily as my mind was enclosed with darkness once more.

I woke up with honey-blond hair lying against my chest. Lightly snoring, her arms wrapped tightly around my abdomen, gods she was cute. I gently reached down and moved the hair from her face, staring down. I could feel something deep within me, telling me this was just right. This was where I was meant to be, by Andromeda's side. Happy, and soon to be together forever.

"Now, how to play up some romance, I do want her to feel really special after all. Ooh, that could be fun...Show her some advantages of marrying the son of Zeus." Gently, I shook the girl's shoulder, and she looked up to me with a yawn. Grogginess still in her face as she smiled at me.

"Good news, you provide sufficient cuddles. I think I am going to keep you around for a while. Now, why did you wake me up?" She ended her statement by blowing her tongue at me while trying to settle into her snuggling position again.

"Oh, I was just going to show you something I know you would love. Have you ever wanted to fly?" That got her attention, she slowly nodded, and I smirked a bit sitting up and slowly rising. Stepping back from her for a bit.

"Ok, so, Hermes's sandals make this a lot quicker, and I can use them without expending any energy. But I want to show you I can fly on my own and...I can take you into the air as well." I gave her my best grin as I felt the winds start to whip around me, letting out a few breaths as commanded they take me slightly up and into the wair. Hovering just above the ground, kicking up dust in a circle around me as I stuck a hand out to Andromeda.

"Care to join me?" She nodded, walking forward slowly before grasping my hand, a little shaky. She was nervous, I guessed that it was a natural reaction to flying for the first time. Taking her hand, I pulled my engaged in close, wrapping my arms around her and instructed the winds to take me up, higher, higher. Past the torch lights of the palace and into the darkness of the night, and we stayed there, hovering. Andromeda cautiously looking around, her mouth open in amazement.

"I can't believe that...I thought only the birds and bats were able to enjoy Zeus's realm. Though it isn't a surprise, his child can explore his kingdom fully." Her voice was excited, happy, thinking about the prospects of where this could lead. Smirking some, I decided to surprise her by making the winds suddenly drop us, shifting our position to be spread eagle. At the same time, she started to scream some, watching the earth rapidly approach before I commanded the wind to take us once more and swooped with her hand in mine, taking her upwards into the sky again. The winds supporting us both while I flew with her.

"Ah, Perseus! Don't scare me like that! I thought you had...Ugh..." Hopefully, the darkness of night hid the amusement in my eyes as I started my flight with her, soaring through the air side by side with Andromeda. Passing over the vineyards and orchards of her home, the world passing by beneath us. Occasionally I made us dip down far, diving through the air, hearing her excited yell before we swooped up again into the sky as if riding a wave upwards. I took her on this flight, this exploration of Father's kingdom, for a few more minutes. The feeling of flight had always sent my heart racing from excitement before, and now that I had Andromeda by my side while we enjoyed it, it was beating two-fold.

Eventually, however, I returned us to the right above the home and made the winds just hover over the servant's home that was serving as my quarters for the night. Bringing my engaged back into an embrace, my hands on her hips and her arms wrapped around my neck. Just staring into each other's eyes, I was right before. I could get myself completely lost in her beautiful amber irises, my sense of self just seemed to disappear as I looked forward, and from the way she was looking at me, she probably felt the same.

Absentmindedly, I started to hum a small tune and made the winds start turning us slowly. Spinning around on the winds, letting them gently rock us back and forth as I kept the tune up, getting into a little air-dance, I guessed. Moving in a little rhythm back and forth, mentally commanding the winds to lower us to the ground while Andromeda leaned into me more, harmonizing with my humming before we touched down on the ground and started to dance around the garden. Freely drifting around it, the sound of chirping crickets providing the beat as we danced. Moving in sync with each other, utterly oblivious to the rest of the world outside of the garden.

We danced like that long into the night until Helios's chariot was peaking over the horizons, and the servants were rushing towards my quarters, wondering where we went last night. After easing their panic, the two of us sighed before separating. There was a lot to prepare for, after all, we needed to go about our regular days and strategize on how to slay Phineas. How to defeat him by the time of our wedding day.

I woke up on the day of my wedding to Andromeda in a cold sweat, nervous about what was going to happen today. We hadn't been attacked by Phinaus in the whole week, neither had we been attacked yesterday at the festivities at the proaulia. Which worried me, that meant today was going to be the day we were attacked... If anyone of Ethiopia or gods forbid Andromeda was injured in this all, then I probably would never forgive myself. Getting up, I looked to my side, at the spot that Andromeda had occupied for every day until last night, already missing her after a mere night of her absence, dear Hera, how had I ever survived without her in my life?

Stretching a little, I went to gather my typical clothing, putting on and pinning up my Chiton and undergarments. I usually would want to wear something a bit more fancy for my wedding day, but we didn't exactly have much time to put this together, did we? Once I had brushed my messy dark hair into something that resembled neat, I placed my blade on my hip, ready enough for battle, I supposed.

Then my eyes went to the satchel, the one carrying Medusa's head, the reason I was able to slay the sea monster. It was a valuable weapon, and I knew I would likely need every advantage I could get when attacked today. So I grabbed it and fastened the thing to my waist, the head feeling heavy on my hip.

"Well, I better get to my wife, or else she will be livid." It felt good to finally call her that, call Andromeda, my wife. It might sound silly, but I really think that she must be my soulmate. My other half, separated by order of my father long before I was born. How else would you explain us falling so hard and so fast? Well, Eros, of course, but he chose to make us fall in love for a reason.

Walking out the door, I approached the palace again, watching as the palace servants stared at me, the traditionalists in the crowd glaring, and I didn't blame them. Andromeda and I didn't have the most traditional wedding by any standard. Still, that fact only made me smile a little more to myself; I had a feeling we weren't going to be doing anything "traditionally."

Arriving at the palace soon, I walked in and saw Andromeda in her veil, ready for the feast, for the sacrifices and being given to me. Though I could not see her beautiful lips through the veil, I suspected that she was smiling as wide as I was when I approached the altar with her by my side, and we made the sacrifices prior to starting the feast. The food was fine as expected, and Wine flowed through everyone like a river.

It took everything within me not to unveil my bride earlier and take her for my own then and there, but I had to hold myself back. Waiting through the party where I was jostled around by strangers. None of whom I recognized even vaguely, all the time, I just wanted to be alone with Andromeda. To finish the wedding and make us immune to Phinaus's wrath, and of course, when you thought about monsters, they appeared at the worst possible moment.

Just as the sunset began, and the unveiling ceremony was to start, we heard a horn blow from outside the palace, and everyone was stunned into silence. It was a war horn, and that meant that the army had arrived. Sighing, I went with the king out of the palace, using Hermes's sandals to fly up high and see the masses outside the Ethiopian walls. The army was big, too big for the soldiers within the city to deal with. Cursing, I flew down, letting loose a sigh. I could charge in and try to kill Phinaus, simply to get this over with, but I knew that would end in my death. There had to be a solution here, but I was never one to think things through. No, I needed my wife here to help brainstorm.

"I'm going to get Andromeda, she will have some way of getting through this." Inside the palace, all hints of the festivities from before were gone, replaced by a somber atmosphere, and I called for her. The veiled woman approached me, taking her hand, and I led Andromeda outside. Suddenly more aware of the weight on my hip, I made sure to inform her of that.

"We don't have enough men or skill to combat the army. So we need a way of dealing with them all, killing them all at once should be good..." Looking outside and at the direction from where the army was coming, I could very easily imagine the smirk behind that veil of hers.

"Father, would you mind giving me to Perseus now? I would really love to see my husband's home, and the army is on the way. We can take them out on our way east." I looked to her in surprise, what did she mean by that? Sure, I was planning on carrying her off through the sky, over where the army was now, but that didn't say anything, right?

"Oooh, I think I get it...My flying is a bit of an attention grabber, isn't it? Makes you want to look up to see the man defying the pull towards the earth." She gave me a soft nod. Her father was still confused of course, but nodded anyway. Grasping Andromeda's arm before looking back towards the party-goers.

"Oh, um...In front of witnesses, I give you my daughter to bear children." I grasped at her other arm lightly but firmly.

"And I receive her." I then lifted the veil from Andromeda's face and nodded with her smile, crouching down before lifting the girl up in my arms comfortably.

"Now, we need to scurry home if we are to make it by the morning. Andromeda, do you mind bringing out the head as I focus on flying?"

"Not at all, my lord. Shall we go?" I gave her a nod, then took off running towards the edge of the palace steps, I remembered how just a week ago when I was doing the same thing. I was preparing myself for an epic battle that may have easily resulted in my death. Now, I was taking my new wife into our new life together.

"Maia!" The wings sprouted from my sandals before I leaped off and into the air, mentally commanding the winds to propel us forward, going at a faster speed while we went over the walls, Andromeda pulling Medusa's head from its satchel and displaying it to all the onlooking soldiers as we flew over them, the petrification overcoming the army in a wave, the gray spreading through the enclosed soldiers quickly until none were left. Phineas's expression forever stuck in between surprise and anger as we flew off into the sunset, smiling like complete idiots the entire time.

My old, withered hand slowly grasped onto my wife's happiness. Enclosing the weak appendage around hers lovingly as we looked from our balcony into the courtyard of our home, it was simple for a palace. That was how we liked it; hearing the laughs and cries of our grandchildren, I smiled. Looking upon them as they played, I could feel myself dying. I knew that my time was to come soon, and Andromeda was much the same.

"Say, dear. When we reach the underworld...Do you think we will land in Elysium? Have we done enough good in the world for that?" My nervous question was stopped by her laugh, that beautiful, melodic laugh that hadn't lost any of its beauty in the many decades of age.

"If you don't reach Elysium, Airhead, then no one deserves it. You have done so much good in the world. It's ridiculous. I know that your story will be passed down in many legends, and become something for others to imitate." I nodded, letting out a breath, one of the last I would have before taking in another deep one.

"I would not have done half of it without you by my side. You were always the smart one of us...When we reach Elysium, do you want to go for rebirth? Try to land in the Isles of the Blessed? I can't recall any who have done it before." I looked to her with a twinkle in my eye, Andromeda was never one to back down from a challenge, not even one that was supposedly impossible. Even though the parameters were clearly set, getting to Elysium three times.

"Oh, I don't know. I don't want to lose you, I don't want us to lose each other in another life." At that, I squeezed her hand, careful not to exert my super strength now and break her fragile bones.

"Andromeda, I swear that if we go for rebirth that I will find you. That you will find me, and we will be together again, in every life. We are soulmates, after all, that means we...We are meant..To...Be." Each word I spoke was labored, I was nearing my last living moment, everything was starting to slow down even.

"Then let's...Go for...It... I can't wait...To see the fu-" She was cut off by a cough, but I knew what she was going to say. In the distance, I saw a man with two large black wings approaching us, Thanatos, of course.

"My promise...Enough to..convince you?" I smirked at her, and she nodded. Even that was weak now, it hurt to see her like this, but I guess in a few minutes it wouldn't matter.

"Of course...You always keep...Promises...t's why...I love you." Then she went silent, though this time of her own accord, so that's what she wanted her last words to be? Thanatos was nearly upon us, after all. Taking one last breath, I held it for a second.

"I love you too." Then Thanatos was before us and nodded, gently touching our heads to bring our souls to the other side.