Nobody POV
There was a scream, and then the loud roar of fire enveloping silken hangings, then a mounting crescendo of shouts of panic that spread and spread from one tent to another as the flames ran too, leaping from one silk standard to another, running up guy ropes and bursting through muslin doors. Then the horses were neighing in terror and men shouting to calm them, but the terror in their own voice made it worse until the whole plain were alight with a thousand raging blazes, and the night swirled with smoke and screams.
The little girl, starting up out of her bed in fear, cried out for her mother and screamed "The Spartans? Are the Spartans coming for us?" "Dear God, save us, they are firing the camp!' her nurse gasped."Mother of God, they will rape me, and spit you on their sickle blades.""Mother!" cried the child struggling from her bed"Whereis my mother?"
She dashed outside ,her nightgown flapping at her legs ,the hangings of her tent now alight and blazing up behind her in an of panic. All of the thousand tents in the camp were ablaze, blowing like a swarm of fireflies to carry the disaster onwards.
"Mother!"She screamed for help.
Out of the flames came two huge dark horses, jet black against the brightness of the fire. High up, higher than anyone could dream, the child's mother bent down to speak to her daughter who was trembling, her head no higher than the horses shoulder. "Stay with your nurse and be a good girl" the woman commanded no trace of fear in her voice."Your father and I have to ride to the Atlantic for the benefit of Athens."
13 years later…
Annabeth's POV
It's been years since the war but those horrific memories are still afresh in my mind. After thinking for years on the fact about how the war came to an end and we almost on the losing side managed to win.13 years of longing and today finally Mother had promised to answer all my questions. Yes my mother Queen of Athens known for her pride and bravery and in case you are yet wondering about me I'm Princess Annabeth the only daughter of Athena and Fredrick who has been raised with great love and protection. I was sitting in my chamber awaiting a message from my mother when someone knocked the door "Princess, your mother has called for you." Said my duenna Dona. "I'll be right there." I said.
Walking through the corridors of the palace which were made of marble and lined with the finest curtains I made my way to my Mother's chamber it had marble floors the curtains were made of the finest silk of the Athens every window frame is like white-work embroidery- the stucco is so fine, so delicate, it is like sugar-work by the confectioners. As I walked over I saw my Mother her gray eyes looked at me with love her brown curly hair fell over her shoulders and was wearing a gray dress that matched the color of her eyes "Come my dear, I've been waiting for you." I nodded and smiled at her. "I know what you've been thinking Annabeth I should've told this to you earlier but I feel as my daughter you will respect my decision." She started and I looked at her confused," Years ago when the war with Sparta was on we were about to lose nearly everything when your father decided to approach the King of Atlantis for help being Sparta's arch rival he agreed and with his help we managed to win" she stated."So that's it?" I asked."No, no my dear that day your father and myself betrothed you to Prince Perseus in order to create a permanent friendship among both the states." Hearing these words I felt my world crumbling down I was about to burst out but only managed to say," I've been betrothed? And you tell this to me now? When I'm 18 and supposed to be married how could you mom?" But she looked at me and said calmly "But my dear I don't really understand your reaction you have to be married to some eligible prince in future so why are you so shocked?"
"Because I love someone else!" I blurted out.
I could see the change in my mother's expression from concern to anger. "And who does that happen to be?" she asked with rage.
"Luke Castellan he is a soldier in our army." I murmured
"Oh now my only daughter the heir to the throne of Athens falls for some army soldier. Great! Is this how I brought you up so much struggle and pain to see this day? The kingdom that I gave my entire life to protect is being shunned by my daughter for some ordinary soldier? I wish I had died before seeing this!" she screamed.
"Mother, no" was all I managed to say.
She soon spoke to my father about this and I was called to the courtroom. I bowed before them and stood there still with my head down. When my father spoke up "Annabeth what is this that I hear from your mother? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"But Father I love him!" I cried
"Oh so now my little girl talks of love. Do you remember that you're a princess and a princess thinks of the benefit of her land before all her own personal desires? Annabeth this foolishness of yours will cost us our kingdom!"
"What am I supposed to do? I love Luke and if you meet him you will like him too." I mumbled but Father got angrier.
"Okay Annabeth either leave that soldier boy and marry Prince Perseus or have your way and watch our kingdom and pride be taken away as this would result in war with Atlantis. The decision is yours marry the prince or watch your parents die of humiliation!"
I cried harder. I could see the pain in my father's eyes clearly he looked defeated and broken something I had never seen my father as I felt guilty. I realized that I was being selfish something a princess cannot be my parents were disappointed by me which made me hate me even more.
"I'll marry Prince Perseus but let me meet Luke at least once before marriage. Let just say goodbye to him." I pleaded. My father nodded. "But the prince and king will be coming here next week so you better meet him fast".
I was sad and shocked as I was irrevocably in love with Luke and I could never think of anyone except him, but for my parents and my kingdoms sake I have to marry Prince Perseus.
Percy's POV
It's going to be a hectic day today according to Leo and Franks plan we've got to go hunting today and all of them which includes Jason, Leo, Frank and Grover have landed in my palace and here I am in my bedchamber preparing for the hunt when suddenly Grover comes storming in "Yo Perce whatsup man?"
Yup that's me Perseus the Prince of Atlantis. "Jeez Grover you gave me a start!" I said. Grover is my best friend he's our commander in chief's son. We have been friends since I was 4.
"Look man I know we've to go hunting but your dad's called for you he said it's important."
"What could it be now? Isn't he supposed to be busy with Triton?" I frowned. Triton is my step brother he's 4 years younger to me but thinks no end to himself. He is the son of Amphridite who my father married a year after my mother's death during childbirth ever since the day I was 2 years old she made my life living hell. But being the elder son as by the law I inherit my father's throne which makes them hate me more.
"Dunno about that but he's called you immediately." Grover said.
"I'll be there."I said
Walking through the corridors I wondered what must be so important that my father had called me immediately, he never calls me or asks about me just when he has some administration work which cannot be done by Triton he calls me, or then no one in this castle cares about me.
"I've been waiting for you Percy; I have to tell you something very important it's about your future".
I wondered what it was because my father never thought about me or my future so I was kind of shocked
"Whoa whoa when did you start thinking about my future?"
"It's not just about your future it's about the whole kingdoms future."
As expected I thought how my father King Poseidon can think about my future he's too busy to think about it.
"You have been betrothed to Princess Annabeth of Athens as this would last in a permanent and long lasting friendship between the two kingdoms, we will be leaving for Athens tomorrow morning, so be ready."
"Excuse me, but these years you have not cared about me and I've been okay with it, but I will decide about my future!" I declared.
"This is not about you it's about the whole kingdom, if your mother would've been here she would also want the same."
"Okay I'll think about it and let you know tomorrow." I said
With that I stormed out of the court straight to my horse Blackjack and rode to the forest. After awhile I realized that I was being followed, when I heard someone call out "Hey Percy wait up!" I turned to see Jason shouting and riding along with my buddies Grover, Leo &Frank.
"How can you storm out of the castle without informing us, don't you realize how excited we were about this whole hunting plan!"Frank complained.
"Chill Frankie I guess he couldn't bear the thought of losing to the very brave and mighty Prince Leo, so he ran away, ain't I right Percy?"Leo joked and I smiled half heartedly.
"Shut it guys it seems that Percy is upset after the talk to his dad, what did he tell you Percy?" Asked Grover.
"He told me that I had been betrothed to some Princess Annabeth when I was 6 and I have to leave for Athens tomorrow." I said.
"It's okay buddy but if you don't want to marry her why don't you just tell him?" Jason asked putting his hand on my shoulder.
"I told him but he said that it's for the kingdom and my mother would have wanted the same or so he said."
"Then it'll be okay Perce maybe it's for your own good maybe she's the one for you." Frank assured and the rest nodded'
"And from what I've heard the girls of Athens are real hot." Leo exclaimed and we all laughed.
"Yeah Leo for sure. And I guess you guy's right maybe it's for the best." I said "But you guys will have to come along with me there or else I'll get bored like hell out there."
"Sure and maybe Leo will find some hot Athenian as well" Jason joked.
"So cool then see you at the palace tomorrow "I waved to them and left these guys really made my mood a lot better and now I looked forward to meeting the Athenians.