Praetor's legacy

Chapter 4

The only reason they decided to tell the camp that Reyna had Percy's baby because of an ancient ritual, was because if they didn't, Octavian would. And nobody wanted that. Not one person.

So there Percy and Reyna were, standing on the steps of the principia, holding Aidan in a warm green blanket that Gwen had found, in front of the entire camp, including the residents of New Rome.

Percy cleared his throat. "Hello, people of Rome. We have gathered you all here today to explain something that Reyna and I think that you need to hear." And so, Percy told the story, with Reyna piping in whenever he missed something. He of course, did not tell them about the kiss they shared, or Reyna crying on his shoulder before the ritual took place, or how Percy couldn't even look during the birth, but they told everything else.

Gwen would have been there, but she had gone into San Francisco to sneak the birth certificate into a large hospital called St. John's.

Everyone that didn't know about the birth either had their mouths open, gaping at them, or they were smiling ecstatically, or they were scowling, (Octavian's supporters) which they took as an okay sign to go on. "Gwen will be Aidan's caretaker when we're gone for war. We trust that you will train Aidan if Percy and I cannot. When he's old enough, he shall enter the legion on probatio, just like all of you did. When he earns his first stripe and all of his stripes after that, you shall treat the ceremony and him with respect, just like we did when you received your stripes. You may now return to your jobs. Thank you for your time," concluded Reyna.

Afterwards, Ella the harpy came bounding up to them, quoting Homer as she handed them a scroll. Hazel and Frank walked up to them afterwards as well. Hazel gave Percy another sisterly kiss on the cheek, while Frank hugged him. They entered the principia to read the scroll, out of everyone's sight.

Hazel screamed when she saw Sammy or Leo, or whatever you want to call him, when he appeared on the scroll. Percy listened to what he said with rapt attention. Percy then handed Aidan to Hazel, who went to sit down while Percy called an emergency Senate meeting.

After everybody arrived, Percy went into detail, explaining how he was Greek, and how there was a Greek camp, and how the Greeks were arriving on a warship to pick him, Hazel, and Frank up to take them to Rome and later to Greece to fight Gaea and her children.

The Romans were accepting of Percy's heritage, except for Octavian and his followers, and were ready to fight Gaea. Percy rallied his troops, told them to dress in their fighting gear, and how they were going to stand ready to fight, only as a precaution, just in case things didn't turn out well.

Percy reminded them that Jason was on that warship, returning home. He also told them that he and Jason would have to decide whom would become co-praetor with Reyna. Percy then dismissed them so they could get ready for the Greeks arrival.

The Romans stood in the wide streets of New Rome, dressed in their best army clothes, preparing for the unexpected, which is quite a hard thing to do.

As the leaders of the 12th legion, Percy and Reyna stood in front of the army, side-by-side, with Hazel standing behind them, holding Aidan. When the warship landed, barely fitting in the wide streets, Percy and Reyna stood straight and tensed with nervousness.

First to leave the ship was the former praetor, Jason Grace, flanked by a pretty girl with choppy brown hair, and Leo/Sammy. Behind them was a redhead Percy knew well. Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the Greek camp's oracle, and one of his best friends. Behind her was a satyr wearing a familiar looking Rasta cap, chewing on a tin can. Percy couldn't help but smile at the sight of them.

Lastly, an extremely familiar blonde glided down the plank, her beautiful stormy gray eyes staring at him, expecting him to not remember. He gave her his lopsided grin, the one that she loved, which made her eyes beam and her smile appear.

Percy and Reyna stepped forward, almost in synchronization, with Hazel mirroring their movements. Percy held his arms out wide and smiled, saying, "Welcome to Camp Jupiter and New Rome, Greeks! I'm glad you could find your way here, hopefully with no difficulties. The centurions shall escort you to the principia for a Senate meeting, which concerns all of you. So please, make yourself welcome!"

Percy and Reyna then turned around, and followed Hazel, who was in front of them, back into the center of New Rome.