Fairy Tales (Percy Jackson AU)

Chapter 4: Dragon's Bane

It had been years since she'd last been so happy. And clearly it was evident to everyone. The marketplace was filled with laughter and yelling, and aromas so strong it masked the sea salt breeze of the nearby docks.

"Madam! Madam!" A vender called to her, raising a beaded necklace to her, "It's pretty, yeah?" He called, "For the pretty lady! Only twenty Denarii!"

She kept waking the spring in her step, her basket swinging by her side and he ruby cloak fluttering behind her. Her smile made the men in the market swoon and one tried to hand her free bread, another with wine.

Her beauty extended far and wide, and yet she only had sights for one man in the town.

She strolled to a stand selling the flowers and herbs from the Kingdom of Demeter. The booth was filled with gossip and yet the girl running the stand recognized her favorite customer immediately.

"Red!" She yelled, "You've got to see these new herbs! I got them just for you!"

She pulled out a bag of careful preserved leaves. "They were infused with magic from a witch in Oz! They are said to teleport a person to whatever location they wish to be!"

"Teleport, Miranda?" The girl in the red cloak laughed, "You can't be serious."

"I swear!" Miranda raised her hand waving the packet, "Three leaves, hun. It's worth the price I swear!"

"I'll take them!" Suddenly she was shoved out of the way by two identical looking boys. They both had sandy blond hair with blue eyes and the younger one leaned on top of the counter winking at Miranda.

"Hey, beautiful," he said as the girl in the red cloak huffed but nothing could really dampen her mood.

"Full price, Stolls. Nothing less." Miranda said, though her cheeks took a light pink color.

They both frowned pouting, "Fine." They handed over the coins.

Miranda smiled accepting the money. The red cloak girl waved bye and headed back into the maze off people. The crowd seemed to have multiple with everyone yelling, screaming in her ears. And yet every step brought a wider smile, a happier aura. Every step brought her closer to the light of her life.

"Oh and Calypso!" Miranda called, behind her.

The girl in the red cloak and basket turned, her eyes sparkling with starstruck love.

"It's good to see you happy."

Calypso grinned. "Yes. Yes it is."

***

She had to pinch herself to get rid of the smile on her face. Once a frown was firmly planted on her lips she stalked up to the shack. Not that it mattered, much. Before the shop owner even turned around, her smile had crept up on her features.

The shack billowed heat right into her face. Grease smeared on just about everything, stray tools, metals and papers rested on every surface possible. The sound of metal on metal brought the shop to life.

She tossed her basket onto the pile of papers, and tapped her foot with mock irritation.

"You're late." She said loudly.

At first there was no reply and the incessant banging added a dull throbbing to the back of her mind. Then the hammer was placed down and the white hot metal dunked in a bucket of water. She could see him, his form hunched over he newest master piece. The steam curled away, dripping sweat down his neck and forearms. He flicked up his wielding mask and looked at her with an all-knowing expression.

"Have you ever thought about just buying a new set of this junk?" Charles Beckendorf asked. "Not that I mind the work, but Seriously, every week, Lady Calypso?"