Perseus: Excidium Troiae

Four

A/N: Alright, guys. So, here is the fourth official chapter of Perseus: Excidium Troiae. I read through the previous chapter and it seemed as though Apollo and Percy got over their argument a little too early. I mean, it's been two months but still, I should've waited a bit...I see that now. Whatever, what's done is done. I hope I'll be able to finish this arc before December. I've changed up the myth a bit (nothing too major, just a few details). Tell me what you think about how the story is going. This chapter is short but if you like it, leave a vote, comment or review. Thank you all for your continued support. Enjoy the chapter!

-TripleHomicide.

PERSEUS arched an eyebrow when the god of the sun suddenly appeared out of thin air in front of him. He sent a confused glance towards Apollo and then said, "What are you doing here?"

Apollo pursed his lips. True, they had apologised and were not at each other's throats any longer, but they weren't where they used to be with each other. He still considered Apollo to be his older brother, but it would take some time to get over the horrible thing he had done.

"What, can't I come here to congratulate you on your success?" Apollo questioned, a smile lighting his face.

"I never said that but—"

"Artemis and mother send their regards," Apollo cut him short. There were a few heartbeats of questionable silence, then Apollo said, "I'm really proud of you, you know. I've seen all the great things you'll do and how much you'll accomplish. This was the first one."

He wanted to ask. He wanted to know if he would make a difference. But he knew all the rules that went with seeing the future. Apollo couldn't say. "Thanks, I guess?" Perseus breathed out. He would be summoned to the palace the next day, according to Hector. And he might be moving in, with quarters of his own in the soldiers' barracks. He and Aeneas and Hector would be given their positions in the army the next morning.

He didn't know whether to feel excited or nervous. Perseus licked his bottom lip, then said to Apollo, "This is all thanks to you, you know. You trained me well."

"Of course I did," Apollo snorted. "I'm Apollo. I do everything well."

Perseus rolled his eyes. They weren't there yet, but it had been three months. They would, soon enough.

"I'll be going with Aeneas back to the top of Ida in a few days. Aphrodite has finally decided to meet him and he'll need your support." The seriousness was back in Apollo's voice. Perseus did not ask why Hector wasn't coming along. It was a bit complicated, but he knew gods didn't appreciate the presence of uninvited mortals. Even Apollo had only allowed Hector to gaze upon him once, when the prince discovered their secret training sessions. He hadn't struck him down because he was close to Perseus and his brother.

"Alright. Come fetch me when you're ready," Perseus said, glancing up towards the sky. "I'll be waiting."

"Goodbye, Perseus," Apollo's voice was tinged with sadness as he gazed at the boy who would see seventeen summers in one week to come. He saw him in his visions—he saw what Perseus would lose and he saw how it would all end.

He knew he and Leto should never have gotten attached. If Zeus got wind of his family's actions, Apollo, Leto and Artemis would be punished for breaking the ancient laws and interacting with a mortal without Zeus' permission. But Perseus was...something else. Apollo wished he could do something to change the possible future he had seen. It would all be coming soon. It would all end.

Soon.

-X-

HECTOR was kneeling before the throne and he was vaguely aware of Perseus and Aeneas doing the same at his left and right respectively. He felt a deep sense of pride envelope him, along with the stares and whispers of the people of Troy who had gathered at the palace for the day to watch the ceremony. He had watched with Aeneas as all the three hundred survivors of the Tournament had been categorised into the Trojan Army and it was finally their turn.