lost (Hawkeye)

Chapter 2

I couldn't stop crying. Next to me sat Athena and Thalia, who also had tears running down their faces. I saw Zeus hug Thalia before I was pulled into a hug. I smelled salt water and looked up into my father's green eyes, I buried my face in his chest and whispered, "He's dead, Dad, he's dead. " I started shaking and he hugged me even stronger . "I know, my dear, but he's in Elysium now, he's fine there. " He gently stroked my hair, after a while he let me go and I saw Thalia, Nico, Athena and to my surprise also Apollo coming closer to hug me.

"We should go back to Olympus and celebrate this victory", Zeus voice echoed loudly over the battlefield. Victory? It wasn't a victory, we lost, I lost. I felt my father touch me slightly on the arm. When I looked up to him, I saw understanding and sadness in his eyes. "Percy, we have to go with them. " I shook my head, I couldn't, I didn't want to. I wished I could just stay here and just cry. But my fighting spirit didn't allow it, I had to go to finish the battle. So I took Poseidon's arm and we teleported to Olympus, where everyone else showed up. Normally the amazing architecture of Olympus would leave me speechless, but know I bearly spared a glance at the marvelous buildings around  me. Everything had a greyish, black colour the perfect resemblance of my feelings. "Come forward, Thalia, Nico and Percy, you have done us a great service and you may wish one thing. "

The first to express her wish was Thalia. " I would like to be allowed to spend more time with my friends and visit them sometimes during the hunt. " After the Olympians agreed without hesitation, Zeus stated, "So be it.From now on, you can regularly leave the hunt and meet your friends."
Afterwards, Nico stepped forward and wished for a portal between the two camps, as Romans and Greeks had been separated for too long. His wish was also granted and he stepped back.

Now everybody looked at me and Zeus said, "You are the twofold Saviour of Olympus, we want to offer you immortality and a place as an Olympian." I had already been offered a place as a god, but as an Olympian. . . ! I thought for a moment, I really only wanted one thing, to see my friends standing next to me, I wanted them to live, but I knew that they couldn't fulfill my wish, I was going to ask Hades to let me go to the underworld from time to time to see them all again.

I wanted David to have a rebirth and thus be able to live again, I wanted to keep my last promise to him as well as possible and therefore said: "I would like postpone  immortality and if I want to redeem it at a time of my choosing" When the Olympians agreed, I continued. " Furthermore, I wish that Hestia and Hades also  get their thrones. I don't care it that disturbes the balance, it is the only fair thing to  do and that's  the least we own them. Furthermore, I would like to be left in peace, don't get it wrong, I still want to have contact with the gods and my friends, but I want my peace from useless missions and wars. " The Olympians looked at me and agreed after reflection.
Two beautiful thrones appeared, one red as fire with carvings of flames that radiated security and hope and one that was black and full of bones, one could see the underworld, Elysium, the Asphelid Ground and the fields of punishment. The two deities came up to me and hugged me and thanked me, when I asked Hades to let me go to the underworld, he agreed on the condition that I would have to come and visit him. I smiled slightly and promised him.

 "But Percy, do not forget to  live. Your friends are dead, they  would not want you to join them in the underworld just to see them. Remember. There is always light, always a fresh start. You will just have to be willing to greet them with open arms." I nodded, unsure of what to do with his advise.

Then Thalia, Nico and I left Olympus. Away from the gods and our second world.

I would stay with my parents for the time being, as the camps brought back too many memories of HIM and the Seven.

We had won the fight, but I had lost it, I was too slow and too weak to save my friends, I should have been more careful. I should have sacrificed myself for them, it wasn't fair that I was alive but my friends were gone. But I had to go on living, I had promised David to live, when I couldn't keep the second promise (and I was sure I wouldn't find anyone like him anymore), I wanted to keep the first promise.