¹𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀. percy jackson

XXXI.

ｔｈｅ ｂａｔｔｌｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｌａｂｙｒｉｎｔｈ

LUCIA HAD TRIED TO INSIST ON NO FUNERAL BUT NO ONE SEEMED TO LISTEN. Quickly she began to realize maybe it was the best course of action. Percy was off on a paradise island with a beautiful girl and the promise of immortality. He wasn't going to come back. Why subject everyone else to the painful reality that it's because he didn't want to?

The entire camp gathered in the amphitheater in the late afternoon,

Lucia sat at the front with Annabeth. It was agreed that each cabin would say a few words during the service. Annabeth was to conclude the funeral and burn his burial shroud since she was his closest living friend (that didn't currently resent him). The Aphrodite cabin designed and set up the burial shroud. Which was dangling near the fire in the center of the amphitheater. Lucia had talked Lee into doing what was supposed to be her speech at breakfast. It took some convincing and a lot of 'i'm fines' but he ultimately took up her offer.

  "Unfortunately, we must assume he is dead," Chiron announced. "After so long a silence, it is unlikely our prayers will be answered. I have asked one of his best surviving friends to do the final honors." 

Lucia watched as Annabeth took a long green silk burial cloth, embroidered with a trident, and set it aflame. As she turned to face the audience, she caught Lucia's eye.

Lucia held a straight face. Unfortunately, Annabeth was too logical and sensible to accept that Lucia knew he was alive.

Annabeth was grieving. Her eyes were puffy from crying, but she managed to say, "He was probably the bravest friend I've ever had. He ..."  Suddenly, her eyes fell on something behind Lucia. Her face went blood red. "He's right there!"

Heads turned. People gasped.

Lucia turned back and there he was. Her heart betrayed her mind in an instant, picking up in pace without her permission. But Lucia stayed frozen in her seat.

"Percy!" Beckendorf grinned. A bunch of other kids crowded around him and clapped him on the back. There were a few curses from the Ares cabin, but Clarisse just rolled her eyes, like she couldn't believe he'd had the nerve to survive. Chiron cantered over and everyone made way for him.

"Well," he sighed with obvious relief. "I don't believe I've ever been happier to see a camper return. But you must tell me—"

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Annabeth interrupted, shoving aside the other campers. Lucia thought maybe she was going to punch him (she would have liked that), but instead, she hugged him fiercely. The other campers fell silent.

Annabeth seemed to realize she was making a scene and pushed him away. "I—we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain!"

"I'm sorry," He said. "I got lost."

"LOST?" she yelled.

"Yeah." Lucia finally made her way into the crowd. "I'm sure you were real lost."

"Luz!" He beamed, stepping forward to possibly hug her, but Lucia couldn't stop the image flashing in her mind of him giving a similar smile to Calypso. She took a step back.

The campers all watched in silence.

"I'm glad you're alive." She said with finality "Welcome back."

Percy looked like she slapped him in the face

good.

"Annabeth, Lucia," Chiron interrupted. "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we? The rest of you, back to your normal activities!"