A Son Love & Doves

Chapter 19 (48) Breaking Choice

Y/n POV

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colours, from blood red to indigo. Apparently no one ever slept on Olympus. The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn’t seem to exist here. I caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things I couldn’t name. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes.

Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.

The pegasi and Aimée set us down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before I could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

I started forward without much worry, though the thing on my mind was I get to see my mom again instead of thinking that all the gods would be together in a meeting, but one of them opened the door so we were expected.

I waved off Aimée as she flew away and walked into the gates as the others stood there, eventually Thalia followed after followed by Zoe then Bianca then Percy and Annabeth.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U round a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellation.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about five metres tall, and I’m telling you, if you’ve ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once… Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That’s when I noticed cow serpent thing and Grover.

A sphere of water was hovering in the centre of the room, next to the hearth fire. Cow thingy was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out of the sides and the bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble. Grover was kneeling at Zeus’s throne, as if he’d just been giving a report, but, when he saw us, he cried, "You made it!"

He started to run towards Percy, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn’t really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia, who I was standing beside rather closely.

Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover’s hooves echoed on the marble floor. Cow thingy splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

Percy looked nervously at his father, Poseidon. He was dressed in beach shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and sandals. He had a weathered, suntanned face with a dark beard and deep green eyes. 

I waved at my mom with a happy smile, until I put to much pressure on my left leg and had to grab Thalia's arm to make sure my face didn't meet the floor. I heard Thalia quietly laughing and I pouted.

Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can’t do it!"

"Do what?" Percy asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called.

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked towards us, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.