The Kingdoms

Chapter 7 - The Fates Throw A Curveball, A Huge One

Nico got up from his bed, not the bed that he had a day ago, the one he had the first night. He was trying to figure a way out, anything that will help him escape once the plan started up. He would have started digging a tunnel if he hadn't been so far underground. So, Nico tried to come up with another plan, he had noticed that they hadn't found his sword just yet.

Which meant if it wasn't found, he could try and grab it when he needed it. Even though it meant fighting with non-dominant hand. He would also have to figure out a way to get the key, which was way too far from him to get easily. There was two keys, one that Percy had, and the other, one of the guards had, that guarded him. That meant, if he was able to get the key, then he was homefree.

They were attacking at night, so it helped a lot more or less. He wondered if he was going to be tortured that day, that wouldn't be any good as the restraints would be way too tight for him to get away. Then the plan may or may not fail, this was such an important one too. It determined whether the Kingdom was conquered or not.

Nico looked over to where he had fallen the day before, his sword was there tucked under some dirt right beside the wall. It blended in, to the point it was quite hard to catch anyone's eye. Which he was relieved, he recalled seeing the guard that he had killed with it. He just hadn't thought he would need it, but now he did. Percy had one, he had saw it so many times, it would have been easy to take if Percy wasn't like the way he was at the moment.

Nico ate the small amount of breakfast he got, eating it rather slowly as he could then save it for later. He pushed it into the corner, maybe he could save his food. Then eat it all so when the night comes during the seventh day that he could puke (as much as he hated the idea) and they will let him out of his cell for a good enough time. The food was bad enough so it wouldn't be too hard to do it, it was a pretty good plan, but he would have to go without food till then. He wasn't too worried about that.

So, he sat back on his bed, swinging his legs slightly as they were only two inches above the ground. As the bed was pretty high above the ground, he may or may not have fallen off the bed in the morning. Dirt all over his face, yeah, what a pleasant way to wake up. Then just watched the walls of his cell, thinking about what he was going to do.

-#-

Percy was reflecting on, well everything in his room. He decided to skip breakfast, not really wanting it anyway. He had saw Nico's confusion, both times he had been with him. It almost looked like he had been brutally stabbed inside by how he was now acting. Poseidon wanted him to be a bit harder, but was this too hard? He wasn't sure what a king was supposed to do, it was slightly over confusing. His father was proud of him, but he wanted him to do things the way he usually did.

Not to offend him, but some of them did suck. Especially how the prisoners were treated, they would get so much more information if they were nicer to them. Who knows, they might just slip something during a very good meal they had. However, in Poseidon's mind it would take all too long. He understood the impatience that was caused by those dying from the wait, but they needed to get it the most efficient way. They weren't going to get nothing out of Nico, and he wished that Poseidon would understand that so he wouldn't have to keep hurting him.

He got up, he had to talk to Nico. If Nico was just to tell him, then he could spare him so much more pain, he was stubborn which was rather good at the same time as bad. Percy then headed over to the dungeon. He pushed past some servants, they had been slightly shocked by how rushed he was. Once he got down there, he grabbed his key out before entering the room and unlocking the cell. Nico looked up at him with a glare, even though he was slightly more edgy, as if he was wondering why he was down there.

Percy closed it behind him and locked it, which made Nico move towards the wall on his bed. His back leaning against to it, his eyes watching him closely.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was sour with a new distaste against Percy, worse than before which had just been dislike for just being stuck there. Now the factor was really just the amount of torture he had given to the other prince over the past few days. Percy sat down on the bed with him, Nico watched him still. Waiting for him to answer obviously.

"I would like you to tell me your kingdom's plans. They will stop torturing if you just tell me." It came out a bit more like a beg than being stern about it. Nico just stared at him for a few seconds, he took a deep breath. Obviously getting ready to say no or yes.

"Alright, but you can't tell them. My kingdom attacked yours so I could get captured. That was the plan, and then once that happened we were to let you think we didn't want to fight anymore, because you had me. A week later, which is now two days away at night is when my kingdom is going to attack yours. Their mission is to take it over, and also escape with me. If you are the person I think you are, you would probably let me die here and prepare your kingdom for the battle..."

"I won't." Percy said, making Nico's head shoot up from the dip it had entered. He looked at him rather confused, it just made Percy smile. "Even though that is a pretty risky plan and you might get yourself killed during it. I won't sentence you to death in battle or by torture." Nico looked at him, the confusion on his face growing. Percy laughed at him, his facial expression was rather cute.

Nico just pushed himself against the wall more, pulling his knees slightly closer. "What do you mean by that? You are going to save me? Protect me through the battle? I don't need that, I have fought long enough that I can take care of myself." Percy just gave him a look that clearly said. "Sure you can" in the most sarcastic of ways.

"Stop doubting me. I was trying to get captured by you remember? So that wasn't my full effort." Nico admitted, he hadn't been trying as much as he could then. Percy just got up and unlocked the cell.

"Well, how about we have a little sword fight while everyone is busy? Where is your sword?" Percy felt like it would make him happy, but then he realized Nico had a broken wrist, and let out a sigh. "I guess you can't because of your wrist huh?" Nico seemed to have just about to say something about it. "How about instead we use our non-dominant hands the entire time? I won't use both of my hands at all, promise."

"That sounds good enough for me." Nico seemed to cheer up at the idea, he obviously really didn't enjoy being in the cell the entire time. "I'll go get my sword." He headed over to the door, opening the door and using his foot to hold it open as he went through.

"Don't run off, or I will get the guards." Percy joked, which luckily Nico got as he just kept going. After a few seconds he returned with the sword in his hand that wasn't hurt in any way, he felt extremely bad still, but he put it to the side. They were going to have some fun, even though the fun was slightly uncomfortable due to his opposite hand holding the sword. They both got ready, Percy knew he wouldn't like to go hard on Nico, not that he was weak or anything, it was just that he was injured at the moment. They sparred a few times, and after a good ten minutes, they heard someone coming down the stairs.

Percy took Nico's sword from him, the two knew what to do almost immediately. Nico went into the cell and sat down on the bed, Percy then locked the cell, put the key in his pocket, and hid Nico's sword. Pushing it under a chair that he then sat on, all that in the matters of one minute, Percy couldn't help smiling at that. The door opened and Poseidon came in, he looked way more hardened than he really was, he was a nice guy. During a battle, maybe not so much, more like, not at all.

When the war had started several of years ago, Percy had saw a huge difference in his father's mood. He wasn't as cheerful, and due to them being on the losing side, he was rather moody, especially with the amount of fighters they had left. They had practically nothing to fight with any more, and Percy getting married would have helped so much.

"Hey dad." Percy said in the usual casual voice he would have normally spoke to Poseidon with, his father looked over to him, taking his gaze off Nico. He took a deep breath, looking at Percy for a few seconds longer.

"You are going to a neighbouring kingdom, they will be keeping care of you till the end of the war. It is safer than you being here, we are leaving tomorrow at dusk." Poseidon told him, and Percy looked over to Nico, he couldn't help him if he was so far away from him. He wanted to protect Nico through the battle, he couldn't find any words for his father. This was getting really hard.