Royally Screwed

Chapter 21

Disclaimer: After 20 chapters of me repeating this, I think you guys get the point.

~Annabeth~

Percy's and Luke's swords met with a deafening clang that made my hair stand on end.

"Ah, Perseus Jackson. I have heard quite a lot about you. You are a mere thief, are you not?"

Percy growled and backed up, brandishing his celestial bronze sword and glaring at Luke with an anger I hadn't thought possible. He had a fierce look in his eyes, which was sane compared to Luke's insane, wild, murderous gleam in his icy blue eyes, and his devilish grin that made my spine tingle from discomfort. I cannot believe I almost had to marry this guy.

I tried to move as Percy stepped closer to me, but a sharp pain shot up my leg and I cried out against my will, pressing the torn strip of Percy's over shirt onto the wound to try and stop the bleeding.

Percy's eyebrows furrowed together in worry as he glanced back at me, and he didn't notice Luke's evil smile.

"Ah, princess here is hurt," Luke remarked snidely, his face twisting into a sneer.

Percy glared in Luke's direction. "Leave. Her. Alone."

My stomach erupted in butterflies at the sheer protectiveness of his voice. I shook my head. Stay focused, Annabeth.

Luke made the first move by stabbing his sword at Percy's stomach. Luckily, Percy lept back just in time, narrowly avoiding a serious stab wound.

Breathing in and out through my nose, I managed to drag myself over to my father's body. He was lying frighteningly still on the polished floors, blood pooling around his abdomen.

I felt a few tears slip out of my eyes as I gazed at my father's lifeless body. "Dad," I choked out. I jumped when a hand rested on my shoulder, and turned to see my mother kneeling beside me.

"Mom, I-"

"We'll talk later, Annabeth. Right now, I'm afraid we are in the midst of battle," Queen Athena gently reminded me, and I nodded, swallowing my tears and turning back to the battle.

Percy and Luke seemed to be evenly matched. They met the other's strikes perfectly, anticipating the other's every move. Yet Percy still managed to smile at me.

I furrowed my eyebrows. What was Percy trying to do?

Instead of going for any chinks in Luke's armor, like he normally would have done, he was going for the sword.

Percy met my gaze from across the room and suddenly I understood what he was going for. He was trying to disarm Luke, not kill him.

Ignoring the shooting pain in my leg, I reached desperately towards my bronze knife. I managed to close my fingers around the hilt and draw in into my grasp.

Luke seemed to be anticipating Percy's actions, and met him strike-for-strike. If I could just injure Luke enough to distract him...

I bit my lip in concentration as I pulled myself off the ground and quietly (or as quiet as one could get with an injured leg) limped toward the ongoing fight.

Percy's eyes flickered in my direction for a split second, but luckily Luke was too caught up in the battle to notice.

Grunting a little in pain, I moved forward. I could feel myself getting dizzy from blood loss. The bandage was already soaked with red, and my vision was becoming blurred. I needed to strike now.

I knew it was reckless, but my thoughts were getting as fuzzy as my vision. I threw myself forward and plunged my knife into Luke's thigh.

All I heard was Luke's pained scream before I collapsed and the world went black.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

~Percy~

I watched in horror as Annabeth fell to the floor, unconscious. I shook my head; Annabeth gave me an opportunity, and she would not want me to waste it.

Luke screamed in pain before clutching his thigh, blood dripping between his fingers.

I stepped forward and quickly performed the disarming maneuver. Backbiter dropped to the floor with a loud clatter.

"This isn't over, Perseus Jackson," Luke seethed, baring his teeth in a sickening grimace.

I smirked, "Yeah well, I think it is."

I sheathed my sword and made my way towards the Queen, who was now kneeling over Annabeth.

She looked like a wreck. Her blond curls were fanned out around her head, and her skin was sweaty and sticky. Her dress was torn and bloody near her injured leg, which was beginning to look a sickly yellow color; I was afraid it was becoming infected.

"Uh, Your Majesty-" I stuttered nervously, but Queen Athena held a hand up and I stopped speaking.

A guard burst through the door, looking at the Queen. "Your Majesty, the enemy has retreated," the guard informed her, and Queen Athena nodded absently. "Fetch more guards and take him-" she pointed to where Luke was on the floor, trying to staunch the blood flow from his thigh, "-and escort him into the dungeons. I will sentence him tomorrow," she ordered, and the guard nodded and hurried out the door.

"Perseus," she looked up at me, "thank you, for taking care of my daughter."

"I-" I tried, stunned. "Well... I-I-"

The Queen laughed. "It's alright. As payment for yours and your friends' help, I am letting you stay in the castle. After all, you saved my life as well," she unconsciously rubbed her hand over her swollen stomach, "and I do believe you and my daughter are very close," she finished with a bit of mischief in her voice.

I blushed and ran a hand through my hair. "Y-yeah, we are. So, um, Your Majesty, what are we going to to about..." I felt uncomfortable bringing up Annabeth's dad.

The queen gazed sadly at her fallen husband. "He will have a proper burial." She stated ubruptly, and I nodded.

I gently brushed a piece of hair out of Annabeth's flushed face. "We'd better get her to her room. My cousin Thalia is good at healing. She can patch her up," I told her, and the queen nodded. "Please. I don't want to lose my daughter too," she said quietly.

"I don't want to lose her either," I whispered. I slid my arms under her, lifting her against me bridal-style.

Out in the hall, I met Nico, Thalia, Leo, Travis and Connor. They all stopped short when they saw Annabeth.

"Annie..." Thalia breathed.

I shifted her slightly in my arms and turned to the Stoll brothers. "The queen's in the throne room. Go help her in any way you can. Leo, grab a bucket of water and put out any fires. Nico, find the court physician, wherever he is, and tell him to come to Annabeth's chambers. Thalia, you come with me," I spilled out orders, not really focusing on anything but the weight of the unconscious princess in my arms. The princess I had unconsciously fallen in love with.

They nodded and we all went our separate ways, preparing to clean up the wreckage.

I promise I will not desert you guys again. I fully intend to finish this story in about 2 or 3 more chapters. I also in intend to write the sequel, if you guys are still up for it!