The Kingdoms

Chapter 11 - Rocky Hells

Nico sat there pretty much all night, completely awake, he didn't want to think of how his dreams may be if he slept. He decided his fate, strangely, he felt like he had to protect Percy's fate and keep him safe from Hades. The first thing that would help tons, would be get him safely to the Kingdom of the Sky, that has been under attack for a good while, but has been able to keep his kingdom from getting closer. It had been a stalemate for a good time, they couldn't get them further away, and his kingdom couldn't get any closer. He had been seeing the reports for quite a long time saying the same thing, no significant change of alignment.

Which meant that it would be quite hard to get into the Kingdom without someone who knew who they were, where they came from, what side they are on, and when they will be there. He knew that there was little to no chance that they will be able to get in, especially himself. Percy, they might be a little nicer to. Him? No way. The rain continued into what Nico guessed was the morning, Percy had woken up after a few more hours after Nico guessed the sun had come up. It was hard to tell exactly with the clouds.

"Did you sleep at all?" Percy asked, slightly curious how he was up before him. Nico didn't say anything back to him, studying the sky. "We should leave now, it is raining lighter than last night." Nico got up, and Percy soon followed after, tugging the jacket that Nico gave him close. Only because he didn't want to get drenched, and Nico seemed completely fine with it. He sort of wanted to give it back to Nico, but he seemed unbothered by the rain. Percy took off the jacket and draped it over Nico's, who just gave him a small look before putting it on and continuing.

That was good. They had tolerance for each other now, way better than what it had been before. He sort of felt as if Nico was angry at him, he wasn't sure why, but the guy seemed to only be focused on where they were going. They walked in the rain for a good while, maybe forty minutes till they had to get out of the rain. Percy was already soaked to the bone, and Nico was the same. Percy was shaking due to the cold drops that found it's way to his skin, once they had made their way through his clothing, which was now uncomfortable and heavy.

"The rain decided to help us by slowing whoever may be following us down, while slowing us down quite a bit as well." Percy let out a sigh, looking out into the rain. He crossed his arms to wrap himself in a hug, trying to draw some warmth from his arms. He glanced back at Nico, he just gave him a small nod, before they continued to look through the trees. "You know you could talk to me right? You are being rather grumpy, I understand you are now a traitor, but that is all your fault. Not mine so stop blaming it on me." Percy grumbled aloud so Nico could hear.

"I'm not blaming it on you. I am just trying to keep my father from destroying your kingdom. Call it a favour, let's just get you to the Kingdom without thinking about it." Nico said, rather quietly not even glancing over to Percy. Who was sort of wanting a bit more attention than he was being given. "What about that forest thing? That too huh? This is the same forest after all." Percy said, letting out a sigh.

"If you really want to talk to it fine, while we are stuck here for a while you might as well." Nico grumbled from his spot, crossing his arms and turning to look at him. "Go ahead, since you wanted to talk about it so much." Nico waved his hand for Percy to talk, who just stood there slightly uncomfortable. Not expecting Nico to want to talk about it, or even let him even if he was mad.

"It was a nice kiss that was for sure, before I got to the sword to the neck." Percy said, quietly. He dipped his head slightly, he really wished that Nico hadn't been in the mood to talk about it.

"Percy, no one will ever hear their king if you talk like that. Also, why would you talk that quietly to a traitor. I thought you would make a good king, but now I am doubting it." Percy looked up fast enough to see Nico with a smile, which just made him grin too.

"I was saying that it was a nice kiss. I am just curious, did you actually want to kiss and felt that way about me?" Percy said, standing taller with his head up now that Nico had made the comment that he should look more like a king.

"That is better." Nico replied, before letting out an embarrassed sigh. "I guess I did, I am not the most sure though." Percy nodded, that was all he wanted to know. He didn't want to force Nico into telling him, while he was still dealing with knowing he was a traitor and running from his old life as well as with his life. Percy really hoped that the two would both be allowed to stay at the Kingdom Of The Sky.

"The rain has let up a bit, we should take it as a sign to keep going and it should end soon." Nico said, interrupting the silence. He started to lead the way through the forest, they should be passing by his kingdom by the afternoon of the next day. Which meant that they will have to careful. Nico wasn't looking forward to having to pass by it, there was more defence there than offence even though it wasn't the most needed.Time passed slowly as they travelled in between the time that the rain had let up, they soon reached the mountain range.

Nico showing the way, the only true problem was now finding a way to get up the mountain range without anyone spotting them. First they had to go through the clearing in between the first mountain range and the next one, as well as getting up the next mountain range. It was going to be a really hard track, the only two relieving thoughts were that Percy might get welcomed with open arms at the end, and he recalled the maps he had looked at a good long time ago. This war had been going on for so long he knew almost all the clear paths from his kingdom to the neighbouring two that they were at war with.

"This way Percy." Nico said, when Percy started looking around for a way to get through the mountains, or a way to start climbing them. Luckily, Nico knew there was a rather flat area that fitted in between two mountains. They were now treading on rough grey stone, unlike all the soft grass before. Percy obviously hadn't really been that far away from his kingdom, or at least he seemed to have went through the mountains very often as he was watched the rocks around them as if they were going to roll down and kill him before he could do anything about it.

"We are nearing my Kingdom, so keep your head down and I don't think the word has officially gotten here, it would most likely be a rumour and only that. Even then, we can not be seen together, and even then it would be best not to be seen at all."Percy curtly nodded, his face showing he was scared to talk while in between the two mountains. Nico found it almost amusing, as he had never really met anyone that was scared of the mountains. Probably because he never been introduced to anyone from the Kingdom of the Seas before Percy, which hadn't been the best welcome. "You can talk you know, those rocks are all pretty firm in their place, trust me. This is actually the safest way into the middle of the two mountain ranges." Nico told him, Percy didn't look very relieved.

Nico shook his head, before leading the way through the trail, for a mountain range this part of it was really flat, but on each side the walls of stone elevated quickly. As they got further through the path, the walls got closer and more elevated, it wasn't long before they were squishing their way through it. "This is the last bit and then we are in the clearing." Nico said, before he ducked down and crawled through the small opening.

Nico continued it was dark, but he didn't make that much thought on it. Then there was a sudden drop that took him so much by surprise that he hardly grab onto the edge. He gasped and grabbed onto it as best as he could, which he was only able to get one hand on. "Percy don't come down here! I'll be right back there." He said when he realized his mistake, he tried to pull himself up, but it didn't work due to how small the space was.

He ended up slipping and falling feet-first, the drop was much more than he had thought. When he hit the ground a few seconds later, his right leg gave out on him. The sudden unbalance ended with him unable to stop himself from hitting his head against the wall. He grunted in pain, he hated to think that he had made a mistake. His right leg throbbed and his vision blurred from the hit to the head. It was so dark too, it was as if the darkness was just welcoming him to pass out. A small smile made it's way onto Nico's face, Percy could now go to the Kingdom of the Sky without any problems other than trying to figure out the way there. He then passed out slightly after the pain engulfed him.