The Tail

One Month

Percy's POV

It was exactly one month after that whole fiasco. Cleo, Emma, Rikki, and Bella had gone back to Australia with their new powers. I had promised to visit them soon. Life was finally starting to settle down again but life comes with new adventures. And I was about to go on a really big one with the love of my life. That is, if she says yes.

Yes. I finally decided to propose to her. I know, we were a bit young, only seventeen, about to turn eighteen but a love like ours would last forever. I'm sure Piper and Aphrodite would agree with me. Anyway, we didn't have to get married immediately. Maybe wait a year or so, whatever Annie wanted. I was planning to propose to Annabeth on February 14th, Valentine's Day which was three days from now. I continued to walk towards Hephaestus' Temple on Olympus. Since Annabeth had designed Olympus, it was absolutely perfect in my eyes. Hephaestus' Temple was made of dark coppery metal and rose a good 24 feet. The steel columns glowed with fire from inside. I knelt at the altar.

I thought to Hephaestus, "Hey, uh, hi. Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Percy?" Hephaestus' gruff voice sounded mildly surprised. "What can I do for you?"

"Well... I was thinking of proposing to Annabeth. Can you make our ring?"

"Sure. Send me the image of what you want it to look like."

I concentrated hard. I had thought of this ring for a really long time. It was a thin celestial bronze band with a miniature horse and owl on the top. The horse was to be carved from a light sea green pearl given to me by Poseidon and the owl from a piece of stormy gray rock I had found at the bottom of the Moon Pool. Engraved inside the ring I was imagining were the words, "Seaweed Brain and Wise Girl, forever." I sent my thoughts to Hephaestus along with the pearl and the gray rock.

"I'll get the ring to you by tonight." Hephaestus promised me. After thanking him, I walked out of his temple. I could only hope that Annabeth liked the ring.

***

I stood outside the penthouse door. My palms were sweating and I wiped them hastily on my shorts. "No point in standing here doing nothing," I thought and knocked on the gray paint. A few moments later, the door opened.

Athena stood in the doorway, her onyx black hair in a messy side braid. "Oh. Sea Spawn, it's just you."

"Can I go in?" I asked hesitantly. She sighed and gestured for me to go ahead, so I did.

"What did you want?" She asked grumpily crossing her arms in front of her gray sweater. We stood in the living room of a neat, orderly house. Though the design seemed modern, there were some ancient architectural aspects too. (Like it? Annabeth taught me the word 'architectural.' I feel so accomplished!) I shook my head to rid it of the ADHD thoughts.

"I'm here to ask for your blessing, I want to marry Annabeth. Now, we're still going to get married, whatever you say but I know that this is important to Annabeth, so it's important to me." I said getting straight to the point.

Athena studied me intently for a few moments. Brows furrowed in thought. Finally, she spoke.
"You're not what I thought you are. Most children of the Big Three, especially Zeus and Poseidon are proud and pompous. You however, are different. Yes, you are unpredictable, reckless, and immensely powerful. However, you are also kind, loving, brave, and your loyalty matches your power in strength. You protected my daughter in Tartarus. Almost gave up your life several times for her and your friends." She paused. "You truly are an honorable hero, Perseus Jackson." I flinched as she said my full name, if she noticed, she gave no sign of it. "You have my blessing." I sighed in relief.