Christmas' Presents

2015 Unique Chapter: The Gifts of the Gods (for Hugs6)

Rachel Dare hated to cry.

This time, she'd blame the onions she was slicing and dicing in her tiny kitchen, trying to make dinner for her and her husband. But, it didn't matter how many water she poured on her eyes, the tears wouldn't go away. Not even when, between her sobs and tears and slices of the knife, she didn't hear her husband get home and hug her, hiding his face in her curly hair.

Why would she be crying? We'd have to go back almost a year and a half back, when the war against Gaea had finished.

After Gaea had been defeated and the Camps became allies, the Romans imprisoned, judged and exiled their Augur, Octavian. Octavian wondered around the country until he reached the edge of Camp Half-Blood, followed by monsters and in the brick of death. A camper found him and brought him in, where the healers did their job. Once he was recovered, he asked, almost begged for asylum, since he had nowhere else to go. Chiron, being the kind soul he was, offered him what he asked, in return that he would not leave Camp. Octavian accepted.

Who didn't accept as fast as he were the campers.

It wasn't until Rachel returned to camp the following summer (though, in her mind, the question was, why going back?), she found out this new reality in which Octavian would be part of her diary life. Everyone ignored the guy and he ignored everyone. But Rachel believed in second chances and, first because of pity and second, because of choice, she became his friend. Little by little, the campers saw Octavian wasn't exactly who he portrait to be. And, little by little, Rachel fell in love with him.

She knew they couldn't be, so she never made any implications nor hints. For her, Octavian simply saw her as a good friend.

One night near the end of the summer, out of the blue and surprising everyone, Apollo, god of propehcies, music and many other things, appeared during the bonfire. He walked directly to Rachel and began screaming at her, how dare her to break her oath and, after all he'd done for her, how she could betray him. Rachel didn't understand what was he talking about but Apollo gave her no time to explain. He, not only stripped her from the Spirit of Delphi (which wasn't much, because the Spirit had stopped showing up), but also from her vision through the Mist. And, since mortals can't cross the border of Camp, Rachel was immediately transported to the edges of Camp, behind the barrier.

Rachel spent the night on the out, screaming and hitting at the barrier, wanting to get in again, not understanding what she did wrong. When she gave up, all the tears came out. She had nothing with her, all her things were inside. Rachel cried because of the lose of her possessions, since she knew Apollo would probably burn them to ashes, but also for the lose of her friends. No one would dare to help her if that meant gaining an angry god as enemy.

She didn't count with Octavian's loyalty.

He had showed up around 4am with bags and stuff under his arms and camped next to her. Octavian had argued and fought with Apollo about what he did, him being the only one brave enough to step against the god. Not even Rachel's friends of years would dare to do so. Octavian fought with Apollo and won, earning the right to take Rachel's stuff out of the cave before he burned it. He spent hours putting stuff in bags, saving all he could. He apologized for not being able to save it all, but that he'll buy her new paintings and canvas and stuff for her to work. That he wasn't leaving her, even if that meant leave the protection of Camp Half-Blood.

She never felt more grateful.

It took them a while, but they made it to Rachel's parents' house, where they spent the night. But, neither was sleepy. They spent hours talking and wondering and, in Octavian's case, trying to make Rachel laugh. It was pass midnight when Rachel finally fell asleep, her head on top of his chest, his arm around her.