The Not so Golden Ages (A Solangelo AU)

Surprisingly, here's a functional family

Another day in Skiio; the city is nice and lively, the people are kind, even the royalty are sweet to the people. People in white gowns and drapes were rushing along the streets. Vendors were setting up along the cobbled roads and some men were unloading crates of wine and apples from a ship from Creto, Skiio's largest trading partner.

Nico wasn't as poor as a beggar or as rich as a merchant, but he knew how to live both ways. His mother, Maria, was married at the age of thirteen but never had any children until she was about twenty. Her husband was a little laid back and kind, for he was a well known lavender field worker. He sometimes came home with a bouquet of the soft purple flowers.

Nico had a sister named Bianca, but his father gave her to a nobleman in Ithaca in return for gold and other valuables. Compared to other families, Nico was having a very easy life. Maybe not the most glamorous, like the prince of the nation, William, but he felt right at home as soon as he stepped through the low stone archway of his home.

Nico sat on the wooden bedframe, his aged white sheets draping off of it. He glanced around the stone room, debating on what to do that day. He spotted a small pile of lavender on his stool, meaning his father, Hades, was home from his job. Nico didn't much have a liking for his father, but he did have to respect how he treated them. He always put Maria and Nico first, above all.

He stood up and picked up the flowers, filling a clay vase with water from their water hole and placing it on the table in the main room, right in front of the window. Nico pulled his sandals on and started to walk out before he heard his father start to tell his mother about political issues. Nico didn't care about it much at all, but this was different.

"The Romans are plotting an attack against our city. I want you to run away if I am drafted into the army," Nico heard Hades tell Maria, "I don't want them to kidnap and enslave you." Since he was born, the Romans have always been a threat, but they've never tried to attack. Sure, they've threatened the city countless times, but they've never carried through.

Nico stepped out the archway and onto the streets. It was a nice, sunny warm day and the streets smelled of wine, honey, and fresh flowers. He walked down the road and met up with his friend, Jason, who is rumored to be a descendant of Zeus, but even his mother didn't agree.

Jason was sitting with his older sister, Thalia, who was the city's priestess of Artemis. She was said to have talked to the goddess herself and has joined the goddess for eternity. Thalia never seems to talk about her work though. In fact, Nico's never actually seen her working.

"Nico!" Jason called and waved to Nico from his seat on the smooth stone stairs of the marketplace. He was eating a fig, which he probably bought from the street vendor down the road. Nico walked over and sat beside the two siblings. "What has you up so early? The sun only rose a little while ago. You normally don't wake up until the sun is high!" Jason joked and nudged Nico.

"I fell asleep early, before the sun lowered," Nico said as Jason offered a fig. Nico took it and ate it. "Thank you," he told Jason, earning a pat on the back. "Not a problem, Nico!" Jason grinned. Nico didn't see how this kid was related to the King of Gods himself. Maybe it was somewhere in his blood but, in all honesty, Jason was a little too laid back.

People always found ways to compare him to Heracles, such as his eye color and his voice, but Nico thought all that stuff was a load of horse poop. Thalia also didn't seem like a descendant of Zeus either. If Nico had to guess, he'd think she was a direct child of Ares, with her weapon skills and terrifying eyes that could make any Roman or Greek freeze in their tracks.

"Nico? Are you going to answer my question?" Jason asked. Nico blinked and snapped out of his daze. "What was the question?" Nico asked, his face slightly flushing in embarrassment. "I asked how your morning is so far," Jason smiled. "My morning? It's pretty good, I suppose," Nico answered.

Jason glanced at the palace, which was perched on the top of the hill. "Did you hear about the Roman threats?" Jason asked, his tone growing serious. "Yeah," Nico said, glancing at the limestone palace, "I heard about it. But the Romans have threatened tons of times in the past, but they've never attacked. What if they're just trying to scare us, as usual?"

Jason shrugged. "I don't know, but this seems a little too serious to be a joke. It'd be best to be ready just in case they truly do attack," Jason said, eating another fig after he finished speaking. Thalia glanced at Nico and spoke, "You know that they are planning on sending one of their few ships here, right? They wouldn't send a ship if they weren't serious."

Nico sighed, "Paranoia isn't healthy for anyone, but I guess I'll be ready just in case. Anyways has anyone heard anything about the King and his family? I've not heard news about them in a while. Honestly, does no one check on them? They could've been killed and we'd still think they are up there, ruling."

Jason and Thalia exchanged glances. "The king demanded his son to be hidden in the streets until the Roman threat has passed," Thalia explained. Nico forgets that Thalia, as the highest priestess of Artemis, attends meetings with the king. "So, you're saying that Prince William is somewhere, vulnerable, on the streets of Skiio? I'm not buying it," Nico said.

"I don't joke, Nico," Thalia sighed, "He's honestly somewhere on the streets right now. It would be easy to find him if only we knew what he looked like." Nico shrugged. "Why would I want to see the prince anyways?" He asked as the noon crowd of merchants and buyers started to grow. "I guess I'm going to head to the apple orchard and pick some apples. I could use the money," Nico said, standing up, his sandals making a soft scratching noise on the stone, "I'll meet you guys around sun down, by the waterfall in the woods." He waved and started towards the apple orchard, near the edge of the city.