The Not so Golden Ages (A Solangelo AU)

Turn that frown into a grimace

William sighed, looking around. He missed the palace. He missed sleeping late and being able to work on his music whenever he wanted. But he supposed working in the apothecary was fun, too. William liked healing people. He liked learning about the herbs and such.

Stepping out of the clinic, William looked around him. The sun wasn't even high and people were already bustling around the kingdom. He closed the door, looking around some more. As much as he missed the palace, it was fun that nobody knew who he was. All the subjects looked at him as if he were just another face in the crowd.

William walked down the street, saying hello to people as he went. He loved Skiio. The people were so kind, no matter what. The whole kingdom wasn't very big, meaning they were like one big family. Everyone knew each other by name. But nobody knew William. Nobody talked to him.

"Watch out!" A voice drew William from his thoughts. He jumped slightly and just barely had time to jump out of the way of two kids running down the pavement. William's head hit the ground with a nauseating 'thunk'

"What the...?" Will groaned, rolling onto his back and looking up. He screamed, seeing to kids, about his age looking down at him.

One was a beautiful girl. She had curly blonde hair and tan skin, as if she spent all of her days outside. Her eyes were frightening. They were a stormy grey, they made William feel like she could kill him with just a glare. The girl wore a silver chiton with sandals.

The other was a handsome male. He had unruly black hair that stuck up everywhere. His eyes were a sea green. He wore a grin, though he looked apologetic. He reminded William of the statues of Poseidon. He wore a blue chiton and was barefoot.

William knew these people as Annabeth Chase and Perseus Jackson. They were said to be descendants of Athena and Poseidon. Both were duelists and knights.

"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked with a frown. "Your head is bleeding...."

"Huh?" William reached up and felt his forehead. He looked at his fingers. Yep, blood. "Oh, yeah. I'll be fine"

"I told you to watch out, man" Perseus said.

"Perseus!" Annabeth snapped.

"Sorry!"

Annabeth sighed and helped William to your feet. "Anyways, I'm Annabeth. This idiot is Percy."

"Hey!" Percy pouted.

"I'm William," William said, looking to Annabeth.

"Whoa! Like the prince?" She asked, eyes widening.

"Y- no. Not like the prince." William said. He was gonna have a hard time remembering to keep a low profile. You could never know who was listening.

"I'm just gonna call you Will." Percy shrugged.

"Will." William thought for a moment. "I like that." He smiled.

Percy and Annabeth smiled too. "Anyways, we were just about to head to the apple orchards. Would you like to come?" Annabeth asked.

"Sure. That sounds like it could be fun." William, erm, Will said with a shrug.

So the three began their journey.

"Did you guys hear that the prince is living in the kingdom?" Annabeth asked as they left the kingdom, walking down the road. "I heard it's to keep him safe while the threat from the Romans is over our heads."

"Really?" Percy asked, frowning. He adjusted the burlap sack tucked into his belt. "I don't buy it."

Will gulped. "I don't either."

"I suppose you're right. The prince wouldn't last a day out of the castle." Annabeth said, kicking a stone a little farther down the road.

"Hey! I mean, uh, that new hay they're using for the horses. That's good stuff." Will said quickly.

"The horses don't like it." Percy said with a shrug.

"What?" Will asked, looking over to him.

"I mean...uh....hey look at the time! Annie and I have to go to practice!" Percy quickly grabbed Annabeth's wrist and pulled her away, running. Will slowly blinked, watching his new friends leave. He sighed, he still wanted to go to the orchard, but he didn't know the way. He assumed that it was straight, eventually he would see the trees.

While he walked, he sang softly. He missed his lyre, and his songs that he had written down. But he didn't have time to grab them. He couldn't grab anything.

Will flashed back to a few days before when the leader of the knights, Reyna, rushed into his room. "William," she had said in a hurried tone. "We need to get you out of here"

Will had blinked with a frown. "Huh?"

"You're going to go live in the kingdom for a few weeks. Just until this whole threat blows over. " Reyna softened her tone. "We have to go."

He stared at the girl. Will had never seen her so worried. This threat had been worse than the others. It was getting to everyone. "But I don't wanna go...." He said quietly. He was aware that he was sounding like a little kid, but he didn't care. He didn't wanna leave his home. He didn't want to leave his father, or his music room.

"Please don't be difficult, William." Reyna pleaded. Will sighed quietly, looking down. He had no choice, he had to go.

They had left the palace quickly, too quick for Will to say goodbye to Apollo. To say goodbye to anyone.

Will wondered if his father even missed him. He figured that the king was too busy to even care. Will was supposed to take over as king in a month, on his sixteenth birthday, actually.

He had been at the apothecary ever since, disguised.

Will thought about this and more as he walked down the dirt paths. He suddenly realized that he had reached the orchard. The apple trees were high above him, the shade felt nice on the otherwise warm day. Green grass grew underneath Will's sandals. It was amazing.