The Son of Time

Chapter 27

Percy's Point of view.

For some reason, Zeus had sent Hermes with me to capture the demigods. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging but I think I could handle two demigods on my own. We tried to sneak up on them but they must have heard us coming, because when we walked toward them they were already looking in our direction.

 "You're coming with us," I said in a commanding tone.

I was a bit surprised that they didn't protest or try to attack us. Instead, they let us shackle them and transport them to Olympus. When I glanced at Hermes and saw a sad look on his face I remembered that Demetrius was one of his sons. Hermes had been sent to capture one of his own sons, and that can't feel good. But then again at the meeting, I hadn't actually said who the demigods were. So Zeus had unknowingly sent Hermes to capture his own son.

Anyway, when we got back to Olympus we called the council. And we questioned the two. As we listened to them I struggled to keep a calm expression. They said that like we had thought Tartarus's next force would be coming for Olympus. They also told us that amongst Tartarus's forces were two more titans along with the giants that we hadn't already defeated. Those of us who had somehow managed to keep a calm expression up until then paled at Annabeth's next statement. She said, "Although the quest rescued Piper and Persephone, Tartarus had collected enough of their power that he was still able to create the new giants. The only difference is that he had to use more of his own power than he had originally intended."

 Now an optimistic person might think well he used more power than he had planned, maybe he's weak. Well, we weren't that Person, we couldn't afford to be that Person.

The two also said that Tartarus's base was the titan's palace on Mount Orthrys. After they finished telling us what they knew. Zeus decided that it was time to discuss their punishment. Zeus and Ares and my dad were in favor of killing them, wow Zeus and my dad agreeing on something, that's rare.

Anyway went off topic, Athena claimed she wasn't against killing them but I could tell she didn't really like it. Hermes was against it. As for me well since I am the god of heroes I don't like the idea of killing demigods, but also since I am the god of Loyalty, Loyalty is important to me. And they had betrayed all their family and friends.

So I was kind of conflicted, especially since they had basically given themselves up to us since when we went to capture them they didn't protest of fight or anything they just let us capture them. Do they regret their actions and wish to redeem themselves? I wondered to myself.

When it came time to vote the votes stood at: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Ares, Dionysus, Athena, Hera, and Artemis voted for them to die. While Hermes Apollo Aphrodite Hestia Piper and I voted for them to live. So as you can clearly see, more of us voted for them to die than to let them live.

After the decision was reached Zeus said in a booming voice, "You are charged with treason against the gods, your punishment shall be death."

 To all our shock Annabeth shouted, "Wait! We regret what we did and are no longer Serving Tartarus, we are willing to fight for you, and you will need everyone you can get."

I think Zeus was rather annoyed when he thundered, (Pun intended) "You expect us to trust you after you betrayed us to Tartarus!"

 Annabeth answered "No that's why I am doing this." we were all looking at her confused about what they were going to do to get us to trust them. I did sense that their loyalty to Tartarus was gone and they now wanted to help us, but loyalties could change. As their leaving Tartarus showed. Could we trust them?

While I was thinking about that Annabeth spoke again, she said, "I swear on the river Styx that I will not betray you to Tartarus again and that I will fight for you when I am needed." 

She elbowed Demetrius and gave him a pointed look as if she was saying, if you want to live you should swear the oath too.

We were rather surprised by her actions and exchanged glances. Moments after Annabeth finished her oath, Demetrius bound himself in the same fashion. We were all considering what had just happened, we couldn't kill them after they had bound themselves to us, but even I wasn't quite ready to trust them.

Athena spoke up, "We will send them to camp half blood, and they can prove their loyalty to us in the upcoming battles." 

Apollo spoke up, he said, "Are you sure it's such a good idea to send them to the camp where our children are?"

 Athena spoke again, she said, "They will not break their oaths unless they wish to die, and considering the effort they have gone to, to remain alive I don't believe they will betray us." 

"Percy?" Apollo said looking at me, I knew what he was asking, he was asking me where their loyalties were.  

I answered, "Their loyalty to Tartarus is history, and they wish to redeem themselves by serving us again."

 Apollo nodded. Zeus still looked irritated over the fact that we could no longer kill them but he said, "All in favor of Athena's plan."

 All but the few who still wanted them to die agreed to the plan.

Zeus spoke again, he said to Annabeth and Demetrius, "Wait outside until the meeting has concluded then Perseus will take you to camp half blood."

 He then removed their shackles and they walked out of the throne room as they had been instructed.