Turning of Tides

5. The Royal Decree

Taking a deep breath I steel my nerves, I'd only been absent for an hour or two, but I knew they'd be mad. I've never disobeyed anyone like this, especially not the two Gods are known for their temper tantrums. All I could do was tell them the truth and hope that they'll not kill me with a lightning bolt to the head. Maybe I could join the hunt with Lady Artemis; she did say she wanted me to join! Realizing I was just standing outside the door, I open it and walk into the foyer to see King Zeus pacing in front of the grand staircase while Queen Hera is yelling at a guard. The guard nods his head before turning towards the door, which I happened to be still standing in.

"Your graces, I've found her," he says sheepishly. Instantly both of their heads snap toward the doorway I stand in while Hera runs to me wrapping me in her arms. Okay, this is so not what I was expecting. Zeus looks at me upset but I can tell he's relieved since a good bit of tension has dissipated from his face and shoulders.

"Nerissa, where did you go? We had almost every guard on Olympus searching for you," King Zeus scolded. I hung my head, but then I remembered he was the one who didn't tell me about my fath- I mean, Poseidon and his plans to disown me.

"I heard. I heard you say Poseidon doesn't want me. But I don't care, if he can throw me away like that because I'm better than Triton, I don't want him to be my father. He can have his perfect little family, all I ever did was try and be the perfect daughter. But that was what got me into trouble, wasn't it? I'd rather be better without them then act like I was inferior and still call them a family." By this point I was crying, half from rage, but the other half from the realization that I couldn't do anything to change his opinion. I was going to lose the man I've ever known as father.

"Oh Nerissa, I wish you hadn't found out like that. Poseidon has always been an idiot, and he has made a great mistake by losing you." Hera said, holding me closer to herself.

"It's true; my brother has never been the smart one of the family. I wanted to tell you tonight at dinner, darling. And I also wanted to discuss something else, which in light of recent saddening discoveries will possibly make a choice easier for you. We want you to stay on Olympus with us, and perhaps allow me and Hera to become your patrons. See we would be acting like your parents, you would become our ward. There was already a plan for you to become a goddess on the eve of your 16th birthday, for reasons the council cannot share. With your training, you will become a phenomenal goddess, and we would love to have you become like our daughter. We will bless you with our powers, I do not know if you will still retain your connection to Poseidon, should Barnacle Beard make the mistake of losing you, but our powers will be yours should you wish. You'd be our ward, but in every sense, you will be the new Princess." King Zeus stated. The King and Queen of the Gods were offering to take me into their home as one of their own? Was this why I'm to hold the title of Princess? Oh my Gods, of course, I'd say yes. The most powerful Gods want me, I'd have a home and a family. I'd be the most powerful demigod in history, and soon become a goddess, a deity stronger than Poseidon. All those who wronged me, I'll show them.

"I would love to live here, to live with you two. You've shown me great kindness all my life. I'm ready to be the Princess of Olympus." I tell them with a great smile on my face, an identical one on Hera's face. She hugged me tightly, then stood to go to her husband who picked me up and the three of us hugged each other. Drying the tears on my face, I was happy for the change. I was home, and this was my family, my true family that wouldn't betray me.

I wait outside the doors of the throne room, waiting for my cue to enter. King Zeus had called an emergency meeting at my request to become a legitimate Princess as soon as possible, and my biological father would even be able to have an easier decision about whether or not I could still be his daughter. Why should I wait around for the verdict of a family deciding my fate when I had a better one that wanted me more? Two guards opened the doors, and I walk in the throne room seeing every seat occupied before me. I kneel before Zeus, but to everyone's surprise, I don't get up to bow before Poseidon which is what is expected of me as I should show my respect him as well. Instead, I kneel before my future mother, Hera. At both Hera and Zeus's signal, I rise and return to the middle of the throne room, not sparing a glance towards my biological father.

"Now we have something important to discuss of our darling Nerissa, as you are all aware many deities have begun calling her Princess of Olympus at my command. We'd like to further her claim, but she has asked to announce the news herself for reasons that will come to light in just a moment. Nerissa, dear, go on." Zeus said gently but firmly, using his King's voice which I had already grown used to hearing.

"Thank you, King Zeus," I say before turning to the God of the Seas. "King Zeus and Queen Hera have agreed to take me into their home, and I'm to become their ward. I am to become the official Princess of Olympus in light of recent news from Atlantis. I will be disowned soon, and all my titles revoked seeing as I out perform the current 'Prince.' More of the nobles see it fit that I would be a better ruler, which you won't tolerate, which means you're going to disown me from this family. Isn't that right, Poseidon?" I ask with venom lacing my words, emphasizing my use of his name instead of calling him father. I glance around to the faces of the council and see everyone displaying conflicted emotions. Most were surprised Poseidon would do such a thing, angry as well. Many were impressed I was taking this charge, I was a child born a leader.

"I think this is a fantastic idea, only those who want Nerissa should have guardianship over her. As the Goddess of Love, I know she deserves more familial love than she's going to get from the likes of you!" Aphrodite yelled at the tan God clutching his trident tightly. He looked ashamed, yet he did not deny anything.

"Look it's not like I have much of choice in this, she's just a demigod. Amphitrite wants her real child on the throne without question, Nerissa was a mistake, my son Triton is the rightful heir, he was born a god. Since when have we cared for demigods?" Poseidon asks, there was no easy way to phrase what he was doing, and he knew it was wrong, but it was the price he'd pay for his wife and son.

"As a parent who has made mistakes before, I will tell you you're going to regret this. Until then, get out of our sight." Hera stated with venom. She had soon stood and grabbed my hand leading me from the room back to my new home. I'm not sure what happened after that, but I knew I was hurt. We entered the doors to my room, and as soon as Lyko reaches me, I'm breaking down into tears. It felt like hours that I sat there and cried for hours until I couldn't cry anymore. After crying, I was so incredibly tired I barely recall being lifted from the floor and being placed into my bed with Lyko curled up in my arms.

Third Person P.O.V.

~As Nerissa slept upstairs, Zeus' biological daughter had just fallen on the hill of Camp Half-Blood. Zeus pitied his daughter and turned her into a great pine tree, blessing it to strengthen the magical border to protect all of the gods' children from this day forward.~

A few hours later in their home:

"What are we going to do now? What about the prophecy? We thought Thalia would be the one but if she just passed what does that mean, now?" Hera asked in a hushed voice. Wait, Thalia died? And what's this about a prophecy? I knew Zeus had a demigod that Hera was mad about but she had a prophecy and now she's dead? But I had just seen her the other day in the park alive and fought! What happened to Luke? And Annabeth, Grover? They have to be okay.

"Hera, lower your voice. I understand your upset but there's no point in deciding about this now, Thalia died last night. She's no more than a pine tree protecting the camp now. We have Nerissa; who's more of a daughter to me than Thalia. And it'll be different with Nerissa because she's ours. Our new daughter, please darling I'm sorry." Zeus pleads with her more quietly. I can hear Hera sigh in frustration before she responds.

"I suppose you are right, but Zeus I'm the goddess of marriage. You can't keep doing this to me. Whatever we and Nerissa decide to do she's saving us already. Things are better with our family when she's here." She sighs.

"She has which is why I don't know if I want her finding out about the prophecy. What if she dies or gets hurt. As for the prophecy we will let her decide. We will tell her soon." Zeus states quietly.

"We won't tell her, not yet. She's already gone through so much for a young girl; I won't put any more responsibility on her shoulders. We will train her as much as we can; she'll get the full blessings and powers from the council when we decide she's ready to continue that rest of the council's training. For now, she's our daughter, the Princess of Olympus and Child of the Prophecy." Hera states with finality.