The Arranged Marriage (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Twenty-Six

One of the hardest things Annabeth had every done was forcing herself to leave Percy in that hallway. She had known the longer she stayed, the harder it would be to leave for good.

She wiped her cheeks as she neared the ship they were taking to Athens.

"Annabeth!"

Annabeth didn't stop as she stepped onto the ship, rolling her eyes as she tried desperately to dry her eyes and cheeks. "What do you want Octavian?"

Octavian grinned as he turned to Annabeth, his eyes bright with madness. "Just to be with my betrothed!"

Annabeth growled under her breath in irritation as she plopped onto the floor of the boat, not caring that princesses did not sit on the ground or "plop" anywhere. Octavian perched above her, tapping his fingers incessantly on the edge of the boat.

"Gah!" Annabeth exclaimed after a minute. "Will you please stop? And just leave me alone?"

Octavian looked startled at her outburst. "What?"

Annabeth pursed her lips and sighed. If she could get along with Percy, maybe she could get along with Octavian too. "I would just like to be by myself," she said, her voice edging on shrill as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Just for a little bit, please."

The "please" was tacked on at the end, a note of distaste evident, but nevertheless, Octavian left her alone.

"By Zeus," she murmured. "It's going to be a long trip to Athens."

* * *

When Annabeth and the rest of the crew arrived in Athens, Annabeth felt ill — it was as if the air and spirit had been ripped from her lungs. She couldn't smell the sea salt of the Mediterranean. She couldn't feel the sea breeze as it lifted her hair from her shoulders, tangling in her face. She couldn't feel the thick warmth that surrounded her like a second skin any longer. She couldn't hear the shrieks of small children as they skipped and chased each other across the quad.

There wasn't a feeling of high spirits in Athens as there was in Crete. There wasn't a Percy in Athens.

Of course, Athens was just as beautiful as she remembered. The temples gleamed in the sunlight as she was escorted to the palace that stood on the top of the acropolis as well. The fountains that littered the city gurgled merrily as she passed them. Men and women milled about the streets, hitting the vendors before they closed up for the day.

But an air of mystery and hesitation hung across the city, suffocating as more people filled the streets. More people to witness the return of their Queen.

"Queen Annabeth!"

Annabeth stopped at the shout of a little girl. She located the little girl who was jumping up and down desperately trying to see her and approached the child. Kneeling before the girl, Annabeth smiled.

"And what is your name?" Annabeth asked, slipping back into the role she had chosen to play in Crete. Annabeth didn't want to be the ruthless, heartless queen that her mother was — she wanted her people's approval. Annabeth believed that approval by the young generations was most important. They were the up and coming leaders and doctors and teachers of Athens.

"Acacia," the little girl breathed, her eyes teeming with excitement as she smiled widely. "I want to be just like you when I grow up."

Tears pricked the edges of Annabeth's eyes; a little girl wanted to be like Annabeth. Annabeth had to be doing something right. "Well," Annabeth's voice was thick with emotion, "I want you to remember to always be yourself — never let other people try to tell you who you should be." Annabeth smiled as she squeezed Acacia's small hand. "And never change for someone else. I think you will have no problem with that though."