The Glory That Is Rome (a Percy Jackson AU)

Sea Voyage

           Annabeth felt her throat burn and she quickly sat up on the small cot she had been laying down on. There were no windows in the room where she was kept on board, but from the sound of milling soldiers-turned-sailors, she suspected it was morning. The rocking of the ship had only worsened her morning sickness, which was much worse than the last time she was expecting.

   Dear gods, Annabeth thought, are you punishing me for my sins? What have I done? Why did I do it? Annabeth had told herself that she had only went to Percy for Luke's sake, but the fact that she was pregnant by Percy again proved her wrong. I could have chosen anyone, Annabeth thought; many men would have said yes to have a claim on the throne. Yet, I went to Percy again. What about him makes me keep coming back to him like the tide always returns to the shore?

      Annabeth managed to heave into a bowl she had been given. Her throat burned even when she finished and her stomach was still churning. She sat down on her cot again and let herself sob into the thin, linen blankets. I betrayed my husband, Annabeth thought; he deserves a loyal wife and he got me instead.

    Annabeth remembered how resistant to marriage she had been at first and how gentle Luke had seemed at first. She still felt affection for him, but she wasn't sure if she loved him. If I did love him, Annabeth thought, I wouldn't have cheated on him twice. Do I even love anyone? Yes, Annabeth thought, I love my son.

    Annabeth heard a knock at the door and she looked up as Piper walked into the room, carrying Lucius. Even though there was no way Annabeth would try to escape when they were in the middle of the ocean, her captors still kept her son at night. At least Lucius seemed to like Piper, though he smiled as Annabeth took him into her arms. 

   "He's hungry," Annabeth said as she stroked his head. "Do you know when we'll land?"

   "I'm not sure," Piper said. "Jason said we shouldn't expect to see land until we've seen seabirds and I've seen none."

   Annabeth nodded and began to feed Lucius. She suspected that Piper and Jason were lovers from the way they sneaked glances at each other. She wondered why Piper was not expecting yet. Was she barren or taking something to keep her womb empty or could it be that Jason was sterile as Luke was?

   When Lucius was done feeding, Annabeth rubbed his back and he burped. She wished Piper would leave her alone for awhile.

   "You know, it's strange that you're pregnant while you're nursing," Piper said. "Few women become pregnant while nursing."

   Annabeth nodded. She had not even considered that thought when she had schemed her idea. It had worked, against all odds, but she was still in bondage. Was her fecundity a sign from the gods? She had not taken any mandrakes this time and her second pregnancy was even more improbable than her first. 

    "Luke didn't father Lucius, did he?" Piper asked.

    "Luke is my husband," Annabeth said in a fierce whisper, trying not upset her son who was falling asleep.

    "But Percy is the father of both of your children," Piper said.

    "How?" Annabeth asked.

    "I can see how you two look at each other," Piper said. "The awkward tension between you, the way you light up when you see him, how he tried to rescue you . . . It all tells me one thing: he's the one you love."

   "No," Annabeth whispered. "That's not true. That can't be true."

    But in her heart she knew it was and she hated herself for it.