One More Chance // Thaluke

2. Artemis

Percy's POV

"Oh but I heard it" said a voice. A familiar one, thought Percy. When they all turned to look, they saw a little girl of around twelve years old with auburn hair standing at the doors. It was Artemis.
Percy had absolutely no idea what to do. He barely understood anything after Luke. . . after he died. He couldn't believe it, he just passed away, right in front of his eyes. 

Just like that. 

And then Thalia, she had come in shouting (Yeah, okay, maybe he is exaggerating a wee bit) and started blaming Luke just before he died and now Artemis is here and Percy didn't know what on Earth she was going to do. And there seemed to have been more than one love confession at some point but Percy wasn't sure whether he'd imagined it or not. In all fairness though, his mind was in a fragile state after everything that happened, so you've got to cut him some slack.

Thalia gasped in shock as she recognized the voice. Percy, though still pretty befuddled, could hear the regret and sadness in Artemis' voice. Thalia seemed as though she was going to cry, again. 

Artemis stepped into the throne room and knelt next to Thalia. Artemis seemed much older than the form of the little girl she took, not in the usual timeless way but she just looked like she was suffering through something that she has had to face too many times before. 

"Lady Artemis. . . " Came Thalia's fragile voice. "My Lady, please. . . You couldn't, I mean he's. . . he's dead. It can't count as breaking my vow, could it. . ?" Thalia said, as though she could hardly believe her own words. She seemed scared too, that was new, thought Percy.

"My dear, you know, as well as I do, that it does count. Understanding the fact that he has passed I give you an option to leave in peace, to give up your bow and arrow and your lieutenant's circlet and leave the hunters forever. You know it is better than the alternative, my dear. You cannot remain a hunter if you have been contaminated with feelings such as love. I believe that this is a kindness, it is all I can do. I do not like to lose worthy lieutenants like this. I have, indeed, lost too many this way already but there is no other way, I fear." Said Artemis, sighing. Percy didn't know what the alternative was but he knew that Thalia dreaded having to give up her place in the hunters. There seemed to be a defeated look on her face as she began to remove the circlet from her head. 

"Please! Lady Artemis, isn't there any other way?" Said Annabeth. It isn't a wise decision to question a God or Goddess's word and so Annabeth knew. Percy may have been reckless enough to do it but Annabeth, being a daughter of Athena, wouldn't dare to do it. But she would do anything, Percy realized, for Thalia, maybe because they grew up together fighting all those monsters, side by side. She would probably even do the same thing for Luke if he hadn't gone over to the dark side. 

"No, it's alright, Annabeth. It is the price I have to pay." Said Thalia morosely as she removed it.

 There was a rushing sound and suddenly Thalia started growing. All of a sudden she seemed to be around 20 years old. This startled Percy since, if she grew then she should only be 2 years older to Percy. They all turned towards Artemis. "I believe that removing the circlet has returned you to the age you would have been had you not been a hunter or a tree. So this age, which seems to me to be. . . 21, I believe, is the age you would have been if you aged normally from the day you were born." Said Artemis. Thalia looked down at herself and nodded. 

She was handing over her circlet and her bow and arrow when, suddenly, Luke took a shuddering breath and sat up straight. 

Thalia gasped and dropped the things she was handing over. Artemis snapped her fingers and they landed next to her, unharmed. Nobody knew what was going on, even Artemis seemed confused. Thalia's eyes were wide and she was looking at Luke as though she couldn't believe her eyes. "L-Luke. .?" Stammered Thalia. Percy couldn't believe it either. How could he possibly be-

"I believe you should be thanking me for that."

A/N : Oh no. Suspense. I think I'll just leave it there...

Yours Truly 

ReynaLovegood2 :)