The Owl Princess

Book 9: Chapter 4- The Athenian Fleet

Will looked over Jason's wounds.
"If we keep him comfortable, keep the wounds clean, and get him back to Athens before too long, then he might survive. But don't take my word on it."
He and Hazel cleaned and bandaged the deep cuts on Jason's throat.  Piper propped him up against several cushions and held a cup of wine mixed with willow bark to his lips.
Annabeth, Percy, Nico, Frank, and Aphrodisia gathered up unused firewood and bits of the wrecked Argo II to build a funeral pyre for Athenaíí and Circe. Calypso and Hecate retrieved Circe's body and did their best to clean and prepare it for burial.
Circe's death appeared to have been quick and painless. A bloody dent in the head where it hit the rocks was the only visible wound. Calypso and Hecate were silent and grave. Knowing glances passed between them.
Thalia sat down next to Reyna by the fire. Reyna shifted to make room for her.
"What are you doing?" Thalia had taken a sip straight from a wine jug.
"I'm pouring a libation for the dead... I don't see why they're making they're such a fuss over a witch who tried to kill Annabeth and trapped us on this wretched island."
"Even the worst of criminals deserve a proper burial. They suffer enough in the afterlife."
Percy and Frank placed the bodies on the funeral pyre.  Leo dropped a burning torch on the pyre and set it ablaze. The smell as the flames consumed Athenaíí and Circe was like roasting meat. Their flesh crackled and sizzled and crumbled into ash. A thick cloud of black smoke covered Ogygia Beach and made everyone cough. Reyna brushed greasy cinders off of her arms and face.

Aphrodisia wept as the flames slowly died. The smoke lifted and Calypso lead everyone in a hymn about Persephone's descent into the underworld and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Reyna rested her head against Thalia's shoulder.
"I think she was tricked into eating those pomegranate seeds."
Thalia laughed.
"Maybe she ate them willingly because loved Hades and wanted to be his queen? Maybe she just wanted to get away from her mother?"
With the embers of the dying fire flickering on her pale skin, Thalia looked stunning.
Percy stood up when he spotted something on the horizon.
"I can see a ship sailing near the island."
"An Athenian trireme judging by the owl on its sail," Annabeth said.
Calypso's eyes widened.
"Ships usually can't get this close. Mitír must not have been able to cast a new protection spell."
A rowboat filled with Athenian sailors landed on the beach. Annabeth walked into the surf to greet them. The skirt of her chiton trailed in the water behind her.
"I am Princess Annabeth, daughter of King Frederick of Athens. What brings you to Ogygia?"
One of the sailors climbed out of the rowboat. Standing shin-deep in water, he bowed to Annabeth.
"Lady, you've been gone for a month. The friends who went to search for you have been missing for almost as long. But your father and King Zeus feared the worst but refused to give up hope that you all were still alive. King Frederick decided to send a ship to look for you."
"We're all well and anxious to go home."
Anxious to go home was the understatement of the epoch.
The sailors helped them pack up their camp to leave the island. They offered to take Jason on their ship, where he would be more comfortable. The cabins were cooler and more spacious and their medic had milk of the poppy to help ease his pain.
"What happened to him?" the head sailor asked.
Hecate stepped forward.
"And who are you old woman?"
"I am Hecate, daughter of Perses, " she said. 
"One of the witches of Ogygia, " another sailor murmured.
"Yes. I'm the one who cursed Princess Annabeth and the one who attacked Prince Jason. I also killed a slave girl belonging to King Zeus."
She raised her staff. The sailors cowered in fear.
"Magic has served me well over the years but I've seen it do too much harm. I will no longer trample where only the gods should step."
Hecate snapped to staff in two and a pair of  sailors grabbed her by the arms. She did not resist as they dragged her towards their ship.
Calypso ran to help her aid.
"Aunt Hecate! Let her go!"
Another sailor grabbed Calypso by the skirt of her chiton.
"You're coming with us too, my girl. We've earned a little fun, after all, we've been through."
Annabeth stood in front of the sailors with all the power and Majesty her form could manage.
"You're not taking them anywhere, " she said. "I promised Frank he could take Hecate as a slave in thanks for the service he's done me. He's going to wed Hazel and could use a housekeeper and nursemaid, for when the children come.  I also promised Calypso to Leo. I'm sure you can imagine what uses he'd have for her."
Frank, Leo, Calypso, and Hecate all looked at each and silently decided to play along.
"Hecate and Calypso are traitors to Athens and they deserve a worse fate than simply being executed."
The sailors released Hecate and Calypso, who went and stood with their supposed masters.
Reyna had to admit that Annabeth was one clever bitch.

"Ogygia looks beautiful from this distance, " Thalia said as the outline of the island started to disappear into the Aegean. "But I can't say I'm sorry to leave it."
Reyna leaned next to Thalia on the port side of the Orestes.
"Are you excited to get home and marry Prince Will?"
"Are you excited to get home and marry Prince Nico?"
Thalia bent over and kissed Reyna, who kissed her back.
"I look forward to seeing you when our husbands aren't around."