Desert Winds (a Percy Jackson AU)

A Very Long Engagement

    Annabeth's wound was healing well, but she still was only cleared for light duties. Well, Annabeth didn't think cutting up vegetables should be considered a light duty, but it was less risky than trying to cut up Mitanni rebels. Her arms were sore every night as she fell asleep, but she was glad to be alive and well.

     On her final day of vegetable cutting duties, Reyna joined her. "Adad," Annabeth said, giving her a smile. "You look fine to me. Why were you sent here?"

   Reyna exhaled, her brown eyes narrowed. "I got into a fight with some scrawny soldier named Octavian. He was gutting out someone else's toy."

      "Ahhh, join the fun," Annabeth said, handing her a large knife. "How long?"

      "Just today," Reyna said, beginning to cut up a carrot.

    Annabeth nodded. She began to cut up an onion and had to squint her eyes due to the burning sensation. "Funny how it's just the two of us doing the cooking here," Annabeth said.

     "If only the men knew who was going the cooking and why it will taste so good tonight," Reyna said with a smile.

      "We've gotten these feminine talents down," Annabeth said with a wink. "If the men knew, they'd be crowding around our tent."

     "We'd get marriage proposals left and right," Reyna joked. "Even the officers would approach us."

     "Scarcity makes things more precious," Annabeth said, dumping the onions pieces into a big bowl. "And absence makes the heart's longing only grow."
   
    Annabeth looked up and saw the same expression in Reyna's eyes that she often saw in herself: the tightness that showed an inner struggle between wanting to be vulnerable and wanting to look unaffected. Reyna's eyes were wet and she had even stopped cutting carrots.

      She waved in front of her friend's face. "Are you alright, Adad?"

  Reyna blinked, then nodded, and dropped her gaze. She focused on cutting up vegetables as if the fate of all of Assyria counted on it. When the two soldiers finished their task, they dumped the vegetables into a huge clay pot filled with water. They stirred until the soup was ready and it was time for dinner.

***

     "So you're starting normal duties again tomorrow?" Percy asked.

     "If by normal duties, you mean manual labor, then yes," Annabeth said. "Although, I will tell you never to wrestle a cook. They got mad strong arms."

     Percy tipped back his head and laughed. "How was your day, O Wise One?"

      Annabeth's lips peeled into a sardonic smile. "Another day filled with tasks I left home to say goodbye to."

      Percy laid a hand on her shoulder. They were in the tent and alone as one could be in an Assyrian army's camp. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."

     Annabeth put a finger in his lips. "You did what you needed to do."

     Percy nodded as Annabeth leaned backwards. "And I will do that again — now. Annabeth, when this all ends, will you marry me?"
   
     Annabeth didn't have to answer with words.