The Moon's Lover

3

Artemis PoV

Crushed under the mass of bodies, I found myself smiling. I had my hunters back.

After many hugs and lots of yelling over each other, the hunters got off me.

I got up, and saw Perseus standing back in the shadow of the trees.

My sisters dragged me over to the campfire and made me explain everything.

I felt this guilt sinking down in my stomach as Perseus flashed away.

After much time spent at my hunters' camp, I flashed back to my palace.

I found Perseus working on another painting. He set down his paintbrush and turned to face me. "How did things go?" He asked.

I shrugged. "It went well. I think they'd like you."

A smile graced his lips. "Good," he
commented.

I peered over his shoulder. "What're you working on?"

"Oh, I'm finished with this one. Do you like it?" Perseus asked.

I saw that it was an elegantly painted picture of a beautiful girl, standing among the trees with her bow raised toward the moon. She had stunning eyes that drew you in, and I realized he had painted a picture of me.

I felt myself blush, never thinking I would look like that to anybody as I nodded. "It's incredible, Perseus."

He smiled and stood up, hanging his smock up on the wall. "I'm glad you like it, Artemis."

I blinked. "You were wearing a smock. How is your shirt still so messy?" Perseus grinned. "This is clean. You should see what happens when I don't wear a smock."

Without thinking, I rushed forward and put my arms around his neck. "Thanks, for everything," I mumbled in his ear before running off.

Percy PoV

I stood there, my mouth agape. I could still feel her warm breath on my ear, and the tingling sensation that spread throughout my body. I'd felt barely a spark with Annabeth compared to this.

Was I in love?

I cleaned up and met Artemis in the kitchen, finding she had made dinner. I felt a pang of sadness that she hadn't waited for me so we could cook together.

I grabbed a plate and filled it, sitting down next to her.

After dinner, I took our plates to the sink and began to wash them. After a while, I felt Artemis step next to me, grabbing the last of the dirty dishes.

"You're very slow, so I figured helping you would hurry things up," Artemis explained.

I smiled and we finished cleaning up. Artemis went to take a shower and I did the same in my room. When I finished, I started sketching.

It started out as a line. Then it transformed into a night sky. Then there were stars. An amazing constellation-the huntress. The moon. Trees and mountains. A clearing. A lake. A tent. People.

When I decided I was finished, it was
around eleven in the evening.

There was a knock on my door.

I answered it to find none other than my silver-eyed wife standing at the door, wrapped in a blanket.

I invited her into my arms, holding her tight. Artemis nuzzled into my chest, and I fell back onto the bed.

"I had a nightmare, and it's cold." Artemis closed her eyes.

I laid down, kissing the spot behind her ear. Artemis quickly fell asleep, and I smiled as I drifted off.

I awoke in the morning, finding Artemis sleeping soundly in my arms, her head rested in the crook of my neck.

When Artemis woke up, she blushed.

"Sleep well?" I asked.

Artemis nodded. "Thank you, Perseus. For getting my father to allow me to contact my hunters again."

"No problem," I answered. "Just, could you call me Percy instead? Perseus makes me feel old."

Artemis nodded, ichor rushing to her cheeks. I kissed the spot behind her ear, and she seemed to relax.

Artemis rested her head on my chest, and I went back to drawing.

After a while, Artemis sat up and took the notebook from me, flipping through it.

She handed it back to me. "Why do you draw so many pictures of me?"

I smiled charmingly. "Because I like drawing beautiful things."

There was a pounding outside. I sighed and got up, going to answer the door.

Artemis curled back up in my bed, dozing off.

I opened the door, finding myself, once again, face to face with a drunken king of the gods.

"Perrseuuusssss mahy boaaahhii!" Zeus slurred. "I aa've deeecciiide that youuuuu get to do whatevveer ya wahhntto yar wife!" Then he flashed away.

Artemis appeared from behind the wall, looking down at the floor.

I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it. What was I supposed to say? Sorry, your dad's a drunken bastard?

I walked over to Artemis and tilted her chin up so she was looking at me.

"Artemis," I began. "I promise, I will never, ever, try to do anything you don't want me to do."

Artemis buried herself in one of my hugs. I smiled and held her.

My wife looked up and mumbled something about breakfast.

I released her from my hug and summoned eggs and bacon.

After breakfast, we went to the artworks room.

Artemis looked down at the root I was trying to shape and shook her head.

"No, you're doing it all wrong. It looks unnatural that way. Here, let me show you," she offered.

I crouched down and watched her work on the root until she was satisfied. I nodded in approval, finally understanding what she meant.

After much work, we walked around, exploring our creation. Artemis tripped over a rock, smashing her knee on the ground.

My wife yelped in pain. I kneeled down next to her and picked her up, carrying her to my bedroom.

I sat down next to her on the bed. "How about we get a look at that?" I asked.

Artemis rolled up her pant leg, both our faces set aflame when it wouldn't go past her shin.

I grabbed her a towel and left the room, letting her change in peace.

Artemis howled in pain and I burst through the door, seeing ichor splattered on the bed.

I grabbed a medkit and laid a towel out under her leg.

Artemis winced. I examined the wound, seeing that there was no real internal damage, but she wouldn't be able to put any weight on it for about a week.

I cleaned, applied nectar to, and dressed the wound.

Artemis sat up, extending her leg. "Thank you, Percy."

I smiled and stood up. "Well, how about I move you to your bedroom, 'cause I need to change the sheets."

Artemis nodded, wrapping her arms around my neck as carried her to her room. I sat down next to her and we talked about nothing.

"So, umm. Can I ask why you've been so cold the past years?" I asked.