DA : Chapter 143: The Calm Before IV

They can't travel without rest or food while fighting anything that might get in their way and avoid the enemies at their back at the same time. Staying with the army is their only option at the moment," she said, her tone pleading as she looked at the council around her.

...

She then noticed Thalia frowning and looked at her as the winged goddess sighed before speaking.

"It just isn't that simple Annabeth," she said, making Annabeth internally smile in relief to see that even if having grown apart, Thalia was still somewhat caring of her by using her given name rather than the cold utterings of 'Chase' or 'goddess'.

"You know that as much as some demigods want out, others want to fight for their own reasons. Loyalty more so on the Roman side, perhaps for revenge due to killing Ares or harming their idols, or even some just wanting to make names for themselves. If demigods started suddenly disappearing, which would take some time, especially if the Olympians and other gods react and form so sort of barrier to prevent or at least slow us down.

That could lead to suspicion amongst each other and possibly turn into outright attacks against each other. Next thing you know, an army is killing itself with nothing but demigod casualties, defeating the purpose of this very meeting."

Annabeth sighed as she nodded, knowing that Thalia was right in that regard. There were already some glares and suspicious looks being sent between small parties, some of the more vocal of their loyalty harassing those that appeared hesitant for the cause.

"But … what if they surrender on the battlefields?" she asked with hope in her voice watching as some of the council members have her a raised eyebrow. "If I return and try to speak with the demigods not wanting to fight, and convince them to drop their weapons as a sign of surrender during battles, could you spare them and get them out of there?"

That got some more eager debate out of the council and Annabeth watched with baited breath as they spoke on the possibility and how they could go about it. Apparently, and much to Annabeth's silent horror, there was something else far more dangerous than the Olympians that the new protogenoi were staying on guard for.

They knew something would happen once the Olympians attacked, there was simply too much opportunity not to, but the question was of what and when? It got Annabeth thinking about the brief words of the group of cyclops that attacked her and mentioning of a new master while Poseidon trained.

Whatever could possibly put the strongest beings on the planet on edge was definitely something to watch and guard against, not to mention that Poseidon, one of if not the strongest fighter of the Olympians was with this other force, then things would only get worse.

Her thoughts were broken though as Rhea cleared her throat for silence, making the minor goddess to look up at the stronger being as she started to speak. "It seems that your suggestion could have some merit, however, picking out these demigods and transporting them away while we fight won't be easy.

There is also the danger of them being caught in crossfire, and if others notice their actions, being cut down by their own before they can be taken. So, no promises but we will try to be more cautious should the fighting break out but," she raised her hand to stop Annabeth from cheering at her apparent success.

"Try to get them separated to some degree that way it will be easier to move them away because if they are mixed into our opposing forces, they might not get spared."

Nodding firmly Annabeth thanked them profusely and Percy waved his hand, ending the meeting. Most of the new protogenoi teleported away via their own elemental means while some remained seated. In this instant being Percy, Rhea, Hestia, and if she recalled correctly, Andromeda. Suddenly Annabeth felt as if the pressure had increased significantly as the second, more personal reason for her visit was brought into question again. However, seeing Hestia's literally flaming, crimson eyes nailed to her didn't help the goddess calm in the slightest.

"So Chase," Rhea started while crossing her arms under her bust and narrowing her eyes at the goddess. "Care to explain about what happened during your earlier meeting with my husband?"

Her tone alone made Annabeth want to duck down, knowing that Rhea was not pleased in the slightest with Annabeth's revelations on the matter of her daughter and the role casted onto Percy in relation to it. Still, she had her reasons and didn't regret … at least she hoped she wouldn't.

"Y-yes," she managed to replied, silently cursing her own stutter. "I named him Cloelia's godfather in secret."

"Why?" Hestia asked with a noticeable growl, speaking for the first time as literal steam drifted off her hair. "After everything that happened, why could you possibly even consider him for the role?"

"It was the only way …" Annabeth tried to protest but Hestia cut her off.

"Like hell it is!" The draconic goddess snapped back with small licks of flame escaping her clearly fanged jaws thoroughly scaring the goddess. "The only way? You didn't even name a godfather when asked all those years ago and suddenly you pull this? What, trying to get something over him to make use for you like that Tartarus episode?"

"I didn't …"

"As long as we're together, sound familiar?" Hestia asked making Annabeth visibly flinch. "As far as you knew, it was practically a guaranteed death and you dragged him with you, knowing that you didn't even deserve his love and then, the moment you got the opening, you took it and ran."

Annabeth turned her head away as she took the goddess' words, knowing she couldn't refute them. Yes, Aphrodite had been the one to mess with her emotions, but in the end it was her choice to lie about, to hide and then take godhood the moment it was offered. She simply couldn't bear the thought of telling him or the shame that would come with it at the time, her own hubris simply wouldn't allow it. Not when she'd gotten the recognition of her mother, was respected, and was even offered something demigods dream about.

It looked like Hestia was going to continue tearing into Annabeth but was silenced as Percy reached across and took her head, surprising her as she looked at him. Annabeth would have denied it but she felt a pang of pain in her chest seeing the look he was giving Hestia, so warm and kind like he once used to with herself. It seemed it had a similar affect as Hestia visibly calmed with the area around her cooling before all four returned their attention to her.

"Just … tell us why, Chase?" Percy asked with a sigh as he looked at her.

Taking a deep breath she nodded before answering, knowing that they probably wouldn't like it any better.

"Because of a prophecy …"

As the sentence left her mouth the room grew tense again as the four primal beings looked at her with visible surprise. Then, after some odd silence Andromeda broke it.

"What?"

Only being able to nod, Annabeth waited to see how they would take it before she went further. Percy just snorted and then rubbed the bridge of his nose while Rhea bit her lower lip, Hestia looked narrowly at her own lap while tapping her fingers and Andromeda looked at Annabeth. After some time Percy sighed again before directing only one opened eye at the smaller goddess.

"What is it? When did you get it in fact?"

"It was the night after Cloelia's birth," she replied, remembering that happy night as she rested with her newborn in arms, her mother having been the last to leave after making sure Apollo didn't bother the new mother and child.

"Rachel visited at some really late hours," she continued, remembering how Rachel could be very random at times and surprise visits to Olympus weren't actually uncommon in those days. "She sort of stumbled into my room, not sure how without tipping anyone off.

Actually she looked almost drunk or something and then her eyes were sometimes flashing green, other times just looked glazed over and then she started a prophecy but it was strange," she explained as she frowned slightly in the memory of that odd night.

"It was almost like she was cut off from delivering the whole thing and next thing I know, she ran out. I ran into her a few days later but she didn't remember anything."

Annabeth then fell silent as the primordial beings took in what she said, sharing glances with each other until Hestia spoke up.

"Looks like we'll have to talk to Phoebe about this. Only she can see the records of past prophecies as well as those that are possible."

"But will she find it?" Rhea cut in drawing attention to herself. "The year that Chase's daughter was born was shortly after many gods and mortals joined us, including Phoebe herself.

We already know that the actions of a primordial could have completely unforeseen consequences of a previously stated prophecy, and if Chase is right, this one was incomplete. Who's to say that it wasn't something that slipped through the cracks when the Fates were trying to decipher everything that was happening?"

The others nodded in agreement to her words before attention was turned on Annabeth again as Hestia spoke up, "So, this prophecy?"

Annabeth sighed as she nodded before reciting the fragments as they were told.

"Fate distorted and souls separated … Daughter of ill-fated union … War of wars to rage … To live as harbinger of peace … To die and leave destruction … Cursed blade and legendary hero … Forsaken love, the strongest protector … Goddess to reclaim herself …"

Annabeth stopped as she recited the last bit that Rachel said as she took in the looks of the winged gods before her, their earlier surprise turning into grime contemplation. Even if incomplete, several lines were already telling and Annabeth knew without a doubt it involved both Percy and her daughter.

His sword Riptide, cursed and impaled with the abandoned city of Olympus, left there by the legendary hero, her forsaken love.

It hadn't taken her long to discern that and with the mention of her daughter's life being possibly on the line, it hadn't taken her much to decide on who to name godfather, a choice that she had still been pondering for days.

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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.

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