In an Ocean of Stars

The Last Centurion 1

Summary:

After the Giant War Percy thought that he could finally get a quiet life, but it all came crashing down when Zeus went to war against Poseidon, forcing Percy to go into hiding. After countless skirmishes, the Council has made a tough decision and forced Percy into a marriage with Artemis in hopes of stopping the godly war. Also, deep down in a dark pit, a Primordial stirs...

(Thanks to TooManyIdeasTooLittleTime for helping me with the summary)

A/N:

INFO:

Don't expect Artemis to fall in love with Percy immediately, this is going to happen slowly, I want to keep it as realistic as possible and explore how both of them slowly learn new things and deal with their unexpected engagement, they will have to learn how to care for each other.

Fully expect Diana (Artemis's Roman form) to pop up in the story at some point, I want to explore both sides of the goddess's personality in-depth but I want to do that without overdoing it.

Percy is going to be powerful and skilled but not unrealistically powerful, at some point: far down the story, he would eventually become an Olympian god.

This is NOT a guardian of the hunt story.

NON-CLICHÉ GUARANTEED (No chaos, no guardian, no wings, no torture at the hands of the hunters, no champion of a billion gods, etc.)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson and related stories.

Chapter One: Wrath of Olympus

Percy looked up at the sky disdainfully, and for the millionth time that week, he found himself wondering just how long he was going to survive.

Dark and sweeping clouds shrouded the heavens in an inky blanket of gloom, denying even a single ray of sunlight from passing through and providing some solace to the humans who so desperately yearned for the warm embrace of the sun.

Much like most other people, Percy did not remember the last time he had felt the wonderful sensation of the sun against his skin.

Over the past couple of years, Earth had witnessed some of the worst weather in several centuries, massive earthquakes had leveled entire cities and catastrophic events like hurricanes and tsunamis had become more and more common.

These disasters often ended up claiming thousands of innocent lives as they raged across cities, destroying anything and everything that dared stand in their way...

In the last three months alone two major tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean and if that wasn't bad enough already, one-fifth of the ozone layer had mysteriously depleted due to 'unknown reasons'.

The mortals had chalked up all of those catastrophes to global warming, but being a demigod, Percy of course knew better: The reason behind this apocalyptic situation could be directly traced back to none other than his own father and his uncle— The God of Seas, Earthquakes, Storms, and The God of Sky, Lighting, and Thunder respectively.

Poseidon and Zeus had always been known for their bitter rivalry, but it had recently escalated to unprecedented levels when Zeus attempted to have his brother voted off the Olympian council.

In the end, however, his plan had failed rather spectacularly when Poseidon was able to retain his seat by turning the rest of the Olympians against their king... But ultimately this resulted in the worst clash between the two brothers to date when Zeus challenged the God of the seas to a duel.

The clash between Poseidon and Zeus was one of epic proportions. The gods fought fiercely, their weapons clashing in the air as they tried to gain the upper hand. The earth shook beneath their feet, and the sky was filled with lightning as Zeus called upon the power of his domain.

Poseidon was no pushover, he used his mastery over the oceans to unleash massive waves and whirlpools in an attempt to overwhelm his brother.

For five long months, the battle raged on, with no end in sight. The other Olympians watched in awe; their hearts filled with fear at the thought of what would happen if one of the brothers were to emerge victorious.

But as it would turn out, in the end, neither god was able to claim victory, both gods were forced to retreat when it became clear that they were equally matched and none of them had the upper hand.

Instead of accepting the draw with dignity, however, Zeus was consumed by a burning rage. His humiliation at being unable to defeat his brother was too much to bear, and he declared an all-out war against Poseidon. This included attacks on all sea creatures, every port city, and, of course, Poseidon's children.

Percy, as the only living mortal child of Poseidon, found himself caught in the crosshairs of this ancient feud. The days that followed were some of the darkest and most dangerous he had ever faced. The fate of the world hung in balance as the two brothers engaged in a battle that would shake the foundations of the Earth itself.

Fortunately, this time the other Olympians wisely chose to stay out of the conflict and instead focused on minimizing the damage and saving the world from the combined rage of the two elder gods. However, their efforts were largely in vain, as the brothers were unable to see reason and the devastation continued unabated.

Percy, as Poseidon's most prized son, bore the brunt of Zeus's wrath during these difficult years. He lost count of the number of times he almost got struck by lightning, and dark, billowing clouds seemed to follow him wherever he went. Every time he was out in the open, he was pelted with massive hailstones that seemed to rain down on him with a vengeance. It was as if the sky itself had turned against him, the heavens determined to claim his life to appease the unquenchable blood lust of its master. Despite the Olympians' efforts, it seemed that there would be no end to this cycle of violence.

However, despite the severity of the danger the sky presented, none of this had been Zeus's worst blow. No, Zeus's worst attack on Percy came when Athena forced Annabeth to break up with him on Zeus's orders. This blow completely shattered the demigod's heart as his love was brutally taken from him.

Despite how much it hurt to be away from her, the last time he saw Annabeth, he made her swear on the Styx to move on with her life and not wait for him any longer. He did this because he feared that the king of gods could try to hurt him by hurting the woman he loved.

As the savior of the world, Percy had gained tremendous respect from the divine world, and Zeus was already pushing the limits by targeting him with lightning bolts. However, in the eyes of most gods, Annabeth was not nearly as valuable as Percy, so there was nothing stopping Zeus from going all out and trying to kill her. This forced Percy to make the hardest decision of his life - he had to sacrifice their relationship to ensure her safety.

This was how Percy, the hero of Olympus, found himself sitting on the small terrace of his humble two-bedroom flat in Hawaii - the safest place for a son of Poseidon in the entire country. Surrounded by expansive seas, which fell under his father's domain, Hawaii was the only place where Percy could step outside his house and walk on dry land without fear of being struck by hailstones the size of footballs. No one could touch him there.

Percy sighed in disappointment as he looked at the empty beaches across from his apartment complex, which had once been teeming with tourists but were now reduced to barren wastelands. Gone were the days when people could roam freely without a care in the world. In this new world, everyone was shuttered behind their doors, afraid of when the next disaster might strike without warning.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Olympus, Throne Room.

The gods of Olympus were assembled in their throne room, looking down on the suffering planet below. Most of the gods were in attendance, but there were two notable absences: Zeus and Poseidon, who were usually too busy fighting each other to attend the conferences on Olympus.

However, on this particular day, their absence turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it gave the other gods the opportunity to have a serious discussion about how to bring the two brothers back to their senses.

"This madness has gone on for far too long I say! They need to be stopped before they destroy the entire world in this pointless quest to feed their overinflated egos!" Demeter, the usually soft-spoken and amiable goddess, erupted in outrage as another city fell into the grip of famine.

Demeter had every right to be angry; the clashes between her brothers had destroyed most of the harvest around the globe, and the constant disasters had caused terrible famines in many parts of the world, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Demeter had tried her best to help the mortals and support their survival in any way she could, but when the seas and sky themselves turned against her efforts, there was little she could do other than stand by and watch in sorrow as all her hard work was undone by her brothers.

Hera, who had been sitting next to Demeter, nodded gravely as she considered her sister's words. "You are right of course, I have tried to calm Zeus's rage and make him see reason, but he refuses to yield. He is angry, he will not stop until he has destroyed Poseidon and everything he holds dear. No matter how hard I try, he won't listen to me."

Hermes, who had been sitting on his plush throne comfortably, suddenly peered around nervously before leaning in and whispering, "The last time I visited Atlantis, they were preparing for an even larger-scale war. I saw hordes of cyclopes reinforcing the city and forging weapons capable of wiping out entire continents. Everywhere I went I could smell molten metal as they worked endlessly to prepare for war. It was a terrifying sight, especially because I was treated with distrust and suspicion as the son of Zeus." The god said, shivering at the thought of the cold reception he had received; the only reason he had even survived the visit was that his status as the messenger of deities gave him diplomatic immunity in these circumstances.

"Zeus is doing the same thing," Hera remarked gravely. "He is amassing an army of monsters, minor gods, and creatures, all bent on destroying Poseidon and his followers. Even the demigods are choosing sides now. The tension is getting worse and worse, I fear it's only a matter of time before the two clash again in a final, devastating confrontation. The worst part is, I don't know if the world would be able to survive this."

"At this rate, there won't be anything left of civilization in a few decades," Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who had been silent thus far, added gravely. "The humans are struggling to survive as it is, with famine and natural disasters plaguing their lands. If this war continues, they won't be able to sustain themselves for much longer. Their countries will descend into anarchy, and they will start fighting amongst themselves until all of humankind is consumed in its own flames. If we don't act immediately, the destruction of the planet is imminent."

"So, we are all in agreement then? That it's time we took this situation into our own hands?" Hades asked for confirmation. Just before the war, he and Hestia had recently been reinstated to the council and had immediately taken a proactive role in trying to save the world from their brothers.

Hestia, the wise goddess of the hearth, and the eldest of the Olympians nodded in consent. "Yes. If they refuse to stop acting like children, then it is up to us to take control and find a solution. We cannot stand by and watch as they destroy everything we hold dear."

"But what are we going to do? How do we stop them from fighting?" Apollo asked, feeling frustrated and uncertain. It seemed unlikely that anything short of sending one of the brothers to Tartarus would improve the situation now.

Hera chose this moment to speak up again, giving Apollo a crooked smile. "Don't worry about that, Apollo. I have an idea. Just gather the council tomorrow and side with me when I call for a vote."

Apollo quivered internally at the expression he saw on the Queen's face, Hera could be ruthlessly cunning when she wanted to be, and Apollo knew that better than most people, he had had the misfortune of experiencing her wrath for being Zeus's son from another woman and he could say with certainty that he wasn't looking forward to whatever malevolent scheme she had cooked up this time.

"Vote on what?" Hermes voiced everyone's unasked question; he too knew that the Queen of the gods did not shy away from being exceptionally cruel if the need arose.

"You will see soon enough..." Hera smiled mysteriously which only made the gods present there feel that much more agitated about her plan.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

That evening, every Olympian deity except Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, and the two maiden daughters of Zeus received a letter penned by Hera herself. These letters were meant to bring the rest of the gods into her plan to save the planet.

The gods who were left out were excluded for a good reason. Hera had concluded that it was almost guaranteed that they would never side with her plan, so she decided to keep them in the dark and only reveal her plan at the last moment to minimise the chances of any unwelcome surprises.

While Hera had no reservations about carrying her own plan, for the others it was a different case. The Queen's idea was deeply controversial at best, and incredibly dangerous at worst…

And yet it was the only idea they had. The rest of the Olympians felt guilty about even considering her plan, but in the end, despite its outrageous implications, they agreed to it. They understood that it was necessary to save the world and they did not have the time to delay action anymore.

It was clear to everyone that Hera wanted to punish the two gods, and she wanted to do it in a way that would leave a lasting impression.

The next day, her plan was put into action when she called an emergency gathering that all fourteen Olympians were obliged to attend.

Zeus and Poseidon appeared at the same time, their eyes immediately locked onto each other as they began to glare and snap insults. Ancient laws forbade the brandishing of arms in the throne room, and yet the tension was immense as the other Olympians watched with bated breath, knowing that at any moment, the two brothers could erupt into violence.

"That is enough enough!" Hera roared, her voice shattering the tension as Zeus and Poseidon were broken out of their respective death glares.

Zeus was about to speak when Hestia joined Hera, her eyes narrowed in anger as she scowled at her younger siblings. "NOT A WORD FROM EITHER OF YOU!" she snapped, her voice brimming with anger.

Hestia rarely raised her voice, but when she did, everyone listened. A pillar of searing hot suddenly flame engulfed her form, rising as high as the ceilings of the tall room. Within seconds, the 8-year-old goddess had transformed into a 30-year-old woman, looking down at her brothers sternly.

"Now sit silently and listen to what Hera has to say," she commanded, and even Zeus and Poseidon couldn't help but shrink back under her intense gaze. The sky god had never seen Hestia this angry before, and to be honest, it was a little intimidating.

But despite his fear, Zeus couldn't help feeling a sense of satisfaction as he saw his brother fidget nervously under their sister's glare. It was clear that Hestia was not messing around, and the brothers knew that they had no choice but to listen to what she had to say.

The throne room fell into silence as Hera continued to speak. "For two long years, the world has suffered under the wrath of the gods. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have died, and children have been orphaned. For two years, we have failed as rulers. We, as Olympians, are supposed to be responsible for the well-being of the world, but as we all know, due to the actions of two members of this council, all of humankind is now facing the threat of extinction. This is unacceptable. When we named ourselves as the new rulers of this world, we did so with a vision: a vision to be benevolent rulers, to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. But with great sorrow, I must admit that over the past few millennia, we seem to have discarded those noble visions. Our inability to settle this pointless feud is a testament to our great and irrefutable failure."

"But I say that it's time we stopped. It's time we remembered who we are and what our obligation to the world is. This feud has to end, and if the parties concerned cannot decide for themselves, then we, as a council, must do it for them. This is why today I propose that we pass a peace treaty and finally bring this madness to an end. I hope everyone here appreciates the severity of this situation. Their crimes against humanity cannot go unpunished. And the terms of the agreement that I am about to propose would satisfy both requirements rather effectively.

The rest of the council displayed their support by clapping politely, but the two gods in question did not look amused. "If you think that I am honoring any peace treaty that you cook up in that scheming head of yours, then you have the wrong idea, woman!" Zeus thundered in anger. "You both dare you speak against your king in this manner?!

Despite Zeus' furious outburst, Hera remained unmoved, a sly smirk playing across her lips as she retorted, "I wouldn't be so sure about that, dear."

"I am not going to accept any treaty either! Your suggestions are preposterous Hera!" Poseidon rebuked in anger, he was not allowing himself to be pushed around by anyone, especially his least favorite sister.

But Hera paid no heed to their objections, instead turning her attention back to the council as she prepared to drop the bombshell that would be her masterstroke.

Drawing a deep breath, she declared, "Olympians, today I stand before you to propose that one of my husband's Olympian daughters join in marriage the treasured son of Poseidon. This is to ensure that peace between our two sides endures through renewed relations."

The silence that followed was difficult to describe, and it was only broken when the queen continued.

"Additionally, I ask what better way to punish them for their grave offenses than to have them witness their beloved children suffer the consequences of their actions? This will motivate them to think twice before claiming the lives of millions of innocent people in their petty sibling rivalry."

Finally, the proposal was met with a chorus of outrage from Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, and Artemis, each of them erupting with a fierce "WHAT?!" Artemis, her fury barely contained, looked as if she might launch herself at Hera at any moment.

The goddess of marriage responded gravely and answered in a deeply sympathetic voice, "This is the only way I see of restoring peace; I am afraid that if we do not act now then the world will suffer appalling consequences. Everything we know and hold dear is at stake here, it is the very future of our world that we must consider!"

The room fell silent as the gods took in the gravity of Hera's proposal. Zeus and Poseidon were both seething with anger, their pride badly bruised by the suggestion that their children should be used as pawns in their feud.

Athena and Artemis were both rightfully outraged at the thought of being forced into a marriage for the sake of peace, and the rest of the gods seemed uncertain about what to do.

"Absolutely not," Artemis exclaimed, her fury palpable. "I refuse to accept this, do you hear me? This is unacceptable, Hera. I cannot believe you would even think to suggest such a thing, to believe you would stoop so low..." The goddess of the hunt was seething with anger, and for a moment, she considered drawing her bow and ending the queen of the gods right then and there. But she managed to hold back her murderous urges, knowing that such an act would only bring more chaos and destruction.

"I agree with Artemis," Athena added, her voice shaking with rage. "I will not be forced into a marriage against my will. This is outrageous and I won't stand for it." The goddess of wisdom and war clenched her fists, ready to fight for her freedom and independence. The tension in the room was at the tipping point now, the two powerful goddesses stood their ground against the outrageous demands of Hera.

"Enough!" Zeus bellowed; his fists clenched in fury and an air of finality resonated with his tone. "I will not allow my daughters to be sullied by the offspring of my treasonous brother. This is an affront to everything I stand for, and I will not let it happen. I'll tear down the very foundations of this Earth before I see my daughter marry a son of Poseidon."

"I will not allow this either," Poseidon growled, his eyes narrowed in anger. "I won't have any of my sons tainted by association with his daughters. This is an outrage and I won't tolerate it. I'll unleash the full power of the oceans before I let them come anywhere near my sons." The god of the sea tightened his grip on his trident, ready to defend his family and their honor. The tension in the room was off the charts, as the two powerful gods prepared to go to war to protect their loved ones.

"SILENCE!" Hestia ordered, "This is the Olympian council and YOU WILL RESPECT ITS AUTHORITY!" A surge of power soared out of the goddess and pinned every god back into their thrones, "This matter shall be put on a vote, and NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE will question the council's decision!" She ordered and her sudden anger sent the two brothers cowering under Hestia's glare, their tempers momentarily silenced.

The truth was, Hestia, detested the plan being proposed. She would have scrapped it immediately if given the chance. But she knew that it was not up to her. Hestia had a pretty good idea of how the vote would go, and the best she could do was try to ensure that Hera's plan didn't make things much worse. There was also the fact that this was necessary. If her brothers couldn't learn to respect the consequences of their actions, then perhaps this was the only way to teach them.

"Please, Aunt Hestia," Artemis begged, tears threatening to burst out of her eyes. "I cannot accept this. I just can't. I won't stand for this. Please, don't make me do this." Artemis's whole life had been centered on the principle of being away from men, and the thought of being forced to marry one was unbearable to her.

Hestia looked at her distressed niece with a heavy heart. Seeing her tears was breaking her heart, "I'm so sorry, Artemis," she said softly, her immense guilt clear in her voice. "I wish there was another way, but I'm afraid there isn't. I've seen the future, and if we don't take this action now, it will mean the end of the world. I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes we have to do things we don't want to in order to ensure peace. I hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

"No..." Athena whispered a weak protest, but her plea went unheard, just like her sister's had. The two goddesses were forced to watch as the council voted for the treaty, their hearts heavy with grief and disappointment.

Finally, Hera spoke up again, her voice calm and measured as she addressed the council. "I understand that this proposal may seem harsh, even barbaric… But I believe it is the best solution we have. If we do not take drastic action now, the world will suffer even more at the hands of these gods. I propose that we put it to a vote. All in favor of the peace treaty, please raise your hand."

"I don't think this is a good idea, Hera," Apollo spoke up before the vote could happen, trying to be the voice of reason in the chaos that had erupted. "Forcing them to marry against their will is not a real solution, it's just creating more problems. You must find a different way to end this feud. What you are suggesting isn't just wrong, it is also humiliating to those you impose it upon."

"I agree with Apollo," Demeter added with her head lowered in shame, "This is wrong… It is shameful to impose our will on them. But at the same time, I do see that there is no other way, I can feel life slowly draining out of this Earth… It has to stop." With this, the goddess of harvest slowly raised her hand in support, refusing to look at either of the two maiden goddesses.

"I understand your concerns, but I assure you that this is the only way," Hera promised, her voice laced with determination. "You already know we have tried everything else, and nothing has worked. This is the only solution that will truly guarantee peace between Zeus and Poseidon. Trust me, I have thought this through. Their children are the only things they care more about than their egos…"

The council fell into a tense silence as they all weighed their options. It was clear that they were at a crossroads and that whatever decision they made would have significant consequences. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Hades spoke up.

"As much as I hate to do this, I have to agree with Hera," he said firmly. "This may not be the ideal solution, but it is the only one that can truly bring an end to this conflict. I vote in favor of the peace treaty. I am so very sorry."

One by one, the other gods followed suit, each expressing their regret but still offering their support for the plan. In the end, eight hands had risen in support, and the peace treaty was officially passed.

Eight deities supported the motion: Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Hermes, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Ares, and surprisingly even Dionysus.

Zeus looked at his sons with betrayal in his eyes but the god of war just shook his head and answered, "Sorry father, but this is no war... This is just madness." Zeus's gaze shifted to Dionysus who shrugged and replied, "You are destroying my grape fields."

In the end, the only people who voted against the proposal were Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, and of course, the two maiden goddesses the treaty affected the most.

Artemis and Athena looked at each other with sad eyes, both understanding the weight of the decision that had been imposed upon them.

The three other deities who supported them looked in horror as the vote was firmly placed against their favor, they had lost, and they had lost spectacularly, there was no going against this decision now, it had been set in stone.

Hera smiled brightly and silently celebrating her success she declared: "The vote has passed... Aphrodite, I believe you have a wedding to prepare."

The goddess of love nodded, she was practically jumping with energy, her cheeks pink with excitement as she excitedly replied, "Yes, of course! Oh, I can't wait to start planning this beautiful union! It will be the most lavish and elegant wedding the world has ever seen!"

"Do not make light of this situation! Remain silent Aphrodite, or I promise you will regret crossing me…" Artemis warned, her voice trembling with fury. She looked ready to launch at the love goddess and end her life.

"Calm down, sister," Apollo said, trying to restrain his angry sibling, "Let me talk to them," he was not just going to stand there and let his sister be forced to marry someone against her wishes.

The sun god looked at the gods and tried to reason with them, "Please! Surely you see why this cannot be my sister? As much as I hate to say this, her cabin at Camp Blood is proof of the fact that at least Athena falls in love... The only thing holding her back is her oath, but my sister...She hates men and the entire world knows that, you cannot force her to do something that goes against her very nature, I don't care what the council decides I cannot and will not let you do this."

Demeter shook her head at his outburst and looking at Zeus she said, "It has to be the father's decision, Apollo... He must be the one to make the choice."

Said God slammed his fist in fury and a loud thunderclap went off above them, "I am not making them marry anyone!" He roared.

But Hera was having none of that as she leveled her husband under a withering glare and in an icy tone she warned, "The council has voted husband, even the King isn't above the law."

"Well fine then! If you are so hell-bent on this decision then it would be my daughter Thalia who marries his son! Leave Artemis and Athena out of this Hera! They are sworn maidens! You can't do this to them." he cried.

Hera shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Zeus, I truly am, but you brought this upon yourself. You can't go destroying half the world and expect no consequences. There has to be a price to pay for your sins. That's why it has to be one of them – so that you truly understand the error of your ways. Maybe then you'll understand the pain those poor humans go through when you and Poseidon decide their lives are too insignificant compared to your own egos."

While it was true that Hera was internally gleeful on getting the chance to punish both her husband and the results of his infidelity, she did care about the world too, she genuinely wanted to do some good and the fact that she would be praised for saving the world was just an added bonus.

The mighty Zeus slumped on his throne and sighed in defeat as he finally admitted that there was nothing he could do, the council had voted.

"How can any of you agree to this? This isn't fair!" Poseidon protested; his outrage clear in his voice. "If it is me you want to punish then so be it, but you can't expect me to force Triton to marry this man's daughter against his wishes." Everyone knew that the sea god loved his children more than anything, and he would do whatever it took to protect them.

Hera huffed in annoyance and said, "Oh, please. As if Triton would ever turn down the chance to marry either of them. And who said anything about Triton being the one to marry his daughter, anyway? Who are you trying to deceive, Poseidon? Everyone knows who I was really talking about."

Poseidon's rage boiled over, his trident shaking in his hand as he slammed it against the floor of the hall. "You. Will. Leave. Percy. out of this!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the palace. The very ground seemed to tremble with the force of his anger.

But Hera merely smirked in reply, ignoring the sea god's theatrics. She knew she had already won, and there was nothing either Zeus or Poseidon could do to change the situation. She had played her cards perfectly and now she could sit back and watch the rest of the show unfold.

The two daughters of Zeus looked at their father imploringly, realizing that their fates were now in his hands. But the sky god himself was feeling just as despairing as they were. He looked broken as he was forced to make the most difficult decision of his life, feeling miserable as he saw the looks of pleading in his daughters' eyes. But he was powerless to do anything other than choose one and condemn the other.

Finally, the King of Gods sighed in defeat and looked at Athena. "I'm sorry, child," he said, his eyes downcast as he was too ashamed of his helplessness to meet her gaze. "Apollo is right. At least you don't hate them..."

Athena looked at her father with a mixture of shock and betrayal on her face, while Artemis gasped in relief at being let off the hook – or so she thought. Suddenly, Athena's eyes blazed with determination as an idea occurred to her.

"No," she said firmly, her voice echoing through the hall. "I refuse to be forced into a marriage against my will."

Zeus looked at his daughter in confusion. "I'm sorry, child," he said, his voice laced with sorrow. "I understand your feelings, but the council has made its decision. There is nothing I can do."

But Athena was not about to give up so easily. "Do you remember that promise you made me several centuries ago, Father?" she asked, her voice dripping with determination. "I will not be held to this marriage. I invoke that promise now."

A multitude of different emotions played in Zeus's eyes as words he had almost forgotten returned to him, he soon remembered the promise he had made to his daughter so very long ago. His expression turned to one of horror as he realised the implications of that promise in the current situation. Would he be forced to break his word and betray his beloved daughter, or would he find a way to honour his promise and save Athena from a loveless marriage? The fate of the goddess hung in the balance, and the weight of his decision rested heavily on the shoulders of the mighty King of Gods.

"Yes, Father, you promised me that you would fulfill one request of mine as long as it was within your power to do so. Well, this is my wish: I don't want to marry anyone, and I'm holding you to your word!" Athena grinned maniacally, triumphant at her genius idea that may have saved her from being forcibly married off to a repulsive sea creature. It was no secret that she hated Poseidon with a burning passion, and his children were no exception.

"NO! NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" Artemis jumped out of her throne only to be restrained by Apollo yet again, the sun god was trying his best to calm her down but it was becoming increasingly more difficult with every passing minute...

"I'm so sorry, my dear daughter," Zeus said as he turned towards the goddess of the moon, his voice laced with despair. "But I am bound by my own words..." He surrendered a crushed voice, a single tear leaking from his eye. Zeus did not blame Athena for this, she was well within his rights to defend herself, it was he who had failed Artemis that day...

After nearly an hour of shouting and protesting, Apollo was finally able to calm his distressed sister down. He had tried his best to get the council to reverse their decision, but nobody listened to his pleas. On the outside, he was acting tough and collected to support his sister, but on the inside, he felt just as broken as she did. He felt helpless to do anything to help her.

The other gods on the council looked at the twins with sympathy, their hearts heavy with guilt as they were forced to participate in the twins' torment. They didn't want to do this to Artemis, but they saw no other way to save the world from its doom.

Finally, when the moon goddess had calmed down enough, Hera turned to Poseidon, who was sulking on his throne, and said, "Go ahead then, Poseidon. Summon your son now." The sea god's face twisted in anger and resentment as he was forced to carry out the council's decision.

The sea god looked up from his seat and said, "None of us would be here, sitting in this throne room today if it wasn't for my son, there would be no Olympus to have this debate."

Poseidon stood up from his throne and allowed his eyes to sweep through the gathered Olympians. "You all, each and every one of you, owe him your freedom. How dare you reward his sacrifice by trying to rob him of his own freedom!?" The sea god's temper was a sight to behold. The very Earth beneath their feet seemed to respond to his emotions.

Taking a few seconds to calm himself down, Poseidon spoke again, "It only makes sense for it to be Triton. Triton is a god, Percy is not. He is not a suitable match for an Olympian goddess thousands of years older than him. You have to understand… I cannot do this to him, not after everything he has gone through." His voice was laced with pain and guilt as if the mere thought of causing his demigod son more suffering was unbearable to him. "You have no idea how much he's suffered for our sake," he added, his eyes downcast.

"NO!" Artemis rejected the elder god's words, "I will not accept this, you cannot expect me to marry Triton, never!"

"Daughter please, try to understand—" Zeus began but he was cut off by his daughter.

"No! This is my life you are talking about... It will not be Triton, and that is final." Artemis declared, her voice unwavering in its determination. "That man is no better than the rest of his kind, I cannot trust him. If I must marry a son of Poseidon, then it will be someone worthy of my respect. And that is Perseus, only him. In my eyes, he's the only one worthy enough."

She struggled, every word that she spoke was taking a greater toll on her, but her hands were tied and even though it was not something she wanted, this was her best option. She had no other choice, she was powerless now.

Artemis knew that the only thing in her power was making sure she got married to the right person.

After a brief pause to collect her emotions she continued, "If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that Perseus Jackson is an honorable man, the only man I trust to be my consort. So, if I have to marry someone, not just a son of Poseidon but anyone, it will be him." She made her decision clear to everyone, her voice filled with conviction.

"Are you certain daugh—" the sky god began but was interrupted once again.

"YES, father! Can't you understand what I'm trying to say? That man took the sky for me! In her last moments, the greatest hunter I've ever had called him her friend. He's proven himself to be an honorable person every chance he's had. So if you must condemn me to this HELL, at least make it bearable!" Artemis cried out desperately, her frustration and exhaustion clear in her voice.

"I'm tired of you questioning my decision all the time. The least you could do for me after getting me now is allow me to choose my own consort. But even that, you're making it harder for me." She glared at her father.

Hera, who had been sitting silently all along, suddenly stood up and said, "I also remember saying that it HAS to be him, Poseidon, not Triton. There is a reason I chose Perseus and not his brother, a marriage with Triton will do more harm than good. Artemis is right. Who better to marry her than perhaps the most honorable and loyal person alive? To guarantee peace in the future, we must make sure the marriage is successful, and Percy appears to be the perfect candidate for marrying Artemis. His unwavering commitment to what is right and his deep sense of loyalty make him the ideal choice. He would never betray Artemis– it goes against his very nature to do that." The queen of the gods looked at Artemis with a kind expression, her words filled with understanding and concern that Artemis had never seen before.

And that was when Apollo decided to step in. The truth was that he didn't know what to do anymore. There was no way he could turn the council's decision now. All he could do was make this easier for Artemis. Exasperated by his lack of options, the god groaned in frustration and ran his hands through his hair before finally speaking up.

"Yes... Even I would feel better if it's Percy marrying my sister rather than Triton. He's perhaps the only man I would ever allow near her. And no, this is not up for debate. You either agree to her demands or accept my resignation from this council. I will fight every god present in this room if I have to, and I will not hold back. I'll unleash all of my power, but I will not let you do this to my sister." The god declared solemnly, his voice laced with determination and a hint of danger as he stood before his sister protectively.

Artemis looked at Apollo with surprise and fondness. Even in her fragile condition, she still felt immensely proud of her brother. She was deeply affected by his unwavering and endless support and moved by his words, she subconsciously leaned even closer to him as the god continued to hold her in place.

Hermes who had been sitting quietly until now, looked around thoughtfully before saying, "I agree with them, Percy is a great guy... Look at what he did for my Luke, he allowed my son to have an honorable end even though he betrayed them... If that's how loyal he is to his friends then I am sure he would be a perfect husband for Artemis."

"I don't give a damn about what any of you think! There's no way I'm letting Percy marry a man-hater! My son deserves better than this; he deserves a chance to fall in love and live his life on his own terms! AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! How dare you try to force him into this hellish fate, especially after everything he has already sacrificed for this Council!" Poseidon roared in anger as he saw the other gods trying to rope his son into this trap. His son had already given up so much for the greater good – his childhood, his freedom, and even his own happiness. And now, they wanted to take even more from him? It was too much for the sea god to bear.

His eyes blazed with fury as he stood up to protect his son from this unfair and degrading fate. His body vibrated with outrage as he slammed his trident onto the floor, causing the entire hall to shake with the force of his rage. "I will not allow this to happen! Not after everything my son has already given up! Not under my watch!" he vowed, his voice echoing through the hall.

Hera shook her head and said, "It is not your place to question the council's decision, brother. It has to be your favorite son, I thought I had made it abundantly clear. You know the ancient laws. If you go against the council's decision, you will be removed from Olympus. And it wouldn't just be you who faces the consequences – your son would also suffer. Tell me, Poseidon, how will you protect your son if you aren't even an Olympian anymore?"

The queen of the gods glared at Poseidon, her eyes filled with contempt and challenge. She was not afraid to use his son as leverage to get what she wanted. She was determined to see this marriage through, no matter what the cost.

Poseidon's face contorted in anger and pain as he realized the extent of Hera's threat. He knew she was not bluffing – she had every intention of making him pay if he dared to defy the council. He had always known that his love for Percy would be his weakness, but he had never thought it would be used against him in such a cruel and heartless way.

The sea god felt helpless, knowing that he had no choice but to comply. He had always promised to protect Percy, but he had never imagined that he would have to sacrifice his son's happiness and dignity to do so. He sighed in defeat and nodded; his eyes downcast.

But the sea god couldn't back down without one last push. "Favourite? What is this silly title you keep using all the time, Hera? I have no favorites! And even if I had, you would have no way of proving that Triton isn't my favored son. After all, he is my firstborn and the heir to Atlantis. Why do you keep bringing Percy into this?" Poseidon countered, trying to defend his younger son.

While Poseidon loved both his sons immensely, he was a lot more protective of Percy than he was of Triton. This was probably because his younger son was a mortal who had had hundreds, if not thousands, of near-death experiences, while his older son was an immortal god who had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Percy had proven himself to be the best among the best through all the struggles he had overcome in his difficult life. The sea god was terrified of losing him to this so-called treaty, which was why he was behaving so defensively all of a sudden.

"Do not delude yourself into thinking that I need any proof to see this through brother, but if you are so intent on proving otherwise, then, by all means, go ahead, swear an oath, swear it on the Styx that Percy Jackson isn't your favorite son!" Hera challenged.

"B-But... um..." Poseidon stumbled, he couldn't do that... he couldn't promise that Percy wasn't his favorite son... Because it would be a lie...

"I thought so, what did you think brother? Did you really expect to get out of this so easily? Your crimes are beyond severe and your punishment must match it." Hera spat angrily, she hated it when her husband and Poseidon acted like they were so much better than everyone else and like the normal rules did not apply to them, she had become fed up with their massively inflated egos and this was why she was so hell-bent on putting them in their places...

"But he is innocent! Punish me, not him! Please, Hera, I beg of you… These are my crimes! He doesn't deserve this punishment"

"This is your punishment Poseidon... You brought this upon him." The goddess said in an unforgiving tone.

"But you said it has to be an OLYMPIAN! He isn't even a god, sister! Leave him out of this – hasn't he lost enough already?" Poseidon pleaded desperately, such was his love for his sons that he was even ready to abandon his pride and beg like a mere mortal to save Percy.

"Do not twist my words, Poseidon. I only mentioned an Olympian daughter of my husband. Besides that, even if he isn't an Olympian yet, I'm pretty sure he will become one eventually. After all, he has saved the world twice already, has he not? I think he is far more deserving of being in this council than my husband's drunk bastard over there." Hera hissed in anger as Dionysus fell off his throne at the harsh insult.

But before the sea God could reply, Aphrodite shot up from her throne and cried, "But it cannot be Percy Hera! A perfect male like him should not be condemned to a loveless marriage! This is a mockery of my domain."

"It has to be Perseus, OR I WILL KILL THE OTHER ONE MYSELF!" Artemis exploded in bitterness. Triton was no better than any other conceited and materialistic man on Earth. The few times she had encountered the immortal son of Poseidon, she had always been disgusted by his boastful nature. In contrast, Percy was the complete opposite – loyal, humble, kind, and everything that Triton was not.

"You Dare—" Poseidon snarled in anger but abruptly shut up when Hestia got up from her throne beside him and smacked him in the face.

The sea god gaped at his elder sister in horror as his eyes moistened from the blow.

The rest of the council inhaled in terror while Zeus sniggered at the unshed tears in his enemy's eyes, the mighty Poseidon... One who had shrugged off direct hits from the master bolt was brought to tears on being whacked by his big sister.

Hestia glared at the sea god and said, "Just Listen. To. The. Maiden."

Poseidon backed away from his sister and fell back on his throne, "Hermes... go bring Percy." he whispered in a hollow tone.

-End of Chapter-

A/N: That was the first chapter, hope you enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.