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This ball had left Percy feeling quite anxious.

Of course, he attended several parties underwater, however most were filled with revelry, loud music and hearty dancing. Nothing as stuffy and boring as this ball- party.

Under the sea, parties happened every few moons. With some merpeople getting intoxicated off of jellyfish strings and some consuming squid ink, it was a shameless affair which normally left one laughing until their stomachs hurt. Many showed up quite naked as well, as if refusing to have their dancing be restricted bt clothing.

Percy definitely preferred that over this. He was left feeling quite bored after Prince Malcolm left him in the corner of the room, instead choosing to mingle with the pretty women.

He wished Annabeth was here. He hadn't seen her all day, which by their standards was a lot.

"Hello, do I know you?" a man approached Percy, his blue eyes reminded Percy of Tyson's fins.

Percy opened his mouth to reply, but when no sound came out he opted for holding his throat and shaking his head.

"You're....mute?" The blonde Prince asked, his expression turning to one of confusion.

Percy didn't understand the meaning of the word but nodded anyway. He was glad that someone found him. He was considering throwing himself out of the window.

"Ah...I'm Jason," the boy shook Percy's hand,"I've never seen you before. Who invited you?"

As if the Gods had answered the question for him, trumpets played from atop the grand staircase and out came the Queen, Minerva.

She walked down the staircase as gracefully as she could, however Percy had a strong feeling she was in a drunken state. Her slurred speech and abnormal smile suggested such.

After the Queen's grand entrance, came the princess of Athens. The crowd surged forward to see her. It seemed she was far more welcome than the queen.

Percy couldn't see Annabeth through thick crowd near the staircase, the boy next to him took his hand and dragged him with him.

Together, the boys pushed their way through the crowd. And Percy could finally understand why everyone rushed to see the princess.

Annabeth was a vision. She was as radiant as the moon in that gown, it glowed on her skin.
Around her neck, was the stone she had found, only now it was a necklace.It  shined under the chandeliers

Percy had a hard time looking away, his eyes glued to her. As the North Star guides a sailor home, when Annabeth's eyes met his he found himself gliding toward her.

The world faded away behind them, the chatter and music left in wind.

Percy took her gloved hand in his, bowing his head like he'd noticed the gentlemen around him do.

Gasps and murmurs surged to the crowd. However this didn't bother the prince of the seven seas, nor did it have any effect on the princess of Athens.

"What are you gawking for?? Return to the Party!!" Queen Minerva cried, seemingly snapping everyone out of their daze. Across the room, the guests noted the hint of spite in the Queens voice, as she sat on her throne with a goblet of wine.

The partygoers hesitantly returned to the dance floor, under the watchful eye of their inebriated Queen.

"You cleaned up," Annabeth whispered to him, her hand still in his as they walked through the room, Percy allowing her to lead him wherever she desired.

"Princess Annabeth!" the blonde boy from earlier called, and the princess turned to face him, letting go of Percy's hand. Her cheeks flushed at the sight of the boy, which Percy found made him feel uncomfortable

"Prince Jason!" Annabeth greeted, both curtsying, "How have you been? Is Thals here?"

The prince, Jason, made a face. "Queen Minerva saw it fit to invite-only eligible bachelors?" he shook his head slightly, "Thalia really wanted to come. Father had to physically restrain her from coming."

Annabeth let out a  light laugh, "I do not know why my aunt invited you then. I hear congratulations are in order?"

It was the boy's turn to turn red, shifting on his feet, "You heard right. Piper wanted to  be here too, but..."

"It is alright, I understand," Annabeth smiled, turning towards Percy once more.

"This is Jason, one of my oldest friends," she explained to Percy, telling him about her adventures with him. The old friends chatted for some more time before Annabeth excused herself, pulling Percy along with her.

"I can't believe my aunt thinks I would marry anyone here," she scoffed, linking her hand in his as they took a stroll around the room, "Most of them are twice my age. And the rest of them are idiots."

That made Percy smile, silently laughing to himself. That was his princess. She desired perfection in even the most mundane things.

"You should smile more, you know. It makes you look handsome," Annabeth whispered as they integrated themselves onto the dancefloor.

Percy would have been nervous if prince Malcolm hadn't taught him how to properly dance a few days prior to the ball. Percy found himself enjoying the simplicity of the waltz, even if Prince Malcolm had constantly stepped on his toes.

The glances and murmurs didn't stop even as Percy and Annabeth glided across the floor, her hand steadily on his waist as he let her lead him across the floor, the way he knew she loved. Annabeth's gown enveloped them both, it was as delicate as a butterfly wing, enthralling everyone around her.

In a ballroom full of partygoers wearing traditional Athenian clothing, Annabeth's gown was one to envy. She whispered to him that she made it herself, stealing the design idea from one she saw her mother wearing decades ago.

Even as the dress spiralled around them, Percy found his attention on her eyes. The part of her he loved the most. It spoke about who she was, a storm contained.

Why is everyone staring? Percy signed when they pulled apart.

"Oh," the princess turned a light shade of vermilion, "You greeted me at the stairs."

Judging probably by his blank stare, she continued, "Normally...a woman is escorted from the stairs by the man she's courting. Her father, or her brother....or mother," she explained, looking across the room to her aunt.

"And since I have made no formal announcement that I was courting and since the purpose of this ball was to find me a suitor, everyone must be quite confused," she laughed quietly at the sight of Percy's flushed face.

"Come with me," she whispered, "Let's get away from the stares."

Together they walked out the door, Annabeth explaining that she required an item didn't know about. The guards seemed to understand however and respectfully allowed her to leave.

The princess swiped a candlestick off a table and led Percy to the large tapestry on the second floor, the one depicting the camp for half-bloods.

Percy wondered what they were doing here. Either way, he would rather stare at the tapestry with the princess than return to that ballroom.

However, Annabeth wasn't staring at the tapestry. Instead, she pushed it aside, revealing a jagged edge on the wall. She twisted it, shoving the tapestry aside as the wall behind her groaned loudly.

The wall swung open slowly, creaking loudly.

Percy's confusion was put to the rest when Annabeth led him through the dimly lit corridor, discarding her gloves along the way.

"I found this passage when I was five. I was trying to win a game of hide and seek....and I've never lost since," Annabeth explained, running her fingers along the walls as they walked through the tunnel.

Percy was shocked when they came across the night sky, exiting the tunnel to see a billion stars, shining brightly as if waiting for them.

"I used to come here after my mother passed away. She would have hated it," Annabeth chuckled, she inclined her head towards the boat," See the boat over there? How about we take a ride? The water is quite pleasant and quite honestly, I need a moment away from the ball."

Percy had one leg inside the boat before he jumped out of it, falling to the ground with a thud.

'Do not touch the water of the sea' were the Sea witch's words, which rang in his ear as Annabeth ran to his side.

He could not transform. Not right now at least.

"What is the matter?" she asked, concern plain on her face, "Are you afraid of the water? Do not worry it is quite safe."

Percy shook his head. Where does the water come from? he tried signalling

It took a few moments for the princess to register the question.

"Where the lake originates from?" she asked slowly. When the boy nodded, she continued.

"The glaciers up North. It provides water for the villages beneath," she explained, pointing into the distance.

She helped the prince to his feet, "Are you sure you are all right? We do not need to do anything you would rather not do," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

The prince of the seven seas agreed to a midnight boat ride. He even poked the water to make sure nothing was amiss.

He had had several baths after turning into a human. And nothing bad had happened to them. Only that the odour his human body emitted disappeared, which he thought was a blessing. It didn't exactly smell pleasant.

"Rats!" Annabeth huffed, throwing down a broken oar, "Now what do we do?" she threw aside the piece of wood, retrieving the candlestick which still held its flame.

She sat down in the boat with a huff, looking nearly on the verge of tears. It was so unlike her that it made Percy's heart throb painfully.

Percy shrugged off his shoes, pulling up his bottoms as he waddled into the water.

He stood still for a moment, savouring the cold water as it lapped against his feet. He missed his home terribly, more than he ever imagined he could.

He turned to the princess, who glowed under the moonlight, her gown shimmering around her. She looked like a Queen. She looked like a Goddess.

Percy extended his hand, carefully prying the candlestick from her hands. He then bent over, taking her hand in his as she stood up, sending the sensation a thousand prickling pins in his arm.

The boat swayed underneath her as she left it, holding the hens of her skirts carefully, preventing them from getting wet.

As the princess of Athens exited the boat, she had a misstep.

The boat, which had somehow broken free from the rope that tied it, jerked violently against Annabeth's heel, which caused her to stumble forward, ending up in the arms of the prince of the seven seas, capturing his lips with hers in a single, fluid motion.

It was like the union of the shore and sea, a tentative wave of emotion enevloped them both and they allowed each other a moment of respite.

Something exploded within Percy, his veins singing with a power he couldn't control.

He held the princess of Athens in his arms, his lips moving against hers In perfect synchrony.

The world dimmed around him, and for a moment he would swear that they were one. A single entity.

All he could make out were the laps of water against his and the princess in his arms. The water rose around him as if mimicking his own rising warmth.

With a loud splash, it fell back into the lake, showering them with droplets.

Neither Percy nor Annabeth pulled away as If they could not afford the willpower to do so. Power rushed into Percy as he kissed the princess, a similar rush of thrill and excitement shook her.

They broke apart, gasping for air at the last possible second, still close enough that it would be cause for scandal. However, none of that seemed to matter.

"I-" Annabeth began, but the sound of horses stopped her.

"PRINCESS ANNABETH? THE QUEEN REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE RETURN TO THE BALL AT THIS INSTANT," a man screamed, loud enough to wake the sleeping dogs. They began barking, drowning out the rest of his statement.

"Duty calls me," Annabeth exhaled, looking at Percy with a peculiar gleam, "We must go..."

The walk back was a one of silence, and fumbling as the light from the candlestick expired.

The last exchange the couple had was of Percy departing to his chambers, signalling his tiredness as Annabeth returned to the ball.

Neither of the royals could focus on anything else. The only thoughts in their mind were of each other.