Second Chances

Chapter 10 - Maiden's Oath

(Fumio's P.O.V.)

The plan was simple for the most part, seeing as only my rangers were the only active Knights participating at the moment. Our acting commander, Percy, had instructed me to lend support from the eastern side of the plains while the Hunters would secure the western side. I gathered my highest ranking officers and directed them accordingly.

"We will be supporting the demigods within our section of the battlefield. Jeremiah and Christian, you will team together to observe the primary chunk of our assigned section. Seiji will patrol the edges with a select few archers, while I stay near Lord Perseus and the rest of their forces just in case of emergency." All three officers confirmed their orders and broke off into their collective assignments, leaving me to venture back towards Percy and the main body.

"How do things look?" I asked towards the direction of Percy, Nico and Thalia as I got within conversation range. "Not sure really." Percy smiled at me haphazardly and with a relaxed glee. "At the moment, we've only spotted the Ciconians and Maeonians, if I recall correctly by their flags."

I knew I couldn't leave his guessing unchecked, even if I doubted he would make such a grevious error in things, but I looked anyway to be sure. "Yeah, those are definitely the Ciconian spearman and Maeonian infantry. Though, after our more recent events, I'm surprised that would be all they're sending out." All three of them looked at me understandingly before Percy offered any last advice I felt like imparting to the demigod campers and Hunters that hadn't yet stationed themselves.

I thought carefully for a few moments, before loudly announcing to the crowd of anxious would-be-warriors. "Your foes are seasoned and hungry men of war, who will not grant any solice on this battlefield you stand now. Beat them back with not just your swords, shields and spears but with your courage, bravery and heart. Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it. Plan much more than you can do, then do it."

A cheering yell of victory burst from the gathered campers before each group's respective leaders took command of their troops. Percy stayed back to properly observe the initial clash of armies and so he could potentially lend assistance to any that were faltering. While it was a bit different than Tajima's more direct leadership style, it was very apparent that the young minor god has seen his share of war. I could easily appriciate his understanding and command of battle, despite the slightly unfamiliar tactics.

(Third Person P.O.V.)

The two armies wasted no time in greeting each other with a violent opening clamour of blades clashing together. The demigod front line was met visciously by the Ciconian spearmen, neither side giving up any ground to the other yet. The Ciconians were led by an impressive Captain in the famous Euphemus, as he personally engaged a combination of Clarisse and her sibling Dwayne. All the while this was occuring, the Maeonians were trying to flank around on Clarisse's group. This was met with delayed resistance by the Stoll brothers and their swifter group of fighters.

The Trojan forces had slightly larger numbers but due to the demigod skills neither side had any advantage yet. Shortly after the armies embraced each other in the throngs of combat, Percy gave Nico a slight nod. This was the wordless consent to summon a first wave of skeleton soldiers to subdue the enemy. It only took a couple of extended moments before the ground spewed forth the summoned army of undead, ready to do Nico's bidding. "Go deal with the troublesome enemy of ours."

In waves of hundreds the undead soldiers raced towards the frontlines, and swinging the early tide of battle toward the campers favor. The Maeonians were pushed back first as the Stoll brothers teamed up to take out two of the officers, who were also counted among the princes of Troy. Travis slew Dryops and Connor dispatched Echephoron with some timeless assistance by a well timed distraction.

Fumio had been right though, as once the additional forces had added themselves and began to turd the tide of battle, a new group appeared from the walls of Troy. "Curses.. it's the Idaeans." Fumio swore just barely loud enough for Percy and Nico to hear. "Do you mean the famed archers from Mt. Ida, who are led by Pandarus?" Fumio just nodded at the question from Thalia, as she wandered over to the three after having finished giving her instructions for the Hunters.

"Pandarus is perhaps the best archer that the Trojans have and he is more than a match for the majority of your Hunters as well as for my Rangers." Fumio replied dejectedly but his eyes held a glint in them as he quickly annalyzed his thoughts for an appropriate idea. "If we use the angles from both of our archers to pin them down on both sides, I might be able to deal with Pandarus."

Percy glanced at Thalia who nodded at him before replying herself. "So be it, I can't wait to see which of us is the better skilled." Before Percy could properly respond, Thalia flitted away back to the Hunters and they speedily encroached the battlefield. Fumio sent a runner to deliver his instructions for the Rangers but instead took a central position on the small overlooking hill.

The Idaeans wasted no time in evening the conflict back out, and drawing the fighting to an even stand still yet again. Both sides struggled against each other, but without any significant loss of lives as the fighting peaked over into the afternoon. With a true lack of reserves, the demigods began to grow a bit sluggish against the much older and battle experienced Trojan allies. The Rangers and Hunters both had been slowly advancing upon the Idaean archers when Pandarus took full advantage of the growing weariness along the front lines.

In just a matter of moments the skilled Trojan placed a fatal arrow into the chest of Omar Elias, a son of Demeter. This was met only seconds later by another fatal shot, this time to Malcolm, a son of Athena. Both were the first real casualties for the campers and both had pronounced effects on the overall moral of the two groups in the trenches. Things were looking very disastorous as Pandarus nocked arother arrow and let it fly towards the fray of combat, but it was met by a resounding thud from an intercepting arrow that had collided head on with it.

Pandarus glared across the sun light valley to see Fumio smirking and waving his bow teasingly at the man. This had not been the first time these two archery commanders had met within the confines of battle, and neither seemed willing to concede defeat. Fumio's very well placed arrow proved the slight opening for Thalia and Seiji to both unleash a bombardment upon the Idaeans. Pandarus held higher ground with his archers, but this provided a better tragectory for Fumio to show off his skills.

Fumio nocked two arrows simultaneously and fired both with deadly accuracy. The arrows split to the immediate sides of Pandarus, nailing his two main officers, Dolon and Pyraechmus. Fumio began to pick off Idaeans and Ciconians alike with a deadly precision and speed that Percy and Nico were both astonished by. It took only a couple of minutes before Pandarus gave the orders to withdraw, which led to the Ciconians finally pulling back away from the battle as well, ending the tumultuous first day for the demigod forces.

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

Nico seemed overly annoyed by the loss of his skeleton warriors but the real loss of Omar and Malcolm was felt much more heavily, especially with Annabeth and the other Athena kids. It was gettinng into the late afternoon when we had finally finished rounding up all the wounded and stragglers and the war council had started once again.

"So tonight we will have a rushed shroud burning, and I think we can spare a day's reprieve for the Athena cabin." Percy offered sympathetically towards Annabeth, who nodded glumly. "We can't really try to endure through many battles like what we have today, it's unfortunately apparent that the Knights are far more skilled in the close quarters of real war." Everyone seemed slightly downcast and most of it had to do with the fact we had only ended our fight with a mere draw. The biggest problem currently was the wounded pride of most of us now.

"All in all, I thought you handled the day rather well." Fumio's second, Seiji offered to the assortment of demigods around the makeshift table. Fumio spoke up right behind his corporal, to help emphasize the point. "Even Tajima struggled with his Elite's on our initial clash with the Trojans. Despite them losing Hector and our loss of Tajima, the sides are still rather evenly matched, we need to tip the balance with some masterful strategy and our best possible heroes taking up the fight."

Fumio was saying that to win, Percy and Nico would need to be more active in the coming battles. I couldn't help but agree with the sentiment. "I also think we need all of our strength to engage the enemy with, and not just one overly skilled archer saving our butts." I looked at Fumio defiantly as he smirked at me, but we both know that in light of our rivalry, I was taken back by his skills with the bow.

The rest of the council was filled with mostly meaningless chatter, about where to position which groups and how to best utilize all of our forces together. As we dismissed to get ready for the funeral pyre's and resting up for tomorrow, I barely had time to catch Annabeth outside the command tent. "I'm sorry about Malcolm." I tried to tell her because despite our recent problems she was still a good friend.

"It seems like I'm losing everyone I cared about lately, and I'm sorry as well." Annabeth stated softly to me, catching me off-guard with the apology. "I do value your friendship, and that seaweed brain's as well. I wasn't really fair to either of you about things, and I guess my pride got a bit in the way of that."

I smiled before giving her a gentle hug. "It's alright Annabeth, but we all need each other right now to survive." She relaxed and I could feel her crying lightly into my shoulder. "I appriciate that, and thanks. Oh, if you don't mind too, I'd rather you didn't mention this to Percy any." I smiled and laughed lightly with her at our inside joke before heading with her towards the pyre.

After all ceremonies had ended and everyone had finished their individual and group mournings, I slipped into my tent to try and get some rest. I hadn't really seen much of Percy tonight and wasn't overly surprised to find him just sitting on the bed in darkness. "Everything okay?" I asked him curiously, sitting down next to him and slipping my arm across his shoulders.

"Yeah, just going over everything in my head." He eyebrows were scrunched together in thought and I knew that all of the battles lately were really building up on him. I thumped his forehead, breaking his intense concentration and gave a sly smile. "What was that for?" He asked me sincerely. "Simple, you're going to over think everything and end up way to stressed to be of much help. I know how you worry about everyone and being in charge and responsible now for all of these young heroes must be a terrible strain."

He dropped his head into his hands and sighed. "I didn't think it would really be this hard. I don't mean the war against the Trojans, but all of the death and everything. Chiron must really have it hard sometimes, having spent centuries training all those heroes who all end up dying in the end." I just stared at Percy, who was stewing in what must have been a lot of hell. I pulled one of his arms out from under his head and almost fell off the bed laughing.

Percy gave me a startled, deer in the headlights look, to which I gave him a loving kiss and smiled. "Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead." He finally flashed that mischevious grin at me and pulled me next to him on the bed. We fell asleep embracing each other and just relishing the closeness for the moment we had.

(Adara's P.O.V.)

War was definitely a lot harder pill to swallow than was ever advetised at camp while training. This was a completely different kind of fight and emotional struggle then I had ever gone through, it made me have a new found respect for people like Percy, Thalia, Grover, and the others who had braved quests and wars before. While I really hadn't been directly in the combat until the very end of things today, I saw more than my share and hoped this war wouldn't drag on to cause more pain and death. It was with those simple but confounding thoughts that I fell asleep.

"Adara... I'm so sorry that it has to be this way..." his words hung loosely in the cool morning air. "I love you so much... please forgive me." I saw the last few precious moments I had with Tajima flash in front of me vividly, like I was really reliving it again. My chest swelled with tremendous pain as I thought seeing the man I loved die a second time would be too unbearable, but my dream took an unexpected twist.

As I watched Tajima's farewell to me and his subsequent exit of our tent, the scene change rapidly. The room was darkly lit and barely visible enough to see more than a few inches in front of my face. I felt completely lost and wasn't truly sure if I had mentally broken down, seeing my own inner darkness in the cold night.

A soft, faint voice called out to me from the corners of the void. "Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take the pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place."

The words resounded over and over in the darkness, echoing off the faint light in the large empty room. I knew exactly who the voice belonged to and silently cried as a few tears trickled down my cheeks. I felt so entirely depressed and drained, yet here he was still reassuring me even from death. Repeatedly I kept calling out to him in my dream but the darkness consumed me until at last I was stirred awake by the growing light from the early morning.

My depression hadn't lifted as I quietly got dressed. I felt that if anything, my pain had increased by such a longing dream that I could never really believe in or experience again. In truth, I was very skeptical that my own deep desire to rewind the present had fueled the cryptic dream. It was surely impossible for Tajima to really be talking to me in my dreams, but then I saw the silver letter placed delicately by the edge of my pillow.

I carefully opened the letter, slowly parting the paper until I could hesitantly read it's finely scribbed message. There in bold black print which I knew immediately was Tajima's cursive, was the same words he had told me on the day he confessed his love for me. Give her two red roses, each with a note. The first note says "For the woman I love" and the second, "For my best friend."

I knew that there would be no roses, and I felt so lucky there was even a note at all. Then a flicker of hope spread across my entire being, I felt my heart thump with a renewed vigor. I could feel that somehow, Tajima was still alive.

(Cassidy's P.O.V.)

I had spent the majoirty of yesterday and the night with Lady Artemis, but I still felt unsure about joining the hunt and abandoning everyone I cared about, especially Chang. Artemis was still trying to reason it all out with me, when Adara rushed into the tent waving a shiny letter. "It's from Tajima... look, look." I craned my neck to read it, noticing the astonishment from Artemis as she saw the note as well before we both had to look away as she left quickly for Olympus.

"That's really great Adara.." I tried convincing myself as I told her, but it seemed our roles were reversed now. She had always been the one hurting as the boy she loved fought endlessly, while I had the less heroic of the twins. Now though, her hope was trying to remake it's appearance while mine was vanishing quickly. She tried to comfort me awkwardly, seeing as we had only recently really gotten along any. "I'm sure things can get better for both of us... when we find Tajima, he can remind Chang of what's important to him..."

She tried to cheer me up for a couple more minutes before Chang strode into the tent. "Oh, you two are together." He said with a cold tone, looking both of us over carefully. "Haven't you done enough damage yet?" Adara almost shouted at Chang, which caused him to take a slight step back before replying visciously. "Not nearly... if she were only as beautiful as you, maybe this wouldn't be such a problem. It's my brother's fault for always taking the best of everything in life!"

Adara simply fumed pure rage at Chang, but her voice was unnervingly calm. "You don't love someone because she is beautiful, she is beautiful because you love her. At least Tajima could understand the things like that, you're simply pathetic." As Adara stormed out of the tent, Lady Artemis and Hestia both arrived in quite an upset fit. I slunk towards the bed and tried to not get in the middle of what I knew was about to be a heavy dose of parenting.

"No man deserves punishment for his thoughts." Chang quickly interjected into the silence, only moments before Hestia waved her hand at his outburst. "Enough of your insolence, son." As soon as Hestia broke Chang's defensive thinking, Artemis jumped into the battle. "You dare to belittle maidens and crush their dreams of happiness. You insult your parents, brother and whole family. If it wasn't for your brother or mother, I would happily kill you here and now." Artemis stopped before she really did execute the boy, as Hestia jumped in at the immediate pause.

"You've terribly shamed me as of late and before you venture any further down the current path you're treading, think about this son. It is better to live your own life no matter the mistakes or errors, than to live an imitation of somebody else's." With that, she turned her back to her remaining son and kneeled next to me with a sweet smile. "We need to get Adara for a brief moment, then we can come back."

I was led out by the hand as I blushed as I heard the screaming Artemis unleashed at Chang. It wasn't too hard to find Adara and as soon as she did, she pulled us both close enough to do what she does best. "I remember hearing a saying once or twice, but I absolutely love it. Maybe I was the one who said it originally, hehe." She lightly giggled at the last thought before kissing both of us on the cheeks like a mother would. "Remember girls that no matter how much pain we sometimes have to endure or face, love always begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop."

She hugged us both gently before we all three returned to the tent. The fight between Artemis and Chang, not that it was really any sort of fight other than one-sided, had come to a dramatic finish. We stood to the side of the entrance, as Artemis scoffed at the boy. "There are those who are worthy of being heroes, Chang, but many others are only worthy of clapping as heroes like your brother pass by. Which are you planning on being?"

Chang nearly yelled at her in frustration, but held his tongue and stormed out, scowling at us while he paused to give us his last thoughts. "Do you think it's so easy for me mother? Always compared to your gifted, dead son. How I wish I could die so gallantly, like a fool throwing away everything for a higher cause. Ha... my pain is far worse than you understand, because all I wish to do is die."

Hestia looked a bit distressed by the ordeal as she left myself and Adara with Artemis. "I know that it's unlikely for both of you to, but I still must know if either of you is willing to join my hunt?" Adara shook her head no, waving the silvery letter and blushing slightly. "I can't throw away my hope so easily..." She said with a warm smile, but I knew my answer would be much different.

"Yes, Lady Artemis... please." She nodded and told me what to say, and I knelt before the Goddess, and pledged myself to her. "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

She gently lifted me to my feet by my chin and nodded acceptingly. "Yes, I am pleased to have you with me." I felt a different type of aura and glow embrace my body as I realized that I was now immortal, unless I died in combat or failed to uphold my maidenhood. "Go and report to Thalia, and she will see to a new tent for you with your sisters." I bowed politely and Adara offered to show me where Thalia's tent was, as Lady Artemis left our company.

When we finally reached the middle of camp and made our way to Thalia's tent when a half-dressed Percy rushed out of the tent at a full sprint. By half-dressed, I mean that he had on pants but everything was an utter mess. As we entered the tent, Thalia looked bothered by something and Adara was the one to ask her. "Is something the matter? I've never seen Percy so... flustered." Thalia tried to smile, but it didn't quite come out as planned. "I'm not sure if you've heard or not... but our guards reported that Chang has left camp alone, heading west and fully packed."