Second Chances

Chapter 6 - The Knights Hope

(Tajima's P.O.V.)

"Move faster... we'll be crushed at this rate! Flank you idiots, how can you possibly strike from the side if you aren't curving out your movements enough?" I shouted in frustration at my Knights, as we once again clashed with the army of Troy once again in the past month. I say we clashed with the army, but the reality is that Hector had been sending out just small divisions of his army to test our stamina and mettle. He knew he could easily wittle us down with a war of attrition.

"Captain, the Rangers are starting to falter some, they need a break." I sighed at the Knight who had approached me, Reed Griffin. I glanced over at my shoulder to see him covered in grime, dirt, sweat and some blood. "Tell them to pull back Sergeant.. I'm taking the Elite's in to do some cleanup." Reed just stared at me in disbelief.

Each of the four divisions within the Knights had four officers. Besides the Heavies, Technicals and Rangers, we had the unit that were the best skill and most trained. These we called the Elites, rather simply. It was the group that I personally led along with my brother. Though taking them into battle personally at the moment was a rash decision that was spurned on by the fact my men were getting their tails kicked.

"Captain... Tajima, please let me talk you out of this." I shook my head no, and ordered Reed to pull out the remaining soldiers. As the worn out Knights started to retreat from the battlefield, I caught sight of Hector switching out his own allies and units. I would love to say that the skirmishes had been peaceful but the truth was that in just the last months time, we were barely allowed to sleep or get very much rest. We had been doing so in shifts, and the Trojan armies had been purposefully fighting without trying to kill us outright. Hector seemed to be waiting for something actually, as we Knights hadn't suffered very many casualties so far. That wasn't an indication of how skilled we were either.

I cursed to myself as I saw a private envoy leaving the Troy gates and heading to where I stood on the plains with my Elites, in our black battle armor with shining silver trim. As the envoy got closer I noticed who it was, and grew extremely suspicious. It was Hector's captain, Cycnus. Cycnus, in greek history, was a son of Poseidon who was invincible to any attacks from sword or spear. Quite the pain in my side as well so far in our brief engagements. I had already traded many letters and messages with Hector and his court so far, so we already knew well each other.

"Captain Kou, surely you see the pointlessness of extending your futile struggle. I scoffed at his attempts at politeness and consideration. "You think I'd just turn around and leave after having been out here for this long already?" I smiled angrily at Cycnus, who titled his head and just shrugged. "You had what again, close to 3,000 men when you first arrived, correct? I see far less than when you began your pathetic attempt to keep us in check." I rolled my eyes emphatically at his retorts, we did this multiple times a week and it was always the same result.

"How many times have we gone through this now? I am the Captain of the Dawn, and as long as I stand your armies will indeed be kept in check." He snarled at me in disgust, before raising his arms in frustration. "You will run out of men eventually, Captain." The hatred seething through his voice. "When you do, will you keep us in check all by yourself?" He laughed as he started to lead the envoy away, but turned back to offer one last thought. "Prince Hector decided to give your worn out men a little break, and we won't attack for another two days." I sighed lightly, knowing only my Knights close by could hear, as Cycnus went back into the city.

(Reed's P.O.V.)

We had all received word from the captain that there would be no attacks for a few days, we would be allowed to tend to our wounded and rest a little bit. Hector had done this with some frequency now, every week he would give us a small break to rest up and heal. There was a discipline and honor for battle and his opponents that hadn't fled him, even after the death he suffered from Achilles. I sadly couldn't rest as easy as some of the others. Tajima refused to leave the battlefield, despite the offer to rest and recover.

"Reed, do you think it's okay for him to stay out there and wait like that?" I was asked by the only other sergeant here, Fumio Han, who was in charge of our rangers. "The other elite's haven't left his side yet, and besides... you know good and well that man would never leave the battlefield. He's the driving pillar behind the Knights. I admit that Chang might be skilled tactically and a gifted fighter, but nobody could take the captains ability to lead or inspire." Fumio just nodded along with me, but it truly pained the both of us.

As the second day finally settled into night, I couldn't help but peer at the eternal seventeen year old, sitting out on the plains, guarding our camp so everyone else could rest. I was a bit shocked to see an envoy come out at this late hour, and even more surprised to find it carrying food and supplies. It appeared to be Hector's personal envoy, and I understood what was going on when they stopped in front of the captain, making him stand up and exchange words. Hector had noticed he wouldn't budge from his place, and was generously offering nourishment. The last thought that crept upon my as I drifted off to sleep was a disturbing one. I knew that Tajima would always place himself in the way of any obstacle to protect the Knights, and it suddenly dawned on me that this act would cause his death, and I feared it would be coming soon.

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

We had been traveling by water for three days now, Percy had been driving our boat with his godly powers of the sea, which made it surprisingly easy for us to make time. Chang had informed all of us that we were sailing for Troy, Montana. I was definitely not thrilled about heading all the way to Montana to face a legendary army. They couldn't be closer, in like Alabama or Tennessee.

The times Percy had come to rest, lord Poseidon had instructed Naiads and water spririts to help guide the boat correctly. We were able to take the Missouri river right into Montana, which proved to be extremely helpful. Percy and Nico both agreed that we needed to rest for the night near a place called Missoula. We were around 50 miles from from Troy and expected to arrive near the Kootenai river by the next day easily. My tent had been kindly prepared by the Hunters for me, and next to Nico's tent, was at the rear of our camp.

The majority of our setup looking like Camp Half-Blood might. Large tents housed demigods who bunked together by cabin, there was a smaller tent that housed the four Knights with us, as well as three large Hunters tents and the two small tents for us and Nico. I was sitting on the bedroll when Percy huffed into our tent.

"Something the matter, Perce?" He looked extemely tired and drained, resorting to very vocally plopping himself down next to me.

"I'm not going to die in this battle, am I?" He looked at me quizzically, but I sensed he had more to say so I waited for it. "Fighting Kronos, the thought wasn't something I truly worried about. I knew any of us could die then, but it's different now. Demigods will be dying under my supervision, and I'll have to keep making decisions to send them out into the world or into war like this." I watched him silently, placing my arm around him in an effort to console him by being here.

"Do you think it would be easier to lead them now, without being immortal?" I playfully tugged his head onto my lap, as I ran my fingers through his hair lovingly. "Take it from experience, it's far from easy trying to lead people you care about when you know that you can easily die along with them. You have to be a pillar of support, and right now the best way to do that is without the risk of death." He smiled up at me warmly, causing me to lean down into his lips and give him a reassuring kiss.

"Now, kelp head, you're this age's hero. Whether you asked for it or not, so stop being such a baby and act like a real God." I pinched his nose shut as I tried to hold back my laugh at his expression. "Even if you are just a silly, pathetic minor one." I added at last, scrambling over the makeshift sleeping bag beds, and into the tent wall on the opposite side. Percy jumped up in response, as if to chase me down, only to crumple our tent all around us.

We were both laughing histerically as we climbed out from under the wreckage. Demigods alike were standing out of our ruined structure looking disgusted at our outburst. I gained a few frustrated stares from the Hunters, noticing also Annabeth glaring in a disbelieving manner. Nico shook his head from side to side as he walked over to us. "Can't you two ever calm down for once, always destroying something together, whether it's from playing or fighting." He smiled thoughtfully, and ushered everyone else back into their tents.

Both of our faces were surely beet red as we were finally able to get the tent remade after about half an hour. It would have gone sooner had Percy not kept getting in the way. Eventually we both settled inside of our sleeping bags together, hands interlocked as he kissed my cheek goodnight. "Tomorrow, don't forget that I'll be with you the whole time." I told him as I turned into him and fell fast asleep.

(Reed's P.O.V.)

True to his word, Hector had allowed the Pelasgians to attack at early light. The spearmen had what we believed to be about 2,000 soldiers. Though from the looks of it, only about half of that force was engaged with Tajima and his Elite's. I quickly roused all of the men, and within the hour we were completely prepared to lend our assistance. The Trojans had very different plans for that it seemed.

As I sent a squad of the Heavies out into fray, they were immediately met by the Phrygian cavalry. The Phyrgians kept using hit and run tactics, keeping our much slower defensive Knights from advancing very far into the battlefield. This was getting infuriating, these Trojans were up to some dirty trick, I could feel it.

"Fumio, can you take the Rangers to give Tajima some cover for a while?" Fumio gave his nod and headed to a small cliff like clearing and prepared his archers for the attack. I meanwhile took a group of our swiftest Knights and proceeded to try and flank the Pelasgians. The immediately abandoned attacking our worn out Captain and focused on my small troup with deadly effeciency. I glanced over to see Cycnus leading Troy's 1st Battalion out straight towards Tajima.

"Knights, to me!" Came the captain's cry. His men quickly followed suit and built their small defensive shield. We were all being engaged the most visciously we had been in the prior month, and all of the focus was on our exhausted leader. I desperately hoped that Chang would return soon with some kind of reinforcements.

We remained locked in repeated engagements for the entire day and well into the night. Our small groups were sore, tired and wounded but Tajima and his elite's refused to leave the field. We we're nursing our wounds quietly as the sun broke over the horizon of the Kootenai falls behind Troy. Cycnus once again began an earnest assault on Tajima's unit, but this time his group was significantly larger and accompanied with multiple officers. We raced out into the battlefield and were all met with similar embraces. Larges enemy forces with multiple officers. I'm sure it had occured to the captain already, but I had suddenly realized that help was on the way and the Trojans were attempting to finish us off before it could arrive.

(Andrew's P.O.V.)

Our camp had broke early that fourth morning, and we wasted little time in setting out for Troy. It was in the mid afternoon when we finally spotted the crimson plains of battle, and noticed the Knights faltering under the pressure from a relentless Trojan offensive. Sergeant Han was ordering the rangers to secure the injured and treat them just as quickly. The entire battle was seemingly centered on a brutal assault against captain Kou and his guard.

They were flanked on all sides, and were being mercilessly battered. The guard was thinning by the minute and I could see the opponent facing off against Tajima was Cycnus himself. Even from just a small distance away now, the reigning blows were obvious. Cycnus and the other men surrounding Tajima were slicing away at him slowly. I watched in suspended horror as the beloved Knights of the Dawn captain dropped to one knee on the ground.

"TAJIMA..." I roared from atop the crested hill, paces ahead of the small demigod army heading towards the encampment. I bolted for the battlefield as fast as I could carry myself, praying to the Gods along the way that I would have the strength to endure my insanity. I faintly could hear Lieutenant Chang shouting from behind me in a wavering plea. "Andrew, don't."

I rushed head long into the enemy, using my spear to swat aside the first wave that approached me. The Knights rushed to my side, and as a whole we surged with renewed vigor. I had only one objective and it drove every fiber of my being right now. I was aware that Cycnus was invincible to wounds from sword or spear, and as I finally was able to divide the Trojans from Tajima. "Get him to safety, now!" I roared with rage, feeling the spear tip of Cycnus slice open my forearm.

"You don't deserve a second life!" I shouted mere inches from the man, as I gripped my hand tightly around his neck and lifted him into the air. It was at this moment that I started to feel the jabs and blows from the Trojan soldiers weaponry against my skin. As I was squeezing the life from Cycnus's body, I vaguely caught glimpse of Polydamas, Hector's Lieutenant, circling around behind me. I would never let go of my grip on this man's neck, no matter what might happen next.

I saw the gates open and Hector's small cavalry stride onto the field in a hurry. It was the last thing I would ever see, as I momentarily felt a long sword slice into the side of my neck from behind. The world went dark around me, as the screams and shouts nearby became dull and diluted until everything just ended sullenly.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

As the last bit of our currently small set of reinforcements reached the Knights command tent and pavilions, I was able to see the hulking tall one fall to the ground headless. I shuddered at the sight, but my attention was quickly averted by the couple of Knights carrying an almost lifeless young man with satin black hair and frozen silver eyes. I knew instantly who this was, and the thought racked my body. We had arrived almost too late.

Chang was screaming orders as he quickly caught himself up to speed of the last week's events here. I felt a hand resting on my shoulder, knowing it was Thalia, as the Knights and demigods seemed to whirl around me for a moment in a blurring haze. "Percy. Perseus!" The shouting of my name stirred me out of my stuppor. "Hector wants an audience with you."

This shocked me a little, but Chang quickly explained to me the warring etiquette that the Commander of Troy followed vehemently. "Percy, he wants to give both our armies a reprieve, to conduct burial rights." I nodded back in understanding as I made my way with Chang, Nico and Thalia to the envoy's tent.

"You must be the new commander." Hector stated more than asked, as he looked over the four of us. "You have my sincerest sympathies for the losses you've inherited. As our customs, we tend to honor the dead anytime a mighty warrior dies in the throes of combat." I exhauled roughly and nodded along, glancing at Chang momentarily.

"So how long do you want?" I asked, my voice slightly shaking as if trying to undermine my forced calmness. Hector looked pained slightly as he answered. "One day will suffice, starting up sun up." Before he turned to go, he asked one last question. "Who are the other two captains with you? I would hate to not know the names of any brave souls who faced against me." I let Thalia and Nico introduce themselves both, letting that be the end of the small conference.

We left the envoy and headed back to the command tent, where we found a bedridden Tajima inside, along with a younger girl of Apollo kneeling over him. Chang excused himself to see to the situation with his men, and to oversee how the moral was holding up. I recognized the girl as Adara, her soft mumblings over a scar covered body of Tajima.

As Thalia and myself stepped out of the tent, Will Solace of Apollo stopped up. "His injuries are devastating. I'm not really sure how he isn't dead yet, Percy." Chang had walked up on Will's explanation with the other Knights officers as he said this. "Surely it's nothing that will keep my brother from fighting in a day or two, right?" Will shook his head sadly, glancing at Reed and Fumio.

"His wounds are mixed, many are from weeks of battle with what looks to be little rest. The fresher wounds are just the salt coating." Reed stared blankly for a moment before catching on. "The piercing just under his left lung isn't really healing, is it?" Chang quickly asked what he meant, and Reed replied with a sad tone. "A little over two weeks ago, Tajima tried to duel Hector in solo combat. Hector still has yet to take to the field from the injuries inflicted to him, but Tajima hasn't had the privledge of resting himself."

Chang groaned and shook his head in frustration. "How did I not notice it before.. he hid something like that for this whole time?" Reed gulped but Fumio answered with his slurred accent. "We both only noticed he was overcompensating in the last few days. Everyone's moral and hope has been faltering more and more by the day. So the captain has pressed himself even harder to make it all easier for the other Knights."

I clutched Thalia's hand nervously as I fought down the rage of emotions trying to swell inside me and boil over. "Chang, you understand that you must take full charge over the Knights now. You will have all the support we can provide, and together we will win this war."

My short encouraging speech was interrupted by the Knights who were carrying the large body of Andrew back with them. "We searched as long as we could, but we were unable to find his head." One of them announced in a shaken manner of speech. "We will go and prepare the burial shroud for him tonight." With that, the band disappeared further into the camp and the group of us headed back into the command tent.

Adara was still fussing over Tajima as we entered, which made me slightly pale as she tried to plead with him. "I refuse to let you leave me, you jerk. Hasn't everything been bad enough as it is..." Chang tried to put a hand on her shoulder, but she scowled at him and brushed it off quickly. I whispered lightly to Thalia, "Perhaps we should have her stay with the Hunters for a while, so she isn't bothered by anyone." Thalia nodded and called one of her Hunters over, and the girl escorted Adara out of the tent.

"So, we essentially have a day and half." I stated rather flatly towards Nico, Thalia and the Knights that were in the tent with me. "In the morning we need to regroup everyone and come up with a much more workable battle strategy. Until then I suggest we try to rest and recover, and deal with our loses." The others agreed with heavy hearts and we all went to out to honor Andrew and the other dead Knights. The shrouds of black with the symbols of a sunrise just peaking over a towering shield, draped over the coffins of the fallen warriors.

When everything had been completely for the day's sad events, I finally retired to the tent right behind the command tent with Thalia. I held onto her tightly as we sat there together, neither of us saying much as we relished the embrace we clung too. It was quite a while later when Hermes payed us a visit with a special message.

"Percy, Thalia.. Olympus just got a special package a little bit ago." We both waited for him to continue, wondering what it could have been. "Inside the package was the head of Andrew Biha, son of Hercules. Sent with a note from the Trojan army." I glanced in horror at Thalia, her eyes locking with mine in a moment of pure shock. "They are openly declaring war against the Gods, by vowing to destroy their children and armies."

We both thanked Hermes for the less than pleasant news, as he departed back to Olympus. I laid back and rested my head as I stared up at the top of the ceiling. "I feel like the hope is being sucked out of us." I said in a depressed voice. Thalia lay next to me and rested her head against my chest, where my heart was. "It's still beating bravely..." She said calmly, running her fingers down the right side of my face gently. "Not just your heart but the Dioscuri's, the Knights, the Hunters and the all the other demigods. Can't you feel it, our hope is building slowly, because everyone's hearts are beating so bravely."

I leaned into a soft, passionate kiss and silently hope that Hestia's hope wouldn't fail us. I held onto the person I couldn't afford to lose, my personal hope. We both fell asleep, knowing that the our hope could never be stolen from us as long as we kept on fighting.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and are getting prepared for the real battle to kick up full steam. Please read and review, and hope everyone likes this (despite the rather dramatic turn in events).