The Ambassador of Athena

The day was full of hard training. Annabeth and Percy woke me up around 7, way too early for me. Percy took me to the arena for sword fighting practice, I learned how to deflect swords, do easy assaults and even ditch some attacks. I became better with the time, but after 4 hours of training I was barely able to stand a minute against Percy. He was definitely a very good swordsman, but even his lowest level was too good for me. He disarmed me around 7 times before he decided to end the lesson.
“Not that bad for your first try in sword fighting.” he said when we left the arena for lunch.
I laughed. “I think I really sucked.”
Percy joined in the laughter. “Yeah, you do. Just stick with the bow. In the afternoon Chiron will meet you at the archery range.”
“Great. So, what are you doing for lunch?”
“Dunno. Maybe I’ll grab some sandwiches from the pavilion and eat them all alone on the bottom of the lake since Annabeth has no time for me…”
He brushed away a fake tear and looked really sad.
“I could cook for you if you want. I ever wanted to try out my new kitchen.”
“Is this a date? Not even Annabeth has ever cooked for me.” Percy asked me astonished.
“No, why shouldn’t I cook for you? I can cook, pretty well. I lived in a man-only household for 5 years, I learned a lot about taste of food in that time.”
Percy cracked a smile.
“Great, I’d love to eat with you.”
At that moment Rachel, the blonde one, crossed our way.
“Hey Florian” she said, and with a short look to Percy she added: “Hey Percy.”
“Hey Rachel.” I greeted her. “What are you doing at the moment?”
“Oh, just heading over to the pavilion to grab something to eat.”
Percy said out loud what I was thinking at that moment:
“Do you want to join us for lunch? Flo here is cooking for me.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “He is? Should this be a date?”
I threw my hands up theatrically. “Why do you Americans have to assume it’s a date just because I am cooking for you? Don’t you do such things here for your friends?”
Rachel and Percy laughed.
“Well, usually not, but we may will after this experience.”

I have to admit my cooking skills weren’t that great after all, it was just enough make noodles with a sour cream and herbs sauce, my favourite 10-minute lunch. The kitchen was great, the fridge and the drawers were obviously magic too since they provided exactly what I needed. Rachel and Percy sat at the table and were talking and laughing. My speech to her that he was only human after all must have worked. The noodles were good, and Percy and Rachel obviously thought that too since he had three portions and she two.
After lunch they escorted me to the archery range where Chiron waited for me together with a bunch of other campers, among them Johanna and maybe even worse Jessy.

It wasn’t a beginners group Chiron was teaching, they were definitely advanced archers. Beside the two persons I least wanted to see and myself five other campers were shooting at the targets set at the other end of the range. Some were normal round shields with red, blue and white markings on them; others were shaped like monsters, a gryphon for example. We lined up and started to shoot arrows on the targets. I haven’t forgotten to get my bow back from Leo at the forges so I did my touching-the-vembraces thing and held my bow with the endlessly refilling quiver in my hands. My first few shots missed the target, but I got better with the time. I slowly got used to the feeling of the bow, the tension of the bowstring, the strength it took me to pull it back to my ear. The twentieth shot hit the target I was aiming at close to the centre, and the next 3 shots all hit it bull’s eye. I kept on shooting, arrow after arrow, aiming for different targets now. I must have shot over a hundred arrows at least when I noticed that no one else was shooting anymore. I shot a last arrow at the figure of a Laistrygonen Giant and hit it in his chest before I lowered my bow and turned around to the others.
They were staring at me with different expressions on their faces. From astonishment to awe over envy to a really angry look by Jessy, everything was among them. I counted only 6 other campers, Johanna was missing.
“You are good with the bow.” a boy with curly brown hair said.
“Do you really think that?” I asked him. Another one burst out laughing. “Dude, you are really, really good. You almost hit every shot. I don’t think many campers were so good when they shot the first time.”
I blushed, but I stammered: “I was at the archery club back at home, so it wasn’t actually my first time shooting.”
Jessy laughed sharply.
“Oh, come on, he is just a mortal, how good can he be?”
The other campers now looked a little bit uncomfortable. Chiron’s expression was motionless.
“Well, he hit around 3 of 4 shots, while you only hit half at the widest distance.” the Centaur said. “He definitely has inherited some of his ancestor’s skills.” Jessy glared at me, his look full of hate. “Beginners luck” he hissed and stormed out of the archery range. The other campers stared at me when they slowly walked out. Chiron stayed back and said to me:
“Jessy is a little bit difficult. I hope he knows how to behave on the quest…”
“Oh, I know people like him; I learned to deal with them a long time ago.”
“And what kind of people would that be?”
“Jerks. Complete, incurable Jerks.”

Before we had dinner I got changed and showered. The dinner was as delicious as the day before, and that day I sat between Annabeth and Rachel at the Athena’s table. I enjoyed myself, but I tried not to look down the table were Johanna sat. She was definitely avoiding me, and I was fine with that. So I at least didn’t have to talk with her.

After dinner Chiron stood in front of the tables and said: “Now, let’s prepare! One flag is currently held by the Ares campers, the other one is in the possession of Apollo cabin.” He told us the rules – as usual, fair play, do not leave the woods, no killing, quite simple. When he finished weapons and armour appeared on the tables: Shields, breastplates, helmets, spears, swords and many other pointy weapons, all gleaming in the light of the fire pit. With the help of Annabeth we found a breastplate that fitted me, along with a helmet decorated by a blue plume. When we walked over to the woods Annabeth gave me short updates who were our enemies:
“We are allies with the Apollo campers, together Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Demeter, and Zeus, which means Jason, and Poseidon, so to speak Percy.”
At that moment he came over to us. “You were calling?” Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Actually we weren’t, but good you are here.” She looked around and called: “Piper, Will, Jason, Leo, Miranda, come over, strategy meeting.” I wanted to turn around and let them speak, but Annabeth held me back. “Oh no, you are not leaving, you are our chief strategist since you have a PhD in Ancient history you must know something about war tactics.”
I wanted to protest but the others were already here, so I had to stay.
“What is the plan?” Leo asked when we stood in a circle around a torch.
“Easy: We will go and get the flag.” Percy said dead serious.
Annabeth kicked him, but she smiled.
“That’s what we were planning to do. But in detail we do the following: Percy, Jason and me will try to sneak behind the enemy lines and get the flag while Hephaestus will distract them together with Demeter at the left and right flank. Apollo will guard the flag, together with a few toys made by Leo.”Leo grinned and nodded. “They will be burning, literally.”
Everyone smiled and nodded, but I overthought the plan again. Annabeth must have seen my thoughtful expression and asked me: “Do you have any ideas how to improve the plan?”
I had, indeed, but I hesitated.
“Come on, spit it out.” Piper said friendly.
“Well, I think maybe we should to make a second distraction…” I said vague.
When the others looked at me questioning I explained it: “They must assume we want to sneak behind their lines to steal the flag, so they will definitely set up a trap for us. So what I am suggesting is that we let some campers run into that trap while two or three of us sneak behind the action and get the flag.”
The others just stared at me. I blushed and muttered: “But Annabeths plan is fine too…”
Annabeth shook her head. “Your plan is better. Way better. Higher chance of success. We will do it your way.”

We really did it my way. Leo and Jason were our sneak team #2 while Annabeth, Percy, Piper and I would play the bait.
We located the enemy flag at a place they called Kâmpes Tomb. According to Leo the ancient evil Monster Kâmpe was buried under the boulders during the Second Titan War when Kronos forces attacked camp. The pile of boulders was lit by the now full moon when we sneaked over it through the bushes under the trees. The banner, a simple piece of velvet with a boar head on it, was set on top of the pile. No guards could be seen, but that was exactly what we expected. The ambush was so good I still was surprised, even though I expected it.
5 campers jumped down from the trees, Jessy among them. I hid in the shadows of the woods so they couldn’t see me. The campers immediately attacked Annabeth, Percy and Piper, but I had the time to activate my bow and aim on one of them with an arrow with a boxing glove at the tip. I let it fly, but I missed him by a few centimetres. He whirled around and spotted me under the trees. I saw at the edge of my view that Jason and Leo crawled towards the pile, unnoticed by the defenders, but I had other problems. The camper I missed with the arrow stormed towards me, Jessy at his side. I quickly shot another arrow at him, this time one with a bag at the tip. It hit him right in the chest, exploding in a cloud of green dust. The camper started to cough and spit, his hands covering his eyes.
Jessy reached me at that moment and I had no time to draw my sword. I did the only possible; I threw up my bow to deflect the attack. I expected the wood to break, or at least to shatter, but it threw back the sword so Jessy lost his balance. While he tried to catch himself I pulled my sword. I had no chance defeating him, but all I had to do is to buy time for Jason and Leo to bring the flag in our territory.
“Now I will show you how much you are worth, mortal.” Jessy hissed before he attacked with a series of strikes. I tried to deflect them, but even though I did my best I could barely hold my stand. I decided to do the only thing I could do: I ran, fast.
“That’s what you really are, mortal.” Jessy laughed behind me. “You are just scum, just a coward. I see why Johanna ditched you.”
I stopped so promptly Jessy slammed into me.
“Say – that – to – my – face.” I hissed and turned around, my sword in position to fight.
Jessy looked shocked at first, but he started to grin after a second.
“You – are – a – coward” he said and attacked.
It was over after a few seconds. He disarmed me and slammed me to the ground, his sword pointed between my eyes.
“See? You are a coward and a weakling too.”
At that moment a horn signal sounded over the woods. Jessy grinned and looked up.
“And your friends were weaklings too. We must have won already.”
I feared he might be right, but the cheering from the other campers approaching us sounded familiar to me.
“We did it, we tricked them, we got the flag.” They were singing, and I could definitely hear Percy’s wrong singing.
Jessy’s face slipped.
“Looks like you were wrong.” I said with a big grin.
Jessy glared at me and moved his sword in a rash move. He cut straight through my eyebrow, hot pain shooting through my face.
Before I could complain or say anything he stormed off into the woods. Percy and the others came over to me, Jason carrying a silver banner with a bolt on it.
“You were great man!” Percy shouted and helped me up. Blood ran down my face and dripped from my chin, but I didn’t care. I was on the winning side, and best of all, I saw Johanna, smiling the smile I fell in love all those years ago.

Notes