Percy POV: 298 AC (8 Months Later)
As the first light of dawn seeped in through the window, Percy began to stir from his sleep. He felt a warm and wet sensation around his cock, which immediately woke him from a dream about his past life.
A wave of pleasure hit him like a train, and he let out a groan of satisfaction, instinctively grabbing a fistful of red hair to keep the woman in place. A short moment later, he let go and allowed Claire to come up for air, a sultry smile on her face as she licked her lips.
"As tasty as ever, Mi' Lord."
Percy grinned, bringing the naked woman up to him, enrapturing her lips in his own before flipping her over and breaking the kiss. There was less than an inch between their faces, and he could feel her desire as she tried to kiss him once again, only for him to tease her and stay just out of her reach.
"Perrrrrrcy, pleaseeeee."
The demigod smirked, admiring the redhead's beauty with her hair fanned out around her like a halo before capturing her lips once again as she moaned in pleasure. Unfortunately, the intimate moment was shattered by a sharp rap on the door to his chambers.
"Lord Wake," came Pearson's voice from behind the wooden barrier, "You have a council meeting in fifteen minutes."
Percy groaned in frustration, turning his head to shout over his shoulder so the man could hear him.
"Thank you, Pearson. I will be there shortly."
The demigod had an inkling that the man wanted to say something else, but a moment later, rather than a comment about tardiness, he heard the sounds of boots walking away.
Once the sound dissipated, he turned his attention back to the naked woman beneath him and started kissing her neck once again. Claire let out a groan mixed with frustration and pleasure, causing Percy to chuckle as she teased him.
"Ughhhh, don't start something you can't finish."
That caused Percy to openly laugh as he brought his face up to hers till their noses were practically touching. Their eyes locked together as he spoke.
"What's the point of being a Lord if I can't show up a little late to a meeting? Trust me, I'm gonna make the next ten minutes count."
The redhead's eyes widened slightly at his proclamation before letting out a squeal of excitement when he dragged her to the edge of the bed.
Twelve minutes later, Percy was dressed and made his way over to Claire, who was on the verge of going back to sleep if her half-lidded eyes were anything to judge by. He kissed her once more on the lips before pulling a sheet over her sweaty and nude body.
She mumbled something he couldn't make out but pretended he heard, nodding along until she was finished before making his way out of his personal quarters. All of the castle workers had a slight pep in their step as they went about their morning duties, causing Percy to smile as he made his way to the council chambers.
When he walked in, he noticed a shaft of sunlight cut through the heavy drapes in the meeting room, casting a golden glow over the polished wooden table where Percy and his advisors gathered. He could feel the good-natured atmosphere in the room and gave his council a cheeky smile that Pearson, Ronna, and Desmor rolled their eyes at while Gelder chuckled.
"Sorry for my tardiness, everyone, but when you have a woman as feisty as Claire... Well, it's hard to say no. Did you all start without me?"
That caused everyone to laugh as Percy found his chair, turning his attention to Pearson once he sat down.
"We have not, Mi'lord. I figured you would be a bit late to this meeting, considering it was your and Claire's first night in the completed Seahaven. But, now that you're here, we can get started."
The demigod couldn't help but smile at the reminder that construction was finally complete and nodded his head to Pearson to get started.
The man cleared his throat before looking down and shuffling through his parchment for the first topic at hand.
"Alright, well, the first order of business is to set a budget for the celebration feast. Ronna, what are the finances looking like?"
"To be honest, not great. Our accounts will practically be empty after we finish paying the Storm Masons, and our first coin wagon from the River Fever Project wasn't as full as I would've liked. I would be happy if we could keep the feast's budget around 150 gold dragons."
Percy nodded.
"I'll add 50 gold dragons from my personal vault to make it an even 200. I want everyone in this city to be able to celebrate in some fashion."
His council nodded together while Ronna made a note on a piece of parchment. Seeing the matter was settled, Pearson moved on to the next topic.
"Alright, Desmor. What is the status of our fleet? And when do you foresee having the Kraken completed?"
The group turned their attention to the master of ships as he scanned through his reports.
"Our primary fleet should be ready by next year. The Kraken is on track to be finished before the next full moon, and then we will shift our focus to completing the support ship for the fleet. According to Lord Perseus' specifications, it should be done within six months."
The man nodded towards the demigod in thanks, and Percy acknowledged him with a nod of his own. The Kraken was the Sea Fang's equal and would be supported by his four destroyer-class ships: the Resolute, the Squall, the Trident, and the Festus.
He had already decided his support-class ship would be called the Chase in honor of his late girlfriend and made a mental note to remind Desmor at the next meeting. He then focused on the following topic before his mind could get lost in memories, which he could barely recall at this point.
"-memants for our soldiers? Lord Perseus's house guard and our captains are outfitted just fine, but we need to determine what we are going to supply the rest of our soldiers with."
Percy had initially thought of John but stopped that train of thought once he remembered the man preferred making tools over weapons of war. Deciding he would let his council figure out where to source the equipment, he turned his attention back to the crux of the question.
"I want all of our soldiers outfitted with a good steel blade, chest piece, greaves, and forearm braces."
All of his council looked at him with wide eyes at his proclamation, and Percy quickly realized how radical his statement sounded without context. So, before anyone could open their mouth with a rebuttal, he elaborated a bit more.
"I know how forward and expensive this sounds, but I want to clarify that this equipment would not be our soldier's to keep. We would create a storage room in the barracks where all this equipment would be kept."
"Then, it would be manned twenty-four-seven with a system that marks who checks out what equipment at the start of their shift or when they need it. Once their shift is over, they would check the equipment back in."
Percy was glad to see everyone relax a little as they started thinking more about his plan instead of jumping to immediate conclusions and asking a handful of questions, which he expected.
Ronna cleared her throat, becoming the first to break the silence. "How would we ensure that someone doesn't replace a piece of our equipment with something inferior? Say, a sword, for example?"
"We would have the blacksmith we choose to create the equipment mark each of the weapons he makes with a unique string of numbers. Then, if anyone returns a piece of equipment that doesn't match the number of the one they checked out, we garnish their wages."
That seemed to appease Ronna, but Gelder immediately followed up with two more questions.
"How would we ensure a soldier doesn't have a blacksmith create a piece of inferior equipment and add the string of numbers on their equipment to it? Also, who would we have man this storage system and keep the equipment in good shape?"
Percy nodded along with Gelder's concerns before answering them once he was finished.
"To start, one soldier wouldn't be guaranteed to have the same equipment each time they check out. Second, we can have the blacksmith who does the work put their brand hidden somewhere that only our leadership knows of. Then, if there is ever a question, we can secretly check for the brand."
"As for manning the station and taking care of the equipment. I think that would be a mighty fine punishment. That same person should have enough time to take care of the returned equipment as it comes in. But if they don't, we can make the squad that does the worst in training that week responsible for maintaining the gear."
Gelder nodded, happy with his answer, and Percy waited for another question to arise. When none did, he motioned for Pearson to continue. His Hand nodded before clearing his throat.
"Well, with that settled. Do you have a blacksmith in mind you would like to use, Perseus?"
He shook his head. "Nope, I trust you all to determine that."
Pearson nodded, making a note in his book before moving on to the next topic.
"Alright, that is about all I have for today. The last thing is a note from Castle Black, which says to be on the lookout for a Night's Watch deserter. Gelder, can you have the men be on the lookout?"
Percy's ears perked up at that, his mind flashing back to his conversation with the goddess Dariss.
"Please also inform me if we find this deserter, I will want to question him."
Everyone looked at him with a bit of confusion in their eyes. Thankfully, no one said anything other than acknowledging his request. With the meeting settled Percy stood with a stretch and groaned in satisfaction at getting to move after sitting for so long.
He then joined his council in exiting their meeting chambers and made his way to the Great Hall for a quick breakfast, followed by Pearson.
Percy turned his neck to the side, hoping his right-hand man would better hear him as he walked.
"What's up, my friend. Am I forgetting something?"
The man laughed before speaking as they reached the door to his Great Hall.
"Always, Mi'lord. Today is your first day of actual court, and I wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten. But, it seems that I needn't worry for once."
The demigod groaned in frustration, stopping just as he was about to open the door while Pearson chuckled.
"I take it that you were headed to Great Hall for an unrelated reason?"
Percy nodded, and the man broke out into laughter.
"Yeah, it completely slipped my mind. I was coming here for breakfast."
His Hand just shook his head.
"No worries, Perseus. I will have someone bring you some food. But I'm afraid people are already waiting to be heard since it is your first court."
The son of Poseidon nodded, running a hand through his hair before opening the door to be greeted by a handful of people who all gave a slight bow when the son of Poseidon walked in. He waved them off, finding his seat in the middle of the raised dais.
Pearson joined him a moment later, sitting beside him. At the same time, a member of his house guard came up before them, introducing the first citizen he would hear from.
"My Lord, this is Raborn. A farmer from outside the city walls."
Percy nodded at the soldier, who allowed the older man to pass so that he was standing in front of him.
"Lord Wake, I am honored to be in your presence. I was with the original party that traveled here from Winterfell all those years ago, and I am glad I did."
The demigod couldn't help the smile on his face at the man's kind words.
"Thank you, Raborn. How can I help you?"
The man went into a deep bow, desperation etched on his face as he spoke.
"I humbly ask that you start having the guards patrol the outskirts of the farmland. Bandits have been plaguing my lands. They've taken our livestock and destroyed our crops."
Percy felt his blood boil at the hardship one of his followers was facing but did his best to calm himself. He didn't want to promise men he didn't have, so he gave a side-eye look to Pearson, who nodded his head, telling Percy all he needed.
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Raborn. I will have some men start patrolling the outskirts of our settlement and see about setting up a group that actively searches for and clears out the bandit camps."
The old farmer donned a large smile, going down into a more profound bow as he thanked him.
"Thank you, Lord Wake! You are most generous."
Percy nodded, watching as he left the Great Hall until the soldier from before introduced the next person.
"My Lord, this is John, one of the Blacksmiths from the city."
Once again, Percy nodded at his household guard to let the man pass. Focusing his attention on one of the men he had met after returning from Bravoss.
"Lord Wake, thank you for hearing my plea," John began, bowing slightly in respect.
"I am here as a representative for my fellow blacksmiths in the city and requesting that we get our coin upfront for all of the projects that have been commissioned, Mi'lord."
Percy furrowed his brows in confusion. He hadn't heard of any issues with payments to the blacksmiths before. He turned to Pearson, who also looked perplexed.
"Have we not been paying our Blacksmith's Pearson?" Percy asked him.
Pearson shook his head.
"As far as I am aware, there have been no issues with payments to anyone, Mi'lord. We have paid all of our debts within thirty days of the project completion."
John shifted nervously on his feet.
"My apologies if this has caused any confusion, Mi'lord, but there were no issues in the past because we already had the necessary materials. Now, however, we have exhausted our supplies, and our Iron suppliers are requiring payment upfront."
Percy leaned back in his seat thoughtfully. On one hand, he wanted to consult with Ronna before committing to an answer. On the other hand, it was clear that without some sort of upfront payment, the blacksmiths and their families would struggle.
"I will look into this matter personally," Percy stated firmly.
"In the meantime, the city will pay half of each currently commissioned project's price upfront, and any outstanding projects will be paid within a week."
John bowed deeply in gratitude before leaving the Great Hall, allowing another person to take his place and make their request known.
"This is Genna," his house guard said, introducing her as she curtsied respectfully before them.
"Mi'lord Wake," Genna began, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.
"I am here today to beg for your assistance in finding my husband, who has been missing for over a fortnight."
Percy's heart sank at her words.
"What is your husband's name and occupation?" Percy asked, keeping his voice calm and reassuring.
"His name is Robert, Mi'lord," Genna replied.
"He is a fisherman and likes to travel down the coast to warmer waters for more exotic fish, but he always makes sure to return within a week's time. I fear that something has happened to him."
Percy looked over at Pearson, who looked conflicted, and Percy understood why. They didn't have the ships to send a search party down the coast in search of a man who was most likely dead, considering the storms that had occurred the previous week.
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However, the demigod wasn't about to be so callous and do nothing. Especially if there was a chance that the man could still be alive.
"I am sorry to hear of this, Genna. I will divert one of our ships and send it down the coast in search of your husband. However, I can only allow this ship to be away from our fleet for a week at most, so if we do not find him by then, I won't be able to provide any more assistance."
The woman broke down in sobs, thanking him profusely for his help.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord Wake."
Percy nodded to the woman, who had managed to control her emotions well enough to leave the Great Hall without any assistance.
Looking at the line of people still waiting to be heard, he took a breath and tried to relax in his chair, resigning himself to the fact that he would not be getting a break for a quick bite of food anytime soon.
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A soft breeze swept through Seahaven, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea and the earthy scent of pine. Percy felt the weight of his responsibilities settling heavily on his shoulders as he walked to meet Ronna.
The evening sun cast a warm glow over the sturdy stone buildings. Yet, there was an undeniable chill in the air—a reminder that winter was never far away in this northern region. When he arrived, his Master of Coin was waiting for him on the rampart.
He stood next to the woman in silence for a moment to enjoy the view. The waves crashed against the stone face below them, creating a rhythmic sound that Seahaven's sworn Protector enjoyed.
Together, they watched the waves crash against the shore and listened to the sound as an unstoppable force met an immovable object, enjoying the moment until the demigod got to the purpose of the meeting.
"Ronna," Percy began, his voice tempered by his concern for the city's welfare, "we must find a way to provide for our people, even when times are hard."
"Indeed, Mi'lord," Ronna replied, her eyes downcast as she considered the situation. "I know the blacksmiths need payment upfront, and I've been looking into ways to generate more revenue for Seahaven. Unfortunately, the money just isn't there right now."
The demigod nodded in understanding, letting the silence linger momentarily before replying.
"However difficult it may be," Percy said firmly, "we must find a solution. If it means dipping into my own funds, then so be it. We cannot let our people suffer for our own gain."
"Thank you, Lord Wake," Ronna murmured gratefully. "I have a couple other options I want to see the viability of before accepting your generosity, but I assure you it will not go unnoticed in the history of this great castle."
Percy nodded, staying for a bit longer to enjoy the rhythmic sounds of the ocean before bidding farewell to his treasurer, satisfied that Ronna was taking the issue with the blacksmiths seriously, before heading to the training grounds.
He knew Gelder would be there, overseeing the drills and honing the skills of Seahaven's soldiers. As he approached, the sounds of clashing steel and grunts of exertion reached his ears, stirring memories of his time at Camp Half-blood.
Making his way into the area, he turned and saw several of the older soldiers training. They reminded him of the depictions of Ancient Greek Hoplites he saw when studying with Annabeth during his second year at camp.
Percy watched as the soldiers of Seahaven trained, their movements fluid and precise. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in their dedication and prowess. As he went through the training grounds, he couldn't help but grin that the men focused on their task at hand instead of stopping what they were doing to needlessly bow to him.
The demigod knew he had Gelder to thank for that and would do so when he found the man. Until then, however, the demigod made sure to stop and give some advice to the men he passed who seemed to be struggling with the thing they were practicing on.
He spent more time than he really needed to, but it was worth it in his eyes if it potentially saved lives. It wasn't until he had made his way towards the other side of the training grounds that he finally found his master-at-arms barking orders at the latest recruits.
Even from a distance, the son of Poseidon could tell the seasoned warrior was pushing them to their limits as they struggled to keep up with his demands.
"Lord Wake," Gelder acknowledged as Percy approached, his eyes focused on the new recruits as they ran laps to build up endurance.
"Gelder," Percy called out, returning the greeting. "How goes the training?"
His master-at-arms turned to face him with a small smile. "It's going well, my lord. Our soldiers are some of the best in Westeros."
Percy nodded in agreement, noticing a couple of recruits slow down their pace, thinking the grizzled veteran wouldn't notice, only to be mistaken as Gelder barked at them to speed up, causing the son of Poseidon to chuckle.
"I swear, you have eyes in the back of your head, my friend."
"Aye, it's how I survived so many battles."
Percy nodded at that, demigod or not; instincts only went so far. It was determination, perseverance, and experience that allowed him to survive everything he endured.
There was a short bout of silence as both men focused on the recruit's training, which lasted until Seahaven's Protector brought up the reason for his visit.
"We must find a way to better protect our citizens from threats; a farmer came to me today about bandits pillaging his farm on the outskirts of the city. I know our resources are limited at the moment, and the men are stretched thin. But, can you put together a group that actively patrols bandits?"
Gelder nodded his head, his eyes still focused on the men running laps before him as he spoke.
"Aye, I'll see to it. What equipment do you want them to have, and should this be an offer or a conscription?"
Percy had to ponder the question for a moment before coming to a decision.
"Let's start with an offer. Any who wish to be a part of the group will receive extra rations and be able to keep half of the coin they find when clearing out these camps. If you don't have enough people to take the offer, add who you think needs to be a part of the squad, but only the people who signed up for the extra duties get half the coin."
"As for the equipment, they will have the same as everyone else to start. But, if they prove themselves and have success, we will take some of the coin and supplies they've gotten from the bandits and get them better gear that will be theirs to keep."
His master-at-arms nodded approvingly at his decision, something Percy took a bit of pride in as he watched one of the recruits throw up his lunch.
A couple of the men stopped, expecting the training session to end if Percy had to guess. Unfortunately for them, that wasn't how they did things in Seahaven, and the demigod couldn't hide his smirk as Gelder barked at them to keep going.
"Terrence, Whitlock, Gendry! What are you stopping for?!? Did I SAY training was over? Keep going."
He could see the horror etched on their faces as they started running again, causing him to chuckle as he bid the grizzled veteran farewell.
"Keep up the good work, my friend."
The man gave a respectful nod in response, keeping his focus on whipping the new recruits into shape. It might be a bit on the extreme side of training, but nothing promoted growth more than intense training.
Making his way out of the castle and towards the docks, Percy couldn't help but be thankful to see the basics of his harsh training regime still enforced. While he was sure the recruits hated it now, he knew they would come to appreciate it in battle.
The demigod firmly believed that extreme adversity was the only way to get his men to grow to the caliber he needed them to be. If the goddess Dariss was correct, they would be facing a divine threat in the future, and he doubted he would be able to do it alone.
However, even without the goddess's warning, he still had a sense of foreboding that he couldn't shake. He wasn't sure if it was his demigod instincts or just years of experience, but he felt like something big was coming.
It was the subtle things that he noticed, like Robert's lack of a response to the Greyjoy's assassination attempt and the absence of any retaliation from the Lannisters to the trade route that he created through the River Fever.
Percy wasn't certain about the situation, but he understood politics enough to know that when significant events occur and influential players remain silent, it's because they want to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
He found it hard to believe that the Lannisters were indifferent toward the establishment of a trade route that posed a threat to a substantial portion of their business.
Either way, he decided that those were future problems and focused on the task at hand. Looking for the man who would become his first admiral once the fleet was complete.
As he approached the dock, the familiar sight of the Sea Fang came into view, its masts a beacon in the sky. Captain Barrian stood aboard, barking orders to his crew as they unloaded supplies from a recent trip from Bear Island. Percy called out to him, catching his attention.
"Captain Barrian, I need your help with an urgent matter," Percy explained, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
The man immediately gave the demigod his full attention, causing the inexperienced lord to frown slightly. He had forgotten the weight and power his presence and words held. Nonetheless, he continued on, making a mental note to be more mindful of the influence he had.
"A local woman came to me today with a concern for her husband, a fisherman who sailed south in search of exotic fish. Once you are finished unloading those supplies and have restocked with everything needed for a one-week journey, I want you to sail down the coast in search of the man."
The man nodded his head, a determined yet somber look on his face.
"Thank you, Barrian. We both know the man's chances are slim. But we also know that if he did survive those storms, he wouldn't have much longer left."
Once again, the Captain of the Sea Fang nodded his head.
"Aye, dead or alive, I have an idea of where he might've wound up."
That was good enough for Percy, who gave the man a nod of his thanks before heading back up towards the castle. Only to make it halfway up the hill to the gates when he spotted Pearson heading towards him with a letter in hand.
"My Lord," Pearson's urgent voice called out to Percy once he was in earshot. "I am glad I caught you. I received this letter from Winterfell, delivered by a messenger who declared it of utmost importance."
The demigod's curiosity was immediately piqued, and he couldn't help but wonder what could be so crucial that Eddard Stark had sent a messenger instead of a raven. Motioning for Pearson to follow him as he walked, Percy ran his fingers along the edges of the dire wolf sigil before breaking the wax seal and unfurling the paper.
"Perseus," the letter began in Eddard Stark's earnest script, "your presence is requested at Winterfell with a matter most urgent." The words were simple, yet they held a weight that spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation.
Percy's mind raced with possibilities as he folded the letter back up. "I must leave for Winterfell in the morning," he announced to Pearson, knowing he would need his Hand's help with preparations.
"Please send word to Andros and Saffir to meet me at the stables at dawn's light. They will be the only guards I bring on this journey. And I will need you to procure our supplies for the trip."
Pearson nodded, quickly jotting down Percy's instructions along with some of the supplies they would need from what he could tell as they approached the gates of the city.
"Also, I meant to bring this up in next week's meeting, but now I am not sure when I will return. So, I want to tell you now that the name of the support ship for our fleet will be called the Chase."
His Hand nodded, making a note in a different area while Percy waved for the guards to let them through the gates. Pearson then turned in an effort to get started on his task list, only for the son of Poseidon to stop him and try to bring some levity to the entire situation.
"And Pearson," he added with a small smile. "You will be in charge in my absence, of course."
His hand chuckled and waved him off before hurrying towards Andros and Saffir's housing district. Meanwhile, Percy made his way back to the castle to pack his and Claire's supplies for their journey to Winterfell.
The thought of leaving his duties behind filled him with both exhilaration and trepidation, but it also gave him an opportunity.
Once the business that Eddard had summoned him for was finished, he could finally ask the man what he knew about the 'Long Night' the goddess Dariss mentioned.
Through his own exhaustive research, Percy had managed to piece together only a few fragments of information about the event. He learned that it had occurred thousands of years ago when an incredibly long winter ravaged the land and caused widespread famine. The toll was a staggering tens of thousands that perished from starvation.
With a calamity like that, he figured there would've been better records, yet despite his efforts, Percy hit a dead end.
Most people he spoke to dismissed the 'Long Night' as a mere children's tale or myth. Each person had their own version of events, making it nearly impossible for him to discern the truth. The only common thread among all the stories was the darkness and death that shrouded the land for a generation.
Frustration ate at Percy as he reflected on how crucial it was to understand the true story behind myths when dealing with gods. But in this case, he was left with nothing but conflicting tales and hearsay. This is why he hoped Eddard would be able to shed light on the truth or at least point him in the right direction.
For all he knew, uncovering the genuine tale of the 'Long Night' would provide a hint as to why the Winterfell crypts were so important.
As Percy entered his personal quarters and began packing for his journey, he couldn't shake the feeling that he wouldn't be returning to Seahaven for some time.
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The sky above Sea Dragon Point was painted with the soft hues of dawn as Percy watched the town come alive from a bench in the town square. His sea-green eyes scanned the bustling marketplace, taking in the sights and sounds of traders hawking their wares, fishermen hauling in their catches, and children playing among the wooden stalls.
"Lord Wake," a familiar voice called out. The son of Poseidon turned, catching sight of Saffir walking towards him with a determined stride.
Percy smiled at the sight of his trusted friend and guard. "Good morning, Saffir," he greeted warmly, standing up and clasping a hand on his shoulder once he was beside him.
"I was just admiring the city now that construction is finally completed. It feels like a cruel joke from the gods that after years of work, I could only spend twenty-four hours inside these finished walls before being called away."
Saffir nodded, "Aye, but this life is anything but fair in my experience."
There was a moment of silence between the two as they watched the marketplace pick up in intensity as more people came into the town square.
"Well, best not to keep Claire and Andros waiting," Percy said, breaking Saffir out of his stupor.
"True, Andros might get bored and eat all our rations before we even get on the road."
That caused the demigod to smile as he walked back towards the stables. Arriving after a few short minutes, to find Claire petting her horse with Andros keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.
Percy walked up to them and greeted them both with a smile. "Good morning, Claire. Andros," he said, nodding to each of them.
Claire turned towards him, giving him a bright smile in return. "Good morning, Mi'lord. Did you find solace in watching the citizens live happier and better lives because of you?" she asked.
The demigod nodded, glad that she didn't bring up the fact that he didn't invite her to his chambers last night, and seemed happy that she was coming along on this trip at his request.
"I did. I can feel Thalassa flying ahead already, so let's be off." he declared, helping Claire onto her horse before mounting his with practiced ease.
The group made their way out of Seahaven and onto the open road, heading southeast towards Winterfell. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a warm morning glow over the farmlands surrounding them.
Seahaven's Protector made sure to wave at the people they passed, several of whom were farmers on their way to the marketplace to sell their excess produce. But he passed a small few who he could tell were merchants intent on selling items they had gained from their travels.
Percy didn't expect to encounter any trouble that they couldn't handle, but he had learned long ago that it was better to be ready than not.
It was why they still had a formation, albeit a simple one, but a tactical formation nonetheless, with Andros leading the way while Percy rode side by side with Claire in the middle and Saffir brought up the rear.
As they continued to follow the path and transition from the open farmlands that had surrounded Seahaven to the Wolfswood, the son of Poseidon couldn't help but feel a bit more alert. It was only natural, considering their sightlines had been drastically reduced, but it still got Claire concerned.
"Is something wrong?"
Percy could hear Saffir chuckle at the words, causing him to smile as he elaborated to the feisty redhead before she could get angry at his guard's outburst.
"Nothing really, it's more of a habit. Now that we are in the woods, we can't see as far, which is never ideal."
Claire nodded in understanding as they rode in silence with short bursts of conversation that helped pass the time. Occasionally, Percy could see Thalassa fly above them, making sure her presence was known before flying ahead once more.
As the sun began to retreat over the horizon, the group started looking for a spot to make camp, finding a small trail that they followed until they emerged from the dense Wolfswood into a clearing that took their breath away.
Before them lay a pristine lake, its crystal-clear waters shimmering like a mirror, reflecting the vibrant orange and blue of the evening sky above. The shoreline was a mosaic of smooth pebbles in shades of gray, white, and black, interspersed with patches of soft, emerald grass that swayed gently in the warm breeze.
Ancient oak trees, their trunks gnarled and weathered by countless seasons, stood sentinel around the lake's perimeter. Their broad canopies cast dappled shadows across the ground, providing welcome respite from the heat. The air was filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the melodic trilling of songbirds, a symphony of nature in perfect harmony.
Percy brought his horse to a halt, a smile on his face as he called for them to make camp.
Once they dismounted, Percy breathed in the fresh, clean air, feeling a sense of tranquility wash over him. The peaceful surroundings seemed to melt away the worries he had of what awaited him in Winterfell, if only for a moment.
While Andros and Saffir began setting up camp, he turned to Claire, who was gazing out at the lake with a look of wonder in her emerald eyes.
"This place is beautiful," she murmured, her voice soft with awe. "I've never seen anything like it."
Percy smiled, walking over to stand beside her at the water's edge. "I've seen many wonders in my travels, but there's something special about the untouched beauty of the North."
He bent down, picking up a smooth, flat stone from the shore. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it skipping across the mirror-like surface, leaving a trail of ripples in its wake.
Claire laughed, "You surprise me every day, Lord Wake. I did not know you were a master in the art of skipping rocks."
Percy laughed himself, remembering all the times at camp when he and Annabeth would skip rocks out on the lake after their canoeing lessons. The memory left a melancholic smile on his face that turned happier when Claire interlaced his arm with hers.
"You'll have to teach me your ways before we leave in the morning."
The demigod nodded, agreeing with the request as he kissed the woman on the lips before turning his attention to the beginnings of their camp.
"It's a promise, but we need to set up camp first. Can you start on dinner while I get our tent?"
The woman nodded, causing Percy to smile as he began to unpack the tent and hand Claire some of the supplies for the group's meal.
It didn't take long for the redhead to make a hearty dinner that Percy could tell Andros had enjoyed based on the fact that the man had practically inhaled the veal.
Then, once everyone had eaten, Saffir got up to start the first watch while Andros retired to his tent in an effort to get some rest before beginning the second watch.
Percy felt Claire cuddle up beside him now that his guards weren't around, which he appreciated. He didn't want Saffir to get too homesick, and public displays of affection always bothered him if no one else had a significant other around.
They sat in silence for a bit, enjoying each other's company beneath the star-studded sky, and Percy found himself realizing that he was beginning to feel a connection forming between them that went beyond a mere physical attraction.
It also had the son of Poseidon realize he knew little about the woman's life before she came into his right before he left Winterfell.
"Tell me more about your life in King's Landing," he asked, looking down at her face, which was bathed in the flickering glow of the fire.
Claire hesitated momentarily, her eyes distant as if recalling memories long buried. "It was... difficult," she admitted, her voice soft but steady.
"But I learned to adapt, to use what resources I had at my disposal to survive."
Percy nodded, understanding all too well the hardships that life could impose on those who were forced to confront them.
"What brought that about?"
Her eyes were inquisitive as they started into his, and Percy felt his face heat up as he tried to come up with a reason for the sudden curiosity.
"I realized that I don't know as much about your past as I would like, so I am trying to rectify that. What made you leave King's Landing and come to Winterfell?"
Claire's gaze never wavered from Percy's as she considered his question. It wasn't one that she had been prepared to answer, so she went with a version of the truth she could sell.
"My family was always very traditional, and they wanted me to follow in their footsteps," she began, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But I wanted more out of life than just being a political pawn."
Percy nodded sympathetically. He knew all too well the weight of familial expectations and how it could feel suffocating.
"I left King's Landing and came to Winterfell because I wanted a fresh start, away from everything that was expected of me," Claire continued. "And then I met you."
Percy couldn't help but feel admiration for the woman beside him. She had shown incredible strength and bravery by leaving everything she knew behind for a better life, yet another thing he could relate to.
"And what brought you to Winterfell specifically?" he asked curiously.
"I heard about Lord Stark's reputation as a fair and just ruler, and I hoped that I could find refuge there," Claire explained with a small smile.
Percy nodded at that, pulling Claire closer to him as he lost himself in his own memories of how Eddard Stark had shown him kindness and had really helped catapult him up in status when he first arrived in this new world.
He continued to hold Claire for a bit longer before deciding to retire for the night, only to look down and see the woman asleep at his side.
Chuckling under his breath, the demigod picked the woman up and carried her back to their tent, careful not to wake the redhead. After getting her in the sleeping bag with himself cuddled up next to her, he managed to close his eyes and let sleep take him.
His thoughts lingered on the next two weeks as they traveled to Winterfell and the reason for his summons.