Annabeth did not attend the council meeting the following morning. Despite being hesitant to leave her side, Percy would not miss it and waited until Jason was nearby to leave. As such, he ended up arriving a few minutes late. Queen Athena was the only one who seemed affected by his tardiness, but even the slight raise of her eyebrow was not enough to make him apologise.

As if she had known what he was planning, Annabeth had spent all morning telling him not to be too harsh in deciding how to proceed with the prisoners. Many of them had simply fought for what they thought was right. Very few, according to her, had understood just what Kronos had planned.

That did not dissuade Percy from seeking a harsher punishment for the man who had tricked her and the one that had stabbed her. 

Although Percy only had an interest in what was done to the men directly involved in Annabeth's capture, the council would have to spend several days determining how to best handle the situation. With Kronos dead, they didn't have a major figure to pin the war on. By the second day, they had come up with a solution that Percy wasn't eager to share with Annabeth.

"They're putting it all on Luke." While he didn't feel any particular grief about this turn of events, he was worried about how Annabeth would take it.

The only sign that Annabeth heard him was in the way she pursed her lips.

"I argued for Nakamura," Percy offered. He hadn't argued very hard, but he felt it was worth mentioning. "He's already being tried for treason, though."

Nakamura had been an easy decision. He'd stabbed the Queen of Atlantis in an attempt to attack the King. Any other ruling would have seemed out of place and Percy was not eager to let the man go free. 

"Luke knew what he was getting into," Annabeth murmured. She wouldn't meet his eyes, but Percy tried not to take it personally. "When will he be sentenced?"

"Tomorrow morning."

They skipped it. 

Although Queen Athena had made several comments strongly recommending Percy and Annabeth attend the ceremony, Annabeth hadn't wanted to and Percy was not going to force her. Instead, they stayed in their quarters until well past the noon meal. Queen Athena did not seek them out.

The following days consisted of sentencing the remaining members of Kronos army. That, Annabeth and Percy did attend. 

Atlantis had agreed to hold half of the prisoners so that Athens wasn't overwhelmed. As a formality, they were present when Queen Athena made the announcement. Fortunately, there was not a sentencing ceremony for the hundreds of soldiers. Just an official proclamation. When it was finished, Queen Athena left without another word to either of them.

"I'm getting the feeling that our welcome is coming to an end," Percy murmured, his nose brushing against her ear.

"Perhaps we should excuse ourselves before then."

Her ankle was still irritated and it sometimes hurt to breathe, but she was in good enough condition to travel back to Atlantis. The few extra days of rest had been helpful and Will was a good doctor. Even the cut on her shoulder had stopped throbbing so much.

"I'll talk with Jason."

What Percy didn't tell her was that she would be the one to tell Queen Athena when they were leaving. Four days later, after he had spoken to Jason, he asked when she was going to break the news to the queen.

"You want me to do it?" Annabeth exclaimed. 

"She's your mother," he reminded her. Annabeth's eyes narrowed.

"I'll let you try that again."

The next morning, Percy broke the news to Queen Athena.

With both the Athenian and the Atlantian armies still raiding Kronos's remaining camps, Percy would have to remain in contact with Queen Athena. Fortunately, there was little more they would have to do. Kronos was taken care of and Jason had sent messengers to the Atlantian army informing them that Percy and Annabeth would be returning to Atlantis. When they were done with their attacks, they would be expected to return to Atlantis, not Athens.

"She didn't seem angry," Percy reported after meeting with Athena.

"She wouldn't appear it even if she was."

It wasn't exactly what Percy wanted to hear, but Annabeth kissed him shortly after and all was promptly forgotten. 

Several days later, their carriage was packed and Annabeth was saying a teary goodbye to Hazel, Frank, and Leo. Percy waited in the carriage to give them some privacy, but couldn't stop himself from peeking through the curtain just to make sure Annabeth was still there.

After several long minutes, she finally climbed into the carriage with red eyes. 

"We can come back," Percy murmured as the door latched behind her. 

Instead of taking the seat across from him, Annabeth sat pressed against him and pulled his hand into her lap without pause. 

"It's not the same."

Unsure how else to respond, Percy pressed a kiss to the side of her head and pulled open the carriage curtains so she could watch Athens as they passed through.

It would take several days to return to Atlantis, but it felt like weeks. By the time they arrived back at the palace, Annabeth's shoulder had turned an angry red and her whole body felt stiff. Despite the added blankets and cushions, every bump had been painful and her limp was back.

"Are you sure you want to walk?"

Percy eyed the stairs up to the palace as they came to a stop.

"Yes," Annabeth said firmly.

"But the court―"

"Is exactly why I'm going to walk," she interrupted.

Waiting at the palace doors were most of the court members. Percy wasn't sure if they had come to ask about the war, the relation with Athens, or simply to greet them, but he didn't like it. Especially with Annabeth insisting on walking up the stairs herself.

"Will is going to be so upset," Percy muttered as she moved towards the opening carriage door.

She scowled at him and with Jason's help, she hopped down. Much to Percy's surprise, she didn't stumble. He still frantically pushed his way out of the carriage and wrapped an arm under her uninjured shoulder.

"You don't have to do this," he said again, eyeing the court members above them.

Defiantly, Annabeth started up the stairs with Percy at her side.

"I'll do it without your help if you keep complaining."

It took many minutes to reach the top of the stairs where the court members were still waiting anxiously. Worried they'd snarl or argue with Annabeth, Percy attempted to slip past them without a word. Annabeth, however, had other ideas. 

She stopped in front of them and stared.

"Welcome back, Your Highness."

Several murmurs rose up, but none of them were in protest. Instead, they all welcomed them back to Atlantis before bowing first to Annabeth and then to Percy, who was certain he did not hide his surprise as well as he hoped.

"Any word on the war?" a duke asked. His eyes flickered between Annabeth and Percy. Behind him, another duke shifted uncomfortably. "And on the alliance with Athens?"

"The court will meet in the morning," Annabeth told him. Percy's gaze cut to her sharply, but he did not want to argue with her about needing medical attention more than a court hearing in front of said court.

"Of course, Your Majesty." The duke nodded politely before bowing again and stepping out of their way. The rest of the court followed suit.

Without another word, Annabeth continued into the palace with Percy at her side. As soon as they rounded the corner to their quarters, she slumped against him.

"You don't need to prove yourself to them," Percy murmured, hoisting her into his arms carefully. "I'll replace them."

"They'll respect me now," Annabeth told him. Her eyes closed and she grimaced.

"You still didn't need to prove anything."

Nevertheless, Percy knew she was right. Atlantis would know by now what had happened and any ill feelings or doubt towards Annabeth would be gone. Even if the court members didn't like her, they could no longer publicly show it or risk the kingdom revolting against them in Annabeth's defense. Percy would take care of them before then, of course, but there was no doubt about it now.

"I will be holding court tomorrow," Annabeth muttered from his arms.

Percy sighed. "Of course you will."

Annabeth laughed softly and Percy smiled.

"Don't think you'll be getting out of a medical exam, though," he told her firmly. "Will is going to be horrified to learn that you walked up those steps and I'll let him scold you about it."

She laughed again but he really did let Will scold her and when Will told her that she was officially confined to bed rest, it was his turn to laugh.

The End