Chapter Twenty-Three- I Get Un-Grounded
Posted: Wednesday 15th May 2024

The days went by slowly, but I tried to push my worries to the back of my mind as I was unable to do anything about them.

Initially, conversations with Apollo were like treading on eggshells around what I could and couldn't talk about. But it became easier to avoid the topics that may set off the magic that bound me.

I had no news from the mortal world as the Olympians had almost completely withdrawn from interactions with even their own children. It also seemed as if any information Apollo did have, he was unwilling to share because he didn't want to risk me getting tongue tied again.

I spent more time with Artemis than I ever had, she was just as uncomfortable as I was being cooped up on Olympus as she hadn't spent that much time there in a very long time, preferring to be with her hunters.

But it was easy to forget my worries when I had uninterrupted time with Apollo. This time, we were able to explore Olympus together and he showed me many of his favourite spots.

The last night of May found the two of us in bed, our limbs wound tightly together as he stroked my shoulder absentmindedly.

"It's June tomorrow." He said simply.

"I know," I said.

"Are you leaving?"

"I don't know," I admitted, I had heard nothing from my mother since she had banished me to Olympus in December, but she had said I would only need to stay on Olympus until June.

"I'm worried about the prophecy," Apollo said tentatively, "the Seven are gathering, we have another war on our hands. Gaia is rising, I don't know which side Nyx will take, I worried I might not see you again for a long time."

"I'll be okay," I purposely avoided acknowledging what he said about the prophecy.

"I want you to stay here where you're safe," Apollo said.

I wanted to tell him that I likely wouldn't have a choice, that if Nyx wanted me to leave Olympus in June, it would happen. But I couldn't speak. I smiled sadly at him.

"But you can't stay can you?" Apollo asked.

You will leave in June, Nyx had said. I knew that at some point in the next month I would be forced to leave.

"I'm going back to Camp Half-Blood in the morning," I decided.

"Do you have to?" Apollo asked, without him saying the words I knew he was asking if my mother had ordered me to.

"I don't have to," I said, "But I think I can. If there is a- I want to be there for my friends."

He seemed to understand what I wanted to say, that if there was a war, I wanted to fight on the side of Olympus as long as I was able to. As long as Nyx allowed me to.

He held me tighter to his chest. "Please be careful Ri."

"I'll try."

*

The only way off of Olympus was to shadow travel. When I stepped into the darkness I wasn't surprised to find my mother standing there waiting for me.

She smiled and I fell to my knees again in front of her, a chill running down my spine as I did.

"You may go to camp," Nyx said without bothering to greet me.

"Thank you mother," I said.

"For now, our loyalties remain unconfirmed," she continued, "you will do what you feel is right, until I tell you otherwise."

The darkness around me abated and I found myself kneeling atop Halfblood Hill.

The camp looked the same as ever and after taking a deep breath I headed off towards the Big House where Chiron was sat on the porch watching me approach with interest. Annabeth stood beside him.

It was clear they had been mid conversation before they had spotted me, but now Annabeth stood staring at me with her hands on her hips.

"Ariadne where have you been?" Annabeth demanded.

"Oh you know me," I said, trying to adopt a lighthearted tone. "Here, there everywhere."

Annabeth fixed me with a doubting look.

"Okay, I'm sorry, I went looking for Percy and then I was called to Olympus."

"For six months?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah, the gods don't really have much of a concept of how long that is for a mortal," I said. "Did you find Percy?"

Annabeth frowned, "no, he's at- there is another Camp, one for the children of the Roman gods. Jason- you remember Jason right?- he's from there. Hera swapped Percy and Jason to act as a bridge between the camps."

"He wasn't at Camp Jupiter when I was there," I said, confused. Then I realised my mistake when Annabeth's face darkened.

"I knew it!" She said, "I knew that there was no way you didn't know about Camp Jupiter!"

"I'm sorry okay! Please, I've had no news for months, what's going on Annabeth?"

"We're building a boat to sail to the ancient lands," Annabeth said, "the prophecy has begun. Jason, Leo and Piper freed Hera, the giants are rising, they want to awaken Gaia, the only way to stop her is for seven half-bloods, Greek and Roman to sail to the ancient lands and stop them. What do you mean you've had no news for months? You said you were on Olympus."

"Remember Annabeth, Olympus is closed," Chiron said, "I imagine the gods know what's going on, but I don't imagine Zeus would want Ariadne to remain informed."

"Yeah," I agreed, "so the pro-" once again my words caught in my throat. I had half hoped that Nyx's orders would have expired with my June deadline, but no, I was still unable to discuss the things that she had banned me from talking about.

"The Great Prophecy has started yes," Chiron said, ignoring my momentary loss for words. Maybe he took it as me being so shocked about what I had heard that I was speechless.

"What's going on with the gods?" Annabeth asked.

"Not much, I spoke to Hera, she thinks that-" I stoped again as the headache was beginning to form.

Annabeth noticed that something was wrong this time and looked at me with concern, "are you okay?"

I shrugged, "there are things I'm not allowed to talk about, sorry."

I massaged my temples lightly, trying to rid myself of the headache.

"Not allowed?" Annabeth repeated, "by who?"

I just grimaced, "sorry."

Chiron looked at me knowingly and I wondered if he knew exactly what was happening to me. Annabeth however just looked more confused.

"Well I was just about to go and check on the progress of the Argo II, do you want to join?" She asked.

"Sure, I could do with a walk," I mused, "like I said, I've been stuck on Olympus for months."