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Chapter Text

My mom and I had worked in the palace for as long as I could remember. She told me the stories of the gods, the Trojan War the king had left to fight in. That had been nineteen years ago, I’d been born around when the war had started. 

Queen Penelope was kind, she ensured my mother didn’t have to go near the suitors at my request. I took over her old jobs that revolved around the suitors. That meant putting up with their endless taunts and jabs. I’d learned to be quick witted and even quicker on my feet. 

That didn't stop me from getting in trouble with them, despite my efforts Mom had spent ever growing amounts of time wrapping wounds. 

I was well known around the palace staff, the whoreson servant who didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. That was fine. I’d clean up my mother’s reputation and make the people who doubted me pay eventually. 

Mom didn’t talk about my dad. Said he left when she was pregnant, told me he was lost at sea. Not dead, just lost at sea. I rolled my eyes at that nowadays, where the hell was he? And why wasn’t he helping Mom and I? Mom had claimed that he had loved her, he would’ve loved me, I doubted that. 

I’d seen what love was, that was what the Queen had for her husband and son, what Mom had for me. 

I was serving the suitors, making a huge effort not to run my mount and get in another fight at my mother’s wish. I was nineteen, the only thing keeping me here was my mother. 

“Pour me another glass, little bastard.” Euryphemus ordered. 

I bit my tongue, doing as ordered. Then he deliberately “spilled” the wine all over me. My blood was boiling, don’t react, I told myself, repeating my mother’s words, just let them humiliate me. 

Another suitor snorted, “Acts just like his whore mother.”

I cleaned the spill, “My mother is not a whore.” I grit out. 

“Where’s your father, little shark?” Antinous taunted, “Off at sea with our dead king?”

I felt my anger only building, “And where’s your respect for your hostess.” I snapped back, “She’s housed you here for nineteen years and yet you treat her as if she’s a toy rather than your ruler.”

Antinous grinned that monster-like smirk, “A king is a ruler, a queen is—”

“A queen is what.” A familiar male voice spoke up, Prince Telemachus, he was holding dozens of scrolls, leveling each suitor with a look. 

The prince wasn’t a fighter, he avoided the suitors at all costs. So why was he here now?

“Don’t stop at my account, Antinous.” Prince Telemachus smirked, “What were you saying about the ruling Queen of Ithaca?”

Antinous scowled and walked away. I finished cleaning and went to stand to see Telemachus holding a hand out to me. I blinked, but hesitantly accepted the help up. 

“Thank you, your majesty.” I murmured, going to walk away. 

“You can just call me Telemachus.” He interjected, “We’re the same age and there’s no need for formalities.”

I chuckled, “On the contrary, you are the prince, I am the servant. There’s much need for formality.” I replied with a small bitter undertone. 

Prince Telemachus smiled, smiled? “I’ve seen you around, you’ve got a bit of a reputation.”

“I’m aware.” I said, crossing my arms, expecting to be told off. 

“Good, that’s something to be proud of, not many people in this world refuse to conform to what others want them to do.”

My mind halted, “What?” I found myself saying. 

The prince laughed, “I’m not your supervisor, nor am I the current ruler, but I am the Prince. And I see no issue with your attitude. The suitors need someone to put them back in their place.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, “Thanks?”

He nodded, walking away with a smile. I stayed there, dumbfounded by the conversation I’d just had. What had just happened? Against better judgment I found my face warming as I thought over what had happened. 

I shook my head, looking down to my wine stained clothes. I groaned, walking back to the room Mom and I shared. 

She gasped when I walked in, “Percy, are you alright, what happened?”

“I’m fine.” I told her, “I didn’t even throw a punch.”

Mom smiled that tired smile, “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I fidgeted with the sand dollar Mom claimed that my father had given her before he left. She’d given it to me when I turned twelve. She cleaned up my clothes as I sat watching. She didn’t let me help with this part, despite my begging. 

“What was it this time?” She asked with that old smile. 

I crossed my arms, “They called you a whore, I corrected them, nothing else.”

Mom nodded, “Then why are you covered in wine?” She pressed. 

“One of them poured it on me.” I muttered. 

She gave me a tight hug, “I’m proud of you.” She whispered in my ear. 

“For what?” I asked. 

She just kissed my cheek and went back to what she was doing. 

My mind went back to the conversation I’d had with the prince. 

Mom gave me a look, that look every kid should dread to see on your mothers face. Her lips quirked up, “Your blushing.”

My face grew hot, “I am not.”

She dropped it, but I knew it would come back to bite me. I got redressed and right as I finished another servant walked into the room, panting slightly. 

“The Queen wants to see you both.” She relayed. 

I saw the panic bloom in my mother’s expression, “Did she say why?” Mom asked nervously. 

The servant (I think her name was Amedia) shook her head, “Nothing of that.”

I cursed under my breath. Mom and I walked to the Queen’s chambers, guards allowed us to pass. Mom nervously knocked on the door. Queen Penelope opened it, and smiled when she saw us. 

“Come in.” She gestured inside, a beautiful tapestry was being worked on her loom, the olive tree bed seemed to almost glow with the evening light. 

“Have we done something wrong?” My mother asked. 

“On the contrary.” Queen Penelope smiled kindly, “I asked you here to raise your position, Sally.”

I thought Mom would die of a heart attack then and there. 

“What?” She managed  

“You’ve worked here longer than most, you’ve been nothing but loyal, and you do everything you are ordered without complaint. A large portion of the staff would soon rather meet Charon than that.” The Queen stated, “And as for Percy.” She smiled at me. 

“Whatever it is, Antinous started it.” I stated. 

Mom sighed, Queen Penelope just laughed, “If you’d like, I want you to train with the guard staff.”

My jaw fell open, “What?” The resemblance between my mom and I was clear just then. 

She met my eye, “My son walks through the palace daily, he’s watched you dodge attacks, use your wit to get your opponent to back down, and has said you have a natural talent that you use in your frequent fights. Of course it is completely option—”

“Yes.” I replied, I slapped my hand over my mouth, realizing that I’d interrupted the Queen. 

But she just smiled, “You’ll start training tomorrow, I trust you know where the field is.”

I nodded. 

Mom and I left straight after thanking her. We met each other’s eyes in shock. 

“Oh my gods.” Mom whispered. 

“Let’s fucking go!” I grinned,

She hugged me tightly again, “I don’t know what had you late today, but whatever it is, I think it caused all this.”

Telemachus, I realized. She pulled away, going to check in and see what her position was. I stood there. The Prince came up eventually. 

“What did you tell her?” I asked him, still feeling a bit giddy but in almost disbelief. 

Telemachus shrugged, “I told her the truth.”

“Thank you.” I whispered. 

He smiled, “Good luck with training, Perseus.”

Chapter Text

Getting incorrect information when it was important was, unfortunately, something I was very used to. Hence setting apart time that I knew would inevitably be wasted should I ask for help. That was still the case today. I went through maybe three untruthful directions before I found the training grounds. 

The captain scowled the second I walked into the field. Oh gods, this should be fun.

“You’re the new recruit?” He glared, looking me up and down.

“Yes.” I crossed my arms,

He rolled his eyes as if he thought this would waste his whole day. I felt my fists clench and found myself scowling back at this moron who thought I was a waste of space. The more cautious side of me reminded me of how temporary this was until I actually started training. The other side, which I found myself listening to more frequently, yelled at me to hit him in the middle of his smug-ass face.

“Let’s see what you can do, then.” The captain muttered, rolling his eyes as he grabbed a spare sword from the rack.

He held it out to me. I took it, knowing immediately that it was unbalanced and wouldn’t work.

“This is—” I started

“No complaining, we begin now.”

My eye twitched, I glared at the ground.

Don’t get kicked out on your first day, Jackson. I thought to myself, pulling into a messy defensive position.

He disarmed me in two seconds flat, knocking me onto the ground, and leveling his sword with my neck.

“That was pathetic.” He growled.

“Well maybe if you would give me a balanced swo—”

“No excuses.” He snapped, kicking the sword back at me, “We’re running this until you can manage to strike back.”

I felt my teeth grinding together, but I obeyed, picking up the sword. I tried to attack first this time, swinging the unbalanced blade sharply. It just made me lose my footing. 

This repeated again and again and again and again.

“A child has more coordination than you.” The captain actually spat.

I snapped, not being able to hold back my temper anymore, “A child has a balanced sword and is trained by a professional. This is just you trying to fuel your oversized ego!”

“Bench!” He yelled, “I have competent trainees to work with.”

My fists clenched, eye twitched. I wanted to throw at least one punch. Make this guy sorry for being such an asshole. I looked away, breathing out sharply, I stood, walking over to the fucking bench.

I sat, leg bouncing as I watched him actually teach the others. I sat up, scowling, Fine, I thought. If you won’t teach me, I’ll teach myself. 

After a full day of forcing myself to tolerate the berating and overall rudeness of the others I found myself back in my room. I stood, creeping back to the training grounds.

The first step of being able to fight was having a good weapon you’re competent in. I scanned the rack, trying to find one that was balanced enough for me to use. None of them fit my hand perfectly, most I could barely swing. Fine. I picked up the one that was at least a little more balanced than the others.

I turned to the dummy’s I’d set up prior. Copying what I’d watched the other trainees do. Slicing up its chest as I practiced moves.

I lost myself in the movements. It felt almost natural, like the blade was just another part of my body. Obviously it was unbalanced and I stumbled more often than I’d like to admit. But it felt like fighting was written into my DNA.

This turned into a routine. I became the cleaning boy at actual practices, the others spitting or laughing as I had to clean up their mess. It felt like time had reversed and I was still tending to the suitors as they mocked me and Mom. I forced myself to bite my tongue at every insult. 

At night I worked blisters and cuts into my hands as I trained, mimicking what I’d watched the others do every day. 

I swear I always felt someone watching as I trained and even when I was stuck cleaning. It always felt like two different people as well, coming from two different directions. 

“You missed a spot.” One of the idiots who actually got trained mocked, pouring the dirty water back onto the floor.

I closed my eyes forcing myself to breath rather than attack. The water seemed to bubble slightly, and all of the people laughing at me fell over. I looked up slightly, they were all soaked. Had they lost their footing?

“For soldiers you slip easily.” I smirked lightly,

They scowled, muttering something or other as they walked away, absolutely soaked. I’d be blamed for throwing the water onto them, I knew that, but it was totally worth it for now.

“Are you always cleaning up after their messes?” A voice asked, startling me slightly.

“Your Highness.” I nodded, “It’s nothing I’m not used to.”

“Shouldn’t you be training?” Telemachus looked over to the group of people training.

I blew out a breath, trying to keep from getting angry, “This is my assignment at the moment.” I managed.

Something settled in the prince’s expression, “I see..”

I looked from side to side, confused at his meaning.

“You’re not a servant anymore, Perseus.” He said suddenly, “Make them remember that.”

He started walking away.

“What?” I called after, standing and running after him, “Your Highness, if I may, you want me to pick a fight with them?”

The prince shrugged, “You have the reputation, Perseus, what are you going to do with it?”

“Why are you being so cryptic?” I muttered,

His silver eyes bored into mine, “You are far more capable than anyone wielding a sword out there, I’ve seen it. And yet, you allow them to treat you as if you are nothing. You are far greater than any of them could hope to be.”

My face felt hot, “You’ve been watching me!?”

He shrugged, “Make your move, Perseus, we’re all waiting to see what you do.”

He walked away.

“Why are you being so cryptic!” I yelled, 

I dropped my arms, looking down the hall that he’d left through. I didn’t understand half of what he said, but what I did understand, I was definitely using to be able to punch at least one of those fuckers in the face.

I went back to scrubbing the stones, it made me livid but I forced myself to do it. I bit my tongue. I watched what the other trainees were doing, noting it internally so I could replicate it tonight.

I blew out a breath, the prince was right about one thing, I needed to show these morons who they were fucking with.

Chapter Text

The night was quiet after my nightly practice. My hands were shaking as I wrapped them. Along with just pushing myself a bit too far, an unbalanced sword did far from wonders to practice with. It’d been around a week since I’d been put into training, and it did shit all. No matter what I did I wasn’t allowed to train with the others. 

Blisters, callouses, and cuts marred my hands. While nothing I wasn’t used to, it was annoying to clean up messes with soaked bandages. 

I blew out a breath, looking around the training yard. Time felt like it was in a limbo, I’d moved on from dealing with the suitors, but now, I was dealing with people near the same level. I wanted to fix my mom’s reputation and make them regret ever doubting me, but I couldn’t get anywhere when I was training myself. 

A loud breeze hit the outdoor arena, likely a storm seeing as the waves crashed violently along the bay. I didn’t move, I enjoyed the rain, the feeling of the drops on my skin making me feel stronger and more in control than I actually was.

“You know you can prove yourself.” A voice echoed against the walls.

I stood, drawing the blade that was far too unbalanced for a fight, but they didn’t know that, “Who are you, what are you doing here.”

A man walked out of the fog, he smiled, an expression that almost felt nostalgic. The main thing that struck me were his eyes, a swirling sea green that shifted every few seconds, likely mimicking the ocean at that second. 

“You can set that down, Perseus. I hold no ill will.” The strange man still looked incredibly uncomfortable.

I didn’t lower the weapon, internally I was deciding if it would be worth it to try fighting with the weapon. 

Suddenly he was in front of me and pushed the blade to face the floor with his hand. A line of gold coming from a minuscule cut. 

I felt my eyes widen, “You- you’re—”

He pressed his pointer finger to his lips, winking slightly. He handed me a scabbard, a sword still sitting inside.

“An unbalanced sword will never make a formidable weapon, Perseus.” The god snapped and the borrowed sword disappeared from my hand.

“Why- what- who?” I stuttered, holding his gaze.

He stepped back, “I’ve overstayed my welcome, good luck, Perseus.”

He disappeared in a flash, leaving the sensation of sea foam going down my arms. I just stood there, staring at the sword that had been placed in my hands. I had no doubt about at least one thing, that was a god, so why was a god helping me?

The next day was a mess of good and bad things. I got to the field after a night of no sleep whatsoever. I found Prince Telemachus there, waiting for something, likely someone. That person, evidently, turned out to be me.

“Perseus.” The prince grinned,

I blinked, looking around, then pointing at myself, “Me?”

“What other ones are there?” He noted,

I shrugged, walking over to him.

“How was your practice last night? I.. wasn’t able to watch.” He at least had the decency to look embarrassed about it.

“It was fine, I guess.” I answered, rubbing the back of my neck, still reeling from the obscure event that had occurred last night.

The prince’s expression shifted to annoyance as more people entered the training field. I turned around, unintentionally meeting the gaze of the captain. Realizing what the prince was about to do I grabbed his hand to stop him from charging the captain. 

“Don’t.” I hissed,

The prince frowned, “He needs to be giving you equal chance to—”

“With all due respect, Your Highness, it’s not a particularly good look on me if the prince is solving all my problems.”

The prince had a red tint to his cheeks, that was weird, why is he blushing. I released his hand, crossing my arms.

“Just let me handle myself, please.”

His blush deepened slightly, “Fine, just let me know if things get worse.”

I nodded, watching him walk away, not without giving the captain a dirty look. I shook my head in exasperation. I started walking over to where all the cleaning supplies were, but was stopped.

“Assessment day.” The captain said roughly, “Everyone is participating.”

The echoes of snickering trainees were evident, they were expected to pummel me. I shot a glare at each of them.

“Alright.” I replied, smirking lightly.

The fights were in tournament style. Two people going up against each other, then the winners went against each other, etcetera. I was going against one of the thick headed morons who knocked over my bucket the other day. He was a stereotypical fighter, big and burly, and clearly thick headed. Because we should always use stereotypes to make our personalities.

In contrast, though, I was skinny and lean, holding up the sword I’d been giving last night in a way that challenged the opposing side. 

I listened to each of the others snicker and whisper about how dead I was. I rolled my eyes, blocking them out and focusing.

Predictably, he attacked first, I dodged, parrying his weapon as I did so. His grip was sloppy despite the balanced weapon and more training. It slipped out easily. While he stumbled in shock, I snuck up behind him, knowing him to the ground with the butt of my sword, leveling the blade with the backside of his neck.

The silence in the arena was incredible. Many of them had their jaws slack, including the captain. I walked off without another word, sitting on the bench until my turn was up again.

The story remained the same. While some actually had some part of their brain, their hubris brought them down just as swiftly. I didn’t use the same strategy on all of them, no that would be too easy. But every single one I fought lost, staring up at me in shock and disbelief, with some even horror.

I was revealing in it, enjoying how lost they felt every time I won.

“Thought he was the janitor.”

“Hasn’t trained with us.”

“Too scrawny.”

Whispers at each of my victories, the captain was almost purple by the end of the assessment. 

I sheathed my sword back into the scabbard, a slight sea breeze wrapping around me. I felt good, that natural extension I had with the sword wasn’t just imaged, especially with a balanced sword. It was incredible how smooth and in control I felt. 

“Perseus.” The captain snapped, “With me, now.”

I froze for a split second, before following through with the order. He was marching me to the Queen’s chambers, I gathered that, but for what I didn’t know. I hadn’t even done anything.. this time. 

He pounded on the door with so much purpose you’d think it’d be an actual emergency. Which it wasn’t. If my guess was correct, someone’s ego was messed with and they wanted proof they were right.

Spoiler alert, they weren’t.

Queen Penelope opened the door herself, she spotted me first, a warm smile gracing her normally stressed expression, it changed the second she saw who I was with. 

“Captain.” She remarked coldly, “What is the meaning of this?”

“He’s been sneaking around the grounds at night, and has stolen a sword.” He replied, far too sharply to be responding to the acting leader of Ithaca.

“I see, may I see the weapon, Perseus.” She held out her hand.

I pulled it out the second she asked.

“This isn’t one from your stash.” Queen Penelope said sharply, “And as for the sneaking, that wouldn’t be necessary if you were training him with the others.”

The captain flushed, his face near white, “He- he wasn’t proficient enou—”

“It is your job to train new recruits, not people who’ve wielded a sword before. I am removing your title until you are capable of doing even that. For now, you can take over the janitorial duties you’ve been forcing on Perseus.” 

I bit down a smirk as I placed my sword back into the scabbard. 

“You are excused.” She spoke again, “Perseus, you stay.”

I stepped inside the queen’s room, spotting my mom sitting at a second loom.

“Percy.” Mom grinned, “I heard you did well in the assessment today.”

I blushed slightly, “Sure.”

“Come now, there’s no need to be that modest, it is an accomplishment.” Queen Penelope grinned, making her way back to the grander loom, “I wished to congratulate you on your training, you fight incredibly well for someone self taught.”

I fidgeted with the scabbard, “I adapt.”

“Sit.” It was spoken more like a question than an order.

I sat beside my mother, letting her fuss over my wrapped hands for a bit.

“Telemachus reported the attitude the former captain was portraying.” Queen Penelope said after a moment, “I apologize for his behavior.”

I shrugged, “It’s nothing I’m not used to.”

Mom grimaced a little bit.

“While true, that doesn’t mean it is how you should be treated. I’m incredibly impressed with your progress thus far, Perseus. Keep up the good work.”

I nodded, bowing before I left the room.

“Please tell me he was fired.” Prince Telemachus appeared out of nowhere.

I jumped at least three feet into the air, “Must you give me a heart attack every time I see you? And to answer your question, Your Highness, yes, he was.”

“Good. In any case, I watched the assessment, and it was excellent.” The prince grinned.

I felt my face warm quite a bit, “It was nothing exceptional.”

“It was far beyond exceptional.” Prince Telemachus mused, “I’d like to watch the rest in the future.”

“Don’t you already do that, Your Majesty?”

“Just call me Telemachus.” The prince sighed, “And while I do, I’d like it to be at your invitation.”

I blinked, “You can go wherever you want, you’re the prince.”

He closed his eyes as if he were praying for patience.

“I’m asking to spend more time with you, Perseus.” Prince Telemachus deadpanned.

“Okay?” I replied, still incredibly confused.

He walked away, muttering something to himself that I couldn’t make out. I shook my head, still very confused, and walked back to my room. I needed to rewrap the wounds on my hands and wash up. 

I smiled to myself as I wrapped my hands up again, things felt like they were beginning to look a bit better.