Chapter 22 – A Moonlit Confession
The night at Camp Half-Blood was peaceful, the sky dotted with stars that shone like tiny diamonds. Percy, now immortal, was sitting near the lake, his light green eyes fixed on the calm waters. Despite his immortality and the weight of battles, he always found peace in this place.
He heard light footsteps behind him, so soft that he almost didn't notice them. Turning, he saw Artemis walking towards him. Her face was illuminated by the moonlight, and her silver eyes shone with an unusual intensity.
"Artemis." Percy stood up, a soft smile on his lips. "I didn't expect to see you here so late."
She stopped a few feet away from him, her gaze steady but hesitant.
"Percy, I need to talk to you."
Percy tilted his head, curious. He noticed that there was something different about her, something more vulnerable.
"Of course. What happened?"
Artemis took a deep breath, gathering her courage. For centuries, she had carried her independence and oath like shields. But now, with Percy, she felt exposed in a way she never imagined possible.
"Percy..." she began, her voice firm but tinged with emotion. "All my life, I have believed that love was a weakness, something that bound mortals and even gods to unnecessary pain and regret. That is why I swore my oath."
Percy remained silent, respecting the space she needed.
"But since you came back to camp, something has changed in me. I have seen in you something I have never seen in anyone else before." Artemis looked away, as if fearing judgment. "You are honorable, loyal, incredibly strong, but also kind. Unlike any other man I have ever known."
Percy swallowed, surprised by the direction the conversation was taking.
"Artemis, I..."
She held up her hand, interrupting him.
— Please, let me finish. I have spent millennia ignoring the feelings I now feel. I don't know how to deal with this, but I know I can't ignore them any longer.
Artemis took a step forward, moving even closer to Percy, her eyes shining with a mixture of determination and vulnerability.
"I love you, Percy Jackson. And I want… I want you to be the first and only in my life."
Before Percy could react, Artemis leaned into him, her lips meeting his. The kiss was intense, but also charged with emotion, as if every doubt and fear she had had disappeared in that moment. Percy, taken aback, took a few seconds to respond.
When the kiss ended, they remained close, their breathing ragged. Percy looked into her eyes, his voice low but full of emotion.
"Artemis, this is… unexpected, but it's also something I never imagined would happen."
Artemis nodded, her eyes still locked on his.
— I don't know what the future holds, but I know I want you in it, Percy. And I want you to be by my side, in every way possible.
Percy took her hands in his, his expression serious.
"Artemis, this is a big decision, especially for you. I know what your oath means, and I would never ask you to abandon it."
She smiled softly, squeezing his hands.
"I'm not doing this for you, Percy. I'm doing it because I finally realized that I don't want to live bound by an oath that no longer represents who I am. You helped me see that."
Percy hesitated for a moment, then smiled.
"Then I guess we're in this together."
Artemis laughed, a rare but genuine laugh.
"Yes, we are."
As the night wore on, Percy and Artemis sat by the lake, talking about what this new path meant to them. Artemis spoke about her conversation with Styx, explaining that she had one moon cycle to decide whether to permanently break her oath. Percy stood by her, promising to stand by her side no matter what she chose.
As the sun began to rise, bringing a new day to Camp Half-Blood, they both felt that something significant had changed. Not just between them, but within themselves.
Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, had found something she had never sought, but now seemed impossible to ignore. And Percy, the Hero of Olympus, was ready to face this new chapter with her, whatever fate awaited them.
That dawn, Percy and Artemis were no longer just a legend and a goddess. They were two souls who, against all odds, had found a unique connection. The journey would not be easy, but they were ready to face it together.
Chapter 23 – The Irrevocable Bond
The night was silent at Camp Half-Blood. The light of the full moon spilled over the forest, creating a magical landscape of shadows and silver. Artemis walked beside Percy, feeling a calm and an inner tension she had never experienced before. Her heart, normally so controlled, beat hard in her chest.
Ever since their kiss by the lake, something undeniable had formed between them, and now, beside the man who had changed her worldview, she felt ready to cross a line she had never imagined crossing.
"Percy, are you sure about this?" Artemis asked, her voice firm but thick with emotion.
Percy turned to her, his gaze as clear and resolute as the seas Poseidon ruled.
"I have no doubt, Artemis. But the question is: are you?"
She took a deep breath, letting the silence hang for a moment before answering.
— I spent millennia avoiding any kind of connection like that. Not because I didn't want it, but because I believed it made me stronger. Now, I realize I was wrong. It's you I want to share this moment with.
Percy nodded, his eyes shining with respect and affection.
— Then let's leave the past behind.
They arrived at a small cabin isolated in the forest, away from the hustle and bustle of the camp. Artemis, with a gentle gesture, opened the door, revealing a simple but welcoming space, illuminated by the moonlight that came through the windows.
The silence between them was not uncomfortable, but full of expectation. Artemis turned to Percy, her gaze more vulnerable than he had ever seen.
— I'm not good at moments like this, Percy.
He smiled, approaching slowly.
— We don't have to be perfect, Artemis. We just have to be ourselves.
She nodded, feeling encouraged. Then, slowly, Artemis removed the silver cloak she always wore, letting it fall to the floor. Percy stood still, watching her, not as someone who worshipped a goddess, but as an equal, someone who understood the weight of this moment.
"You are beautiful," he said, his voice low but full of sincerity.
Artemis blushed slightly, something that rarely happened, but she didn't look away.
"And you are the first man who has made me feel this way."
When Artemis approached Percy, it was with a mixture of nervousness and determination. They sat on the bed, and she touched his face gently, taking in every detail.
"You made me question everything, Percy. About my place in the world, about who I am…"
Percy took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.
"And I never imagined that someone like you could see me as more than a hero."
Artemis smiled, and in that moment, she realized that what she was about to do was not an abandonment of who she was, but rather a step toward something new.
They lay together, the connection between them stronger than words could describe. Artemis felt something she had never experienced before: a deep heat that seemed to burn not only her body, but her soul as well.
What Aphrodite Always Said Afterward, as they rested side by side, Artemis remained silent, her eyes fixed on the ceiling of the cabin. Percy watched her closely, respecting her space as she processed the moment. Finally, she spoke.
"So that's what Aphrodite always said."
Percy frowned, confused. "Said what?"
Artemis turned to him, her silver eyes shining with a mixture of emotion and understanding. "That love is not just a feeling. It's a force. Something that changes us, that makes us want to be better, not for ourselves, but for those we love."
Percy smiled softly, taking her hand in his.
"And what do you think?"
She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before answering him.
"I think Aphrodite was right. I always avoided what she represented, but now I see that there is power in love. A power I never understood until I met you."
Percy squeezed her hand, the determination in his expression clear.
"You are a goddess, Artemis. But you are also more than that. And I am here for whatever you decide."
Artemis sat up, her silver hair falling over her shoulders as she stared out the window.
"Percy, I am even more certain now of what I need to do. I want to break my oath. Not because I feel bound by it, but because I know that my future is no longer defined by my past."
Percy stood up beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Then we will face this together. No matter what Styx says or does, I will be by your side." She looked up at him, a genuine smile lighting up her face.
"Thank you, Percy. For everything."
As the moon continued to shine brightly outside, the two sat together, discussing what would come next. For Artemis, that night was not only the beginning of something new, but also proof that she was ready to embrace a new phase of her life.
And for Percy, it was the moment of realizing that, despite everything he had faced, there was still room in his life for something as simple and as powerful as love.
Chapter 24 – The Vow Broken
The full moon lit the sky, a reminder of the lunar cycle that governed Artemis's steps. She knew it was time. Percy had made it clear that he would stand by her side, but the final decision needed to be hers. This was a moment she would face alone.
Donning her silver cloak, the symbol of her position as Goddess of the Hunt and Chastity, Artemis walked toward the portal that would take her to the River Styx. The place was one of the oldest and most unchanging parts of the divine world, a place where promises and oaths were sealed and where her word, millennia ago, had defined her destiny.
As she walked through the darkness before the river, Artemis reflected. The weight of her decision was present, but she felt an unexpected lightness. There was no fear or regret in her heart, only a sense that this was the next step on her journey.
"Are you sure about this?" a voice echoed behind her.
She turned and saw Hestia, her sister, the Goddess of Hearth and Home. Hestia had a calm smile on her face, but her eyes were bright with concern.
"Yes, sister. I am," Artemis replied, her voice firm.
Hestia nodded, moving closer.
"I am not here to dissuade you, only to support you. I know this is a big step for you."
Artemis smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Hestia. Your presence means a lot to me."
With a silent nod, Hestia disappeared, leaving Artemis to walk alone.
When Artemis reached the banks of the River Styx, the surroundings were shrouded in dense darkness. The black water reflected an eerie glow, and the sound of ancient voices and murmurs of broken promises echoed in the air.
"Artemis." Styx's voice came like a soft thunderclap, reverberating all around.
The figure of the river personified itself emerged from the waters, a towering woman with hair as black as Styx himself, her eyes shining like distant stars. Her presence was overwhelming, but Artemis stood her ground.
"Styx, I have come to revoke my oath of chastity and virginity."
Styx tilted his head, watching her with interest.
"Millennials have passed since you made that oath, Artemis. It was what shaped your existence. Why do you now wish to break it?"
Artemis took a deep breath before answering.
"I have spent my entire life avoiding deep human connections, believing that it made me stronger. But now I see that love and vulnerability can also be sources of strength. I met someone who changed my outlook, who showed me that it is possible to be powerful without rejecting connection with another."
Styx remained silent for a moment, before speaking again.
"This is a decision that cannot be undone." If I break your oath, you will be free to follow your heart, but you will lose a part of the identity you have built over the centuries. Are you prepared for that?
Artemis nodded, his voice firm.
"Yes, I am."
Styx stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Artemis's.
"Your dedication to your oath over the millennia has been remarkable. And the man who awakened it in you is worthy of respect as well. Percy Jackson is no ordinary mortal. He has faced challenges few could overcome and kept his honor intact."
Artemis felt a warmth in his chest at Styx's words about Percy.
"He is. And that is why I know this is the right decision."
Styx raised a hand, and the water in the river began to glow brightly.
"Very well, Artemis. Out of respect for what you have done for the world and what Percy has done, I will break this oath without consequence to you.
A silvery glow enveloped Artemis, rising from her feet to the top of her head. She felt a strange warmth, as if an old part of herself was being removed, but at the same time, she felt more complete, as if a void she had never realized had been filled.
When the light faded, Styx watched her with a faint smile.
"It is done. You are free from your oath."
Artemis bowed slightly in respect.
"Thank you, Styx."
Before leaving, Styx spoke one last time.
"Use this freedom wisely, Artemis. Love is a powerful force, but it can also be dangerous. May your choice bring more light to the world than darkness."
When Artemis returned to Camp Half-Blood, the night was calm. Percy was waiting for her by the campfire, and when he saw her, he immediately stood up.
"How was it?" — he asked, concern and curiosity mingling in his tone.
Artemis smiled, a rare but genuine smile.
"I'm free, Percy. Free to follow my heart."
Percy took her hands in his, his green eyes shining in the starlight.
"And what does it say?"
Artemis reached out, touching his face gently.
"It says I chose you, Percy. And that I choose you every day from now on."
Without another word, Percy pulled her into a hug. There, under the stars and in front of the campfire, they sealed the beginning of a new chapter, together.
Artemis knew that her path would be different now, but for the first time in millennia, she did not fear the unknown. With Percy by her side, she was ready to face anything.
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