Chapter Text
Months of bliss had passed until danger was once again on the eldest princess's doorstep. The sunrise had been beautiful as the sunset the night before had been. The day started out perfectly, Aremis woke up at sunrise inside a pale gray and white cabin. The morning beams just starting to enter around the black curtains, making the walls shimmer with silver light. Diana's cabin had become her home. Her sister may have decided their place was among the people of Minerva's cohort, but she still had Zoë and Thalia at an arms reach within the silver cabin.
The two girls were still sleeping when Aremis slipped out of the cabin, grabbing her bow and a cloak. She tossed the light fabric over her shoulders to keep the morning chill away as she hurried across the grass to the edge of the large clearing. She gazed around before stepping into the wood. Artemis walked for a few minutes and once the camp was hidden from her view by the towering trees, she stopped.
She knew that she should feel afraid. Afraid of the still dark wood and the long shadows the trees cast across the dewed grass. Afraid that if something came for her, no one may hear, even if someone did they may not reach her in time. But the morning air mixing with fresh soil, the wind whistling through the large trees and green leaves, calmed her. Made her feel like she was home. She had never felt this back inside her castle, even under piles of fur blankets, wrapped in fine silks and sitting on a soft feather bed.
She took a deep breath of the cool morning air before sitting down on a damp log, not minding as the water socked into the trousers she had pulled on that morning. She waited only a minute or so more before she stepped into sight. The silver doe stood up tall and proud. Her coat shinning as the golden horns reflected the light that slipped through the treetop.
Artemis smiled as she stood up and moved forward, lifting her hand to the doe. The creature placed her forehead into the outstretched hand without hesitation. The elf smiled as she began to stroke the does head, the soft fur was glowing silver. The doe let out a sound that could be described as purring. A small smile slipped across Artimeses face.
"You left without me," a calm voice called out gently from behind the two. Artemis's smile widened as she turned to watch the taller elf walk into the clearing. Zoë wore an ensemble similar to Artemis's but with the edition of a small silver circlet that was attached with a silver ribbon. Said ribbon was long and after being tied in a secure knot, was braided into her hair which fell down her back.
Days after Artemis's elvin discovery, Zoë had hers. The Diana cohort was sitting in the library along with Athena and Reyna. It was a beautiful building made out of living trees that were formed to grow together and create a large dome out of trunks and branches. The floor was soft green moss and was light with fireflies. No one was sure how or why they stayed light all the time, but the room was never dark. Either filled with the tiny bugs light, or theirs and the suns.
Zoë walked quickly up to Artemis with a worn leather book in her hands, the title was written in silver script but Artemis could not make out the words. Zoë slid onto the bench, in the spot adjacent to Artemis flipping the book open quickly to a yellowed page filled with different shades of blues and written in the same silver script.
"My lady look," Zoë was quiet and breathless, the wonder clear in her soft voice. Artemis focused on the page and saw the title of the chapter, her eyes widening as she read, " River Heart Elf "
"Your elf kind...?" Artemis guessed. Zoë nooned once and turned her attention back to the page rereading it as Artemis absorbed the information written on the page.
"River Heart Elfs, patrons of the water. They are themsleves already powerful, being able to work with and control with the tides of even the mightest rivers. But when paried with a Night Shine elf, their power is doubled. Though their has been very few combinations of these two becaseu of their liklyness to arguee over which is more powerful. These elves have been known to prefer that seaside and are thefor uasly found on the outskirts of lands..."
The book continued on with descriptions and other bits of information but neither elf needed to read it, they already knew that Zoë was more than human and most likely an elf. But they now had a name and though she wouldn't admit it to most, Zoë was delighted.
"River Heart" Zoë breathed out softly, her head directly to the left of Artemis. When she talked, the moon elf could feel Zoë’s breath on her neck. She flushed but didn't make any attempt to move, nor did Zoë.
"I thought you would want to sleep in, It must have been tiring for you to show off your extraordinary archery skills to the rest of the campers," Artemis said with a slight smirk. "I thought you would appreciate the extra sleep-" darling, MY darling, beautiful, love... my love. Artemis snapped her mouth shut with a click before she could say something they would both regret.
"My lady, I've come with you evey morning you have come to greet her. Today is no diffrent." Artemis fought the blush that tried to creep across her pale cheeks. She has been calling you that for years , don't start acting weird now!
"Well, I will rember that for next time," Artemis could almost swear she heard Zoë mumble 'you better.'
"Has she given you a name yet?" Zoë asked as she made her way towards the doe. Placing her hand on the soft fur of its neck, she began to lightly stroke the creature.
"Mmm, no," Artemis said softly, "But she’ll say will when she ready, until then, I will wait."
"Most have given their Asseros a name if they don't provid one. If its not rude to ask, let me ask, why have you not?" Zoë questioned turning to look fully at the shorter girl who would not look her in the eyes. Artemis Kept her head pressed into the deer's coat to keep from looking at the taller elf, for fear of her seeing the blush that had spread.
"It dose not feel right... I don't want to call her something she may not like. So until I have a name... I'll just wait." Zoë hummed, not asking her to elaborate.
The rest of the day passed in peace and a new normalcy, Artemis joined her sister in the library to read and munch on honey toast before continuing with their days. It was midafternoon and Artemis was exiting the library when she heard panicked shouting.
"Get help!"
"We need bangdes!"
"Eveyone out of the way, we needed these people at the infirmary yesterday!" She began to move towards the shouting hoping to provide assistance.
"Move"
"Get help!"
"Thats my freind!"
"What happend?"
"Soldiers from Mytikas attacked!" Artemis froze at the sound of the city’s name. Campers rushed past her to help, to get others, to prepare the infirmary, to clear people out of the way, to spread the news. People from Mytikas attacked, people could be dead, people got hurt. Artemis's blood turned to ice, she stood perfectly still, rooted to the ground.
I thought we were safe. I thought I would never have to see them again. I thought I was safe. I was told I was safe. I was told we were safe from them. I thought...
"Artemis!" Someone yelled. Annabeth, that’s who yelled. The girl came running up to her bearly out of breath. "You said that you have medical experience, right?"
"I, yes, but-"
"Okay we need the help, come with me," she tugged on Artemis's hand before turning and dashing back to the infirmary. Artemis stood for a few moments before she also broke into a run. She could at least try and help the people that had been hurt by her father.
She arrived at the infirmary and thanked all the gods for her strong stomach and experience, because the sight was... There was blood on everything and everyone. It stained the clothes and bed sheets of the patients, and the gloves and hands of those trying to help. Some people were missing limbs and almost all of them had tears streaming down their ash-covered faces or in their eyes. The room was loud with groans of pain, yelling for help and supplies, and curses at the king.
That was not the worse part of it, the worst part by far was how old the people were. Children, my father has injured and-
"We need to go back!" a girl of about ten screamed, "my brother is still there!"
"Shut up!" an older child responded. "He's dead! Theres no point going back!" This only made the girl cry harder, gripping her bleeding arm. ... and killed. My father has injured and... and killed children.
"I need some help over here!" Someone near Artemis yelled, she snapped out of her trance and hurried over to help. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of bandages, screams, blood, and curses at Mytikas.