Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Thalia POV

I let the arrow fly towards the stag, if it hits, and it most definitely will, it will kill it. As I watched the arrow fly it appeared to get hit by another arrow.

”the Hades?” I muttered this was a solo mission, I swear to God if someone is stealing my mission. I looked towards where the arrow came from, I saw a figure crouching on a larger branch of a nearby tree, the figure had a forest green cloak that covered the figure almost completely, the figure also had two daggers of unknown material on its hips. Strangely enough, its eyes are slightly glowing green, it had an arrow notched but not drawn.

”Yo, Piss off that was my kill!” I shouted at the figure, unfortunately, the stag was long gone.

In response to my shouting the figure pulled back its arrow, fired it at my feet, and disappeared into a swarm of leaves. I looked down at the arrow and noticed there was a note tied to it, I grabbed it not to see what it said.

”You are intruding on lord Cernunno's sacred ground, leave, for you have not paid the toll,” the note said, below the text, there is a stamp with one of those swirly Celtic things

“The Hades is this, maybe lady Artemis knows who this “Cernunnos” is, I guess I could also ask Chiron, man, I’m glad we’re visiting camp for a bit” I muttered to myself “Though I do wonder who that figure was? Well I better head back to camp and I might as well ask”

As I walk through the forest I can’t help but feel like I’m being watched, and yet I don’t feel like I’m in any danger at the moment. I hear the whistle of an arrow and the thud of an arrow hitting a tree, I look to my right, and boom another arrow with a note, I grab the note

” You're going the wrong way Thalia Grace daughter of Zeus, hunter of Artemis, and elder sister of Jason ‘staple eater’ Grace, you're supposed to head northeast not northwest,” the note says with the same stamp

“How the Hades do you know my name? And how do you know Jason?” I ask the figure who is watching me, I feel extremely freaked out. Another whistle of an arrow and this arrow splits the last arrow in half. I grab the note on this new arrow

”I know everything that happens in forests, please leave a toll of 4 or more drachma or whatever coins you use at the root of the largest tree at the end of the forest, you’ll know it when you see it,” The note Said

“Why should I pay a toll?” I ask, perplexed but deciding to just pay it.

I did not get an answer, so of course I walked northwest because it’s super smart to follow the cryptic archer's directions.

Two hours later at camp Half-Blood Longhouse

“Chiron I have a question,” I asked Chiron 

“What is it, Thalia?” Response Chiron 

“Do you know someone named Cernunnos?” I asked

”Hmm, I believe I remember some ancient deity Named that, I believe he was a god of plenty, though may I ask why?” Response Chiron

I pulled out the notes and showed them to him,” These were sent to me via an arrow, I did see the figure who sent them, I think it’s a he, he was dressed in a green cloak that hid every feature other than his glowing green eyes.” 

“That is very… interesting, and did you give him the coins he asked for?” Chiron asked

“Yes, should I not have?” I responded

“No, I don’t think there was anything wrong about giving him coins, especially since he mentioned a ‘Toll’ whatever that is. Unfortunately, I don't believe I can help anymore, try asking Lady Artemis” responded Chiron 

“Well goodbye Chiron thank you for your time, Ill go do just that,” I said

”good she might know more about a god of the hunt” responded Chiron 

I leave the porch of the long house and walk towards the Artemis cabin, it looks like it might rain, and not a lot of people are doing outdoor activities, I see Annabeth come up to me, she joined the hunt after Percy got kicked out of camp, none of us really believed he would join Tartarus but we couldn't do anything Zeus just declared him banished and Athena made Annabeth break up with him, she was so heartbroken she decided to join the hunt 

” How did the hunt go to Thalia?” She asked

“Not good” I sighed

“Why? You're a great shot I can’t think of any reason why you would miss” responded Annabeth

“I would have hit but someone shot my arrow down, and that person is some follower of some old Gaulish god of plenty or something” I responded

”Really? That’s interesting, do you know what this specific god is named? I took a course on other pantheons at New Rome before I Joined” she said

”I think he’s named something like Cernunnos“ I responded”

“Cernunnos? Uhh, can't remember anything off the top of my head, try asking lady Artemis. I'll get back to you if I remember anything” said Annabeth

“Will do, thanks anyway” I said as I walked away

”Bye Thalia,” says Annabeth as she walks off

I continue to walk toward the Artemis cabin.

I enter the cabin and approach Lady Artemis and ask “Lady Artemis may I ask a question?” 

“Yes, you may Thalia, what is it?” Responds Artemis 

“Well, do you know of any god named Cernunnos?" I inquired "I believe Chiron said he was a Gaulish god"

"Cerrunoes, hmh, I Believe that he was the horned Gaulish god of Plenty, Why?” responded Lady Artemis looking slightly confused

I show her the notes and she reads them, "On my hunt, I sort of ran into a servant of Cerunnos in the forest"

"A servant of Cernunnos? Could you describe them to me?" responded Lady Artemis

"Well the figure appeared to be male and had a forest green cloak covering everything other than his right eye, his right eye was glowing green for some reason, he also had a bow and an arrow quiver, plus two daggers on each hip, I don't know what the daggers were made out of," I responded

"I see, did you ever feel like you were in danger from him?" asked Lady Artemis

“No, he seemed to be mostly focusing on getting me out of that region of the forest which is his lord's realm" I answered

"I see, well from what we know we aren't at much risk from any hostile actions so I'll just instruct the huntress to avoid that track of the forest, is there anything else?" said Artemis

"No ma'am" I responded

Chapter Text

Johnny/ The dude who caused Percy to get banished Pov

" My faithful Servant our plan will soon commence, thanks to your efforts we won't have to worry about that Son of Posiden, " Lord Tartarus said in my mind

"Thank you, master, I live to serve you. Is there anything else you wish me to do to help our efforts?" I responded. 

I did not get a response so it must be a no. It's still quite hard to believe how I, a single Aphrodite demigod, manipulated some of the gods into thinking the man who saved them twice was a traitor, My only regret is that I couldn't make the camps believe he was a traitor Though I have to wonder, what happened to Percy after he got banished, I'm sure he must have got killed by some monster by now since he does not have riptide anymore.

Thalia's POV at the camp bonfire at night

"So Rachel, any Prophecy for the whole servant of some Gaulish god thing?" I asked Rachel

"Nope, Though I can feel like a prophecy will happen soon, who knows maybe soon is like a hundred years, the spirit of the oracle is-," She said as she got up from her seat, but then promptly fell back down, eyes glowing green, a green fog rolled out of her mouth and the voice of the oracle croaked out while pointing at me

" One shall travel alone,

To a place in the unknown,

And save the one of the green,

far away yet not unseen,

Learn of a secret so ancient and old,

But never take a breath

for you shall face death”

Once Rachel finished her prophecy she fell to the floor, her assistants rushed to pick her up, and put her on her seat.

“I guess that answers my question” I deadpan

I try to enjoy the rest of the night but it's kind of hard with the whole prophecy hanging over me, eventually, I get up to leave but Chiron asks if I would walk with him

“What do you think the Lines of the prophecy mean?” Chiron inquires

"Well, obviously the ‘one shall travel alone’ part means I'll go solo, ‘To a place in the unknown’ could probably mean a place outside of the god's control, ‘And save the one of the green’ Most likely the servant of that Gaulish god though I don't know how I'll save him, I don't know much else other than I'll learn some secret," I responded, this prophecy has been weirdly clear about what's gonna happen.

"Yes, that seems to make sense, though I am interested in the last two verses, ‘But never take a breath or you shall face death’ Is it literal on the breathing part, or is it just a hyperbole” responded Chiron, “that's all I needed to discuss with you right now, well talk more tomorrow once we've both had time to think on this properly"

"Ok sir, I'm gonna go head to bed," I responded

"Goodnight Thalia," Chiron says with a nod as he climbs the steps to the Big house

"Goodnight Chiron," I say as I start walking toward the Artemis cabin. what an eventful day today was, I got lost, met a servant of a Gaulish god, got a prophecy, and worst of all my pockets are 4 drachmae lighter

The Cloaked Man/Percy Pov

"Welp," I sigh to myself," Looks like the Greek gods are coming back to muddle in my business, why can't I just be left in peace, at least it’s Thalia, she didn't buy into the whole traitor crap" I extinguish the candle I have lighting up my tent, I get under the fur blankets of my bed and close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Three years before the last chapter

Percy’s pov

Laughs and other sounds of partying and general jubilation filled the surroundings as well as the halls of Fae Queen Spectra of the Court of Winter. The court was much different than it was on his normal visits, instead of the long tables that filled the dining room, the main hall being empty save for the grand thrown, and the quiet ballroom, there were instead the loud sounds of partying, drinking contests, and the warm crackle of sparks from the Yule Hearth filled the air in the once silent castle

I downed the Mead that was in my cup, it tasted like well, mead it also had a slight hint of juniper berries. 

“So, Percy, How have things been?” Labhran Mac’Thaidhg, my occasional drinking buddy asked me, if he was a Clúrachán, which means he’s only around a half-foot tall and a massive drinker

“Ehh, same old same old, patrol the hunting grounds, kill anything that is a threat, and guide the lost out of Lord Cerrunos’s domain, what about you?”

“Just drinking and pranking people, some may call it simple but I find it fulfilling” Labrhan Responded as he downed the mead. ”By the way, are you participating in the archery tournament?”

“Aye, I heard there is a special guest. Know anything about it?”

“The Annual Yule archery tournament is starting! All those who wish to compete or spectate should head to the tournament grounds” A Servant shouts causing the people at the bar to move to the field to watch the tournament

“Ah, well, we had better get moving if we want to make it,” I said as I stood up,” You will root for me right?”

“Aye, what kind of friend would I be not to root for you, and I'm sure plenty of others will root for you after all you are the champion of the Lord of Plenty” Labrhan responds as he gets up

I just nod in response before walking towards the tournament grounds.

They reached the tournament grounds, the tournament grounds looked quite similar to high school stadiums minus the football goals, there was one large archery goal

“Good luck, not that you need it,” Labrhan says as he walks to the bleachers to spectate

I nod in response before looking up towards the VIP box which holds Queen Spectra, who is very visible due to her alabaster white hair, next to her is a young woman with auburn hair, in fact, she looks a lot like Artemis.

Wait

“ Ah, shit ,” I think before quickly looking away,”  Okay, at least it's Artemis not Areas or something, she's never been outright malicious or anything. I can handle this, I look pretty different than i used to, so I should be good”

I awoke from that memory, one of the positives of technically not being a demigod is no longer having prophetic dreams, but being some weird half-fae does have its downsides, like being a weirdly terrible liar, either way, beats having prophetic dreams and being hunted down by overgrown cows

Thalia Pov

I woke up early in the morning, unfortunately, I wasn't able to get much sleep last night due to the thoughts racing through my head from the prophecy. I was wondering what exactly would happen while I was on my quest, specifically the never-take-a-breath part.

Unfortunately, I couldn't stay in bed all day thinking about the future and whether I may die a grizzly death or I may live another day to serve lady Artemis.

---

After eating breakfast, which normally is quite satisfying and lively but today it was unfortunately overshadowed by the doom and gloom of a prophecy

“You're leaving for the quest today right Thalia?” Annabeth quietly asks worried for my safety, she’d be absolutely crushed if I went and died , even ten years after Percy was banished she never quite got over him “Yup, but I’ll probably be fine Annabeth I seriously doubt there's gonna be anything I’ll have to worry about, I mean I'm Zeus's daughter and a huntress of Artemis”

“True, Just be safe…” Annabeth says softly

“Trust me, I will,” I respond as I get up to go pack, I should only need a change of clothes or two, ambrosia and nectar, a good amount of money, drachma and mortal, and of course my bow with a lot of arrows

“Well be heading out of camp in a few days so we’ll be gone when you finish this quest,” Reyna says, we’re standing right next to the tree that I used to be

“You have everything? Clothes, money, Ambrosia, and nectar?” Annabeth asks, she doesn't bother asking about my weapons after all it's hard to hide a bow and arrow

I rummage through my pack one last time,” Yup got everything”, I give a reassuring smile,” I'll be sure to Iris message you, especially if anything serious happens”

Annabeth gives me one last hug before I walk over the hill and to who knows where.

Well not exactly, I'm heading to that forest that servant of Cerrunos was hanging out in but that's less climactic

Chapter Text

As I'm getting up from my short break I hear the sound of a horse galloping through the woods, and the crack of a whip.

“And there’s a Dullahan.” I mutter to myself, somewhat confused. Dulahans only appear when someone is close to death, and since I'm nowhere near dying, someone else must be in these woods

I move to follow the Dullahan To wherever the person is, I’ll do my best to ensure they don't die. As part of my Oath, I Must offer my protection to all in My lord's domain, even if there are massive pricks

I eventually reached the clearing where whoever the Dullahan is forewarning is located, and I saw it Thalia

I drop down from the tree right as the Dullahan enter the clearing,  thalia looks quite surprised at both my entrance and the Dullahan’s ”Oi Dullahan, Piss off, She's in Lord Cerunos’s territory”

In response the Dullahan slumps over defeated, turns around, and rides away, somehow looking depressed

“You Again? What are you doing here, and what in hades was that thing” Thalia asks bewildered

“I'm here cause you're in my lord's domain if anything I should be the one asking why you're here, and that was a Dullahan” I respond

“You're right, I'm here on a quest, I don't know what I'm supposed to do on said quest, but I got a prophecy so…”

“Well, Since there was a Dulihan, I'm guessing somehow your quest leads to you dying, and I'm bound by contract to ensure no one dies within my lord's domain, so where are you headed?” I inquire

“That's the thing, I haven't the slightest idea other than it's a place unknown, wherever that may be. Any idea where that could be?”

“I can't say I do, but it is safe to assume that it's in the middle of the forest, and without a guide you're, well, fucked, so I’ll guide you” I reply as I start walking east, further into the forest.

“Thanks, I guess.” As she follows after me, after a few minutes” Uh, what should I call you, I keep referring to you as weird creepy cloak man in my head”

“The name Tauri, Tauri MacMhaolain I respond after a moment of thought, it's a good old Celtic name “Well, thanks for guiding me Cormac,” Thalia Said awkwardly before we lapsed into awkward silence.

After a while, I realize I should probably start some conversation, but what to talk about, i need something that won't clue her into my true identity…

“So, uh, How's Percy Doing, did he ever propose?” I ask, genuinely interested in what they think happened but also interested in keeping the fact that I am the famed Perseus Jackson hidden

Thalia’s expression darkens slightly at the mention of my name, even more so at the thought of me proposing to Annabeth, that part wasn't completely true, at most I was thinking about it.

“Percy was… How can I say this, Percy got banished and in all honesty, is most likely dead…” Thalia said quite saddened

“He was banished? Why, what happened”

“My dad claimed that Percy was secretly working for Tartarus, but nobody believed it, the only ones who supported Percy’s banishment were Athena and Areas”

“Yeah, that makes sense, heard he pissed those two off. How'd his girlfriend take it, Elizabeth was it?” I ask despite knowing the answer already, having seen her with the hunters when I passed by them

“She… she was heartbroken, she eventually joined up with me and the hunters of Artemis.” I just nodded not sure how else to respond before we laps back into a sad quietness, it is, unfortunately, going to be quite a hike

After another stretch of silence, Thalia eventually spoke up,” So uh, if you dont mind my asking, what exactly is you're whole, servant to Cerrunos thing about? Like, are you a mortal, or what?”

“I suppose I'm much like you, originally a mortal who was granted agelessness in exchange for serving a god” I replied, honestly what I got was not a bad deal at all, agelessness, a ra perfectot with a bow, and being able to traverse the forest easily.

“Huh, wait how long have you been doing all this?” Thalia asks

“That entirely depends on what year it is, alas time moves differently in Annwn than it does here in the lands of men”

“It's 2026, and uh Annwn? ”

As I hear the year, I realize it has been ten years since I was kicked from camp, “God, it’s been ten years. And to answer you're wonderfully worded question Annwn, also known as Avalon in Arthurian legend is basically like Olympus and Hades smashed together with a sprinkling of Tarturus on top”

Thalia just gave a nod as we continued walking, so much walking.

Thalia Pov

Tauri and I walked for a bit before I smelled something akin to roses,” Tauri, do you smell that, it smells like roses,” and as soon as I said that I started hearing harp music.

Tauri, upon hearing the harp and smelling the scent of roses stiffens, sighs, and then says,” This is gonna suck, might wanna stay back”

What, is he saying I'm too weak to fight whatever this is or something,” I'm good, can't be that bad”

“For you, maybe” he mutters before pushing into the clearing where I see…

…A Woman who I can only describe as Rachel Dare blessed with the entire might of Aphrodite’s beauty magic. Everything about her is beautiful, the red hair that curls in just the right way, the deep green eyes that just seem to captivate me, the light freckles that dot her face, and her soft lips, even one of those features could make someone go from average to supermodel, but on one person they just draw my eyes to her face. All in all, she’s too beautiful, like a goddess.

I manage to tear my eyes away from her face and see that she is dressed in a green floral sundress and is sitting on a nice picnic quilt surrounded by candles with a trail of roses leading from us to the quilt, there’s also a harp playing itself.

“Sammia, do you need something or are you just here to… be yourself,” Tauri asks, rather rudely. 

The woman now named Sammia just chuckles and says,” Can't I just see my favorite godling?”

“If this didn't look like a romantic picnic sure, but it does and I'm not interested Sammia” Tauri responds.

Wait, what? Not interested, is she flirting with him?

“Ahh alas, I am not here for simple conversation, I am here to pass on a message. Though if you choose to spend you're time after I have passed the message on with me who am I to complain”

“Just give me the message Sammia, as you can probably guess I'm quite busy”

“You're always busy, even when you're not you're spending you're time with people below your station like that drunkard Labrhan.” 

Tauri gives Sammai a stern stare and she relents and passes on the message, “Someone is waiting for you and the little huntress in the lands between, I dont know who though.” Sammai says as she fades away into the fog

Chapter Text

Yo i decided to re write this fic so if you wanna get better writing but same basic plot read the remake, it also should have a more consistent timeline of stuff since the early versions of this fic where very different then the remake 

https://archiveofourown.info/works/70411326

enjoy, comments are appreciated