"Frank and I have captured them!" Octavian told King Luke triumphantly as he gestured towards Annabeth and Percy.

Luke's eyes narrowed. "Spare the girl," he said. "The man shall die."

"The girl?" Annabeth cried. "Oh, don't you infantilize me Luke!"

Luke's face tightened as her voice rang out through the throne room. "I was going to offer you a reprieve," he said tersely. "The marriage we both wanted."

"Wanted is the key word," Annabeth said. "I want it no longer."

Luke's face was a mask of rage. He stood up and moved towards her. Something golden flickered in his blue eyes and he motioned for Frank to leave Annabeth's side. The man did so reluctantly. "You dare speak to the king like that?"

"Yes!" Annabeth cried. "I dare speak to you like that, Luke. I trusted you — I loved you."

"And yet you deny me that love now?" Luke said, circling her.

"Luke, my heart belongs to my husband now," Annabeth said. "I will always love you, but as a brother. I took an oath to weave peace between Percy's family and my own."

"Didn't your father tell you this was a ruse to take over Percy's land?" Luke asked her.

"I gave you a chance!" Percy spat, writhing from Octavian's grip.

Three of Luke's guards came forward and subdued Percy. Annabeth choked back a sob. Life was never easy for her people, but this — this fate seemed especially cruel. In the attempt of trying to unite two families, she might lose them both.

"You were a fool," Luke said. "Why did you even trust King Frederick?"

"Because my mother taught me the value of human life," Percy spat.

"And is that why you returned here?" Luke asked. "Forfeiting your life and possibly the life of your wife?"

When Annabeth looked over one shoulder to see her husband, Percy's face was contorted with pain. "Please," he said, his voice cracking. "Please, spare my wife and her unborn child. You can do anything to me, but spare them!"

Luke's lips curled up. "You're in luck, Perseus," he said. "Your minx of a wife will be spared. You, however, will be killed. Guards, behead him!"

"No!" Annabeth cried, running forward and flinging herself around Percy.

She turned to face Luke, tears glinting in her eyes. "Please Luke," she said. "You promised me. You promised me when I was younger that we'd be family."

    Luke became still. It seemed like eternity before he moved again and when he did, it was to motion the guards to step away from Percy. He turned to Annabeth. "I cannot believe I am doing this," he said, "but you are right. My promise to you is important to me. I will take my men and leave. I will tell King Frederick that your husband bested me in a duel and was gracious enough to spare my life. Your husband will regain his throne due to his sharp-witted wife."

     "King Percy!" Frank cheered. "Queen Annabeth!"

   The others took on the cheer and as Luke drew his men together to leave, Annabeth clasped Percy's hands. "We have a new beginning," he said. "A child on the way and a kingdom to run."

    Annabeth laid her head on her husband's shoulders. "I'm so glad to have you every step of the way."