Npov

My heart still seemed to want to free itself from my chest. It was beating so loud, I was fairly sure everyone in the Kingdom could hear it.

I was trembling slightly, but it wasn't enough for anyone to notice.

That's how my mother died. I almost died like my mother.Will is the only reason I'm still here. I would be dead if he wouldn't have carried me here. I bet he's exhausted. He should rest. I guess we should both rest. I don't want to rest, though. I want to make sure everyone is alright. I want to talk to Cecil. I want to know where Octavian is. I want to know if he was the one who made the woods catch fire. I want to...

Will interrupted my thoughts. "Hey Nico?"

"Yeah?"

"I-I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. I didn't know that would happen-"

"It's alright, Will. It wasn't your fault. They have a grudge against royalty. That's all."

"Yeah but-"

"Will, it's okay." We arrived at my room. "It's not your fault. They just...they think you're the same as your dad, just like I did before I actually got to know you."

We sat down on the bad, side by side.

He sighed. "I still hate that they get mad at you for it."

We sat in a comfortable silence for a while. I rested my head on his shoulder. He smiled and wrapped an arm around me.

Then, exhausted, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

(A/N: OKAY so I have some news. There is going to be a time skip ahead. It is a time skip that lasts one year, and I decided that I better point his out.)

----

It's been a year since that wildfire, but it was still fresh in my mind. I remember the fear that seemed to take over as I frantically shook Will awake.

But I don't like thinking about it. We've been happy together with very few intereferences in our relationship.

Well...no interferences until one day:

"Nico I have a meeting this evening with the queen of Heradom. She said only I can go."

(A/N: See what I did? HERAdom? Heradom? Can you guess who the queen is?)

"Okay. I'll invite someone over, then."

"Okay." He walked back out of the room, to the meeting. I remembered when he had gone to a 'meeting' a year ago to talk to Hazel about dating me. I chuckled at the memory.

Then I got bored of memories and invited Hazel over.

I wonder why she's not responding... I wondered as I stared down at my phone.

Oh. I forgot to hit 'send.'

I quickly hit the button. Her reply was immediate.

Sure, I'd love to!

I grinned and waited for her. She'd been here so many times that she memorized the entire castle, and knew I was probably in my room.

A while later, she walked in. "Hey Nico. Where's Will?"

"At a meeting. With the queen of Heradom."

She scowled, "I've never liked that lady."

"He can't be rude, though. She could easily win a war with our kingdom. Hers is huge, while ours is small."

"Maybe we would be able to beat her..."

"Maybe if we took over Artimé, Aphroditen, and Poseidom. Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to happen."

She sighed. "Oh well."

I suggested that we play Mythomagic and she quickly agreed; it was the favorite game for both of us.

"Oh...nice move." She said.

"Thanks."

"But I can move...better!"

I gasped. How did she manage to do that?!

She smiled smugly, "Your turn."

I glanced at the possible moves I could do. I decided on Zeus.

She frowned. "Fine, then. But then I'm doing...." she thought for a bit, "Hades."

I had finally found my match in mythomagic. I had been undefeated, and I still am, but it's harder. She gives me a fight.

"Poseidon." I had won, again.

"I'm going to win eventually. I've been practicing at home."

"Well so have I."

"Well I bet I practice more!"

"No you don't!"

She stuck her tongue out, "Yes I do!"

"No!"

"Yeah!"

We argued for awhile more.

That is, until we were rudely interrupted.

"Where's Nico?!" Will said, who was standing in the doorway of my room, looking pale.

"I'm right here, Will." I said, waving my hand so he would notice me more.

"Hazel, you need to go home. Now. You're not safe."

"But-what do you mean? What's happening?"

"Just please, go home and find a safe, preferably hidden. I don't want them to find you."

"Who? What am I hiding from?"

"Hazel please-"

"No. I demand that you tell me."

"We might not have time! Please, just go!"

"But-"

"Hazel, I want you safe. Go home and afterwards you can come back here." I said, even though I didn't know what she was hiding from either.

"After what?"

"I guess you'll find out."

She sighed, but left. She went home.

"Nico, you're not safe either."

"Okay we can both go with Hazel. We can live with her for a bit; I'm sure she won't mind."

"No, I need you somewhere they wouldn't think to look."

"Well, I don't know where we should go, then."

"That's another thing. I can't come with you."

"...okay...I'll go somewhere in town by myself."

"No, Nico. Listen, I'm really sorry."

He wouldn't look at me. "Will, what are you talking about?"

"I really do not want to do this but-"

"Will, what is it?"

"-she didn't give me a choice."

"Who? Is this something about your meeting?"

"Please forgive me," He said. He had a few tears running down his face.

"For what?"

He didn't answer my question.

"I need guards."

A few came running in. My heart started beating faster. "Will...?"

He told something to the guards that ended in "...don't tell anyone he's there...and be careful with him. I love him."

"Will, what's going on?!"

I took a couple of steps away from the guards.

"I'm really sorry, Nico." More tears streamed down his face.

They guards came towards me. They grabbed me, and I yelped.

"Will!"

But he didn't move, look at me, or say anything. He just stood there, looking at his feet with tears streaming down his face.

"Will! What's happening?! What's going on?!"

He didn't answer. The guards pulled me away.

I looked at one of them and about had a heart attack.

One of the guards was Octavian. He must've escaped a year ago with Will's dad.

Where are they taking me?!

Words of the count: 1118 words

I'm really sorry about that huge time skip.