Frankly, Dreams Do Come True

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Frank met Hazel outside the next morning. He had hardly seen her in the past month, so busy had they both been with the harvest. "I saw guests at your house," Frank noted.

Hazel nodded. "Poseidon sent his son and Athena sent her daughter for the annual inspection."

Frank was tapping one foot on the ground. "What are they like?"

"Percy is pretty goofy," Hazel said. "Annabeth is really smart. Neither of them are what I expected."

Frank nodded. "So Percy will be over to inspect my family's place later today?"

Hazel shook her head. "I think they were planning on inspecting jointly. They're doing my family's house today."

Frank shifted, looking nervous. "What's wrong?" Hazel asked.

"I just get scared sometimes," Frank admitted, not looking at her.

Hazel leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I do too."

Frank was crying now. "But I'm a man. I'm not supposed to be scared."

"There is nothing unmanly about being scared," Hazel insisted.

He laughed. "My mother said something like that."

Hazel smiled. "Your Mother is wise. Even the gods feel fear. Don't expect yourself to outperform them."

Frank gave her a lopsided smile, his eyes still glossy with tears. "Thank you, Hazel."

She gave him a hug. She was so lucky to have him as a friend. Then, they said their goodbyes and parted ways.

***

"Wow, these sheep really are wooly," Percy commented.

"What did you expect them to be, shaven in the winter?" Annabeth asked.

Percy shrugged. "I've never been to a farm before."

He was fascinated by the sheep, weaving among them as they continued to graze. "Tell me, why sheep?" he asked Hazel.

Hazel patted one of her rams on the head. "They're splendid creatures," she said. "They're sociable and each of them has their own personality."

"Like horses," Percy noted.

"Yes," Hazel said, "and though I cannot ride them, they provide more than just companionship."

"It's a profitable business," Annabeth interjected. "My mother has the wool spun into cloth and that cloth fetches high prices abroad. Not to mention the cheese sheep produce. It's the right balance of savory and filling. It's not too hard or soft and it keeps better than milk."

She went on to explain the finer points of textile trading and cheese maturing. Percy zoned out for most of the conversation, but he smiled every so often and Hazel suspected he liked her voice even if he couldn't understand what in the world Annabeth meant half the time. "And cloth dyed with Tyrian purple is extremely expensive," Annabeth was saying.

Percy perked up. "My father sells that dye. It's made of sea snails."

"Yes," Annabeth agreed. "It's one of the only reasons our parents trade at all."

"And for my father's horses," Percy said.

He rambled on about how his father had won many chariot races — including the Olympic ones — with his steeds. "My father breeds the best horses in the world," he boasted. "Would you like to ride one, Hazel?"

Hazel's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

Percy's brows knit together. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Hazel gave a squeal and without thinking, hugged him. He was blushing as she let go. "Seriously, it's nothing."

"I've wanted to ride a horse all my life," Hazel said.

     She was smiling widely as she approached Blackjack. His fur was soft beneath her fingers and his nose was velvety. Hazel admired his sleek muscles and flowing mane. She looked back at Percy. "Can I really?"

     Percy nodded. "Hop on. Blackjack loves to run."

     Annabeth boosted Hazel up and she swung one leg over the horse's flank. She was breathing heavily as if she had run a long distance. She was higher off the ground than she expected and she patted Blackjack's head before pressing her ankles lightly again his sides. He was off in a trot.

     Hazel was in Elysium. The cold winter air swept against her face. She spurred Blackjack to go a little faster and he began to gallop. A wave of pure giddiness overtook Hazel. Riding him made her feel like one of those Amazon's her father had told her stories of: fierce, independent, and utterly capable of whatever she wanted to do.

    Blackjack enjoyed the rude as much as Hazel. His long legs seemed to skim over the earth as he bounded around the countryside. Hazel could feel the drum-like beating of his heart and his flanks expanded as he breathed in fresh, cool air.

    Hazel saw neighbors as she rode. Grover lifted his panpipes in approval. Leo looked flabbergasted and waved at her as she swept by. She waved back. As Blackjack returned to the field, she saw Frank. He was tending his goats and looked up as she rode past him, waving madly. "You're a superb rider!" He called.

    It felt like the most natural thing in the world. Blackjack and her had the same dream and their wills melded together. Every step felt more glorious than the last. Hazel was still flushed with happiness as she dismounted. She stroked Blackjack's flank. "Thank you so much. You're a great stallion."

     Hazel looked up to see Percy looking at her with the widest eyes she had ever seen. "Is this really your first time riding?"

    Hazel nodded. "You're a talented rider," Percy said. "I know many riders who aren't nearly as attuned to their own mounts and you just Blackjack yesterday."

     "You look like how I imagine the Scythian women that Herodotus wrote about," Annabeth agreed. "If I were a general, I'd put you in the calvary."

Hazel blinked up at them. "Blackjack is a sweet horse. Thank you so much, Percy for letting me ride him."

"Of course," Percy said. "You know, what if I gave you a horse?"

Hazel's eyes flared with hope and then her shoulders dropped. She shook her head. "My family cannot afford to care for a horse no matter how much I'd like one."

Annabeth was frowning, but she nodded. "I suppose it's time then for the inspection to begin."

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