Aaron looked up to find the Lieutenant of the Hunters, Zoe leaning against a nearby tree. "I didn't expect you to be here. I would've thought you would've been a part of the vote to find out whose helping me."
"We Hunters are not a part of Camp, so we have no need to vote on Camp matters." Zoe evenly replied as she studied Aaron.
"Then what brings you here? I doubt it's to say goodbye. I don't think that's something Hunters do haha." Aaron chuckled lightly as he dusted the dirt from his knees.
"On that, I'll admit you are correct. I want to know why you saved Thalia." Zoe asked as she stood in front of Aaron.
"That's a bit of a stupid question." Aaron replied back. But after seeing Zoe scowl lightly he sighed before continuing. "Listen, you would've done the same thing. And I couldn't sit back a watch a child die in front of me."
"She's nearly sixteen, she's not a child." Zoe glared back at Aaron who scoffed back in response.
"Her age doesn't determine wither she's still a child nor not." Aaron argued back as he kept his ground. "I doubt she's experienced much in her lifetime that has granted her wisdom for the road ahead. Nor do I believe she would even know what she wants to even fight everyday for... Until she learns those two lessons, she'll always be considered a child in my eyes."
Aaron's answer didn't seem to satisfy Zoe as it only made her angrier. "So you would view me in the same light as well then!?" Zoe growled as she fought back to strike Aaron.
"Not in the slightest." Aaron straight answer caught Zoe off guard as he continued. "Considering your position within the Hunt, I'd guess you've been alive for a long time. So if you haven't learnt from any mistakes I'd be embarrassed for you. And as for the second reason that is plainly obvious."
"You fight for Lady Artemis and your fellow Sisters within the Hunt. And with your position, you're making that even more possible everyday." Aaron smiled lightly as he chuckled at Zoe's loss of anger. "We Norse are not always known for our intelligence but that doesn't mean we are stupid. Nor that we can't see what is so clearly in front of us."
"Then it appears I have underestimated you." Zoe replied with defeated look. "I apologise for that."
"You don't have to apologise but it is accepted none the less... You weren't the first person to misunderstand or underestimate me. And I doubt you'd be the last to do so as well." Aaron chuckled as he offer his hand up to Zoe. "I wish you well being in the path you face ahead of you."
Zoe lightly smiled back as she accepted Aaron's hand and shook it. "To you as well." Zoe replied before she turned and began to walk away.
However before she was out of sight, Aaron called out to the nearby hidden listener. "You can come out now."
From behind a nearby tree came the young blonde girl from earlier looking back at him in slight awe. She had worn New York Yankee cap in her right hand while there was a pen and notepad in the other. "How did you know I was nearby? I was sure I wasn't noticed by Zoe!?"
"While I can't speak for the Huntress, I had a strong smell of Owls and old books. Meaning that a Son or Daughter of Athena was nearby." Aaron replied with a chuckle as he turned to face Annabeth. "So you're the one who'll be helping me to get into Hell then?"
"Into the underworld, yes." Annabeth replied instantly.
"Umm... So what's with the notes then?" Aaron asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I was hoping on getting some information over your gods and Pantheon in general." Annabeth answered back with a smile. Aaron could've sworn that the girl's eye sparkled for a second.
Aaron nervously smiled as he looked at the excited look on Annabeth's face. "I see."
"So what does Andi fjallsins, Vernda mean?" Annabeth asked as she began to write notes.
Chuckling lightly Aaron answered her back. "It means The Spirit of the Mountain, Protect. It's a Jötunn spell that my mother taught me when I was slightly younger than you are now."
"On that note I have more questions over your Mother." Annabeth stated to Aaron who rolled his eyes.
"Okay, that'll have to wait until we get a car and start our journey." Aaron replied cutting off any question Annabeth would've followed up with. "And before you ask there is a risk with using Yggdrasil's sap too many times in a short time. I've used it twice now within 24 hours. It'll need time in order to calm itself from it's chaotic state before I can safely use it again."
Nodding in understanding Annabeth said no more as she followed after Aaron. Arriving at the nearby road Aaron pulled out a small but simple flip phone and made a phone call. "Hey, yeah it's me... Yeah, I need to borrow a lift for a few days... Four or Five days at most... Yes, yes I'll get you your normal Keg of Vanaheim Wine... Right, I take it that you already know where I am then... Right see ya soon." Aaron finished as he closed the phone.
"And before you ask, I was on the phone to Hermóðr or Hermod. He's our Messenger of the Gods. He's also a drunken tit nine times out of ten." Aaron stated as he noticed Annabeth had her notebook ready. After a few moments there was a flash further down the road.
As the light faded as quickly as it arrived it showed a Red 2004 Ford Mustang that had a Black line running down the centre of the car. "I'm getting his Mustang... Damn."
"So Norse Gods drive American Muscle Cars..." Annabeth mumbled to herself as she continued writing her notes.
"Hey Brat. Here's your lift. You got my Drink?" Hermod asked in barely any slurs which made Aaron raise an eyebrow.
Dropping his backpack Aaron pulled out a key. "This is key to my locker in Tyr's gym." Aaron stated with a groan in his voice. "There's a crystal with two kegs stored. Take both, but leave the crystal back."
"Thanks kiddo. Pleasure doing business with you. Best of luck to ya!" Hermod grinned wildly as he tossed the Mustang's keys over to Aaron before he vanished from sight.
Opening the door Aaron looked over at Annabeth who seemed to be in her own world as she continued writing and mumbling to herself. "Kid." Aaron spoke trying to get her attention but it didn't work.
"Hey Kid!" Once more he tried. A little louder this time but the result was the same.
Knowing action would get a response at this stage. Aaron walked over to Annabeth and with a cold touch applied to his hand placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know you can write and mumble in the car and not on the side of the road. Right?"
"Sorry." Annabeth mumbled once more as she blushed in embarrassment. As they both got into the Mustang Aaron pulled down the sun visor there were several CD's within it.
"Awesome. He even brought a few of my CD's." Aaron stated with a happy tune as he put the first CD in the car's radio
(Play Fleetwood Mac - The Chain)
As the slow drum beat along with acoustic guitar riff started of the song, Aaron closed his eyes and slightly started to nod his head. His hand slapped the steering wheel, matching the drum's beats.
"Seriously old rock and roll." Annabeth asked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you listen to anything modern? Like Green Day or Jeese McCartney?"
"With the exception of Green Day's early work, modern music won't last the test of time kid. The music you're about to listen to I know will still be listened to for years after we've both died." Aaron replied back as he turned the car on and began to make there way away from Camp Half Blood.
However what they didn't know is that there entire conversation was listened to as they were watched by a pair of black eyes within the treeline.
(That Evening)
Arriving in a motel just outside of Toledo, Ohio. The pair of Aaron and Annabeth got out of the Mustang as Aaron went to order a room for them.
Annabeth groaned as she jumped onto the bed in front of her. 'Ugh his music choice is so annoying. But at least it isn't Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin that Chiron listens to.' Annabeth thought to herself as she watched Aaron arrive back with a room key.
As they entered the room Aaron threw his stuff onto an empty chair and emptied his pocket onto a nearby nightstand. On the night stand Annabeth noticed a Passport. "Wait, your Canadian?"
"On my dad's side yeah." Aaron responded back as he lied down on his bed. His clothes still on. "What were you expecting me to show off a Jötunn Passport or something?" Aaron asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well no it's just..." Annabeth was lost for words as she blushed in embarrassment.
"Well, you never got to ask many questions in the car so some on kid, fire away." Aaron smirked as he sat up on the bed.
"You do know my name isn't kid right?" Annabeth asked in a serious tone.
"If you want to intimidate me with that look know that I'm not the water boy. It won't work on me, Little Annie." Aaron replied with wider smirk.
Pulling out her knife Annabeth pointed it at Aaron. "Don't call me that."
"Oh it's such a Hard Knock life isn't it." Aaron laughed as he waved away Annabeth's knife. "But that thing away. I was joking kid."
"Then say name proper name." Annabeth stated as she remained serious.
Sighing out of annoyance "It's Annabeth Chase. Now put the knife down." Putting the knife away Aaron waved his hand for Annabeth to begin asking her questions.
"So what are your powers?" Annabeth asked.
"Divine or Powers that I've had to learn over time?" Aaron asked as Annabeth flipped a page on her notebook.
"Both." Annabeth replied not taking her eyes away from her notepad.
"Devine powers would include Super Strength, Control over Ice, Enhanced Smell, Sight and hearing." Aaron responded.
"How enhanced?" Annabeth narrowed her eyes as she asked.
"As good as a Grey Wolf." Aaron instantly replied. "As for abilities I've learned that would mainly consist of Rune Magic. Which would be too difficult even for me to explain in a short amount of time, so let's just say it covers a lot of ground. And adding that I am also able to summon certain beings to assist me in combat would finish off what I've learnt."
"What can you summon?" Annabeth taking her eyes from her notepad to look at Aaron.
"That's not something you should seek to learn about Annabeth... But seeing that you've already seen the Wicker Man's arm I summoned during the fight with the Nuckelavee. I can tell you more about that." Aaron answered with a weary smile on his face.
"That isn't a part of your Pantheon isn't it?"
"You're right, as it's Celtic in origin. I learnt how to summon it as part of a deal for completing a trail given to me by the Celtic God of Hunting. I've only summoned parts of it's body three times. In Camp was the first time I was effected by it's curse."
Annabeth looked at Aaron with a confused look as she asked. "It's curse?"
"Summoning always comes with a cost." Aaron informed Annabeth as he leaned in slightly towards her. "The price for summoning the Wicker man is that whatever amount of damage it takes. The same damage is also dealt onto it's summoner."
"So that's why the Black Mist effected you. It hit the Wicker man." Annabeth stated out with Aaron nodded in agreement. "So then, if you were to summon the Wicker man's full body and it was destroyed you would."
"Die?" Aaron cut off Annabeth who looked over at him with wide eyes. "That would again be correct."
Annabeth feel into silence for a moment as she thought about the price Aaron was willing to make to save Thalia. Someone who he barely knew anything about. Then she remembered the conversation he had had with Zoe before they had left Camp Half Blood.
"When you were speaking with Zoe. You mentioned about learning from life experience and knowing what to fight for... "Annabeth stated as se closed her notepad. "Can you tell me your reasons?"
Aaron softly smiled as he rubbed Annabeth's head. "That is a good question."
"I've made a lot of mistakes as a kid. Too many to count to be perfectly honest with you, because of that I have too many experiences to call upon as examples... But there is one that stands out." Aaron answered as he looked down at his hands. Taking a deep breath he continued. "It was the day Hillevi died."
Aaron took a few seconds to himself before he began his story. "I was 20 years old when it happened. I felt that I could take on the world itself and come out victorious. I didn't listen to anyone for advise and relied on you own strength. My cocky attitude had upset quite a few people, including my own Mother... But I didn't care about that at the time because all I wanted was to die in the glory of a blood fuelled battle."
"With each victory my ego grew more and more. It's different now because I rely on my experience to win most fights. But I guess that comes with being oldest Norse Demi-god to have ever lived."
"But it was during a battle on Muspelheim that everything changed. I was meant to die that day but... Hillevi took what would been my killing blow." Annabeth covered her mouth is shock as Aaron continued. "She didn't even have the strength left to speak. She died in my arms."
Aaron paused as he tried prevent any tears from forming from this painful memory. "I don't remember much if anything of what happened after. When I had woke up her funeral had already taken place, so I never even had a chance to say goodbye."
"In my despair I had locked myself from the world. Everyone who even attempted to help I pushed away. Sometimes even violently. Even against my own Mother, someone who was always there and cared for me."
"How did you break your slump?" Annabeth asked as she tilted her head.
"It was her Father that pulled me out of my slump." Aaron smiled as he stood up and suddenly walked over to his backpack. Pulling out a small book, he flicked through the pages before he sat back down. "All he did was give me this book... However he had marked out this poem for me."
"I must've read this poem for three days straight before I finally realised how I needed to live my life from that moment on." Aaron stated out before he began reading out the poem Tyr had marked out for Aaron.
"Did you tackle that trouble that came your way,
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day,
With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it,
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?
Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
But to lie there... That's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,
It's how did you fight... And why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?
If you battled the best you could,
If you played your part in the world of men,
Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
But only how did you die?"
Closing the book within his hands, Aaron placed it on his bed. "Those word cut deep into me and I took them into my Heart. From then on I decided that I needed to make up for my past mistakes. And that some change would be harder than others to make happen than others. But in doing that, it also gave me a reason to keep fighting."
"So my answer to your question Miss Annabeth Chase, when my arrogance killed the one I loved, I decided to never let that happen by my hands ever again. And I fight to make up for my past mistakes, ensuring I that I don't lose my own way in the process." Aaron answered with a warm smile.
"So, do yo have any more questions for tonight?" Aaron asked Annabeth as he kept the smile on his face.
"Just one more." Annabeth replied as she pulled out her notepad once more. "What's your Pantheon's origin?"
Aaron chuckled as he rubbed his forehand. "And of course you leave the long one before bed." Aaron stated before began telling the tale of Norse Origin his Mother had once told him as a child. "Before there was soil, the sky, or any green in the universe, there was only the never ending abyss known as Ginnungagap. And from the abyss came Ymir."
(Second Day of Traveling)
With the sound of Hall and Oates You Make My Dreams playing as they drove through the plains of Wisconsin. They had yet to stop so far after nearly 10 hours driving. Annabeth had even run out of questions to ask Aaron because she had become that bored.
It still didn't help with in her opinion his poor choice of music as Elton John's Saturday Night began playing. 'Why did I offer to go on this trip again.'
Aaron noticed the look on Annabeth's face. He was in truth, actively avoiding any danger. The reason for this was the handful of a Draugr outside his motel when he woke up this morning. 'Sorry it's not all blood and glory kiddo. But I'm getting you back to your camp alive and in one piece.'
(Third Day of Travelling)
With the sound of Queen's Radio Ga Ga playing on the Car's Radio Annabeth looked at the wonder outside the Car as they were currently driving through the Black Hills of Wyoming. "So, do you know what that Mountain is from don't you?"
Having already seen Mount Rushmore a few hours ago Annabeth looked up at the butte mountain. She continued to stare at the mountain's magmatic rock formation. "I know but I can't remember the name."
"I'll give you a clue. It's called the Devil's Tower" Aaron smirked as he spoke. However even with the Mountain's name Annabeth still didn't know.
Laughing at Annabeth's slight misery Aaron began to whistle a five tone motif. Upon hearing it Annabeth knew the film. "It's Close Encounters of the Third Kind! Isn't it?"
"Bingo. It's was a favourite film as a kid. Mom hated it though. She said it scared her." Aaron replied with a chuckle.
"But it's not a very scary film?" Annabeth asked in confusion.
"She claims it's scary because the little boy gets kidnapped by Aliens." Aaron answered back with a smile on his face.
"I have to ask why are we going this way to Los Angeles? It seems that you aren't in a rush to get there." Annabeth responded to Aaron.
Aaron lightly smiled before he answered with. "Well I know you're a child of Athena, so knowledge is kind of your thing."
"Don't call it a thing." Annabeth interrupted Aaron causing the latter to start laughing.
"Anyway. It's my way of thanks for helping. Taking you to these landmarks as they aren't overly out of the way. It's only adding 4 hours to our trip at most. Where if I was to take you to say Dallas, it'll add 10." Aaron answered back. "Plus I know this trips hasn't exactly been filled with wall to wall action that you were either expecting or wanted, so it's kind of a way of making up for that."
"Thanks." Annabeth smiled at Aaron as the radio then shifted over to Blondie's Call Me. "Okay I'll admit that this is the best Album you've played so far on this trip."
(Next Night, Los Angeles)
"Okay, now make a left here." Annabeth instructed Aaron who done once the traffic allowed him to do so. "And we're here." Annabeth stated as she pointed to a nearby building. The sign at the front said DOA Recording Studios.
"Huh, Dead or Alive?" Aaron asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope, it means Dead on Arrival." Annabeth corrected Aaron as the two entered the Recording Studio which happened to be the Underworld.
As they entered a slight chill went up Aaron's spine. He noticed that most if not all of those waiting in the lobby were children. "Why are there so many here?" Aaron softly asked Annabeth.
"Most of them died before they knew they who their godly parents were. So they didn't not have any money to cross over." Annabeth replied with a sorrowful tone.
"So those tales were true then. Bribe the Ferryman to enter... If only Helheim was so lax." Aaron stated as he walked directly towards he Lobby's front desk.
"State your name please and how you died." Charon stated with a bored tone to his voice.
Aaron slammed his hands onto the table causing Charon to jump slightly. "I'm not dead. But I need to speak to your Boss. As he may be able to find a dead spirit that isn't in the underworld."
Charon didn't reply to Aaron. Instead he looked directly as Annabeth. "Oh, your back. Did you perhaps die in a bathtub again? Or is it something else this time?"
"Am I being ignored?" Aaron shouted out loud as Charon's focus remained on solely on Annabeth.
Not having anymore of this Aaron grabbed a small thin bar of Aesir Gold from his jacket's inside pocket. Noticing the shine from the gold Charon's attention was straight to the gold before his eyes.
"Oh you like the shiny, you like the shiny don't you." Aaron baby talked to Charon who nodded back in reply. Flicking the gold stick into the palm of his hand, Arron grabbed Charon's tie and pulled down. Slamming his head against the desk in front of him.
With an upward flick Aaron's wrist showed the key chain which held his Axe within in. As he pinned Charon's head to the desk he activated the Axe, slamming and cutting into the desk just inches away from Charon's. "Well, now that I have your fucking attention will you stop wasting my time!"
"Okay, okay. We can be reasonable here." Charon shouted out as Aaron released the hold over his head. Fixing his tie back into place, he stood back up straight as looked at Aaron. "So... What do you want?"
"I need to speak to Hades." Aaron then brought several more sticks of Aesir Gold. "That's four in total. Two for me and two for the kid. And when we get back you'll get another four."
"Deal." Charon stated as he quickly snapped the four gold bars from Aaron's hand.
"Then how about I sweeten it even more for you. I'll give you two bars for each child that's in the lobby. All you have to do is give them passage as well." Aaron stated which caused Annabeth's eyes to go wide.
Charon too was stunned but for different reasons. "Think about it. While you take us to your boss." Aaron replied with a smirk.
"Follow me." Charon stated as he lead both Annabeth and Aaron to an elevator door. Once they entered Charon smiled as he pushed the button that would lead them to the underworld.
"Going down." Charon smirked at his pun as the elevator doors closed.
"That was a terrible pun." Aaron's muffled vice could be heard from the lobby.
"Oh come on man, it's all I got to entertain myself these days."
(Camp Half Blood - Same Time)
The trick which captured the moon was something close to her chest,
To free her four must leave camp and journey out west.
Two friends shall arrive to aid you along your trail,
Only when the Campers and Hunters are combined will you prevail.
A Mountain's strength you shall also need,
As to withstand the Titan's curse he'll be the only one who'll succeed.
However this will come at a great cost,
Between his own Curse and the bridge he'll have to cross.