Falling
The moonlight shone softly over Camp Half-Blood, casting a silvery glow on the training fields and the silhouettes of campers going about their late-night routines. It was quiet tonight. The kind of night when the world felt as if it were holding its breath.
Athena stood at the edge of the camp, her arms crossed over her chest in her usual way- stoic, cold, distant- but the tension in her jaw gave away her inner turmoil. She’d spent the past few days avoiding her. Pallas, the sea nymph who had long been gone from her life, the nymph she had loved, the woman who was now standing in front of her again, alive, reborn, and making her feel things she wasn’t sure she could handle.
“Stop pacing. You might tear a hole in the earth,” Pallas teased from where she was sitting by the fire. Her dark hair shimmered in the firelight, and her blue-green eyes sparkled mischievously, just as they had when they were younger.
Athena stiffened but couldn’t hide the slight flush creeping up her neck. “I’m not pacing,” she snapped, perhaps a little too defensively.
Pallas smirked, clearly enjoying Athena’s discomfort. "Oh, you're pacing. And it's adorable."
Athena blinked, unsure how to respond. "I-I'm not adorable," she muttered, huffing.
Pallas laughed softly, her voice a melody Athena could never tire of hearing. "Whatever you say, thena."
The truth was, Athena had no idea how to be anything but cold around Pallas. She had spent so many years burying her feelings, convincing herself that Pallas' death had been something she could overcome, that she could live without her. But now, with Pallas standing before her, those feelings came flooding back, and Athena didn't know how to control them. She wasn’t used to this- being vulnerable, being seen. She was Athena, goddess of wisdom, war, and strategy. Not some lovestruck fool.
But Pallas was making it impossible to keep up that cold facade.
Athena had sworn an oath- a sacred, binding promise -to remain chaste after Pallas' death. It had been a decision made under pressure, under the watchful eyes of her father, Zeus, who feared the potential of the prophecy surrounding Athena’s bloodline. The prophecy of Metis' child, the one who could rival even Zeus himself, had made the gods wary of any descendants from the goddess of wisdom.
But Athena had always held a deeper, personal reason for the vow. Her heart had been shattered the day she lost Pallas, and in her grief, she had made an oath that no one could force her to break. At least, that’s what she had believed. Until now.
And yet, as she stood in front of Pallas, the memories of their shared past—and the flicker of something more—brought the weight of that vow crashing down.
Despite Athena's best efforts to keep her emotions in check, it was clear to anyone paying attention that the goddess was struggling.
Every time Pallas smiled at her, every time she got too close, Athena’s heart seemed to skip a beat. Her stomach was as if owls were fluttering inside her. She was aware of how she was feeling after dozens of searches and books she secretly read. She knows she can’t hide it any longer. It was so obvious now.
But, oh, Athena had a plan. A very awkward, utterly clumsy-one she hope it works sort of plan.
"I thought we could… train together tomorrow," Athena said, a hint of nervousness creeping into her usually controlled voice. "It’s... uh... been a while since we've sparred."
Pallas raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Training, huh? Sounds a little… formal. Not very you, Athena."
Athena floundered, her cheeks turning red. "I-It’s strategic," she insisted, her words coming out faster than she intended. "I mean... It's been a while, and we used to-"
"Oh, I know. You never stopped training, did you?" Pallas smirked, the playfulness in her voice only making Athena’s discomfort worse.
"I-uh, no, I haven’t. I mean, I’m always training-" Athena cut herself off, realizing how ridiculous she sounded. Her mind scrambled for a more logical response, but the truth was, Pallas’ presence had completely thrown her off.
"Just say you missed me, Athena," Pallas teased, leaning closer, her voice lowering to a whisper.
Athena blinked, her face turning a shade redder. "I did not miss you."
It came out too quickly. Too sharply. Too obviously.
Pallas raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, she leaned in, brushing her fingers lightly against Athena’s arm. Athena stiffened at the contact but didn’t pull away. Pallas smiled softly as if knowing the goddess was fighting herself.
Back in Olympus, things weren’t any better. The gods had noticed the odd behavior between Athena and Pallas, especially Athena, who hasn't come back since Pallas arrival. And They were talking.
Ares, lounging on his throne, chuckled to himself. "Look at Athena, the perfect strategist, falling all over herself. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day.”
Poseidon, sitting at the far end of the throne room, exchanged a knowing look with his brother, Hades. "I’m not sure whether to be proud or confused," Poseidon said. "She finally found someone who actually gets under her skin."
Hades, the usually indifferent god of the Underworld, raised an eyebrow. "Maybe she’s been lonely all this time. Pallas isn’t just a shadow, after all. She's family."
Aphrodite couldn’t resist throwing in her two cents. "It’s so cute how Athena tries to be all distant and aloof. But we all know the truth she’s completely gone for Pallas." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "The goddess of wisdom is totally out of her depth when it comes to love. Who knew?"
Hermes, watching from the shadows, was half-amused, half-sympathetic. "This is going to get really interesting," he muttered to himself, thinking of how Athena would probably try to woo Pallas in the most awkward ways possible.
Days passed, and Athena found herself in a constant state of turmoil. How could she keep doing this? How could she not break her oath? Her heart was torn, and she couldn’t deny the magnetic pull she felt toward Pallas. Every touch, every word, every shared moment brought her closer to something she wasn’t sure she could control.
One night, she found herself standing in front of a mirror, trying to prepare for yet another awkward encounter with Pallas. She was supposed to be goddess of wisdom. She was supposed to know how to handle this.
But the truth was, Athena had never felt so lost in her entire existence.
“I can’t do this,” she muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "I’m the goddess of wisdom. I can’t-"
There was a soft knock at the door.
“Athena?”
It was Pallas, and Athena’s heart immediately skipped. She stood there frozen, unsure of what to say, unsure of what to feel.
“I-I’m not ready!” Athena blurted out before she could stop herself.
There was a pause. Then Pallas’ voice, gentle and warm, cut through the air. "You never have to be ready for me, Athena."
And that was the moment it all changed. 'You never have to be ready for me'
She was always ready. Ready in battle. Ready in war. And ready to deliver and hand wisdom to others. Yet here she was struggling.
Then as if Pallas words of wisdom had wrapped around her mind, she couldn't help but realize that..maybe.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just.. take a break.
For the first time, Athena let go. She let herself feel. And it was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
The gods continued to watch with keen interest as Athena navigated the complicated waters of her feelings for Pallas.
But there was one thing Athena had to admit: as much as she had once sworn never to break her oath of chastity, it felt like it didn’t matter anymore.
The prophecy, the warning from Zeus, and her father’s demands were nothing compared to the truth standing before her now. Pallas wasn’t a threat. She was everything Athena had ever wanted. And the gods be damned if they thought Athena would choose anything else.
"I don't care," Athena said quietly, more to herself than anyone else, as she looked out into the night. "I never cared. Not really."
And as she turned to face Pallas, who was currently humming a sweet melody belonging to the sea while cleaning a spear after a spar, she knew she was ready to break her oath- for love, for the once past, and the possible future.
Of course, the gods (Zeus) weren't going to let it go that easily. She knew her father would never. But Athena was no longer afraid.
She was done hiding, done playing by their-father's rules -rules. And if she wanted Pallas by her side, she knew the world-Olympus itself-would have to learn to accept what was to come.
After all, love always had a way of changing even the most divine of destinies.