PeaceMaker

Annabeth could tell that her explanation did not, by any chance, make it easier for her sisters to understand why the entire room was quiet after she performed. 

"Um... to begin with, I didn't perform the piece given to me by mother," Annabeth began. 

Her sisters gasped, their eyes widening in surprise and concern. One reason for that would be the fact that no one in their family ever went against directions given at official events, especially one of this much effect on their life after they leave the palace. Second, was the huge question of what she performed in place of it. 

There was no second piece prepared for the sisters to perform. It was already enough that they switched instruments, so it was made easier on them that they were only given one piece to perform. At the same time, it added a lot of pressure as to how the piece was executed. One wrong note would instantly mean disappointment, the wrong tone in a played note or the wrong expression portrayed on their faces would mean a long period of scolding after. 

With that in mind, it was already hard enough for them to be doing the performance but for Annabeth to switch pieces right as she was about to perform would already mean total disappointment to her mother. 'The bar she had to meet to restore her happiness would have skyrocketed due to her abandoning the piece,' Jena thought to herself as she eyed Annabeth worriedly, 'and not to mention the silence that came after the performance... That could mean death for her socially in our family…'

Despite all this, Annabeth didn't look fazed, there was not a single line of worry on her face, neither did she seem to regret what she did.

"So… what piece did you play?" Maria asked. 

"I made my own piece," Annabeth replied, to which her sisters sucked in a deep breath in complete horror. 

"So you mean you created a last-minute piece, without any practice, got behind Maria's harp and played it?!�� Jena gushed, staring at Annabeth with bewilderment on her face. 

Annabeth gave a slow nod. "Yes."

Jena looked at Maria and then back to Annabeth. "Yeah... you've gone crazy," Maria shrugged, shivering. 

Annabeth chuckled. "Crazy? I've long since passed that mark, haha."

Jena stared at Annabeth, her eyebrow rising in concern. "That isn't all that reassuring," She scolded, "we don't even know how you did but from what you're explaining, it sounds terrifying. How could you go out there and do something like that without even being concerned as to what will happen to you or our family? You're supposed to be the returning scholar, Annabeth. What would happen to your reputation if the returning scholar did something detrimental at this event?!"

"Nothing happened," Annabeth sighed, annoyance growing on her face.

"Yea, thanks I could tell by the silence after your performance," Jena rolled her eyes. 

Annabeth let out a deep sigh, her blood starting to boil. "Then what was I supposed to do? Follow in your footsteps?" Annabeth asked, "I don't know if you can't tell but your footsteps aren't exactly ones I'd like to fit into."

Jena shuddered, turning away from Annabeth immediately. She had crossed a line and she needed to back away as quickly as she could from it. 

Annabeth's voice dropped to just below a whisper, loud enough for her sisters to hear but those beside them to not hear. "You seem to have gotten too into the act we're putting on, haven't you? Don't forget where I stand with you all."

Maria looked away and Jena gulped. The feeling was back. The feeling of two large deep green eyes peering down on them, glaring at them as they walked, not missing a single movement from them. It was the feeling that described their home, one that they forgot about after a few hours of being in the celebration. 

Now that it was back upon them. There was a feeling of relief, almost like the fear in anticipation of awaiting the unleashing of her anger had been satisfied. Something in them wanted to see the change in Annabeth, something in them had been on edge knowing it was there but being covered by the niceness that hung in the air. Something in them wanted to wish Annabeth was like the mask she put on, happy. It was relieving for the thing they were dreading to finally happen but also stifling. 

It meant hell was still right there, waiting behind them for the chance to be unleashed again.

Annabeth cleared her throat, and like nothing happened, the air of hostility around them was lifted. "As I said, the performance went well," she grinned, "the mood was just the exact way I wanted it to be. In a deep state of confusion, a complex mix of emotions that no one seemed to be able to identify."

Jena turned to Annabeth reluctantly, scared that the gaze returning to her would bite at her. It was nothing but a smile. "Why would you want them to be confused?" Jena asked. 

"Because that was the result of what they asked of me," Annabeth replied, nonchalantly.

"The result of what they asked of you?" Maria repeated, cocking her head to the side, "just what did you do for your performance?"

Annabeth grinned, her eyes brightening at the question. "I asked the royals to pick a theme for me to play," Annabeth replied. 

Maria and Jena gasped once again, complete astonishment flashing across their face. "You did what?!" they exclaimed in unison.

"I asked the royals what theme they wanted me to play and they composed a piece that would suit that theme and performed it," Annabeth chuckled. 

Jena blinked blankly for a moment, unable to comprehend what her sister had said, Maria, just as perplexed continued with her question, "What was the theme that they picked then?" she asked curiously.

A mischievous smile played across Annabeth's face as she replied. "War."

Jena and Maria stopped in their footsteps for a moment and had to take a quick step to catch up to Annabeth. "War? Why would the royals pick war??" Jena asked. "The obvious reply would have been to pick something that could have been easy for us to play such as romantic genres or songs that are uplifting not a theme that is that heavy."

Maria nodded her head in agreement, "I think a different theme should have been chosen."

"I tend to disagree," Annabeth shook her head. "I don't want to be just another face in the crowd that plays another romantic song or is expected to play a romantic song because of my gender. There are different styles that I want to explore, I was using this experience as one of the events to explore," Annabeth explained, a bright smile forming on her face, "I'm glad I got to experience this."

Maria and Jena locked eyes for a moment and gave a relieved smile. Jena pouted a bit. "Whose idea was it to make you play that theme? It couldn't have been the king…"

Annabeth shook her head. "It was the prince."

Maria and Jena exchanged marveled expressions and stared at Annabeth in complete excitement and awe. "You got to talk to the prince?" they asked in unison, their eyes sparkling in anticipation. 

Annabeth nodded, a sigh leaving her lips for a moment as she recalled the slightly stressful situation. "Yea… and got interrogated by him too."

"Huh?" Maria's face twisted up in confusion. 

Annabeth chuckled, amused by the expression on her sister's face, and turned to Jena to see the same confused expression. Jena let out a long frustrated sigh, "What in the world happened during your performance??"

Annabeth giggled, linking her arm in her sister's as they turned to face the large doors leading to the banquet room, people walking around them to get through. A grin passed on her face. "I guess you'll find out when we get inside, right?"

Maria locked eyes with Annabeth for a moment and broke into laughter, Jena joining into their laughter. "I guess so," Maria chuckled. 

Annabeth shook her arm, alerting her sisters. They stood up straight with their heads high and smiles on their face as they walked into the room, standing at the top of the stairs and watching as females their age and older or younger walk down the stairs below them. 

They sucked in a deep breath as their eyes lingered down the flight of stairs, their eyes brightening when they noticed a figure at the bottom of the stairs. Their smiles grew confident and began their descent down the flight of stairs, heads up and their mood lightened as they attracted eyes from people in the crowd. 

"Let's see what their reactions tell you about how I did, shall we?" Annabeth grinned as they were halfway down the stairs. 

"Of course," Jena returned the smile and Maria nodded. 

Together they walked down the flight of stairs, ready to receive the attention they awaited.