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Reyna was not nervous.

      She was…anxious. Yes. That was it. Her hands were shaking because of anxiousness, not nerves. The paleness of her face (which had caused Percy to remark, "You look like one of those Elizabethan ladies. You know, with the lead?") was caused by the idea of seeing Jason again—not that she was nervous about that, exactly. Just excited. Leaders don't get nervous, Reyna had thought. And even if they do, they can't show it. Weaknesses are stupid, trivial matters that cannot be acknowledged, no matter what.

      Even as the ship approached, she kept her nerves in check. She and Percy walked closer to greet whoever the leaders of it were. As they did so, her heart started palpitating wildly. Reyna crossed her arms over her chest to muffle the sound—to her, it was deafening. When Jason and a few other people (Reyna barely glanced at them, to be honest) appeared and began walking down a ramp, her mouth went instantly dry. She desperately wanted to run tackle him in a hug, but that wouldn't have been very professional. Instead, she stood there like a stone while Jason and the others walked forward. A couple of Jason's closer friends came up to him, smiling and asking where he disappeared to. Reyna stayed where she was, though almost everyone else had rushed over to the blond hero. Even Percy, who had received strict orders from Reyna to stay put until she said not to, had broken formation. His girlfriend, Reyna noted, looked perfectly happy to see him. So why couldn't Reyna move?

     Finally, Jason noticed her. He stepped closer, a relaxed—but maybe a little nervous—grin on his face, and said, "Hi, Reyna."

     "Hello, Jason." She had taken way too long to reply. They stared back at each other for ages, then Reyna realized it was her turn to initiate conversation. She couldn't think of anything to say, though, not even, "Where have you been?" so she took a step forward and slipped her arms around his waist. A couple of eyebrows went up, and even Jason seemed surprised. He recovered quickly, though, and hugged her back. Over Jason's shoulder, Reyna saw a girl with brown hair's face fall.

     Reyna pulled back quickly, realizing everyone was staring at them. "We-we should go to the Senate House. There is much to discuss."

     Jason looked bemused at Reyna's behavior. "Uh, right."

     As a large group of them walked to the Senate House, Reyna cursed herself for doing too much, and for not doing enough. She really wasn't sure which was correct, but now a cloud of awkward energy hung over her and Jason—and, for that matter, the brown haired girl who kept ignoring Reyna.

     Who these new people were, Reyna did not know. But right then, blond girls and elfish boys were the least of her worries. She barely cared about the apologetic looks Jason sent the brunette, even.

     Because at that moment, Reyna had a job to do.