The Chalice of the Gods

Zeus is hosting a brunch to celebrate his mother, the titan Rhea. Percy hates brunch. Annabeth gives Percy her baseball cap and heads to school. Percy and Grover go to the Empire State Building, where there is a secret entrance to Mount Olympus. Grover tells Percy to enter Zeus’s palace through the kitchens, where a cloud nymph called Naomi will help him. Grover distracts the security guard by hula-hooping while Percy, wearing the cap and carrying the chalice, takes the elevator to the 600th floor.

Annabeth’s cap keeps minor gods and spirits from noticing Percy as he runs toward Zeus’s palace, but he knows it will not work against the major gods. He finds the kitchen, and Naomi lets him in. The gods could snap their fingers to create their food, but they like being served. Naomi tells Percy that Ganymede is already in Zeus’s dining room with the major gods; the meal has not yet started, but it will soon. Percy peeks out the kitchen door at Ganymede, who looks terrified. He catches Ganymede’s eye and beckons him, but when Ganymede tries to head to the kitchens, Zeus stops him so he can hear the end of the long, self-indulgent story that he is telling. Percy considers how he will get the chalice to Ganymede without being seen.

Percy hides under a pastry cart and asks a dryad named Barbara to wheel him toward the feast. Barbara agrees, as long as Percy can arrange a meeting with Annabeth for her. She gets Percy close to the feast, but Zeus stops her before she reaches Ganymede. From his position on the cart, Percy comes face to face with a fearsome lion resting at Rhea’s feet. It roars but does not attack him. Athena spots Percy on the cart, but she realizes that he is doing a quest and does not blow his cover. To help him, she asks Ganymede to bring the pastry cart back to the kitchen to get some clotted cream. In the kitchen, Percy gives Ganymede the chalice, and Ganymede gives Percy a blank letter of recommendation that he can fill in for himself. Once he has finished writing the letter, Ganymede’s signature will magically appear. Naomi gives Percy some leftovers from the banquet to take home.

Percy returns to Manhattan. He finds Grover, who immediately eats the leftover banquet food while Percy tells him what happened on Mount Olympus. Grover was terrified that Percy would die wrestling Geras. Percy tells him about the vision of their futures that helped him embrace old age. Grover is moved by Percy’s story. The two friends part ways so Percy can finally head to school. He has already missed a test that morning. He expects to be in trouble for being late but is surprised when the school secretary tells him that she is on the phone with his father, who called to excuse his absence. Percy initially assumes Paul is on the phone, but it is Poseidon. Over the phone, Poseidon congratulates Percy on his quest. Although he has seen Percy save the world many times, his ability to embrace Geras showed Poseidon how much Percy has grown, making him proud. Percy is surprised but pleased to receive compliments and support from his father.

Eudora calls Percy into her office to congratulate him on completing his quest and getting his first recommendation letter. She asks if Percy was tempted to drink from Ganymede’s chalice and become immortal; Percy assures her that he was never tempted, even for a moment. He shows her the blank letter that Ganymede gave him, and she assures him that he will find the right words to fill it with. She reminds him that he still needs two more letters before the winter solstice.

That night, Annabeth comes over for dinner. Annabeth tells Paul and Sally about the confrontation with Geras; both are very impressed. Percy is less forthcoming about what happened on Olympus, not wanting to worry his mother and stepfather. The four of them collectively dictate Percy’s recommendation letter, and their words appear on the page. Once Percy is happy with the letter, Ganymede’s signature appears. Annabeth promises to help Percy with any future quests.

Later that night, Percy tells Annabeth over Iris-message about what happened on Mount Olympus. Annabeth is surprised that Athena helped Percy, as she has always disliked him. Her assistance must mean that she can see how serious Annabeth is about her relationship with Percy. Percy tells Annabeth about his hope that they will grow old together, and Annabeth is moved to tears. They talk about their futures together and how much they love each other. Percy falls asleep and has pleasant dreams.