| “ | Danger. Terrible fate! | ” |
–May having a fit in Percy's vision, in The Last Olympian. | ||
May Castellan is a clearsighted mortal and the mortal mother of Luke Castellan.
History[]
Early Life[]
May Castellan was born with the gift of prophecy. She attracted the attention of Hermes and began a romantic relationship with him. They had a beautiful baby boy that she named Luke; for a year or so, the trio were a happy family.
Failing to Host the Oracle of Delphi[]
At some point in her life, Hermes told May about the Oracle of Delphi and how it couldn't take another host, but she believed she could take the spirit. Unknown to both of them, this happened because Hades had cursed the Oracle decades ago. The spirit of Delphi was trapped within its current body, something no one besides Hades knew.
Hermes hadn't supported May's decision, since it could be dangerous and if it actually worked, it also meant that the two would be parted forever due to the laws of the Oracle of Delphi. Despite his fears, May remained resolute in her decision, so the couple visited Camp Half-Blood and met with Chiron. There, May tried to take the spirit into her body, but as a result of Hades' curse, she went insane, plagued with fits and having shattered glimpses of her son's future. May saw that Luke would hold Kronos inside himself, and all of the atrocities he would commit. She claimed that the things she prophesied were not his fate.
Luke's childhood[]
Hermes, her lover and father of her son.
Eventually, Luke could no longer stand his mother's maniacal fits, and ran away when he was nine with the promise to never return. Ever since Luke left, May would make peanut-butter sandwiches, burnt cookies, and Kool-aid for him every single day. She would think any boy who arrived on her doorstep was Luke. May claimed that Hermes would visit her on occasion, but it is unknown if she knew if the real Hermes actually visited her, or if she simply thought it was the picture of him she kept taped above her sink.
Luke eventually returned to his home to visit twice after he'd left.
Her Son Returns[]
The first was when Luke needed supplies while traveling with Thalia Grace and Annabeth Chase. He got into a fight with Hermes while Annabeth and Thalia were told stories of Luke's past by May, who served them burned cookies and Kool-aid. When Luke finally stormed out of the house with Thalia and Annabeth close behind, May tried to go after him only to be held back by Hermes. May then had another vision of the terrible fate of her son.
The second time Luke visited May was many years later. In order to prepare his body to hold the Titan lord Kronos, he had to get his mother's blessing in order to bathe in the River Styx and gain the Curse of Achilles. May gave him her blessing and Luke left shortly after.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians[]
The Last Olympian[]
Shortly after Percy got into a fight with Annabeth, Nico di Angelo appeared once again in front of Percy and asked him if he had made a decision about his plan. When Percy hesitates once again, Nico forces him to make a decision, which Percy finally agrees to. Before they can complete the plan, Nico takes Percy to see May, as Nico is unsure of one detail. When they knock on her door, she appears and calls both Percy and Nico the name of her son, Luke. Percy and Nico are both a bit frightened of her; she has stacks of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in containers, some of which had already started to mold. She also had several trays of burned cookies set up, with more on the way.
While Percy is scared, Nico managed to ask May a few questions about her son and the last time he visited her. Percy asked her if his eyes were gold when he saw her, but she claimed that his eyes were blue. From this, Percy figured out that Luke had come here before turning into Kronos. Nico then asked if Luke had asked for anything when he was here. May said that he had asked for her blessing so he could go swimming in a river, which is what Nico wanted to know and he is ready to leave.
May seeing her son's fate.
Just then, May's eyes began to glow and she had another one of her fits. She talked about how she must protect her child and called out to Hermes for help. She grabbed Nico, who pushed her away in panic. She started to collapse, but Percy grabbed her and placed her in a chair. May went back to normal and said they were talking about her son's blue eyes before noticing she dropped the cookies. Percy and Nico tried to leave, but May kept offering them Kool-Aid and cookies, even grabbing Percy's wrist before he could make it out the door. She told Percy to promise he'd be safe (thinking he is Luke) and Percy told her he would be, calling her "Mom" to make her happy. May happily went inside after this and told one of her stuffed toy monsters that she knew Luke would be safe.
It is unknown whether she is aware of her son's death or not.
The Heroes of Olympus[]
The Demigod Diaries[]
May is briefly mentioned in the story The Diary of Luke Castellan.
The Blood of Olympus[]
Annabeth mentions May when she tells Jason that Luke's mother was similarly reduced to insanity like his own mother, Beryl Grace.
Appearance[]
May was described in her younger years as a pretty, tall woman with blonde hair, shining grey eyes, and a friendly smile.
As an older woman, May is thin as a scarecrow. Her hair is white and stuck out in tufts all over her head. Her cloudy eyes would become blank green when she had glimpses of the future.
Personality[]
Luke, her son
Hestia stated that May had many talents. Before trying to become the Oracle, she was very confident in her abilities. Because of her confidence, however, May believed that she could become the new Oracle, inevitably causing her to go insane.
From then on, May was always in a half-crazed state where she would see the tragic future of her son, Luke. She became so scared and unstable that her state traumatized her son, to the point that he left her.
Percy said that May carried a kind aura. She loved Luke and Hermes deeply, even if both of them eventually left her.
Abilities[]
- Clear Sight: May is one of the few mortals with the ability to see through the Mist. However, her ability is much stronger compared to other mortals.
- Prophecy (limited): May could have become the new Oracle, if not for Hades' curse. After trying and failing to become the Oracle, she gained the ability to see small glimpses into the future, seeing the fate of her son. However, it drove her insane.
Etymology[]
- May is a feminine English given name derived from the month of the same name, which in turn is derived from the goddess Maia.
- Castellan is the title given to the governor of a castle.
Trivia[]
- Hermes' mother Maia is thought to be the namesake for the month of May. Ironically, that is the name of his son's mother.
- May's visions of Luke's future made her son so scared that he left home and blamed his father for not helping them, developing wrath which made him side with Kronos, indirectly fulfilling his future.