Title: Vengeance Sweet
Rating: R (later)
Disclaimer: Troy is not mine, although wouldn't it be fun...
The Goddess Artemis was in a foul mood. Today had been the anniversary of her creation. As was customary with the Gods, a magnificent feast had been planned and was to be held in the Great Hall of Zeus. Eager to be toasted and to receive her gifts, Artemis had run to the Great Hall where all merry things were held, only to find it empty. Thinking she had risen too early, Artemis waited thinking the rest of the Gods would arrive shortly. To pass the time she thought of how she would greet her guests as they arrived. Zeus had been teasing her all year, arguing loudly with himself on just what to get her, feeding her little hints and tedious clues. She thought of all the gifts she would receive and waited full of childish glee.
The sun was low in the sky before Artemis grew tired of waiting. This may seem a long time to be waiting, but time passes very quickly for immortal beings. She set off in search of her celestial family; perhaps they were throwing her a special party somewhere else on Olympus? The thought thrilled her and she searched all over the mountain. It wasn't long before she found them, huddled close peering through the clouds with interest. Artemis was confused. She wandered dazed into the muse's library, not far from her family. It was there where she found her older cousin, Aphrodite scanning leisurely through the ancient tombs.
"Greetings cousin, I wish you much happiness on this your day of birth!" Sadly even Aphrodite's brilliant smile couldn't cheer to young Goddess. She felt her lip begin to quiver and was instantly embraced.
"Dear cousin, what saddens you so?" Artemis lost her composure and began sobbing her heart out to her most trusted friend. She spoke of her supposedly great party that never came and how no one noticed her arrival when she had approached them. "What could be so fascinating on Earth!?" She spat. Aphrodite soothed her troubled cousin and smoothed down her tousled white blonde hair.
"It is the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, my love." Artemis rubbed her eyes forcefully.
"How could a measly mortal battle become more important than I?" Aphrodite chided gently, much like a mother would to her child who had just scraped their knee.
"Not a battle, sweet one, a war. A long time ago, the young Prince Paris named me fairest of all Goddesses and awarded me a golden apple. Hera and Athena are still bitter and wish to take revenge. They have both blessed the Greek warrior Achilles and placed him in their favor. They seek to destroy the match I have set between Paris and Helen." Artemis leapt up, fury written clearly across her face. Within the blink of an eye her sword was drawn and she was headed out the door.
"I'll teach those conniving wenches." She mumbled to herself. However, she hadn't made it little more than four feet out the door before a sword tip was pressed gently at the base of her neck. Artemis froze, her hand clenching her sword hilt almost painfully. A gentle, glossy voice sounded from behind.
"Now where are you off to in such a foul mood?" Artemis rolled her eyes.
"It is none of your affair, Apollo." She sheathed her sword and turned to meet the honey depths of Apollo's eyes. He was giving her a concerned look. Just what she needed.
"It's not often the Goddess of the Hunt leaves Aphrodite's presence in tears with her sword drawn. Of course it is my affair." He held his sword in a lazy grip, letting her know he was merely playing. She pushed his sword down with her bare hand and he gave a wide grin in return. Apollo and Artemis were two of the few Gods who's skin were deeply tanned. They both spent a fair amount of time on Earth and it was a visual reminder of their warrior status. Apollo's bare chest glistened in the Olympian light and the thick sheen of sweat that covered him told her he had been training.
"Hera and Athena have ruined the day." Apollo shrugged.
"I know. Their vanity has evolved into something wretched. I am saddened that you were hurt." Artemis was genuinely surprised. Apollo was playful by nature and although held a serious title and charge, he always found time to pester Artemis. Apollo sheathed his sword and in one swift motion, wrapped Artemis in a big sweaty hug. Artemis was too shocked to react. She felt something cool settle against her neck.
"I hope tomorrow is better for you, little hunter." Artemis was still frozen as Apollo stalked gracefully away. Looking down she discovered he had placed a necklace around her neck. It was a fine bone pendant in the shape of an arrow. She ran her calloused fingers gently over the surface.
"Hmph...Perhaps you are not as foul as I thought, Apollo."
Rating: R (later)
Disclaimer: Troy is not mine, although wouldn't it be fun...
The Goddess Artemis was in a foul mood. Today had been the anniversary of her creation. As was customary with the Gods, a magnificent feast had been planned and was to be held in the Great Hall of Zeus. Eager to be toasted and to receive her gifts, Artemis had run to the Great Hall where all merry things were held, only to find it empty. Thinking she had risen too early, Artemis waited thinking the rest of the Gods would arrive shortly. To pass the time she thought of how she would greet her guests as they arrived. Zeus had been teasing her all year, arguing loudly with himself on just what to get her, feeding her little hints and tedious clues. She thought of all the gifts she would receive and waited full of childish glee.
The sun was low in the sky before Artemis grew tired of waiting. This may seem a long time to be waiting, but time passes very quickly for immortal beings. She set off in search of her celestial family; perhaps they were throwing her a special party somewhere else on Olympus? The thought thrilled her and she searched all over the mountain. It wasn't long before she found them, huddled close peering through the clouds with interest. Artemis was confused. She wandered dazed into the muse's library, not far from her family. It was there where she found her older cousin, Aphrodite scanning leisurely through the ancient tombs.
"Greetings cousin, I wish you much happiness on this your day of birth!" Sadly even Aphrodite's brilliant smile couldn't cheer to young Goddess. She felt her lip begin to quiver and was instantly embraced.
"Dear cousin, what saddens you so?" Artemis lost her composure and began sobbing her heart out to her most trusted friend. She spoke of her supposedly great party that never came and how no one noticed her arrival when she had approached them. "What could be so fascinating on Earth!?" She spat. Aphrodite soothed her troubled cousin and smoothed down her tousled white blonde hair.
"It is the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, my love." Artemis rubbed her eyes forcefully.
"How could a measly mortal battle become more important than I?" Aphrodite chided gently, much like a mother would to her child who had just scraped their knee.
"Not a battle, sweet one, a war. A long time ago, the young Prince Paris named me fairest of all Goddesses and awarded me a golden apple. Hera and Athena are still bitter and wish to take revenge. They have both blessed the Greek warrior Achilles and placed him in their favor. They seek to destroy the match I have set between Paris and Helen." Artemis leapt up, fury written clearly across her face. Within the blink of an eye her sword was drawn and she was headed out the door.
"I'll teach those conniving wenches." She mumbled to herself. However, she hadn't made it little more than four feet out the door before a sword tip was pressed gently at the base of her neck. Artemis froze, her hand clenching her sword hilt almost painfully. A gentle, glossy voice sounded from behind.
"Now where are you off to in such a foul mood?" Artemis rolled her eyes.
"It is none of your affair, Apollo." She sheathed her sword and turned to meet the honey depths of Apollo's eyes. He was giving her a concerned look. Just what she needed.
"It's not often the Goddess of the Hunt leaves Aphrodite's presence in tears with her sword drawn. Of course it is my affair." He held his sword in a lazy grip, letting her know he was merely playing. She pushed his sword down with her bare hand and he gave a wide grin in return. Apollo and Artemis were two of the few Gods who's skin were deeply tanned. They both spent a fair amount of time on Earth and it was a visual reminder of their warrior status. Apollo's bare chest glistened in the Olympian light and the thick sheen of sweat that covered him told her he had been training.
"Hera and Athena have ruined the day." Apollo shrugged.
"I know. Their vanity has evolved into something wretched. I am saddened that you were hurt." Artemis was genuinely surprised. Apollo was playful by nature and although held a serious title and charge, he always found time to pester Artemis. Apollo sheathed his sword and in one swift motion, wrapped Artemis in a big sweaty hug. Artemis was too shocked to react. She felt something cool settle against her neck.
"I hope tomorrow is better for you, little hunter." Artemis was still frozen as Apollo stalked gracefully away. Looking down she discovered he had placed a necklace around her neck. It was a fine bone pendant in the shape of an arrow. She ran her calloused fingers gently over the surface.
"Hmph...Perhaps you are not as foul as I thought, Apollo."