It was on the winter solstice, the day when the gods came together for council. An argument began between Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and Artemis, the maiden goddess of the hunt. When Aphrodite told Artemis "what you need, honey, is to settle down with a nice you man..." Artemis was enraged, exclaiming that she had sworn off men. Apollo, who was Artemis' twin brother, had been forced to step between them.
"Sister!" he had exclaimed "that's enough!"
Artemis glared at him, her rage sharper than daggers. "No, Apollo. I've . . . We've all put up with . . . with that no good, useless little –"
Apollo cut her off before she could do something that she would regret. "As she may be worthy of all insults, this is a time of peace." Apollo waved off his sister's protests. "Believe me," he cast a glance behind him at Aphrodite. "I know."
Aphrodite was fuming. She knew what Artemis had been about to say. Plently of the gods, including Artemis and Apollo, had called her them before. Aphrodite had born the insults for too long. But she wasn't about to tolerate it.
The next day, Artemis returned to her personal group of Amazons, who had sworn not only fealty to her, but also men with her. In return, she granted them the gift of immortality. Aphrodite, following Artemis, looked upon the Amazons and it was them that she came across her inspiration.
An Amazon, Helen, caught her attention. She had seen Zeus with the girl, and knew that she was his child. She was quite beautiful, and Aphrodite herself would have been proud to have her as a daughter. After brief consideration, Aphrodite decided that Helen would serve her purposes, and called for Apollo.
Apollo appeared in the middle of the Amazon camp, looking around for Aphrodite. When Aphrodite interfered a little bit, he thought that he'd found her. But, after a second look, he realized that he was not looking at the face of Aphrodite, but Helen, daughter of Zeus.
Helen lifted her head and met Apollo's eyes. Her first thought was that he was handsome. Her second thought was wondering who she was. Her third thought was that she should go and talk to him. She did not think of her oath as she walked toward Apollo.
Apollo thought that she was the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen. When he reminded himself that she was off-limits, he just found himself loving her more. He smiled a radiant smile at Helen, who giggled.
Aphrodite, watching the flirting from a distance, decided that not only had she chosen her revenge well, but that she had also created a cute couple. Aphrodite watched, satisfied, as Artemis discovered them, screaming words of anger about Helen being a maiden to Apollo. When Artemis' rage turned to Helen, Artemis declared that when she had broken the oath to swear off men, she had broken their bond. Artemis removed the gift of immortality.
Zeus watched from above as his daughter aged quickly, all her years catching up with her. Moments before she joined Hades in the Underworld, Helen sent up a prayer to her father, begging him for help. Zeus took pity on the girl and turned her into a pine tree the last moment before death.
And, legend has it, there is an old pine tree standing alone beside Mount Olympus to this day.
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