"You are more beautiful than Aphrodite herself!" he exclaimed, a smile fixed on his tanned face. The young man was dark-aired and bright eyed. He had ambitious goals for the future, including obtaining the most beautiful woman in the town for wife. His political career was taking off. He was fairly handsome and well-liked by most people. He had his whole life set out in front of him.
"Many thanks, suitor. If you continue with your flattery, I might just marry you," she replied with the bat of her eyes. She was a daughter of a common farmer but her beauty was well known throughout the town.
"That is my intention," he said in a wooing manner. He leaned closer.
What they didn't know was that far above them, someone was watching the scene. Her lips thinned in displeasure. Her auburn eyes darkened.
"How dare they boast of that mortal's beauty as greater than my own? I did not make her that great a beauty," Aphrodite growled.
Eros appeared before his mother. "What are you frowning for?"
She gestured to the mortals. "They boast of that woman's beauty far too greatly."
He quickly said, "Mother, whatever designs for revenge you have, please stop. I quite literally just hit them with my arrows. Don't make my labor a waste. Besides, they are only mortal. No one can truly compare to you." Eros really hated how spoiled his mother was. She was quick to anger when it comes to her vanity.
"Yes, that is quite true," she nodded in agreement, currently pacified.
But she never forgave or forgot that mortal with the long dark curls and clear, pretty complexion. For many seasons, the goddess tried to focus on not only her pleasures but also her own work: helping maidens that beg for love find it, keeping men drooling for said maidens, and blessing those who beg for it.
When a particular woman with long dark curls and a clear, pretty complexion walked into her temple, Aphrodite simply smirked. The woman seemed different from when she last saw her. Her stride was strong and graceful as she reached the altar.
She got on her knees and lifted something up wrapped in a blanket. "Goddess of beauty and love, bless my daughter with these gifts! I beg you for your mercy!" her voice croaked and she was in tears.
The goddess stared at the baby for a long time, debating. The woman seemed sincere and desperate but was Aphrodite able to overlook the slight from long ago? Something this woman had obviously forgotten or thought unimportant? She stared and stared and thought for so long, her head hurt and finally she decided. Her solid and pure voice whispered in the mortal's ears, "No."
The mortal gasped and clutched the baby to her chest as fear took hold of her heart. She turned and ran out of the temple, her cloak flowing around her.