Oh, the rain! Why did it have to rain tonight, of all nights? I snuggled my sleeping infant closer to my chest and continued to run. I looked ahead and saw a small, beautiful house. This is the one Hera was talking to me about. She was the only one who knew of this child, except her father, of course. She told me that this was the house she would stay at until she was grown enough to go to Camp Half-Blood, or live on Mount Olympus, where she belongs. I had to hide her here because, well, I wasn't supposed to have children after I promised myself I would remain a maiden forever. I finally reached the doorstep and knocked on the door. It was a cabin-like house: an odd occurrence for New York, but close to home. A young woman, no older than 25, opened the door. She wore an old-fashioned dress and an apron. She gasped when she saw my daughter and me.
"Quickly, come inside! Oh, you poor woman. Here, warm up by the fire- I'll make you a cup of tea." She gushed, making sure I was safely in an antique armchair before taking a kettle off of the wood-burning stove and pouring a cup of hot water. She put the tealeaves in the cup and placed it on the side table next to me. She didn't seem to mind that a complete stranger was getting water all over her nice furniture. I shook off my weariness almost instantly- being by the fireside was the most comforting thing in the world.
There was a sound of someone walking down the stairs. "Amelia? What's all the noise?" Asked the voice of a man, about the same age as my rescuer.
"Oh William, this woman here- she was all alone in the rain with her newborn child!" Amelia said, "I couldn't just leave her out there in the cold."
The man nodded his head and went into another room. A few seconds later he emerged with a blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders. "What brings you here, adventuring in the cold with your baby?" He asked, sympathy and confusion in his eyes.
"I'm afraid I cannot stay here for long," I replied, "For my presence here cannot be detected. I must ask one favor, though- it's for her safety." I looked down at my daughter, still sleeping in her blanket.
"Anything!" Said Amelia, putting her hand on my shoulder. Hera picked the perfect couple.
"My Zenia- Goddess of Hospitality… I need you to take her. She is far from danger here." I said, looking up at Amelia and William. They were both wide-eyed and surprised. Amelia turned to her husband.
"Oh, William…" Said Amelia, looking at her husband with pleading eyes. Hera had told me before that the couple was unable to have children of their own.
"I…" He started, "Why are you leaving your daughter here, with complete strangers?"
"I have no choice." I tried to mask the sadness in my voice.
Amelia squeezed William's hand. "I suppose we could take your Zenia." He responded. Amelia kissed him on the cheek and held out her hands. I placed my daughter in them. She stared at the little girl with eyes of wonder- wonder and love. William put his arm around his wife and stared at the baby aswell.
"You have no idea how much you have helped me." I reached into my bag and pulled out a small box, about the size of an orange. "Please, give this to her on her 13th birthday. Have her open it in your presence."
William reached out and took the box in his hand. I kissed my daughter on the forehead, and I left the house. The rain hid the fact that tears streamed down my face.