I pluck each laurel stem carefully, choosing only the most tender and lushest of the bunch. I sift through the branches and pluck a stem delicately, placing the laurel into my basket.
Today is the day Diana returns for the first time in three years. Three years, seems longer than it sounds. I was only thirteen when she left for the real world, the world beyond the magical borders of Themyscira.
I understand the meaning of Diana's return. Today is the day I turn sixteen, I will officially become a man. And a man cannot stay, a boy is an exception.
I sigh as I snap another laurel off. I glance at my basket absently, surprising myself at the amount of laurel sprigs I have already collected. It's enough to weave, I decide, sitting down to sooth my aching legs.
I take one stem out and weave it with another, braiding the stems gently to avoid brittle snapping. Then I pull another and tuck it in, my fingers flying my instinct to my mother's instruction of weaving.
Before long, I have an intricate laurel wreath in my palms, and a few sprigs left over, which I decide to bring back. Mother might want to use laurel for something.
"Hello Athene," an amazon warrior greets me stiffly, her eyes slightly hard. I wince at the unfriendly tone. I am the only male on this island, where females are supposed to dominate.
"Good day Lena," I greet in my warmest tone with a slight bow.
Lena's hazel eyes land on the wreath, "For your sister?" she asks.
"Yes," I say, not daring to meet her eye. This was how I was raised, you bow to the females, you are lower than them all, even a child, "I hand-weaved it myself." Then I flinch, realizing my mistake in my arrogant tone, "I am average I must say," I add hastily.
I avert my eyes and wait for a response.
"Run along then, Athene," Lena says finally, and I hear her lowering her spear.
I do not reply and dart away, my basket swinging in my arms. I keep my head down the entire way back to the courtyard where they are setting a feast. I am accustomed to being low-ranked, even as the queen's son. I must be such a disgrace to her, it's a miracle she did not kill me like normal baby boys.
"We are the amazons, we are to show the arrogant men that women are not in the slightest weak. In fact, we are stronger."
I bite my lip bitterly as I recall the scorn in my mother's eyes. My earliest memory of her.
"Athene," I recognize my mother's stern voice. I'm already here? Wow, I must run faster than I thought.
"Hello mother," I say respectfully, "I have woven a laurel wreath for Diana." I hold out the wreath and wait for her response.
At the mention of her eldest daughter's name, Hippolyta's tone grows a fraction warmer, "Well done," she says.
I nod, acknowledging her praise with grace and modestly, "Thank you mother." Though my mind is innocently spewing bitter thoughts. If you were her daughter she would actually love you. She'll never love you as much as Diana. What's wrong with being male?
"I will leave you now," I say, retreating awkwardly, tucking the wreath to my chest.
"I shall see you at sundown," Hippolyta says in farewell, "Don't be late."
I nod respectfully, "I understand mother."
I walk away from my mother, my head held high. I stride past the female warriors, not meeting their eyes. My living quarters are small. A one-story, two-room building that I have to myself because I am male. It sounds nice, but it gets awfully lonely sometimes.
I pull the key I wear around my neck from beneath my tunic and unlock the wooden door.
The room inside is dim and neat. A single lamp sits dejectedly in the corner, the only light from the muffled light behind the curtain.
A small bed lies on one side, a blanket folded over and a pillow placed at the top. My personal bow and arrows sit unused, propped against the wall. I have never really been great at the bow. My sword lay on the small desk beside my bed. Its blade polished and sanded.
I stride across the room and flick on the lamb. The bulb flickers weakly, then glows, light projecting around the room.
I set the wreath delicately upon my table, exactly in the center, and admire my handiwork for a few moments. The laurels are still fresh, with their deep green, glossy leaves. I smooth a leaf that has been unintentionally folded beneath another.
I fling the window curtain open and squint against the sudden, piercing rays of the afternoon sun. I sigh, suddenly the evening seems even farther away, and the warmth of the sun makes me drowsy.
With a yawn, I plop down on my bed, the cot shaking beneath me. I close my eyes, and drift into sleep.
"Athene," a deep voice says, "Look at me."
I have never heard a voice so powerful and resounding, I am accustomed to the slightly higher-pitched female voice. This must be a man's voice, but what is a man doing in my dreams?
I open my eyes to see nothing. Nothing but ink blackness.
"Athene," the voice says again, and I detect the source from behind. I whirl around to become face to face with a man.
I can tell he is male. His hair is short, and he has a finely trimmed black beard. No female would look like that. The man is lean and tall, so he overshadows me by at least two heads. His hair is black, and his eyes are a startling electric blue. An aura of power surrounds him, and the air crackles with tension.
"You're a god," I realize, dropping to my knees in a hasty bow. Hippolyta has taught me about the gods. The three main gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. All brothers.
Zeus is the king of the gods and the god of the sky, Poseidon is the god of the sea, and Hades is the god of the underworld. The Olympian Council consists of twelve gods: Hermes, the god of messengers, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Ares, the god of war, Artemis and Apollo, twin archer gods, Aphrodite, goddess of love, Hephaestus, god of blacksmiths, Demeter, goddess of the harvest, Hera, the goddess of marriage, and Dionysus, the god of wine. Hestia is the goddess of the hearth.
"Rise Athene," the man says.
I push myself unsteadily to my feet, "Why are you in my dream… my lord?" I add swiftly, "Themyscira—"
"Athene, I do not have much time," the man interrupts, waving his hand, "I am not supposed to be here, as are you."
I flinch, "I already know that!" I can't help but allow a fraction of frustration and annoyance into my tone, "I've heard that all my life!"
The man's eyes darken, "Have the amazons not treated you well, my—" he cuts himself off.
"No," I say defensively, "They treat me well."
The man's gaze narrows, but he does not press the conversation much further, "You need to leave Themyscira. It is not your destiny to stay here, to be lower than the rest." His tone grows angry, "When Diana leaves, you leave with her."
"I already know!" I burst out, "Mother wants to send me away anyways," my voice grows bitter, "She's wanted to send me away for years, but never had an excuse. When I become a man she'll have her excuse to get rid of me."
"Don't indulge yourself in self-pity," the man growls.
I cross my arms, forgetting in the heat of the moment I am speaking with a god, "It's not self-pity!" my voice rises, "It's true!"
The man's eyes flare dangerously bright, and they spark with power and electricity. I shrink back a little, and with a jolt of fear, I finally reconginzed the god standing before me.
"Zeus," I say, dropping to my knees, "My lord," my throat is dry, "Forgive me for my ignorance and impoliteness."
The sparks of power and authority recede slightly, "I forgive you Athene," Zeus rumbles, "Remember what I said, you must leave…"
I wake up in a cold sweat, with the sound of someone pounding on my door, "Athene!" someone yells, "Hurry! You're late for the celebration!"
