This chapter is dedicated to Miss X - a dedicated reviewer rom Artemis and also my first reviewer for this story
A month had passed since Zeus's birth, and I wondered how he is going. I ha not been allowed out of the palace since. All of my messages were heard by another before I could receive them. So all I could do was wonder – and fret. Is he still alive? How quickly is he growing? When I saw him mere hours after his birth – to take the blanket which would smell like him – he was already the size of an average one year old. My comparison was to the nymph children, who grew at about the same speed as the ignorant, primeval mortals below us.
I supposed that I was grateful that I was kept busy with housekeeping. If it weren't for the constant mess that my hateful husband made, I may have succumbed to utter misery. Even now, I came close to the pathetic sobbing girl of that first night. As I cleaned, I hoped. I hoped for a better future for us all.
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Five years later
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Zeus. That was what my mother – who I couldn't remember ever seeing – had named me. The dryad who had taken care of me told me her name was Rhea. She said that I had some great destiny.
Although I was only five years old, I had the body and mind of an eighteen year old nymph. I had slowed down in my growth when I was one year, and now I had stopped growing altogether.
The nymphs had taken care of me and trained me, so that now I could do what they could, and had learnt their ways and their respect for the Titans.
When it all began, I was practicing my swordsmanship in the training hall at the lady Gaia's home. I was hacking away the dummy when Amalthia – the nymph who has cared for me from birth – came over to me. I stopped, sweating, as she approached. The look on her face was one filled with concern and worry.
"What is it, Amalthia?" I asked. I took a lot to shake this peaceful dryad.
"Your mother is here. She wishes to speak to you." I small thrill of anxiety shot through me. Crete – which is where of Gaia's house live – was very isolated, and rarely had visitors and they only came when the need was great. That combined with the fact that the visitor was my mother – who I had never seen – almost made me shake. I took a deep breath, which calmed me a little. Then I allowed Amalthia to lead me to the woman who had never cared enough to find me.
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I stood in the foyer of mother Gaia's house, waiting for my son. I was so nervous. What if he was cruel, like his father? What if he wasn't ready? I had not stopped hoping, not once in the five long years that I had waited. I had to trust that my hope had not been in vain.
I watched anxiously as he entered the small room, with faithful Amalthia next to him. He stared at me – and I at him – and I moved unconsciously towards him. We both paused as we neared each other, and I took in his appearance. He was so tall! He stood at least six foot seven, taller than his father. His skin was still a handsome olive tone, and he had brown curly hair, the same colour – if not the same texture – as mine. I glanced at his heavily muscled bare chest and thought that we might stand a chance. He was very sweaty, as though he had been exercising. This evaluation only took a second, as my eyes lingered on his face. He had sharp, perfectly straight features. His lips where strangely full for a male. That was not what caught my attention, though. His eyes – still a perfect, clear blue – showed only kindness and love, though tinted with a little nervousness.
"Zeus."
"Rhea?" That stung a little. He did not use the word mother. I guess I deserved that, though. On the up side, his voice reflected his eyes. It was innocent, loving and kind.
We stared at each other for a moment longer before I lost control. I lunged across the last few steps towards him and took him in a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around me hesitantly, as if he did not know what to do. I sobbed into his chest.
Our sweet reunion was interrupted after a moment. My mother entered the room then. I broke off from my son and turned to her.
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As Lady Gaia entered the awkward reunion, Rhea finally released me and turned away. I dropped immediately to one knee, as I was taught, and bowed my head respectfully to the Lady. She tutted.
"Get up, boy. You do not need to show respect to me." Despite the complement that her words offered, her tone sounded more like an order. I rose stiffly.
"Now we must discuss what will happen tonight," she said to us both briskly. "I assume that you have a plan, Rhea?"
"Well, no…" Gaia interrupted before Rhea could finish.
"I thought not. What about you, boy?" I couldn't find the words quickly enough.
"I didn't think so." She sighed. "I suppose it is good that I have one, then."
"What I happening tonight?" I asked before I could stop myself. Gaia stared at me.
"Why, you are going to overthrow your father, of course."
A/N Hi everyone!
I had a couplle of questions from a reviewer. First, no I will not only be telling Rhea's POV (That is kind of obvious, though, after this chapther). Second, i'm no really going to do a retelling. I will put more details into my storie than the myth does.
I would like to wish you all a merry christmas (in case I don't update before then). Remember, there i no better chrissy present than a review! (hint hint)
hope to here from you all!
maddy
