Chapter 3: Delos

It was such a quiet day. No danger in the sea. That meant less work for Delphina. Only some fishers were praying for her assistance but the dolphins could perfectly do that without her. For once, she would like to take some vacations.

With some dolphins, she decided to explore the Gulf of Corinth. She never went there before. Time to discover a whole new territory!

Like the rest of Greece, there were splendid coasts everywhere. She could also explore new villages and cities in disguise. But instead she decided to go to a specific place.

As soon she arrived close to a city named Crissa, she could see it from the sea. With her head out of water at a safe distance from the mortals, Delphina could not hide her excitation.

"Look!" She said. "You see the huge mountain out there? Well, this is Mount Parnassus. And near it, just there, there is a place called Pytho. The center of the world!"

The dolphins didn't react that much. They seemed completely clueless about the enthusiasm of their mistress.

"Ho! I forgot" Delphina finally realized. "I never told you the story. Well, a long time ago, Zeus wanted to know where the center of the world is. So he sent two eagles to each extremity of the Earth. They flight at the same speed and when they met each other, Zeus threw the Omphalos right there at the place called Pytho. This is how we all know this is the center of the world."

The sea mammals seemed truly fascinated by the story. So, they asked her questions.

"What is the Omphalos?" Their mistress repeated. "Ho! It' a stone. It's the one that Rhea, Zeus's mother, gave to Cronus to be swallowed instead of her baby in order to save her son's life. Yeah! I know it was cruel. But Zeus made him throw up the stone with his siblings at the end."

"Anyway." She continued. "Did you know that Pytho also possesses an Oracle? To tell prophecies? It is told by a priestess named Pythia. She is under the command of the goddess Gaia. I heard it is a really beautiful place."

The dolphins were really pleased to learn new things. But then, the nymph completely didn't appreciate the next question.

"Why I don't go there to see it by myself?! Ho! My God! You still have a lot to learn. Well, they say that the place is kept by a huge monster! A dragon snake! Its name is Python!"

The dolphins seemed horrified! But a smart one asked another annoying question!

"Ok! Ok!" Delphina began to admit. "Yeah! You are right! It doesn't make sense to put a monster to protect a shrine. This is why it is not that much dangerous. Python just attacks bad people from what I heard. But I am still not going!"

The animals were all thinking the same thing. What their mistress refused to tell them? Knowing she couldn't get away with this, Delphina rolled her eyes. She cursed herself for creating such intelligent creatures!

"Ok! I'm going to tell you! Well…" She said with hesitation. "I am scared of snakes!"

If the dolphins could say they were surprised, they would not lie. Seriously, their mother was perfectly able to confront any kind of sharks but feared small snakes?

Delphina knew they were interiorly mocking her. She just knew her children too well. Honestly, was it wrong to have a phobia like pretty much the majority of people?

One of the dolphins insisted that she should go if Python was not bad. This meant that she had a few chances to encounter it.

She sighed. She was truly lacking arguments.

"Ok! You are right. I will go and see how Pytho looks like by myself."

Delphina wondered if it was truly wise to listen to the dolphins. She was walking beside a small river in a valley that led to Mount Parnassus. She could see from here the shrine up there close to the mountain. It was small since she was still pretty far but she could distinguish the marble.

It looked great.

But there were nobody else on the road. She didn't like it. Where were the mortals? She hoped that it was just a normal thing and not a sign of bad news.

OK! Calm down! She told herself.

She had nothing to fear. Python would only attack bad people who threated the sanctuary of Pytho. She was going to see the famous Oracle and the Omphalos by herself. It would be a wonderful experience!

But sadly, her worries were right.

She heard a loud cry. A cry from a woman. She stopped moving. Someone was in danger!

Forgetting completely her own fears, Delphina ran toward the origin of the scream. Her instinct to protect and save people will always be stronger than anything else.

Quickly, in the forest, she encountered someone. A beautiful lady with a brown hair bun and a large white chiton. She was running with tears in her eyes.

The nymph stopped. She didn't have the time to react before the other woman screamed.

"Run!"

Terrified as well, Delphina turned around and began to run. She didn't know what she tried to escape but she hoped that it was not what she suspected. But she soon came back to the river in the shape of a meander.

A cul-de-sac! She could easily escape just by jumping in the water, but she didn't know if the other woman in distress was able to swim. She decided to hide behind a huge tree. When the unknown lady arrived to the river, she seemed confused but Delphina called to her to come hide with her. When she finally noticed the nymph, she didn't wait a second more before to join her hastily!

"We are lost. Even if we stay there, Python will certainly succeed to find me!" She said, still panicking.

So it was exactly what Delphina feared. But she couldn't let herself panic as well. She was about to ask why the monster was looking for her when she noticed something.

This woman was pregnant.

But then, she heard a loud sound coming near here. None of them dared to make one noise. That was when Delphina saw a huge shadow coming in the direction of the river. It was bigger than the size of a tree and didn't stop growing the closer it came. It released a nauseous smell and was hissing loudly.

The nymph was totally scarred. She lived a pure nightmare. But she also understood that for some reasons, Python was pursuing that pregnant lady. And not in a good way. She didn't know why but for the moment she needed to do something to aid her.

Using her powers as a water nymph, she manipulated the liquid from the river. A grand arm of water came off from the source. The shadow was coming closer. She had to do it fast.

She didn't see the dragon snake but she still sent the water toward the shadow in a sudden attack. She heard a cry. A loud, threating and angry one! The shadow was now shaking! Delphina acted again. She sent another huge arm of water but this time in the opposite side of where they were hiding.

She turned and looked right ahead of her. But still one eye went to catch a glimpse at the shadow and she felt relieved when she saw it going in the direction of the water.

She didn't see Python with her own eyes and never wanted to see it!

"I fear it is not going to stop it." The stranger said, still afraid.

"I know." Delphina answered. "This is just a distraction. We must run away from here before it comes back."

As soon they reached the sea, both women sat down on a rock on the coast. They took the time to breathe slowly. They just experimented too much adrenaline. In particular, the pregnant one who seemed completely extenuated and began to cry.

"Thank you so much for helping me!" She said. "I completely felt abandoned. I am in your debt forever."

"It was nothing. But can I know who you are?"

"My name is Leto."

"Leto? Like the Titaness?"

"Yes. This is me. And you? You manipulated water, so you must be a water nymph"

"I am. My name is Delphina, Mother of Dolphins."

"I heard about you. Nice to meet you."

"Me too. But can you tell me just why Python was after you? I heard you are one of the nicest divinities. So I couldn't believe that you threated the shrine of Gaia."

Leto lowed her head, like if she felt ashamed. She touched her belly.

"As you can see, I am pregnant… The father is Zeus."

Delphina opened widely her eyes. She was honestly shocked by the information. She heard that Leto was the last person the King of the Sky tried to seduce before to finally settle with his sister Hera. Obviously, she refused him. But then, how she ended up expecting his baby? Knowing that it had been a while since Hera married Zeus, the pregnancy must have begun…

No! They couldn't…

"He seduced me a lot." Leto confessed. "He told me he regretted we didn't do it at least once before he married. Despite the fact I refused to marry him, I still hold feelings for him and he was perfectly aware of this. So, one night, I don't know how but I couldn't resist anymore the desire that I always secretly felt for him. He was so tender with me. But then, the morning after, regrets assaulted me when I realized what I've done."

Leto still cried, touching her belly in a protective way.

Delphina was not that surprised by the story. She didn't know how but Zeus never seemed to her as the kind of guy that would be a faithful husband. She felt bad for Hera and for Leto as well who was now suffering from it.

But that still didn't answer all of her questions.

"Ok! I understand that you fell pregnant after that affair. But that doesn't explain why Python was after you!"

"It's Hera."

"What?!"

"She is mad! She is so mad at me for sleeping with her husband and expecting his child that she decided to punish me! She asked Gaia to forbid any land to welcome me or else her fury would be terrible. I passed the last days wandering the earth for a place to deliver the baby but all the nymphs rejected me. I cannot blame them. Hera could be really cruel to them. But then, she also sent Python to pursue me!"

If Delphina felt bad for Hera some seconds ago, it wasn't the case anymore. Ok! She slept with her husband, but this wasn't a reason to treat Leto like that! The one she should blame was Zeus! But of course, it was easier to attack someone vulnerable like the Titaness instead of the most powerful god!

Leto looked totally desperate. She was about to give birth and had nowhere to go.

And Delphina couldn't stay there, doing nothing.

She went in the water, an idea in her mind. She turned to Leto.

"Stay here, close to the water. I will come back really soon, I promise."

Leto didn't have the time to protest. The sea divinity was already gone.

When she came back, Delphina was smiling. She got good news to share!

Once she spotted the Titaness, she quickly ran to her.

"Leto! I spoke to Poseidon. He created a floating island only for you! Since it floats, it is not under the control of Gaia!" Delphina happily announced. "You just need to ride my dolphins and we will bring you there."

Leto was truly touched by the help, but she was worried at the same time.

"But Delphina! You realize that if you do that, you will attract the wrath of Hera on you! I don't want you to have problems because of me!"

"I am under the protection of Poseidon, God of the Sea! If she attacks me, he will react and I am pretty sure she knows that!"

Suddenly, Leto felt a pain in her belly. She cried. Delphina began to worry.

"We must go now! The baby will come really soon! We have no time to lose." The sea nymph urged.

And the mermaid commanded her dolphins to bring the pregnant woman with them and to follow her. They swam through the sea until they reached the Cyclades.

Just near Mykonos, a new island was situated. It was named Delos. And it was floating, detached from the Earth.

It was pretty rocky, there were few plants growing on it. But Leto couldn't care less. She finally found a place to give birth safely.

She thanked the dolphin she rid and jumped into the water, walking toward the beach. Delphina changed her tail for legs and followed the Titaness. She would need her help for the birth!

As soon they were both on the island, Leto felt the first contractions. She screamed in pain. Delphina spotted a palm tree and suggested to sit under it.

Leto agreed and sat under the tree who would protect her from the sun. She screamed again. It was more painful than she anticipated.

"Ah! It hurts!"

"Take a breath! I am going to help you, ok?" The Mother of Dolphins said, aiding Leto to be more comfortable. "Now, you will listen to me. When I tell you to push, you push!"

It took a lot of time. Delivering a baby was never easy and could take long hours. Delphina was patient. A mother dolphin was always helped by another female to deliver her baby. So it was just part of her nature.

And after countless hours, in the middle of the night, under the light of the full moon, the women finally heard a baby cry!

Delphina was glad that Poseidon left blankets for them on the island. She used one to clean and wrap up the new born who was very healthy. She was happy! Then, she noticed the gender!

"Oh! It is a girl!" She announced to the mother. "A beautiful girl with black hair."

Extenuated by the labour, Leto managed to find the strength to look at her baby.

"It is a girl? Oh! My baby! I want to see her!"

"Stay lain! I will give her to you."

And Delphina brought the little child to the warm arms of her mother. The Titaness gazed at her with a lot of love, care, tenderness and relief. She went through so many trials and she never hoped that she will succeed to find a shelter and live safely this magical moment! She held the baby she imagined every night. A being so beautiful that it was impossible to not love her.

Maybe it was a mistake to bed Zeus but she cannot regret the result of her actions.

"How are you going to name her?" Delphina asked.

"For a girl, I was thinking of Artemis."

"That's pretty! Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

And when everything seemed to finally be peaceful for Leto, she suddenly felt pain again.

"Ah!" She screamed, hitting her head on the tree, still holding her daughter.

"Leto? What's going on?!" Delphina asked, alerted.

"It is moving in my womb. Again!"

"What?"

How it could be possible? Unless…

They are twins! Just like her and Calypso!

And here they went again! Delphina took back the baby and deposited her on the grass in a safe spot. She quickly came back to the Titaness.

"Leto! Believe it or not! You certainly have another baby! We are going to do the same thing again! Ok?"

"Ah! Ok!"

Sadly, the second baby would not be as easy as the first one. Hera heard that her rival succeeded to find a place to give birth despite everything she had done and that she already got her baby at the moment she learnt it.

But when she discovered there was another one, she didn't lose time to act. She smiled. She prevented her daughter Eileithyia, Goddess of Childbirth, to use her powers. This way, she couldn't stop Leto to deliver but she could make it harder.

The Titaness would suffer as she deserved it.

And this how it took nine days to deliver this baby.

Leto went into a strong, agonizing and distressing pain! She tried to survive a living hell for more than a week. That was enough to make her almost insane!

Delphina felt herself distraught. She had to take care of Leto and the young Artemis, night and day! Calming both of them was a pure challenge. She didn't understand why it was so long. She was powerless and tired.

Then, Iris came. A beautiful woman with auburn hair and colorful clothes.

She was so thankful when the Goddess of Rainbow arrived to the island and offered her help. The nymph could have some rest at least. One took care of the mother and the other of Artemis. They switched their roles constantly.

These nine days were definitely the longest that any living being would have ever experimented. They all feared that the second baby would never come. Hera might be mad for good reasons but this was truly a cruel treatment. But neither Delphina nor Iris gave up.

And then something incredible happened.

Artemis, still a baby, rose on her feet. The three divinities present were shocked. How it could be possible? And suddenly, she began to help her mother. Only nine days old, she went easily between the legs of her mother to hold the head of her sibling.

It was profoundly touching. Delphina thought about herself and Calypso.

She perfectly knew the strong bond between twins.

And finally the baby was delivered.

Immediately, Delphina took a blanket to surround the new little baby that was crying out loud. This time, it was a boy and had blond hair instead of black one like his sister.

God! He finally was here!

"Leto! It is finished." The sea nymph happily said. "It is an adorable boy! You got both genders. Isn't wonderful?"

To be honest, the Titaness could not enjoy the moment. She was so tired and relieved that the pain ended. She just wanted to rest. No one could blame her.

The sea divinity tenderly held the young baby boy while Iris was attending to the care of the mother and Artemis.

All of a sudden, the baby boy opened his eyes.

And Delphina looked at him.

Blue eyes met blue eyes. Eyes shining under the light of the sun. They both opened the window of the soul to the other. And beautiful souls, they were. The baby couldn't stop looking at the woman that was shielding him in her soft and warm arms. It was the first time ever he could see something and seemed pleasantly drawn by this first image. An image bright, gorgeous, gentle and sweet. And he smiled. A cute baby smile. Pure happiness was expressed from this fresh new face. Delphina was amazed and troubled by her feelings as well since she was not his mother but still… She instantly felt connected to him somehow.

Then, the child turned his head to his sister Artemis who was trying to reach for him. She smiled, happy to see her twin brother safe and sound. The latter also moved his small hands, trying to touch his sibling's face. Soon, they were hugging each other, sharing a loving moment.

Delphina was bigly moved by this demonstration of affection. She was now missing her own twin sister.

Leto was also watching her two children. She cried. She felt too tired to take them in her arms right now but she didn't care. She was now a mother of two wonderful kids and she couldn't feel more blessed. She was happy!

"And so, how are you gonna name your son?" Iris, still beside her, asked.

Delphina was still watching the beautiful baby boy who felt asleep in the embrace of his sister Artemis. She was also curious to know what his name was going to be.

So she waited, until she heard it.

"Apollo."

Delphina was finally free to return to the sea. Leto assured her that she would now be alright on her own. And anyway, she had responsibilities. Her dolphins needed her.

She promised herself that she would come back. She now felt close to this family. She helped these children to see the light of the day and she would like to see them grow up!

She was about to enter the water when she heard a deep and authoritarian voice.

"I finally got to meet you, Delphina."

She was caught by surprise! She instantly turned around to face a bearded man with white hair without looking old. He possessed captivating brown eyes that seemed to look through you. He was incredibly tall and muscular, wearing a precious silver cloak made with silk.

He inspired respect and fear.

He was Zeus in person.

Delphina quickly kneeled. She never met face to face the King of the Gods and it made her anxious. What did he want with her? She hoped it was nothing bad. She still bowed in deep submission, waiting for him to talk.

"You may rise, child."

She rose but kept her head low.

"No need to fear me. I am here to personally thank you. You helped Leto and my children to be born."

She didn't dare to ask how he dealt with his wife. It was not her place to ask that kind of personal question.

"It was nothing, my Lord." She answered. "I also want to thank you for sending Iris to me. Her aid was precious."

"It was the least I could do. But now, I promise you that I am going to take care of them. I am even going to grant godhood to all of them."

She was happy. It was about time he tend to his duties as the father! And she was sure the children would be amazing gods just like their mother.

"And to you as well." He added.

It took her a long moment before she fully realized the meaning of this sentence. What?! She finally rose her head to look at the god. He was totally serious.

"My Lord. I don't…"

"Don't even dare to say you don't deserve it. I should have made you officially a goddess a long time ago to be honest. You are worshipped by the mortals and treated as a high divinity because of your services given to them. And now. you helped my lover and my babies. You deserve to be a goddess. And you also are going to have access to ambrosia and be able to become immortal."

Immortality? Delphina was so flattered by the offer. Most people forgot that nymphs are not immortal. They still lived a longer life but they could die.

She was hesitant. Immortality was something huge. It was not always a good thing. But on the other side, to never fear to die must be so much more peaceful.

However…she also feared to be lonely.

"My king, may I ask a request?"

"You may."

"Being immortal must be awesome but I also love my sister Calypso more than anything else in the world. I fear that she would die someday and then I would end up alone forever. Could you give her immortality as well? If it isn't too much to ask."

"Well, you did help Leto to have twins. So, I think that I can honor that fact by giving immortality to both you and you own twin."

"Really? Thank you, my king!"

She thought again about the love between Artemis and Apollo. So pure, so beautiful, so strong. The same love she shared with Calypso. She couldn't wait until she tell her the good news. They were going to be immortal together! Maybe only herself will become a goddess but who cared! They were still going to be sisters to matter what!

She finally joined her dolphins, this time, with the official title of Goddess of Dolphins!

Thank you for reading!

In real life, female dolphins truly help mothers to deliver their babies, so I wanted to honor that biological fact.

By the way, in symbolism, dolphin is often associated with the moon and the sun, so I thought it would be nice to honor that by making Delphina assist the birth of their respective gods (yeah I know for Helios and Selene!)

By the way, there are many versions of that myth so don't be mad if I didn't pick up the version you know. Of course, I made some modifications for this story.

Calypso is said to be immortal in greek mythology despite being a nymph and authors never explained how. I resolved the problem!

If you find creepy that Delphina met Apollo as a baby, well, just wait (if you know greek mythology really well, you may guess what is coming next chapter)

See you soon!