Fascinations

Chapter Three: The Gathering

Disclaimer: You know the drill- This story does not actually appear in mythology, blah, blah… the gods and goddesses in the story are real… Aminta, Erric, and all of the others you don't recognize are mine!

Chapter Note: Alright, let's just get to the story! No more jabbering from the author!

-x-

It was a balmy summer night when the girl was born. The world was still and silent, for they knew a significant child was being born. When the girl was delivered, Selene beamed proudly at her baby girl. Iliythia, the goddess of child birth, dusted of her hands, signaling the end of her work.

"But what shall you name her?" she sighed, preparing to depart.

"Aminta." The simple words left the already battered goddess breathless.

Aminta. The name passed across everyone's lips, from the divinities sitting atop Olympus, to the lowly servants working at her palace. Aminta. The name passed from tree to meadow, stream to rock. Aminta. The name spread quickly, a burning wildfire that was consuming immortal Greece.

-x-

It seemed to Selene that he daughter grew up in a matter of days. Before she knew it, the girl was already thirteen. No creature could hope to rival her beauty, save Lady Aphrodite herself. Soon it would be time to think of Aminta's marriage, and she was unprepared, to say the least.

Asking around a bit, the moon goddess realized that Hades had a son who was only a year or two older than her own child. She invited the boy over, along with some other sons of the gods.

Aminta was not so pleased to hear of their coming. She preferred to play out in the gardens by herself, or sit in the cool library and read for hours on end. The girl had no use for the love of a man, and she didn't want to marry at all.

On the day which the boys were to come, she was polished up until she shone. Her maids put a flattering chiton on her, and sent her into the orchards to play. As the boys arrived, they were directed into the orchards to find the young lady.

Giggling, she ran through the gardens, her long, dark hair streaming out behind her. Few caught a glimpse of her, but those who did eagerly dashed after her. Aminta scuttled up into a tall apple tree, and sat in one of the highest branches, satisfied with her position.

All of the boys had gathered beneath the tree. Rolling her eyes, she called down to them, "Whoever can climb to me might earn a kiss."

Immediately, the young men began scrambling up towards the top of the branch. Except for one.

Erric, the son of Hades, stood beneath the tree, awestruck. He could hardly believe his eyes- the goddess of the moon's daughter was impossibly gorgeous. Knowing he had to be the one to get the kiss, he stood analyzing the tree, trying to figure the best way to get to the top.

Oh, to heck with sensibility. Nimbly scrambling up the first few bows, he shot upwards, making incredible speed. Most of the other boys had lost their footing and had to start over again. Yet there was Erric, almost to the girl. He could already see her dress fluttering just feet above him.

And then he was to the top. Aminta was still there, surprised to see that someone had made it. Beaming proudly, Erric sat next to her.

Smiling back a little, she blushed softly. She hadn't expected someone to make it up, and now she had to kiss a stranger. All the while, Erric sat, looking at her intently. He studied her face- her warm, chocolate colored eyes, her sun-kissed skin, the long, brown hair that had been elegantly piled on top of her head.

"I'm Aminta," she finally whispered, breaking the long silence. Her companion smiled gently, taking her hand.

"Erric," he whispered, taking her hand to his lips and tenderly kissing the soft flesh. Growing bolder, he trailed a few kisses farther up her arm. After pulling her hand away, she blushed darker.

Having realized his mistake, he straightened back up and ran a hand through his thick ebony hair. "Sorry," he said politely.

The two sat in the tree for hours, talking and laughing as the other continued their long-lost battle to the tree-top. Around dusk, Selene came and called all the boys down, as it was time for them to leave.

They looked at each other for a moment before moving. Then Erric slowly caressed her cheek, and leaned forward to kiss her. Just before their lips met, Aminta swiftly turned her head, so that the kiss fell on her cheek.

"Perhaps next time," she apologized. The hurt look that he gave her made her insides turn over with guilt. "I'm sorry. I'm not ready."

Slowly, Erric, crawled down the tree, glancing back at the girl often. His emotions swirled around in his head, a thick, confusing fog. And as he returned home, he vowed to find her again.