The next morning came all too quick, as I gathered up what little property I owned. My eyes dropped as memories of last night came flooding back to me. After I said good night to Gaia for the last time, I crawled onto my pile of clothes that served as a bed and tried to get some sleep. Do I even have to mention that it didn't work? First I was too hot, then I was too cold, then I was board, then a cricket started to chirp, not caring that some people were trying to sleep. So after about four hours of trying to sleep with no success, I tipped toed outside.
The stars shone in the night sky. I tried to make out pictures in the stars, like Gaia had taught me, but my mind was elsewhere and I just couldn't focus enough for my imagination to take hold. Needless to say I was a daydreamer and that's exactly what I did, I imagined myself king of the gods, telling people what to do. I imagined my sibling's faces, and my future wife's face, although I had no idea if I even wanted to get married. I pictured my children's faces and imagined them growing up, but I know all of that was far away from where I stood now. Sighing I went back to my room and got a little sleep.
"Zeus?" a delicate voice brought me out of my memories. I turned to see who it was. A woman with waste long black hair and sparkling green eyes stood in my door way. Rhea.
"Mother," I answered nodding in her direction, packing up the last of my things. "I'm ready,"
"Good," she came over and gave me a hug. I have only met Rhea a couple of times in my life, and they were only short, sweet, and to the point visits. I've tried to put myself in her shoes, it must have been hard, it's been 18 years, and now does she get to finally get to take me home. I hugged her back for a few moments, when she let go she said, "Let's go home," and walked out the door.
"Yeah, home," I said miserably, hoping to high heavens she didn't hear me. I followed her outside, she walked into the forest, before I followed I turned and took one last look that the place that had been my home for the past 18 years. Then quickly chased after. We walked for about an hour till we reach a mountain, one in which I assumed was Mount. Othrys. A path way that circled it's way to the top of the mountain. Rhea didn't even turn to look at me as she continued onward to the path. After about an hour and a half, I estimated, it could have been long or it could have been shorter, I don't know. We reach the top. And what I saw took my breath away.
Gods and goddesses of all shape and sizes walked around trading and talking like one big happy family. I didn't know how I was going to remember all their names. I looked to my left and saw a tall, broad, handsome look man talking to a pretty, thin, blonde haired girl. She was the prettiest thing I have ever seen in my life and I had to know her name, I don't know why, something inside me just came over me, telling me I had to know her name. It was important.
The blonde haired girl turned towards me and smiled as our eyes met. the man turned to see what she was looking at and gave me a death glare when he saw me. Oh no, I hope he didn't recognize me, but why would he? I've never seen him before and as far as everyone here, with the exception of Rhea, thought I was swallowed whole by my father. My heart started to speed up when he march over towards us.
"Rhea," he yelled in a strong deep voice, "Who is he, and why is he here without permission."
"Since when do I need permission to bring people into the palace, Atlas?"
"So Cronus knows he's here then,"
"No, I didn't say that, but he his name is Zeus, son of Uranus and Gaia, also known as our new found brother. Gaia hid him away for his own safety, now she feels he will be safe among us. Atlas he is family, he will be treated as such, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, but I suggest you don't wait too long to introduce him to Cronus, you know how he hates surprises,"
"Yes, I know, I gave him six surprises before and he didn't take them to well,"
"Well then, I guess I will go do you a favor and warn Cronus before hand, but I should warn you he is not in the best mood, the babies kept him up all night. So he's awfully grouchy," Atlas gave me one last glare and walked away toward the palace.
Gulped loudly and turned inwards to Rhea, she was smiling, to be honest that confused me. She looked at me and her smile widened. Then she spoke, "It's okay, Cronus, believe it or not, is always in a more giving and forgiving mood when he's grouchy. And besides he doesn't mind stay up late when they babies are keeping him up. Now let's go, it is time for you to met your father."
"Babies," I thought, pausing for a moment then calling out, "Wait, when you say babies, you mean-,"
"Yes," Rhea interrupted me, "Your siblings. They move around in your father's stomach, just as if he were pregnant with them. They move around at night, fighting for room no doubt," Rhea walked on and I follow once more, "They keep your father up at night because they move so much and they can never tell whether it's day of night so they move and fight whenever they please. And because of this your father as a different sleeping pattern every night,"
I followed her up the steps listening to her talk about my siblings, Gaia would never revile this much to me ever. As we walked up the golden stairs and into a grand palace, my breath was taken away for the second time that day. The walls where painted gold, the carpet was red, staues of different gods outlined the hall way, and at the very end of the hall way stood two thrones, and in the one on the right sat a man that looked just like me. White hair, and starling blue eyes, there was a small bump on his stomach; it was about the size of an eight week pregnancy bump. I knew right away that that was where my siblings I have waited all my life to see were kept.
