Chapter 10 - Pondering

(General POV)

On Olympus the boss was obviously Zeus but he often went abroad, usually to Ethiopia. In his absence, Athena ruled the place; she was Zeus' favourite daughter and he trusted her completely and agreed to everything she said.

Apollo found her in her quarters, reading. She already knew about Cassandra, probably Hermes had told her.

"You want to make her immortal, don't you?" she greeted him, and smiled wickedly upon seeing his expression.

"How do you know?"

"Because it is the only way to spare her that destiny and you know that." she explained.

Athena was really intelligent and she was not nerdish and by-the-book as someone believed. Her banters with Ares and Poseidon were legendary and she especially liked to hit them with her wry humor. She, Apollo and Hermes were good friends (and, as for Hermes, they probably would have liked to be something more) and could practically read each other's mind.

"Do you agree with it, Athena?"

"Yes. At least, immortality is a gift you can take back." she said bitterly, and he lowered his head, ashamed.

"Now, now, Apollo. Don't be like this." her voice was gentle as she caressed his arm "I agree but she shall agree as well to that, of course."

"Athena, I… do not think that I should be the one to ask her this. I fear she does not trust me at all and that she could misjudge my intentions again."

"Since she told you the truth, I believe she does. It's up to you to make her feel comfortable enough. You see…" Athena straightened and Apollo, despite his unhappy mood, felt the urge to smile: that was her 'I am going to lecture you' attitude.

"You see, you must remember that she doesn't actually know you. Explain everything to her, even those things that seem evident to you."

"Thank you."

Athena looked at him, perplexed: "And why are you smiling like that?"

"Oh… never mind, I was just wondering." he answered with a slight blush.

"And should she accept… will we have to proceed right now?"

"No. We must wait for the end of the war, there are still some things she is destined to do." He explained.

"Better then. She will have time to think about that. One last thing, Apollo…"

"Yes?"

"You know that each one of us can ask the gift of immortality for just one mortal. So please be careful next time, you will not have this possibility again"

"I think I have learnt my lesson. But thank you, anyway."

That very evening, Apollo went to Troy. His decision to visit Cassandra while she was in bed was not a casual one: he wanted to prove that he wouldn't have laid a finger upon her, that he was trustworthy.

-O- -O- -O-

(Cassandra's POV)

He startled me. He had never visited me in my bedroom before and despite the gentleness he had shown in the morning I felt uneasy – and suspicious.

He seemed to read in my mind: "There is no need for you to worry, Cassandra. I just wish to talk to you." My heartbeat slowed down and I began to stand.

"No, no. Stay." He took a chair and sat in front of me but at a certain distance from my bed. Nevertheless, I was wearing only my nightgown and I couldn't help but blush.

"Cassandra, I have thought about your situation. I believe that the only way for you to avoid your fate is to become immortal. My sister, Athena, and my brother, Hermes, agree with me."

I gasped at these words. I expected him to merely ease my pain and moreover I was quite wary of his gifts.

"You are not requested to give me an answer right now. You have time until the end of the war" Apollo added. His voice was somewhat detached but quiet, not hostile. I looked at him, not knowing what to say. A horrible fate was expecting me, unless… but I did not want to make another unwise decision. This was another gift that – in my opinion – could not be taken back.

Apollo seemed to read my mind again: "Immortality is a reversible process, Cassandra. You could reconsider your decision at any time, without consequences." He paused and sighed, he seemed… helpless, an unusual sight. "Cassandra, I do not mean to woo you with this proposal. I only wish to give you what you deserve in exchange for my mistake."

I didn't feel ready to give him an answer, I didn't even know if I could trust him. He was gentle, calm; but he had been gentle years before as well and he had punished me all the same. And there was another thing that restrained me from saying yes: after death I would have met my family again at least.

"Sir…?"

"Yes?"

"Should I accept… would I be allowed to meet my family?" I myself perceived the insecurity and frailty in my voice and tried to fight them.

"Of course you would" Apollo paused, then he looked at me with what seemed… embarrassment? "I had… imagined you would have felt this desire, and since Hermes is allowed to travel in and out of the Underworld I have personally asked him."

This had been really kind of him. He could not understand what it meant to loose someone, to miss someone… but he had thought about that all the same.

"Hermes went to talk with Hades and Persephone, the king and queen of the underworld. They said you would be allowed to visit your family at any time. They could not say "no" to Hermes."

"And why so?" I asked, surprised. Hermes did not resemble the vindictive god at all.

"They owe him a favor" Apollo smiled a bit, after so many years "In fact it seems that everyone on Olympus does owe Hermes a favor..." he added, lifting an eyebrow. I knew him from years and this was the first time he actually made a joke. He was obviously doing his best to make me feel comfortable.

However, I didn't want his kindness to push me too far.

"Thank you, sir. But I wish to think about that."

"Of course, there is no need to hurry. When you will make your decision just call me, I will hear you"

And with that, he left.

I tried to sleep again but it was useless to try, so I woke up and went out for a walk in the garden. I would have never imagined such an offer; other mortals had become immortal in the past, such as Ariadne and Heracles, but I was not a hero neither I was loved by a god. Not anymore. He was the Lord of my temple, I knew he was truthful. But I couldn't force myself to trust him even if he had been so very kind to me.

So, what to do?