Captain America meets the Hunt chapter 7
Aria was hesitant entering as it had been a rather long time since she actually had been in a house. She looked from left to right taking everything in. She was escorted into a room with big chairs and a small table. "Have a seat." Peggy stated
"Do you want some tea?"
"Yes please." Aria responded she could be civil. "Nice house..."she stated but it felt awkward and she had no idea what to talk about for idle chitchat. "What exactly do thou know?" Aria asked sitting on the ground not trusting the chairs. Peggy came in a little stunned she did not chose a seat but moved so she was sitting across from her.
"That the thing we saw in Germany was a monster. A hydra and that girls were indeed the ones to kill it. That you were going to explain more."
"Figures. They leave it to me..." Aria mumbled to herself. "What do th...you know about Greek mythology?" Aria asked as Peggy got back up seeming the kettle was boiling.
"I know some of the Greek gods names but to be honest my classical studies was never really great. I know that the hydra was a Greek myth."
"That is true, however the hydra is not the only monster out there. Everything thou are taught through myths or legends about the Greek history is truth or based on truth. Thy Greek gods and goddesses are real. As are monsters such as the hydra. In Greek myths the gods liked interacting with mortals...on thy more physical...they had sex. Usually ending with a child being born. These children were called..."
"Demigods like Hercules." Peggy stated at the mention of his name Aria frowned.
"Let us not mention his name, I do not like him." Aria replied "but yes demigods. Half god half mortal. These demigods are usually trained to be heroes for thy gods. They fight monsters...I am a demigod, my father is Apollo. However I am not normal...what do you know of Artemis?"
"She was a maiden goddess...the goddess of hunting and the moon." Peggy responded
"Yes, sort of that kind of where it gets weird. She has a few titles to her name but one thing she is that makes her very different to thy other gods is she is a maiden and has no children. When she asked for her domains she asked for companions Hunters to join her in the Hunt. They hunt through her domain keeping thy monsters in line. I am one of her Hunters. Why I attacked your friend when he touched me. I do not like males. Are you following?"
"Yes."
"Thou believes me?"
"Yes, but can I ask why do you say thou and thy?"
"I am still getting used to modern English. The amount of time languages have changed is confusing. I was born in 1485 my father was sent to England prior to 1502 in order to understand a prophecy."
"You were...I cannot believe it. You look 14."
"I am blessed by Artemis. I serve her and in return I am granted youth until I die or break my vow." Aria responded "you are taking this well."
"Vow?"
"I took a maiden vow."
"Oh yes, maiden goddess travels with other maidens."
"You said something about Germany? Were you there?" Aria asked
"We arrived just as the place blew up. We talked to our soldiers they had some things to say. Like how they saw girls running around with bows. How they killed a monster by leading it back into the forest. If it weren't for the arrows in some of the dead soldiers or the wreckage in the forest I never would have believed them."
"Did your soldiers fire on them? The girls?"
"No, the Germans did. We interrogated one he kept saying they took our hydra."
"Were you there?" Peggy asked seeing her expressions she only partly believed the stories the men told but then when she was visited by that blonde lady with startling grey eyes she found her mind expanding and was willing to believe.
"Those men killed two of my friends."
"I'm sorry dear."
"Are you still at war?"
"No, the war is over we won." She stated "do you not know what year it is?"
"We do not notice time when we travel with Artemis. The first time I met Steve was the first time in a while. The car had just been invented."
"1885?"
"Wait no I was there when the big balloon caught fire and crashed. I travel to stay relevant I have witnessed many great accomplishments. Or in that case tragedies. Usually something is going on if it be some kind of war, like the Great War...for that I was with Artemis and the hunt."
"How far back? Were you there for the American Revolution?"
"We have witnessed many civil wars. What about you."
"What about me?"
"Why have you got thy gods attention enough that they want you to know." Aria asked she tried her tea and it was very good. Peggy did not answer simply because she did not know. "Thou already know this, what I speak?"
"Yes, I'm sorry but I wanted to see what you were going to say. It is good to know that you were telling me the truth." Peggy stated and Aria wanted to be mad but was unable to she could see why she did it.
"Do you know how long I am to stay with you for?"
"I'm sorry I do not know. Come I will show you around." Peggy stated giving her a tour of her home. She was shown the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. When she was shown the room she will be staying in she stared at the bed for a while. "Is something wrong?"
"This cot is high off thy ground."
"The bed? You don't sleep on a bed?"
"I have a cot in my tent."
"I have a feeling your word cot has a different definition to what I am thinking."
"A small bed with furs and my sleeping bag."
"Yes different cot is a babies bed."
"I will sleep on thy floor."
"Nonsense the bed is yours to use. I will leave you to get settled when you are ready I will be in the living room." Peggy stated but Aria did not know what to do, her gear was still with the hunt she had nothing with her but what she was carrying. She moved around and tried the bed, it was really soft she paced the room for a while after staring out the window for all of five minutes trying to figure out what they wanted her to do. She finally decided to go and talk with Peggy.
"What is my story?" She asked when she entered the room. "I do not wish to interact with others but I expect that is not really an option so what is my story?" She asked
"You are my niece visiting from England. If asked your father died in the war so your mother sent you to me." Peggy stated
"Do I call you Margaret or Ms Carter?"
"Peggy is fine." She supplied Aria nodded "are you ready?" She asked
"What for?"
"We need to go get you some things. Some clothes more...appropriate. For now you no longer are living in a forest. You will need to blend in." She stated when it looked like Aria was going to protest.
"Very well. Lead thy way."
"The."
"Excuse me?"
"It is the not thy." Peggy instructed and Aria frowned
"Forgive me I am still learning this new form of English."
"I am curious do you know any other languages?"
"Yes...I know Greek, Latin, German, French, some Spanish and Russian a few others."
"You have been to all these places?"
"We have travelled far and broad. We do not usually interact with mortals."
"But you still learnt the languages."
"One of my sisters...she loved learning new languages." Aria stated it being clear she was no longer alive Peggy did not know what to say to that she gave her a sympathetic smile before leading her out of the house. They ended up walking to the store where Peggy guided her on what she would need. Some new clothes to Aria's horror they were dresses. She had worn a dress for a century after she was recruited but that was a peplos until their style changed to leather pants that were easier to manoeuvre in with a long sleeved top with their cloaks. She let Peggy take charge after all she knew how to blend in. That was why she had left her quiver and bow at her place she knew that she had her hunting blade on call if she came across a monster. After shopping for a while and Peggy was satisfied they returned to her house where Aria watched her cook dinner she was amazed with how they cooked in her opinion it was easier to cook over the fire but one thing she could not get over was the fridge how it kept things cold. As she tried to work out how the fridge worked much to Peggy's amusement as she cooked they did small talk mainly Peggy asking many questions. After dinner Aria was a little disappointed that she did not have a fire place she agreed with herself that she would dedicate an entire meal to Artemis tomorrow. Peggy told her that she was going to work tomorrow but would try to get off work early so that they could begin their lessons. Aria was not sure what she was meant to do while Peggy worked. She spent most of the night looking out her window up at the moon. She noticed that the sky was not that bright as it was in the forest she was already missing the hunt. Peggy ended up teaching her how to use the phone before she left for work she had made sure that she would be alright without her.
"You do know I am older than you." Aria pointed out
"That may be true, but you are not used to living outside the forest." Peggy pointed out this made Aria look down at her arm and look at the mark on her arm.
"I promise I will not travel too far."
"Wait here please, when I come I will show you around. This is a big place I do not want you getting lost." Peggy stated Aria huffed at the thought of getting lost but when she saw the look Peggy was giving her she sighed
"Fine."
"Say it,"
"I will not leave this street until you return."
"This house." Peggy stated with a tone she has not heard in a very long time it was a maternal tone.
"Fine this house...I will not leave this house until thou returns. Happy?"
"Thank you. No fires." She added as she left the house. Aria moved back to her room where she fiddled with her bow for a while. She sighed getting up, Peggy would not know she left if she is back before her. Aria moved to the door, still not liking the fact she was in a dress she opened the door only to stop. Not on purpose but it was like she could not walk out the door.
"What is this?" She asked placing her hand up where it met resistance as if an invisible barrier was in front of her. She looked up mumbling a curse under her breath knowing she would not be able to leave until Peggy returns she moved over to the living room and sat on the cushion she claimed last night and meditated.