"Princess, the ship will reach the Chalkis port by midday." Melas said, leaning on the rail of the ship.

"Sooner." I replied simply with a smile, "I've played with the currents- we'll make port within the hour."

He frowned and eyed the waves warily. "Have you been doing that throughout the journey?"

I hummed noncommittedly. Our journey, through my delicate interference, had been half as long as it should have been. Despite my heritage, I didn't want to be at sea any longer than I had to be.

...I haven't been on a ship since Princess Andromeda… since Beckendorf…

"Princess? Princess! Rhea!" Melas called, and I quickly snapped out of it.

Leaving Ithaca seems to have brought all the memories I've suppressed, back.

"I'm fine, Melas, simply lost in thought." I waved off his concern. "Where's your cousin?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Kyros is with Deme, helping pack."

"Hm."

"Princess Rhea…" He began hesitantly, "I know you've refused my marriage offers before, and I understand that you do not love me, but may I ask why you've refused me? I've promised you love, children, riches, even freedom! But you still… I don't understand- is it because I am mortal and you are not?"

My pity for him was obvious as I grasped his hands. "Melas, you are a kind man, truly, but I can never be your wife. It's not just our different heritage. I cannot be chained to one place, to one time. I am a hero- a child of a god- do you understand what that means? I've killed more men than you, I will continue killing monsters and men for the rest of my life. Being your wife will only cause you pain. Please, Melas, understand that I cannot."

He looked away, fists clenching. "Very well."

"Melas-" I reached for him, but he grabbed my hand before I could touch his cheek.

"Rhea, you have captured my heart. Understand that it causes me pain. I wish you all the best, and I strive to overcome this, but I will always wonder what would have happened if you said yes." His hazel eyes bore into me.

He walked away.

I sighed, taking off my veil as I entered my room onboard the ship, only to yelp and yank it back on when I saw Kyros was inside.

He squeaked, slapping a hand over his eyes and babbling apologies.

Deme quickly led him out.

I was barely able to sit on my bed when she whirled back on me. "Rhea, what's wrong?"

I gave her a shaky smile, "I love that you know something is wrong immediately."

"Rhea…" She breaths, coming forward to pull me into a hug.

I spilled everything.

"Melas is a fucking idiot." Was her first reaction, and I can't say I blame her.

"Weren't you the one who kept pushing me to marry him?" I laughed weakly.

She pulled a face, "That's before I knew he's the type to blame others for his own faults. You are beautiful- yes, all the foster boys liked you- but the fact that he fell in love can only be blamed upon himself and Eros. He's asked you several times, you have refused several times with- admittedly good reasons- why not, yet he still insists."

I sighed and pulled away. "I don't blame him for being bitter, I understand that being denied is harsh-"

"-Yet that is still no reason to be cruel!" Deme insisted. "He wanted to hurt you because your refusals- though not your fault- hurt him. That is cruelty, plain and simple."

Deme, at 14, had the same righteous fury I remember having at her age. My fondness for her grew.

"Perhaps." I said. "Perhaps."

Melas and Kyros didn't leave the ship with us at Chalkis.

"We will continue to sail down to Pylos, where my father and grandfather are waiting for us." Melas spoke, eyeing the horizon. "Our journey will be harder without you blessing, Princess."

I smirked, "Your journey shall be the same as any other mortal's. Besides, my Pater is in a kind mood, all ships are sailing smoothly."

The captain stumbled at my words in the background, realising exactly what that means.

Kyros grinned brightly, like a golden retriever with a wagging tail. "I'll miss you, Rhea. And you too, Deme."

Deme blushed at my side, and I tried to resist the urge to roll my eyes. "I'll miss you greatly also, Kyros, but I suppose I shall miss your mischief most of all."

He laughed brightly, and that was our goodbye. A smile.

My mind, unwittingly, drew comparison to another pair of mischievous boys with the same nose and smile. Conner was upset with me when we broke up, and I remember Travis retaliated by being overly friendly.

No. This is not the place for this.

"Come on, Deme." I called, "We better find lodging for tonight."

"That is not a lion's roars, or a boar's trot. It is not a dragon's flames, or a serpent's fangs. It is not cruelty, or hatred. It is a broken heart, my dear. Heal it."

We left Chalkis as quickly as possible, trying to make it to Delphi before Winter truly begins.

It was a full day's walk from Chalkis to Naupactus, so we left in the early hours of the morning only to arrive near dusk. We grabbed a room at the cheapest inn for nobility, three silver drachma for two nights, and sunk into our beds, exhausted.

At least breakfast was included with our fee.

"So, the plan is to stay another night here, we can't exhaust ourselves too quickly." I told her, reaching for another slice of bread and cheese. "We still have a full week's hike to Delphi."

Deme happily helped herself to a Lady's breakfast- I'd insisted to the inn owner that she dines with me and not with the other servants and slaves, and the owner relented after a lot of grumbling and an extra silver drachma.

"I underestimated how tiring this journey would be." She commented.

"Be glad I carry my own bag, else it would be much harder for you." I joked, and she rolled her eyes.

"So what are we going to be doing in Naupactus?" She asked, biting into a fig. "We're here all day."

"We're getting you new clothes."

She looked up at me in shock. "What?"

I raised an eyebrow, "You thought I would let you continue walking around, looking like a slave? No. I'll buy you finer clothes- if we get robbed on the road, then they won't slit your throat without a care. Noble women are valuable, and if we get separated then any city would take you in."

"It's illegal for a slave to dress like a free woman." She said numbly.

I smirked, "Good thing you're not a slave. I'm setting you free this afternoon- Papa may have owned you but he gave you to me, and as such I can free you at any time, especially if we are not in Ithaca."

She gaped, and I remember fondly Rachel telling me of a term called 'Blue-Screened Computer made Human' which I think is the apt way to describe poor Deme right now.

"What?"

"Deme, do you want to return back to our room to freak out? I think we might get kicked out if you do it here." I asked her.

She blinked. "Rhea, you're an idiot and I love you. Please never surprise me with something like this again."

I grinned.

Deme looked beautiful.

Her russet skin was washed and oiled, scraping off years of dirt and dead skin. Her straight black hair was brushed through, removing any tangles, and piled up into a braid on her head. We lined her eyes with kohl, and pined a red Palla-style veil onto her head.

"There!" I beamed, "You look like a Colchis lady."

Deme was desperately blinking back tears so she wouldn't mess up her makeup. "This is the finest clothing I've ever worn."

They were quite fine: a light yellow chiton with an orange and red peplos on top, small leather sandals in the Anatolian style, and gold bangles and earrings from my personal collection.

"You look perfect- you've been serving ladies your whole life, you blend in just fine." I assured her.

"Thank you," she gave me a soft smile back.

I hooked my arm with hers and began strolling around the Naupactus marketplace, eyeing the few food stalls open.

"Do you eat beef?" I asked, bending over to see a spicy beef stew.

"Yes, I-"

"Oi!" A man's deep voice cut her off.

We both turned around to see what the commotion was, only to spot a Lord, possibly a guard, staring straight at us.

Oh dear. Naupactus was a busy port city- one of the biggest in the Corinthian Gulf- and we were taking full advantage of that to blend in with the crowd, but this guy apparently couldn't take a hint.

"Follow my lead." I whispered to Deme in English, grateful that I taught her a few sentences. She nodded.

"Yes, My Lord? Is something amiss?" I asked, demurely.

"Yes." He frowned, his large eyebrows furrowing together. "I've heard talk that you are a Princess, yet you are travelling unsupervised and you haven't paid tribute to the king."

I raised an eyebrow, "Princess? I'm Lady Sallia of Ithaca, and this is my sister-in-law, Demitra. Our husbands are in port, they're generals of King Odysseus."

He crossed his arms, bulging muscles on display. At least I'm the same height as him- gods are all Ancient Greek men short.

"And where is your escort?"

Deme smiled sweetly, "The men were being crude so we slipped away from them- just while we eat. Is there something wrong with that? I'm sure our husbands will punish us, but a Lady likes her peace."

He narrowed his eyes at us and I thought that I was going to have to stab a man today.

"Very well," he snorted. "I pity your husbands for having such rebellious wives- I would have gotten a mistress if mine was so chatty- no matter how pretty she is."

He threw us a wink and swaggered off, pleased with himself.

It took all of my will-power to not stab him.

"Bastard," Deme muttered under her breath.

"You said it." I agreed. "I can't wait until we get out of the city."

"What are you wearing?" Deme demanded.

I had come back from my bathroom break in the woods wearing much less finer clothes than before. I was still obviously a noblewoman, but the rich navy peplos I was wearing had been swapped out for a light blue chiton with a light green himation. My prettily embroidered veil was now just a basic blue one.

"This is my other set of clothes I packed," I told her. "As you saw in Naupactus, I was still dressing like a Princess and that just spells trouble."

We'd left Naupactus yesterday, taking the quieter mountain pass so we wouldn't be bothered by bandits or traders on the way.

"Of course," Deme rolled her eyes.

I gently elbowed her for her cheek. "Come on, we still have a long journey to go."

Deme opened her mouth to agree, but we both fell silent at the faint scream in the air.

"Did you hear that?" She whispered, her eyes darting frantically around to see where it came from.

My fingers drifted to Luke's necklace around my throat. "Monsters."

"What?" She hissed, looking terrified.

I hadn't seen any monsters since arriving in Ithaca. Monsters were rarer nowadays, many of them still haven't been created nor had they learnt that they could come back after being killed, so I hadn't been bothered by any of them in truth.

I yanked on Riptide's small sword pendant, transforming it into it's sword form. "Stay close to me." I whispered to Deme.

No monsters stumbled upon our path, but I was paranoid for the rest of the night.

"Pretty words are just that: Pretty. The truth does not lie in the poetry, for the poetry is a tool. Lies are sweet, truth is blunt. Rarely, oh so rarely, truth is sweet. Savour it when you can."

One day.

One more day on the road and then we will reach Delphi.

Winter was beginning to creep in, and I was afraid that we may not be received by the Oracle. The Oracle didn't give prophecies in the winter, supposedly that's when Apollo was with the Hyperboreans and Dionysus was left in charge.

Since I wanted a prophecy, not an invitation to a party, we had to arrive as soon as possible.

"Rhea, could we stop for a break?" Deme panted, looking ruffled from our week-long hike.

I winced, "We only have one waterskin left, and we ran out of food this morning."

She wilted.

"Oh!" A melodic voice called, "Here, take mine, I have plenty of spare supplies and I'm nearly at Delphi anyways."

From the bush, another traveller appeared.

He was wearing only a chlamys, covering practically nothing despite the late Autumn cold. His golden skin was oiled and gleamed in the sunlight. Blonde curls tumbled down his back, and perfect blue eyes peered down at us, a blinding smile on his face.

Apollo.

The divinity was practically drifting off him like smoke. If I was any other demigod, I wouldn't have noticed, but after my long time around gods it was easy to spot them in the crowd.

...A blush rose to my face as I finally realised what he was wearing.

A naked Apollo.

Chaos damn the Ancient Greeks and their complete lack of modesty.

"Oh!" Deme gasped, "Thank you kindly."

He handed her a waterskin and a wrapped slice of bread from his bag, smiling mercifully at her. He turned and offered me the same.

Fighting to keep my eyes on his face (Don't let your eyes wander down, gods Rhea!), I smiled politely as I took it.

"Thank you kindly, sir. Would our saviour grace us with his name?" I looked up at him through my eyelashes.

Wow, the first time I've met a man since arriving that is more than 2 inches taller than me. The six inches of height difference was nice, he stood at a solid 6'1.

He smiled, but I could see the smirk hidden behind it. "Phraed of Delos."

"Fred?" I blinked. Did he seriously use the same alias as when he helped me rescue Artemis? Has he been using Fred for millenia? Goodness, how hasn't Hermes taught him better yet?

"Phraed." He stressed, annoyed.

"Sorry, I'm tired and my ears aren't working right." I quickly apologised, not wanting to tempt a god's temper. "Phraed is a pretty name, very unique."

He relaxed, "That it is. What are two ladies doing, travelling alone?"

"We're trying to reach Delphi." I told him, "We need to reach the Temple of Apollo before winter hits."

He looked smug, a pride radiating from his blue eyes. "Two new priestesses for the Oracle, hm? You're in luck, I know on good authority that Apollo will still be in Delphi for another week."

Deme squealed with delight, and I was tempted to join her. But something held me back.

He was telling us himself, which means he is interested in us. Did Hermes tell him I was coming or does he personally vet each person who enters Delphi? Or perhaps it's the fact that we're two noble ladies travelling without an escort? Either way, we'd caught the attention of a god.

"Is something wrong, Lady…?"

"Rhea." I smiled at him, "Princess Rhea of Ithaca. And this is my lady, Deme of Ithaca."

His eyebrows skyrocketed upwards, his surprise at my truthfulness clear. "Is something wrong, Princess Rhea?"

"I simply worry for what awaits us in Delphi." I waved him off. "Papa told me stories, but I fear reality is not like the songs."

He smiled flirtatiously, "That's because you have not heard my songs."

My polite smile was very forced.

"Perhaps I can ease your mind by travelling with you?" He offered, "My sword is in my pack, I am quite capable with it."

Deme has no shame- her eyes trail his abs and she mutters, "I bet you are."

His smug grin gets smugger. Curse godly egos.

I made eye contact with him, "I would be eternally grateful."

"He's quite handsome," Deme giggled. I rolled my eyes.

Apollo was walking ahead of us, giving us a lovely view of his back, humming softly.

"That he is, but he is an awful flirt." I whispered back. "Pater would not approve."

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Doesn't mean we can't still look."

Deme might be appreciating the view, but I was more worried as to the fact that the view is an Olympian god with notorious moods.

"Ladies," He called and climbed a rock. He offered us a hand to help us clamber up with him. "May I present to you: Delphi."

Following his line of sight, I spotted a sprawling city down below. Beautiful marble temples were everywhere, and a bustling marketplace promised everything from jewels to prophecies. The Phocis valley was beautiful, and the olive trees that lined the rocky mountainside were divine.

"Beautiful," I gasped.

I leant forward to try to get a better view, but my foot slipped and I nearly took a nasty fall down the rocks.

"Woah!" Apollo said, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me flush against his side. "Careful."

"Thanks." I squeaked. My face was on fire, and I was far too aware of the lack of layers he was wearing.

"Of course." He said, staring into my eyes.

Awkwardly, I stepped back, and his hands definitely lingered when he drew back.

Deme eyed us both, a smirk on her face.

I gave her a quick glare and mouthed 'Don't you dare!'

She dared.

"So, Phraed, I've heard the most wonderful stories of Delos and the Great Archer's stories- especially from Rhea, she knows so many of them, she wishes to see the island one day."

"Oh?" He smiled, "I can tell you stories about Delos if you wish, Princess Rhea."

I cursed Deme to Tartarus and back.

"I'd love to hear them!" I chirped.

Apollo opens his mouth and starts singing.

Deme gasps in delight at his beautiful voice, and I just internally curse everything and anything that happened that led up to this moment.

...Curses, I'm crying, he's such a good singer, fuck.

It was like all the birds and the winds joined with his voice to be even more melodic. The sun hit his features just right, he was like marble yet so very lifelike. Perfection in human form… but he's not human.

When he stopped, he put on a sympathetic face that didn't match his gloating eyes at all. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry."

Deme hastily wiped her tears away, "No, don't apologize! That was beautiful!"

He smiled softly, and to my surprise, reached forward to wipe my tears off my cheek with his thumb.

Oh fuck. I'm screwed.

"Princess Rhea, I find myself intrigued by you." Apollo comments.

"Oh?"

"What princess leaves her comfortable life to become a priestess? Well, of course, I understand why you would be a priestess- especially for Apollo- but why travel alone?" His eyes bore into me.

"Perhaps a priesthood is not what I seek?" I smirked, ignoring Deme's sharp inhale. "Perhaps I wish for an audience with the Oracle."

The trees shadow us from the evening sun as we walk down towards the valley.

"And what would make you seek such a thing?"

"Is there not a war right now? My father sent me to the Oracle."

He stopped. "The War Missives haven't reached Ithaca yet."

Motherfucker.

I turned to him. "And that's why I wish to seek the Oracle. Demigod dreams of wars are nothing to laugh about, are they, Lord Apollo?"

His lips curled upwards, "No, they are not."

He glows softly, and his form becomes even more godly.

Blond curls that shine like literal gold, eyes that reflect a sunny blue sky exactly, skin that glowed softly like the gentle laps of sunshine.

It suddenly hit me that the gods like to conceal their divinity in the future, and the gods of now don't. Pater was barely concealing his true form, I thought that was just because I was his daughter- but Apollo has just proved that theory wrong. These gods love being gods, they revel in it, and I am just a little demigod.

My heart rate picks up.

Deme had fallen to the floor, kneeling, but I stood tall in front of him.

"Do you wish for me to not enter Delphi, my lord? I will return home if that is your wish." I spoke carefully.

He tilted his head to the side. "You think I would help you towards Delphi just to send you home?"

"I cannot presume to know a god's thoughts."

He huffed a laugh, "That you cannot."

Apollo raised a hand that cupped my chin, gently tilting my face this way and that. "You are interesting to me. A godling of the Sea, raised in secret, now seeking my Oracle? And your prophecy skills…"

I smiled, "Inherited from Pati."

"And capable of concerning my brother. Hermes didn't say much, but it was enough for me to connect the dots. A godling important enough that the Fates took over my brother's body to deliver a message. What was the message?"

I swallowed. "Go to Ilium."

He narrowed his eyes. "That is far more straightforward than the Fates usually deal with. What was the message?"

"I saw a war happening in Ilium, and your brother telling me that I have to 'move on' and that I can't hide from it. If there was any other message, it is one that has escaped me."

He dropped his hand, and I missed the warmth that radiated from his skin.

"You truly are a fascinating one, Rhea." He smiled, "And I allow you to seek counsel with my Oracle."

"Thank you," I whispered fervently.

He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "You have me curious."

"And I of you."

He smirked, "I have that effect. Come, I will walk with you until the gates of Delphi."

He offered me his arm, and I took it.

"Humans are stars, rarely nearing each other, but when they do… it's a supernova."

"What will you do?" Apollo asked, breaking the silence.

Poor Deme was terrified, and it's not exactly easy to reassure mortals that the god won't kill them, so she's not very reassured by my smiles.

"Seek the Oracle? Listen to her?" I shrugged, "Not much else I can do."

He raised an eyebrow, "Don't lie to the god of truth, darling. What will you do once she tells you a prophecy?"

"I don't know." I answered honestly, "Follow the Fates' directions? Fulfill the prophecy? Go home? I don't know yet, I have to find out."

"And I shall be watching as you choose." He smiled, "This is a farewell. I wish you luck."

I smiled, "And I thank you for it."

He bent down and slowly pressed a kiss on the back of my hand, then disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

Deme had to sit down on her shaky legs. "Did we just get escorted to Delphi by a god?"

"A god who was flirting with me, yes."

"And you didn't warn me?" She asked hysterically.

"Sorry," I winced. "He didn't realise I knew until I said so, I didn't want to give up the game just yet."

"Rhea, I love you, but you're an idiot."

I grinned. "I love you too. Come on, let's find an inn."

A/N Hello y'all! Here's your long awaited chapter of Apollo meeting Rhea, and ooooo! He like-likes her! Lmao, I'm ace and writing Rhea's reactions to Apollo were so awkward, I had no idea what I was doing. This is an early update but this chapter and the next chapter will be a bit short, sorry.

On history stuff: I researched the cities and travel time between them as accurately as I possibly could, but I will warn you that I'm bad at math. Chalkis, was a minor port town. Naupactus (Nafpaktos) was a major port city, the biggest in the Corinthian gulf. Delphi is nestled in a valley, and I can tell you personally that the ruins are beautiful and the ancient site also. It would be HIGHLY unusual, even illegal in some city-states, for women to travel alone like this- especially if they were noble women.

On a slight misunderstanding: Odysseus, in actual history/mythos, was not a King. I changed him to be a king from a prince because a lot of his actions and choices in this story are better allowed and accepted by a king than a prince. I realised too late that I forgot to inform y'all I changed it, but that is, so far, my only actual change in historical accuracy.

Translations:

Pater= Father

Pati= Dad