trip down Memory lane
The goddess of the moon was stressed, to say the least.
After being appointed as the host for the Winter Solstice by Queen Hera, she stood on her ground and made sure that it would be up to the deities' standards. Her nervousness was apparent to the eyes of most of her siblings, especially Apollo who could not resist teasing his twin in every opportunity. Artemis refrained from losing her temper at the day before the event. The scroll in between her hands consisted of the checklist for the event. There were only a few more things she needed to consult with regarding the activities she planned on having. Thankfully, some of the deities happily obliged in supporting the young goddess and wasted no time in barking orders and delivered messages through Hermes.
She was hesitant with seeking counsel from the Queen but this time, she prays that the Void will give her the confidence and courage to approach her on her own. What she witnessed a few weeks before was something personal for the Queen and she was convinced that Hera knew of her eyes watching from the heavenly sky. Therefore, there was a good chance of Hera commanding her to never speak of it to anyone, or she would be duly punished for invading her personal privacy. After all, what she witnessed was imparted to her twin brother, and it might raise questions of her talking about Hera behind her back.
With that in mind, she ventured around Olympus looking for the Queen. It was difficult looking for Hera when even her handmaiden was nowhere in sight. Her last resort was asking Hermes of their whereabouts which took a little longer than usual when he was busy delivering messages. Finally, he was able to inform her of Queen Hera's whereabouts.
The schedule for today was sudden due to the request of her son. They were currently inside the training grounds, sparring. It was known by a few Olympian deities of Hera's devotion for exerting her skills in warfare. For centuries, they have witnessed Hera's fury and wrath. Going against her would not be the wisest decision one would make. After all, she would not have survived inside her father's stomach for years if she did not learn how to wield different weapons and learned how to formulate strategies of her own against the monsters. Standing up for herself and protecting her siblings against the danger they would face daily, it was only the natural impulse of the goddess she really is. She may not know it but she holds several domains that one could not possibly imagine.
Hera and Ares were dressed in their training armor, which was lighter compared to the battling armor they would use against the danger they would face in Olympus. It consisted of thick leather to protect them from severely injuring one another. Though it was prominent for gods to be immortal and would heal faster, they would not take risks in impairing their opponent that would cause serious damage.
The Queen was holding onto a double-edged sword that can turn into a shield in a matter of seconds. It was a bonafide creation of the Queen and her son, Hephaestus, which can be used to her advantage against any sort of combat she engages herself in. Which was why it was apparent that Ares was struggling against his own mother. He was holding two swords and fought her mother with great combat when it came to his offensive skills. Although Ares was the god of war, he was no match to the prowess of Hera as she was exceedingly experienced in this domain. After all, she devotedly trained the younger deities alongside her husband in the past and continued to do so when requested.
Even in combat, she moved gracefully. Her handmaiden admired her movements from afar as mother and son counter-attacked one another. It was apparent that Hera had remarks and compliments in every move her son makes. These were lessons she would impart for improvement in future battles.
It was unknown to the handmaiden that a certain deity was present in the room as well. She was lost in her thoughts that the power coming from the huntress was not prominent enough for her to recognize the sudden change of energy inside the room.
Artemis was watching the mother and son spar against each other. Her eyes were filled with envy at the movements and control that Hera possessed in combat. She was very knowledgeable and it transported her thoughts back when she would challenge the Queen when she had the opportunity to do so. The hatred she held towards her was apparent in everyone's eyes. After all, the Queen caused her real mother misery when she gave birth to her twins. What the goddess of the hunt did not realize was the caring nature she possessed around Zeus' children, who she would consider as hers.
By the time the deed was done, the Queen of the Heavens prepared for the worst. No matter how she genuinely cared for the lass. She was certain of her ill feelings towards her that will cloud her mind from the proper judgment she needs to attain.
It was only a matter of time before she would know what caused his death. The death of what she would call her only male friend.
The Queen dismissed Iris, in fear of getting in between the young goddess' wrath against her. Her hazel eyes closed as she anticipated the moment she was waiting for. Currently, she was sitting on her throne. Her husband wouldn't be witnessing this for he was busy sinking into the pleasures of his mortal women, warming their beds with his divinity.
The doors of the throne room opened as the goddess of the hunt and moon entered without announcing her title. A few meters away from her, Hera could sense the rage from the energy around the young goddess. Her eyes seethed in rage and resentment towards the only goddess that was present in the room aside from her.
She knew that she caused it. She knew that it was her who killed her beloved friend without any mercy.
The look in her eyes was enough to kill. A look of daggers. A look of hatred.
For years, she dealt with the woman who tormented and who made her mother miserable. This time, she will not let it pass.
Hera stood with a deadpan expression. She was aware of Artemis' rage. And she will receive it for the young deity didn't know the truth.
"Child-" She started. Artemis bolted and interrupted her with an arrow heading towards her way. The huntress was swift in drawing her bow and arrow, shooting it towards her target. Hera was quick in her advances as she waved her hand to divert the direction of the arrow.
The younger deity wasn't fazed, to say the least. The action only angered her even more and continued her advances as she neared the Queen, and kept on drawing and shooting nonstop. It was only a matter of time before she lunged towards the Queen and brought her to the ground to receive her reckless blows. "How dare you! Why would you do this to me!" She exploded and continued on with her attack towards Hera. The Queen was swift in receiving and counter-attacking the huntress. It was only after quite some time that she grabbed a hold of her shoulder and transported them to vast fields in Olympus. They landed on the grass.
The temperature around them drastically changed with the energy and power that emitted from both the powerful deities. Hera was sure to defend herself only against Artemis' offense and strikes.
Artemis drew her sword the moment her bow and arrows were no longer of use. She sidestepped and swung the metal towards Hera's direction, which was avoided right in time before receiving its penetrating cut that could possibly impair her. She narrowed her eyes at the goddess of the hunt's advances.
Rage can subside once it's only sated. She was well aware of that. After all, her very own rage was known to be deadly. She only allowed the younger goddess to lash out in order for her emotions to come into place properly once this pointless battle ends. It was her way of grieving and she deserved it before learning the truth behind Hera's actions.
When the Queen purposely landed on the ground, she summoned her gladius and shielded the sword that was swung towards her direction. This was her opportunity to fight back against the huntress. There were already bruises and ichor oozing out of her, most had already stained the chiton she was wearing.
The fight between them wearied her as she did not want to harm the child. It was time.
She swiftly rolled to the side and avoided Artemis' attack. When the younger goddess swung towards her, the gladius she held clashed against hers. Her hazel eyes were knitted in exhaustion and she advanced her steps towards the huntress who was defending herself from the sudden strikes and blows of the Queen. She was surprised at her prowess. Earlier, she had thought that she had the upper hand of the combat. Her opportunity to exact revenge on her part. But the Queen's fluid and swift movements caused her to doubt herself. She immediately lost her focus and found herself falling to the ground when Hera purposefully tripped her when she wasn't paying any attention.
Good. Her mind was elsewhere.
The grip on her sword was loose, and the weapon slipped from her grasp.
The Queen immediately went on top of the young lass and held both of her arms over her head. "Child, you must calm yourself now."
Artemis was taken back by the softness in Hera's voice. Her blue eyes found hers. She gave her a look of love likens of a mother nursing her child. She was always aware of the Queen's affection towards her and her twin brother. Apollo gladly accepted it. He would even address her as 'Mother' at certain times. She never understood why and always focused on her undying hatred towards her for causing her real mother misery. Every time Hera showed an ounce of care to her, she would brush it off, refraining herself from recognizing her motherly affections.
"Why?" She cried out. Ichor tears fell from her eyes. She would remember the Queen caring for the Twins even with her signature cold expression. She would remember her reading bedtime stories when they were younger. She would remember her disciplining her for her reckless actions, her way of showing that she was concerned and worried for the young lass, despite the bitterness laced in her tone.
It wasn't anger she truly felt.
It was betrayal.
Though Artemis would never admit it, she learned to trust and crave for the Queen's affections, despite the feud they would always have against each other.
"I trusted you..." She whimpered. "Why would you do that to me? Why?"
The Queen of the Heavens frowned at the sight of her huntress. Hastily, she removed her hand around her wrists and wiped away the flowing ichor tears down her cheeks. "Hush now... You do not know the truth, child. You must come with me." She offered her a small smile and held her hands as she assisted her up.
Hera held her shoulders and they traveled near the oracle of Trophonius, where the sacred well and throne of Mnemosyne was located. Upon entering the well, Hera went on her knees and motioned Artemis to do the same. They sank into the water.
"Forgive me." The Queen uttered and rested her forehead against the Huntress'.
There were images that flashed. Artemis knew that these were Hera's memories.
It showed her what really happened.
Hera was safely guarding the huntress. It was only recently she happened to become aware of her newly found companion, Orion. It was rare for the goddess of the hunt being accompanied by mortal men for she swore to herself as a maiden forever. This time, she found comfort in the company the hunter, Orion, gave her. She found a male friend of her own for the first time. For months, they have been hunting beasts around the world. His company and actions strengthened her as the goddess of the hunt. Her trust towards him was dangerous enough to not notice the obvious signs. The Queen let the young goddess have her sense of tranquility and happiness around the man. It wasn't her place to intrude and assume that he would just betray her like any other mortal man who only used women for their sick pleasures. She could not trust the man so she asked her kind servant, Mátia, to watch over the young goddess. It was only a matter of time when what the Queen dreaded was about to happen. The first sign of danger, Mátia alerted the Queen. Hera wasted no time in traveling down to the mortal realm, only to witness Orion discharging his clothes with the young goddess heavily sleeping inside her tent. Orion proceeded on removing the young goddess' attire as he went on top of her. It was clear as day that he gave her a sleeping potion that she would not wake from the sacrilege he was about to perform. In a rage, the Queen used her power to carry the hunter away from the young goddess. Several feet away, he was thrown against a tree. "How dare you, sick imbecile! You bastard! She trusted you and this is how you repay a goddess who found comfort in your presence?!" The Queen seethed in rage.
Orion quivered in fear and continuously begged for mercy. He pleaded and promised that he will never do it again.
It was obvious in his eyes that he was lying for fear of the goddess' wrath.
Her eyes narrowed at his pleas. She waved her hand and a scorpion emerged from the ground. It was no ordinary scorpion. The poison in the scorpion possessed directly affected a man's phallus as it would start as a burn, and later on, the poison would eat his insides, ripping him apart, and he would receive the worst kind of pain one can only imagine.
"This will teach you to never force a woman." The Queen imparted and went to the young goddess' tent.
She went on her knees and fixed her clothes. Afterward, she touched her face and whispered a spell to remove the sleeping potion, before vanishing into thin air as the younger goddess began to wake from her sleep.
The goddess of the hunt lightly pushed the Queen's forehead as she processed the truth of what really happened. She gasped and heaved breaths. Her hands were clenched into fists and she gazed over to the older woman before her.
Ichor tears fell from her eyes as she realized what the Queen did to save her from losing her maidenhood.
"I... I apologize." She managed to say as her eyes took in the bruised and bloody form of the Queen. She knew she caused all of this. Her advances towards her and yet, not once did she actually physically harm the younger goddess.
Artemis crawled towards Hera and wrapped her arms around her waist. "I...I'm so sorry. So sorry... M-mother, I-I didn't... I wasn't..." Hera's arms wrapped around her small frame and caressed her back by moving it in circles.
"My dear... It wasn't your fault. Don't worry about it. I'm here for you." Her head was pressed against her chest, her heart beating rapidly as Hera consoled the young lass.
"Thank you, Mother." She whispered.
And for the first time, the bond between them blossomed.
The goddess of the hunt was snapped out of her thoughts when the Queen's voice echoed across the room as her son finally admitted defeat the moment he fell on his knees with her blade touching his neck. "What is it that you came here for, Artemis?"
The huntress watched as the Queen helped her son up and removed their armor with Iris' assistance, finally realizing that she was present as well.
"I wanted to consult something regarding the Winter Solstice event." Finally, her feet brought her towards the Queen as she was packing her gear and weapons.
She took a deep breath and revealed what she wanted to ask the Queen Mother.
Give me your thoughts.
I hope this chapter is to your liking.
~AC