"Rhea!" Mama called, standing up. "Come, sit."

I walked over to her, a bit bewildered at the sudden request to have lunch with her and Papa in their solar.

"Am I in trouble?" Was the first thing to come out of my mouth, "I swear I didn't know Heirax was going to put a lizard in my thread bag! I was screaming along with all the other girls!"

Papa laughed and shook his head, "You're not in trouble. We just want to have a talk with you."

I relaxed a bit, coming to lounge down on a pillow.

Mama was beaming, twisting her fingers in her chiton's hem. "We have news."

I was puzzled, "Oh?"

Papa grinned, "You're getting a little sibling."

I froze.

She's pregnant. Mama is pregnant. I knew this was coming eventually, but god, no, not now. Telemachus was only a few days old when Odysseus left for war- Helen must have been stolen by now.

My smile was shaky, "A little brother! That's lovely, I'm so happy."

It was Mama and Papa's turn to stop.

"A brother?" Mama asked lightly, "You know that for certain?"

Oops.

"Sorry!" I squeaked, "I do. I shouldn't have said anything, I don't know if you want it to be a surprise or-"

Papa just cut me off by laughing. "You're alright, Rhea. Just surprised us."

I shyly smiled, and the tension disappeared.

Mama tittered and began making plans of how I'm going to be a lovely big sister and how Papa and I could teach him how to wield a sword. Papa was breaking a thousand and one etiquette rules by pulling Mama onto his lap and smiling brightly as he toasts with his wine cup.

This is okay, we're okay.

"A life given is a life taken- that is always true, and balance is always required. It is not always Life and Death- sometimes it is a babe's life and a mother's life in devotion. Balance comes with life, and death comes with balance."

I reached out for the apple.

The pretty golden color caught my eye, simple yet beautiful. It pulled me in to the point that I could nearly ignore the screams surrounding me.

A battle raged; men crying out as they breathed their last breath. Innocent figures falling to the blades of both sides. Bodies littered the ground with more joining them every second.

A woman screamed desperately as her crying child was torn from her arms and thrown aside. The house burned behind them as the child fell silent to a sword across her throat, the mother's screams silenced a moment later with a spear through her chest.

The flames that burnished the city golden-red burned all the brighter, their red glare turning the night sky orange as it devoured the remaining homes of the city.

Turning the apple in my hands, the reflection of the flames danced across it's perfect, golden skin.

A boy in armour too big for his still growing, skinny frame, desperately tried to fend off a man twice his size. The man simply roared a bone-chilling battle cry before slaughtering him where he stood.

A mother stood knee-deep in the waves, her pleas for the battle to stop unanswered. She begged her son to put his spear down, to end the war, but he deafens himself. An arrow flies and his spear falls.

The apple's shimmering gold is flawless. Like a miniature sun trapped within the ripe fruit- beautiful.

A horse, galloping rogue in the midst of the madness, drags the corpse that was once its rider behind it; foot caught in the stirrup.

No. That horse pulls a chariot with three other beautiful steeds, it's rider drags a corpse around the city walls, screaming their fury that sends shivers down the spine of gods.

I go to take a bite of the golden apple, only to make eye-contact with the god standing in front of me.

Hermes.

His white eyes bore into me, "Would you go to war for that apple? Let Discord get her claws into you too?"

I let my eyes fall to the apple to question, but it's rotten; maggots crawl over it. I yelp, and let it drop to the dirt ground.

The battle continues to rage around us, death and horror, and I whip around wide-eyed as I take it in.

This is a battlefield.

No.

No no no.

I can't-

Not another battlefield.

I turned wildly, searching for an escape.

I won't do this again, not now, not when I've finally found a home.

"Rhea," Hermes drew my attention once more, his eyes cold and yet his expression pitying as he studied me. "You know where you must travel next. They need you."

"No!" I shook my head in denial.

"No, you- you told me!" I yelled, pleaded. "You told me Ithaca is my home! It is my home!"

His expression didn't waver.

"Please," I whispered, falling to my knees. "I- I listened. I made it my home. It is! I've moved on- tried to forget my past, them…"

I was shaking, "I can't do this again."

He just reached out a hand, not even bothering to acknowledge my begging. "Rhea-"

"You told me to move on! I've moved on! I- I've been moving on… You can't make me- I can't give it all up again."

I've worked so hard, I've done everything I could to move on from my past.

How can you mourn something you don't talk- that you don't even think about? You've forgotten it, there's nothing to mourn.

And now… now they decide to drag me back into the Gods' war?

I can't…

"I'm sorry," he said softly, his hand held out to me. "But it's time."

I don't want to.

I wiped at the tears.

I want anything else, not this.

…But I have to.

I shakily raise my hand, taking his.

The air warps.

The background faded, just for a split second, everything twisting and muting. Am I waking up?

"What?" A familiar, alarmed voice asks. "Where- who are you?"

I turn to Hermes, and his eyes are sky-blue.

"Hermes?" I asked, shaking as I stumbled forward, still holding his hand. He, rather confused, caught me as I fell.

"My Lady? Princess? What- What is going on?" His brow furrows as he looks down at me, then his gaze sweeps across our surroundings. Blood splatters our heels as another man falls to a soldier's blade. "Why are you crying?"

That was evidently not the best thing to say. I shattered, tears welling up as I tugged at his sleeve, "They're going to kill each other! Hermes, they- I can't- They won't stop- I can't stop it- But- Someone- I have- I don't know!"

He tried to steady my hands, blinking in confusion. "I… little princess, please stop crying. Princess, I don't understand; is this a prophecy?" his gaze swept around again. "Are you one of my brother's priestesses? Please, take a breath, calm and tell me what's happening."

"N-no, no, no, he- it's the- the dream. Can't you see! It's a dream- it happened- it must happen- it's going to happen if-" I stumbled over my words as I frantically tried to make him see. "They're going to destroy it all! The city will fall and they'll- they'll puppet it- they'll do it! They've done it! He told me- he said- I have to come here- I don't-"

"Who? Princess please, you're not making sense. One of my aspects was here- barely attached to me but here and then it detached itself from me when I noticed… Did you talk to it? What is this? Did it do something? Princess, what happened?"

"A message! You're the messenger and you brought a message," I hugged myself now, standing on my own. "He told me I have to move on-and I did! Now he tells me… he tells me to come here."

This isn't my Hermes, just like Pater isn't my Pati… but he can help me, right? He's always helped heroes, always been a kind God. He's always been one you could turn to.

"Who is the message from? Princess-"

"I don't- I don't know. I don't know, I want to know, who did it?" I stared up at him. "Who's sending me back?"

"Princess, what's your name? Who are your parents? I can find you when you wake if you…" He trailed off as his eyes landed on the rotting, golden apple.

"Eris' Apple," he whispered in disbelieving horror. "This is… Ilium. Then the city, the city of Troy is- it's falling. But… but only the Fates- only they could know this outcome…"

He looked around in growing horror as the scene began dismantling with his realisation. Men crumbled to dush mid strike, buildings dissolved into ashes, and the decay faded away to nothing.

"Princess," he cried, his hands grasping for mine. "Seek the Oracle!"

His voice was as if he were a thousand miles away, a faint whisper I could barely hear.

"You need-"

The scene bleached white, though I could still hear an echo of his instructions being yelled at me.

The Oracle.

Those were the words branded into my mind as I woke up. I have to seek the Oracle.

"No," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes.

The sun, high in the sky, appeared to be laughing at me. Hot rays hitting my already boiling tears, illuminating my grief for anyone to see.

"Princess? Rhea!" I heard Deme gasp.

She ran over to my side, kneeling down to check on me. She brushed my hair away from my face, taking in my tearful eyes. "What happened?"

"A dream." I said shakily, gasping lungfuls of air. "A message from the gods."

Deme gasped, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth. "We must tell the king."

"No!"

My hand shot out to grab her wrist, stopping her from leaving. "A message from the gods." I stressed, "Nobody is to know of it until I tell them."

Her eyes were wide, and she slowly nodded. My grip on her wrist relaxed.

After a few beats, I dared to let myself speak again. "How late is it?"

"It's nearly noon. You slept even more than usual."

Deme, along with Mama and Papa, were the only ones to know fully about the Curse of the Styx and how it affected me. I was allowed to sleep more and have larger meals, but they thankfully had no tolerance for my temper and I had learned to reel it in around them.

"Go fetch Lais and Iida, I wish to bathe." I turned away, looking out the window.

"Yes, Princess." Deme replied obediently.

I flinched. My friend shouldn't address me like that.

"Deme," I said softly. "I need some time, okay? I…" I sighed, frustrated. "I'll be bathing in the ocean, get some emotions out there."

She nods, hesitates, opening her mouth, but then leaves without saying what she wanted to say.

I collapse backwards on my bed, mind whirling with thoughts.

The Trojan War. The Trojan War. The biggest mess of Olympian in-fighting. The Olympian's version of a civil-war. The domino that eventually led to Rome being founded. That war.

I'm so screwed.

The waves crashed against the shore violently.

I'd stripped the second we got to a private area of the beach, leaving myself only in a light under-chiton, and ran into the surf.

At first I'd ruthlessly manipulated the water; bending and creating a whirlpool of anger.

Now, I was tired. The waves were still angrily battering at the sand, but I had sunk to the bottom- lying on the seafloor.

Playing with his necklace.

I promised Luke that I wouldn't become bitter or angry, that I wouldn't let demigods be used by the gods, that I would change Olympus.

A hefty promise that would be impossible to fulfill… if this war, this singular war, didn't mean I could do it.

"Fuck."

"Hyisi, watch your language." An amused voice drifted in the currents.

I whirled around only to see my Pater's form.

He had his arms crossed, an eyebrow raised, and a slight smile on his face. His chlamys was formal, perfect golden embroidery edged the borders depicting elaborate scenes, and he was wearing light armour.

"Pater." I gave a light bow, "Forgive me."

"Perhaps I shall if you give me a reason for you forgetting yourself," He stated.

I hesitated, "I… I've been having dreams: of a golden apple and a war. Pater… do you know what is happening?"

He sighed, "As I feared- many of my children were touched by the gift of prophecy. There is a war brewing, and Olympus is far too entrenched in it."

I straightened. "You came to warn me." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"My family will not take kindly to kin, and they will show you no mercy." His face turned stormy. "Neither will I."

I froze. Fuck.

"Your new 'Papa' is on the opposing side to mine. If you are to follow him into war, I shall be neutral, but do not mistake my mercy, Hyisi. I will not defend you from my fellow Olympians any more than I shall any other child of mine. If you are to protect yourself, I suggest you make allies." His eyes soften just a fraction, "Or, if war is not for your hunger, you may rest peacefully under the Sea. I can protect you there, paidi mou."

"Pater…" I sighed, coming up to hold his hands in mine. "I am proud to be your Hyisi."

The pride in his eyes was visible.

"But I cannot stay in the Sea- that is not my fate."

Disappointment.

"Nor is it my fate to stay in Ithaca," I twitched but refused to show weakness in front of him. "Nor is it for me to sail off to the war."

He frowned, "Then what do you believe your fate is?"

I gave him a small smile, "I don't know, that's why I am going to seek the Oracle- perhaps they will have the answers I need.

"The Oracle's answers are not always clear."

"But their answers are always what you need to hear." I countered.

He sighed. "Reassure your Pater only this: Do you want to be involved in this war?"

"No, but I'm old enough to know that life and fate do not care about my wishes."

He pressed a kiss to my forehead then drew himself up. "That is your choice. I only hope that I will not see you on the opposing side of the battlefield- that you are safe."

"Goodbye, Pater." I say, a lump in my throat.

"Goodbye, Hyisi."

"A thousand choices, a thousand words. They are all for you, my sweet. For the love that I have for you is what I live for- what my life is for. I'll always choose to say 'I love you.'"

Deme is worried about me.

I don't blame her, I have been rather private these past few days. My veils have been worn liberally; over my face and eyes; and my mantle wrapped around my shoulders. Excuses could be made as late autumn was creeping across the lands, but everyone close to me had noticed something was up.

Melas and Kyros had come to Deme the other day- they asked about my health. Deme, the sweetheart, had made excuses for me- saying that it's been a year since I've left my first home and that I was experiencing a late bout of grief. And she wasn't wrong about that.

The cousins left unconvinced, and gave me some space whenever we were together in lessons- something the other fosters copied- but still gave me concerned glances.

Considering that my temper (or perhaps Pater's? I can't tell sometimes) meant that several of the final trading ships of the season came to shore a little battered, Papa decided to interfere.

"Rhea, I understand that having godly blood running through your veins makes you different to the rest of us mortals, and that your moods are… delicate… but you must remember that causing a hurricane is not the way to deal with your problems."

"It was a small hurricane!" I reflexively protested, "Far off the coast! It didn't even sink any ships!"

"Rhea." I withered at his unimpressed tone. "What is going on with you?"

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

He knelt down to the side of my chair, "I just want to know what is wrong."

I looked away. "As a demigod, we have… dreams, and often these dreams can show us the future or important events we need to know."

He frowned, "And?"

"Queen Helen of Sparta was kidnapped by Prince Paris of Troy. The missive of war will come to you before the winter begins, and ships will come for you before spring. There will be a war." I answered tersely. "A thousand ships will sail to Ilium."

I didn't need to look at him to see the shock and horror on his face.

"What will you do?" He asked me.

"I will be seeking the Oracle, as instructed by several gods."

"Several?" He asked, before realising that wasn't the point. "The Oracle? I can take you to her."

"No!" I whipped back around, catching his eye. He seemed more focused on the tears falling from them. "Papa… without you, the Acheans cannot win. Stay, have those precious moments with Telemachus, I can go alone."

He cupped my cheek with a delicateness that betrayed his warrior visage. "You have no idea how much it hurts a father to see his daughter leave his home. I will pray to the gods everyday that you will one day return home to me."

"Papa…" I made an aborted move.

"It's okay sweetling. I understand."

That's the problem. I wish you didn't and kept me locked up here forever; at least then I would have an excuse to not go.

"One, two, three, four. A step in the right direction means that you open a new door."

"The Oracle!" Deme bustled as she helped me pack for the late autumn voyage. "Like the great heroes!"

"Yes," I distractedly answered, picking another chiton for travel.

"The gods told you to seek the Oracle!"

"Mhm."

"Do you think the golden archer stands watch over his Oracle?" She stopped packing to ask, wide-eyed.

"No, he's far too busy for that." I brushed the question off.

"Oh! I can't wait to meet the Oracle!"

"Mhm…" The statement slowly registered in my mind. "Wait- what?"

She stared at me like I was being stupid, "I'm going with you."

"No, you're not!" I immediately protested. "Do you realise how dangerous this journey is? Monsters will be attacking me every step of the way- not to mention the bandits, kidnappers, and slavers I might meet on the way too! You're staying here, on Ithaca, where it's safe."

Deme scowled. "I am a slave, we are never safe. At least with you, none of the men will touch me. Once you leave, I will probably be reassigned to the kitchen or the cleaners. I'm going with you- King Odysseus said."

I frowned, opening and closing my mouth but unable to find a good argument. Except… that would be the perfect moment to set her free.

Away from Ithaca, able to start her life anew… yes. That's perfect.

"Fine," I said. "You're coming too."

She smiled, "Good."

"Is anyone else…?" I asked, but she already knew.

"Melas and Kyros will be returning to Pylos now that they are of age and their fostering is over. They volunteered to escort you to the mainland and the King agreed."

My eyebrows shot up, "Possibility of Melas trying to propose marriage one last time on the journey?"

She smirked. "High."

"Damn it."

Goodbyes were far more tearful than I wished they were.

Mama was weeping by the time we arrived at the port, and Papa was being strong for our sake.

"My sweet daughter," Mama hugged me. "Never forget what I taught you. I love you."

"I love you too." I whispered into her embrace.

Papa smiled, "Be strong, my daughter. I know you can do this."

I left a kiss on his stubbled cheek.

Other fosters and friends I have made came to wave me off. Andrea, coming over her shyness, shouted well-wishes from the dock. Some, like Heirax, shouted more specific goodbyes ("I won't miss you nearly slicing my dick off in training, but I'll miss watching you do the same to Icarious!" is a farewell I'll never forget) with their waves.

At least I had a goodbye this time…

"Rhea, are you ready?" Melas asked, standing at the bow of the ship.

I smiled.

Translations/Lore:

Pater/Pati= Father/Dad
Ilium= Another name for Troy.
Hyisi= Daughter
Paidi mou= My Child

A/N

Sorry it took so long to update! I'm highly stressed and I'm going to be cutting my hours online, so if time between updates lengthens, I'm sorry, I'm doing my best.

Lmao, none of y'all guessed that it would be Hermes showing up first, not Apollo! Poor Hermes is so confused, he has no idea where he is and who the pretty crying girl is. Pure bafflement from him. Rhea is now going to seek the Oracle! What are your theories as to what is going to happen there? Yeah, Rhea is completely detaching herself from Odysseus' journey to Troy, she does her own things! Don't worry, she'll still end up in the middle of this mess.

History stuff: The Ancient Greeks didn't travel in winter, like, at all. It was too cold for fighting or sailing, so they just... didn't. Traveling in Autumn was unusual unless it was trading ships coming from other lands, so what Rhea is doing is strange, but okay since she was told to by 'the gods'. Odysseus' son Telemachus wasn't all that old when he sailed off to war, and making my guess that since the initial ships didn't leave because of the 'dry ho air with no breeze for the sails' that led to the whole Iphigenia debacle, I would guess that Odysseus left Ithaca early spring, which gives him time to collect Achilles before Summer, and the ships reach Ilium before winter again.