Priestess was a very devout member of the church. She prayed the goddess every day. She always said her thanks after every incantation, whether verbally or inwardly. She respected and idolized her goddess. Truly there was no other goddess she would worship. Earth Mother was beautiful and wise. She always looked out for those in need and do her best to aid them. She was everything Priestess wanted to be, kind of like Sword Maiden in a way.
So she found herself unsure of what to do with her goddess sitting right in front of her. They were currently riding a stage coach to Cowgirl's farm. Earth Mother wanted to talk to Cowgirl and the rest of the girls before meeting with Goblin Slayer. Priestess found that sensible. High Elf Archer would rage if anyone, even a goddess, tried something with Goblin Slayer behind their back.
Earth Mother wouldn't do that of course. She was the kindest and greatest of the gods in Priestess's opinion. So her wanting a child must be for a good cause. The goddess hadn't said much so far after her declaration. So Priestess was sitting in awkward silence. What was she supposed to say to a goddess?
Earth Mother smiled down at her and patted her head, "You're worrying too much."
Priestess squeaked and looked away, "I'm sorry, Earth Mother, holiest of-"
"Enough of that," Earth Mother waved her hand. "I may be a goddess but today I want to talk to you as a person. So please don't feel afraid to talk to me."
"But-"
"Ah," Earth Mother put a finger on her lips, "No buts. We're two girls. Let's just have a little chit chat."
Priestess nodded, "As you wish, Earth Mother."
Earth Mother moved back in her seat with a small sigh, "This will do for now. I'm sure you have a lot of questions." She watched Priestess nod, "I will answer them. However, I think it's best I keep some things to myself until I meet with the rest of Goblin Slayer's wives. I do not want to repeat myself needlessly."
"Okay," Priestess gulped, "So… you are okay with me being part of a… a…"
"A harem?" Earth Mother finished, watching Priestess nod. "I wouldn't offer to join one if I didn't like such things. To be honest, I find them rather humorous and wholesome. Well, when they work out anyways. Most don't, but in all honesty, the same can be said of singular romances. So no, I don't have an issue with it. In fact, I'm happy you found yourself in such a loving companionship."
"That's good to hear," Priestess smiled slightly.
"And do not fret, my young Priestess." Earth Mother said, "I shall not take any of Goblin Slayer's affection away from you. I shall create my own link to his heart and have a child born of love as every child should be."
Priestess blinked in confusion, "But… Why Goblin Slayer?"
"Because he needs love," Earth Mother stated. "He needs love more than most and you girls have given it to him. You have made him human again and I could not be happier. Thanks to you and the others, he will live a full life and destroy more of those nasty goblins."
Priestess furrowed her brow. She had a point. Goblin Slayer really did need help being more human. Of course, he was still Goblin Slayer. Perhaps he would never fully heal, but they could at least make his life happy. That was the most important thing in all of this.
"Well that and I've come to like him," Earth Mother put a hand on one cheek as she blushed slightly, "Strong, handsome, always looking out for girls, and etc. It's hard to find an adventurer so pure of heart, in his own strange way of course. I'll go into more depth when we get there, but suffice it to say, I can see the appeal of demigods when I look at him."
Priestess sweatdropped at that piece of information and chuckled nervously. That's when they heard some shouting outside. The carriage took a sudden stop as the horses started to bray. Priestess held her holy staff close to herself as she heard the commotion outside. She could faintly hear their driver crying out as harsher voices yelled out him. Her eyes widened as she realized he might be in danger. She stood up, nervously stepping closer to the door.
That's when Earth mother got in front of her. She smiled down at her and patted her head, "You have such a good heart. Going out there with all those bandits to save one man you don't even know. You truly are an adventurer."
Priestess smiled up at her, swelling with the praise. To hear her goddess speak those words filled her with fervor. She truly was the greatest of the gods and there was nothing that could sway Priestess's opinion on that.
"But I shall go out first," Earth Mother booped her nose, "I can't have them hurt a hair on my precious Priestess after all." She turned and opened the door, stepping outside.
Priestess gasped and rushed after her, "Earth Mother."
Once outside, she saw that they were surrounded by a number of bandits. They were all wearing soldier armor and were of varying races. There were a few women bandits as well. Priestess could count up to a couple of dozen in eyesight and there may have been more. They were cackling as they had thrown the driver onto the ground and looking to loot the poor man.
One of them turned to them and walked over. He was a very tall lizardman, easily two heads taller than Lizard Priest. Priestess kept herself behind her goddess, afraid to show herself to such a being.
"Hello there," Earth Mother waved at him as he stopped in front of her. "I would like to ask you and your friends to leave us in peace. We mean no harm to you or your group."
The lizard man guffawed, "What kind of woman are you to make demands now? A noblewoman? Well too bad silver spoon licker. We'll be taking your stuff and there's not a damn thing you can do about it."
"Well i don't see why you would want to steal from us," Earth Mother continued, still as cheery as ever. "We have nothing of value."
"That golden staff says otherwise," the lizard man pointed to Priestess's staff. "You're either hiding some more loot or you're worth something. A good bit of kidnapping and extortion does the heart good for a bandit's life."
"You weren't always a bandit," Earth Mother chided as a mother would a child, "You were a soldier who fought the Demon Lord to save the world."
The soldiers laughed at that, including the lizard man. "We aren't an altruistic bunch. We did it to save our own hides and payment. Now the war's over and we're broke. So this is how it is. So cough up the staff and everything else, woman."
"Priestess will keep her staff and you will leave."
The lizard man just grinned, "Haughty are we? You know what? I've been rather agitated lately. The company of a woman would do me nicely."
Earth Mother smiled and chuckled, "I am flattered but I do not wish to lay with the likes of you. Now please leave us be."
"I wasn't talking about you," the lizard man said. "You are obviously a noblewoman. We'll keep you nice and safe as long as you cooperate and your family pays up. The priestess though? Oooh, I love breaking in little girls." The lizard man licked his scaly lips, "They're always so tight and they make such cute sounds."
Earth mother froze for a moment as her smile faded away into a frown. She stared at the lizard man, "You want her for what?" There was no warmth in her voice anymore.
Priestess was cowering behind her. She should be protecting her goddess. That was the right thing to do, but hearing him want her like… that? It brought back bad memories and made her whimper slightly from fear. This caused Earth Mother to shake slightly, but it wasn't out of fear. More out of parental anger.
"What?" the lizard man chuckled, "I'm sure she'll enjoy it. I am a big warrior. Most women love my type. So hand her over and you can live untarnished."
Earth Mother stared at him for a moment. As the lizard man opened his mouth to shout at her, Earth Mother gently moved one hand forward and tapped a pinky finger on his armored chest. Immediately, the lizard man's armor was torn asunder as was his flesh as most of the being was sent flying backwards into the forest. The rest of the bandits stared in shock. As they gazed at her, they all backed away in terror.
A powerful aura seemed to seep out from her form as she glared at the bandits. The glare itself was spiteful in ways the bandits could never imagine in their wildest nightmares, "You… You would dare use your power to harm the innocent? You vile, insipid cowards."
"That… that power." One of the bandits gulped, shaking.
"Every day I watch the world burn itself as people like you harm all that is good in it," Earth Mother's scornful voice made the bandits shudder. "Every day you cause me pain just looking at you. Yet I am merciful. That mercy can only take you so far. LIke today for example where you would DARE threaten MY Priestess?" Earth Mother clenched a fist and immediately a portion of the earth below it was smashed inwards.
"Fuck this," one of the bandits turned and ran. Soon the others took after her and they made it to the forest.
Earth Mother continued to glare that way before she calmed herself down and the power dissipated, "That was… a bit much on my part." Then she turned and looked over Priestess, "Are you okay?"
Priestess nodded, "I'm fine."
"That's good to hear," Earth Mother nodded and made to the carriage, "Well I shouldn't do something like that again. If I use too much of my power, I might end up destroying this form and letting the other gods know of what I'm doing. So don't rely on me too much."
"I won't," Priestess nodded as she helped the driver back into his seat. He thanked her and she went back inside. As she sat down, she looked to her goddess. "Why did you do that for me?"
"I look out for all of my priestesses," Earth Mother said before cupping her cheek, "Especially you, my favorite."
Priestess blushed and looked away, "I'm nothing special."
"Not now," Earth Mother said, "But you will be one day. I just know it. Besides," Earth Mother giggled, "You're like the daughter I never had. Well, until I actually do have one of course." She rubbed her belly, "Until then, I shall pamper you to my heart's content and ever afterwards as well since you'll be an honorary aunt to a demigod."
Priestess smiled, though she was panicking inside. The thought of doing that was….
"Oh don't fret over that," Earth Mother waved at her, "Anyways, I'm sure you're wondering I chose you as my favorite. Well that's… Well that's…" Earth Mother fiddled with her fingers shyly, "You remind me of myself when I was young. That's why I know you'll do great things."
"You were like me once?" Priestess gasped. The thought of her goddess being like her, timid and young, was unthinkable.
Earth Mother huffed, "Every god is born. No god can know everything or is all powerful. Any god that claims otherwise is a fool or a liar. That or deluded, which happens sometimes. Enough of that of course. It is true. That is why I took interest at first but now I see a perfect man in your life. One we shall share." She clapped her hands, "It'll be fun."
Fun or not, Priestess knew her life was never going to be the same. It seemed that life changing events just followed her wherever she went.
Sorry about not uploading in a while. Meant to upload this a couple of days ago but wasn't sure on what to add. I feel like this is fine. As for the content, yes, eventually it'll go over the kids and their adventures. However, I wanted to do a few things before then and show off the married life. A lot of harem stuff doesn't get to show off the 'after' of when they are formed so this was my attempt at it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter because Earth Mother is a blast to write. She'll be shown more in her smothering ways for Priestess and the kids soon. Please leave a comment as they are very much appreciated.