Biton had returned a few times in the next month. Every time spending more time with Cilla's father than her herself. It was clear where she stood in his views. She was just a piece of flesh attached to a large dowry and hands to tend small ones. He even brought his youngest son once, who was only five, and had her be his playmate. It didn't turn out well, though, when her medical problems acted up and she collapsed to the ground, unable to rise when the boy started climbing the old willow and tripped, falling on his rump. Biton had spent a good amount of time yelling at her father while her mother tended to her in her room. Since then she has been on bed rest by order of the local doctor.
Her days had become long and drawn out and filled with simple needle work. Aetes visited her as often as their mother, playing in her room until shooed away by one of their parents. At the moment he played at the end of her bed with the leather their uncle had given him. He worked away on it with a small knife, etching shakey details into it. They were the only ones home when a loud thumping echoed through the rooms. Aetes perked at the sound before turning to his sister to see what to do.
"Well then let's go see who is here." Cilla smiled sweetly before standing, feeling happy to be stretching her legs. The two siblings walked to the front door and opened it to see a beautiful woman with long burnt umber hair and bright forest green eyes. She smiled widely at them. "Hello. May we help you?"
The woman's smile never faltered as she stepped forward, forcing Cilla and Aetes back slightly. She eyed Cilla up and down as if judging her whole being by a single glance before speaking. "No, but I can help you."
Cilla's brow rose in question as she watched the woman closely. After taking in the girl and her brother fully the woman then turned to eyeing their home. "But I do not need any help. I am sorry. Perhaps you ha-"
"Don't argue with me!" The woman's voice boomed through the building. "Did you not bring an offering to my temple in hopes for a husband? Be grateful! I rarely help personally."
The girl's eyes shot open wide. She didn't know what to say or think. Did this woman believe herself to be Hera? Was this woman Hera?
"Mother offered a himation to Hera for sister." Aetes chirped. Next his questions began, earning him a bored glance from the beautiful woman. "Are you a goddess? How did you get here? Why are you helping? Do you have a husband for Cilla?"
He would have continued, Cilla was sure of it, if she hadn't hushed him and asked him to fetch wine for their guest. Once her brother was out of the room Cilla gave herself another moment to think before lowering her head and speaking to the woman. "Lady Hera…. You wish to help me?" After her question, the girl chewed at the inside of her cheek. Why would the Queen wish to help her personally? Wasn't Biton the answer to her mother's prayers? If not than did that mean that perhaps she could be a true wife and bear children to another?
"I have use for you. It simply makes it simple to supply you with what you wish for the simple price of you doing a simple thing for me."
But the woman had said that she didn't need any help at the beginning. Had she not? Cilla wasn't dumb witted enough to question it. If this woman truly was Hera it would be ill advised to anger her. She now held Cilla's entire life in her hands. "What may I do for you my Lady?"
The woman paused and glanced at her. Sizing her up once more. "You have beauty, but are imperfect in your illness. You'll never live through childbirth, let alone get to hold a child. I can change this fate for you. I can also grant you a young, handsome husband instead of that distorted image of a man. To receive these blessings all you must do is spy on my disgusting son."
"Spy? Son?" She was taken aback. Why would a goddess want a mortal to spy on her child for her? It made little sense.
"The beast keeps escaping to this little city of yours. However hard I try I can not catch him in the act however. Because of this my husband refuses to allow me to punish him. You know this city. You should be able to find any new face, his would leave you crying, and then be able to tell me what he is doing here. Whatever is bringing him here needs to be destroyed before his monstrous ways take hold."
Cilla thought for a moment. Which child could she be speaking of? Monstrous? Did she have such a child? In her stories, Cilla could not think of one. However, how could she deny the request? Not only was she the queen of the gods, but she was offering everything her mother and father wanted for her. She must have been thinking too long about it for the woman sighed heavily and shifted her weight in annoyance. "Of course my lady. I shall do what you ask. But…. How do I recognise your son? By what do I address him?"
"You'll know the lame beast when you see him. His scarred, ugly profile will give him away."
"Lame?" Her voice caught. "Hephaestus?" To give her parents what they wanted she now had to go against the god she prayed would look kindly on her brother. Her heart sunk as the woman smiled wickedly at her.