The Hunters weathered a particularly cold winter that year, hunkered down in one of their more permanent camps, and the return of spring was a welcome change. Artemis awoke, as she had with more frequency of late, wrapped up in Thalia. Despite the goddess's attempts not to wake her bedmate, Thalia stirred and bright blue eyes opened sleepily.
"Mornin'"
Artemis smiled affectionately. "Good morning, Thalia."
They'd fallen asleep while discussing their relationship, both present and future, and how it affected the Hunters well into the night. Both were in agreement that they needed to be open and honest with the others, but Artemis feared the maidens weren't ready yet. The goddess had posed several good arguments.
What if some of the girls also wanted significant others? That was a bad idea for a number of reasons—the first and foremost being that the more time one spent around a mortal, the greater a risk one ran of being discovered as an immortal. Then, of course, there was the nomadic lifestyle of the Hunters, which made maintaining a steady relationship difficult. Suppose the toll of a long-distance relationship wore on any particular maiden and they began to suffer for it?
That could open up a whole different can of worms where her Hunters would request that she bestow immortality upon their loved one—something Artemis did for only a very specific demographic. Where would she draw the line?
What if the girls who felt strongly about maintaining their purity lost faith in the goddess who had, in their eyes, been sullied? Artemis had just begun rebuilding their ranks and a revelation like this could set her back greatly. Respect was the cornerstone of her relationship with her eternally youthful warriors and, without it, her authority would suffer.
What if this created resentment in the maidens who had pledged themselves to the immortal? Artemis was supposed to be the epitome of maidenhood, yet she'd broken her own vow of chastity. Why should they keep theirs?
Thalia argued that there would be greater repercussions if they weren't the ones to break the news. There had been a few close calls already and the constant strain of concealing a secret was beginning to weigh on her second in command. Once everything was out in the open, the others could be given time to process things and talk them out like rational beings. No matter how young they looked, the maidens were adults—some of whom had been around for several decades. Artemis needed to treat them as such.
It wasn't as though they were sharing every sordid detail of their late night romps, just coming clean about the romantic feelings they shared and the nature of their relationship.
Despite Artemis's misgivings, Thalia's sound logic won out and the two agreed to call a meeting later that night to get everything out in the open. Artemis was a ball of nerves by the time the sun started to set and Thalia tried her best to comfort the goddess as her own anxiety mounted. The Hunters weren't just friends, they were family, and as such the very possibility of being rejected was painful.
Whatever the outcome, Thalia wasn't going anywhere.
…
"Ready?"
"No," Artemis answered truthfully. Nonetheless, she reached out and took Thalia's hand. Then, she took a deep, steadying breath, and together the couple exited her tent.
Despite her earlier trepidation, Artemis walked with her head held high. The others were sitting around a long wooden dining table, waiting for their leader and her second in command to arrive so that they could start dinner. When the goddess took her place at the head of the table, the hubbub quieted enough for her to call, "Ladies, I… We have some news."
Artemis glanced to Thalia, who gave her an encouraging smile. The immortal returned her attention to the gathering of maidens and steeled herself. "Lieutenant Thalia and I are together. As a couple. I understand this violates the vow of chastity that we've all taken and I hope you'll forgive my indiscretions. I take full responsibility."
The others stared for so long that Artemis began to fidget and Thalia gave her hand a comforting squeeze. You could hear a pin drop. At last, a giggle traveled through the gathering, growing into full-blown laughter.
… What was so funny?
"I thought it was kind of obvious you two liked each other," one Hunter ventured.
"Yeah, me too."
"Same."
"Lady Artemis is always looking at Miss Thalia like she's the center of the universe."
Artemis's fair cheeks went scarlet as the others murmured their agreement. "Then… You're fine with it? I was afraid you'd all…"
"Get upset?"
"Lose faith?"
Thalia smiled as Artemis went redder still.
"Come on, Lady Artemis, you know us better than that!"
"What you do with the woman you love is your own business."
"We're a family. We will always accept whatever decision you make and follow you to the gates of Hell itself."
"I've been a fool," the goddess said, her voice thick with emotion. Tears welled up in golden eyes and she wiped her arm surreptitiously across her face. "I'm over four thousand years old and yet here you girls are, teaching me something."
"I told you so," Thalia whispered, leaning in and kissing the goddess's cheek.
A cheer filled the dining hall and the Hunters raised their glasses. Thalia raised hers as well and all eyes went to Artemis. The immortal joined them in their toast, though she wasn't quite sure what they were—
"To Lady Artemis," Thalia pronounced.
"TO LADY ARTEMIS!" 25 voices echoed her.
