Chapter two
"You can marry me" those words haunted her. "Then you will have your freedom" and those words keeps on replaying on her mind that she is now distracted on her training. She cannot hit the target with her arrow. Why does she keep on thinking about him and his tempting words, its not like she is considering it..or does she? She tried to hit the target again and again she failed.
"Argh! Keep yourself together Athena!" she scolded herself. Artemis then entered her temple. Looking at her with questioning eyes.
"What is happening here? You look distracted." the goddess of hunting and wildery sat on the bench and make herself at home by eating some fruits on the table. Athena then stop for a while and join her sister on the table.
"I am distracted obviously."
"Why and with who?"
"You don't wanna know." She poured some wine on her glass and drink it straightly.
"Whoa there. You look like Ares, Sister. Only Ares is the one who can drink a glass full of wine straightly. Not even Dionysius do that."
Ares, the subject of her distraction. She can't help but groan. Ares, why does it have to be Ares? She questioned herself silently.
"Wait, its Ares right? Did you two fight again, did you...lose?" Athena looked at Artemis and rolled her eyes.
"You know I always win. Always." the hunter goddess nod and drink some wine as well.
"Let's stop talking about me, let's talk about you. I hate you, you know. For not telling me about it. How did it start and why him? Why Hermes?"
The hunter goddess started to tell her love story.
Artemis as usual is roaming around the forest. She's still thinking on why her twin brother marry Eris. Eris is known for being the outcast so its a big revelation that an olympian like him will fall in love with the goddess of discord. But she loves her twin brother so she'll do her best to accept the woman that he chooses to be with him forever. While walking, someone wrapped his arms around her waist, she turned around to see the messenger of the gods, Hermes.
"You scared me, Hermes."
"I'm sorry, you know how silly I am."
"Yeah you are, so silly."
They sat under the tree and stared at the horizon. Hermes then offered her some fruits and they ate silently.
"Are you still upset with your brother, Artemis?" Hermes asked. Artemis nodded, there's no reason to lie to Hermes, he is her best friend.
"Being a messenger of gods, I can get to interact with almost everyone, including Eris. You might believe me or not but she's decent, Not like other Gods who is rude and arrogant. Whenever I'm sending a message to her temple, she's very hospitable. She knows how to treat a visitor, may it be a god, nymph or whatever it is. Maybe that's why Apollo fall fo her." Artemis let him finish the story. Hermes is a good man, she thought. All the gods here thinks he is just a messenger, a silly god, the playful one but for her, he's a gentle and good man. She leaned her head to his shoulder that Hermes gladly accepted. He's in love with the Goddess for so long but he knows there's no chance she will break her vows of being a maiden forever.
Artemis closes her eyes and wrapped her arms around Hermes. She's comfortable around him, she feels safe as well. Hermes is her bestfriend..or more than that? On the other hand, Hermes tried not to kiss her but he can't help it. When his lips touched her lips, Artemis opened her eyes, looking at the man with her suprised face.
"Oh, I'm sorry Artemis. I just..I..Um..." Hermes didnt know what to say. He is going to lose her even if she's still not his to begin with. She smiled at him and leaned closer. She can see the nervousness around his eyes.
"Kiss me again." Artemis whispered. He looked at her and cupped her face.
"Who am I to deny that?" And that's where their love story started. After that fateful day, they keep on seeing each other secretly. They want to keep it a secret for now. Artemis then decided to asked for her Father's approval to break the maiden vow. At first, Zeus was furious but when she told him about her relationship with Hermes, Zeus forgive her. Hermes has been a very loyal god to Zeus, he owes him a lot. Maybe its time that God will settle down and be happy with one of his child.
"So..is it worth it, Artemis?" Athena then asked after her story telling on what happened and how it all started.
"Hermes? Yeah, he is. Everything..its worth it. I've never been so happy until I let him in."
Minutes passed and no one is saying a single word. They are enjoying each others company without saying a thing.
"I hope you can find someone who's worthy of everything. I know you'll do. Its not too late sis." Artemis then said her goodbyes and leave Athena all by herself, thinking about..is Ares, worth it?