2
I feel reenergized as soon as my feet touch the sand. It doesn't matter that since Steve came back we've visited more. Every time I come back home I realize how much I miss being here. The place that witnessed me grow; the place that saw me become the woman I am today; the place that protects the people I love most. Themyscira is the place where I am truly myself. Where I can be me. Not Diana Prince, the antiquities dealer. Not Wonder Woman. Just Diana.
All those years living in Man's world after Steve's death made me lose something; a part of myself that left me, in a way, wandering about aimlessly. I lost the part of myself that allowed me to connect on a deeper level. That's what allowed me to live my life without risk of discovery, really. I didn't feel like I needed to fix every single thing man got wrong, so I exposed myself less. Now though, as I hear Steve's feet touch the sand I know that I'm whole again.
I hold on onto the side of the boat and pull it so it's fully on the sand. Steve reaches in and pulls our duffle bag from the boat and throws it over his shoulder. I turn my head towards the stone arch to see five riders galloping through. I feel the corners of my mouth lift automatically as I take a few steps closer to the approaching riders to see my mother surrounded by her Queen's Guard.
"Diana!", Mother exclaims surprised at our unexpected arrival as she gets down from her horse. The first time we visited Themyscira after Steve's return, we decided to come back twice a year, specifically on the fourth and ninth full moon (in the regular calendar that would be around the end of March and August) and since it's May our arrival is definitely unexpected.
"Mother," I step forward and hug her fiercely.
"What are you doing here?! Captain," she lets go and hugs Steve with as much force as she did me.
"We're here to appease Steve's mind, Mother. Although I think he's exaggerating," I throw him a bit of a dirty look.
He ignores it and answers her, "Diana hasn't been feeling well and on my insistence, we're here so Epione can tell us if it is, in fact, an exaggeration for us to be here,"
I roll my eyes at his overprotectiveness but I only half mean it. It would be quite hypocritical for me to accuse him of that when I, myself, am constantly keeping an eye out for him.
Mother turns a worried glance towards me. "You are not feeling well? What is it that you are feeling? There is not much that ails a God,"
I feel Steve's eyes bore on me. That is the one thing I decided not to mention. I didn't want to worry him before I had anything concrete and since he doesn't know about 'godly sicknesses', as he called it, I didn't feel the need to inform him. I had been researching quietly in ancient texts trying to find an explanation to what I'm feeling, and since I didn't, I didn't say anything to him. But what I did tell him is true. It's more of a sensation than anything else. The worst of it is the not knowing.
I quickly answer Mother before Steve's imagination gets the better of him.
"It's hard to put into words. It's like – It feels like I'm under water sometimes. All my senses get… blurred?" - Does that make sense? - "And then sometimes it's the opposite. I become very sensitive to everything. I can hear things I normally would never be able to hear. I can see far beyond my usual range. I can feel my body working. I've never had that happened to me before,"
There's this slight twitch in Mother's eyebrows. For the people who know her, really know her, they know that's her tell. She knows what's happening to me. Or at least she has an inkling. And that's only confirmed by the very subtle once over she's giving me right now. Nobody else seems to notice but me, though. She recovers quickly nonetheless, before anyone else notices.
"Well then, let's take you to Epione. I am sure she will be able to put a name to what you are feeling, Diana. You did right to bring her, Captain. My daughter can be incredibly stubborn. Good thing she has you to look after her,"
"Thank you," Steve answers emphatically and swings his head in my direction with a cocky smile.
I roll my eyes once again.
We start walking towards the infirmary and Steve gently intertwines his fingers with mine. "You lied to me,"
I look confused at him, "What? When?"
"You said it was more of a feeling. If you're having actual physical symptoms then it's not a feeling,"
Mother turns to look at us briefly but continues walking giving us some privacy. The rest of her guard follows her lead.
I stop walking, not letting go of his hand. "I didn't want to worry you. It comes and goes and when it does, it's never for long."
He shakes his head, "I want to know. When it comes to your well-being, I don't need your protection. What I need is information. Please don't do it again,"
"Okay. I'm sorry. Forgive me?" I jut out my bottom lip trying to lighten the mood; with the uncertainty of my overall health, I really don't want Steve mad at me. Of course, I know that he would never leave me to face anything alone, but still.
"Forgiveness granted, angel. Let's go," He leans forward and presses his lips gently to mine. I kiss him back and nod.
"Okay,"
We catch up with Mother and her guard. She gives me a look and I nod, letting her know that everything's fine. We walk silently to Epione. In the few minutes it takes us to reach the infirmary, I start reviewing the likeliness of me having either of the two things I concluded I must have. Either I've been cursed or the Gods have decided to strip me of my powers. But now that I'm here, neither one makes sense.
It's been unusually calm this last month and I haven't had the need to put my armour on, and none of the past criminals the league or I have stopped have dealt with dark magic or had divine powers of some sort. So unless someone from relatively long ago has decided to seek some kind of revenge against me, I think I can rule out being cursed. Plus, if by some strange turn of events I am cursed, then it's a very lame curse. I barely feel anything. It's more of a nuisance.
Then there's the second option. I read about Phthonos, the Greek god of jealousy and envy and how he has a knack for being nosey and making people jealous and envious of each other. But that seems even less likely and frankly, stupid on my part. Why in Zeus' name would Phthonos want to strip me off and/or mess with my powers?
So now I find myself in the same position I was a month ago. I have no idea what's going on with me. I just hope Epione really is capable of diagnosing me. If not, I'll have to go and pressure Mother into telling me what that expression on her face was when I described my symptoms.
When we reach the entrance of the infirmary, Mother tells Venelia to let Antiope know we're here and then dismisses the rest of them. Mother, followed by Steve and I, make our way down the stone staircase into the cavern and the familiar smell of herbs engulfs my senses. I smile as the four stacked bathing pools brimming with glowing blue water come into view. I turn to look at Steve and he's smiling too. The memory of my first real conversation with Steve Trevor is as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.
"Your Majesty. Oh! Diana. Captain. You have come earlier than expected," Epione says surprised.
Steve and I walk further into the cave and stand next to Mother, "Yes. Actually, we've come to see you, Epione. I've been feeling a little off lately and we were hoping you would be able to tell us what's going on with me,"
Her brow furrows and I see the familiar focus descend on her face. "I am sorry to hear that. Why don't you sit? What symptoms have you been experiencing?"
I feel Steve give my hand a light squeeze. I turn to look at him and smile. I sit on the examination table and tell Epione all I have been feeling during this last month. I even tell her my own theories for good measure. When I'm done, she locks eyes with me and stares hard for a few seconds before nodding.
"If it were not for the fact that I have heard all those exact symptoms once before, I would be at a loss too. I do not blame you for thinking you have been cursed, Diana. I, myself, would have probably told you the same thing. Lie down, please,"
I obey and turn my head towards Steve. He has his arms crossed, lips pressed together in worry. I look at Mother and her expression is unreadable. I see Epione open a drawer and pull out a small wooden box with symbols carved on it I have never seen before.
"I believe I have a diagnosis, Your Highness. This is just to confirm it,"
She opens the box and I see a golden liquid inside of it. Epione deeps her index finger in it and proceeds to draw a serious of symbols on both my thighs, the palm of my hands and my stomach.
"Stand up, please,"
I obey once again and she grabs a cup and fills it up with the glowing blue water from one of the bathing pools.
"Drink,"
I take the cup obediently and drink the water, not knowing what to expect. Almost immediately, I feel the symbols drawn on my body come alive and I inhale sharply at the surprising sensation. The symbols light up; a strong golden light emanates from them and then, I feel them vibrating and with a last burst of light, tiny golden veins spread from them traveling up my arms and thighs, connecting all with the symbol on my stomach. And just as fast, they're gone.
"By the Gods!", Mother exclaims, tears making her eyes shine.
Steve turns sharply to look at Mother and then Epione, "What was that?! What's wrong with her?"
I look down at my body having no clue what just happened.
"There is nothing wrong with her, Captain,"
She turns to look at me.
"You are with child, Diana."
AN:
I hope you enjoyed it! Drop a comment if you feel like it. See you next week!
