The Gospel of Ariel: Volume II

XXXIII

And so, we were faithful, spending every day together after we preformed our duties, and neither of us ever knew another. In time, I fell pregnant. I went to Eurycleia first. The old woman said to me,

"Oh, my child, my heart is glad indeed! But I see you are troubled. Ya must learn, m'luv to accept what ya can't cheenge, an' cheenge what ya can't accept. but, ta dew sew, m'child, ya must ferst be possessed uv th' wisdom ta new wetch is wetch, must'ya'not? New then, worry not, child. A'll intercede on behalf uv ya booth, for A've served them all. Who else news?

"No one," I said.

"Ya mustn't keep this, child, seve from the other maidens. Tell Theophilus tonight, then tell your parents together. All will be well, child. A ekspaket th' gods themselves are behind this. A have m'ways uv newin' such things."

As we were speaking, Theophilus came.

"Phoebe? I must speak with you."

"I am here," I answered, "So must I. I only just finished speaking with Eurycleia."

"Hello, dear one," said he of the old woman, "I did not mean to intrude."

"Nonsense, m'dear lad," replied she, "Come in. A'll leave ye to yerselves."

I led him in as she departed.

When he was seated, I positioned myself next to him,

"Beloved," I stammered, "I must tell you something, yet I fear your reaction, I fear also the goddesses."

His gaze softened and his heart melted as he answered me,

"Speak, Goddess. Why should you fear me or the goddesses? Have you not been faithful to us all?"

"Theophilus, I am pregnant," I said slowly.

To my surprise, he exclaimed,

"Thank the gods! I thought this day would never come! A little deity to call our own. But I sense you are troubled. You must know that one of them is behind this. Don't you remember when we met in Apollo's temple?"

But I responded, fearful,

"Do you not fear what they will do?"

And he said, simply,

"You are the only goddess I fear, and you are mine. What can the other's do to me? I am bound to Styx, and you, you both, are worth whatever comes. Come, for you are spent, love. Take me, if you'll have me, now and forever."

At his words, I wept from fear and relief in equal measure. He held me, and we kissed as we never had before. His hands found my abdomen and he felt the child kick. As he did this, he whispered, "Thank you, m'Lady."

At length, he said,

"I've news also. Isotheon plans to live with Samara in Galilee and take her as his. He wishes us to come with him. I shall have plenty of employ there."

His words gave me pause for a moment. Then I answered,

"You cannot ask me to leave my father, ill as he is, and dying. What's more, shall I leave my mother a barren widow and bereft?"

"Indeed not," he replied." I would never ask it of you. We would follow only after he is gone, and with his blessing. Your poor mother shall go with us, that's without saying. Truly, I need her quite as much as you. I shall ask Galen and Eurycleia as well. As I sense you are still ill at ease, I will pray to our deities on our behalf. Fear not, for you have served Pallas well. It's near impossible to be her favorite, and yet you've achieved it. Phoebus, too, loves you. Artemis has loved me all my life. I suspect that they may not be without mercy. If, somehow, I am woefully mistaken, I'll take the fall, for it was my arrow that pierced you. Worry not, my love. Do your parents know? We ought not to keep this from them.'