Tides of Fate

Chapter Two: Shoreline

I watched Theodoros chase after seagulls on the sun-kissed shore, his laughter carrying on the wind.
His golden hair was as bright as the sun, his smile flashing when the birds flocked away from him, only to settle back down a few feet away, picking at the scraps he had strategically laid out in an attempt to catch one.
He had been at it for two months, and I was thankful to the Gods that remained; he hadn't managed to catch one. He was quite bright for an eight-year-old, inquisitive though shy around strangers - unless that stranger was a sailor. His adoration for the sea had been evident since he was a babe, only settling when I'd carry him along the shore of Delphi, listening to the crashing waves, the sounds of the ships and the birds that sang praise to the heavens, until he was old enough to carry himself.
Every morning and night we would come to the shore, just so he could stare and play about the ocean.
I would sit silently by the rocks that once held a statue of Poseidon, torn down nearly eight years ago during the war of rebellious humans against the Gods.
I hadn't believed they could win. Didn't believe they could slaughter so many we believed to be all-powerful.
But, without our love, many of the Gods fell, the remaining ones retreating to Olympus for safety while the humans decided if we were to end them or leave them be.
I prayed the Gods would find strength again. A thought not many in my village shared, not anymore.
I called for Theodoros, slowly rising as I watched the ships of the evening start to finish docking, the call of vendors and shopkeepers telling me it was time to end my son's attempt to catch a pet.
He trailed behind me as I shopped for supplies for my orders within the village before going to find something for us to eat.
"Mother, look!" Theodoros called, eagerly approaching a group of soldiers, pointing at the crates of what looked to be gold and items I recognised from the temples of Zeus, covered in blood.
"Theo-" I was cut off when one soldier's face twisted in a scowl, looking at Theo as he approached.
"Mind your place, boy!" the soldier snarled, his hand raised in a threatening gesture.
Panic rose, and my feet moved, pulling Theodoros behind me, and I stood in front of the soldier.
"He was merely curious!" I shouted, fear twisting my stomach as he raised himself taller, not lowering his hand.
I stood frozen, my heart racing, as I realised he wouldn't hesitate to hit me.
"Get out of the way, woman!" He snarled at me, his eyes flashing to Theo as he cowered behind my skirt.
"You will not touch my son!" I warned my voice firm, balling my hands into fists, reading to defend myself if need be.
I was no true match for a soldier, but Theodoros' father had taught me well enough when he was alive, enough to know I could at least break the man's nose.
"I'm sorry, mister!" Theo tried, his voice so terrified it twisted my stomach.
The soldier's anger didn't waver, he attempted to shove me aside, aiming his hand at Theo. "I'll show you sorry!" He snarled.
"No!" I shoved the man, pushing him away from Theo and stepped back with him, trying to make distance in case he chose to swing.
"I said leave him alone! He's a child!" I shouted, emotions bubbling under my skin and anger rising. "Touch him and I'll hurt you myself!"
He grabbed my arm, making me yelp from the strength of his grip.
"You think you could?" He sneered, his voice laced with mocking.
I clenched my jaw and stepped forward, throwing my head forward.
I was shorter than the soldier by a good foot, but with a minor rise to my toes, I made contact with his nose.
He stumbled back, releasing me and grabbed his nose as blood began to spill.
"Touch me again and I'll break something else!" I warned, sounding a lot more confident than I felt.
I shouldn't have done that.
The soldier straightened, snarling like an animal through his bloody face.
I should not have done that.
He strode towards me, my hands finding Theo to pull him behind me securely, protecting him from danger, and seeing his mother about to be hit.
The soldier raised his fists and swung at me.
A sudden, powerful hand grasped the soldier's wrist, holding it in place, stopping the hit before it could land.
"I think that's enough," a deep voice commanded.
The soldier trembled, his eyes widening as he took in the stranger's imposing figure.
I turned to see a commander, tall and muscular. His dark hair was tied away from his face, revealing his sharp jaw and bright blue eyes that reminded me of the ocean, a small cut above his left eye.
He gripped the soldier, a look of pain crossing the man's face, his eyes blazing with authority.
"Apologise to the lady," the commander growled.
"Commanded Phoebus, I was jus-"
The Commander, Phoebus, squeezed the soldier's wrist, dropping him to his knees.
I stepped backwards, holding Theo's shoulders as he tried to peek around me.
"Cool," he whispered, making me hiss at him.
Phoebus glared at the man. "Apologise." He repeated
The soldier stuttered, his eyes flashing between me and Phoebus from the ground. "I-I'm sorry, ma'am."
Phoebus released his wrist, and the soldier fled, disappearing into the crowd.
I turned to look up at Phoebus, seeing his eyes trailing after the soldier as if he intended to murder him.
I settled my racing heart, finding my voice. "Thank you for your help."
Phoebus's gaze softened when he looked down at me, a small smile spreading across his lips. "You're brave to stand up to him like that. But next time, maybe avoid escalating the problem." He tapped his nose, smirking teasingly.
I blushed, despite a small rise of anger. "I just couldn't let him hurt my son." I huffed out, looking down to see Theodoros staring at the commander as if he was a God.
He truly loved sailors.
Phoebus's voice dropped, catching my attention. "I understand. But sometimes, it's better to let others protect you, so you can protect those who need you most." He glanced towards Theo, my heart fluttering.
His words struck a chord, and I felt a sense of gratitude towards this stranger who had saved us.
I nodded, unable to think of anything else to say, despite wanting to continue talking with him.
I held out my hand, finding words I knew I could say. "I'm Chrysa, this is my son, Theodoros." I gestured to the small boy still watching the man who'd saved us.
Phoebus noticed Theo's ogling then and knelt beside him.
His small hands loosened slightly from the grip he had on my skirt as Phoebus spoke to him.
"Hey, you were very brave, but, are you okay?" He asked, his voice gentle.
Theodoros looked up at him, his eyes sparkling with a mix of fear and bravado as he puffed his chest. "I could have taken him," he said, his voice trembling slightly and his hand tightened again in my skirt.
I smiled at my son, stroking his hair.
"Of course you could, my love." I giggled.
Phoebus chuckled, reaching out to tickle Theodoros for a moment. "I'm sure you could have, little soldier, but it's always better to have someone watching your back." He smiled, Theo instantly smiling back.
"Does that mean you have my back?" Theo asked excitedly, releasing my skirt finally and stepping slightly closer to Phoebus, his eyes shining with hope.
I gave the commander an apologetic smile.
But his words softened my expression. "Of course!" He beamed at my son. "Every commander needs a loyal crew!"
Theo smiled so wide, I'm surprised it didn't hurt. "I can be a part of your crew?" He asked excitedly, not waiting for Phoebus to answer before he asked another. "Can I go on your ship? The other sailors don't let me."
I crouched, touching Theo's shoulder to try to get his attention, only it stayed on Phoebus as if he didn't even feel me.
"Theodoros, I have to finish shopping, I'm sure Commander Phoebus is busy."
Phoebus smiled at me, shaking his head. "Not at all," he turned to Theo then, still smiling. "Would you like to come with me on an adventure while your mother shops?"
Theodoros's eyes widened, and he looked up at me for permission. I hesitated, looking at the Commander who merely smiled encouragingly.
Finally, I nodded, unable to say no to either of their smiling faces.
Phoebus stood, offering his hand to Theodoros, something I'd never seen another, especially not a soldier, do. "I promise he'll be safe with me," he assured me. Theo was already trying to pull him away, urging Phoebus to hurry up.
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards this kind stranger. "Thank you, Commander Phoebus. I'll be nearby if he becomes too much-" he raised a hand to stop me.
"Call me Phoebus, please. And don't worry, I'm happy to see a young boy so excited about the sea." There was a hint of sadness to his smile as if he left the love of the world to dwindle with our devotion to the Gods.
As Phoebus led Theodoros away, I watched them go, feeling a sense of wonder at the unexpected turn of events. Who was this man? And why did I feel incredibly comfortable with him?
As if I'd known him my whole life.
As I watched Phoebus help Theo onto his ship, I caught a glimpse of a shining bracelet with a symbol on his wrist - a trident, the iconic mark of Poseidon. My curiosity piqued.
What was a mortal doing with a symbol of the Gods?
It was dangerous, for one, even I had forgone wearing my small tokens to the very same God.
But, it was also not common for a mortal to wear the true symbols, they were reserved for the Gods themselves.
I giggled to myself. Maybe Phoebus was Poseidon, hidden amongst the mortals to try and woo them back into the arms of the Gods.
I giggled again, shaking off the ridiculous thought and continued shopping, keeping a watchful eye on Phoebus and Theo as they explored the dock. Phoebus was patient and kind, answering Theodoros's endless questions and laughing at his antics.
Theo was blossoming under Phoebus's attention, his excitement and curiosity on full display.
He danced around Phoebus, speaking animatedly and throwing himself at the man whenever it seemed fitting to whatever tale he was telling the Commander.
Phoebus handled him with ease, never once showing frustration or annoyance, smiling and engaging in the conversations, even playing along with Theo's games.
I smiled, feeling grateful for this chance encounter.
Though our time together may be short, I hoped it would help Theo grow to be the extraordinary man I knew he was destined to be.
Since the death of his father, Theoden, when he was only a few months old, I had failed to find comfort in another, doing my best to provide for Theodoros as I could.
But as he aged and his adventurous spirit grew, I knew I would need to find someone who could help me teach my son.
Seeing Phoebus with him gave me hope there was someone out there.
As I finished my shopping, I made my way towards Phoebus and Theodoros, who were now standing at the edge of the dock, gazing out at the sea.
"Ready to head back?" I asked calling over the sounds of the ocean, approaching them.
Theodoros turned to me, his eyes sparkling. "Mother, Phoebus promised I could help on the ship! Can we come back tomorrow?" He suddenly looked at Phoebus as if he forgot the man was there, adding. "If that's okay, Commander Phoebus?" He straightened his small body, taking the stance of a tiny soldier speaking to his superior.
I chuckled, giving Phoebus another apologetic smile. "I think you've created a monster, he won't stop asking until we say yes."
Phoebus smiled at Theo, chuckling at the action, his eyes meeting mine. "Anytime. You and your mother are always welcome." He gave Theo a small dismissal, his small chest falling dramatically as he puffed.
"Being a soldier is hard!" He whined, making me roll my eyes and run my fingers through his golden curls, chuckling.
"Just wait until you have to fight a Minotaur." I teased.
"I could take it!" He announced, making me laugh as Theo ran off to the shore, finding an appropriate-sized stick and began to display how he would take down a terrifying minotaur threatening to harm me.
He turned at one point, his eyes wide with false panic and his stick extended to the full length of his arm.
"I need backup!" He shouted in feigned terror.
I glanced at Phoebus, expecting to see an annoyed or unamused expression.
To my surprise, the full-grown man stepped forward, dipping for a moment to pick up a size-appropriate stick.
"I've got your back, Commander Theodoros!" Phoebus shouted, running forward and joining Theo in his imaginary battle.
Laughter spilled out of me, watching them play with delight and excitement, taking down the imaginary monster and saving the day.
I applauded, cheering and called them my heroes.
Theo ran to me, throwing himself into my arms and I giggled, hugging his small panting body tightly and began to peck his face with kisses.
"Oh, my hero," kiss, kiss, kiss. "I was so scared." Another volley of kisses. "My brave handsome man!"
"Mum!" He grumbled at me, trying to duck out of my assault, he managed to slip my grip, running to hide behind Phoebus, wiping his face with his sleeve.
I gave an embarrassed chuckle, meeting Phoebus' amused smile. "Sorry,"
He held up a hand, grinning. "Please, every hero deserves a warm welcome home after the battle," his smile turned playful, and my heart fluttered. "I'm a little jealous I didn't have such a reception for my return."
Theo, not seeming to understand the Commander's teasing, looked at me with a scowl. "Every hero deserves a warm welcome! He deserves a kiss too, mum!" He scolded, gesturing to Phoebus. "I would have died without him!"
I faltered, caught between laughing at his words and embarrassment at his suggestion.
I made a mental note to educate my son on the difference between kissing him and ...
Phoebus smiled, looking down at Theo and squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sure I'll earn my own hero's welcome; for now, enjoy yours." He gestured to the basket I carried. "I believe you have a feast waiting."
I blushed, something this man seemed to easily make me do, and held my hand out for Theo, smiling.
"I have a grand feast in mind for my Minotaur slayer," I lied, knowing it was the usual fish and bread, not that Theo ever complained about my cooking.
Theo's eyes lit up with excitement as he turned to me, worry filling me as I saw a look of his little mind working out something.
"Mother, can Phoebus come for dinner? Please? He helped me save the village! He deserves a feast too!" He tugged on my arm, almost making me fall over from the sudden strength he had.
I hesitated, looking up at Phoebus. "We'd love to have you," I said truthfully, then looked down at Theo, giving the commander a way out. "But, I'm sure Commander Phoebus is very tired-"
Before I could finish, Phoebus intervened. "I'd be happy to join you for dinner, Chrysa. I can entertain Theodoros while you cook."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Phoebus's warm smile put me at ease. "Really, it's no trouble. I'd enjoy spending more time with you both."
Theodoros let out a whoop of excitement, tugging on my hand. "Yes! Phoebus can tell me more about his ship!"
I couldn't resist my son's enthusiasm or Phoebus's kind offer.
"Well, if you're sure it's no trouble...?"
Phoebus nodded. "I'm sure. Lead the way, Chrysa."
I blinked, turning towards the pathways, my mind in a somewhat state of shock.
Who would have thought that a chance encounter with a soldier would lead to dinner with a naval commander?
Theo released my hand, making me panic for a moment until I looked back, seeing his hand wrapped with Phoebus', walking beside him happily.
I glanced at Phoebus, who was chatting with my son like an old friend, a small smile spreading across my lips at the sight.
Phoebus looked up, catching my smile and smiled back, giving me a wink that made me blush and look ahead.
I stopped at a vendor on the way home, falling slightly behind as they didn't notice, but it allowed me to watch Phoebus interact with Theodoros.
He was patient, kind, and genuinely interested in my son's thoughts and ideas. It was a refreshing change from the usual authority figures Theodoros encountered.
Theo glanced around, looking for me as we approached the house, a small look of confusion as to why I was so far behind.
I giggled, tousling his hair as I passed him. "Forgive me, Commanders, I have weak womanly legs and can barely keep up with your strength and speed." I pressed my wrist to my forehead, feigning a sigh of exhaustion and leaned against the doorframe of the house.
Theo rolled his eyes at me, not enjoying me being an embarrassment and went inside.
I giggled, enjoying seeing the tables turned on my small child, Phoebus chuckling softly as he followed behind us.
I began preparing dinner while Phoebus entertained Theodoros with stories of his adventures at sea but the small fireplace.
Their laughter and conversation filled the room, making me feel like I was part of something special.
As we sat down to eat, Phoebus praised my cooking, and Theodoros chattered excitedly about his new friend. I watched them, feeling grateful for this unexpected connection.
After dinner, Phoebus helped with the dishes, his hands moving with a quiet confidence that I found intriguing. As we finished, he turned to me with a smile.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Chrysa. I've enjoyed getting to know you and Theodoros."
I smiled back, feeling a sense of connection. "The pleasure was ours, Phoebus. You're welcome anytime."
As he departed, he gave me a small smile, going and saying goodnight to Theo, even hugging him.
My heart felt tender at the sight of Theo squeezing the man tightly and muttering his sad goodbye as if he never wanted him to leave again.
He gave me a gentle squeeze on the hand, wishing me a good night.
I fell asleep soundly, Theo snoring and speaking of his adventures in his sleep.
From the words, it seemed we were both wondering if we'd see Commander Phoebus again.
Hoping the answer would be yes.