One Last Time - Apollo and Anastasia

One Last Laugh

"DAUGHTER!" Mother called me out from our dining hall, followed from a series of laughter. I heard the fast footsteps up from the wooden stairs as she knocked on my door. 

"Look who's arrived my dear! Might even get ready and clean up. I'm sure the gentleman would have the patience to wait for you." She talked in amazement and her accent was dipped in that of what we would call, the potion of Aphrodite.

"Who awaits mother? Last you were this excited was when you recived a letter from the queen of Ithaca. It was on her husband-" I was interreputed from my mother holding my spear and patting it up my head, a little too hard.

"Apollo of course! He arrives all consecutive afternoons and you still, aren't used to his arrival!" Mother kept on patting my spear on my head, which I had polished minutes ago.

"I was polishing my weapons! After-"

"Oh, come now, Anastasia! Dress like the goddess you are and hurry!" She placed my spear back in the weapon jar as if it were a toy, dragging her coat down the hallway while reminiscing about Apollo. I could hear laughter echoing down the halls, a sure sign my mother had pulled out one of my embarrassing childhood moments.

I undressed and sank into a bath filled with rose petals and milk, scrubbing off any soot that clung to my hands. I jumped out quickly, wrapping myself in a silk cloth as Alexandra, my maid, helped me brush out my hair. My simple brown locks cascaded down my waist, and she expertly twisted them into a braid, as I liked, since it was easier to fight with a braid on, pinning a gleaming band at the back.

A few strands escaped, covering the scars I was proud to wear. Alexandra helped me into a white dress that barely grazed my ankles, fitting gold bands around my arms, rings on my fingers, and a dainty necklace bearing the symbol of my love—the sun.

"Beautiful as always madam." She spoke. She twirled me around, and pat my shoulders twice. She smiled and gave me a motherly kiss on my cheek. 

"My knife?"

 "Ah! My apologies, I forgot," She rushed and got my knife, covered in its leather sheath. "Although I must ask, why must a girl carry a knife around, when a god, a Olympian walks hand in hand?"

"As I always say, must be careful, I need to learn defense for myself too." I shrugged and gave her a hug.

"Rush down dear! Be safe!" She said as I rushed down the stairs. And then I saw him.

As always, he was dressed in his toga, a signature look of his I must add. He had gold arm bands around his arms too, but then they were five times as large as mine. He had his rings, one that I made myself, which I am very proud to mention, and a laurel on his hair, a symbol of his lost love Daphne. I was quite mesmerized by the god sitting infront of me, who laughed with my mother. He was seated on one of the couches, the one on the right he personally liked. I never understood why, because the reason differed every time I asked. Once, it was sunlight, next it was its softness, then it was close to the stairs, so he'd rush up to my room whenever he wanted. That was the last I asked, I was too shy for the next answer

I heard his laughter and snapped out of my thoughts.

"She did that!?" He asked, and laughed.

"Mother! What did you tell him?" I whisper shouted.

"Nothing my love! Absolutely nothing!" Apollo answered for her. She winked at me and left for her room. It was a sign for us to leave and spend the rest of the day together.

"You're the god of truth and I sense you are lying." I folded my arms and scoot far away from him.

"Okay fine," he scooted closer. "She told me when you fell down from the stairs, and fell down in a pile of cow poop-"