One with the Gods

Chapter Five: The start of an Adventure

Chapter five:

The start of an Adventure

A few days after the festival, Andromeda went home and slipped into a silk pleated tunic after exploring Olympus. She slid under the covers of her bed and fell asleep. She awoke the next morning thinking she would see her mother sitting at the end of the bed gently shaking her, and saying in a soft voice, “Wake up Andromeda.” But when she woke she only saw the sheets of her bed and the new room she had. She got up and changed into a blue pleated tunic with silver embroider on the hem, short sleeves, and collar.

She quietly went down stairs not waking her sleeping maids. As she reached the bottom of the stairs there was a knock at the door. Andromeda walked over to the big door expecting to see her father on the other side. She opened it to find Aeros. “Aeros, what are you doing here?” She asked. Aeros wore a green pleated tunic with gold embroider. His belt was gold along with his sheath and the hilt of his sword. Around his neck was a gold chain with a golden pendant. It had a ruby boar carved into it. “I am here to see you.” He said stepping in. She shut the door behind him and led him to the dock. “Why do you want to see me?” She asked. “You are my new wife so I thought I would see you.” Aeros said. “Wait a minute ‘wife’?” Andromeda said.

“Yes your father and my father set it up the night of the festival. They saw us dancing and decided to have us marry. So I will be your husband and you will be my wife.” He said. “I don’t remember us having a romantic connection after just a dance. Why did my father think I was in love with you?” She said. Aeros shrugged and did something unexpected. He leaned forward and kissed Andromeda on the mouth. Andromeda though she enjoyed the sweet kiss was repulsed. She jerked away and looked at Aeros. She slapped him across the left cheek. “You idiot we are not getting married. We are only friends not lovers. Come with me I need to have a word with my father.” She said going to the front door.

Just as she did her father burst through the door with a bright smile. “There is the happy couple!” He boomed. “Father, why did you set me up with Aeros?” She growled. He didn’t hear her. “Do not worry my child. No one knows except Ares and me.” He said. “Father, I am not in love with Aeros and Aeros is not in love with me. We just danced does that lead to us getting married!” Andromeda said. Zeus stared at her then Aeros and then back to her. “My dear child you and Aeros are a good match. Why don’t you approve?” He asked. “For one we just met the other night. Also I am not yet ready to marry.” She exclaimed. “Aeros will you leave and say nothing of the matter. I must talk to her privately.” Zeus said. Aeros bowed and left the house. Andromeda groaned and went back to the dock. Andromeda leaned on the railing and stared out at the ocean.

Zeus clapped his hand on her back like she was a young man. “Andromeda, why do you disapprove of getting married to this boy?” He asked. “I am only fourteen. I know I am the proper age but I am just not ready for this. There are so many things I want to see before I get married.” She said. “The thing is on Olympus women don’t go on adventures. They get married and let the men go on adventures.” Zeus said. “How about we test that theory? Send me and Aeros on and adventure across Greece. Have Hermes watch us and look at our progress. Whoever has the most glorious adventure gets to decide who is to be married.” She said. “Andromeda, I know I haven’t been with you for years, but it is a crazy idea. Why do you crave this adventure?” He asked.

“Because I am the daughter of Zeus, I am always looking for an adventure. If you love me let me prove that I more than another woman to get married right away. Let me prove I am more than a pretty face that you see now.” She urged. Zeus was silent in thought. He sighed. “Alright, I will talk with Hermes. I will also place treasures that you may keep in hidden places with monsters and creatures to guard them. Also you and Aeros must stay together if you want this to continue.” He said. She smiled and hugged his neck. “Thank you so much father.” She said. “You won’t regret this.”

Days after the Festival Castolla woke to the sound of her sister Lais yelling for her to get up. “What do you want?” She said sitting up. “The daughter of Zeus is going on an adventure! She says she is going to prove she more than just beautiful.” She exclaimed. “I think I can guess which daughter. Is her name Andromeda?” She asked getting up and dressing. “Yes how did you know?” Lais asked. “She use to give me fish. I would hear her sometimes talking about going on and adventures over to faraway places. Also don’t tell me I know mother is mad. She told me the story last night.” Castolla said opening the door. She rushed out to find a group of her brothers and sisters. She pushed her way to the front and found her mother looking through the crowd. “Castolla there you are. I have a quest for you.”

Long ago before Castolla and Andromeda were born Artemis fell in love with a mortal man. She went to Zeus and asked for him to take her immortality away so she could be with him. When Artemis went to bed that night Zeus disguised himself as an owl and spied on the man Artemis fell in love with for one week. He found him in bed with a woman on the first. On the second he found the man stealing from the purses of the rich. For the next week the man was either with a woman or doing a terrible deed. Zeus knew Artemis hadn’t seen this side of the man. He wanted to save Artemis the pain of knowing the truth so he killed the man by letting him drown while bathing in the river. When Artemis found this out she was so furious she forbade Zeus to ever see or talk to her again. Grief stricken Artemis decided to plant her seeds into the women of Greece who could not produce children. Ever since that day Zeus and Artemis have hated each other.

“Castolla lets go in private.” Artemis said. They walked over into the woods and began to talk. “Castolla you have a power not any of my children have. You can see and read what is happening in the past, present and future. For this reason I am sending you to follow Andromeda. I want you to capture her and bring her to me. I want to make Zeus pay for the pain he put me through.” Artemis said. “For you mother I will do anything, but how do I see things in the future?” Castolla asked. “You focus on the person or event you want to see whether it is in the past or present. For the future you simply ask what would happen if someone did this.” Artemis explained. “Now go my sweet daughter and get ready for you will be leaving soon. Castolla, I love you.” She said. Castolla hugged her mother and left to pack.

Andromeda put the last supplies in the saddlebags of her buckskin Pegasus’. She looked over at Aeros. His horse was pure white with a leather saddle. “Um, Andromeda I am sorry for kissing you. I just wanted to seem like a good husband.” Aeros said. Andromeda could tell that Aeros meant it. “It’s alright I understand. You just wanted to win my heart with your romantic kiss.” She teased. She laughed at him. Aeros shrugged and laughed as well. They mounted their Pegasus’ and walked them down to the edge of Olympus. A crowd had gathered. They consisted of supporters for the son of Ares or the daughter of Zeus. From behind Zeus ran up to Andromeda with a scroll in his hand. “Andromeda, this is for you. It is a list of the treasures and the beasts guarding them. Please my daughter, stay safe. I love you with all my heart.” He said. She leaned down and let him kiss her forehead.

He backed away and stood at the front of the crowd. A staff appeared from midair and into her father’s hand. “Gods and Goddesses witness now the bravery these two are showing. There events will be shown in the fountain of the center of Olympus. I will now transport these two to their first challenge. We all honor you are hope you bring great riches back to us all.” Zeus boomed. With that he lifted the staff above his head. He gave Andromeda a loving and hopeful look and hit the ground with the end of his staff. With that there was a flash and the next thing Andromeda knew she and Aeros were sitting on their Pegasus in the middle of the woods.

Castolla found out where they were going from a personal servant of Zeus’s. She took some travel dust from her mother to help her travel. She closed her eyes and visualized the place she wanted then sprinkled the dust on the ground in front of her. She opened her eyes and saw herself in the middle of the woods and could hear Andromeda and Aeros’ voices.