Chapter 6

This chapter is written for us to understand what happened in the past. However, understand that Nuala is not aware of this, and it is just for the readers out there to have a bit of sympathy for the gods and goddesses as the next few chapters would focus on them.

As a goddess of fertility, Anthuina always had a connection with the humans she birthed. She formed them in her mind before connecting their spirits with those who would always take care of them on the human plane. She didn't always visit the worldly plane. That is a lie, and she went there every time she could. Spending time with the tiny creature, helping mothers and fathers take care of their offsprings, as well as helping those who couldn't give birth.

For Anthuina, loving the humans came as easily as breathing. It wasn't something she had to do because of their worshipping or constant sacrifices, and it was something she chose to do because it made her happy. The only problem with Anthuina was that she could never understand how humans would hurt their fellow men. It always pained her when she would see men and women beating their offsprings, throwing one another out of their homes for nights upon nights. It never did make sense to her, but there was little she could do to intervene. It wasn't in her power scope.

That day, forty years ago, Anthuina had run away from a god meeting and transported herself to the mortal realm she had just let a deer of his suffering while roaming the forest. Humming a small tune, she almost missed the whimpers that came from her left. Stopping and turning, she couldn't believe the horrible sight that was the human.

Stripes, blisters, wounds from rocks, and so many things had happened to his frail body. Even worse was the state of his clothes, the bruising on his face and the closing of his eyes. Nevertheless, his heart was beating though weak, which meant he wasn't going to die.

Anthuina doesn't recall how she moved with him in her arms, but one moment they were in his realm and the next in her domain. Laying him gently on her lily pad, she gets to work bringing out vials and mixing plants to prepare a healing tonic hopefully.

'How could this have happened?' She rages in her mind. 'For what reason could they have to do this to one of their own? Is it because of his skin colour? Have they never seen one as fair as his? Was he so different from them that they had to do this to him? It didn't make sense.'

Anthuina doesn't stop mixing but as her mind tries to understand what could have happened, what could have caused this level of hatred, savagery, her mood continues to darken. With all her focus on the things she is mixing, it's no wonder she fails to notice the human open his eyes and try to escape. Fortunately for her, his wounds extended inside and he couldn't move without screaming in pain.

'You might want to wait before moving, young human. Your injuries haven't had time to rest. Here, take this. It should help relieve you of a bit of pain.' Anthuina mutters while pushing the calabash to him. His gaze is a bit questioning but when she makes no move to take it back, he sniffs it and gulps it back.

He gives her the calabash and she throws it somewhere in her domain.

'Why did they do this to you, my son?' She asks dying to know.

'I'm sorry, are you my mother? I've never met her. Why didn't you come to save me?' He cries out.

'No, my child. I'm the goddess who created you. I created all humans, so I'm your mother. So tell me, why happened. How long has this been going for?'

'It's nothing, goddess of birth. This is nothing compared to what usually happens to me. They hate me because my mother dropped me on the borders of their town and no one knows who my parents are. Also as you can guess, the colour of my skin doesn't help my case.' His voice does not quiver, it states these things like it makes sense for them to hate him.

I don't know how it happens but tears fall from my eyes as I rush to hug him. This was the beginning of their relationship.

Anthuina keeps him in her domain for five suns to pass before letting him go back to his realm. She never wanted too but he insisted that he couldn't bear to keep intruding on her home. She tries to let him know he is always welcome and there's always a place for him but he insists on going back home.

For the next moons, Anthuina follows him and tries to step in to stop the hurt the humans keep inflicting on him but there's only much she can do without the others finding out. They spend the time between his beating and recovery session talking and learning about one another. Before long, she has fallen in love and is powerless to stop it. A year passes by before the human proposes the inter-racial marriage, never to have happened before one between a god and human.

The other gods were enraged, speaking over one another of how foolish it was to attempt such but for the first time, Anthuina stands her ground. She doesn't let any god tell her otherwise and after much struggle, they concede. Anything to make the goddess happy.

They begin planning, thinking of spots and things to do before they realise something, the humans had stopped their beatings and shouts of hatred. Instead, the humans had begun living the man, showering him with gifts and even built a hut for him. It was strange but there was nothing Anthuina could tell her husband-to-be. He was finally happy to be included. To be accepted into the family he had always wanted to be a part of.

Before long the wedding ceremony was upon them.