Chapter 6:

“What are we doing on Olympus, grandmother?” Helia questioned when she, her grandmother, and aunt Tethys stood in front of an immaculate golden and marbled building. This was Helia’s first time physically being on Olympus, but she knew exactly where she was from the tales that her grandmother and aunt had told her.

“Well, sweetheart, this will be your new home,” answered Rhea as if she didn’t just drop a bomb on Helia.

“What?! I don’t want to live here. I want to stay with you!”

“I know, sweetheart, but your aunt Tethys and I believe it is time for you to live somewhere else and learn more than what we can offer you. You know the basics of Olympus and the other realms, but it would be much better for you to live here. You are, after all, a goddess, not a titan.”

“What if no one will like me? What if no one would want me? Why would you bring me here? Did I do something wrong to upset you?” came Helia’s sad questions.

Helia was nervous, for she had never been around any other gods, only titans, and was afraid that she will be ridiculed for not being raised on Olympus like the other godlings: that and the fact that she had no mother or father. She had always had an aching in her heart because of that known fact. Her grandmother and aunt tried to reassure her with all the love and attention they paid to her, but it still didn’t help that her own parents did not want her. So, why should the Olympians be any different?

“Helia, sweetheart, look at me,” Tethys waited for the little godling to comply before she continued, “you did nothing wrong, and this is not a punishment. I know you think that the Olympians won’t accept you, but they will.” Before the godling could interrupt her, she gently rose her hand to cut off the protest, ready to abrupt from Helia’s mouth.

“Listen, they will love you because we love you. You just continue to be this courageous, outspoken, intelligent being, and you will have every Olympian, god, and goddess eating out of your little hands,” laughed Tethys trying to lighten the damp mood.

Helia was still nervous and unsure, but she knew she didn’t have a choice in the matter anymore. So, she got her nerves under control, and she put on her brave face and looked Rhea and Tethys in the eyes, and stated, “I’m ready.”

***

“Is there anything more that needs to be discussed before we are dismissed for the day?” questioned the King, but before anyone could reply, the golden doors to the throne room opened, revealing their mother, Rhea.

Rhea walked in with all the confidence that she exuded without even trying. She wore her dark brown tresses down with the sides pinned to the back. Her hazel green eyes that both Poseidon and Hera inherited were bright and captivating.

“Mother, to what do we owe this surprise visit?” asked Zeus, shocked by his mother’s unexpected visit.

“Well, my dear son, I decided to stop by to see my children since they no longer visit me,” she replied with a pointed look to which all her children blushed with embarrassment and avoided further eye contact.

“I am sorry, mother, it is just that things have been so….”

“Oh, shut it, Poseidon, I just wanted to see you all squirm with guilt. Contrary to belief, I have actually been quite busy myself the past few years.”

“With what, mother?” Hestia questioned. Out of all her siblings, being the eldest, she felt the guiltiest in having stopped visiting her mother. At times, their mother was the only person to truly understand her when her younger siblings did not.

“The real reason I am here is that I have a proposition for you, Hera,” Rhea stated as she focused on her youngest daughter.

“Me? What can I do for you, mother?” she queried. Truth be told, she felt uneasy about what her mother could want from her but had to remain neutral to not draw suspicion to herself.

“Well, I have been raising a godling for the past four and a half years. Even with Tethys’ help, we believe it is time for her to be amongst her own kind since she is not a titan but a goddess. We have trained her and taught her everything that she is knowledgeable to up until now, but I believe she would be a fine resident of Olympus with your guidance.”

“Wait, mother, you actually want Hera to raise another child?” Zeus laughed, not believing what he was hearing. “Don’t you think her track record would disqualify her from such a thing?”

“And do pray tell my son, what does your track record say of yourself?” she countered, which caused some gods, mainly his siblings, to giggle and others to smirk at how quickly the King was able to be shamed.

“Now, as I was saying, yes, I want Hera to take over care of the child.”

“Mother, I am not sure if you would want me to raise the child. Though I hate to admit it, Zeus is….”

“Are you not the Goddess of Motherhood?” Rhea interrupted at seeing her daughter’s nervousness. Rhea hated that Zeus had reduced Hera to be a ghost of who she once was, of who she could be. Rhea knew Helia would be the one to bring out the Hera, who was yet again confident and excited about life, one who knew what she wanted and went for it with no fear.

“Well, yes, but….”

“Are you not the Goddess of Family?” Rhea demanded.

“Yes, mother, of course, I was just….”

“Well, then you are the perfect candidate to care for her unless anyone here objects to my request.” As Rhea looked around, she saw many gods and goddesses tried to look the other way or even look down at the floor. She noticed that others, including her own children, looked terrified at the thought of even objecting to her.

“Alright,” Rhea said with a smile, “since we have that out of the way, Tethys, you may bring her in now,” she called over her shoulder.

In the few short seconds of everyone’s immortal lives that they waited for, it felt like an eternity to them to see who was behind the doors. Many of the gods and goddesses alike were hanging off the edge of their seats; others were simply intrigued but did not want to show it, calmly waited to see said mystery godling that had been raised by the two titanesses. The doors opened once again, but this time, however, in walked one of the most captivating godlings that had ever graced Olympus holding the hand of Tethys. She had unruly, curly hair, the shade of the pits of Tartarus and eyes the color of the Titaness before them, and light freckles dusting her nose and cheeks. Though she did not show them, there were signs of dimples that would grace her face. She walked with such grace and self-confidence that it should not be possible for someone to have acquired at her age. She commanded the attention of all those present without even giving eye contact; she held her head up high and showed no signs of fear.

Letting go of her aunt’s hand when they reached her grandmother, Helia continued to walk until she stopped just shy of the stairs that led to the fourteen Olympians’ thrones and kneeled before them.

It took everything in Hades’ power to not rush to her side and bring her to her feet, but he knew that it would not be a good idea for him to do so, for surely questions would arise concerning his sudden behavior towards the godling before them. So, instead, he sat there with a face of indifference and let the setting play out before him.

Hera, though, seemed to be frozen in her seat, unable to move just yet. She could not believe her eyes; there in front of her was her daughter, their daughter. She couldn’t believe it even though the proof kneeled before her. After she collected herself, she rose with the gracefulness that only she possessed and slowly descended down the stairs to the godling kneeling before them.

As she made the final step, she kneeled before the child and gently took her by the chin and said, “Rise, child.”