Chapter 11:

Apollo could be seen in his chariot, bringing forth the sun. The sun’s rays threaten to break through the curtains’ cracks in Helia’s room, awakening Hera. She groaned for she was not a morning person, but when Hera tried to move her body to avoid the sun and get comfortable, she noticed the extra weight keeping her in place. She was slightly alarmed by the intruder’s presence, but when she looked down to get a glance at them, she could not help the smile that graced her lips looking down at her daughter.

*knock knock*

Hera turned her head towards the door where the noise had come from and saw her personal handmaiden Iris peek her head in.

“My Lady, I came to wake you up for the day.” Before Hera could reply, she heard a groan from the child tucked into her side, and she could not help the small chuckle that came out. ‘It seems she has taken after me when it comes to mornings,’ she thought to herself.

“Please, Hera, five more minutes, I’m not ready to get up,” grumbled the young goddess.

“Iris, would you please come back in ten minutes? We should be more awake by that time,” Hera gently ordered.

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty, as you wish.”

Helia was confused about why Hera did not force her to get up and why she asked for an extra ten minutes instead of five. “I only asked for five minutes Hera, why did you tell her ten?”

“Because little one, truth be told, I’m not a morning person either, and I am also too comfortable to get up just yet,” she answered.

“Really? I didn’t know that about you.”

Hera laughed before she replied, “Not too many people do, so I need you to keep it secret, okay?”

“Of course, I won’t tell a soul.”

“Thank you.” They laid in comfortable silence for a few minutes more when Helia broke through the silence though she did not want to. She found herself being pulled closer to sleep as Hera had absentmindedly began running her fingers through Helia’s curly hair.

“Um, Hera?”

“Umm-hmm.”

“Thank you.”

“Why would you be thanking me?” Hera asked as she paused her movements of combing her fingers through her daughter’s hair.

“For allowing me into your home and treating me kindly, also, for staying the night with me,” she ended the last part in a whisper.

“Sweetheart, you are always welcomed here. This is your home too now, and any time you need me, do not hesitate, whether it is to talk, vent or because you are afraid; I will be here for you, always. Besides, I am the one who should be thanking you.”

“Why would you thank me? I haven’t done anything.”

“Because you did not do what others have done for so long, which is judge me without even knowing me.”

“Grandmother Rhea and aunt Tethys always taught me to never judge a book by its cover because the cover does not tell the entirety of the plot alone. Besides, you are just like me.”

“How so?”

“You are still an individual, and you were a goddess before anything else.”

“You are very wise for such a young goddess of your age. I am very impressed.”

“That’s what grandmother tells me all the time.”

“Helia, why do you call Rhea your grandmother and Tethys, your aunt?” Hera wanted to know how Helia had come to address them as such since they indeed were her grandmother and aunt. She knew her mother and aunt would never directly tell Helia the truth, but she wondered if possible that Helia may have overheard a conversation between the two titanesses.

“I don’t know, one day I just started calling them that, and it somehow felt right. I’m sure I shocked them if their expressions were anything to go by, but since they never corrected me about it and seem to enjoy it, I just continued to address them that way.”

*knock knock*

“Your Highness, it has been ten minutes.”

“Thank you, Iris. We will be out soon to start our day.”

“Of course,” she replied before leaving out of the room once again, waiting by the door while the Queen and little goddess got ready in case her assistance was needed.

“Well, little one, it would seem as though our time for us to start our day has come. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready if you are,” came the excited reply from the godling, ready to start her full first day on Olympus and especially for her battle training with Ares and Athena, hopefully, Hera as well, later on.

“Let us get up and start the daily routine.”

“Yes! I’m so excited!” yelled Helia as she jumped on the bed, letting her excitement get the best of her.

Hera could do nothing but laugh at her child and the antics she displayed, clearly excited for the day.