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Chapter 1 A muse returns
Narissa was making a sacrifice in the early hours of the morning to Artemis, who had given her a bountiful hunt that morning. She was aware that something was going to happen today.
She was the one of the few mortals who actually had seen and talked to the gods and goddess. She was favored by most of them, with the exception of Aphrodite, who her sisters worshiped. She refused to be a slave to a ‘goddess with no values or pride’, and had turned to the two virgin goddesses and the goddess of marriage and childbirth. She had made no pledge to stay a virgin, but had made the pledge that she would not sleep with a man unless they were bound with marriage.
Narissa was a young beautiful woman, with dark brown hair that was tied back and kept long; she had dark brown eyes as well. She would be eighteen in only a few days, her parents had thought of throwing her a big party, but she had declined, saying that she did not have many friends, and there would be no point.
She was excited that her brother and niece would be coming to visit soon though. Her brother’s wife had died giving birth to Cassandra, but he did not blame the gods, after all he knew that she was in a better place.
“Oh thank you, Artemis for the meal you have brought to me.” Narissa bowed her head, but then she heard a crash behind her.
“After her, she just went into the temple!”
Narissa turned, she saw a young girl, about her age, but she didn’t look like a normal girl. She was dressed in funny cloths, not the ones that Narissa wore, but ones that were odd. The girl, who later Narissa would find out was Eclypsia, had dark black hair and violet eyes, she was fair skinned, and wore a fabric that Narissa had never seen.
“Hey, um, can you help me?” The girl asked.
“Why are you here, why are those men after you?” Narissa asked.
“Uh, can we skip the twenty questions; I need some place to hide.”
“Twenty questions?” Narissa was confused.
“Narissa, help the girl.” Artemis told her. “She is a friend.”
“Yes, of course.” Narissa replied, she took a cloak from her bag. “I was making this for an offering for Athena, but I don’t think she’ll mind if you wear it.”
“Thanks. Uh how do you put this on?”
Narissa stifled her laugh, and helped the young girl; she led her quietly out of the temple, and into her own house, which was not that far from the temples.
“So why were those men chasing you? The guards don’t normally go chasing young women.”
“How the Hades should I know?” The girl asked. “Oops, sorry, I guess I shouldn’t have said that. I’m Eclypsia.”
“I’m Narissa, nice to meet you, Eclypsia, so what brings you to Greece?”
“Greece? So this is where the lady drops me off, uh?” She looked up towards the sky. “Thanks, grandma!”
“Grandma, who are you talking to?” Narissa questioned.
“Oh, uh, my grand mother, she lives uh close by.” Eclypsia replied. “So this is Ancient Greece, I’ve read about it in my text books at school.”
“Texts books? Ancient Greece, are you sure you are alright, Eclypsia.” Narissa was very confused by now, and didn’t know whether to call the guards or let the young girl stay.
“Oh, I keep forgetting. You see…”
A bright light made both girls shield their eyes. Hera smiled at them.
“Gosh, don’t you think you could warn us, or something.” Eclypsia muttered.
“Now is that any way to talk to your grandmother, Eclypsia.” Hera replied. “My you’ve grown so much since you were a baby.”
“Yeah, yeah, so what’s the deal?”
Narissa scratched her head; she was getting more and more confused by the second, after all Hera didn’t visit very often.
“Eighteen years, and still they didn’t teach you how to respect your elders.” Hera muttered to herself. “Well, I see you’ve met our close friend.”
“Uh, yeah in Artemis’ temple,” Eclypsia shuffled her feet. “Sorry about earlier, its just this is very weird, to be forced from my old home, back into the one I barely remember since I was only two days old.”
“Um, excuse me, confused mortal over here, a little help, please.” Narissa smiled.
“Oh yes, sorry about that, Narissa, I meant to tell you, but it was hard to get away. Eclypsia is a muse.”
“A muse, but how?”
“I am the daughter of Hephaestus and Mnemosyne; um it’s kind of complicated. So any ways, when can I meet my parents?”
“Soon dear, your grandfather is throwing a big event for your return.”
“But he still doesn’t know whose daughter I am, does he?”
Hera laughed. “He doesn’t have a clue. Any ways, you will be staying with Narissa for a few days.”
“But what about my clothes and my instruments,” Eclypsia asked.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Athena suddenly showed up. “Narissa this is for you.”
Narissa took the orb, and suddenly felt strange, she looked at Athena.
“It’s called jeans, it’s so you can make more comfortable clothes for Eclypsia, and we want her to be comfortable here.” Athena smiled at her.
“Thank Athena, you’re the best.” Eclypsia hugged the goddess, Narissa just looked shocked.
Athena hugged her back, which surprised Narissa even more. Athena grabbed Narissa and pulled her into the embrace.
“Uh….” Narissa felt kind of strange.
Athena let her and Eclypsia go. “I should hug people more often.”
Hera smiled. “Well, we’ll leave you two alone to get to know each other.”
“Um, grandma,”
“Yes Eclypsia, what is it that you need?”
“Am I suppose to call you Hera, grandma, grand mother, what?”
“Grand mother will do fine, my dear.” Hera smiled at her, and then both goddesses left.
“Well this is going to be exciting.” Narissa spoke. “I’ve never made jeans before, is that what you are wearing, those things around your legs?”
“Oh um, yeah, I guess you wouldn’t know would you, jeans haven’t been invented yet. Neither has the bath tub?”
“Uh, bath, I normally take one in the spring, or bring in water from the well.” Narissa sat at her loom. “But you must be tired; there is a room in the back for you to sleep in.”
“Thanks, Narissa.”
“Your welcome, I’ve never shared a house with a muse before. They are normally with Apollo.”
“Apollo,” Eclypsia asked. “Oh yes, the god of music, do I have to?”
“Have to what?” Narissa turned to face her.
“Be well with him.”
“I’m not sure, does that worry you?”
Eclypsia laughed. “I am not scared of Apollo, if that’s what you’re asking, I’m just not, and well he ain’t my favorite god, that’s all.”
Narissa couldn’t help but giggle a little. “Ahh then you are one of a few who won’t find him dashing and handsome
 Darkened_Queen_Of_Hearts · Wed Apr 02, 2008 @ 07:59pm · 0 Comments |
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