I have less than 5% battery left and I definitely should not be on my computer right now but I wrote over half of this in the last hour so here you go

Leto. The titaness of motherhood, born to Coeus and Phoebe. Mother of the twin Olympians Apollo and Artemis. Her tale was a tragic one. While pregnant with Zeus's children, she was cursed by his wife Hera.

Leto's curse was to be unable to give birth on solid land. She travelled far and wide, searching for kind souls willing to take her in and help her. But none did, for they were terrified of Hera's wrath.

One of Leto's most daunting trials while pregnant was her stand against Python. She had gone to the Oracle of Delphi, searching for her mother's help, but found the ruthless snake instead.

But that's a tale for another time.

Leto eventually found her way to the island of Delos, asking it to help her.

Prophecies and curses take advantage of loopholes. Delos was one such loophole. With the help of goddesses such as Hestia and Eileithyia, the titaness gave birth to twins: Apollo and Artemis.

• • •

Perseus watched from the sea as the twin godlings chased each other, laughing. He watched as the small family of three was called to the throne room of Olympus to meet with their father.

He watched as the three of them came back, the twins carrying bows that were nearly the same size as them, and their mother carefully watching them as they walked towards their small hut nestled in the trees. Apollo stumbled, tripping over the bow that he struggled to handle. When he regained his balance, he paused, as if listening to something.

Then he turned his head and locked eyes with Perseus. The two of them stared in silence for what seemed to be an eternity.

Perseus had watched civilizations rise and fall in the millennia leading up to that point, but staring at the bastard son of Zeus, it all felt infinitesimal in comparison. Apollo had a gravity to him that only came with being the newly declared god of the sun.

And then he looked away and whatever was happening between the two of them broke. Apollo barely moved for a few moments more, just standing and blinking into the distance.

"Apollo!"

Leto's voice seemed to jumpstart the young god, and he jumped before stumbling towards his mother's voice.

• • •

"I'm telling the truth!" Apollo yelled at his mother. "I saw a man in the ocean, watching us!"

Leto sighed, putting her hands on her son's shoulders. "Apollo, there are many sea gods, and we live on an island. It would not be unusual for one of them to come to see us."

"So we are reduced to an attraction?" Artemis asked at her mother's side with her nose scrunched up. "A source of entertainment, 'come see the newest bastards of Zeus!'"

"Do not call yourself a bastard, Artemis," Leto amonished. "You are the daughter of Zeus and a child of the sky."

"The daughter," Artemis huffed. "What about Athena? What about his demigod daughters?"

"Zeus has no demigod daughters."

"Of course he does. With the sheer number of women he impregnates, there is bound to be at least a few."

Leto raised her eyebrows. "Well, if there are, I have not heard of her."

"That's because the female demigods are never declared heroes," Artemis hissed. "There are no tales of female demigods that have bested monsters or dared defy the gods."

"Maybe you can lead the first," Leto said, softening. "The patron goddess of young girls, guiding them on their journeys."

Artemis paused. "Maybe."

Apollo raised his eyebrows. During their quick argument, the two had forgotten him. Both of them had turned to face each other and neither one of them was paying any attention to him.

He coughed before opening his mouth. "So, about the god I saw in the sea—"

"There is no need to worry about that," Leto interrupted. "Many of the sea gods are calm until provoked. Don't do anything to warrant their anger, and we will stay safe on Delos."

So Apollo didn't warrant their anger. He sat on the beach and watched to ocean, trying to catch a glimpse of the god that had lurked in the water, but he could not find him. But it was not long before his sister saw the nameless god. And only then did he convince himself that the mysterious god was real.

• • •

"I saw him" was the first thing that Artemis uttered as she bounded in through the door of their little hut.

"Saw who?"

"That sea god," Artemis said as she propped her bow near the door. "He was sitting on the beach."

Apollo tilted his head. "Did he say anything to you?"

"Yes, he complimented my form."

"Your form?"

"With a bow."

"Ah."

Artemis slid to the floor next to her bow and leaned against the wall of the hut. "He told me he admired my passion."

Leto frowned from where she was listening in. "Was he... flirting with you?"

"No, I don't think so." Artemis frowned. "Although, I am probably not the best gauge of whether someone is flirting with me. He just seemed... curious."

"A godly admirer?" Apollo asked, giving Artemis a knowing look. "Have you found a husband already Arty?"

"I will have you know that I have no intention of marrying," Artemis sniffed. "And I don't think he... thinks of me that way."

"You can never truly tell with gods," Leto murmured. "But do be careful around him. I don't entirely trust him."

• • •

When Leto walked to the beach, she found the god right where Artemis said he would be. Nestled up against a tree, and watching the waves from the shade.

"I was wondering when you would come, Leto," He said, not looking at the titaness. "Of course you would want to see who your children have seen on your island."

"Who are you?" Leto asked, still a good distance away from the man. "Why are you on my island?"

The man smiled and patted the ground next to him. "Come," He said, "sit with me, and maybe I can fill in the blanks for you."

And so Leto sat. She wasn't stupid, she knew that this god could easily attack her or hurt her or take advantage of her. But there was just something about him, something that gave off an aura of welcome. Again, Leto wasn't stupid. She also knew that godly auras could influence the area around them to the god's domain.

"Why are you watching my children?"

He smiled. "Questions, they are a never-ending torrent. But I will answer some for you. I am on your island because I am watching your children, and I am watching your children because they will do great things one day."

"Of course they will," Leto said, confused. "Zeus is their father."

"You are blinded by your affection for Zeus." The god said. "Your children will do great things because you are their mother."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Well, your son will take after your mother, Phoebe. Your daughter will protect and save many, many girls and women. And that's just the very tip of the iceberg. Your children are powerful because they're your children."

"That still doesn't fully explain why you are watching them, talking to them."

"Because I want to help them become even better. They are powerful, yes, but with my guidance, they could overthrow Zeus himself if they so desired. All I ask from you is your permission to teach and guide them."

"And why should I give it to you?"

"Prota are very powerful deities. I think your children will do well having one of the Trinity of Prota as their teacher."

OK I THINK I SHOULD EXPLAIN THE TITLE. Its from 'Hades' in the album Ulysses Dies at Dawn by The Mechanisms, which is this... folk/alternative/rock(ish?)/storytelling cabaret band and they are super awesome and you should go listen to them.

Marius von Raum (Kofi Young) is one of the band members and they play violin. And in the lore, Marius is a doctor but he never went to med school so yeah. (Kofi Young = they/them, Marius von Raum = he/him)

SEE YA LATER

Published: Jul. 8, 2022