Akhill

Chapter Eight: MoonDay III

***

'Merry, Merry upon thy county oh Athena my child, Blessed by the gods, Summoned to greatness, The heart that sees and eye that speaks today, I hear the blessedness of the sun call to thy arrival. So write I this piece to let you know, the rain of Olympus blows in thy direction and the echoes of the ocean fall by thy knee… wishing you a birth-day song.' Athena read the old letter Zeus had sent to accompany a gift long before he gave up on seeking hope.

"My Lady, words have been sent to Lord Apollo. Knowing him he will be here before dusk tomorrow."

"True Caitlyn. Apollo is obsessed with literature " Athena stood and walked out of the room accompanied by Caitlyn through the passageway into the corridor leading to the Room of Quest and Children she watched over and to the left the Library of Athena; with walls bearing paintings and torches, leading to the entrance out into the arena.

"Is something bothering you? Athena." Caitlyn asked as she does as a friend, not as a Hermes.

"The usual, Caitlyn," They entered the arena. "The usual."

"What hold does Rook have over you."

"Careful Caitlyn, you know your head is at stake if Zeus hears you call him that within these walls."

"Still. He is but a tyrant yet he worries you this much."

"Sometimes Caitlyn, I also wonder why I didn't end him that day." She exhaled. "That eye had so much sorrow."

"Something I still don't understand."

"If you ever stood before Zeus, you will."

"Sometimes I don't understand you."

"Umph. Many feel that way but somehow Zeus understands my very silence on the first day." Athena stopped in the centre of the arena and looked up at the moon that stared bright and almost full. "I just want him to find the answer he seeks."

"My Lady." Caitlyn moved close to Athena who stared bleakly at the sky and looked into her eye. "Do you?"

"I wish it was that, Caitlyn. He is more like a child that needs a mother's embrace to me." Athena looked around and then walked towards a weapon.

"Really Athena. You are certain that is how you feel."

"Yea Caitlyn, my heart has never skipped in that manner whenever I think of Rook. It only drowns in prayer for him." Athena carried the weapon and dropped them in their safe while checking the bluntness of the sword.

"You know you can order the Hermes to do this." Caitlyn joined her.

"I know but many of them have either been training or working without rest through the day." She picked another and placed it where necessary. "See this as a night workout."

"You are a weirdo Athena."

"I kno—' They heard the falling, clanging and clashing of metals

***

"How can I make it up— Argh—" Athena and Caitlyn walked, following the sound of the clang and the consonant gasping. "What should ah do? He is bedridden because of me and con be a target of the challenge.— Argh!" Athena and Caitlyn moved closer to the voice they heard as it becomes clearer and clearer.

"Why is that girl still awake?" Caitlyn said in irritation.

"Every night after the battle. Five days now. She has been like that." Athena gave Caitlyn a reason."I believe within her is a range of conflict has to the boys to swear allegiance to her for reasons no one can explain." Athena gestured for Caitlyn to wait while She moved closer to Thetis.

"How? Was I, No He is a fool but why am I—Arghh!" Thetis struck the dummy with full strength, sending it rooted up into the distance.

"The hardest choices are most time the easiest to make, but the mind never wants to suspect easy," Athena said.

"My Lady." Thetis bowed like the Knight before their kings.

"If it's hurt this much. Why not just speak with him? He is quite a good listener." Athena teased and gestured her up. "You know he has a spot only for you within him." A word sounded like an arrow to the heart in Thetis' ears. Athena felt the weight of worry grow within Thetis. "That boy goes head over the hill for you, girl."

"Not so ma Lady," Thetis flushed, "He be hurt because of me. Why would you say that?" Athena chuckled, seeing the girl who everyone thought had no sure emotion.

"Still you can feel it."

"That my lady is a problem also. I don't want him to." Thetis regained her composure.

"Close your eyes Thetis."

"Uh" Thetis made a confused expression.

"Fear not my child. Just close them." Thetis did and exhaled heavily.

"What do you see now."

"Nothing." Athena closed her eyes also, calming every distraction from within her and around her.

"Every time I close my eye within the wall of Olympus," Athena moved her head to be profiled in Thetis's direction while her eye was still shot. "Time and again I remember the eyes no word could describe." Athena opened her eyes. "A boy I will to save but can not, for the answer eludes me." Athena closed her eyes again. "Thetis, try it. Don't just close them because I asked you to. Close them so you can see and hear better." Thetis breathed out and did as Athena told.

"What do you see?"

"Nothing my lady, Just I stream of darkness." Thetis exhaled. " No nothing. No light, no feeling. Just blackness."

"Exhale gently and let your ear hear the wind sing." Thetis relax and dropped her ever-high defence.

"Here your bow." Thetis collected it, while her eyes were still shot.

"Let your bow create a part with its arrow. Let it ease your—"

"No more," Thetis muttered, pulling back the bow-string, picturing an arrow in as light shone around her hand, stretching to form an arrow and tear crawled down her heart, wrapping around the arrow of light. "You won partner." She whispered, deafened to her surrounding even Lady Athena had faded, as she released the arrow that was too heavy to be lightly taken."I give up."

Athena smiled in her own space, searching for an answer to cure Mr Zeus. "A little bit more and I will handle the cure. A little —"

"You both need to return in lest you catch a cold."

"Boo you, Caitlyn." Athena opened her eyes and then placed her hand on Thetis's head. "You know Caitlyn is always grumpy?"

"I am n—"

*****

"I am not grumpy, I just can't help how my face looks."

"Ay, grumpy."

"Nay, do not blame me. Blame me mother for accepting gifts from me father."

"Yea Mr Nigel, let's blame your beautiful mama."

"You think I'm joking and everybody has to blame something for their ugliness, look at that." Mr Nigel pointed his spatula at one of his customers who looked aloof.

"Hey, that's me, uncle. He loves grandpa and grand-mama makes the night worship."

"Sure Mister, I can see it." Mr Nigel ogled while flipping the grilled fish.

"Mr Nigel, give me two of those and that egg."

"No egg today, Friday."

"Why?"

"Now my dear customer, that is an answer only the bird-gods can answer."

"What?"

"Here Missy, come again."

"I will—" The county centre bell rang.

"Is it time already."

"Not in the least, it must be—"

"Thetis." Mr Nigel and his customers said, with energy drained from them.

"That crazy pregnant woman." Mr Nigel continues.

"How long shall y'all sleep with a sword to thy throat." Her voice could be heard miles away.

"No one else can get away with hitting the bell,"

"Or speaking in such manner,"

"Except her."

"Even our best warriors cower at the sight of it."

"No fingers pointing, many became dust in that same cathedral. So I fear she will soon join the dus—" The bell rang again.

***

"How long shall you allow them forsook tyrant take ya freedom from ya, even ma soon to be born girl is more courageous than y'all old folks. You —"

"Thetis!" Mrs Nicole called, "get down from there, you crazy woman."

"Mrs Nicole, Are you here to join the protest."

"God no, I still want to live longer. My grandchildren are still young."

"Young. Mrs Nicole, the youngest of ya grand-babies is 15."

"So?"

"Jast stop the excuse and join me, old lady."

"Thetis, You are so young yet so eager to —"

"Mrs Nicole, I love ma life old lady because my dream needs me to be Alive."

"Dream, Dream, Dream. What you have, is a desire succi—argh— just get down from there—*cough* oh my voice." Mrs Nicole felt drained just talking to Thetis.

"Y'all Know I am right. Y'all has been here long before them tyrannical brothers arrived," Thetis struck the bell, "Y'all know what it was like before them brothers came and stole ya freedom." Thetis lean on the bell. "How long folks?"

"Oh come Thetis, stop creating a scene."

"A scene Mrs Nicole is what I need to get these cold feet folks to wake up."

Mrs Nicole look around to see if anyone even stopped to consider her scene creation enterprise but none. Everyone just walked away ignoring Thetis. "Thetis why not give—"

"Ya know Mrs, all I have is a dream hanged up beyond my reach. I have nothing to gi—" The child kicked hard Thetis held her womb to calm down.

"See, just come down already." Mrs Nicole said drained.

"But,"

"Please just come down." Mrs Nicole pleaded genuinely.

"Fine." Thetis came down the stairs through the cathedral then out to the location she kept her stand.

"How long has it been and no one seems to understand." Thetis sat and Mrs Nicole consoled her.

"They understand Thetis, Just like I do but we have lost so much in a short time. Our wounds are yet to heal to fight another battle."

"But—"

"A group that looks into the abyss with a smile only to return blank, found all the secret and was stripped bare of all they have not leaving a thing as misly as a pride." Mr Nicole picked the cup on the desk beside the numerous poster stack of the tyrant folks. "Be patient with th—"

"Don't drink that, it is a special gift." Thetis stopped Mrs Nicole from drinking it.

"A gift, you? From whom?" Mrs Nicole looked in disbelief. "No person in their right mind would gift you anything, not to say you are pregnant with another's child."

"What makes you think it is a man?" Mrs Nicole looked not convinced.

"Yea, it is so?"

"Nothing just sorry for the sick ma."

"Mrs Nicole, he is not sick and pregnancy is another phase of beauty you know." Thetis smiled, "Most men are blind to the beauty of the pregnant."

Mrs Nicole's disbelieving gaze morph into worry as she made eye contact with Thetis and then touched her head. "You don't look well."

"I am…" Thetis vision twirl.

"Ease now." Mrs Nicole held her up on her seat.

"How many months left."

"Less than—"

"Without fail fewer days than months, I believe." Thetis nodded in agreement.

"I should see the physician in—" Thetis felt the energy leave her as the cup she collect from Mrs Nicole fell and its content spilt out.

"You should be extra careful at your delica—" The spilt content of the cup caught Mrs Nicole's attention. She set Thetis back in a rested position the picked the cup up, accessing it.

"Thetis dear, why is this precious again."

"Because an orphan friend gave me."

"Orphan friend?"

"Yea, He works at, at, at. I cont remember but He is an orphan so that makes him special to me."

"How long have you known him."

"Uh, Three moons I think."

"And this gift came after you met him the second time, I believe?"

"Yea, Mrs Nicole, How did you, Is something wrong?"

"Not at all but you need to head home and summon the physician."

"Physician, why?"

"Don't fret. I need to be certain. Does your special friend have a name?"

"Troilus…"

*****

But a few hours to the day and the very arena of warriors has become the Carnival of literal art and culture, with everyone dressed to mirror a history of some sort or just a story engraving in the archives except the boy that pushed through the horde of literature lovers.

"Why is your hat pointy? Do you think you're Merlin?"

"Oh no, my ignorant friend. I am Dumbledore, principal of Hogwarts."

"Oh, where is your Phoenix?"

"She flew out earlier, did you not see her?"

"Ehn.."

"Don't bother your tiny brain."

"Wow, Hellen is that what I think?" She shrills

"Yes, it is."

"You say it is what I think it is." She wiggled her hand and prance on the tip of her toe like tippy-toes, I can not see you tippy-toes.

"Yes, Abby it is exactly that, sweetheart."

"It is really, really that, oh know my heart is about to stop."

"Mine already did long before yours." They shrilled at an ear-deafening level.

The boy pressed through the crowd not bothered by anything his environment has to offer, he walked like a man on a mission of search and rescue.

The fireworks went decorating the sky as smiles and the occasional heated clash rose, carried by the fragrance of the rosemary that sweetened the air from different stands of the array of literature showcases of both the children of Athena and the guests.

"That piece is wonderful. Is it an original?"

"No sir, I found it in the library. Authored by an anonymous Rook "

"Rook never heard of him."

"Anonymous has a meaning you know." She muttered, "But I think Athena knows him intimately, see."

"Really, how is that?"

"I hear she received the series of pieces from this Rook in person."

"Athena went one of those—"

The boy walked passed them with one hand to his side. "What is going on?" The inflow of people increased by the minute which made seeing the distance a hindrance.

"Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?*

"Your steps are too big for Juliet, Don't make old Shakespeare say eh."

"My apologies but—" The side of the stage fireworks catapulted and to the front facithe judges and lovers of the theatre as the fourth wall occasionally disappeared. The fragrance of the circling rosemary spoke loud on stage as it was carried by the wind to the gate that morphed its smile into that of the combatant with wooden strikes blow of the rose into turns of unconscious challengers.

"Please, out of the way." The boy said.

The lifting clang of the sword seem to pull the boy as he abandoned every other sighting and followed that sound. The closer he got the louder his heart raced and his brain scribbled like a child before his hero. "She is there." He paced up shoving some by-standers, swimming through them effortless until bumped into a man dressed in white, with a neck scarf of gold, brown curly well-permed hair and a well-built figure.

"How may I young one be of help." The man turned and looked at the boy Inquisitively through his satin grey eye and a well-carved face.

"Ahm" The man stretch forth his hand to help the boy up, his palm felt smooth and soft, yet with a presence that burns some much, the boy thought the sun's hand descended.

"Do tell my young friend did I by any notion offend you."

The boy stood on his feet and slowly bowed as his pain rippled through his being. "My apologies sire, I was without care for my environment."

"Why? Do tell."

"No reason of concern sire. Can I—" He bowed and started to walk away.

"Oh, how unethical of me. What do tell can I call you?"

"Thetis partner, Sire."

"Oh, you mean Peleus the lover of the nymph."

"Uh! Who is that?"

"Are you Athena's child?" The man charged his question.

"No sire. I am Mr Zeu—" The man pulled the boy's shirt with a time-stopping speed. "Wha, What are you— give it back." The boy moved to retrieve his shirt after looking round to see what passed but notice his shirt was off.

"Hmm, Zeus has a bad naming taste." He mumbled. "Who calls their child that." He moved his gaze from the print on the boy's body to look straight into his eye. "Should I give you a worthwhile name?"

"No sire. My allegiance will always be with Mr Zeus for her sake."

"Her? Who?" The man returned his shirt while accessing the boy's admiration for this 'her' he mentioned, the boy received it and wears it back then looked in the direction of the ring. "You mean her." The man teased.

"Yes, sire." The man studies him and noticed the line of deadness in his eye even though his face maintains a broad smile while looking at the girl that lay waste all her challengers. "I…hope" he muttered.

The man took his gaze and focused on the girl, as though to access her. "Zeus does have an eye for good materials. Maybe he is right to name you 'Her Partner'."

"No sire. It is 'Thetis Partner' not 'Her Partner', Don't mix them up."

"Yea, her name is—"

"Oi Apollo, when did you arrive," Athena said from behind. Apollo turned nodded to greet then hugged her, kissing her on the cheek.

"Not long."

"I will guess, you left your Hermes midway through travel again."

"It's not like I can not come on my own, Do I look crippled."

"But—"

"I know, I know. As Zeus wills." He courtesied mockingly.

"Meet my—" Apollo introduced the boy but his appearance faded into the distance and the girl he looked at from afar, had stepped down being hailed by those around without end. "Maybe another time." Athena looked at him lost.

***

"I challenge you." Thetis partner's eye fixated on her and didn't hear his challenger. "Eh! I challenge you." The challenger held him by the shoulder.

"Uh."

"I challenge you. Let us clash and spill here heart to appease the gods."

"Uh."

"Are you deaf oh Mr Thetis partner." The challenger raised his voice.

"Thetis, why did you. Did you harm her!" The boy reacted not to the challenge but 'a name'

"No, I challenge—"

"Nickel! you two-bit fool, leave him be here!"

"Uh. Pricilla."

"No way, I challenge him. If I defeat him. I defeat her yea."

"Defeat. Oh. I refuse." The boy finally gets a grasp of what is going on.

"You can not."

"Why?" The boy looked at Priscilla.

"Lady Athena said so."

"I refuse still. I have no intere—"

"I challenge you for the hand of Thetis?" Nickel shout without shame only desiring to fight the boy. The word caught Apollo's ears making him grin at the thought 'Inter-rest-ing, hmm' and Lady Athena who stood with Apollo scanned through for Thetis who was transfixed at the sight of the Boy with the thought that he might lose.

"Let the battle for this so-called Thetis. Whoever is defeated will never breathe the same air as her." Apollo spoke for all to hear as he approached the platform to act as the anchor.

"Are you sure have that right? Over Zeus' children?" Lady Athena asked through her glare.

"The four winds of Olympus agree that I, Apollo as that right big sister," Apollo replied also through his gaze.

"Suit your block-headedness. Just don't let your youth deceive you."

"Ah. Let me cherish." Apollo reply. Their discussion went back and forth in an instant no one noticed. "So. You plush-ears, I am Apollo." He raised his voice. "Whoever defeats his challenger, I will knight as the one worthy to be by her side and Zeus won't be able to go against my seal." He looked in Lady Athena's direction, "Do you bear witness Athena."

"Yea."

"So the challenger and the challenged. Do you conceit?" The boy with speed the average eye couldn't follow and with no expression on his face blazed to the platform.

"Oh. She is that weighty ehn." Apollo teased but the boy did bat an eye in response, looking at his challenger; Nickel who loved the attention that comes from the clash of the sword and cared less about Thetis and more about defeating her, walked up the platform.

"What are the rules?" Thetis partner looked at Apollo with a dead smile.

"Rules who needs the one who is alive wins" Nickel steered the crown with his charismatic poses.

"Are you certain?" Thetis partner looked straight into Nickel's soul as his kill intent rose to the occasion.

"Nay! Apollo, Not one of my children will die today, Boy revert that intent." Lady Athena spoke from where she sat, attending to other matters. The boy obeyed and his expressionless face was replaced with an emotionless smile.

"A pity folks not death to succour us today. So who even surrenders wins? Keep your weapons." Apollo instructed.

Nickel held up his sheathed sword, ready for battle.

"And you boy?" Apollo turned to Thetis's partner.

"If I do, he will definitely die today." Thetis partner expressionlessly.

"So no weapon?"

"Yea my Lord."

Apollo looked at the boy curiously. "Well, it might as well be your death boy." Apollo lifted his white scarf, as a symbol that he curated the terms and then released it.

Nickel stared at the boy and the falling scarf wanting for it to touch the ground and he can attack but the boy stood expressionlessly staring at him not minding the falling scarf. The scarf a tad lighter than air, gradually descended and three, two, whoosh was the streak that blazed through the platform stealing away the voice of the onlookers.

"Nickel, don't ever." The boy placed his hand on his shoulder of Nickel and whispered into his ear and worked off the platform to approach the thesis, leaving Nickel transfixed and without room to react.

"Was he that strong?" One of the onlookers said.

"No, but mention Thetis and even Lady Athena may break little sweat." The three lads who fought the Boy answered.

"Uhm, Well, anyone else?" Apollo in awe cleared his throat and announced the shocking defeat and the pin-drop silence. "Is Zeus aiming to birth another Hera?" He muttered.

"Did the east not get a sealed letter from Central." Lady Athena walked on the platform and stood beside Apollo.

"We did and have sent our response," Apollo breathe out, "what type of Emergence is Zeus planning."

"Argh," Lady Athena breathe out as she thought about Zeus. "And your promise to the victor."

"Yea, where is—" Apollo looked round to find the boy, who talked to Thetis and his wounds opened and bled.

***

"Please do not push me away, lest my dream falls never to revive." The boy's sight blurry and energy draining but he was with care. "I want nothing more than to see this smile not leave you. Nothing mor—" The boy jerked, "please let me protec…" The boy's legs could not carry as he fell face flat and his dust rose to caress the girl's expression as she stared at him fell, not sure how to react.

"A word or an emotional could have helped Thetis," Lady said approaching Thetis.

"Oh, So you are the nymph he trades his life for."

"Apollo, read the mood."

"Mood wha—" Lady Athena elbowed him. "Fine. I need him in the chamber of coals to complete the ritual."

"Be careful, he is yet to come to full recovery."

"Little hot metal won't kill a determined fly."

"Hermes' move him gently." Two random Hermes' came at the beckon to move the boy while Thetis stood still not sure what to make of what is going on.

"Walk with me Thetis." Lady Athena touches Thetis by the shoulder gently. Thetis still not find words followed by speaking, leaving Apollo to do what Apollo does; Looking into the eye of the constellation, carving out wisdom in every sector of the earth and shining bright making the folks jealous of his beauty.

"A Peleus indeed."