Chapter Text
Over 2 thousand years ago on a full moons night a baby was born with sea green eyes with a hint of silver in them. A mistake of the sea and the moon, a secret kept hidden until it was too late to take back. An baby abandoned by its mother and father for fear of what would happen to them if word got back to Olympus. This is the story of Perseus, son of the Moon and sea. God of Loyalty, swordsmanship, the tides, and minor god of the hunt.
The night was cold, and the trees stilled as if the forest itself was sad. In a small clearing was a young women hooded and her features hidden. She was carrying a babe in her arms, the baby had nuzzled into her chest, seemingly enjoying his mothers heart beat and warmth, while the women cried silent tears. The women while covered seemed to emit a silver glow radiating off her in the moonlight, while the babe in her arms seemed to emit a sliver sea green glow while enjoying himself in the presence of his mother. The women when finally reaching the clearing placed the babe down into a basket, the baby it seemed had awaken due to being placed into the basket, the baby looked up at his mother, his eyes sea green with hints of silver in the iris. The baby looking up at his mother started to cry and instinctively reached for her, all you could hear was her saying, "I'm sorry little one," and with this a figure appeared in the clearing coming up to the women, the figure walked with elegance and grace seemingly regal. Once she reached the babe, she reached down and picked him up and soothed him back to sleep. The figure looked down and said, "I am sorry sweetheart, I know this hurts but it is for the best, he will grow up protected until he can come back to you strong enough to stand on his own". The women still crying looked up at the figure and said "It doesn't make this any easier, but please let him know I love him, even though I cannot see him for while, I will do anything to have him back again in my arms". With one final plea from the child the women stood up, kissed him on his forehead and proceed to recede back into the forest, seemingly disappearing back into the darkness. All the while the figure with child in arm, walked back into her home on the island of Delos. Once back inside the figure took off her cloak, and put the baby down inside a bassinet, the bassinet was colored silver while the blankets itself was a blue ocean look. Once the baby was put down and rocked back to sleep. The women now reveled, was shown to have golden hair which seemed to shine even in the moonlight and wearing a white sundress. The women walked over to the baby, and soothed him by singing him a song in Ancient Greek. Once finished with the song, the women looked over the young child and said, "Such a sweet child, I am sorry little one that you will have a tough life here. But I promise I will protect you and love you as if you were my own. Goodnight sweet Perseus"
10 year time jump /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Ten Years have passed since that fateful night in the clearing, young Perseus has grown into a fine young man on the island of Delos. He loves to explore the forests and run around during the night, he also has found a deep love of the sea, always fantasizing of why it seems to be calling him. He stares at the setting sun of Apollo, watching it slowly dip into the horizon lighting up the sea before Artemis's moon starts her journey across the night sky. He loved watching the moon, he felt so full of energy and happiness watching the moon race across the sky. He also felt a since of longing when he final saw the moon. He told his Grandmother about this but she only told him that she would explain everything when the time was right. Perseus while annoyed at not getting the answers he wanted to hear, decided that it was best not to push any further and to accept that when the time came, the answers will come as well. He could never have realized how close he was to finding out the truth.
Artemis POV:
After a long day of hunting down some cyclopes, I see a signal, my father has called for an emergency council meeting. I only wonder what issue my father my being having now to call a meeting. I sigh and start walking towards my hunters when suddenly Hermes comes flying in.
"Artemis, Father is summoning you. He's not happy"
"When is he ever truly happy"
"Artemis, this is serious. Apollo has seen something and he has questions for you as well as the council"
"Hermes, what has happened? What has transpired that requires my immediate attention away from my hunt?"
"Artemis.... they know of him"
"...."
"I knew this day would eventually come, I just thought he wouldn't have to know so soon, and at such a young age"
"I feel for you I do, now while I would love to get into that right now, you know how impatient our father is and he wants to speak with you"
"Fine, let me tell my hunters first and then I'll be right with you"
"Okay, make it quick"
"Girls!"
"I must leave for a meeting on Olympus, I'm not sure when Ill be back so make camp, check on the injured and be safe. I'll be back as soon as I can"
With the feeling of dread and regret building up in my stomach, I feel fear for what is to come and for... for my son. My poor baby boy who was innocent in this whole mess, he didn't ask to be born but was born anyway. I hate myself for having to leave him all this time but I feared that he would be killed or worse used against me if he was found. I cant imagine how hurt he will feel knowing his own mother left him cause she was afraid, An Olympian Goddess, afraid. But now I must try and right my wrongs and hopefully he'll forgive me, I can only pray he will.
Location: Mount Olympus Throne Room (Third Person POV)
The sky's darken in Zeus's rage, his daughter a sworn maiden, had a secret child. His rage was felt in the mortal world as the sky's below Olympus darkened. Thunder and Lightning danced across the sky, marking his historic anger. As all the council members arrived, they waited nervously for the last of the council to join them. As Artemis flashed in and sat upon her throne she looked up and saw her fathers face, it was a furious look, but it also seemed to have a show of regret and a sign of disappointment in it as well.
"Artemis" Zeus says
"Father" Artemis replies
"Pray tell me daughter, why is it that I sense a new god?"
"I'm not sure what you mean father, I haven't sensed a new gods birth in ages"
"Artemis, please tell me why when I went to visit our dear mother I found her with a small child, who smelled like the sea but had similar aura to you as well?"
Artemis after hearing this looks over at Poseidon and he looks sadly at her but nods in acceptance.
"Fine, I guess its time to tell the story"
"What story?" asked Zeus
"The story of my regret, on this night ten years prior.... I gave birth to a baby boy"
After hearing this the council erupted from cries of anger to those of disbelief. Artemis looked over at her brother and he had a face of pure sadness on him. Why would he of all gods look sad after hearing this, shouldn't he be angry at her. Angry for breaking her oath? Angry for not knowing his nephew? or even angry at her for not even telling him at all. She then looked over at Zeus, his face she had the hardest time reading, she couldn't tell if he was angry or sad, happy or just in pure shock at what she had told them all. After she looked over at Poseidon, who while also seeming looked happy but also scared, she knew he loved his children, all of his children no matter if they were cyclops, demigod, or even god. The love he had for his children were known far and wide. And finally she looked over at her Aunt Hestia, who had given up her seat on the council to Dionysus in order to keep the peace. She looked at her aunt and for a second couldn't believe what she saw, Hestia was smiling at her, she wondered why she wasn't angry. Hestia herself was also a sworn maiden and as such at sworn off the company or men but her aunt seemed to be happy for her which confused her even more. Finally Artemis snapped back to reality when her father finally called her name.
"Artemis.... tell me honestly. Why did you keep this from us? We are your family and no matter what we deserved to know of this, not for you to hide this away from us." Zeus says
Artemis looked down at her hands, feeling the tears forming in her eyes before Apollo finally spoke up.
"Arty why didn't you tell us please, we deserve a right to know"
"I was scarred"
Looks of confusion rang around the room
"Daughter, why were you scarred? Were you forced into having the child?"
"No but I broke my oath and I was scarred what that might do to the....my son" Artemis said almost crying
Silence stilled in the Throne room, when finally the Goddess of the Hearth, Hestia, walked up to Artemis's throne and held her as she cried.
Zeus seeing his daughter crying, realized how scared she must have truly been. But a question rang through his mind. Why was she afraid, he understood her oath was to swear off men and sexual relations but if his daughter, his little girl decided that she wanted to have a child, a relationship, a husband. He'd move heaven and earth to make it happen for her. (I know surprising but this is my story so deal with it) Zeus finally spoke up and asked Artemis who the father was. Artemis seemed to still be crying when Poseidon spoke up.
"I am brother, it was an accident"
"Brother, what accident could cause Artemis to break her oath and for you to sire a child with her"
"It was a regretful night which I will not go into details but I will say I never forced Artemis into this, the child himself while being a mistake I do not regret, I love him and have since I sensed him all those years ago"
Apollo looking at his sister with tears in her eyes, walked over and hugged her. While he wasn't happy about the situation and the complications that this presented, he did not like seeing his sister like this. He had never seen her like this, she was always strong and independent, brave and intelligent, and while she hated him calling her little sis, he knew that he loved his sister and would help her no matter what. Apollo finally broke the hug and look at his twin, her silver eyes now puffy from crying and tears marking her cheeks. He asked once again.
"Artemis, why were you so scarred? if it wasn't cause it was forced on you or you broke your oath, then what were you afraid of?"
Artemis looked around the room, all the gods present except for Dionysus and Hera looked at her with sympathy. She finally spoke up.
"I was scarred that if he was found out he would be killed, I was scarred that even though he was your nephew" She then turned her head towards her father. "And your Grandson, that you would see him as nothing more then a mistake, something wrong with the world that would need to be removed, I was scarred that he would be punished for the mistake of being born"
After saying this, she started to tear up again, Apollo seeing this proceeded to hug her again, her father opened his mouth to say something when Hera interrupted.
"Of course he's a mistake, he's a bastard of the sea and the moon, he shouldn't be allowed to live let alone walk this earth. I say we kill him before he can cause any issues"
All the gods except Dionysus who lets be honest was either drinking or sleep at this point, all the gods looked at Hera with disgust in their eyes, Zeus finally spoke up.
"Hera, the child didn't ask to be born, but that doesn't give you the right to kill him because of him being as you called a 'mistake' "
Hera looking around the room and seeing all the gods against her decided this argument was lost and decided to sit back upon her Throne. Zeus then look over at Artemis and spoke.
"Artemis, my daughter, look at me"
She finally looked over at her father and what she saw broke her, she saw a single tear run down her fathers face. Zeus getting up from his throne, walked over to his daughter and held her.
"Artemis, my daughter, you are my little hunter. Since the day you were brought into this world you have done incredible things, hunted dangerous animals, and become an amazing goddess. And I am truly sorry that you felt that your child would be killed if brought into this family. But now I ask you to trust me, trust us, and trust this council when I say that your son will not be harmed, and tell me where my grandson is"
Artemis looked around the room at the looks of her family and saw them smiling at her, nodding in approval to their king, their father, and their sibling. She looked back at her father and told him where her son was. Zeus looked back at his daughter and turned around telling Hermes to bring the boy and Leto to the Throne room. After hearing this Hermes sped away for the island of Delos, to bring the son of the moon and sea to finally meet his family.
Location: The Island of Delos (Third Person POV)
Young Perseus was currently running around the beach, his grandmother had told him repeatedly to never go too deep into the forest alone or to go to far out into the ocean alone, she was afraid that if Perseus was found that Zeus or even Hera, they might try and kill this young child just for purely existing. But Perseus was never one for truly following the rules, he would venture out into the forest when his grandmother was busy but today unfortunately she found out.
"PERSEUS YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW YOUNG MAN!"
The young man ran back to his grandmother with his head facing the ground finding his sandals very interesting at this moment. He slowly looked up to see his grandmother with her hands on her hips looking at him with a very disappointed look across her face.
"Perseus what have I told you repeatedly about going too far into the forest without me?"
"Not to... but it was.."
His Grandmother interrupted him wagging her finger
"No buts mister if I told you no it means no"
Perseus proceeded to look down and slowly tears came to his eyes, it wasn't the berating that made him cry. It was the idea that he has disappointed his grandmother that Perseus couldn't fathom. He was always thankful to her and he at this moment felt like he let her down. See Perseus's fatal flaw was loyalty, if it came down to his life or his grandmothers, he would gladly lay down his life for her. She knew this and saw his tearing up.
"Oh honey I'm sorry for yelling at you but all I want is to keep you safe, I just don't want you to go too far into the forest without me present"
"I-I k-know grand*sniffle*mother I'm sorry"
"Oh sweety come here, come lets make some lunch and then we can hang out at the beach, sound good?"
Perseus wiped away his tears and told her okay, holding her hand as she lead them back to the house. Their peaceful island was about to change. Just before the two of them were about to start eating their lunch, Hermes popped in.
"Lady Leto" Hermes said
"Lord Hermes, how may we help you this fine day?"
"I've been ordered to bring you and young Perseus here to Mount Olympus"
"But that means.... oh no"
"Yes, the council has found out about young Perseus, now his mother has explained what happened but the rest of the council still wishes to meet Perseus here"
"Will he be safe"
"Yes, Lord Zeus himself has promised that no harm will fall Perseus by the rest of the council. This whole day has been one surprise after the next. It seems my father just wishes to meet his grandson for the first time"
Perseus had no idea what was happening, he was just eating his sandwich in peace listing in on the conversations not understanding what he had to do with it at all. That is when his grandmother turned around and looked at him. She then proceeded to tell him that they were going to Mount Olympus and he was going to meet his grandfather. This made Perseus excited but also nervous, he wondered what his grandfather was like and if he was going to like him or hate him. Once ready the two of them were flashed to the Olympian Throne room, Perseus looked in wonder at the sight and was curious of every little thing. The Throne room of Olympus had twelve fifteen foot tall thrones made out of what seemed to be white marble, each of the gods sitting on their thrones had a different design for each had a different role/responsibility. But two thrones caught his eyes, it was the one one there that was made out of coral and the man sitting on the throne had black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He was holding a trident, which Perseus could see radiated power. The mans eyes were a sea green color which remined him of his own, the man watched the child with a sense of love. The next throne to get his attention was silver throne, it had a wolfs pelt on the seat itself being used as a cushion. The women sitting on the throne had raven black hair, her eyes were a striking silver grey mix, she looked at the boy fondly. What Perseus didn't understand at the time was this confusing feeling of longing when he looked at both, he almost wanted to run to them but couldn't figure out what. The what got his attention was the Throne in the middle of the room, the throne was made out of pure platinum, with lightning bolt designs on it, the man sitting on the throne was an imposing figure. He had shoulder length black hair, with a neatly trimmed grey and black beard. This man Perseus knew was important. As the two of them reached the middle of the room, Leto bowed in from of the imposing man. Perseus confused on what to do followed his grandmothers lead.
"My Lord Zeus"
"Lady Leto, thank you for coming at such short notice"
"My pleasure Lord Zeus, may I ask why were summoned?"
"My Daughter has informed me about Young Perseus here and I wished to meet him"
"Ah I see my lord, if I may before he meets you, could we have a moment without the boy here to speak on a few matters?"
"Very well, Perseus, wait outside the main doors, we will be right with you"
"Thank you Lord Zeus"
Perseus was then lead outside the throne room doors, where he sat on a bench waiting for his grandmother. His little legs dangling, waiting for his grandmother and thinking to himself about his mother. He wondered where she was and who she was, he was curious about his father but no matter what he just wanted answers.
"Now Lady Leto, tell us what was so important that he had to be left outside" Zeus said
"Simply the boy doesn't know about his parentage, he knows I am his grandmother, nothing more"'
"You haven't told him anything about us?" asked Poseidon
"No my lord, when he had questions I answered to the best of my ability but not to give any clues, I wanted him to understand that his parents themselves would answer any questions he may have about himself"
"What questions does he have mother?" asked Apollo
"He asks why he feels connected to the moon and the tides, he says it feels like they are calling to him but he cant tell why. He loves to hunt, swim, and run through the forest" Leto said while looking between Artemis and Poseidon
"He feels deep loyalty to ones he sees as family, and has started training with a sword. He also over the years has asked questions regarding his mother"
Artemis looks at her mother and asks "How do you think he will feel if we tell him the truth?"
"My child I do not know and couldn't answer that if I tried, Perseus is a loving and gentile young man with a forgiving heart. All I know is if given time and you build a foundation of trust he may forgive what has transpired"
Artemis looked at her mother and thanked her before sinking back into her throne, wondering if her son would forgive her for simply leaving him with his grandmother, or if she even deserved to be forgiven. No, if Perseus is going to forgive her she would do anything to earn this, come Tartarus or high water she would earn her sons trust back. Zeus decided enough was enough and called Perseus back into the throne room, the young man came back wondering what had happened.
"Young Perseus, tell us what you know of your parentage"
All the gods turned and looked at the young man, he spoke of how he doesn't know who his parents are and how his grandmother told him the story of how he came to be with her.
"So Perseus, if you could ask your parents any question what would you ask?" said Athena
The young man looked down at his feet and with a tear sliding off his face said
"I would ask... why they left me.... and if I did something wrong *sniffle* id ask why they didn't come back for me and if they ever loved me"
The scene brough some of the gods, who looked at this poor young boy and knew he didn't ask for this, any of this. All he wanted was to feel loved and safe and to have fun. He knew he was loved but only from his grandmother, they knew he deserved better that what fate had given him thus far. Athena turned to look at Artemis, who had tears running down her cheeks, her puffy eyes from earlier were coming back and Athena couldn't see an end to the waterworks anytime soon. She then turned her gaze to Poseidon, now while Athena herself never truly liked her uncle, she didn't hate him. Now while it was true they were rivals, they were family before all of that. It was clear in her eyes that Poseidon loves his children and would do anything for them to keep them safe. She saw old barnacle beard tearing up at the sight of his kid questioning if his parents ever loved him. She turned to see most of the council with sad expressions in their eyes. Eventually Artemis and Poseidon couldn't take it any longer and rushed to the young boy and held him in a hug while he cried. When he looked up he expected to see his grandmother, what he wasn't expecting to see was the Lady Artemis and Lord Poseidon hugging him. When he stepped back he apologized for crying. They both just looked at him and they proceeded to apologize.
"My lord and lady why are you apologizing to me?"
Artemis looked at her son and knew that no matter what happened next she would do whatever it took to earn his forgiveness. She looked at her son and said, "Perseus I am so sorry, I know I'm not what you need or what you think I am but I promise I will do whatever I can do earn your forgiveness. What I did was unforgiveable and if you give me a chance I promise to be the best mother I can be to you"
Perseus stepped back and looked at her and rubbed his eyes before replying
"m-mom?"
"Yes my child, and I will say it until I fade, I am so sorry"