Chapter 6 - Rhodos
Rhodos could admit that today wasn't how she'd planned to truly meet her sister. She hadn't planned to steal her husband's, Helios', sun chariot or to race against Athena, Ares and Artemis. But she was so glad that she had.
As she watched her little sister, cradled within the arms of the sun god, and stood beside their son, Asclepius, Rhodos was very glad that she'd done it. Admittedly, Rhodos was a gentle, passive goddess so it was a surprise to her family that she had acted so brazenly, but she
hadn't been able to stomach the thought of losing Percy, of another plague set upon civilisation or the end of everything when it could have been avoided. Rhodos truly didn't believe that anyone would survive if Apollo lost Percy again.
"Percy, how are you feeling?" Beni asked gently.
Rhodos smiled at her younger sister. pleased to see she'd left the depths of the ocean.
"I'm okay. I think my heart has finally resettled." Percy giggled nervously before she sighed heavily, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I blurt out stupid things sometimes."
Asclepius shook his head, moving closer to rest against his parents, "Don't be silly, you've had a bit of a wild day. It's completely understandable."
Rhodos watched Percy take a deep breath before exhaling heavily, "Thank you. I do have a question though?"
Apollo hummed softly as he cradled Percy closer, "What is it?"
"Why do the myths say that Asclepius' mother was a princess - although I can't remember which one - if he was ours?"
Apollo scowled and even Rhodos felt herself become a little more annoyed, "That's thanks to Athena. The princess in question was a lover before you and I got together. I left her because the idiot thought it wise to cheat on me. Personally, I never cared for her all
that much, but I did promise Hermes a long time ago that I'd hold my lovers to the bare basics instead of letting them treat me wrong, as he says. Anyway, Athena didn't like that Asclepius had inherited both your beauty and strategic mind, as well as had access to my domain of
knowledge. She thought that if she could discredit our son enough, no one would look to him for wisdom."
"I sincerely hope you corrected that." Percy scowled, disgusted at the Wisdom Goddess' actions against a child.
Hermes smirked darkly, "Oh he did. Apollo ensured that none of Athena's children from that time were remembered throughout history. According to the mythos, Athena didn't start spawning brats until about a thousand years ago. Which means that she can't claim they had
an effect on anything because everyone knows she didn't have children back then."
Rhodos joined Percy and their sisters in laughing a little meanly at that, "Good. It's what she deserves." Percy sniffed.
Rhodos leaned forward, "How do you feel now, Percy? In being a mother or in general?"
Rhodos and the others watched as Percy collected herself and carefully chose what to say, "That being a mother thing doesn't really bother me. I know I'm only 15 years old but I've remembered being Hyacinthus most of my life. It's always been commented on by others that I seemed older than I was." She shrugged, "In general, I just feel a little off or numb, I guess. I didn't expect four people to try to kill me today."
Rhodos winced, she truly didn't understand how anyone thought it was a good idea to attempt to kill the one who was prophesied to either save or raze Olympus. But those pesky Sky Gods never tended to make much sense in the first place.
Rhodos' attention was pulled back to Percy as Apollo spoke, "I'll be speaking with Artemis. Never did I think I'd have to worry about my sister when it came to you, my flower."
Percy frowned, and to Rhodos she seemed a little uncomfortable, "Apollo...."
He shook his head firmly, "No. I know that you'd prefer me not to but she knocked you out of the sky after she knew you were my Hyacinthus. I already have half the council to keep my eye on, I never thought I'd have to worry about her though."
Percy eyed Apollo for a moment, seemingly searching for something before she smiled gently, "It doesn't matter if I agree or not, Apollo. She's your sister and this affects you more so. I'll be at your side either way."
Rhodos smiled as Apollo pulled her little sister and their son closer, cradling them close and brushing a kiss across their brows, "I'm so glad I get to keep the both of you."
Asclepius and Percy wrapped their arms around their sun god as they held him tightly in return.
Rhodos was glad that Percy would have a few more allies on her side. She wasn't sure that their father would be able to hold Zeus off forever. Rhodos was impressed that he'd kept her so well hidden all these years though.