Chapter 36: Hermione, 1202 BCE

It was summer, the sun shone brightly over the city of Sparta, the birds were singing nature's song, as if they were welcoming someone into the world. I had stayed in Sparta for over a year now, why you may ask? No reason, it’s not like I wanted to see Helen every day or anything, definitely not that, and surprisingly Ajak agreed, and unsurprisingly, Thena stayed, for ‘security’ reasons.

In one year, the entire Palace had gone to know me. For the people of the palace, I am known as Pluto, the Immortal One that helped the king on his conquest against the usurper, some were sceptical of course, but they can only be silent.

I didn’t stay at the palace however, I stayed with the people of Sparta, along with Thena. They didn’t know us as the Immortal One, instead, they knew us as the foreigner couple that just moved to the city. I studied how they behave, how the slaves and women were treated, how the boys were trained, and how the girls were educated. it was a strange culture, who knew this… enlightened society would become the fierce warrior of Sparta in the near future.

In Sparta, I didn’t really accomplish anything… well, except that I’ve been experimenting again, mixing constructs, and I’ve got some new ‘powers’ because of that. Aside from that, I visited Helen everyday, accompanying her in the gardens, while her husband helped the king govern the kingdom.

Right now though, Helen was about to give birth to a baby, I was strangely nervous, she is only fifteen or so, quite too young to carry a child, so Thena feared that she’ll die of childbirth, and asked me to watch over the birth process.

Honestly, I don’t why, but I agreed. I don’t have any healing powers, but if something happens, I’ll try something…

And so the birth process began. I could hear the screams of Helen from behind the doors of the palace. I have lived for thousands of years, I heard many screams, of children, of women, of men, but none disturbed me as much as her screams.

His husband and his father were beside, they looked… nervous, anxious, worse than me in fact, understandable, she was young and treasured.

I could hear Thena’s voice inside, soothing the girl as she helped her give birth. She had some medicinal knowledge, and the most qualified of us all probably, and so we waited, waited, and waited. And finally, as the sun sets in the west, Thena came out of the room, hands bloodied, face pale, hair messy. She looked at Menelaus and Tyndareus, and said: “It’s a girl.”

The two were happy, they were a bit disappointed that it was not a boy, I can feel it, I can see it, but they were happy nonetheless. The husband entered the room quickly to comfort his wife, leaving us three in the corridor of the palace.

“Thank you… O’ Immortal one, truly.” said the old and the now frail king. His voice is full of sincerity.

Thena shook it off as she was offered a bowl of water to clean herself up by the servants. “It’s fine, I very much enjoy Helen’s company, I should help her during her troubled times.”

The king nodded, and he also entered the room, leaving me only with Thena.

“How is she?” I asked Thena.

“Alive,” said Thena solemnly. “Barely.”

I sighed. “She’s too young to bear a child…”

“I agree with that.” said Thena. “But… it is their culture and her duty… who are we to change it? The king needed an heir quickly as he was growing older and older.”

I nodded weakly. The king and the husband then exited the room, looking at us. “Helen wants to see you… O’ Immortal One.”

Both of us hummed, and we entered the room quietly. We walked to Helen, who was laying on the bed full of blood, and she was pale, she was sweaty, and in her arms was her baby, sleeping soundly.

“Hello…” said Helen tiredly, she still smiled once she saw us. “I want you to meet my daughter… Hermione…”

I smiled at the name. “Hermione huh… a good name…”

Thena also nodded. Helen then spoke again. “Pluto… Thena… can you promise me something?”

“Speak.” I said.

“Whatever happens to me… please protect this child…” murmured Helen.

Thena nodded, smiling softly at Helen. “We will.”

Helen then turned to me. “Pluto?”

I sighed. “I’ll try.”

Helen smiled. “Thank you… For everything.”

I chuckled. “You are good company Helen, it is only natural.”

—

[Plains of Sparta, 1196 BCE]

Quite a few years since I stayed in Sparta, right now, the now king Menelaus was now travelling to Troy as a sign for peace between Asia and Greece, he had brought gifts and a small entourage, leaving Sparta in the hands of Queen Helen.

Because of the carefree attitude of the queen, Helen had asked me and Thena to bring her now 7 year-old daughter to a hunt. I mean… sure, why not. And so I brought the little girl to the plains of Sparta, hunting some deer.

“Do you not have a bow?” questioned Hermione curiously.

I shrugged. “Why would I need a bow?”

“Well… father always hunts with a bow.”

I chuckled. “I’m not your father is it?”

Hermione just stood cutely, watching me and Thena curiously.

“Here, I have a bow.” said Thena, conjuring a bow using her powers.

“Cool!” Hermione exclaimed. “Is that magic?”

“Sort of…” answered Thena vaguely.

“Can I do that?” questioned Hermione excitedly.

“Maybe, once you’re older.”

We then spotted a deer nearby, and Thena quickly aimed her bow at the deer. She took a deep breath, and shot the bow, and the arrow hit the deer on the head.

We walked towards the deer, who was now twitching post-mortem.

“Poor deer…” murmured Hermione while she was poking the carcass.

“Don’t touch it, it’s dirty.” said Thena.

We then spotted another deer nearby, and I finally conjured my bident, I aimed at the deer, and threw my bident, nailing the deer to the ground. It was quite a gruesome sight.

“That’s mean, old man!” Hermione kicked my leg with a huff. And old man? Seriously? “You’re just hurting the deer if you did that!”

“Hey, hey, it’s just a deer, no need to kick my leg.” I scoffed.

Thena growled in amusement. “Old man…”

I shook my head and sighed, and I claimed the deer that I killed. “Alright, you bothersome girl, let’s go back home.”