Apollo looked on at those gathered in the field. Scantily clad Gods and Goddesses unfazed by the rain that was lashing down around them; the humans, fully clothed and huddled together, shuddering and shivering, trying their very best to keep themselves warm and the baby dry.
โWeโve really messed up this timeโ Apollo said to his father, Zeus, whoโd just approached him.
โThis is what we do, my childโ Zeus responded, โSince the dawning of time we have found ourselves in situations such as this, some as trivial, others with far-reaching consequences.โ
โBut weโve ripped some people from their correct place in the Universe, altered the flow of time, and created something of a paradox. The mortals cannot handle such upheaval.โ
โDonโt write us off, young man.โ Ethel said, as she walked up. She had been listening to their whispered words, and spoke without realising that the Gods, even Apollo, would have been hundreds of years older than her.
โYes, weโre morsels. But weโre good โuns. Weโre good at handlinโ things when we really need to. We just do. We donโt handle the weather very well, though. I donโt know how you can all stand it, with your frocks clinginโ to your very shiny muscular frames as they do.โ Her mind and her eyes wandered slightly.
โWe have no right being here. You have no right being in our presenceโ Apollo brought Ethelโs attention back to his face.
โNonsense, my sonโ Zeus brought Ethelโs attention over to him now. โEverything happens for a reason. This meeting between Gods and mortals may have been a side-effect of a rash decision made by three of our number, but that decision led us to this point. This point will lead us on to another point further down the line. Everything is fineโ
โFine?โ Ethel asked. โIโm knee-deep in mud, waterโs trickling into places Iโve never felt water trickle before, Iโm freezinโ cold, in the middle of a field, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night, talkinโ about life and handlinโ things with a group of half-dressed tall people who talk funny, not entirely sure whatโs goinโ on, and Iโm startinโ to get a headache. Yep. Everythingโs just fine.
โIโm saying that we morsels are good at handlinโ things. Iโm also saying that we donโt have to like them โ the things we have to handle, that is. But we do. And we do well.
โYes we fight. Yes we argue, and have wars and stuff, but through it we keep on. We keep on keeping on. Weโre good at that!โ
โWe are the same,โ Zeus continued, โand my son is wrong. You are worthy being in our presence.โ
โMe?โ Ethel started to like Zeus. โBut I think itโs time we were getting home. All this rainโs no good for the baby, you see. Gerald will be very cranky later โ heโs starting to go now. Itโs a good job that heโs too young to remember this tonight; I can jusโ imagine โim in a few years time dreaminโ about this, and not understanding. Iโm startinโ to hope that Iโm too old to remember it as well. But, obviously Iโm not.โ She smirked and chuckled to herself as Zeus and Apollo looked on stony-faced.
This is the next instalment of my Legendary Circles storyline. Iโm still trying to get back into the swing of this olโ blogging thing, so thought Iโd add another part to my ongoing taleโฆ well, this ongoing tale anyway! The previous part can be found by clicking here, and the whole story so far can be reached by following the links in my Storylines Menu.
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