The Journey Commences

Half an hour and several more dropped slices of toast later, the Goddesses were ready to embark upon their journey.

Diana, Athena, Aphrodite, Amunet and Hera walked through the arched window in the kitchen of the Lap of the Gods, and out onto the lawn of the Rose Garden. Baldur sat in the centre of the lawn, composing a lyrical piece of music on his flute. He looked up and saw the quintet walking toward him.

“Ladies!” He stood, and bowed, the bright sunshine enhancing his muscular frame. He didn’t care who saw it. He looked at Diana and smiled. “Are you venturing out to the wilderness, sister? You’ve done something with your hair, I see. You look different.”

“I wish people would stop telling me that!” Diana replied. “And what have you done to upset Amunet?” Amunet stood beside Diana, glaring at Baldur.

“Me?” Baldur said with an innocent expression. “All I did was say it was nice to see her up here for a change. Normally she’s down there, in the basement!”

“That wasn’t what you said, and you know it, Baldur.” Amunet scowled. “We don’t have time to discuss this now. We have to see Jupiter in Atlantis. It is a long journey and we must away now to arrive before nightfall.”

Athena, Aphrodite and Hera had already settled into one of the chariots, and Diana and Amunet climbed into the second. Each chariot was tethered to one unicorn.

“Of course,” Baldur smiled, “You could all come with me aboard the Hringhorni, it will get you there in half the time. And you will have the pleasure of my company as well!” He winked toward Amunet. “I know how you will like that!”

“It does make sense.” Hera said. “The unicorns have never travelled so far, so this would save them, and we would have much more room to relax as we travel.”

“I’m with you, Hez!” Aphrodite clapped her hands in joy. She had a strange feeling that a previous chariot journey with Athena and Hera didn’t go very well, although she couldn’t exactly remember why.

“And I’m with Aph!” Athena chirped up as she jumped from her chariot. “And three against two means we’ve decided.”

“But…”

“But nothing, Amunet.” Baldur leapt over to her chariot to help her out. “You know how we arrange things here. There’s a feast already laid out for us!”

Diana helped herself out of the chariot. “Thanks, Apollo. I can help myself!”

“Apollo?” Baldur said, confused. “Do you not know your own brother?”

“This is why we must see Jupiter.” Hera held up her left hand, silencing Diana. “Things are not as they seem, but my husband should be able to advise exactly what.”

The five Goddesses and one God walked through the garden’s iron gate and down the stone steps to the Edge of Olympus. There they took the Ethereal Escalator down the side of the mountain, to reach the Nile. And moored on the Nile, with polished wood and gold gleaming magnificently in the sunshine, waited the Hringhorni, known to all as the greatest ship ever built.

Baldur smiled with pride as he helped the Goddesses on board. His smile quickly left when he saw Adonis standing on the deck. Amunet took hold of Adonis’ arm, and walked him inside the boat. She glanced back over to Baldur with a smirk. Aphrodite noticed the strange glances that were being offered around.

“You cannot compete with Adonis, Baldur.” Aphrodite walked inside with the now gloomy God. “As I cannot with Amunet. This is their time of the year together.”

“Still,” Baldur perked himself up. “We have a journey and a feast ahead of us. I’m sure somebody else will take Amunet’s place within my heart.”

This is the third part to the new Legendary Circles story. The previous parts are on the Storylines page.