Chapter 3: The Wishes

In the frenzy of Leto's imminent pangs of labor, four lofty pillars rose from the roots of the earth, and on their capitals held up the rock with their massive bases. There it was that she gave birth to, and beheld her blessed twins, Artemis and Apollo.

After the Titaness brought forth the children lovely above all the sons and daughters of Heaven, she remained on Delos, and the floating isle which used to be tossed on the waves by all manner of whirling winds no longer suffered the same condition.

A magnificent grove of all kinds of trees, of the cypress most of all, began to grow and the land was laden with rich gold. A majestic olive tree marked the region where Leto rested and bathed herself after her travails.

Leto tended to her fast-growing toddlers. Each day, Artemis and her brother brought home games from the nearby wood. They were only four days old and could outrun any wild things. As they clambered the rocky shore with fresh air filling their lungs, the brilliant twins grew strong and fast. Their golden feet flashed like the scales of fish as they ran.

Each day, the golden-haired Leto saw her twins come racing upon the wide land of their dwelling, and her heart blossomed as does a mountain-top with woodland flowers. All the other goddesses were also amazed by them and loved them just as much as Leto. The women would wash the young pair purely and cleanly with sweet water, and swathed them in a white garment of fine texture, new-woven, and fastened a golden band about them. Then Leto would give the twins her breasts as they grew hungry from the hunt.

She was glad that she had borne a strong son and daughter with unparalleled beauty.

"My sweet darlings," she said. "I know one day, your father, the King of Gods, will proclaim himself your rightful sire. He shall take you back to heaven for you're too lovely for this simple island. As soon as you taste that heavenly nectar and ambrosia, not mere breastmilk, you will no longer then be held by earthly bonds nor confined with the bands of mortal men, for one day, you both will be among the gods."

"Worry not, Mother," said Artemis in the midst of her suckling. "I and brother Apollo will punish those who have wronged you."

"And the curved bow shall ever be dear to me as I will declare to men your deserved status," said golden-haired Apollo.

Under the glowing light of the burning brazier, Leto would rock the twins to sleep with her divine hands. Needless to say, the goddess's words would soon come to pass.

~*~

Zeus was by no means an attentive parent. He had so many children in so many different circumstances he could scarcely keep them all in mind. Yet for some reason, he was not permitted to forget Leto's children. They were too beautiful. And beauty was the quality he found most appealing. As he looked down from Olympus, their faces seemed to blaze from among all the children on earth. It seemed to him that they cast their own light, these twins, each one different and extraordinary- Apollo a ruddy light, Artemis a silver light. And he knew that they were true Olympians and must be brought to Heaven.

He sent for them on their third birthday. Leto refused to return but remained on the island of Delos. Her children, however, were boundless. The day, she brought them through the hall of Olympus, the gods trembled before them, and all sprang up from their seats when they drew near.

But Zeus alone laughed proudly at the sight of the twins. He came to unstrings their little bows and closed their quivers then led them to a seat by his side. Zeus then gave them nectar in a golden cup welcoming his dear children with a brilliant smile, while other gods stood back in amazement, and queenly Hera cursed under her breath because she did not bear a mighty son and daughter like Leto.

To avoid troubles, the Titaness Leto would stay on earth for the rest of her life, leaving only to visit her children on Olympus. Very rarely would she step into Zeus' court, but when she did, her undying beauty would only attract the King of Gods and infuriated Hera even more.

Zeus had Hephaestus make Apollo a golden bow and a quiver of golden arrows that could never be emptied, and a golden chariot drawn by golden ponies. But he withheld Artemis's gifts. He knew his daughter would prefer to choose her own things. Artemis, in particular, would frequent the House of Zeus though Hera would give her scornful words.

"You foolish child!" Hera once screamed when she saw Artemis heading towards Zeus' garden, on top of the mountain. "You dare disturb your father, at this hour? Zeus is the might of thunder and lightning, the bringer of storms and wrath. His time in the garden is the only place of solace, away from the fury of the world he governs, and you would break this peace?"

"Zeus is my father," Artemis replied defiantly, tears welling in her eyes. "I obey his words, not yours."

Before Hera could even muster a response, the young Artemis fled into the garden. The most beautiful land in all of Mount Olympus, this was where Zeus fed on the fruits of eternal life and where he bathed in the river of light. She went past it all and eventually found her father seated, leaning against a rock as he played with a pair of doves flying around him.

"My darling, why are you crying?" Zeus asked as he took her on his lap. "What did Hera say this time?"

Artemis curled up into her father's chest. Her little hand played with his beard.

"She hates me, father," she said. "She does not think I belong here."

"Do not mind her, my dear," Zeus told his daughter. "Hera fears you and your brother Apollo even before you were born."

"How so?"

"You must know that you're a granddaughter of four of the elder Titans, Cronus, Rhea, Coeus and Phoebe," he said. "They were all mighty children of Uranus and Gaia. The goddesses who bore witness of your births are also the great goddesses of the old order. Therefore, it was the rites of a dynasty that the old prophecies hinting at Hera's fall. With a new god comes a new rule. Hera is not pleased. But remember that no matter what the Queen does or says, you and your brother are still the rightful heirs in the Pantheon."

"But what of my mother's suffering?" Artemis cried out. "Father, I must avenge her and restore my mother's honor."

Zeus was quite alarmed by her conviction.

"Well, dear child, I forbid you to go against Hera regardless of your resentment," he said. "She is and will always be the Queen of all the gods. But I can grant you anything else as long as it is within my power to give you. What gifts would you fancy, little maid?"

Artemis considered it. She knew Hera was still important, and if she couldn't rebel against the Queen of Heaven, she would find another way to make her pay for what she did to her mother.

Then her eyes glowed with joy and she faced her sire again, "I have six wishes, father. First, I want to be a maiden, a virgin always, and I want to be graced with many names in case I get bored with one. All my victories shall not be confused with that of my brother Apollo, whom fate deemed worthy of many achievements. Second, I want an embroidered deerskin tunic reaching to the knee, short enough to run in that I may slay wild beasts. I want a pack of hounds, please-fierce, swift ones. And I wish that you would name me the Light Bringer. Yes? May I have all these things? May I, father?"

"Those wishes I can grant instantly," Zeus told her. "You will always stand out from your brother, you will remain a virgin and the pride of all nymphs, and you will be known as the Phaesporia, light-bringer of the world. What are your other wishes, daughter?"

She kissed her father on the cheek and then pointed to herself, "Give me a well-bent bow and arrow, but silver, not gold. A chariot, yes, a chariot would be nice once I grow tired of running. I will become the mightiest hunter and even the greatest of men will cower in my hunting skills. I also request for my own court consisting of sixty daughters of the mighty Oceanus as my herald choir and twenty handmaidens of Nymphai Amnisides who shall tend well my buskins, and, when I shoot no more at a lynx or stag, shall tend my swift hounds and guard my bow as I rest. And lastly, Father Zeus, give to me all mountains; and as for cities, assign me any. I don't fancy cities for seldom is it that I go down to the town.

On the mountains will I dwell and the cities of upright men I will visit, but only when women vexed by the sharp pang of childbirth call me to their aid. In the hour when I was born, the Moirai Fates ordained that I should be their helper, forasmuch as my mother suffered no pain either when she gave me birth or when she carried me win her womb and without travail put me from her body. Therefore give me this power, and more so over the forest so I can truly become the huntress I wish to be."

So well-spoken of the divine child and her touching her father's beard, which many a hand had reached forth in supplication yet in vain, Zeus sat and pondered his daughter's requests. She was already growing fast and strong, voluptuous, and intelligent in deeds and form. It did not take long for Zeus, the father, to smile.

"When goddesses bear me children like this, little need I heed the jealous Hera," he said. "It is worthwhile braving her wrath once in a while. Take, brilliant child, all you asked heartily. You shall have the gift of eternal chastity, young lass, and also the gift of changing your mind about it at any time, which will help you not to want to. And, finally, the greatest gift of all: You shall go out and choose your own gifts so that they will have a special value."

With that said, Zeus bent his head to confirm his words.

Artemis kissed him and whispered her thanks then went running off to choose her gifts. From that day forth the godling shed her childhood away and began her adventure as Lady Artemis the Huntress.