A Village Welcome

"You—you do not look like a wandering traveler." Phoebus finally uttered after what seemed to be a long moment of solitude. 

"Hm?" Athena faced him as she stood up. "What do you mean, my young man?" She wondered. 

"Well—unlike the usual travelers we meet, like those who were with father whenever he is on trade, they all look scorched from the sun. You look like something out of mother's bedtime tales." He reasoned, tilting his head while he studied her. 

Helena was pleased, giving their new acquaintance a wide smile as she ran towards her. Once she caught her, she asked, "Are you not a nymph?"

Athena giggled. "No, sweetheart. I am just a mere woman. My name is Athena. What are your names?"

"My name is Phoebus, and this is my sister, Helena." Though still bashful by her presence, Phoebus stepped forward and introduced. 

"What lovely names you have." Athena smiled, causing a running blush on the little boy's face and a shine in the little girl's eyes. "I believe this lovely creature is your beast?" She then inquired as she looked at Titan. 

"Yes." Little Helena answered. "This is Titan."

"I see—Well, Titan here is a very good boy. Along with the sparrows, he helped me clean this forsaken garden." Athena pointed at the paradise they stood in. 

The children were amazed—wide eyes as they gazed upon the breathtaking garden they only heard from former servants of the megaron. 

"I never knew this garden was that lovely." Phoebus turned around and told Athena, "I remember that someone from Father's circle shared that this garden was a beauty."

"Moments ago, this place was destitute, barren, and only had the gloomiest colors. But with the help of the sparrows and Titan, we managed to bring back what we thought was close to its former glory." 

Phoebus suddenly arched a brow as he went closer to her. He looked at the lady from head to foot, trying to understand her very existence and the ray of golden glow that seemed to envelop her. "Are you sure you are not a nymph?"

"Or a princess?" Helena added while hugging Titan. 

"No, my sweets. If I were one, I could have made these trees bear fruit this instant or call upon the air to float some fish to live in the pond. With dismay, I am just an ordinary girl who wanders around, trying to find her way to somewhere."

"You mean you do not have a home?" Helena pouted, implying her sadness for her.

"No, I do not have a home for now. But never fret—I will do my best to find a shelter before nightfall. If I don't, I will have solitude bliss amongst the trees that I might stumble." She beamed assuredly, not wanting to burden the little ones as her situation was never their concern in the first place. 

However, such kindness was largely blossoming in their little hearts. By grace and perhaps an upbringing with principles, Phoebus and Helena offered to share their dwelling with their new friend. They even told her that she could sleep in their shared room.

"A—are you sure about it?" Athena was a little bit troubled. "You do know it is not good for little children like you to take strangers into your home." She reminded with a hint of authority in her tone. 

Phoebus nodded. "I understand, pretty lady. But you are not a stranger."

"You are our friend!" Helena squealed in pure joy. "You do not feel like a stranger. I know you are not a horrible person because you never shooed away Titan." 

"I appreciate it, Helena." She smiled at her. "And thank you, Phoebus. But I am still reluctant with your offer." 

"Please don't feel bad. Mama is very welcoming to visitors. When we were still in our old home, we used to offer travelers food and shelter." As he took her hand, holding it between his small ones, Phoebus informed with confidence and even pride of his mother's hospitality. 

Titan barked while Helena nodded, reconfirming the little boy's statement with hopes that the beautiful maiden would accept their invitation. 

With smiles that were as gleeful as the high noon, Athena finally gave in and accepted their offer. The dog and the children rejoiced, excited to take such beauty into their humble abode. 

"Did you know, Athena—" Helena started as she took her other hand. "Mama makes the best soup!"

"Oh, does she?" 

"Yes! Whenever I get sick, I always have two servings of it. I do not know what it is, but I love it!" 

"It is called peasant soup, Helena." Phoebus reminded while gesturing Titan to go in front. "I like it when paired with a loaf of bread."

"That tastes good!" As she complimented, Athena suddenly felt a pang of hunger. How embarrassing would it be if her stomach growled louder than the children's blabbers? "I must endure this pain." Athena thought while putting on a jolly bearing as she listened to the dilly-dallies. "I almost forgot that I have not eaten anything since I left the megaron. Yet I do hope now that I should have forgotten about it." 

***

Once they arrived at the gates of a little village outside the megaron, Phoebus and Helena sighed in relief as guards were nowhere in sight. 

They all went ahead and finally reached the door of their quaint domicile with chickens clucking around and goats wandering hither-tither. Noticing the disarray, Titan left their sides and immediately organized the scattered scene of their loose livestock. 

"Is this your house?" Athena asked. 

"Yes, but not, dear lady," Phoebus answered. 

Athena plastered a pondering gaze. "What do you mean by that, Phoebus?"

"When papa and mama decided to join the exodus, led by this god called—called—I forgot his name. Papa said that his place was a metropolis of prosperity and new opportunities. My aunt already lives there, and she testified positively." 

"We are soon going to ride a large ship! Are you coming too, Athena?" Helena asked as her puppy eyes glinted and her mouth unconsciously nibbled on her fat thumb. "Please say you are coming."

Fair maiden had no answer, for she knew nothing of such news. 

"An exodus?" She questioned.

 Pacing back in blank tranquility, Athena contemplated. She probed in her memory whether such a subject was bespoken by her adversary. Digging deeper, she then remembered Ares and Eris' conversation about ships. "Maybe that is what they meant." She hypothesized while taking a glance at the sky. 

After leaving the air still for a second, Athena returned to the little girl's question and truthfully said, "I do not know, Helena. I never—"

"Look what we have here!" A man slid in, interrupting her response. "Who is this fine young woman, Phoebus? A keen of yours?" 

When Athena turned around, a group of men slowly surrounded them—eyeing her like a fresh catch displayed on a stall. 

"Get away, Velthur! She is our friend." Phoebus shouted, implying a warning to the grown men. 

"Ha! Ha!" The ragged man called Velthur mockingly laughed—teasing the poor children and encouraging his fellows to align with his jest. "Can your friend be our friend too? We sure do have more space for some pretty woman."

Athena did not like his bigheaded disposition. Their domineering stance frightened little Helena and caused Titan to cease his house duties and cautiously growled at them. On the contrary, Phoebus remained firm, not even flinching as he faced the pack. 

Though there was courage that engulfed the little boy's spirit, Athena could still tell the little fear inside. 

"Well, gentlemen—" She greeted while slowly stepping forward, shielding the children and the dog instead. "I am honored for such an invitation to your circle. Pray, tell me—are any of the seven of you willing to rebel against your friendship to gain my hand?" The men looked at each other, tongue-tied from her blunt disclosure. "Oh, do not act as if your quip did not mean anything but solely an introduction. I know those hungry eyes." She coquettishly smiled. 

As if losing to a game, most faltered only to stare at her with a white flag raised by their shadows. No one dared to speak until Velthur thrashed his pride forward and waged Athena his bet. "Well, I see it now, pretty one. I have played this game before. A woman like you—most certainly a brave man would be willing to do anything to have you. Since you are as frank as you seemed to portray, I think you were some kind of a wise woman. It's a good thing you have read our minds easily. Shallow-minded woman is not really for us—not for me."

His friends were perplexed, glaring at him with a question mark on their faces. 

Athena was amused. "Oh, what a joy." She sardonically muttered. "Look, gentlemen," pointing to the other folks who looked grassed by their friend's confidence, "Your friend here is willing to give up your friendship for my hand. Are you allowing for such circumstance?"

"Oi! We were friends since childhood!" One man exclaimed. 

"Yes—" Another one raised his frustration towards his overly fulsome friend. "I thought we were all in this together? Brotherhood now and brotherhood for the coming days." 

When all agreed in unison, Velthur staggered on his feet—losing his arrogant façade and stammering with his excuse. "But—but—By Jupiter!" He cursed himself, discreetly admitting defeat as his friends rounded him with his disloyalty. "I mean, look at this woman! This thing is the woman of my dreams!"

"Thing?" Athena was surprised. 

"Now you insulted the lady! You are not good with wooing a woman, Velthur." 

"Oh, close that stinky mouth, Caius!" Velthur snarled. 

While the seven men—though in Athena's head they were now the seven hooligans—kept arguing, fair maiden asked the children if they knew them, and Phoebus nodded. 

"We know them, dear lady. They are the troublemakers in this little village. They, too, were joining the exodus. As we waited, Velthur and his folks kept messing around with everyone's work!"

"And what are their occupation?"

"I heard they were goldsmiths when they were still in Capua," Phoebus recalled.

"Now they painted on pots and scrubbed the floors on that big ship!" Helena added, informing more about the rowdy men who seemed dimwitted as their argument morphed into a nonsensical brawl—breaking their necks with juvenile blows and insults. 

"Oh, dear—is it alright if we hid inside your house? We do not want to get caught in the commotion." Athena suggested as she covered their sights from the hawkish. 

Without a word, Helena opened the door and led everyone inside. 

As the closing door creaked, a voice from the back of the house suddenly called, "Phoebus? Helena?"

"Mama?" The children responded in awe and eagerness. 

Titan barked as well to let the other person know of his presence.