The Grapevine's Spoil

"I humbly implore for your pardon, my lady." Vivinna lowered her head while arranging the meal for the morn—ashamed of the early call made by her children towards the resting Athena. "It is not their usual behaviour to wake a guest up."

"Oh, do not worry about it, Vivinna." Athena smiled, accepting the offered plate and placed it neatly in front of her. "Phoebus and Helena were no disturbance. I am glad to help them ease their fears."

"Vultures are truly terrifying. I remember my father's stories about those beasts as the bringer of death. I cannot comprehend why they were here." The pregnant mother said, gazing blankly as the memories of fright sparked inside her head. She remembered how her father narrated the legend about the vulture with command—demanding attention as the story grew darker. 

"I understand such sentiments. But those two birds had no intention of harming the children. They wanted me." 

Vivinna was revived back into reality upon hearing what her guest revealed. A clear look of shock and a growing question was forming across her face. "They are coming for you?" She huffed. "Do you have enemies who wanted your head, dear Lady?"

"I have those who do not want me—enemies who truly despised me. But these vultures were sent not by the greatest of my foes but were companions of this certain tamable someone." She curved a little smile once more as she did not want any more worry to hover over her hospitable host. 

"Please promise me, my lady, to always take care of yourself. I see this sadness in you with all honesty and in good faith. You are beautiful—undeniably so—but there is this withering of your colour. I do not mean to pry but I only pray for sunshine to light upon you."

"You are gracious, Vivinna. Thank you. May your family be blessed."

When the children were awake once more and the day's meal was completely prepared, everyone in the household had their hearty share of the food and savoured every little bit—not wanting to waste such a gift. Yet while sipping from his cup, Phoebus noticed that his dear father was not there, missing the opportunity to share the morn's meal with them."

"Mama, where is father?" He asked.

"He left early, my dear. New goodies arrived from overseas. Knowing your father, he has his eyes only for the best quality." 

"Oh—" The little boy murmured. 

"Are you going to the vineyard again, mama?" Helena also asked while the youngest of the three repeated the word "vineyard." 

"Viyard! Viyard! No, mama!" Little Bion squealed and then pouted, displaying a distinct displeasure with the word as Athena noticed.

"Vineyard?" Athena asked. "What is with the vineyard?" 

Sitting back in her seat, Vivinna let out a tired exhale—placing both arms on the table while seemingly contemplating something she only knew what. "Well," she began, "I must work at the vineyard and leave my children to the older women who lived just three houses from us."

"Work? While heavily pregnant? I learned that Hera rested until Hephaestus was born, Aphrodite did not leave her chambers, and some women were even treated with the utmost care until the child was born." 

"It is the rules, my lady. If one desires to stay in a comfortable space inside the boat, one or two must work and deliver the exact quota imposed with it." 

"I never heard such a law until now."

"But it is the way since we moved and planned to join the exodus. Besides, dear lady, wine is needed for the travel." Vivinna optimistically guaranteed as she finished her meal. "I find the labour understandable."

"I think you are blinded by your enthusiasm, Vivinna. You are heavy with a child and in need of rest. The child in you is growing."

Somewhat bitterly seeing the truth, Vivinna's smile faded—slowly losing her grip on the mask that kept her sanity at bay. 

She knew what Athena meant. 

She knew of the lie she was forcing herself into. 

And she knew of the risk if she pursued the task all just for a short leisure. 

In great surrender, Vivinna opened up and revealed everything to Athena. "Forgive me for being so pretentious, my lady. By the gods, oh, what you thought was all true! The vineyard is no place for emotions, no place for happiness! Everyone is secretly miserable—trying to hide their sorrows for a comfortable room in the boat." 

"Please do not go, mama." Phoebus then begged as he walked towards Vivinna and embraced her tightly. "You easily get tired now."

"Please, mama!" Helena also pleaded. 

"Pwease—mama!" Bion then lastly followed. 

"Oh, you dearies made it harder for me to decide. I am worried that we might not be comfortable inside the boat. Dear lady," she then faced Athena, "I might need your advice—should I stop my work? I am having second thoughts. I was given rest yesterday but—"

"No more of your doubts, Vivinna. You heard your children's cry, they needed you. This household needs the care of the matriarch. Under the mother's wings, the children grew wise and healthy. Remember you will only travel for a few days and moons, depending on the weather's mood, but this prize does not equal the labour you exert."

With her guidance, Vivinna gathered the courage and decided to end the nonsense. However, it crossed her thoughts the fear that she might be called out for such unprecedented action. "Yet, will I be hunted for this? Our headmaster is never kind to this kind of conduct."

"Then I shall replace you!'

"What?" Flabbergasted, Vivinna had lost words and could not fathom such baloney she thought Athena was planning. "My lady, forgive me for my words, but that is absurd!" She bluntly told her. "I do not want you to risk your safety for my sake! You also need some rest."

"It is the only way I can plead to whoever implemented this law. The law itself is much too absurd than my notion. Who, in their right mind, would think that it is beneficial to let a pregnant woman work rigorously under the heat of the sun?"

Vivinna gave no response but to agree in silence. She knew what Athena said was true and nothing more to utter to justify her clear account. 

And no sooner, when the time came for work, Athena marched her way to the vineyard while hiding her identity under a large cloak. As the sun rose and sat high, beaming heat and sunshine down on the earth, she pondered what was the backbone of such a heinous law that it got implemented that not even the sensitive pregnant women were exempted. 

"Hmm, who would be those hooligans spearheading this inhumane law?" Athena thought to herself while choosing whether it was Ares, Enyo, or Eris. 

***

To her surprise, the vineyard was vast, enough to have a harvest that could last a year or two. 

There was no rumble, no savagery. Although, a long line of people was overwhelmingly evident as they patiently waited for their turn to enter the large yard. 

"Is this the line to work?" Athena asked one folk who nodded in reply. 

She was fascinated by how many were willing to have this bargain even if the comfort they might receive would be forfeited or only for a while if blessed to reach the quota. 

So far, not a single soul recognised her. Indeed the many faces she saw were new and different people from those who reside inside the megaron. Athena was relieved and like those poor folks, she patiently stood in line until it was finally her turn to reach the entrance. 

Dawdling on the whole scene, Athena immersed herself—greeting people who smiled while perceiving different attitudes she had encountered as the line grew less. 

Nevertheless, while her time was spent in calmness, the crowds began to shift their tune—rambling as fast as they could to move out as they made way for someone who was coming. 

People suddenly became formal when soldiers grew in number. There were those men who pushed the rowdy ones away while the others of higher ranks formed two straight lines, marching robustly until someone important made his arrival known to the public. 

Athena gasped followed by everyone who instantly bowed their heads when this mysterious venerated someone passed them. 

"Ares!" She murmured hastily before covering her mouth. 

It was truly a surprise to see him. With his usual stoic and unmovable disposition, Athena could not help but feel tense and angry, contradicting her said "forgiveness" she would now easily give. But looking into him and those people who trembled and bent their knees before him, the silver-eyed beauty was more loathsome than ever before. 

"Why now?" She asked herself again as Ares headed in her direction and conveniently paused directly in front of her as he looked at the people. Despite that daunting situation, he had not noticed her. "Has he not seen me?" Athena was perplexed. 

But without any word, Ares walked past and ordered his men to march onwards. 

"Fascinating. He has not noticed me. Maybe, it is for the better. I am not in the right judgement to meet his gaze and—" Then the scene of the horrendous night came haunting again, blurring her senses for seconds, and left her with complete disgust and disgrace towards herself. "Oh, think of it no more, Athena. Think of it no more!" She murmured hard while hands clasped in tight prayers.