The Stag and The Promise

Boulders from the highest peak rolled down on mountain slopes. Trees swayed like beckoning hands of poor unfortunate beings, and lava mercilessly burned as it waved towards the civilization below. 

Screams of men howled from every corner. Mothers and their children had predicted everyone's foreboding thoughts as they aimlessly wandered, finding sanctuary away from the doom that tailed on them. The winds forgot their kindness, bringing forth needle-like breezes and blistering chills that caused instant death as one dwells for just an hour under its arms. 

The gods heard it—

All ears listened to their prayers.

Under the lone olive tree, Artemis's tears had all dried up, only leaving a trail of painful despondency and the will to follow Apollo's predicament. 

"Why? Ho—how can this be?" She wondered, holding onto Apollo's hand as it cupped her face. 

Instead of adding more flames to her fuming apprehension, the golden god smiled and kissed her forehead and cheeks. 

By this charming gesture, Artemis was on the verge of tears again. 

"Oh, calm down now, my sweet Artemis. No need for more tears." Apollo soothingly whispered. 

"I just cannot put my head to what was happening. I no longer care if a rock will crush me. I do not care if the earth will swallow me whole for as long as I am with you."

Her twin god chuckled. "You are child-like—different from what the mortals thought. This stabbed wound is distressing, but seeing your doe blue eyes drowned in tears is more painful. I never wished any sorrows for you, my sister."

"Then tell me why—why did this happen? Why did you inflict yourself with this?" Gently placing her hand on top of his that shielded his injury. "I don't understand."

"Ares desired to rule Olympus. This thought would bring such disaster to Hellas—a rapture before bringing forth a new era. My dear, even if we combine all our powers—we cannot stop him. It needs to happen."

"And let everyone suffer?" She retorted.

Apollo only fell silent, steadying his breathing as he looked into her eyes. 

Stones kept rolling, and the wind blasted its strength farther and more expansive. But Artemis ignored nature's wrath, only wanting to be on her brother's side. 

As she lay on his chest for a minute, she had an idea to administer aid to her brother's wound. But as she tried to pull away from him, Apollo immediately stopped her—telling her that her effort would only end in vain. 

"No, love," He reminded, "I told you, this impending doom must happen. This—" Pointing at his wound, "This should happen."

Artemis bawled and defied his order, but her love and respect for him prevailed. 

She held onto him and rested back into his chest, ignoring the rage that was happening around them. 

***

Following the goddess's sleep, Actaeon the stag appeared and ran towards them. 

"Ah, good day, our loyal servant." He greeted as Actaeon licked the back of his waving hand. "Good boy. I am glad you heed my word. Listen—Hellas will go through a chaotic change, and my time is almost up. I want you to take Artemis far from this land. Go to the far west where a peninsula sat, growing in solitude."

The stag seemed to understand as he looked intently into the god's gold eyes. 

After which, Actaeon slowly leaned into Apollo and listened as he carefully opened his mouth, "Actaeon," He called in between labored breaths. "Promise me that you will never leave Artemis's side—Please."

Nodding in his way, Actaeon vowed before him. 

"I will give you my blessing. And with your undying loyalty—receive this—" 

Actaeon stepped back, bemused by the sudden light on his feet. Wisps, glittering like fireflies on eventide, danced to a bland rhythm as they encircled—gently trapping him in their embraces. 

Amidst the gloomy and horrible scene playing in the background, Actaeon hovered above the dead ground, carried by the unknown flutters that seemed to be under the order of Apollo. 

"In my command, may the curse that binds you be no more." 

By that spell uttered in reverence, the stag glowed like the sun rays—transforming him back to the once robust and princely form he buried under the towering sands of time. 

Once magic had done its bidding, Actaeon was in disbelief as he looked into his hands and feet and felt the structure of his face. "Oh—" He lost words as he gripped into realizing he was a stag no more. 

But as gratitude overflowed, Actaeon kneeled beside the god and expressed all excellent tidings to him. "Thank you, Your Grace! Thank you so much."

Apollo warmly smiled and said, "The time has come for your ordeal to end. You have proven a great deal, not just to me, but to everyone on Olympus."

"In what you just ordered—I promise you, I will never leave the goddess's side," Actaeon emphasized. 

"I know you will not leave my sister. I can feel that there is so much more than loyalty that is lingering inside your soul."

The man did not reply, curving only a fiddly little grin on his lips. 

"You better hurry before you will get caught by the incoming chaos." Apollo hastily reminded. 

"But what about you, Your Grace?" 

"I am already on the edge of my life." 

Little movements awoke Artemis. And as she opened her eyes, her mouth gaped wide when she saw Actaeon now back in his human form. 

"A—Actaeon!" She gasped while reaching out to touch his face. 

Fine as the master's final piece—chiseled to perfection. He was in his beautiful self again. The man she remembered, who was once a sly creature who saw her sacred body, the man betrayed by his hounds until death reached him, the man who was brought back to life and lived as an immortal stag that tailed whenever she went, was now the Actaeon adored by many. Actaeon, the nobleman who equaled her skills in hunting, was now smiling at her, along with those brilliant hazel eyes. 

"How?"

"Apollo broke the curse." He said as he held her hand that was touching his face. 

Artemis faced her brother, looking for some confirmation. Once she saw him nodding, her confusion was relieved before pulling out from Actaeon's touch. 

"Why?" She then asked her brother. 

"Death is coming for me, Artemis." 

"No! Stop with this nonsense! You cannot die!" Her voice quivered again. "Ugh! I cannot hold this anymore. I have to heal you." 

"No!" Apollo took hold of her arm and continued, "I told you that that is pointless. Artemis, Delphi knew this." 

Brows furrowed once he uttered his statement.

"Yes, the oracle had mumbled the exact words that came out of my mouth. Tragic it was, but my visions never betrayed. She had already wept for the impending doom that befalls Hellas. 

As the vapors from her chamber rose to the sky, her mind had tapped into mine and saw everything. This phenomenon, the agony, the deaths that piled up—all were imprinted in her head that she too felt helpless because there was nothing she could do. 

The Daedalic body was now at its mercy. I no longer had my control. My power, my will—the high heaven of the immovable mover had finally spoken that I, the puppet of the lyre, should bid farewell to the singing water." From his right eye, a single tear suddenly trickled down as he continued cheerfully. "Artemis, oh, dear Artemis—the sister that I dearly love, the poor oracle had shed a million tears, but it is what it is. A new era is coming. The favored Athena will soon bow down to Ares."

"Oh, no!" Artemis faltered. 

Actaeon remained silent on the side, yet the reality of their current situation and the aftermath was tolling on him. Handsome face upturned from grasping the horrible truth. 

"I know—I know. By the way, I told Actaeon something. Now, it is your turn to promise to me, Artemis." Her eyes brightened at him as he said, "You have to promise to leave this place and never leave Actaeon's side."

"What do you mean? I cannot leave you!"

"I—I can already he—hear the melody of death coming. You have to leave before Gaia would burn the whole place down." Though struggling, the sun god managed to point out. 

"I will not leave you!"

Apollo let out a breathy yet warm chuckle, finding his twin's stubbornness quaint of her hidden childishness. "Silly you—Never worry about me. I will be with you no matter where I go after this life—that, I can promise you. No sooner, I will be with our doting mother."

Pleading cries and rivers of sorrow harrowed her beautiful face. The goddess of the hunt, known for her resilience to forlorn, had now wept like a child as she never released her hold on Apollo. 

She wailed on his chest, squeezing the hand that covered his stab wound, hoping the pressure would heal him. But mad were the fates as bleakness bid their way into their souls. 

As Artemis's sobs echoed along with the howling of the breeze, Apollo suddenly heard a sweet song resonating amidst the monstrosity of the situation. He heard her—a distinct and sweet voice lulling him. "Mo—mother?" He mumbled. 

Artemis raised her head and saw Apollo's face, which expressed shock and familiarity at the same time. 

"What is it?" She wondered.

Apollo stared back at her, smiling. "My dear, mother is coming. She is on her way to take me. Isn't it wonderful? Back to her arms again."