Mother

Leto, the Titaness of Motherhood and Protector of the Young, loved her children with all her heart, despite them being born out of misery and grief. She could vividly recall the moment when Zeus approached her. It was not long after the Sky Father had pushed her sister into the embrace of Death, a day she had finally managed to gather herself from misery and grief, only to be confronted anew by the caprices of the Fates, unfathomable in their cruelty.

In the face of it, what else could she do but cower?

She wasn't like Asteria, so bright and enthralling, like a star pulsing in the night sky. Instead, she was the little sister who was always shy and obedient, minding her own business. There was a reason why she was also called the Titaness of Demurity.

Honestly, she hated that part of herself.

She thought she had grown out of it.

But there she was, obediently following the whims of the man who had killed her sister. It wasn't like she had much of a choice in front of him. She wanted to be like her valiant sister, who stood her ground till the end, but as always, she wasn't Asteria.

She was just Leto, the Demurest.

And so she danced and cavorted to his tunes like a puppet on strings. But what truly broke the camel's back was when she subtly brought her sister to Zeus after informing him that she was pregnant with Apollo and Artemis—that revelation also brought their affair to an end.

Leto anticipated some reaction from him—perhaps a grudge or resentment—considering Asteria had managed to escape his wretched clutches and even injure him. Maybe that was why he pursued Leto—to appease those grievances of wounded pride.

However, there was nothing. Not even a trace of empathy could be found in those cold, electric eyes. Just pure apathy.

He didn't care.

HE DIDN'T CARE.

In that moment, Leto saw Zeus for who he really was—a monster, no less than Kronos. The Gods had risen up against Kronos not only to destroy him but to end his tyranny. Yet, in the end, they merely replaced one tyrant with another.

Ah, the irony.

Did anyone anticipate this? Maybe they did or didn't. It didn't matter to her anymore. In the face of this revelation, she made a vow.

A vow to protect her children from Zeus' influence. She would try her best to shield them from the cruelty and heartlessness that seemed to define their father.

Nonetheless, there was only so much she could do. She tried to keep her pregnancy a secret, knowing that if the word got out, it would surely reach the ears of the Queen of Gods, who would do anything to stop her from giving birth to her children.

But her efforts ultimately turned futile by the end of her pregnancy, for her children turned out to be much more powerful than she had assumed, especially Apollo. It was impossible to hide them anymore, and so the curse of Hera bore down on the Earth, forbidding any land to give her shelter for childbirth. It didn't end there; Hera even sent the mighty Python, a spawn of the Earth Mother herself, after her.

Leto was undaunted, though, in the face of the wrath of the Queen of Gods. She made sure that her plight was known throughout the realms of Olympus with the help of sympathetic but helpless natural spirits before heading towards Delos, the remnants of her sister. It was the only place she could think of that could provide her with a haven.

Delos was a floating island that was separated from the land and thus unaffected by the curse of Hera. She landed there safely, managing to throw the Python off her tail with indirect help from Poseidon, whom she suspected acted under the direction of Zeus. If it was truly so, maybe Zeus wasn't entirely like his father; maybe there was an ounce of empathy, if only for kinship.

She had ruefully hoped as she made a landing on Delos, but soon the Python caught up with her, baring its venomous fangs with hungry and cruel eyes. It wanted to see her scream and wither under its body; it wanted to taste her divine blood; it wanted to eat her children—Leto stood up with wrathful determination to face the Python while praying to her sister in her heart to grant her strength and protect her children if she were to fall.

And her prayers were answered. The island of Delos lit up with celestial light, like a blanket of stars. It enveloped the island, thwarting any attacks from the mighty python.

Even in Death, Asteria protected her…

Leto soon went into labour, and Hera took notice of it, along with her failed attempts, which only fueled her anger further. In a vengeful rage, the Queen of Gods grounded her daughter Eileithyia, the Goddess of Childbirth, by confining her to Olympus. She strictly forbade her daughter from carrying out her divine duty. As a result, not only was Leto completely stuck in labour, but all the pregnant mothers throughout the realms of Olympus were also affected, unable to give birth to their children as well.

Left with no recourse, Leto decided to take matters into her own hands. She used her divinity of motherhood to bypass the deific power of Eileithyia, which presided over the concept of childbirth, and perform the delivery herself. Normally, this would have completely offended Eileithyia, as it was sacrilege to her domain, but her situation now was anything but normal.

Artemis was the first to be born, immediately growing up enough to assist her mother with the delivery of Apollo. His birth turned out to be more challenging and taxing than Artemis', leaving Leto still uncertain about the reason behind it—perhaps Hera was up to her old tricks again or something.

However, help soon arrived. Leto's efforts paid off, you see, though she also had Hera to thank, to some extent—the news of Leto's struggle had already spread throughout the realms of Olympus, evoking sympathy from many. They were hesitant to contradict their Queen's authority at first, but when Hera grounded Eileithyia, effectively preventing any mothers from giving birth, that hesitancy shattered completely.

Goddesses and Titanesses, from Demeter to Hestia, Themis to Selene, almost all descended upon Delos in a grand spectacle that drew the attention not only of Olympus but also of the entire world. Their collective arrival finally instilled primal fear into the beastly heart of Python, making it flee back to Delphi.

Together, they all rallied to support Leto in her labour, with Artemis by her side. In no time, Apollo emerged into the world, his radiant presence illuminating everything around him.

Seizing the opportune moment, Leto's mother, Phoebe, bestowed upon him the grandiloquent title of Phoebus, the Bright One, recognising his celestial radiance. Following that, another title was granted to Apollo by Hestia, who proudly called him Hebdomagenês, which meant "septenary," symbolising his birth on the seventh day of the seventh month.

On that momentous day, not only did Apollo earn prestigious titles, but Artemis too was granted divine designations. She was bestowed with the name Orsilochia, signifying her role as the helper of childbirth. Additionally, she was hailed as Phosphorus, the illustrious Light-Bringer, by Eos.

The title of Orsilochia later assisted Artemis in gaining her divinity over childbirth, absconding with more than half of the duties entrusted to Eileithyia. Leto couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt over this, for she recognised the shift in responsibilities and the consequences it would bring. But anyway, triumph was a triumph, especially against Hera, as the presence and acknowledgment of so many goddesses and titanesses were more than enough to ensure their future path was relatively safe and secure, free from the wrath of Hera.

However, what truly took Leto completely by surprise was that Zeus immediately followed the goddesses' example, even taking it a step further by declaring Apollo and Artemis as his true children, removing their status as bastards, and inviting them to join him on Olympus.

Leto didn't immediately send her children to their father; instead, she asked him to give them some time to become familiar with their divine existence. However, that was just an excuse because she couldn't grasp Zeus' intentions. Maybe he truly had empathy for his kin, but she couldn't risk it, especially now that their father had acknowledged them. It left them with no choice but to comply and join Olympus.

Understanding the enormity of what awaited them, Leto sought assistance from her brother, Lelantos, who possessed a deep understanding of the ways of divinity. Together, they devised a comprehensive training regimen, preparing Apollo and Artemis for the challenges that awaited them. Leto spared no effort in teaching them the intricacies of their divine heritage, instilling in them the values of strength, resilience, and cunning. She told them all about their father with an undertone of subtlety to protect them from the influence of Zeus.

Under Leto's watchful eye and Lelantos' guidance, Apollo and Artemis honed their skills, mastering the arts and ways of divinity. Leto revelled in witnessing her children's growth and their transformation into formidable deities within such a short time.

Speaking of their training, it allowed Leto to see just how different her children were, like the Sun and the Moon. Yet there was an ethereal harmony between them, akin to those celestial bodies in the tapestry of space.

Though Apollo was what truly troubled her, how to put it, her son was just "different." It wasn't easy to define, but it was apparent to her. There was an aura of complexity surrounding Apollo, something that set him apart from his divine peers. It was as if he always carried something greater within his divine being, silently.

And oh, was he precocious, even for a young god. But at least he was subtle with his intentions, unlike Artemis, who outright proclaimed in righteous rage that she was going to slay the python after she told them about her journey to Delos.

Yes, both of them intended to take vengeance for her by slaying the python.

Additionally, it was a matter of fact that the Oracle of Delphi rightfully belonged to her children through the inheritance of her mother, who oversaw it until the Earth Mother intervened personally to pass over the duty to her spawn, the Python, who was guarding it till this day.

Ultimately, the conflict between her children and Python seemed inevitable, almost fateful. And that premonition made her worrisome.

Leto needed to have a talk with them, especially Apollo. It wasn't just this that had been bothering her; there was something else. She couldn't help but notice how sensual Apollo was, flirting and messing around with the dryads on the island. It appeared to be the only trait he had inherited from his father. However, Leto didn't overlook the fact that her son was anything but irresponsible. He was always considerate and thoughtful in his actions, unlike his father, which initially eased her worries. But that changed when she found out that her son had gotten together with Aura, her niece.

It amounted to an increase now as she side-glanced at Aura and Apollo as they ate the food she had cooked using one of the recipes given by Hestia. Unlike usual, Apollo didn't praise her food or relish in its deliciousness. He uncomfortably shifted on the wooden ground as an odd tension filled the air. As for Artemis, she sat between them, seemingly unbothered by the atmosphere in the room as she ate with relish.

Oh, she really needed to talk with Apollo.

But Leto didn't get a chance; as soon as they finished their food, Apollo met Aura's eyes, tilting his head outside as an indication to follow him, though she wasn't planning on giving up. "Son…" she called out, her voice low, barely a whisper in the night, but just enough for her son alone to grasp it.

Apollo, who had been following Aura out of their wooden house woven with nature, turned to look into her eyes, recognising the worries brimming in them. In response, he merely nodded, his lips forming a reassuring smile, before departing from their house.

Leto silently looked at the empty foyer where golden and silver flowers bloomed and danced in symphony, a shimmer of worry streaming in her eyes.

"Don't worry, mother," Artemis whispered, standing next to her. "You know how he is. It will be fine."

Leto nodded with a smile. A serene smile, at that. Maybe she should trust her children more from now on. They have truly grown in such a short time. Nevertheless, the road ahead was treacherous, but she remained steadfast, no longer demure, determined to guide her children and stand by them in silent support throughout their paths.