Zeus had finally left my temple giving me some room to check on my patient, as I looked down at Hera I could not help but notice how beautiful she looked. She never looked the same for long, her beauty changing and deepening.
Her beauty could easily surpass Aphrodite and I couldn't help but wonder why my father constantly cheated on this woman.
Apollo had tried to be kind to her and no matter how many times he tried to befriend Hera, she never let him. At first Apollo thought she hated him because he was one of her husband's illegitimate children, he later found out that she had been protecting him from her husband's wrath because ironically Zeus was a jealous man and he did not want any man, not even his children to be any were near his wife.
He reached for her hand in both of his, and he felt her pull away almost immediately. He looked up and found her awake and staring at him in shock.
Apollo reached for her hand again and gently asked, "Hera, how are you?"
Hera removed her hand from his grasp, "What are you doing in my room? Have you lost your mind, if your father walks in and sees you here, he'll be beyond upset, it is not right for you to be in here, now please leave."
"Hera calm down, you are in my temple right now. Fat- Zeus brought you here. Don't you remember what happened?"
"N-", Hera began to say but her statement died on her lips, as she remembered everything, "I am fading ", she said in realization.
She looked at me with so much fear but what saddened me was the resignation, it was like she had given up already.
"I know it's scary but I give you my word I'll do everything in my power to help you Hera I... "
Hera put her hand up to stop the rest of what I was about to say and said,
"It's okay, you don't have to pretend to care for me", she said sadly and and patted my hand in a comforting manner.
I just stared at her in disbelief, for she had never touched another apart from her children in such a familiar way.
As if realising her error she quickly pulled her hand away.
"Forgive me Apollo I did not mean to act in such a familiar way. And you can't save me from what is happening, its up to Zeus and I ",
" I don't understand", Apollo looked at her confusedly and Hera only smiled sadly.
"You aren't meant to understand, I just need you to offer your help when I should be in need of it. Okay?"
Apollo sighed in defeat for he knew that it was of no use arguing with Hera if she had her mind set on something, so he just nodded his consent and hoped that all would go well.
At that very moment the door to Apollo's infirmary was thrown open by Hestia, once she laid her eyes on her sister she quickly run to her side and pulled her gently into her arms.
"Oh my gods Hera, am so happy you woke up! I thought you were a goner", Hestia said with relief in her voice.
She pulled back and kissed Here's temple in a motherly fashion before looking around the room in confusion.
"Where is Zeus? " Hestia asked as she looked at Apollo for an answer, but before he could answer Hera asked,
"Why would Zeus be here?" As she asked this Hera looked at her two companions with a questioning raised eyebrow.
At Hera's question Hestia snorted very unladylike which was a surprise for Apollo as he had never seen the goddess act this way.
"He hasn't left your side since you fainted, and that was three days ago! I think he's in love", Hestia finished in a dramatic dreamy voice.
Apollo looked at her like she was crazy bit Hera just rolled her eyes at her sister, and he had to wonder if this was common behaviour for them
"Okay first of all I did not faint I almost died, secondly have I really been unconscious for the days?" Hera asked Hestia with a frown,
When Hestia looked down with a sad look on her face, tears began to form in Hera's eyes.
"Its happening so quickly, oh Hestia what do I do? I'm not ready for this", Hera said voice cracking at the end.
Hestia pulled Hera but into to her arms abd held her tightly, "We'll find a way okay, I won't lose you!"
"I'm so scared", Hera said quietly.
"I'm pretty sure the thought of dying would scare anyone", Hestia tried to say in a light tone, but the crack in her voice gave away the fact that she was about to break down as well.
" I'm sorry you have to go through this, I should have stopped this a long time ago. I should have never let him hurt you!" Hestia cried out.
"No please don't blame yourself for this, it my fault I've been awful to a lot of people, this might as well be my punishment", Hera said as she pulled back and wiped Hestia's tear.
Apollo at this point felt like he was intruding on this moment so he began to put away his medicines away.
" well its not entirely your fault and it makes me angry at how Zeus acts all high mighty, the cheating bastard " Hestia said snidely.
Apollo so shocked by that statement that he dropped a vial breaking it.
The two women flinched at the sound and Apollo knew that they had forgotten he had been in the room from the shocked expressions on there faces.
"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you it's just that you called father a..ah..uhm", Apollo tried to explain but he couldn't for the life of if finish Hestia's sentence.
"A cheating bastard?" Hestia finished for him.
"Ye..yes, I've never heard anyone say that about him", Apollo finished stupidly.
"Well he is, and because of him and because of him my sister might..."
"Hestia STOP! Don't say Zeus in front of his child", Hera chidded her sister, hearing this made Apollo mad at his father for his treatment towards Hera.
"Why do you do this", Apollo said angrily.
"I don't..." Hera began but Apollo cut her off.
"Why do you always protect him, I mean isn't it time to live for yourself", both Hera and Hestia looked at him shocked by his statement.
"Apollo", Hera said as she looked at him tenderly.
"I don't know much about fading and the only person I know that has gone through it is Echo", at thus Hera looked sad.
"But what I do know is that you tried to help her as much as you could", Apollo finished.
Hestia laud a hand on Hera's shoulder, "thats why we are gong to help you isn't that right Apollo" Hestia said as they both faced him.
" yes of course", Apollo said.
Hestia looked back at her sister with a tender smile, "I dont care how long it takes, but I will fight for you Hera", she said with conviction.
Hera looked at her two companions is shock and gave them a teary smile, "Thank you", she said with so much sincerity.
And Apollo know that she truely meant it.
Hey all!! I've been gone for a long time and I couldn't write as often as I wanted due to personal reasons, but because of that I forgot the direction I was taking this story so please let me know what you think of this chapter and if it fits with the story, and I know the Echo part is inaccurate but please bear with me and I'll make it work....I hope.
So like and comment....please
<3 k.
