Dreams

Prologue

The sun was setting slowly over the hills turning the sky to shades of pink, orange, and purple. Time seemed to stand still in this moment of peace and tranquility. I sat on a limb in a tall oak tree just thinking about my life. Tomorrow would be my eighteenth birthday. You would think it would be something a girl would look forward to, but I don’t. My parents always expect perfection out of me and try to control my life’s intricate details. They are just going to marry me off to some man, and that’s not what I want. I want adventure. I want a life I can call my own. If only the gods and goddesses would here my prayers. They could get me away from this life.
The shadows are starting to become more prominent as the sun continues its descent into the western horizon. The birds are flying back to their nests, and the daytime animals are settling down for the night while the nighttime animals are beginning to wake. The villagers will be closing the gates to the town soon. They always close them at night in case of an Amazon or raid attack. I guess I have a choice to make. I could go back to the village or I could run away. Hmmm… I guess I can’t run away. The villagers would just send a search party out after me, and I don’t have a pack ready with the things in it I would need for a long trip like that. I climb down the tree and walk slowly back towards the village. My feet dragging on the dirt trail that leads to the town’s gates. My vision starts to blur, so I shake my head to try and clear it. That was weird. I don’t know why my vision would blur like that. I start walking again and my vision goes blurry once again. I stumble and fall to my knees holding my head in my hands. What in the gods’ name is going on? I black out and go unconscious.

Meanwhile….

Amid a large white room, a god sits on his thrown as his daughter talks to him. His white beard and long curly hair falls around his face, and he wears a white toga. He sits tall and has a commanding presence, but his daughter is not willing to back down on the subject. She is determined to have her way.
“Father, it’s not like I’m asking you for that much. Just to make one of the mortals immortal and young forever. You know that I’ve had my eye on this one for quite awhile. I really like her, she is exactly what I‘ve been looking for. I have quite a few things planned for her, including training with the Amazons.”
“I know… Bring her up here and see if she is really what you want. I’ll do as you request, but only once. Make sure she’s the right girl. I don‘t want you making a mistake. That‘s the last thing you need after Callisto.”
“I will Father. Thank you. By the way, as far as Callisto is concerned… I blame that on you. You did take my form and seduce her. You couldn‘t expect me to be happy with either of you.”
Zeus looked on, wondering what in the world his daughter Artemis could be thinking. She had never been this determined to get a girl before, but it wasn’t just that. She wanted this one made immortal and forever young. He did have to give her credit for being smart and asking for both things. Just because you were immortal didn’t mean you wouldn’t age.
Artemis walked out of the halls of Olympus, happy that the talk with her father had went so well. She was surprised that she had gotten him to agree, even if there were terms to the agreement. She disappeared into thin air and reappeared at the edge of the woods in view of a large oak tree. A girl with brown curly hair, ice blue eyes, and beautiful body sat in the oak tree gazing at nothing in particular. She stood leaning against a tree watching the girl sit in the oak tree thinking. When the girl started to climb down, she decided that she would take the girl before the villagers and her parents had a chance to get her. Stupid mortals and their strange treatment of marrying off their daughters. Somehow the girl she had been keeping her eye on had managed to stay out of the marriage circle somehow despite her parents efforts. Girls in this day and age were usually married off by the age of fourteen. The girl was taking her time walking back to the village, dragging her feet and trying to take as long as possible. Artemis used a simple incantation to knock the girl unconscious. The girl fell to her knees grasping her head, and then fell gently over. Artemis walked out of the woods towards the girl. When she got there, she picked up the girl and cradled her gently in her arms. “Those prayers you were wanting answered finally have been. Sleep sweetly.” Artemis teleported both of them back to her home at Olympus, and she laid the girl gently on her bed.