“Yes. Please believe me when I say that I mean you no harm by bringing him here. You must know this. We need your help, and only you can help us. I hadn’t realized you two had never met until we were already on the way here.”
There was a thrumming of magic all around them, as if the air came alive in response. Aeëtes couldn’t explain it, but he could feel it in the sand and in the trees, as if the whole island responded when Circe didn’t. The lioness at her side remained still but kept looking at Aeëtes with eyes that were far too comprehensive for a normal animal—and he would know. It felt like everyone held their breath until Circe spoke.
“Of course. I trust you, Hecate.” The relief between the group was palpable, so palpable that it made Circe chuckle. She threaded her arm through Hecate’s, and the two began walking off towards the hill, Pelias and Aeëtes following behind them.
“Were you so worried that I wouldn’t help you, sister?” Circe said with a grin, partially pleased that her fearsome reputation had managed to slightly affect even Hecate herself.
“I knew that you would.” Hecate smiled, looking over her shoulder at Aeëtes before turning back to Circe. “I just didn’t know how much convincing I would have to do.”
The two witches lost themselves in conversation as they walked over the hill, threading down a gently used path until a small house came into view. There was nothing overly grand about it, but it was thoroughly made with stone, as opposed to wood, mud, or straw. A modest but fine dwelling. It reverberated magic, and both women seemed to come a little more alive when they caught sight of it.
“You should stay for a while and recharge,” Circe noted, seeing some of the visible relief that flooded Hecate’s face. “You know that Aeaea always does you good.”
“I would be a fool to deny it,” Hecate shrugged, “but we are hurried. I’ll tell you everything once we’re inside. The longer we stay, however, the greater danger that you’re in.”
“Ah,” Circe sighed, making a smalltsknoise. “It’s like that?”
Hecate only answered with a nod.
The four of them made it down the hill and were welcomed into Circe’s home, a feat that was rare enough as it was. It was nearly identical, if not smaller in size, to Hecate’s home in the Underworld. There was a large, wooden kitchen table, a counter nearby, and a roaring hearth. The counter was overflowing with empty jars, half-filled amphoras, and herbs of every variety. Even Pelias, who had seen most every spice and plant in the known world throughout his time as a sailor, couldn’t identify a few.
Aeëtes settled himself in front of the fire, acting a little bit more like a dog than a ram, his golden wool casting rainbows of light all over the kitchen. He figured it was as good a time as any for a nap. Pelias joined him, sitting down at the table and leaning against the wall. Hecate and Circe went around and stood at the kitchen counter, Hecate easily identifying what Circe was working on and beginning to help. The two women moved in silent tandem for a few minutes, basking in the familiarity of being next to someone with whom you didn’t need to explain yourself.
Hecate helped Circe make quick work of the potions that she had in progress before Circe poured them both cups of wine as they moved to the other end of the kitchen. Circe flicked two fingers up in the air, and Hecate recognized the gesture. She had blocked their voices from traveling towards Pelias and Aeëtes, effectively giving them privacy.
“Tell me then, what’s happening?” Circe finally asked, taking a long sip. Hecate did the same, nearly downing all of her wine before she began. She managed to tell Circe everything, from how she felt like she needed to leave the Underworld, to Hera’s life debt, and the spell that she thought would break the curse.
“The blood of the mother, hmm?” Circe pursed her lips and tapped a finger at her chin, looking over to Aeëtes. “I don’t suppose you think that’s in Colchis.”
Hecate shrugged. “We’ll have to try and get an audience with Helios there. You don’t…you never learned her name, did you?” Hecate was gentle, hating that she had to ask the question at all. Circe went still, as if she wasn’t even breathing, and shook her head.
“I hope that’s not what you needed my help for. I will be of no assistance to you. Helios dropped me in Colchis, too, and never told me our mother’s name.”
“No, no.” Hecate took another sip from her cup. “I came for your talents, sister.”
“Where do you need me?” Circe interrupted her at that part. “It sounds like you can carry out that spell in your sleep.”
“I can.” Hecate nodded. “He still turns into a ram every day. He transforms back at night. It’s getting increasingly dangerous for us to travel while he’s…”
“A solid gold ram?”
“Noticeable, isn’t it?” Hecate deadpanned, both women looking over to where Aeëtes was nearly sparkling in front of the fireplace. “You’re better with animal transfiguration than I am. Is there any way you can put a temporary stop to it? At least until the curse is lifted.”
Circe took another sip of her wine, seemingly mulling it over before she nodded. “I think that it’ll work. I should be able to turn him into a man, and it’ll hold for…well, I can’t be sure how long. It will hold until Hera’s curse wears through my spell, but that could be tomorrow, or it could be in two weeks.”
“I certainly think that you’re a better spell caster thanHera,Circe.” There was a lift to Hecate’s voice, and she smiled over the rim of her cup, knowing that she was goading Circe slightly. She always performed better magic when she was angry, and sure enough, she let out a low hiss.
“I’ll make it hold. It should last until you get to Colchis.”
“I knew you could do it.” Hecate grinned. “Do you need anything in particular?”
“No.” Circe waved Hecate off and topped off both of their cups. “I’ll do what I always do. I could do it backwards. Now…” There was a change in her tone that was downright conspiratorial. “Tell me more about you and Aeëtes.”
Hecate choked on her wine, spitting some of it out and staining the front of her himation. “Circe!”
“Oh, stop.” Circe waved her hand once, and the stain vanished. She wiggled her eyebrows. “Be honest with me now. You don’t get to show up here with my long-lost brother, cursed by Hera, and don’t tell me the fun bits.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” Hecate pursed her lips, refusing to meet Circe’s gaze.
