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While the fire offered her little warmth, its glow helped disperse some of the gloom that threatened to overwhelm her.
Since they’d found their shelter, she’d done nothing but pray. Surely one of the Gods would hear her and have mercy upon her.
She prayed to Hera for her husband, for all of the husbands.
She prayed to Aphrodite for her love.
She prayed to Ares for prowess and skill – for Ariston, for all those fighting.
She prayed to Apollo, entreating him to shine.
She prayed to Athena for wisdom, to guide her troops to a victory.
For hours she pleaded and prayed.
But they would not hear her.
The sky cracked, shot through with spindly lightening fingers, chased by mighty bursts of thunder. The sky, this storm, was rife with threat.
And there was no one to blame but herself.
Thunder shook the hill, jarring her from her useless musings.
Thea slept, her head buried beneath her wing. How she could stay so unaffected by such a tempest, Medusa couldn’t fathom. But she knew her little friend, like Elpis, worried over their uncertain circumstances. Circumstances she’d caused.
Only one solution offered hope. She must go to Athena and entreat her to listen. Surely the Goddess would see Pose
idon’s pettiness and prevent any harm to the soldiers who fought to protect her city. Athena would save her soldiers to save her city, Medusa prayed.
She stood, draping her chiton over her head as a hood and pulling it tightly about her shoulders. “I can bear it no longer, Elpis. I must go to the temple and beg for her mercy. For her soldiers, for their lives…”
Thea roused, cawing loudly and flapping her wings in alarm.
“You cannot,” Elpis protested. “Even Thea sees that. Athena will not hear you. She will not. In truth, you risk her wrath – a fearful prospect to be sure.”
Medusa refused to give in to tears. “I cannot sit by and do nothing. This is my fault!”
“I will go.” Elpis stood as she spoke, gathering her robes about her.
“It’s my burden to bear…”
“You’re wrong, mistress. Whatever the cause, Athens suffers. Tis my burden, as well as yours.” Elpis’ tone was soothing, her brown eyes regarding her earnestly.
“I… You shouldn’t…” she began, but Elpis held up a hand to silence her.
“I want to.”
“Thank you, Elpis.”
Elpis kissed her cheek and hurried from the cave.
Medusa knelt to pray, but words stuck in her throat. It was not enough. She had to do something, for the storm most certainly hindered any progress Athens’ soldiers might make against the Persians.
She waited only moments longer before following her companion, ignoring the plaintive coos from Thea.
Though it was midday, the sky was inky black. She could see the sun, but it could not reach the shore. There was no break in the massive thunderheads surrounding Athens to provide its rays entry. The sky had been torn apart, two separate halves atop the sea.
The sea… She moved to the edge of the cliff.
