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“The flower?” Chiron asks, “What flower?”
Artemis stomps on his front hoof. Chiron neighs loudly at the Moon Goddess. “Chiron,” she grits with a forced smile that I'm choosing to translate as saying ‘Oi, malaka! Remember why we left?’
He does not look like he was in pain, more so shocked at the someone stomping on his hoof. “It was a daffodil,” he smiled. “Artemis showed me this garden which had a whole lot of them growing. It has been so long since we’d seen any grow here that I forgot what they looked like.”
Turning, Chiron watches the Moon Goddess, like he was asking for her approval.
The Moon Goddess rubs her temples, ignoring the healer.
Being discharged for a second time in only a couple of weeks, I was confined to my rooms based on healer’s orders. The centaur recommended that I rest for the next week in bed.
Much to my surprise, in the coming days Apollo brought me bouquets of irises. Vibrant violet blossoms coupled with slender leaves. With a new vase each day.
With each visit, Apollo’s nervous small talk makes me grin. He’d ramble about the funniest of things, the weather, the flowers, and many other random topics.
Was he anxious? A god?
As I sit up against my headboard, I hold a book, though I'm not reading. Lost in my thoughts, I contemplate the Sun God.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
“Come in,” I cast my eyes back down to my book. Flipping through the pages to my dog-eared page, I read:
He further solidified his place amongst the Gods by becoming the consort of Demeter, Lady of Arva. Their union produced one child, Persephone.
His years with the Olympians eventually came to an end when he stole the sacred fire and gifted it to man. The fire sparked in mortals a passion, curiosity and creativity which is composed of their spirit. For his reckless disregard of the orders of Olympus, Zeus banished him to live amongst the humans, leaving his wife and then teenage daughter.
The door creaks open to reveal who I had hoped. “Enjoying yourself?” Apollo chuckles. Standing tall, he gingerly holds a vase and on the other hand a brown paper wrapped bundle of flowers.
Snapping my book closed, I scrunch my nose as I grin. “Yes. I find reading peaceful.” Nodding, he places the day-old vase of flowers on the coffee table. Irises are filling up my room. On the mantle of the fireplace, on both end tables, in the bathroom, and any other surface that he deems proper.
Pursing his lips, he replies, “You’ve had a lot on your mind.”
“Oh?” I challenge.
Placing the bundle of flowers on the bed, he opens the flowers, letting them breathe. Grasping the container, he walks to the bathroom. Drawing some water, he returns to my side, grinning wickedly. “You haven’t changed places in your book.”
My eyes flash with shock, snapping my eyes down to my book, I calculate what he is saying.
He was right. I have not moved from this spot in days. “I suppose I have been lost in my thoughts.”
Grinning wickedly, he places each flower, one by one, in the vase. The container looks to be solid gold. Etched into the surface are wildflowers.
“You know,” I muse as I change the subject, “Flowers are hardier than you think. You don’t need to change them every day.” Sharing his mischievous grin, I watch him arrange the last violet blossom.
Stepping back, Apollo blushes as red as rhubarb, “Well… erm. I know. Just… Back in the infirmary, you shared your love of flowers, and I figured the more flowers, the better.”
Apollo was paying attention to me. In exhilaration, my heart races. “Thank you. That’s very thoughtful.”
Sitting beside me, his careful stare rests on me.
“Do you like them?” He asks earnestly. “If you’d prefer something else, I could get you a different kind of flower. Irises have always been my favorite. A beauty for a beauty.” Apollo’s flush deepens.
Is he flirting with me? I hope so.
True, they weren’t my favorite, but they’re a lovely addition to my room. “I like them. They add a pop of color, don’t you think?” Taking his hand in mine, I give him a gentle squeeze.
Warmth fills me. Reaching down into my soul. Closing my eyes, I feel like I'm basking in the sun during a midsummer’s day.
