Fantasy Romance
Athena greeted her guests warmly.
Joshua and Inna arrived with their two girls and third child on the way. Another girl, Athena was certain of it.
Haden and Faye with their two sons. Athena prayed they’d be blessed with another even as she lifted the first two and spun them across the great hall.
Ezra and Hannah with news of their first child.
So much joy, so much happiness, such a bright future.
A future some would never see.
The children would bring her cheer her. They always did.
Kvasir had arranged for many of the people who had fought beside Athena to bring their families for the light celebration.
He stared at the list of acceptances.
There were three names missing. The three she most wanted to see.
And the three she never would again.
Athena was a master strategist, strong, kind. The type of person people flocked to and would follow anywhere.
Even Kvasir himself.
But he sensed the darkness that touched her.
The endless battles were wearing her thin.
Not her physical strength, but her mental stamina.
And that was more dangerous. He needed a solution. Quickly.
“The light celebration begins in a few days,” Kvasir said.
He was trying to cheer her, so Athena smiled.
And she would enjoy seeing so many she’d fought alongside. See them and their children.
But there were so many she wouldn’t see because she had already buried them. More than ever before.
Athena stared at the people chanting in the streets, calling to her.
Their goddess of war.
Maybe they were right.
With hair and eyes bluer than a summer sky, she looked the part.
And Athena was good at battle. But not good enough to be a goddess.
She’d lost so many she had once known. Once loved.
They’d been like children to her. Maybe More.
So many…But she would not let the demons have them.
Athena would protect them even if she had failed so many others.