being untied and removed from his comfort. The baby’s whimper turned to a loud wail. The newborn’s cry echoed up into the trees and into the clear sky. Startled birds flew from the brush, a hare scampered away leaving its own dust trail behind it. Agelaus set the prince down on the ground beneath the base of an ancient tree. He stared at the little nobody as his eyes filled with pitiful tears. He knew if he didn’t do as commanded, his own family would be forced to pay a high price, one that might require blood. The situation pitted his loyalty and obedience against his nature. It was a battle Agelaus lost either way.
“I’m sorry little prince. I’ve got my own family to worry about.” He looked up to the sky hoping to find Apollo or Zeus flying down to stop him, but saw only the beauty of blue heavens. “May the gods forgive me.”
He walked away as fast as he could with the child’s cry echoing in his ears. After a few moments, the sound of the little prince faded into the surrounding hillsides and groves. Guilt filled Agelaus’ heart all the way home. The only solace he permitted himself rested in the knowledge that he had done as commanded. Artemis, have some mercy on this child. Save him if you can from wild beasts .
ARTEMIS LISTENED TO the cries of the abandoned newborn and the herdsman’s desperate prayer. Intervention by the gods appeared as answered prayer for mortals. A whim, a call to protect destiny, a plea from a loyal worshipper all sounded the same in the ears of the gods. They did as they pleased or as directed by the Fates. Artemis responded not because Agelaus asked for her help, but because it fell to her by decree of Zeus, to preserve the destiny the Fates declared for this child before the age of men had even begun, when their souls still swirled in the stars.
Artemis knew that Apollo took as much pleasure as any of the gods in watching mortals’ weave their lives into complicated webs tangled with fear and self-doubt. The baby’s royal parents sought to outwit the prophecy and heed Apollo’s misleading decree. By killing the infant, they hoped to break the chain of events culminating in a brutal end for Troy. When the seer, under Apollo’s influence, demanded the child be murdered to save Troy, the sun god’s intention was to save the city that revered him. But not even the gods can defy the Fates. It fell to Zeus to rectify the course. So, he sent Artemis to task ensuring destiny’s thread continued unaltered, for Troy’s destiny was inextricably linked with the child.
She first inspired Priam with an icy whisper to call Agelaus forth. He did so without reservation, even believing the idea his own. Artemis knew all along that Agelaus’ faith could be wielded in fate’s favor. The prince would never be safe with his parents, or in the palace or anywhere in Troy as long as it was believed he brought the doom of their city. Eventually, someone would attempt to take his life to spare Troy. Eliminating the seer could spare the child for a season or two, but eventually, threats would rise anew. Removing the child from his parents was the only way to save him so he could fulfill his destiny. But, neither she nor Zeus had counted on Agelaus’ fear of disobeying his king. She didn’t believe he would actually leave the infant, until he actually did it. Mortals lose backbone too easily.
So, Artemis flew from Olympus to the newborn Trojan prince who bore no proper name. Passing through clouded skies, Artemis transformed her goddess silhouette into her totem bear skin. She forced her back into a rounded hump, pulling her arms and legs squat. Her regal neck pulled deep into her expanding chest making the final twist into a bear. All appearance of goddess vanished except for the magical cloak of silver fur as her paws hit the earth.
The abandoned child lay sprawled on the dirt. He had cried and squirmed his way from the safety of the bunting. Dust caught in his
“I’m sorry little prince. I’ve got my own family to worry about.” He looked up to the sky hoping to find Apollo or Zeus flying down to stop him, but saw only the beauty of blue heavens. “May the gods forgive me.”
He walked away as fast as he could with the child’s cry echoing in his ears. After a few moments, the sound of the little prince faded into the surrounding hillsides and groves. Guilt filled Agelaus’ heart all the way home. The only solace he permitted himself rested in the knowledge that he had done as commanded. Artemis, have some mercy on this child. Save him if you can from wild beasts .
ARTEMIS LISTENED TO the cries of the abandoned newborn and the herdsman’s desperate prayer. Intervention by the gods appeared as answered prayer for mortals. A whim, a call to protect destiny, a plea from a loyal worshipper all sounded the same in the ears of the gods. They did as they pleased or as directed by the Fates. Artemis responded not because Agelaus asked for her help, but because it fell to her by decree of Zeus, to preserve the destiny the Fates declared for this child before the age of men had even begun, when their souls still swirled in the stars.
Artemis knew that Apollo took as much pleasure as any of the gods in watching mortals’ weave their lives into complicated webs tangled with fear and self-doubt. The baby’s royal parents sought to outwit the prophecy and heed Apollo’s misleading decree. By killing the infant, they hoped to break the chain of events culminating in a brutal end for Troy. When the seer, under Apollo’s influence, demanded the child be murdered to save Troy, the sun god’s intention was to save the city that revered him. But not even the gods can defy the Fates. It fell to Zeus to rectify the course. So, he sent Artemis to task ensuring destiny’s thread continued unaltered, for Troy’s destiny was inextricably linked with the child.
She first inspired Priam with an icy whisper to call Agelaus forth. He did so without reservation, even believing the idea his own. Artemis knew all along that Agelaus’ faith could be wielded in fate’s favor. The prince would never be safe with his parents, or in the palace or anywhere in Troy as long as it was believed he brought the doom of their city. Eventually, someone would attempt to take his life to spare Troy. Eliminating the seer could spare the child for a season or two, but eventually, threats would rise anew. Removing the child from his parents was the only way to save him so he could fulfill his destiny. But, neither she nor Zeus had counted on Agelaus’ fear of disobeying his king. She didn’t believe he would actually leave the infant, until he actually did it. Mortals lose backbone too easily.
So, Artemis flew from Olympus to the newborn Trojan prince who bore no proper name. Passing through clouded skies, Artemis transformed her goddess silhouette into her totem bear skin. She forced her back into a rounded hump, pulling her arms and legs squat. Her regal neck pulled deep into her expanding chest making the final twist into a bear. All appearance of goddess vanished except for the magical cloak of silver fur as her paws hit the earth.
The abandoned child lay sprawled on the dirt. He had cried and squirmed his way from the safety of the bunting. Dust caught in his
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