It had all seemed to be going well for Dorothea. She had manage to kill a deer, and even had enough strength to start her journey of carrying the animal back. She could just imagine the meal her family would have tonight. Sure she'd have to lie, and claim that she spotted the deer out of the forest, but as long as they didn't know what harm would it do. Plus she knew her family would take something for the beast and offer it to the gods. What mattered at the end of the day was surviving and if she had to lie to make it happened who cared. It wasn't like she had murdered someone and ate the victim's flesh. Which was a crime becoming more frequent at the town got more desperate.

All celebration she might have had was cut short by someone screaming at her. As the person screamed at her about her daring to betray the land of her god, she just knew that some stupid priest had found her. Before she could respond to man yelling at her someone had violently turned her. She stumbled a bit, and lost her grip on the deed. She shot a dark glare at the man. He was attractive, and friends she once had would have said he would make a fine husband. Someone more poetic would write about a man like him,, but Dorothea had no time to care about that. As he shouted at her demanding to know what she done she couldn't help but remark "Do your eyes not work?"

When he moved so that he was towering over her and threaten to punish her she laughed almost sounding manic. "You'll punish me? I'm already on the verge of death, you and your fellow acolytes have made sure of that, haven't you" Her voice was filed with hatred and venom. Her eyes scanned over him, there wasn't a single sign of sickness or lack of food. Seeing him further proved that the temple was just taking advantage of her people. He didn't look like he wanted for anything, especially judging by her ego. He would never know the thirst and hunger she carried every day.

As he walked around her circling her, Dorothea recognized that look in his eye. The look so many men wore around her. The look of a man who thinks he can just have his way with her, because he thinks he has her trapped. But in reality Dorothea may look a pretty a rose, but her thorns are sharper. "HA! You might spare me? Listen here little priest, acting like you are some god won't work. " She threw her head back and laughed. "Haven't you realized by now, they don't exist, if they did they'd have to be pretty callous to let a village die like this and resort to cannibalism."

When he pushed her again and demand that she go ahead and beg she was tempted to draw her bow on him. Though with how well fed he looked, there was no way she could take him down. She had used nearly all her strength to kill the deer."Beg!?! Highly Unlikely You aren't even the head priest. I am not going to beg, because I didn't do anything wrong. It's one deer, and my family is on the verge of death, because of you" She hadn't realized that she was talking to the very god who had caused all the misfortunate to her home. All she knew was that he was annoying her and probably expected her to offer her body to beg forgiveness.

She felt that there was no more reason to stay her and listen to him shout. It would take him time to gather the rest of temple and clearly he had no idea who she was. There was nothing stopping her from taking the deer and leaving. He didn't appear to be carrying a weapon. "I'll be leaving, I hope I never have the misfortunate of seeing your pious face again." With that last insult out she bent down to pick of the deer once more.

See this was proof there was no such things as gods. A god wouldn't just shout at her to beg for forgiveness. He just smite her. Plus in some off chance that she was wrong, and the gods do exist than Aristide had to be the worst god of them all. He let an entire region fall into despair and didn't spare the glance. So if he was real he wouldn't show up to yell at some mortal over a deer.

All it took was one sentence from Aristide to confirm he was nothing more than a monster. He did get some sick pleasure in tormenting them. To him they were nothing but toys to play with. Sure it was a line to cross to be spitting at him and attacking him no matter how feeble the attempt to keep insulting him. Yet Dorothea was stubborn and had a major flaw of not knowing when to pick her battles. However after her tirade she didn't speak again, in fact she expected him to kill her out anger. Not because she had actually hurt him, but he seemed to think he was something amazing and she was here insulting that.

The last thing she expected what his tantrum of him proclaiming he didn't ask to be a god. So while she hated to admit it, they had something in common, they both found their life to be a curse in some ways. "You think we have no cares, no responsibilities? You think we all put our hopes and faith in gods, and deserve to die. If I placed all my hopes in gods like you, do you really think I'd be out here hunting on sacred land, trying to feed my family? Our village was doing just fine until your temple was built. Until your priests told us we couldn't hunt anymore. No one in this village is happy or careful!"

He was infuriating, she wanted to reach out and shake sense into him. He was screaming about how carefree everyone was, yet ignored all the bleakness of the world. Did he not see that while mortals weren't blessed with godly powers, they had their own problems, expectations force upon them. He wasn't the first person forced into a position they want just ask any child king. " So you punish us because you are unhappy, in order to get revenge on whomever made you god? I think you might want to take your complaints to whoever forced you into this position, instead of playing with mortal lives."


Before she knew it, he was yet again taking his rage out on her. Screaming that he would make her his, and he would enslave her. It was pathetic, he was threating to wipe out her entire village. The same village that at most had a handle of elder left, the village that was already in ruin and at most would last couple more months. It was enough to make her laugh, and so she did. In fact her laughter sounded almost as if she was going mad. She felt like must be. "I'd kill myself before I ever served you. You'll what kill any male suitor, that'd be doing me a favor.

She took a step forward all while grinning like a mad women, she forward towards him before speaking once more. " You claim my family will only have you to rely one, but foolish they already think like that. You've already basically wiped out the village. The way I see, there nothing for me to gain here either way. It doesn't seem like you'll start doing your job as god since you hate it so much. You are only willing to help me, if I give you my body and frankly if I wanted to take the route, I would have married the numerous men my parents had tired forcing on me. So the way I see it here, there no reason for me to listen to you. Everyone I know will dead soon. Plus since you healed the deer, all I've done really insult you."

Did what she say make her sound heartless, sure, but there was no way she was going to willing be his plaything. Now she wasn't foolish enough to demand make her his wife, or dream of some special romance with a god. But she wasn't going to enter a situation where she was the only one with something to loose. "But, if you want instead someone you can talk to daily, and tell things that you can't share with anyone else, I'd be willing to do that. I may not know what it's like to be a god, but I do know what it's like to live someone's intense expectations for you. I'll even swear to a vow of secrecy, not that anyone would believe, they'd probably sacrifice me to the gods, if I said anything like that to them. Granted, that is if you haven't decided to kill me already?"

She didn't know what possessed her to offer some sort of friendship offer to him. Not that she expected him to take it, she did just insult him a bunch. But she also knew what it was like to be lonely, to want something outside the normal. She didn't just want to settle for being someone's wife, to be tossed around by faith. Maybe that's why she railed so hard against him, her was angry at the world. Or maybe she was just foolish. Maybe only the gods knew.

Dorothea didn't know when she was suppose to head to the temple. He didn't give her any direction other than play the harp and summon me, did that mean he expected her to spend the whole day with him? She couldn't possibly do that, she was the only one in her family who could still mange to work the fields. Not that it was yielding any crops. Then she had to go scrounge for acorns and anything else, that they might find to eat that wasn't in protected land.

It didn't help that once it was morning, her parents were pestering her with a million questions. Why was she covered in bruises? "I fell" She lied. But that led to them questioning the one on her chin, where a certain brutish god has gripped her too tight. Why was she going to temple, why didn't she stay here today. They knew of a nice man who'd be visiting today, and maybe she could give him a chance. "No! you really shouldn't do that. I told you, I don't want to marry. You know, the gods don't want me to marry.".

Which of course her parents weren't going to listen. Much like Aristide's parents, hers didn't listen either. They were worried, and wanted her to just grow up and accept it was time to get married. Sensing that she wasn't going to get anywhere, Dorothea had rushed off to due her morning chores before the fight could get worse. It was midday before she made her way back to the home. She had managed to find a few more acorns than normal. It made her briefly wonder, if this was what he might by providing for the land. It was an improvement sure, but wasn't going to fix a thing.

When she got home, her mother not giving her the chance to run off, had forced her to sit. It seemed that her mother had decided to doll her up. Which really was just putting her hair up, and forcing her to change into her fancier toga. Then with orders not to leave, her parents told her they would be back with their visitor of the day. There was no way she was going to stay put. First if she met this suitor, it would probably end in his death. At least that what she had been told last night. Instead, she grabbed the harp and left the house via the only window. Thankfully, it was close to the ground.

On her way to the temple, she had to make sure that she avoid the main road in town. Else her parents would have dragged her back. She also knew that she didn't want go directly to the temple, play the harp and summon him, because all the temple folk would swarm him. He had ordered that no one see his harp with her, well at least if they were from the temple. So instead she decided the best location, would be the part of the forest near the river stream. It wouldn't be as rustic for a god, and maybe he'd find the sight pleasant. Not that she cared what he liked, but well he had her life in his hands.

It didn't take her more than an hour to find the river bank. She glanced around and didn't see anyone. She sat down on one of the larger rocks there, and looked down at the harp."Now, how do I play this? Do I just pluck a cord?" Silence was her only answer. Taking a deep breath, she reached out with a single finger and pluck the one cord in the middle.

Dorothea for a moment considered just staying on the ground. If he was going to knock her to it, maybe she'd save him time and just stay there. She titled her head and looked up at him when he first asked her to come here. Why? For a brief moment he held out a hand to her before he pulled it back. So it did seem him care about something for a second. Sighing she picked herself up from the ground. She paused once she was standing to dust off her clothing. Her mother would be upset with her for ruining these robes, it would be impossible for them to get the thread to fix it. Finally as he demanded twice she approached him. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked well anywhere but his face. Yet again he had hurt her and had the gull to be angry that she wasn't entertaining him

She had to bite her tongue when he asked didn't she want to leave this wretched village. A village that was only wretched because of his very actions. She took a deep breath before speaking. "Do you not have place you love? Do you not have a home you don't want to leave behind? If I leave, my parents give up. They are already so weak now, I am the only one who can still collect food for them. Marriage isn't all rainbows. I'll be nothing more than slave in my husband's home forced to birth child, and possibly beaten if I fail to give him sons. There is no stable future for me, I'll be held to the whims of my husband, and my parents die. Selfish as it may be, or stupid, it's better to chase them all off to prolong what time they have left.". She didn't expect him to understand. His parents, his friends, all the other gods lived forever. There was no end.

There was no cruel goodbyes. They got to what they wanted, even if they killed entire villages nothing happened to them. Here he was demanding her to talk about something, but she didn't know what to talk about. Lately all her life had been trying to survive, she wasn't sure if she could remember something interesting. She scoffed when he asked if she tried to look fancy for him. If she was trying to look fancy for him, it'd be better to have shown up as naked as the day she was born. As he had made it very clear where his real interest with her lied. "You really do better at telling my mother that. This is all her doing.".

She didn't want him to think she had told her mother about this, she had a feeling that would anger him. Adjust her voice to tone that was mock of her mother's voice. "Why Dorothea, the most wonderful man will be in town today, you must simply look your best. This might very well be your last chance to be wife. Now sit here and let me do your hair.". She would have pulled down, if she could figure how to undo what her mother had done. Which she felt might have been her mother's intention.

" As for the bruises those weren't of my making, and it'll probably take weeks to heal. So guess you'll be stuck with the unsightly sight for a bit" She shrugged, there wasn't much she could do about it. Humans were not made to be touched with full godlike strength. She had to roll her eyes when he said he wasn't impressed, if that was the case, why was he playing nervously with his hair. Not that she cared what he thought. He was a jerk, okay a good look jerk...but a JERK. She bit down on her bottom lip and fiddled with her toga nervously. "So the harp...how long have you been studying it?". She was eager to get the conversation off her looks, and maybe he would take the chance to wax on about himself.

Dorothea rolled her eyes at his insistence that he only healed her because he didn't want to look at the cut. " I know that, but I still benefited from it, the least I can do is thank you. ". She snapped. It wasn't like she was going to think she was special to him. " At least there is an end to it? I don't know why you envy the ability to die. I don't want to die. None of us want to die." Maybe he was annoyed with having forever, but what did she get? A short life time, and then bam it's over. No more anything, he would get to partake in the joys of living forever and he just wanted to toss it away. Maybe he should have been the god of the underworld, then he could have all the death he wanted.

Dorothea mused on his thoughts about marriage between gods. "Well honestly, that sounds alot like human marriages. You are lucky if there is love. Most people don't love whom they marry. Sure they love their kids, but I won't get to choose to have a child because I love my husband. I'll be forced to carry a child, but that's the expectation. Then if I'm lucky to live through the birth, I get to do it again. Well if I'm lucky, maybe my husband won't take a mistress. He'll just visit the bath houses. But if I wanted a lover, or did anything to ruin my purity, I'd be hung in the streets" He really didn't get that humans were just as flaw as gods, if not even more flawed. Dorothea signed, " Maybe that's all marriage is for anyone, god or human, just a business transaction. What a waste of time for everyone.". She muttered bitterly. It was something she couldn't escape, it would be the very thing that would destroy her.

No one who had come for her hand, wanted to marry her because they loved her. Sure they desired her flesh, or her parent's land, but no one truly wanted her. She was just another shiny thing for them to posses. Just like she was a shiny toy for Aristide. It was exhausting. She ran her hand through part of her hair and turned her back to him. She stared up at the sky wondering if there was anyone out there would want her just for who she was, but well it was a foolish thought wasn't it.

There he was going on about humans created babies out of love. Was it really love? Or was it more their own selfish gain. A son to carry on the family line, a daughters to marry off to get more wealth. Children to use as labor. A never ending cycle, maybe he was right about something after all. Humans deserved to be hated. "You are mistaken, not all children are created out of love. Many a men force themselves upon women to get a child. Or a child is born, just to carry on the line, or to marry off to get someone more wealth. There are a lot more horrors on this land. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. No one here is truly free. We all have a role thrusted upon us, and it's so suffocating."

Here he was whining again that he never choose to be in charge of them. But they never asked him to be in charge. No human asked for gods to rule them, it was just something they had decided to do. "You know, we never asked the gods to be in charge. My village, before your temple was built, while yes we did pray and make offerings to the gods, we gathered and hunted for our own food. We aren't allowed to that anymore, because we're told that you'll take care of us. But we didn't ask for that, we didn't say oh please change our entire way of life. So who decided to force you the gods and goddesses to take care of the humans?"

Dorothea shook his head. Had he really not realized how their situations weren't similar. No of course not, because he only cared for this grief. "I have just wasted breath explaining how no we don't really have freedom. I don't get to chose any path in my life. I am delaying it. I could forced into the bridal bed tonight, and I would have to go kicking and screaming, but I'd have to go. I know that life will be the death of me, and I can't escape it. Just like anyone I've ever known. We control nothing and any freedom we have is merely an illusion to keep us obedient to the gods."

When he ordered her to sit, she decided to comply and sit down where she had been standing. Well at least she knew what to do now? Dorothea shook her heads at the comments about wouldn't it be great. She could launch into an lecture, about how sure she didn't want to marry, because she didn't want to be tied down, or at least find someone wouldn't do that, but she also wanted love. If she took the night of pleasure, and embraced the exile, how would she live? She's a woman, unless she becomes a lady of the bathhouse she'd have to way to make money. Women weren't allowed to impact society, like the goddess were allowed to. She decided to go with a simpler response. "It's just not that simple.." She muttered softly.

When he mentioned she thought him a monster, she was snapped out of her musings. She felt slightly ashamed at her earlier comments, and she averted her gaze. She understood him better down, and she felt sympathy, but she also didn't want to die because he couldn't be bothered. When he made the soft whisper, she barely caught the words. If she had felt more daring, she might protest. She could launch into a tirade must, like yesterdays. But part of her knew it would be hollow. She didn't know what she was feeling, she was confused.

Dorothea could hear the change in his voice. She shift back to the cocky arrogant god, he like'd to be. She must have gotten to bold, for him to reminder her of her roles. But she didn't know what to say. " I just realized I never told you my name was Dorothea and I realized you must be bored of talking, so I figured I might try another form of entertainment." Now of course it wouldn't be the sort of entertainment he would prefer, but well he was the god of music, and she had been told her voice was pleasant and she could carry a tune. In truth, she had a beautiful singing voice, but she was not suppose to boastful.

Dorothea took a deep breath before she started singing the Thanasis Kleopas-Hymn. It was a very hymn dedicated to Apollo and a muse. At least it would give her time before having to find another conversation.

(Hymn)

Dorothea had to muse over his words, when he said that maybe her parents had just wanted the best of her. She wanted to shout, how did they know what was the best for her, when she didn't know. She had a feeling that he might share the sentiment. "Maybe.." Maybe if they had managed to have another kid, she would have been allowed to enter the temple. But she wasn't sure she wanted that either. She couldn't get married if she did that. She didn't want to marry because she had to, she wanted to marry for love, but clearly that was foolish.

She made a small whistle when he stated that he heard every single one. Sure she could jump up and berate him for saying it was annoying. She could shout at him, demand to know how he could be so cold to ignore the pleas of humans. To let her and her people starve, because he didn't want the position given to him. It would be easy to do it, but she went quiet. She was pondering his words, and as she mulled over the thoughts she started tracing patterns on the ground with her fingers. As she mused, she came to the conclusion, that while she didn't like him treating them so badly, she go understand where he was coming from. " While you know where I stand in regards to your duties, I don't blame you for being annoyed. It must be taxing to listen to ever prayer for all time. I'm sure you aren't the only god who tunes out the voices. "

She had to wonder if maybe he just did the bare minimum of work, aka letting the crops grow here, maybe it would be enough. But she also knew that if things turned around, humans who say it was his work and then ask for more. But did they really deserve to die because the order of the world? She could even point out that she had tried to provide for herself and he decided to punish her because it went against the world. Though she didn't think that would have any impact. It was hard because she could sympathize with how he felt, but she hated that she'd have to suffer because he was unhappy, or he thought them weak. " If only there was a middle ground to it all" The words were spoken so soft, that they barely left her mouth.

When Aristide explained that this was uncomfortable she had to agree slightly. Just a day ago she had been so sure of everything, and of how cruel he was and now she was a jumbled mess inside. When he asked for her to sing at the temple, or at least for him, she knew she shouldn't agree. There was no way she could agree to join to the temple right now. "I can't join the temple, but I'll sing for, but only you."

The rest of the night went by in a blur for Dorothea. If she was asked years from now what she had done that night she wouldn't remember. It was truly an unremarkable night. At some point she had gone to bed and arose the next day before mornings light. She frowned not wanting to sneak out of the house, but knew that if she didn't a certain sun god would be smiting some people today. Then again at least he'd be doing something. Pushing away the anger she felt at that situation, she needed to focus on getting ready for the day. Unlike when her mother forced her into her best outfit and did her hair, she went the simply venture. A simple blue chiton*, and she left her hair down. She didn't care to impress him, and wasn't going ages trying to pick her best outfit as other girls might do, if they were meeting him. She grabbed his harp and knew it was time to leave.

Once she was properly clothed she tip toed across the house. When she made it to the door she opened it slowly and shut it quietly. She was actually surprised that her parents were both still sleeping. Dorothea had expected that one of them might be waiting for her to try and keep her there. It seemed that they were too trust of their daughter and expected her to just follow their wishes. It was almost funny, but really the more she pondered the thought, the more she realized that like Aristide she was also refusing to due her duty. Of course she resented that comparison in her mind, because her refusing to meet suitors or get married didn't cause an entire village to die. It was confusing to relate to his own struggles, but also be angry at the position he had forced her into by his in action.

She shook of her thoughts as she realized she couldn't just stand outside her house pondering the whole Aristide situation. While she would have loved to have a morning meal, she knew that she didn't have time for that or time to try and forage for something to eat. Instead she made her way to the temple and it's forest. She wasn't sure where she might call him from, but she eventually found a nice well hidden spot near the temple. No river today, and by the time she had found the spot, the sun had risen. Deciding that she didn't want to bother with the fuss of trying to figure out where to sit, she took a seat on the ground, in front of a tree. She had her back pressed against the tree, and placed his harp in her lap. Taking a deep breath, and steeling her nerves she plucked a string on the harp.

It was almost funny how quickly he appeared. It made her wonder if he was alone and that was why he could come so quickly. Though she could picture him surrounded by gods and just like running off midsentence. Anything to avoid work right? "Morning.." She might have added his name to her greeting, but well she couldn't dare call him by name could she? She had dared to do a lot of outrageous things, but calling him by his name felt too wrong or maybe to intimate. She was suppose to be angry at him, for this situation, not making buddy buddy with him. She'd have to do well to remember that to. She looked at him like he was crazy when he asked why she changed her clothing. Was he kidding? Was this some odd joke? " No, changing clothing isn't so suitors, it because our clothing gets dirt and gross. We can't just wave a hand and be clean and fresh smelling."

She didn't expect him to ask her how her night had been. She briefly considered answering him honestly for a moment. To tell him it was terrible, because of his laziness and refusal to take care of anyone. It would be almost refreshing to go back to screaming at him. It would get rid of this uneasy feeling within her, but well it was pointless to do so. He had already told her what he thought of her kind. Dorothea didn't even come to see him because she wanted to, he had threaten his parents, and while yes they would die soon because of his inaction, her whole plan these last few years was prolonging their lives. " It was fine. " It was a lie, but a simple lie. It wasn't like he really wanted to know, because seconds later he was demanding a song for her.

What, was she a bird? No of course she wasn't a bird, if she was she'd be in better health. He cared about animals, not about humans. She looked bitter for a moment before letting her expression fall blank. Fine, she'd sing like she'd promise, but she wouldn't be happy or sad about it. She'd would ware a blank, almost lifeless expression while she did it. It was what he wanted from humans after all, he wanted them all lifeless as some petty revenge because he was a god and he didn't want to be. She took in a deep breath, before she starting singing her song of longing for freedom and peace. It was as if she was serenading all she would know to never be hers. A sad longing song.

As she sang, Dorothea was glad that this time he didn't stop her song. She had half expected him to shout that this one wasn't good enough either. When she had reached the end of her song, she didn't say anything. In fact she let the silence fall between them, and linger. This whole interaction with him left he feeling confused and conflicted. She felt like she was at constant war with herself. She was either really angry at him, or wanting to impress him and sometimes it was both. Both songs to her had similar meanings, so why had he disliked the other? Why did she care, she knew her saw her as a mere toy, but the idea that something she had done dissatisfied him, bothered her, and she was angry at that. Dorothea didn't really have the time to ponder this line of thinking. It caught her off guard when Aristide reached out and grabbed her hand.

At the simple action, she had expected to feel annoyance, but in addition to that annoyance her heart seemed to skip a beat. The unwelcomed emotion, made her shake his hand off immediately. She wiped both of her hands against her clothes, not because she loathe his touch, she did a bit, but because suddenly her palms were feeling sweaty. "I.." She was at a loss for words. She pushed some of her hair behind her ear, as she watched him turn his back to her again. If she had to guess at what he feeling, she would almost seemed shy. As he brushed hair hair into his face, she had only one thought. 'Adorable' Dorothea's eyes went wide as she realized what she had just thought. A bright red flush was spreading across her face. Merlin, what was wrong with her? She needed to stop thinking like this, she hated him! Because he was selfish, because he didn't care for humans, because he wouldn't do his job. She needed to remember that, she couldn't start acting like some foolish girl in summertime.

She didn't even care that he had cut her off from answering his question. Of course the food had helped her, but not the singing. She really didn't register the second time she grabbed her hand. She nodded as he said, let walks. She rose, not letting go of his hand and started leading them North. She didn't know much of what was in the area but, she did at least know that if they had gone west, it would be the temple, and east would lead to the town. " Did you know that there use to be lots of festivals in town?" She didn't finish with that simple question, she started explaining some of the various festivals the village use to have. While she had not be able to attend the on dedicated to him, there were others she was allowed to go to, if her Father escorted her. She was busy telling him about the festival of Khoes (Dionysos drinking one), when she realized that her hand felt very warm.

She glanced down at her hand, as she walked and realized she was still holding Aristide hand. If someone saw them in the distance, they might think the two of them as a pair of young lovers. She frozen in place for a second, as her face, back of neck and skin flushed a bright red. She dropped his hand, and moved to hide behind a tree trunk for a second. " I need a moment please, forgive me." Her words were rushed out and followed by squeaks of embarrassment. She couldn't believe what she had just allowed to happen, She's suppose to be angry, not getting attached or doing dumb things like this. He had only feed her because he wanted a better song. He didn't care for her, she needed to stop just going with the follow. It didn't matter that he heart was beating so loud, that she was sure he could hear it.

Dorothea ran her hand through her hair, tugging on it slightly. She was hoping the minor pain might snap her back into normalcy. She should come out from behind the tree and berate him. Demand to know what he had done to her, because she hadn't acted like this before. Maybe the grapes had been bewitched? No, that didn't make sense. She was just confused, and she knew he didn't care about her. It was all for his entertainment, and she didn't care that the thought of that made her heart ache. She didn't care about him, she didn't! Right? Oh she was panicking, what was happening to her.