• Chapter 5

    What Apollo had not realized was that he had disappeared for 10 months. Nyneve had kept him asleep to see how Arthur could grow on his own. Following two months after Apollo’s
    disappearance, Artemis followed her brother’s wish. She introduced Arthur to the others, and began his training regiment with them. With Athena, he studied the ways of a calculating commander through Alexander the Great and Sun Tzu. She also taught him how to use a shield, not just for defensive maneuvers, but how it could greatly help an aggressive assault. With Heracles, Arthur was taught how to wrestle and, if unable to reach his weapons, how to fight hand to hand. Heracles also taught him the way of the sword. Artemis taught Arthur how to use the bow and arrow, in the event that he wished to attack a opponent from a
    distance. From the Goddess of the Moon, Arthur also learned how to hunt and forage, to
    survive off the fat of the land. In intense heat, Hephaestus taught Arthur how to forge and
    repair weapons. It was also in the forge that Arthur learned all the different metallic
    characteristics, as what would break sooner or had a lower melting point. While all of these lessons fascinated him, the ones with Athena and Heracles is what Arthur truly enjoyed. After a month and a half had pass, they had all began to worry about Apollo. But life carried on and though she grew sad with the possibility of Apollo’s death, Artemis became the
    temporary leader. Arthur’s 12th birthday came around and, uncharacteristically, Artemis
    decided to throw a party for Arthur. At first, the goddess didn’t care for the first champion. But when Apollo left him in her care, Artemis began to bond with young Arthur, and the care and love she had for him was what she believed was the equivalent of taking care of
    offspring. She raised Arthur like her own. It was in these past months that Artemis began to love the boy and vowed not to let anything happen to him. Artemis sent Arthur to go hunt some wild boar, to give herself time to set the hut up for a party. She wrapped his presents that the others left,as they had business on Olympus. She put up a banner that said, “Happy b-day, Champion Arthur.” She even baked him a cake. When Arthur came home a few hours later, Artemis jumped out and shouted, “Surprise!” This frightened Arthur to the point of him
    jumping, dropping his kills. Artemis laughed and picked him up and hugged him.
    “Happy birthday, Arthur,” she said smiling. Arthur was shocked.
    “B-birthday,” he asked timidly, “You remembered, Lady Artemis?” She nodded.
    “How could I possibly forget. Come on,” she took him by the hand, “lets have our party of two.” Arthur sat down at her humble table and served him his dinner, which consisted of steak and a baked potato, a very rare meal for Artemis. He ate heartily, this being the best meal of his life. Artemis chuckled at his vigor. He finished his plate, to the point of licking it clean. Artemis grinned.
    “I hope you saved room for dessert,” she said bringing out his birthday cake. She sat it
    before him. It was a small cake, but it was well decorated. It read, “Arthur’s 12!,” and was
    chocolate on vanilla, complete with chocolate spread. Arthur wept and began to sniffle.
    “Hunny, whatasa matter,” a concerned Artemis asked. Arthur kept crying.
    “I-it’s ju-just n-n-n-no one’s ever ca-ca-cared abou-about m-m-me enough t-t-to d-d-do this.” Arthur broke into sobs and Artemis held him to her chest and stroke his hair.
    “Well, I care about you sooooo much, Arthi. Now come on. A birthday is supposed to be a happy one, and even though you have such a big job ahead of you, it shouldn’t rob you of a good childhood.” She set twelve candles in the cake and lit them.
    “Now if I have this right, you need to close your eye and make a wish, then blow.” Arthur squeezed his eye shut and blew. He opened his eye and looked at Artemis.
    “I wished that my lady will always be here with me.” Artemis awed at him.
    “Hunny, you didn’t need to use your wish on that. You know I always will be here for you. Now, let’s try that cake.” Arthur nodded. She cut him a slice and he devoured it.
    “My lady, that certainly vouchsafed your cooking abilities. It was delicious!” He grinned and she too grinned.
    “I’m glad you think so, Hun. Ready for your presents?” She handed them to him and he
    began to open them. The first was from Athena. Her present was a medallion which would
    protect him once from a mortal blow. Heracles gave him metal bracers that would increase his strength once more. Hephaestus give him two metal rings, the gold increasing Arthur’s ability to forge and repair weapons and the silver band allowed him to forge without the use of anvil and hammer. His last gift came from Artemis and it came as boots, which
    dramatically made Arthur more agile. They were imprinted with a hunter’s moon. He hugged Artemis and thanked her and asked her to pass his thanks unto the others. She promised she would. They stayed up playing games. Artemis even found a game she liked, a
    mysterious mortal board game, called “Clue.” When she deduced that Miss Scarlet used the poison in the billard room, she saw Arthur had fallen asleep. She smiled and laid him down on his bed. She stroked his hair and kissed his forehead.
    “Goodnight, Champ.” She left him to his dreams.