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“Mama!”
The first time Melinoë called Hecate mother, her heart fluttered for a split second before dropping completely into her footwear.
She almost dropped Melinoë, the oh so tiny little baby in her arms, but managed to not to do so at the last second.
Hecate had more sense than that.
Oh, how could she explain this to little Melinoë.
Melinoë has a mother. The Queen of the Underworld, Persephone. A lovely woman who wanted nothing more than to raise her daughter when she was robbed of her first experience with Zagreus.
How could Hecate be an accomplice to such an act? It’s not her role in Melinoë’s fate. Hecate has never been a mother. She has the Silver Sisters with Selene and Artemis and also the followers of witch craft that worship her, like Medea and Circe. Being a mother isn’t in her nature.
Hecate knows of Nyx and Zagreus’ relationship. The prince has two mothers, everyone knows of this. Yet, she is mother night, and all know that she is a being of greater power. She is mother to many as well.
All know of the deception that Hades enacted when Persephone fled. No one knew if she would come back. Who else would have raised Prince Zagreus if not Nyx herself?
Hecate knows that all of the house of Hades will be saved. She will make sure of it, has to make sure of it with young Melinoë. To protect her, train her, and care for her. Chronos will never be able to get his hands on Melinoë.
She was not to be a mother to her. Melinoë already had a mother waiting for her, who yearned to be reunited once broken out of her prison forced upon her by Chronos.
Hecate was but only a mentor.
While the thought of having Melinoë as a child of her own does fill her with a small warmth, she can't allow this to happen.
How could she explain this all to a young one? Who just muttered her first words? Hecate was many things but a word smith with a child was not one of them. She won’t be cruel, only truthful.
“No, Melinoë, I'm not your mother,” she finally responded to the baby.
Melinoë didn't realize the internal struggle, but she was a smart baby. She had picked something up. The tilt of her head as stated as such, and yet there was a lack of her being upset. No crying as of now. Hecate expected nothing less of her.
Hecate was proud of Melinoë. For being so strong even as a baby.
Her ward.
Her Princess.
Not her daughter.
------
From that day, Melinoë hadn't referred to her as her mother. Hecate was glad. She wished not to break Melinoë’s heart. Hecate had grown quite fond of the little girl.
They had even started basic training with weapons and had made great progress for the now older child. Nothing of magic just of yet, it was far too dangerous for someone of Melinoë’s age to have a strong grasp of until she was a bit more older.
It was simple staff training, a staff that Melinoë would be required to be more familiar with when her witch training started when the young Melinoë said the words Hecate wished to not hear ever again.
Weapons training was something that Melinoë excelled at and enjoyed almost as equally as much as the tales that Odysseus would weave to the young girl. The tales were of his adventures, how he led countless men in battle with foreign kings, and explained the details of how his wits helped him in any situation. He would dance around the more gruesome topics, until she was of age of course, but also the topic of his family.
Melinoë hang to every word that Odysseus had managed to slip about his family.
The only thing Melinoë couldn't firmly grasp was archery training. That was a disaster that both Odysseus and Hecate would not like to repeat in anytime soon.
So far, Melinoë was training with the staff and the twin blades, the latter of which was added when she miraculously failed using a bow.
When training had finish, it was as late as it could be in the Crossroads. The child needed her rest if she was to grow strong to defeat her enemies.
Hecate had a rigid schedule for the girl and allowed for dalliances like hide and seek, for it was training as well no matter how small.
However, she will not make Melinoë lose any sleep.
“Little Melinoë, it is time for bed,” Hecate commanded as she reached for Melinoë’s hand to guide her to her chambers. A warm tent that they spent some nights together, when Melinoë had felt a little too cold at night or dreams that she refused to give voice to.
“I don't want to!” Melinoë resisted. Hecate knew why, Melinoë was an energetic little girl and Hecate had hoped training would curb some of that energy. It seemed like it hadn't. Perhaps some warm soups or drinks to help her? Or even a story the likes of Odysseus would tell. The man himself wasn’t in the Crossroads at the moment, sadly.
Melinoë tugged the grasp that Hecate had on her arm. “I'm not tired,” For all Melinoë had boasted, she finished that sentence with a yawn.
“Child, it is late. Do not argue with both me and your own body at the same time.”
“But, Mom! Please don't make me sleep yet,” Melinoë whined.
Hecate’s world stopped once again. Just like the last time she was referred to as Melinoë’s mother by the girl herself, her mind raced. All those thoughts came to the same conclusion.
A simple, “I'm not your mother, Melinoë,” escaped her lips.
The sleepy attitude of Melinoë left her, Hecate saw it with her very eyes how the anger took over instead. It didn't seem like a furious type of anger, willing to let her voice be heard by those far reaching. Instead, it was a poised anger. The kind that came with a reasoned attitude.
The more dangerous kind.
“Why not?” Melinoë huffed. A pout on her face.
Hecate held in a sigh. She couldn't put it off for longer. It was time. While Hecate had hinted at Melinoë’s past in bits, it was a hard topic to breach with the child in its full nature.
How could she take the childhood of one so young so soon?
Someone who shouldn't have the world on her shoulders at such a young age.
Yet, Melinoë must hear what happened.
Hecate can only hope to teach her the best she can with all the help she can get to raise her properly. To never fall into Chronos’ hands.
“I'll explain why, Melinoë, but we must first venture to your room.” Melinoë seemed to have wanted to protest some more, she opened her mouth to do as such, but when given a stern look from Hecate, she promptly relented.
Hecate guided Melinoë through the small clearing of the Crossroads, towards the little tent that Melinoë herself slept. The only visitors to this place were Melinoë, Hecate, and some of the ghosts who pass by. She sat Melinoë at the center, some rags cushioned her.
Hecate sat in front of Melinoë, and held her hands. Melinoë sole focus was on Hecate and vice versa.
“I’m not your mother, Melinoë.” Melinoë wanted to protest once again but kept quiet. Hecate was raising her right. “I’m not because you already have a loving mother, father, and older brother. You are the Princess of the Underworld.” There is no room for another mother was left unsaid by Hecate. I will not take the role that belongs to someone else.
“Where are they then? I only have you and Od, and sometimes Charon but he’s always somewhere else,” the little girl questioned. Her voice serious and still a little angry.
“They were taken, by a titan names Chronos. A being that is time itself. Chronos imprisoned your whole family shortly after you were born. You were given to me by your father Hades to be saved,” Hecate simply stated, for what else was there to explain? How Chronos invaded unexpectedly? How her brother Zagreus rushed to fight Chronos alongside his lovers. How Persephone was powerless to do anything? How Nyx herself rushed to Hades to warn him of what just happened only to be imprisoned as well? All the while Hades wanted to keep his youngest child safe with the only person who could slip through Chronos’ sands of time?
Hecate would recount that on a later date.
Hecate let go of Melinoë’s hands. They were limp. It was a shock to the young girl’s system and Hecate was responsible for it.
She wished she wasn’t.
Hecate made way to the corner of Melinoë’s room and pulled out a scroll that she had hidden. For just the right time. The right moment. She went back to the center of the room and handed that scroll to Melinoë.
“Open it, I managed to grab it before I was sent away by your father with you in my arms.”
Melinoë hesitated before opening the scroll, slowly and surely. Her eyes widened when the painting registered.
“It’s me and… my family. Isn’t it?” Melinoë quietly inquired. The words barely left her mouth. She soaked every detail she could of the painting, as if they would somehow slip away.
Hecate could only nod. “They love you dearly, Melinoë. Your mother is named Persephone. Your father is Hades, and your older brother is Zagreus.”
“And they were taken?” She gestured to the painting in her hands. Her gaze hadn’t strayed.
“Yes. It’s my mission to protect you from Chronos, Melinoë, and I will do so to the best of my ability.” Hecate would give her life if she must. “I’m training you to make sure you will never be caught by Chronos. If you wish, I will also train you to save your family from him as well. It is not your job.” It shouldn’t have to be. “There are the Olympians who are currently at war with Chronos to take back what he has stolen so far.” With little success last she heard. It was a complete standstill. Melinoë shouldn’t have to be the tide to changes the war. “It is your choice. Take your time—”
“—I’ll do it!” Melinoë fiercely stated. She finally looked back at Hecate. There was a fire in her eyes. “I’ll get my family back from Chronos. Help me, please.”
Hecate’s sad smile went unseen from her mask. She will make sure that Melinoë will be what she needs to be.
At the cost of everything.
“So mote it be.”
-----
Many years have passed since that day, and Hecate raised someone who would be ready to take on Chronos. Many came to the Crossroads to help Melinoë train, many gods and goddesses lend their knowledge and skills to the young goddess.
Hecate saw Melinoë grow from a young girl to a goddess who could now carry the burdens that fate had placed upon her. They all made sure of it, most of all Melinoë herself.
Melinoë was ready. She had nothing left to learn from Hecate nor from anybody else at the camp. Lessons can only be taught so much before Melinoë had to experience the fruits of her labor and defeat Chronos. It might take one or several hundred attempts, but Hecate knew Melinoë’s resolve.
Melinoë would not stop until she saved her family.
The final test was Hecate herself. To fully test the power and skills Melinoë had acquired.
Hecate had for the first time been defeated by her Melinoë. It hadn’t taken many tries. Melinoë was after all her greatest student and a part of the Silver Sisters.
This would be her first time venturing out of the Crossroads.
Melinoë walked past Hecate. Heading towards the last barrier between the Crossroads and Oceanus.
Hecate couldn’t help but pass her last parting words. “I’m not your mother, Melinoë—”
“—I know—”
“—so, forgive me if this seems like I’m imposing as such.” Hecate turned to face Melinoë. She had done the same and gave Hecate her full attention. “I wouldn’t have wished to raised anyone else. I’m endlessly proud of the goddess you have become.”
Melinoë’s serious face broke and gave way to a small smile. Hecate found herself returning the expression, even if it couldn’t be seen from her mask. Melinoë lifted one of her sister blades, Oros, in salute. “Death to Chronos, Headmistress.”
“Death to Chronos, Melinoë.”