Ever since we left the paradise of Mag Mell behind us, I've been reflecting on the words my grandfather said to me. You didn't come here for my benefit, Rhiannon, you only came here to help yourself first and foremost. The only one you have ever loved is Gentle Annie and you've both got tempers to match. You're my grand daughter and you've got a decent heart in there somewhere but you're not going to trick me into shattering whatever pull Enech still has upon me.
I can write this as my other half rests in a restless slumber, the cold wind, the weight of the task ahead, and Lugh's words keep me from true rest. The soft press of Anna's feathers against our cheek isn't enough to keep the thoughts at bay, nor is the shared dream of Wonderland sweet enough to lull me fully into the world of dreams.
Even here at the mansion in Dublin, tucked between the sprawled, snoring Maiden, and the possessive embrace of the Matron, I can't help but put pen to paper and just work out the jumble of my own thoughts.
Grandda was right. My previous life's path and the path I had easily stumbled back onto after Elysium was simple enough since I took off from Da's ranch more than a thousand years ago. I came first. In everything. After our reconciliation, Anann overtook that. She came first. She still comes first. You can't woo a goddess and not wind up under her spell.
I don't want to lament on my own faults, but Prometheus' warnings against pride weren't just advice. It was a reminder of my own folly since I was visited. It had nearly made me prisoner in Mag Mell for eternity and it set upon me Bres the Beautiful as an enemy who would be happy to see my skull broken under his boot once more. The argument before the Vanir was more than enough of a final nail in the coffin of my arrogance. I may be a lady of the Tuatha. I may be a Queen due to my marriage to Anann. I may be the daughter of Mag Mell's favorite prince … and that means I should never lose Face as I did in that fortress. Not again. I've got my place in the pantheon to start thinking about. I've got my plans to assure that Balor never sees divinity (mine or anyone else's). I've got my daughters to think on. And I've got Wuyi.
Wuyi, who I have offered to join the Tuatha officially. My Grandfather, Lugh, would confirm her bravery and skill, and Anann (though grumbling) would probably support her claim as well. She asked to think on it, and so I'll let her think, but I'll make the offer again after we're done with meeting Loki.
Anna says to wear red, that the color is his favorite. She teases that she'll have to peck at my ears if he woos me, but I told her not to worry. I had standards when it came to men, after all! Still, I have a feeling between having a daughter of Odin with us now (who I positively adore. She reminds me of Caoihme, an old… old friend) and the fact that I'm alluring enough to have Loki come sniffing around if I start asking for him … we'll have our meeting with the Lie-Smith.
His task will be just as unpleasant as cutting down the Golden Apple trees but his task would not be for the Titans. It would be a trick that would have us looked upon with wariness, but not resentment. One way or the other, we will have Artemis' first strike against us … while we're essentially on Prometheus' task and that should be enough for a strategist amongst the Greeks to use that to get their pantheon back in the war. They all can't be so content with twiddling their thumbs.
Plus, now that we have rescued a daughter of the Vanir, and the daughter of Odin … it would be terrible to go chop down the garden. Not after Vana came in and was the Queen that I should aspire to be. ...but with a little more seduction added in. I'm not a mother hen, after all. Mayhaps the fight between Tal, Benjamin, and myself was meant to be. Without it, we would have continued on battling the Eagle Warriors who were still pinning us down in the fortress and left her behind.
With that fight, we were able to bring rest to the Vanir ghosts, watch their last stand one more time, and bring Vana out of her thousand year slumber. Fate, mysterious ways. I should know, I'm sleeping with her.
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