The Gift of the Lethe

Memories From the Moirai

Three hooded women step from the shadows, each holding something in their hands. One of them is holding a basket full of balls of yarn and knitting needles, the woman behind her is holding a pair of golden shears, and the one in the very front is holding a faintly glowing bundle of fabric. Athena inhales sharply and when she speaks, her hushed voice has a reverant tone to it.

"The Moirai. What can I do for you?"

The one holding the shears speaks. "We have gifts for you, Athena."

Athena blinks. "Gifts? I don't understand, Atropos."

Atropos motions to her sister with a hand. "Clotho?"

The woman holding the fabric - Clotho - steps forward, handing the bundle to Athena. She motions for it to be shaken out and Athena does, gasping at the tapestry that unfurls. It's made primarily of silver-gray thread, with plenty of seafoam thread thrown in, shimmering like pearls. There are spots where vibrant gold pokes through, along with a pale blue and bright turquoise and ocean blue, and the tiniest hints of electric blue.

Unlike the tapestries she makes, this one doesn't make a clear picture at first glance. But at different angles, different images emerge. A face from her memory, long since faded into nothingness. She hasn't seen this face since she was very, very young. Herself and Pallas as children appears next, joy on their faces.

Athena in full regalia, proud and imposing. Apollo standing side by side with her, power glowing off their bodies with Zeus at their feet. She stares at the tapestry, reaching out for Pallas' hand. She'd dropped it to take the tapestry before, but she finds she needs the comfort of her touch again. Athena tightens her grip on the top of the tapestry once Pallas squeezes her hand.

"What is this?"

"Memories, spun from the lives connected to you."

Lachesis, the last Moirai, adds, "Each shade of thread represents a different person in your life." She pauses to set her basket on the floor and steps over to Athena to peer at the thread, pointing to the silver-gray first. "This is you." The seafoam follows. "Pallas." Gold, "Apollo, Triton" is the turquoise, ocean blue is Poseidon, and the electric blue is Zeus.

"And this one?" Athena points to the pale blue shade with her thumb, barely visible amongst the rest.

"That's your mother, Metis."

Athena brushes a finger against it. "My mother?"

"Oh yes. Do you know of the prophecy about her?"

Athena blinks. "The one about a son borne by her that would overthrow Zeus? What about it?"

"At long last, this prophecy has come to pass."

"I don't understand. How can it come to pass? I don't have a brother, at least not one that is also my mother's child."

Atropos laughs. "Over time, the exact wording was lost to you. Your father believed that the prophecy meant Metis' son, and so he consumed her to prevent it. But the exact phrasing of the prohecy was 'a child of Metis, a son of Zeus'. Thought to be your brother, specifically born after you as was mentioned elsewhere in the prophecy, but in truth meaning two children. One a child of Metis, one a son of Zeus. You, and your brother Apollon, together make the prophecy fulfilled."

Pallas tightens her grip on Athena's hand. "What does this mean now?"

"It menas this was always fated to happen, and you were always meant to be the catalyst. We thought it would occur differently, but it seems that when Zeus chose to defy our ruling, he sealed his fate."

Clotho smiles at Athena. "We will now take our leave of you."

Lachesis steps back to lift her yarn once more and together, they vanish with the sound of scissors snipping. After another look at the tapestry, Athena flicks her fingers to dismiss it to her home for the time being. She glances at Pallas.

"Are you ready?"

At a nod from Pallas, the two of them disappear.

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What do you think of the tapestry? What of the nuances of the prophecy wording? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out