Chapter Text
‘Artemis…’
The goddess turned her head around so fast she almost fell down her tree. ‘Ariadne? Is something wrong?’ She clutched her left hand around her bow.
Ariadne snickered. ‘No, Artemis, still nothing wrong. Sorry.’
Artemis rolled her eyes. With her bow and arrow still in hand, she slid down the tree branch, so that she was on the same level as her guest.
‘Then what are you doing here?’
‘I had an inquiry. Or more something I wanted to tell you, it isn’t really a question…’
‘Spill. Yet, I swear, if Dionysus hurts you in any way, you just yell, and I will kill him.’
‘Please don’t.’
Artemis raised her chin. ‘Say what you want to say.’ Ariadne sighed. ‘Is it that difficult?’
‘Let’s just say that, hypothetically, there was a girl who had an actual romantic relationship with a man.’
‘Yes, hypothetically. All so hypothetical. Gross. I would have tried to talk her out of it, if she wasn’t already too close to him.’
Ariadne gave her a look. ‘You still tried to talk me out of it, Artemis. Anyway, this total hypothetical relationship was mostly… freeing for this woman, after she was stuck in a grimy palace for years. And she told that to this man, who knew a thing or two about freedom.’
‘I’d say I sort of get that. Still, I don’t know why you would… she would voluntarily do it.’
Ariadne let out a giggle, before composing herself. ‘Let’s say that this man suddenly got really nervous around you…’
‘Do I have to shoot him?’
‘Artemis! And you get the feeling that he might be planning on asking you to…’ she sighed, preparing for Artemis’ reaction, ‘...to marry him.’
‘What?’
‘And, he seems worried, because you might say no. Because the idea of marriage is not often one of freedom.’
‘What!?’
‘Yet, he still asks.’
‘Ariadne!’ Artemis picked up her bow, then took a deep breath. ‘I mean. I mean, you should think about this. I mean, not just because of your freedom, but also because of life, and death, and Dionysus, I mean this hypothetical guy…’
‘Artemis?’
‘What!?’ Artemis yelled, breathing heavily.
‘I basically already said yes. I told you it wasn’t really a question.’
Artemis took a deep breath. ‘Then why did you… oh, fuck it.’ Ariadne chuckled when Artemis dropped her bow and arrows to the ground.
The goddess sighed a sigh that transformed into a laugh. ‘I wish you the best of luck, Ariadne. I really do. I think it’ll make you happy.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘But don’t think I approve of this!’
‘Of course not, Artemis.’
‘I mean it,’ she snapped.
‘I know! I know!’
Artemis sighed. ‘You should leave now.’
Ariadne sarcastically raised an eyebrow. ‘And why is that?’
‘So that I can congratulate your fiancé,’ Artemis said through gritted teeth.
‘Hm.’
‘Walk slowly.’
‘See you at the wedding, Artemis.’
Ariadne thought she would walk away to loud fake gagging. Instead, she heard Artemis sigh, then giggle, before she was gone.