“Hesta!  Hesta!”

Hestia turned around to see the small toddler, running down the hall toward her.  “Tristan!” she easily picked him up into her arms as he ran into her.  “What are you doing up?  You need to rest, little one.” It had only been about a week since she had brought the child to her temple, barely alive from the Atlantean wreck.  Her priestesses had worked through the night to get him to a point that he was no longer near death.  However, he had crawled out of bed the next morning and started wandering the temple, crying when he managed to get himself lost.  Hestia had found him on her way out of the Hearth Chamber on a break from her vigils.  She had picked him up and carried him back to his room, staying with him and telling him stories until he stopped crying and fell back asleep. Rest was what he needed.  But of course, the next morning, he had crawled out of bed again, looking for ‘Hesta’ as he called her (bless him, he couldn’t pronounce her name yet). Luckily, she had been in the main chamber and he had found her before he got lost. When she had tried to take him back to his room, however, he had started crying and wouldn’t stop until she came back to see him.  Since then, he’d grown quite attached (almost literally) to her.

“I wanna see Hesta! Wanna story!” he said excitedly, a big smile on his face.

“Is there no one else who will tell you a story?” Hestia asked, balancing him on her hip as she continued walking.  “Hesta’s very busy today, as much as she would love to spend time with you, darling boy.” She tapped his nose.

Tristan pouted, crossing his little arms.  “Wanna see Hesta.  Miss Hesta.  Other peopuh afwaid of me.”

“Oh, now that’s not true!” she hugged him tightly. 

“I felt it.  Dey afwaid. Dey no wike my eyes.”

Hestia sighed.  She had known this would happen.  From the moment the little dark haired boy had opened his eyes to reveal pale silver orbs, she knew that everyone would be put off by them.  Eyes coloured like his were usually considered a sign of being touched or cursed by the gods.  Such people were often shunned, as it was with anything different. 

Of course, Hestia knew that his eye colour came from the fact he had magic ability.  She also knew that his ability had something to do with emotions.  He could feel them like a human would feel the wind on their face or the sting of driving rain.  She saw things change in the air around him whenever he was feeling an extreme emotion, good or bad.  But she couldn’t start properly training him to control his ability when he himself didn’t understand what he had.  “Just give them time.  I’m sure they will grow to love you.”

“Like Hesta. Hesta woves me.” He grinned, hugging her around the neck.

Hestia smiled warmly at him.  “Yes she does.” She ruffled his hair.

The little boy giggled and played with her long brown hair.  “Hesta woves me~ Hesta woves me~” he sang happily.

Hestia chuckled but stopped short as she felt a new presence nearby.

“Hesta?  Hesta, why you scawed?” Tristan asked, frowning in worry.

“It’s nothing little one.” She said quickly, not at all surprised that he had felt her fear.  There was good reason for it.

“I would not have believed it unless I saw it.” Demeter was standing, having come through the portal, in the middle of the hallway behind them.  “Hestia, what in Zeus’ name are you thinking?!”

“I do not know what you are referring to, Demeter.” Hestia managed to keep a steady tone.

“I’m referring to you taking a child into your care.  And not just any child, but an ATLANTEAN child!  Hestia, Zeus will be furious that you have allowed yourself something to distract you from your duties!  He will bring another storm if he finds out that you are caring for an Atlantean!”

“Last I checked, sister, my actions are my choice.” Hestia said calmly, setting Tristan down on the floor.  “Stay right here, okay?” she said to him softly. The little boy nodded and clung to Hestia’s cloak. 

“You are defying Zeus.”

“It will be good for our brother not to get his way for once.” Hestia replied, surprised at her boldness.

Demeter’s eyes widened.  “You are speaking treason.”

“It is treason to not leave a child to die?”

"That child could spell the end of the Olympian Gods!"

“I saw a war in my vision. Not an innocent child.” Hestia replied, sparing a smile for the child at her feet.

“A war that could be caused by that so-called ‘innocent’ child!  Hestia, do you understand what you are doing?!  I just hope you’re not planning on helping the boy with his powers—.” She paused as she saw the look in her sister’s eyes. “Hestia, NO--.”

“Actually, sister…That is PRECISELY what I plan to do.”