"You... you are leaving?" The Etruscan king Corythus asked with his newborn son in his arms.
The babe had survived eleven days in the warm embrace of his parents, along with his twin brother who was in his wife's arms.
"This child of mine is born of two Gods. I wish to raise him in Samothrake as I am closer to my sisters." The star nymph Elektra whispered as her attention focused on the child she held.
She looked up at the king she has for a husband. He has been alive for forty years now. His age clear on his face and hands. His arms curled around his son, born from him and her.
"You could raise him here." The king suggested by taking a step forward, "Him and his brother should not grown apart, my dear. They may yearn to see one another often."
Elektra stayed silent for a moment; her eyes drawn downwards to her children.
"I don't plan to separate the two."
The king retreated back with two slow steps.
"Do you mean to..."
"Yes." The nymph answered, "I do intend to take both with me."
Corythus' shoulders squared up, holding his son closer to his chest. The precious boy in his arms stared up at his father with wide eyes. A gentleness that matched the old king who ran his thumb over the child's cheek and nearly sobbed.
"You wish to rob me of fatherhood?" He did sob and his wife gasped.
Elektra hastily neared her husband, reaching out her hand, "My dear Corythus, I would never—"
"Oh, but you do!" He caught her wrist in his grip, "Gone with the wind, you and now the children! Gone just like my youth as my wisdom grows!"
His body shook in anger. Anger he thought would never reach him. Not after it overflowed out of him upon learning the truth of his wife's pregnancy.
Tears fell from his eyes as exhaustion made his shoulders slack. His hand moved from Elektra's wrist to her palm, wrapping his wrinkled fingers around her smooth skin and pulling it in to rest over his chest. Corythus closed his eyes while wishing for time to stop.
"I do not plan to harbor our son in my home forever." His wife whispered in soothing vocals, "Your kingdom will not be robbed of an heir to its throne."
"The throne is not what concerns me most, lovely Elektra. The words he will first speak, his growth in mobility and height, his simple joy and laughter—that is what you take from me in his early years."
Elektra sighed as she observed the children in their arms. Dardanus was who she held and Iasion rested in the king's arms. One asleep, one awake. One with darker hair like hers and one with bright curls like his.
Born of the same mother, but one son with a God for a father and the other a mortal man.
Precious to the nymph all the same.
"Forgive me." She raised her hand from his chest to his face, "Forgive me for the sadness—" Her brows furrowed, "The anger—I have caused in you. I have never met a man anywhere near as patient as you."
"I am getting old." Corythus' voice trembled slightly as he spoke into her palm.
She winced, "I know. I know, dear Corythus." Elektra rested her head against his.
A shaky exhale left the king's lips as he whispered, "Stay."
"Corythus..." Elektra squeezed her eyes shut as it pained her to hear those words.
"Please stay."
Exhaustion weighed down on both of them. Old words respoken hundreds of times with the outcome unchanged.
The star nymph took a breath before opening her eyes and meeting his wearisome gaze.
"When our son is half the age of maturity... I will return him. I will not hide him from you, nor you from him. I promise you." Her gentle eyes begging for his understanding.
His eyes shied away, plagued with thoughts, "I see."
The king felt so distant, despite being right in front of his star.
