War was bloody and deadly there was no doubt that war left chaos in its wake. City walls fell and men took their last breaths. Children cried for their fathers and boys turned into men on the battlefield. Aphrodite knew that war came with the terms of being mortal, but she hated it. She couldn’t bare to hear the screams from the women who lost not only their husbands but their sons. She knew in the back of her mind that her vanity was the cause of the war, yet history would only show that Helen’s beauty and body was the true cause. Furthermore, history would write that Paris’ weakness was what his other head longed for most of all. Paris was so young when he made the chose and Aphrodite kept her promise, but at a true cost.

As she flew overhead as the battle below was in full swing. She watched as men fell to their deaths at the hand of another. Aphrodite only flying above with tears in her eyes to find her son. The son of the Trojan royal family and brother to King Priam, Anchises. Aeneas knew who his mother was even though she barely kept in contact with him. The Goddess of Love figured that he was in good hands by being under the care of his father. Plus, she knew that for him to be anything, she could not really interfere with his life. He must carve his own path of destiny through means of the mortals to gain herohood and later possible godship.

She warned her son when was able to understand all that she could say to him that he was never to say who was his mother’s identity. Aphrodite was wise in this, but she also told him that he would also always be protected. Through the sea of the warriors and death, Aphrodite had a hard time finding him. Until his blonde locks was pointed out to her by Apollo. “Thank you, brother.” She said flying down to her son who had his back up against the wall. “Mother, you should not be here.” He said with fear in his eyes. He was so strong and had age welled. He looked so much like his father, yet to Aphrodite, he was still her son. “Shh. my son, no one can see and there is a protective barrier around us. You must stop fighting and flee with a select few of me. Your time is not on this battlefield. Your fate is in another land but hurry you do not have much time.” She looked at her son with a mother’s look as if she would never see him again.

“But mother, father and everyone else.” He said with a pleading tone in his voice as he hugged her tightly. “You will be protected by your aunts and uncles who are fighting alongside the mortals for Troy. But Troy will fall, and you must start anew.” She said in a very soft and loving tone. “You fought bravely here, yet you must go and become the hero.” She paused for a moment. “The leader you were born to be.” She finally said tears filling her eyes and rolling down her cheeks as she looked into her son’s eyes. At that moment, she wished there was so much more she could have done for him. She wished she had been there for him as he grew up, but his mortal father raised him well. It was not up for the Gods or Goddesses to interfere with the ways of men even when it came to their own offspring.

Aphrodite pulled away and looked at her son once more then hugged him again. She kissed his cheek and whipped her tears away before smiling at him. “You have made your mother proud. Go now before it is too late. You will be protected and whoever you chose to go with you.” She said to him. He hugged her tightly. “I’ll take my men and father.” He said. Aphrodite nodded her head, “Yes, now go get him and quickly. Your aunts and uncles will always be with you even in the new land you make your own kingdom within. But you must go.” She said, kissing him once more, knowing that he was going to go on a long and hard journey. “I will watch over your father till he passes on.” She said trying to give him so hope.

Hesitantly, Aeneas gave a nod saluted to his men, gave his mother one last hug, and quickly ran through the fighting men. She knew he would find his father and tell him, yet the goddess filled him on what would happen. There was still more he could pass on to him and teach him.

The love goddess watched her son till she could not see him anymore then flew up into the air. She hovered over the fighting men once more. “Please look after my son. Artemis, Apollo, and my beloved Ares.” She said looking up towards the sky. She watched tearfully as her son met up with his father, spoke to him and they both ran with the men following behind them. The trail of blood being left as they cut through to get to safety. “And now the journey begins.”