If I Had Words

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Chapter 65      Chapter 67

“Mother is tipping over all of the grain,” Deimos said, surprised. 

“Mother and her grain,” Phobos said. “She acts like it’s the most precious thing on earth.”

“She’s just still afraid of Demeter and what she might do if she ever finds out it was Mother who told me to shoot Hades and make him fall in love with her daughter,” Eros said.

“Mother really does get you into a lot of trouble, doesn’t she?” Deimos said. “I guess I should be grateful I only have to accompany Father into his battles.”

“So what do you think the task is?” Phobos asked.

“One second,” Deimos said, disappearing again.

“I guess I could have just gone –,” Phobos said. 

“Mother is making her sort the grain and put it all back,” Deimos said, interrupting him with a reappearance. “And,” he added. “I may have accidentally touched Psyche.” 

Deimos pretended a wince.

Eros gave him a hard look. 

“I know, I know. But it was irresistible. She was already feeling the dread of the task anyway. She’s worried she’s going to fail,” Deimos said, apologetically.

Harmonia thought for a moment. 

“What could we do to help her and still follow the rules?” she asked. 

They stood thinking.

“The biggest challenge really is in the sorting,” Harmonia said. “Grain is so small, Psyche’s hands would not only be too slow, but too big to complete the task. We need something small and quick.”

“Look! Psyche is coming outside.” Phobos said, pointing.

The group moved closer.

Psyche was laying on the grass, under the shade of a tree. Her hair was wet with sweat and her face was red. 

She’d already been working and the work had not been easy. 

Psyche was sitting up now and chatting with something on her hand. Eros got closer and as he approached he could see a small ant moving around on her palm. 

“…Have you ever tried to sort wheat from barley?” Psyche was saying.

That was it!

“Ants,” Eros said, turning to the group. “Psyche is talking to an ant. She’s really good with living things and they might be able to help her.”

“Where did she get an ant?” Harmonia said in disbelief. “Mother would never let such a creature into her realm.” 

“I guess she created it,” Eros said. 

“Created it?” Phobos frowned.

“She spent some time with me. The elements understand her. They respond to her the way they do to us. Only, here, Mother wouldn’t dare let her have any real power,” Eros said. “I guess she managed to somehow create a small ant.”

“Fascinating,” Harmonia said.

We want to help.

Harmonia cocked her head and looked surprised at Eros. 

“Did you sense that?” Harmonia said.

“It’s the elements,” Eros said. “I know. I didn’t know they could communicate either. It’s Psyche. She has some kind of effect on them.”

“Astounding.” Harmonia said. “Well, if the elements are willing to help, perhaps that’s how we can get the task done.”

“We would definitely need more ants,” Deimos said.

“Mother’s will is pretty strong,” Phobos said. 

“But maybe if we all worked together, we could make more,” Harmonia said. 

The idea wasn’t half bad. 

The four of them stood together and started making ants — hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of them. 

Ants, as they materialized, started running every which way, not sure what they were created for. 

Phobos rolled his eyes.

“Okay, now what?” he said. 

“What if we scared them towards the granary?” Deimos said. “Sort of corralled them or something?”

Eros shrugged. 

“Why not?” he said. 

“Frenzied ants aren’t going to be very helpful,” Harmonia said.

“True,” Eros said. “Maybe you could help.”  

“That might work,” Harmonia said, considering.

She turned to the twins. 

“Phobos and Deimos, if you can get the ants to enter the building I’ll stand at the entrance and help them calm down before they go in,” she said. 

Deimos and Phobos nodded and spread out to the edge of the hoards of the wandering ants. 

Harmonia and Eros disappeared and reappeared near the granary entrance. 

Eros peeked inside. 

He could see Psyche bent over a pile of grain, transferring grains into the folds of her skirt. He couldn’t help feeling both proud and sad for her. She really was putting in an honest effort. 

“Do you see Phobos and Deimos?” Eros whispered. 

“Not yet,” Harmonia said quietly back, still watching. “Oh, wait, here they come.” 

Phobos and Deimos waved for Harmonia to get ready.

Eros and Harmonia saw a dark shadow making its way across the grass.

All of the ants they had created were converging towards the granary door. 

Harmonia took a few steps towards the mass, in anticipation of the ants’ arrival. They could see Deimos and Phobos blocking off retreat as they herded the ants. 

The ants were running chaotically, crawling over each other and creating sporadic patterns. As soon as they passed Harmonia they seemed to calm and change the rhythm to one more purposeful. 

There are things that need sorting inside. Go see if you can help.  

“I love seeing all of the pieces fall into place,” Harmonia said, stepping back and smiling as she joined her brothers. The last of the ants had entered the granary. 

“I’ll go check on Psyche,” Phobos said. “Wouldn’t want her to mess things up.”

Phobos disappeared for a minute.

“Psyche is an odd one, isn’t she?” Phobos said reappearing.

“What do you mean?” Eros said.

“Well, I didn’t want her stepping on the ants, so I touched her, hoping to make her panic and run away from them,” Phobos said. 

Eros gave Phobos a look.

“Relax, Eros,” Phobos said. “You really need to loosen up. Instead of panicking and fearing the ants themselves, she seemed only afraid at the thought of stepping on them. She’s more in tune than I’ve ever seen a mortal. Once she realized she hadn’t stepped on any, the fear went away.”

“She really cares for them,” Harmonia said, a touch of astonishment in her voice.

“She does,” Eros said.

“Well, let’s hope it all works,” Deimos said. 

The four of them found a corner of the granary where they could watch.

They marveled at how happily she worked alongside the ants. She gave encouragement and did her part, taking load after sorted load to the bins. 

The ants loved working with Psyche too. 

We’re so happy, the elements said. 

Harmonia looked at Eros.

“She is special, isn’t she?” Harmonia said. 

Eros smiled. 

“Well, that’s one task down, two to go,” Phobos said. 

“Let’s hope the next one isn’t something worse,” Deimos said.

Eros really, really hoped.

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