"Mama, sing me a song." Senga curled up underneath her blankets, ready for bed. Her mother smiled, and tucked the Little Mermaid sheets in around the small 5 year old girl. "How about a story instead, little one?" she asked, switching to her native language, the language of the Sirens. She motioned for Senga to respond, in the same tongue. Senga nodded, "Yes, mother!" Her mother smiled, and sat beside her daughter on her bed, giving her her favorite ragdoll, and beginning the story.
"The Trojan War was over. The clever Greek Odysseus had tricked the enemy into bringing a colossal wooden horse within the walls of Troy. The Trojans had no idea that Greek soldiers were hidden inside, under the command of Odysseus.
The Greeks had been been laying siege to Troy for nine long years, but suddenly it looked like their whole army had departed, leaving the horse behind.
That night, while the Trojans slept, Odysseus and his men emerged from the horse's belly. Opening the city gates, they admitted their comrades, who had snuck back in the dark.
Troy was sacked and the Trojans utterly vanquished. Now it was time for Odysseus and his fellow warriors to return to their kingdoms across the sea."
"Mama, did they make it home?" Senga asked. "Oh, they did, little one. But not for ten whole years. You see, Odysseus made some of the gods angry, and he encountered many creatures that the god sent to stop him." Her mother responded.
"Like sirens?"
"Yes, like sirens. He was one of two men to outwit us. He plugged his men's ears with wax, and had them tie him to the mast of his ship. They sailed past our island, and he heard our song, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach us. Poets would say we threw ourselves into the sea in frustration, and were never heard from again. But the gods had a different plan. They made a deal with the Fates, to keep the cycle going."
"What cycle?"
"The cycle of life. When one of us dies, another takes their place."
"Will you, mama?" Senga asked, wide-eyed, and hugging her doll close.
"One day, little one. But not for a very long time."
"I don't want you to go! Why aren't the gods immortal, like in the stories?"
"When mortals stopped believing in the gods, we became mortal. But the promise the Fates made continues. We continue the cycle, continue the story." Her mother sighed a little, and looked down at the frightened child. "Now, I've scared you enough, little one. Time to sleep." Her mother stroked Senga's wild, dark curls, and hummed an old Greek lullaby to soothe the little girl. Senga snuggled under the sheets, letting her mother's magical voice comfort her. "Morpheus, bring my little girl peaceful dreams tonight." her mother whispered against her daughter's head, kissing her good night, and flicking off the light.
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