The stone door opened slowly like the previous morning. The atmosphere of the morning soon turned rowdy. The cries of a crying baby could be heard as soon as the door was opened.
"Hurry!" Aganippe ordered the guards to exert more force. A strong odor wafted out and pierced the noses of the five of them. The stench of blood crossed with the morning air that was free to enter when the door was fully opened. "Give it to me!" Aganippe snatched the candle from the servant and rushed over to the bloodied Danae. "Danae!"
Aganippe put a finger to Danae's nose. After confirming that Danae was still breathing, Aganippe breathed a sigh of relief. Even so, anxiety still pervaded her heart. Danae looked pale and weak. Danae's tiny baby was still crying incessantly. The child kept tugging at Danae's cloth covering her breasts. "Danae, I don't know how you did it all by yourself, but you did it, dear. Your son was born healthy and very excited like you." Aganippe lifted Danae's cloth so that her granddaughter, who had also not been cleaned, could drink the milk.
The baby immediately stopped crying and sucked Danae's milk quietly. Aganippe told the servants to get more water and cloths. Once the baby was full, Aganippe and her servants cleaned the baby. Just as they were about to bathe Danae, Danae woke up and cried out, "Where's my baby!"
"Calm down dear, your baby is just sleeping," said Aganippe. "Can you get up?"
"Yes," Danae said weakly.
With her mother's help, a naked Danae made her way to the bathtub filled with cold water that had been prepared. The servants quickly removed the bloodstained cloths and mats. The servants then began to scrub the stone bed while Danae was bathed by Aganippe on the opposite side of the dome. "There are so many candles," Danae said with sparkling eyes as she looked around the dome.
" I did ask the servants to fill this dark place with the finest candles."
"It smells so good."
"This is also to disguise the other odors. Do you like it?" Aganippe said as she rubbed Danae's arm.
Danae gave her a warm smile. "Of course. It's so beautiful and fragrant, it's like a celebration."
"It is indeed a celebration. A celebration for you and your child who was born safely."
Danae leaned against her mother. "Thank you, Mother."
"It must have been very hard for you to go through the labor yourself. I can't even imagine how you did it in a place like this."
"I'm not really sure either," Danae said. "All I remember is that I felt like I was going to die right then and there."
Aganippe laughed. "Yes, that's what it's like to give birth to a child."
"Is he okay?" said Danae.
"'He is healthy. He is as excited as you are," said Aganippe. " He even beg for milk when his mother is unconscious."
Danae smiled. "There's no way a newborn could understand my situation, Mother."
Aganippe caressed her daughter's face. "From now on you are a mother. Be prepared, it will be more difficult. Especially with your condition. But don't worry dear, I'll still help you." Aganippe kissed Danae's forehead.
***
Despite her efforts to take care of Danae and hide the baby's presence, Aganippe's strange behavior was picked up by Acrisius. Seven months after Danae's baby was born, in a field near the palace, Acrisius stood looking out over the southeast sea with Aganippe. "You are visiting her more and more often."
"What's wrong with a mother visiting her own daughter," Aganippe said without looking at Acrisius' face.
Acrisius stared at his wife, watching intently. "Is she ill?" he said. "Will she eventually die?" he added coldly.
"She will not die that easily. Danae is a strong child." Aganippe clenched his jaw tightly.
"Why did you bring more servants, Aganippe. I also hear you often request various unusual foods."
"This is not excessive treatment. Danae is still the princess of Argos after all."
"You also replaced the guards I sent with guards of your choice," Acrisius pressed.
"The guards I chose don't complain much when I ask them to come at any time," Aganippe said.
"Should you at least replace them temporarily? It's a pity you ask them to open those heavy stone doors all the time."
"They wouldn't have to if you hadn't locked Danae in there."
Acrisius grabbed Aganippe's hair, forcing Aganippe to look into his bulging eyes. "So you wished for my death as well?" Aganippe grimaced without a word. Acrisius pushed Aganippe to the ground before walking away, leaving his wife on the ground. "I have a skilled servant. Take her with you. She will definitely come in handy."
Aganippe got up and shouted, "What for? Do you still care about Danae?"
Acrisius turned around and gave Aganippe a sharp stare. "Of course I care about her. I just want to make sure that she is indeed alright."
Aganippe could not resist Acrisius' decision. Aganippe tried desperately to intercept the servant sent by Acrisius. Aganippe tried to bribe the servant, but Acrisius could offer more money. Aganippe sent other servants to hinder Acrisius' servant, but the servant was smarter than she seemed. The servant was able to overcome all the diversions aimed at her. Aganippe even thought of poisoning her, but that would only increase Acrisius' suspicions. All of Aganippe's attempts to prevent Acrisius' eyes from learning the truth about his grandson failed. Aganippe was dead in the water.
The guards looked at each other. Despite Aganippe's orders, those who understood the situation were hesitant to open the stone door that protected Danae and her baby. Aganippe emphasized the order to them. The stone door shifted slowly. A fragrant scent came out from the crack of the door that opened little by little. Acrisius's servants remained stone-faced. A moment later, a very distinctive loud voice was heard by all of them. Acrisius' servant immediately frowned. She didn't need to enter the dark underground dome to confirm it. As soon as she realized that there was a baby's voice coming from Danae's prison, she left immediately. Acrisius would find out soon and Aganippe could only pray that Asvollios would protect Danae and the baby.