Love was pure.. At least that's what Hephaestus thought. Love was like a new born baby's cry. A butterfly's wing beat, a star exploding and forming new ones. Love was supposed to be like that. Something that made your day better when all the woes of life weighed you down. To be able to wake up to your loved one, your other half beside, you was a gift unlike any other.
But the poets and playwrights tend to be wrong at times. For Hephaestus was married to love itself. And so far she had been anything but lovely.
Aphrodite was a curiosity to him even after centuries of marriage. She, at times, was a joy to be around. She was sensual, elegant, and of course4 had a stunning beauty. She was like a sapphire, with the sun gleaming off of her as her love reflected back at him. Or her lovers.
They too shared her love. No love wasn't quite right. Her body was something many gods on Olympus enjoyed. Hephaestus knew how she was, even before they met. Tales of her lust and conquests were ever abound in the godly realms. She was love, beauty and sexual apatite incarnate. Of course she wouldn't shy away from sharing that, though monogamy was something rare on Olympus, Hephaestus felt like an imbecile. To think she would change her ways for him. It was naive. But I guess that's why they call it fools gold. As she was gold and he was the king of fools.
He still recalled the day he met her. It was chaos on Olympus as Ares and Hermes were ready to start a civil war over her. In order to keep the peace Zeus decreed that Aphrodite had to wed. The irony was not lost on anyone that the Goddess of Beauty would marry Hephaestus, the crippled god. Their sneers and laughter only increased at their Union. Aphrodite made an uproar as soon as it was announced she called him every name and curse under the sun. Though "deformed monster" hurt the worst.
And so they wed, but the marriage was as much a sham as Zeus and Hera's. Aphrodite like Zues was a serial cheater. It was amazing how they both were never satisfied as they slept around. Both divine and mortals made their list of voyages. It was obscene. Though it was their nature. After thousands upon thousands of years they weren't changing anytime soon.
He hated that he loved her. It was a torture unlike any other. She would bait him at times taking breaks from Ares, when he proved to be arrogant or violent and return to him only to be fooled that she actually would stay faithful. She soon returned to Ares as soon as she was bored were her true husband.
Out of all her illegitimate chidren, she only raised Eros, the God of Love. Even though he wasn't his son by blood, he would always be his. His child. His son.
Hephaestus had two other twins Alcon and Eurymedon by his old lover Kabeiro. He met her when he was younger as he still lived in Poseidon's realm. She was everything to him. She was his first love, but sadly their union came to an end. His children lived on Olympus with him as his assistants. They got along great with Eros, which Hephaestus was overjoyed with. Their families mixed but that still didn't make Aphrodite keen on acting accordingly.
So many things he wished were different. His love, his marriage his face..everything, except his children of course. Sometimes, even though he wished it not, his mind would wander. But he refused! He would never allow himself to be made a hypocrite. He hated infidelity and he refused to play apart in the retched game his brethren indulged in. Besides there were no other Goddesses that could hold a candle to Aphrodite.
Except Athena.
She was the one Hephaestus wanted to pursue. Her hair was a memorizing earthy brown, similar to Hera's. She was never without her gleaming armor courtesy of him. She was everything he was not. Beautiful, graceful and respected as the wisest of Olympians. A goddess beyond compare. Their conversations were always something to behold. Whether it be politics, godly affairs, crafting or strategy, she never was without a fascinating tale. It made his heart melt.
"No." He told himself. He mustn't think like that. He can't have his thoughts wander to a goddess not his own wife. It was shameful. But how could one not? Considering the options of pursuing another kind more respectable goddess vs staying with Aphrodite was a hard one. He was sure even Hera with all her pompousness and haughty attitude, entertained the thought of straying. Who wouldn't after years of humiliation. But she stayed ever the faithful Goddess of Marriage she was. She never strayed, and so would he.
Even now he was inside his forge at the bottom of his palace. The walls were adored with classic alabaster and limestone pillars that form circular around the parameter. The smoke and fumes from his various machines filled the forge with a smell, to anyone but a craftsmen would have been torture.
He was working on another sword for Athena as hers broke in her last skirmish with Ares an his army. They fought every century or so, naturally they all came to Hephaestus when something was broken or needed upgrading. Just last week Dionysus got flat out drunk and broke his Thrysus, by falling on it.
That happened every week Hephaestus chuckled to himself.
His sons were assisting them as he commissioned them to work five nights out of the week.
Alcon being the more sluggish of the brothers was measuring out ores and minerals for mixing into the blade of the sword while Eurymedon, the more witty one, crafted the hilt. He was speaking about some mortal program that came on television. Though the gods knew of modern man's technological advancements(thanks to the Fire God Himself) they rarely indulged. Most still stick to plays and poetry.
"And then they make him kneel in front of the whole city and then BAM! They cut his head clean off. Right in front of his daughter." Eurymedon recalled as he stitched in engravings of owls on the handle. Owls being Athena's semblance.
"That show's still going on? What season is this?" Alcon replied as he mixed in what appeared to be liquid gold into the kiln.
Eurymedon then slotted the hilt. Now the actual crafting was all that had to be done.
"Let's focus guys." Hephaestus directed his sons as he went straight away at hammering.
"Where's the fire dad?" Eurymedon stated, whether he planed that as a pun was anyone's guess.
"He gets like this whenever Athena comes by." Alcon stated stoically.
"Mind your tongue son." Hephaestus said annoyed at his son's accurate assessment.
"Wow. SO it must be so." Eurymedon confirmed. "Lately whenever you're around Athena you get so nervous.
"I do not!"
"Look in your hand." Alcon pointed
Hephaestus looked at his right hand. Low and behold Athena's sword was freshly forged, steam still dripping from it. He was so nervous his hands were quicker than his thoughts.
"How adorable The lonely artist seeks out the Hot Librarian." Eurymedon stated slyly as he picked at his father's composure. Hephaestus responded by smacking him on the head.
"Do not joke like that. Your stepmother is the only one I have eyes for."
"Denial!" Was all Eury could get out before Hephaestus smacked him again.
"Enough. No more speaking of this." Hephaestus finished. Though he couldn't deny. The more he saw Athena these days, the more he couldn't shake of the feeling of longing to see her more. He was always anxious to see her, he was ecstatic whenever he was in her presence, and he dreaded seeing her leave.
Alcon being reserved as he was, agreed with his twin. His father was becoming more vulnerable to the Goddess of Wisdom with each passing day. Hephaestus iwould never admit it but to outside looking in, he and Athena's relationship seemed like infidelity. She had been visiting more often, but one could wager she was just needing more equipment, which she did. But one thing that was also constant was their hours long conversations about…anything. They never seemed so close It was more than just sibling love at play, let Eros tell it.
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Whoa customers already?" Eurymedon said."we've been swamped all week."
"Good, work is does wonders for the soul." Alcon said to his twin, knowing it will piss him off.
"But my feet are sore."
Hephaestus' eyebrow raised
"Sorry.." Eurymedon knew exactly how much his father's handicap affected him.
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Go get the door Alcon." Hephaestus ordered his son.
Alcon did was instructed and went upstairs to answer the visitor. He made his way to Hephaestus' common area. The hall was circular with alabaster pillars lining the wall. The door was golden crusted with Red and pink rubies symbolizing that it was the home of the God of Fire and his wife.
Alcon opened the door.
"Greeting young man, is your father in." Asked Athena embroiled in her golden armor. Her hair was a soft brown almost as if she inherited Hera's hair, but she was Zues' alone as he created her himself. Her eyes had an analytical grey, with a brown tint splashed in. He could see why
"Hello aunt Athena, Yes father is downstairs in the workshop. Please come in.
Athena entered the home, with every step as elegant as her appearance. She oozed confidence and regalia.
"How have you been Alcon, I hear you're here to stay for a while."
"Yes milady, my mother insisted we get some time alone with father."
"Ahh Kabiero. I remember her. She made your father so happy. He was like a schoolboy in those days.
Alcon chuckled at that. Sounds like his father alright.
As they entered, Hephaestus face lit up at Athena.
"Athena. Welcome. You're here for sword I presume?"
"Yes. Is it ready. I hope to show Ares not to meddle with my affairs. He started a fight with me last week.
"R-really? Seems like you two are perfect for each other. Your like a married couple." Hephaestus managed
Eurymedon chuckled at how hard his Dad was trying to keep his composure. It was cute. Like his father reverted to a mortal teenager. And was he flirting? Poor shame.
"Not likely. I pity the woman who would ever marry Ares." Athena smiled.
Why must she torture me so. That smile is honey! She didn't have to smile like that. Hephaestus thought. He sure was blushing at this point.
"Are you alright Hephaestus?" Athena asked as her head beckoned to the side
Now her she's tilting her head to the side! Please stop Athena! Hephaestus gushed.
"I'm fine just hot in here."
"But you're a fire god, how can you get hot?" Athena aksed again.
"Yeah dad, you seem tense." Eurymedon added knowing it grate his father's nerves.
"I'm fine son." Hephaestus answered as his nerves were officially grated.
"How have you been though? I see you've been working a lot. Is Aphrodite asking for more jewelry?" Athena said annoyed.
It was clear to Alcon that Athena did not like Aphrodite, as the two goddesses had a rivalry the moment Aphrodite appeared on Olympus. If Aphrodite was water, Athena was defiantly oil. They were polar opposites. Athena was reserved always comporting herself with dignity. Aphrodite made sure to let her presence known. She craved the attention, and why wouldn't she when she got it all the time. Some girls would be annoyed, but not Aphrodite.
"Well yes. She has been wanting to plump herself up more." Hephaestus revealed
"Seems just like her." Athena responded
"Don't be like that."
"Apologies."
"Its fine." Hephaestus said, then there was silence."..Oh!Your sword."
He picked the blade up now finished. It had engravings of owls within its blade. It was truly a work of art. He then handed to Athena. She inspected it, giving it a twirl here, and a swing there.
"Wow. It's so light. Its like its more pen than blade." Athena said smiling at him excited.
And there was her mesmerizing smile again. How the twins could feel their father's frustration. He looked like he was about to faint.
"You should come up out of here some time, the forge is to lonely of a place to spend alone." Athena suggested. "We miss you at court."
"Bah. No one misses me. I feel better crafting anyway."
"Well I'm off then. Time to show Ares what for eh." She said playfully patting Hephaestus on the shoulder.
Shouldn't have did that. Eury thought as his father's sweat feel ever gleaming.
Soon Athena turned around, hair flipping as she walked out. All three heard the door shut.
"So..how ya holding up Dad." Eurymedon said roaring in laughter.
Hephaestus turned smiling before his son, before kicking him across the forge.
