Pairing: HeraxHelios (Queen of Heaven)

"Will you not fight with us?"

Hera argued, almost pleaded. But of course she never begged.

The Titan of the Sun looked away. It was not the first time that members of the opposing sides had sent messengers to him, asking for his aid in the upcoming battle.

In the war of the Titans, there were those who chose to remain neutral in the fight between the Old Elemental Gods and the new upcoming Gods. Helios had been one of them.

All-seeing Helios knew the outcome would favour each side equally, with some slight leaning to his grand-cousins rather than his siblings. Still, he would not get involved. How could he? He was unwilling to choose between his siblings and the innocent children brought up in this brutal world.

The Goddess stood before him, clad in battle armour and a loose chiton. Her pale arms were bare of adornments, as were her face. Loose chestnut hair flowed in waves down her back and over her shoulders like a shroud. Her strong face remained free of embellishments as well, possessing a warrior's mien about it. Nay, a Queen's.

Helios had first taken an interest in the daughter of Rhea when he spied upon her walking in the gardens of her grandmother. He had seen creatures like her before, those little beings both greater and weaker than the Titans, thus her sight was nothing new.

But…

Something about her drew him. Maybe it was the ease with which she glanced at the world around her and revelled in its beauty. Perhaps it was the joy she exuded as she basked in his rays. Or maybe it was the fact that he could see a fire within her, bright and warm yet so very dangerous.

He could not say. Still, he had been drawn, and descended to the Earth on rays of golden light and took a form similar to her's. She was surprised.

"Who are you?"

Fair Helios had introduced himself and asked if he could sit with her. She had glanced at the grass burning up around him for a moment, then smiled, making space for him. They had talked, and the rest was history. He found out her name was Hera, and she had been one of the daughters Cronus swallowed before they escaped.

Never in his life had he seen a greater beauty. Not even Ouranos' offspring, the primordial Aphrodite, could compare to the vision he had seen. She lacked the feminine beauty the latter possessed, but remained no less enchanting to the eye. More than that, All-knowing Helios saw through the shroud of womanly weakness she shrouded herself in and cut to the core of her being. Indeed, it would not be remiss to say she had the greatest potential of all the New Gods he had seen.

He wanted her. He had wanted her for a while now, but respected her freedom. If there was ever a reason to get involved, this would be it.

And so, fair-headed Helios smiled a blinding smile at the young goddess before him and made an offer. In exchange for his help, she would come with him to the heavens and be his queen.

She had crossed her arms then, an impassive look on her face. Her lips twitching slightly.

"I have been promised to Zeus Olymeia, the soon-to-be King of the Sky. You know this."

Radiant Helios countered that the boy would not treasure her as he would. Besides, he was far more powerful than the other, his domain spanning more than just the Sky. Did she not wish to become a true Queen of Heaven? All-knowing Helios was not malicious in his words, indeed, he spoke in earnest and fact. She had once revealed to him she wished to reign with status and power, to never be as weak as when she had been devoured by her father.

Here she had regarded him suspiciously, but finding no trickery present began to appear hesitant as she mulled his offer.

Following the Titan War, the Olympian Gods celebrated their victory over the Titans in their mountain halls. Zeus and Metis joined hands in marriage, and became the First of the Olympian Pantheon.

Further away, Hera and Helios walked in the garden of the Sun as husband and wife. Their union celebrated by Nyx and Erebus in the heavenly abode. Reigning above, they would go on to change the fate of the world beneath them.

But that is a tale for another time.

So here's the first chapter of the multi-chapter Hera's Love series! Each chapter focuses on a different pairing and explores the different realities that would have come about had she been allowed to shine. Maybe. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed reading :). Please rate and review, and tell me who you'd like to see Hera with next.