As if it were back in that old dream, he already knew that this day was coming but just didn't think it would come so soon. Down he went falling off the mountain, it felt like forever as if he was flying. Just before he was hurled off the edge of the mountain he could hear her scream out to him.
The Titans had escaped from their prison and wreak havoc around the lands, mortals fled the cities and their homes but all was lost. The fates had decided what was to become of them. As the Titans made their way to Mount Olympus the Gods were all busy getting ready for battle. Hades left the Underworld in disarray as he knew he needed to be with his brothers. Athena was busy creating strategic plans. The Titans have become stronger this was truly a war for them.
Below at the foot of the palaces. The forge fire was burning intensely as the Cyclops was creating more lightning bolts for Zeus. As for the God of fire and blacksmith, he was busy sharpening swords, arrows and amending shields. The sound of clashing metal, the heat from the fire, more weapons were dropped off by Hermes, orders being shouted from the palaces above everything was overwhelming! The Smith God is stretch out and overworked. His lame leg was sending him waves of sharp pain. His hands full of blisters from hammering, his head was about to explode.
Towards finishing his thousandth sword he was about to collapse but he didn't hit the ground, something was holding his torso. His vision was blurred but he could hear his name being called out.
"Hephaestus!" Aphrodite was shouting as she gently lay him down on the floor. The Cyclops stopped what they were doing and carried The God of Fire to the bench nearby and quickly bringing him some water.
"Darling please drink some water." She gently placed the cup to his lips to sip. The Goddess of Love was not much into the fight and the war, all she could do was take care of her son, Eros and shield him from any unnecessary violence. She came over to the forge worried about her husband who has not come home for a week.
"Dite?" Hephaestus started to come to.
"Hephaestus! You scared the daylights out of me!"
"I'm sorry. I'm just a little tired." he slowly sat up.
"Let's go home. You need rest."
"No it's alright, I'm fine. Besides, there are still more things to be done. How is Eros getting along?"
"NO! don't change the subject, you need to come home and that is an order!"
"You're ordering me?" He raised his eyebrows.
"I am your wife and the Queen of Hearts, I am ordering you to come home." People would think that she was joking but Hephaestus knew not to cross his wife.
He looked at the Cyclops and they nodded their heads. Slowly he reached for his crutch as Aphrodite supported her husband and letting him lean on her. Slowly they made it up the slope towards their home. The breeze was coming in as Apollo pulled the sun away. Hephaestus just enjoyed the cool air away from the forge.
When the couple opened the front door, Eros came charging in with his little toddler legs.
"Hephaestus! Hephaestus!" The child beamed.
"Hey! Have you been good?" Hephaestus carried him.
"Yes, I have! Mummy and I have been at home playing and practising my archery..." Aphrodite just smiled as she listens to both of her boy's talk but she was afraid that all of this will disappear as a war would be approaching them soon, she tightens her grip on Hephaestus crutches.
"Are you going back to the forge soon Hephaestus?" the young God pouted his lips.
"No, he isn't! Hephaestus is under a strict rule now to stay home with us."
"Yay!! Come on Hephaestus! I want to show you what I learnt!" Eros struggled to get down from Hephaestus arm.
"I don't think that would be good now Eros. I think we should let Hephaestus rest after all he has been in the forge the whole week." Aphrodite looked at Eros while catching a glimpse of the bags around her husband's eye.
"Why don't we all see it tomorrow after breakfast," Hephaestus suggested.
"Alright! You should get some rest Hephaestus. You look really tired." Eros began to worry as he too starting to see Hephaestus red watery eyes. The God looked as if he aged a hundred years in a matter of a few days.
Aphrodite took Eros from her husband arms and said their goodnight, Aphrodite went to tuck Eros in bed while Hephaestus got ready for a bath.
Aphrodite was singing Eros a lullaby while tucking him in. Already fallen asleep, how the Goddess of Love and Beauty wished to protect him always away from all these unnecessary fights. How she absolutely detest violence. How did she ever fall for a person whose only interest was to create chaos was beyond her, she was still thankful every day that she married someone totally opposite and how he treats her and her son with such kindness. Eros is not even Hephaestus real son and yet here they are in his home. Ares was never a one to keep another person safe yet alone a family, he would be off joining and siding in battles and conflict. There were times when he would go all out until risking the lives of innocence. He was a very good lover indeed but only just that a lover, a horrible father to Eros pushing him around and abusing him. The final straw was when Aphrodite tried to protect Eros from one of Ares drunkard fit, he hit her and then everything went downhill.
"You are both a waste of my time and effort! Look at you! A wimp and a whore! Embarrassment as a God and to the Gods!"
"How dare you!" She tried to slap him but he was quick and caught her.
"You can't lay a hand on me slut! You're too weak." He, in turn, squeezed her wrist to a death grip and slapped her across her face. He hovered above her and plan to do more harm when he was smack in the back and kicked away.
"I think that is enough, don't you think?" Ares recognises that voice.
"Well well well... Looks like someone is finally out of his hiding shell. How's the forge doing dear brother?" The the last part sounded like venom.
But Hephaestus didn't bother listening to what his half-brother was talking as he immediately went to help Aphrodite up and Eros was already in his arms.
"What do you think you are doing?" The God of War stood up straight after brushing off the dust and pain.
"I am taking my wife home with me and I am taking the boy as well."
"The hell you aren't! That's my son you are holding and in case you didn't notice Aphrodite doesn't love you! You both haven't even consummated your marriage, you both aren't husband and wife! Who are you joking?" Ares laughed. Hephaestus knew this to be true, it is only a matter of time once he sobered up Aphrodite would go running back to him as usual.
"Please don't let him take us Hephaestus..." Eros pleaded. Looking at the boy, Hephaestus immediately knew what to do.
"I know that but right now I would like to take my wife home and the boy comes along!" Hephaestus voice thundered. Stunning Eros and Aphrodite who has never seen this side of Hephaestus.
Knowing how to choose his battle Ares knew this was not to be won easily.
"Fine take them away! I'm sick just looking at them! The whore and the weakling germ!"
With Aphrodite on one arm and Eros on the other, Hephaestus held them close and brought them back to his palace.
"Don't worry you're both safe." He whispered to them.
Eros shifting in his bed caused Aphrodite to shake off her daydream. "It's time to get back to my husband." She involuntarily smiled. Slowly not to wake her son she made her way to the master bedroom. She found her husband was not in the room and the bed has not been touched at all but steam was coming out from the bathroom indicating what Hephaestus has done. As she opened the door a force of steam came out and the bathroom was full of mist. Being the God of Fire Hephaestus could really handle the heat.
There he was in the bathtub in total serenity and bliss. he seemed to have fallen asleep as Aphrodite made her way over while letting her dress fall to the floor. the water was boiling hot but somehow soothing as she gently lowered herself in and rest her head on his beating heart.
"You are going to get the wrinkled skin if you stay long." She heard.
"You are supposed to be in bed." She whispered back not moving from her position.
"The water really did the trick, I can't move my muscle."
Aphrodite looked up at her husband face, he had three long scars across his face and what looks like dents on the side of his head all this came from his 'fall' but nonetheless he was a very handsome man.
"Does your leg hurt?" All she got was a nod of a head.
She slowly rubbed and massage her way down his body starting from his shoulder, his arms and then his right leg where it is twisted a bit. A grunt came out when she touched a specific spot. She continued on to do the same for his left leg.
"Sweetie, it's getting late shall we go to bed?" She leaned towards his face kissing his scars.
Slowly she pulled him out of the tub and dried him off. He has lost weight as she noticed more wounds on his hands and arms.
The plush soft bed was so welcoming, in a fresh toga, Hephaestus slid into the covers. Something was holding his hands and it stings, Aphrodite was dressing his blisters, cuts and burns.
"I was going to that tomorrow," he said sleepily.
"And have dots of blood on the sheets? I think not."
"Come to bed love."
"In a minute. You need to be more careful, what happens if it gets infected or even worse I won't be even holding your fingers now. She remark but Hephaestus didn't care he was relishing in the feeling of his wife gentle touch.
"There all done!"
"Good." As he pulled her down into his embrace making her shriek.
She stayed there snuggled in his arms listening to his heart beat even beats. This is one of those times where she would savour and appreciate. After the incident with Ares, she never looked back, all she did was walked to her room in Hephaestus palace with her tail between her legs. She spent the whole day and night in there without coming out to eat or see anyone until there was a knock on the door.
"Aphrodite?" Hephaestus slowly opened the door. She was on the bed with the same clothes still on, her hair was in a mess and her make up smudge from all the crying. He slowly sat at the edge of the bed and placed his hand on her shoulder. She was cold. He got up and went to the bathroom to get a hot towel and gently wiped her cheeks and eyes.
"I'm a slut aren't I?" He was stunned. "The Goddess of Love." She laughed.
"You are not a slut." he just said bluntly.
"You don't have to lie to me."
"I'm not lying."
"I sleep with every movable object at any chance I get." She sat up straight.
"So does the other Gods especially Zeus and I don't see them being called or calling themselves sluts or whores." He looked at her in the eyes. "Honestly, to me and in my eyes you are never a slut or a whore. NEVER. You are a woman and a goddess! Mortals come to you when they seek comfort and company, deny as much as you want but you have blessed some very lucky people in finding love and you have blessed their children with beauty."
"Why are you still here, Hephaestus? I have given you nothing but shame and hurt."
"You are my wife. I will never give up on you. And if you could say, I'm still waiting for you to bless me." she started to tear. "Eros is getting worried and anxious about you." She straightens up at this.
"How is he? I have not seen him yet." She was feeling guilty again she put herself in front of others.
"He is fine just needed some time to rest. I'm taking him out to practice archery later if you would allow it." He said looking down. He was afraid that he might step out of line by taking Eros out and spending too much time with him.
"Yes, of course! I'll join you later just let me freshen up!" She wiped away her tears.
"That's great! I'll meet you outside." he got up and did something that even shocked him. He bent down and kissed her on her cheek.
"I'm so sorry! I should not have done that! That was seriously out of line..." He was panicking.
"Hephaestus! Hephaestus! It's alright. It's alright." She grabbed his hands got on her knees and kissed him on the lips.
"I'll see you both later." With that, she left the room and a dumbfounded Hephaestus.
From that day forward she spent all her time with both of her boys. She had stopped going out with the rest of her consorts. She would stay and wait for her husband to come back from the forge, the three of them will always have dinner together no matter what. Hephaestus would once in a while create the most exquisite jewellery for her and new bows and arrows for Eros. He would spoil them with gifts and affection in any way and every way he can. 'Invitation for company' would still be offered to Aphrodite, sometimes the despicable would say it right in front of Hephaestus, either way, she would still reject and turn them down without any remorse. Companions leave with their pride and ego bruised and Hephaestus sigh with relieve.