Welcome to the "Words of the Divine." A collection of one shots based on the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. Each story details the perspective of a different god or goddess as they reflect upon the events of the series. They are not one over arching storyline. They are a bunch of stories that are too short to get their own story. This may be the first of many such collections. I do not know as of this date. It is to be decided.

The idea came from Heroes of Olympus. In that series the gods are relatively absent. They are doing things in the background, but you don't see the vast majority of what they are doing. Particularly Poseidon, he only shows up for a fraction of a second before the series ends. Which is a jarring contrast from the previous series where he shows up about once to twice a book. I thought: surely if he is being affected just as badly as the other gods. He would give a damn about what happened to Percy. Yet, you see nothing. Why? What was he doing during that time? What was thinking? I was dying to know the answer.

Those questions were the genesis of the series. Since then I have expanded to including other gods such as Apollo and Hera. This is not a comprehensive compilation by any means, but hopefully you will find it worth your time.

Of course, there are spoilers ahead. If you do not wish to be spoiled then please check the note at the beginning of every story. It will tell you which book this story takes place in. They will also be arranged in the chronological order for the most part. It starts to break down a bit once we get to the Heroes of Olympus. Since it technically takes place over several books, but you get the idea.

Without further ado, let's get on to the stories!


WORDS OF THE DIVINE

STORY # 1: A FATHER'S LOVE

Set before the events of the Lightning Thief

Poseidon was not the celibate type. It wasn't in his nature. If he found something beautiful then he couldn't stop himself. Sure, Artemis could swear off sex, but could he? No, he could not. He was the ocean. He could not be contained for long. He loved mortals so much that it hurt. He couldn't stay away from them! How Poseidon hated Zeus for making him swear off being with them. All because of his irrational fear. Sure, it worried Poseidon about what might come of his children. All fathers did. They could get hurt. They could die. They could turn on you. It was the risk that one took when allowing oneself to love. It could all go wrong and there might be nothing that you could do to stop it. It was a risk, but there was nothing that one could do about it. For all mortals had free will. They could surprise you. You had to allow them to choose. You could not stop them. Nor would he ever try.

Personally, he thought it unwise to run from prophecy. The consequences were usually far worse if you did. Yes, a son or daughter could be the end of you, but they also may be your salvation. You didn't know until that moment arrived. Prophecies were like that. Unclear and riddled with half-truths. Only after it had come to pass would it be clear. Then it would be too late. You would suffer horribly for ignoring it's call. Zeus of all beings should know this. How many heroes met their end this way? How many children had he lost? Surely, he would have learned by now. Alas, it seemed that this was not so. For he forced this oath from both of his brothers.

So, Poseidon did what came unnaturally and abstained from making love to mortals. He allowed himself to be with others, but stayed away from mortals. For years he was successful. No new demigods were born to him. As it was with with Zeus and Hades. Granted Hades never really had demigods anyway, but he abstained as requested. Although, Poseidon thought that there was something that his brother was hiding, but he left it alone. Hades stayed out of his realm and did not press him on his activities. So, he returned the favor. He did not really care what he was hiding If Zeus cared so much about this pledge then it was his job to enforce it. Not Poseidon, he would not do his brother's dirty work. After all, he did not agree that this was the right course of action. He would not actively help his brother tempt fate. He would keep his end of the bargain, but that was it. He would go no further.

Finally, one day almost fourteen years ago his resolve crumbled. He found a mortal too tempting to resist. Sally Jackson was absolutely stunning. She was a queen among mortals. Questioned why he did things. She challenged him at every turn. She knew what he was (She could see through the mist) and she wasn't afraid. She even spurned him once or twice. That only intensified his feelings. She was honest, sweet and so very courageous. Poseidon fell head over heels for her. When she finally agreed to his advances he couldn't stay away. He bedded her that night. They made love until the run rose. It was wonderful. He felt like himself again. He was as wild and untamed as the Ocean again. Doing what he wanted - when he wanted. To hell with Zeus and his damned oaths. No god could keep him from this woman. He wanted her and he was going to take her.

As soon as the moment passed he realized what he had done. He had defied his brother and broke his oath. He had bedded a mortal. Which always resulted in a pregnancy. It was the way it was with gods. He had a new demigod on the way. There would be grave consequences for this. Most notably for his child. Zeus would stop at nothing to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass. He would not think twice about killing Sally or their child. Poseidon could not allow that. He would not allow that. It was his responsibility to protect his child. He had to keep it safe. He didn't care if he got punished. He just did not want his child to get punished in his stead. He or she did nothing wrong. It did not ask to be born. He had to protect it.

It was why he took the unusual step of offering to take Sally to his Palace. Not for Sally's sake, but for their child's. Poseidon could easily make it so that the depth and temperature did not affect her and ensure that she could breathe. His child would have no problem with it by nature. He or she would be fine. Of course, it would mean that his wife would have to deal with his fling, but it didn't matter. So long as his child was safe. Zeus could not reach that far into his domain. Not without starting a war at least. And he would go to war to protect his child. That was his duty as it's father. He must protect it. Even if that got him or the world destroyed. He would do it. For it's sake he would risk war.

Unfortunately, Sally saw through his ruse right away. She refused his offer. She knew that would not be welcomed there. She told him that the offer was sweet but unnecessary. That she would find a way to protect their child on her own. She would find a way to hide the child in plain sight. So that no gods or demons would realize that he or she was there. It was a bold boast that he knew that would eventually fail. Because one day their child's powers would become so powerful that monsters could smell it a mile away. At that point he or she would get the attention of Zeus. When that happened then Sally would be unable to protect it. She was no match for the king of gods. No mortal ever was. This plan would not work.

Alas, there was no way that she could fight their child's fate. Just as Zeus couldn't fight his. The demigod from the prophecy would be born, grow up, then make that critical decision. There was no stopping it. That was painfully obvious - Especially now. The prophecy would take place. One of their children would have to make that decision. For he would not kill his own child. That was unthinkable. He or she was innocent in all this. It did not choose to born. He would not have it pay for the mistakes of it's father. That was just wrong. Poseidon could never do that to his child. The child would live. Regardless of what happens next. His child would live.

If it were possible then he would have kidnapped his child as the day he was born. Taken him from his mother and kept him safe under the sea. He would have ignored Sally's wishes and protected Perseus Jackson. Alas, he could not do that. For celestial law forbid it. He could not interfere in mortal affairs. Even if that mortal was the mother of his child. She had a right to care for their son as she saw fit. He could suggest that hide him under the sea, but he could not force it. His son would not stay safe under the sea. Instead, he would remain exposed on the surface. Where Zeus could easily get ahold of him. There was nothing that Poseidon could do about it. He had to leave him there. God, how he hated that.

So, Poseidon did the best that he could for his son. He stayed away. His presence would only attract the wrong attention. Then they would realize what was hidden in plain sight. He had no choice. He had to leave his son on his own. It was his best shot at survival if he couldn't take him below the waves.

However, Poseidon could not leave without seeing at least one time. So, shortly after Perseus was born he snuck in his room. While Sally was asleep. There was his son was in all his splendor. So, he was perfect in every way. He had his eyes and his smile. He had Sally's face, but his father didn't mind. It was a good face. Poseidon couldn't help but fall in love. This was his son, his boy. How could he not love him?

When Perseus saw his father's face he light up. He let out a happy coo and begged him to hold him. Oh gods, it took every bit of self-control not to do that. It would make their parting all that much worse. Plus, it would also draw too much attention to the boy right now. He could not do that to him. There was no way that Percy could protect himself right now. He was far too young. He had to stay hidden.

So, instead he simply reached out and touched his son's head. He tried to show his son how much he cared. How much he regretted leaving him. As well as how much he regretted his son's fate. He knew that Percy didn't understand any of this, but tried to tell him anyway. A hero's fate was never a good one even in the best of times. These were not the best of times. There was a good chance that he would not live as long as his namesake. He regretted that most of all. The fate that his son could not escape from. He would be discovered one day. And he would then suffer a hero's fate. Whether he lived or died would totally up to him. His father could only pray that he made it long enough to make it to adulthood.

With one final pat Poseidon blessed his son with a final gift: his father's love and support. That would never change. Never waiver. Even if they were parted. He would protect and guide him. He would do his best to see him grow up into a man that he could be proud of. That was his duty as his father.


That's the story for this week. See you all next week!