The Beginning of Time
The Gods of Mount Olympus enjoyed dallying in the lives of the mortals they had created and now watched over, and none more so than Zeus, king of the gods; particularly when it came to the females. His wife Hera was jealous and brought her wrath down on the poor unfortunate women, some of whom had no choice but to submit. Zeus would try to help the woman in question but it was usually easier for him to simply return to Hera's side...until the next time.
But this mortal woman was different. Zeus made a huge effort to hide her from Hera but eventually his frequent absences were noted. By the time Hera discovered Zeus' dalliance with Alcmene, on a small island near Crete, twins had already been born; a boy and a girl.
They were happy babies, content to lay side by side. She, pale with red hair and the brown eyes from her mother, he, pale with black hair and vivid green eyes from his father. They brought such delight to both mother and father, when he deigned to visit. For being king of the gods was a full time job, not to mention keeping track of all the other gods and goddesses.
But when he had time, Zeus came to visit his lover and his children. They delighted him, for they truly were born from love. He asked Aphrodite to bless them and she did, as a favour to her father and to get back at Hera for making her marry her son, Hephaestus.
When Hera found out, she was furious. One day, while Zeus was seeing to a civil war with Ares, she sent two snakes to the home where Alcmene and the children lived, and they slithered in to the babies room.
Her daughter's cries roused Alcmene and she rushed into the babies room. She gasped in horror as her son, Hercules, held a strangled snake in either hand, while his sister, Genevieve cried in fright, covering her eyes.
Alcmene took the snake carcasses from her son and ran outside, throwing them away. When they landed, they magically dissolved into the sand, for they lived near the water.
" This is Hera's work," she mused, and quickly returned to her babies.
Hercules, bigger and stronger than his sister, lay with his arms protectively around Genevieve, who was now asleep. He smiled at his mother as she came closer. " Good boy, my son. You saved your sister. Now, off to sleep."
At his mother's comforting words, Hercules drifted off to sleep, unaware that his mother sat and watched over them all night long.
When Zeus returned, he immediately went to his lover, who told him what she suspected. After a night of lovemaking, then spending time with his delightful children, who appeared none the worse, Zeus returned to Mount Olympus, seeking out Hera.
Thunder and lightening appeared in the sky as Zeus vented his rage at his wife. He ordered her to stay away from Alcmene and the children, or dare face his full wrath.
Hera was no fool. Mortal women would come and go, and she supposed Zeus would eventually tire of Alcmene. But the children were half gods and goddesses, with Hercules already showing great potential. A mortal lover was one thing, but to sire children was another. Hera reluctantly agreed to leave them alone (for now) and fled to plot her revenge.
Time marched on; the children grew to be happy, joyful children with enormous potential for powers. They were quite content to be with their mother and each other, and an occasional visit from their father was a treat. Zeus was proud of Hercules' strength and adored his beautiful Genny, as she was called.
Hera watched as Zeus continued to return to Alcmene's bed, in between other affairs. Hera cast a spell to ensure there would be no more children, which actually suited both Alcmene and Zeus fine.
Five years would pass. Hera watched and waited, plotted and planned. Word of Hercules' strength had already spread, and Hera would not be shamed by the world finding out Zeus sired a half god with a mortal. The time was nigh.
Zeus was away, tending to matters in Troy. Hera had paid a visit to Poseiden, her brother, asking for a favour. The stage was set. She transformed into a raven and flew to the island home of Alcmene.
The children happily played on the beach. Hera sat perched on a nearby tree, casting her sharp eyes out to sea. Thanks to her excellent vision, she could see the huge wave swirling in the ocean, slowly making its way to the shore.
Hercules realised something bad was about to happen, but it was too late. The children stood no chance. Hercules picked up his sister and raced to higher ground, but Poseiden's wave was too strong. Curling his body around her, he protected her to the very end. They were swept out to sea, where they died together, curled into each other as they had been in utero.
Alcmene heard the roar of the wave, but by the time she raced down the beach, the water was calm once again. She called for the children, but there was no reply. A raven cawed menacingly, then flew away.
Alcmene sobbed on the beach front. Her children's bodies washed up two days later. By now, Zeus had become aware of unusual tsunami activity near Crete and, fearing the worst, returned to Alcmene's side, as she was digging their grave.
Zeus was angry in his grief. He picked up the bodies and disappeared, leaving a broken hearted Alcmene behind.
He lay the bodies of his beloved children, still wrapped together, at the feet of the Fates.
"Return my children to me. They are half immortal, they should not die so easily," he ordered.
Clotho looked up from her task. "Born of a god, cursed by a goddess." For all on Mt Olympus knew of Hera's jealousy.
Zeus was distraught. "My children are innocent, they should not be punished for my actions. Hera is a jealous shrew," he complained.
Lachesis looked up from her spinning wheel. " We cannot return what is already taken," she told him, even though he already knew this.
"I order you, as King of the Gods...do something," he beseeched furiously.
Atropos looked at her sisters. " Perhaps the Oracle?" she suggested. " I told you I sensed something when their lifeline was cut." She continued to sharpen her scissors.
"Get me the Oracle of Delphi," ordered Zeus.
The three sisters of Fate continued to thread the spinning wheel of life, while Zeus simply stared numbly at his children. The Oracle arrived and listened to what the Fates had to say.
He held his hands over the children's bodies. " The connection between the two is strong, very strong. Stronger than usual, even for twins. Undoubtedly from your loins, great Zeus," he said.
Zeus nodded in agreement.
"The boy is noble and strong; he would have made a fine warrior. He will always fight for justice, to protect the weak, to protect those he loves," continued the Oracle.
" Will?" asked Zeus, hopefully.
The Oracle ignored his question, turning his attention to the girl. " She too is strong and brave; she leads with her heart, and there is none that she will love greater than him. Theirs is a love so true, so strong," he said.
"But they are siblings," pointed out Zeus.
"In this lifetime, yes. I cannot return this life to them, not do I risk upsetting Hera. No, this life of theirs is passed. Take them, take your children," said the wise one.
Zeus bowed his head in grief. His beloved children, gone. He missed seeing the Oracle and Atropos have a silent conversation.
" But...they will live and love again, for their connection to each other has not been severed, only their life line in this time," said the Oracle. He turned to Clotho. "How many?"
She picked up the thread that had been cut, feeling her way along it, her eyes closed as she concentrated. " Six, maybe seven." She passed the thread to the Oracle who took it in his hands and concentrated, nodding. When he handed it back, she afixed it to the spinning wheel.
The Oracle looked at Zeus. "Your children shall return for six, maybe seven lifetimes.
No longer as siblings, their love will endure things you cannot imagine. Sacrifices are called for. They will face hardship together, and will not lead long lives. But in their last lifetime, if they survive and remain true to each other..."
"Yes, what? Tell me," ordered Zeus.
"They shall break Hera's curse and live a long and happy life together," said the Oracle.
Zeus nodded in relief. " How long?" he asked.
The Oracle shrugged. " I cannot say when they will be reborn. It may be years in between each re-birthing. We may be talking hundreds of years, thousands even."
" Six or seven lifetimes," muttered Zeus. " Most mortals get one, some are lucky to get two."
"But these are not ordinary mortals," soothed the Oracle, " they are half immortal."
"And they should be buried on Mount Olympus, the home of the gods," declared Zeus.
" And upset Hera even more? No, burn their mortal bodies, for they have no need of those anymore. Their souls are now resting; waiting," advised the Oracle.
Zeus easily picked up the bodies of his children. "Thank you," he said, before disappearing in a golden shower.
He returned to the beach where Alcmene sat, looking over the water that had robbed her of her children. She screamed when Zeus appeared but then quickly gathered the children in her arms, crooning to them as she stroked their hair.
Zeus magicked up a pyre. " Alcmene, it is time. Our children will return, probably not in your lifetime, but they will live and be together again," he told her gently.
He lay the bodies on top of the pyre and summoned a lightening bolt down from Mount Olympus, which immediately caught fire.
Unbeknownst to them, Ares, god of war, Aphrodite, goddess of love and Demeter, goddess of hearth and home, watched on, each wishing their half siblings a powerful blessing. Poseiden watched on from the water, angry that Hera had made him betray his brother and kill his beloved children.
Zeus held Alcmene as she wept for their children. He noticed a raven watching from a tree stump. It cawed triumphantly when the bodies were well alight, and flew off.
' I'll deal with you soon enough, Hera', he vowed.
Zeus stayed with Alcmene for two days, and together they cast their children's ashes into the wind.
Zeus left to return to Mount Olympus.
Lightening bolts plundered to Earth for the next two days.
Zeus never saw Alcmene again.