Chapter 2

Hades was the one to see her fall. He had teleported himself to were the intruder was running towards and saw that it was his sister; Hera. Hades had signaled a command to Cerberus to stop since he knew that that was the reason why his sister was running. By the time the command reached Cerberus it was too late. The river of Lethe had consumed his sister. He would have to wait until the river brought her back to the surface with her memories washed away, forever.

All that Hera felt was burning. It felt as someone had set her on fire. As her skin burned, her muscles started to ache and her thoughts became muddled. Soon enough she felt her eyes starting to close. Maybe this would end her pain; her never-ending pain.

It wasn't long until the river released Hera on the shore. Hades hastily made a towel appeared and wrapped his sister in it and teleported them to his palace. How was he to explain this to his stubborn, hard-headed brother Zeus? Maybe Hecate could reverse this. All this ran thru his head as Persephone rushed to his side to help him with her stepmother. She didn't ask question especially in the haste that Hades was in. Persephone quickly dried Hera and did some magic to dress her. Hades placed her in one of the guess rooms they had in the palace. He took a seat and waited for her to awaken.

The Lord of the Underworld knew that she would wake up confused and startled. She wouldn't remember anything. Not her name, her position, her lineage especially not her husband; nothing. Maybe that would be best for her not to remember Zeus. Hades knows about the changes that have occurred to his youngest sister since her marriage to Zeus. She wasn't the same. Hera used to be fun, carefree, innocent, and happy, so very happy. Now all Hades could see was a bitter, angry, saddened, and hurt woman. Hera didn't deserve this treatment; no woman does. But Zeus will be Zeus. Maybe if he had… No, regrets were in the past; forgotten. He sighed as he settled deeper into the leather chair.

Zeus stormed in his study. How dare she insult and humiliate him so openly like that? It wasn't like Hera to do this in front of everyone. Yes, maybe behind close doors because she didn't want to start a scandal. Zeus knew that she hated to be in the mouth of other Gods that weren't praises. Why does this surprise him though? His mother had warned him that one day despite her title, she would walk away to disappear from his grasp. He was arrogant and too prideful to pay any mind to his mother. Now Hera would be gone. Zeus threw himself on the chair behind his mahogany desk and slammed his fists against it. She meant so much more than he would ever let on. He loved her more than anything; she was up there with his power. How could he not love something so beautiful and bright? For her to assume that he didn't love her was like saying Hades has cheated on Persephone. It was unbelievable. Yes, he had done things to point otherwise; the constant cheating and the lying and the bastard children. Only because she pushed him away and that's the only way he can get her to react, to feel something. And of course he would never admit it to her because he was proud, too proud. Something else his mother told him went thru his head; "You won't appreciate something until it's gone." This would be different because Zeus was not going to let her leave. So he called for Hermes.

In seconds Zeus' faithful companion and son appeared. Hermes knew exactly what was happening. Everyone on Olympus knew what was happening. Hermes couldn't say he was surprised about what was occurring. He knew very well that his stepmother was a ticking time bomb that would eventually explode. Hermes flew to the front of his father's desk ready to hear his task.

"Yes, father? You called." Hermes asked.

"I need you to find Hera. Look everywhere; that includes the Underworld. Do not leave an inch of the Earth unsearched. When you do find her, if she puts up a fight, tell her that if she doesn't comply there will consequences. Go."

Hermes nodded and spoke softly, "Yes, father."

As Hermes fled, Zeus sighed. How did they end up this way? So broken? He admits that he did do things do push her away. Things he shouldn't have for revenge; like hanging her from the sky. It pained him that day to punish her put she deserved it that little minx. Always opposing him in council. Always challenging him unlike a good little wife. Yet, her clever challenges made him work harder to prove he was the one on top; the one will all the power, the one they were all in awe of. However, it would be a lie to say that they didn't have any sweet moments. Zeus couldn't help but smile as he recalled them. The one that seemed the sweetest was when they first met.

He had gone to go visit Tethys and Oceanus because he had some business that he needed to take care of with them as the new ruler of the skies and everything living. He was walking the ocean shore when he saw her. She was sitting with bunch of nymphs; they had been laughing and talking. Zeus stopped to observe them and that's when she looked at him. He recognized his sister, Hera. She looked like nothing he had imagined her to be as the real her looked much more than divine with those emerald eyes and dark brown hair and delicate, fair skin; all he wanted to do was touch her. Then he was graced with one of those smiles and joy crossed her face.

"Brother!" Hera cried and ran to him.

Zeus had caught her in an embrace as her small, warm body collided with his. She had fit perfectly in his arms and smelled remarkable. The one thought that that kept crossing his mind was this sister he was going to make his wife as they spend more time together; laughing or talking or just relaxing. She was a pleasure to have around.

Zeus chuckled. Only he had been lucky enough to have had captured his sister's heart. He also remembered the day he had felt such a passionate desire for her that he had felt when they had enjoyed other's embraces, and slept with one another, without their dear parents knowing anything about it. – The Iliad, Homer

Hopefully, Hermes could find her.

Hera awakened startled. Where was she? Why couldn't she recall anything? What was her name? She had to know her gods forsaken name! You know this, she told herself. But her effort was in vain as nothing came to mind. She turned to look around the room and saw a dark, tall, handsome man lurking in a chair by her bed. Hera automatically moved herself to the farthest place on the bed as the man started to stand.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He spoke quietly, "I'm Hades, your brother."

Hera regained some of her composure then, "I think I would remember a brother."

"You don't because you fell into the River of Lethe that wipes away all your memories."

That makes some sense. She thought to herself but that didn't explain who she was or why she was here or what was her life?

"That doesn't explain anything about me or my life. I demand that you explain." She said.

Hades chuckled, "Even in confusion you are still the same, my dear sister. Come I'll take you to your husband. He will hopefully enlighten you on everything."

The Lord of the Underworld held out a hand and Hera looked at it suspiciously. "You can trust me, dear sister. Everything shall be fine."

With a sigh, she let Hades help her up and the questions started.

Hades explained where they were, who he was, what was her family, her parents, who really raised her, her position and her husband. Some things were easier to believe than other.

"I cannot be the Queen of the Gods and I cannot have a husband that I don't remember." Hera shook her head. None of this made sense. Her husband was Zeus and he was the King of the Gods. Shouldn't a wife love her husband? Because whenever she said his name it left a bitter taste. No, Hades was lying that wasn't her husband; it couldn't be. She loved her husband. Not this Zeus.

"But you are. You are married to Zeus and that makes you Queen of the Gods." He said.

"Unbelievable," Hera muttered.

Just then a young man with wings of his sandals and a mischievous look in his eyes appeared in front of Hades.

"Was it Hermes?" Hades asked, impatiently.

Hermes ignored Hades and spoke to Hera, "Milady, Lord Zeus the requests your immediately on Olympus. He says if you are to fight against it there will be consequences."

Consequences? Her "husband" threatened her. None of this was right nevertheless Hera felt force to comply because somehow the mention of consequences from her husband sent a tremor threw her. She started to walk towards the young man until Hades stopped her.

"She will come but I will take her to Olympus personally, Hermes. You are dismissed." Hades spoke so fiercely that Hermes didn't have room to argue but just nod his head as he went on his way.

"Come, Hera. It's time to go back to Olympus."

Okay guys, this story won't include on the rape of Hera. Just of the fact that I really did like how Homer put it and I quoted him. Next Chapter we are back on Olympus and it will all go down. Review! Thanks.