Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for the plot
Title: Sincerely Untrue
Rumors of Hera's disappearance spread out like wildfire.
It did not take long, until almost everyone heard of them. None of them knew the truth, except for a handful, two among them were supposedly missing, while two of them kept their light shut up tightly. Of course, this was not reason enough for the of immortality bored gods and goddesses to gossip, as speculations were thrown into the whole mess, with assumptions made and blames given and taken.
In other words, it was a mess made in heaven.
Hestia watched the events with painstakingly sharp eyes. She found it amusing, somewhere, beneath the worrisome surface. Everyone was walking on tiptoes, they were aware of the consequences, or maybe not; they refused to talk about it, even refer to it, it was like walking on ice, yet the shared curious glances they dared to take when they thought they were not being watched.
No matter how much they tried to ignore it, to dance around the bull in the chino shop, somewhere along, it was clearly obvious that they knew.
Right now, Hestia was sitting in a round with her fellow goddesses, her circle of friends like one would like to refer them to. It was always such a enjoyable time, for those were more than just tolerable, in a way, they were of the same mind, sharing the same kind.
"Has anyone heard from Hermes lately?" Hestia asked.
"Why are you asking?" Harmonia asked.
"I am worried about him. The last time I saw him... he was... off. I hope he is doing fine."
"You are just wondering whether he will stay away from Hera's beloved maid, are you not?"
"Eris!" Harmonia gasped in outrage as she listened to her friend talk to bluntly.
"Merely saying what's on my mind."
Eris, a rather unusual guest at Hestia's sitting, took a sip from her cup.
"Eris, I hope you will further refrain from referring Iris as Hera's maid, she is her personal messenger and also, her most trusted confidante. It would do you a great deal if you do not forget it, especially in public," Themis, always conscious of the appropriate appearance and conduct, warned her.
"Of course, thank you so much, Themis," Eris declared with overly sweet fluttering eyes, which underlined the way her eyes shone mischievously with sarcasm.
"Me and Eris saw him, on our way here, if that is what you wanted to know, Hestia," Harmonia changed the topic in order to ease the tension that was building up with her honestly charming voice that was gifted to her as the goddess of harmony.
"You did?" Hestia seemed to be quite relieved. "Tell me about it."
"Ask Harmonia, she was the one who was talking to him. I was just waiting for the whole ordeal to be over and keep going on," Eris groaned.
"The only thing that surprises me is the fact that you did not taunt him," Hestia stated.
"Lost a bet to her," she mumbled and they knew she was referring to the goddess sitting next to her.
"The truth is, she tried to," Harmonia explained.
"We would not have expected anything else from you," Themis smiled graciously at her, a smile which the goddess of discord reciprocated.
"So, Harmonia, tell me, you talked to him?" Hestia changed the topic yet again back to where they started.
"Why yes, I did, we even shared a few nice words. He seems to be doing quite fine, if that was what you wanted to know."
Harmonia smiled in the way that only she as the goddess of harmony could, leaving the further words to the goddess next to her.
"I can never figure out whether you really mean what you said or whether you merely want to attain the peace," Eris declared bored.
"I do not know what you are talking about," Harmonia insisted on her innocence.
"I am sure you do not, you never do," Eris took a sip from her tea.
"The thing I find interesting is that you two seem to get along so well," Hestia referred to her and Harmonia. "Indeed, especially remembering how you two first started out. You could barely stand each other, which was not actually a surprise for anyone, considering your personalities and representations and now you are taking strolls together and everywhere else possible."
But it was not as though she disapproved of such developments. In fact, she welcomed them, such friendships were role-models for further developments and present antagonisms, dear mother, who knows how many existed on his heavenly place.
"Things changes and you, my dear Hestia, probably knows it the best that things are changing, do you not?" Eris folded her hand, her chin resting on them and slowly leaning forward to Hestia.
"Hermes never cared for her."
"You meant to say he never showed that he cared."
"Things are about to change right now.
"Is that not Poseidon over there?"
"You know what, I think you are right," Eris remarked with a raised eyebrow that indicated an interest that Harmonia did not pick up.
"Perhaps we shall greet him. I wonder whether his wife is accompanying him."
"I wonder about that as well. Now that there seems to be trouble in paradise for our top notch couple, they would surely take their place."
"Eris, you know that this is not true. There is no such rivalry-"
"Of course, I am aware of that," Eris rolled her eyes. "However... I do wonder what would happen, especially since it seemed not to be the case that his wife is here. Although one shall think she should, after all, given her relationship with Hera ..."
Oh yes, Amphititre loves her sister very much."
"That she does," Eris agreed. "Her husband however... not so much."
Harmonia watched the smirk unfold in her friend's face, whilst her own distorted into a frown that marred her serene face. Her stomach churned at the thought of what possible trouble this smirk of her contained.
"Please," she said, "be nice."
"You know I always try."
Eris pecked Harmonia's cheek and both of them walked towards the God of the Sea, albeit reluctantly from Harmonia's side.
"Poseidon, what beautiful day to take a stroll. I hope you take the same joy in watching the scenery as we are," Harmonia spoke sweetly. She took the first word, scarred of letting her friend do the job.
"Oh Harmonia," Poseidon greeted, his expression changed for a second when his eyes landed on Eris, although he did try to conceal it. "Eris. Indeed, what a beautiful day, I take you both just came back from a visit with my dearly beloved sister."
Eris opened her mouth.
"That is very true. We just enjoyed a nice sit conversation along with Hestia and Themis," Harmonia replied instantly.
Eris rolled her eyes.
Poseidon nodded in appreciation.
"Well, I am glad to hear that and I am sure my dear sister must have enjoyed it as much as you did."
Eris wondered where the usually so cheerfully buoyant and almost clumsy sea god that he suddenly appeared as calm and collected as his better half, rather than being the half to his better half.
"How are you doing, Poseidon?" she asked him, in a deceivingly polite voice.
"I am fine... thank you," he replied with cautious hesitance, as he knew better than to trust the Goddess of Discord.
"Really, is that not great? And how is your wife doing? I see that she is not with you."
"No, she is not," Poseidon admitted. "Although she would have liked to, she told me she did not feel as though she was in the condition to travel and I gladly complied in letting her stay for the sake of my wife's healthy welfare."
"Ah I see," Eris nodded in a far too understanding way. "Please excuse me if I had been too forward."
"It is fine. It pleases me to know that you care for my wife's welfare enough to inquire about her, although, like I stated, there is nothing serious to linger your thoughts too long on," Poseidon explained, far too wise to trust the far too polite manner of the Goddess of Strife.
"I was merely surprised, as you have to know. After all, the... less than fortunate circumstances we find ourselves on Olympus in are... to be dealt with precaution. I had hoped your wife's presence might be able to meliorate the situation, but seeing here not by your side, I feared, for a moment, this had been the reason why she actually stayed away."
Eris watched Poseidon with a mischievous glint in her eyes, Harmonia noted, as Poseidon's back stiffened.
"Well, I can assure you, dear Eris, you should not worry too much over that. Me and my wife are doing fine."
"You? Are you concerned by it by any means? I had not had thought that it would affect you as well, however..." Eris trailed off and her voice, so innocently high and concerned, changed its tone as she continued. "I do not think I could blame you if you do feel... concerned. As you have every right."
"Indeed, after all, Hera is my beloved sister, as is Zeus, hence, my care and love for my siblings obligates me into worrying for them and the welfare of their sacred marriage."
Eris laughed.
"That is so noble of you, Poseidon," her bell high voice taunted him. "Forgive me for not seeing this. I just had your wife in my thoughts, albeit you cannot blame me either, considering the close bond they share."
Poseidon and Harmonia knew that Eris meant more than their close upbringing under Tethys.
"I mean... they share so many ... similarities. I am sure that no one else understands the situation better than your wife, as well as how Hera must be and had been feeling. Out of everyone, she must be the most... affected one, is she not? So confused..."
"Eris-"
"Poseidon," she interrupted him and his seething tone, with fluttering eyes.
"You should cease with your implies."
"My implies? But dear Poseidon... it was not my intention to imply anything." Finally, Eris abandoned her innocent pretense. "What I said is just what I am thinking and what is probably just the truth."
They heard a gasp.
"Eris..." The goddess of harmony, as well as her friend was shocked, slowly whispering her name in an unbelievable manner.
"Harmonia," Eris replied short and curtly, stubbornly leaving her no space to reply.
"Poseidon-" Harmonia turned to the offended sea god, only for him to turn her down.
"Harmonia..." he countered with a sigh, his voice filled with exhaustion.
It was her turn to sigh. She knew she should not have left Eris speak and even then, she should have intervened when her gut told her so, after all, as the Goddess of Harmony, she would feel the disturbance that was about to occur. But she had not. Now she was left with no other choice but to watch the two of them helplessly and wishing it would stop.
"So, what do you think?" Hestia asked Themis, who stayed to help her with the dishes.
"I think that people should not meddle in matters that are not their's, otherwise..." Themis trailed off, knowing that there was no need to speak out words that could be understood without spoken.
"You know that is not I meant."
"But it is not as though I can say what you want to hear either, no?"
"Themis..."
"Hestia."
"It cannot go on like this."
"Is it so? You never had a problem with it before," Themis continued teasing her, that, however, ceased the moment she saw the serious stare. "Well, if you desire to know it, I fear I can only give you an opinion of what I know about and you know, that my specialty lies... not in familial ties or anything matters the heart."
"That is not true," Hestia rebuked her softly, which made Themis look away.
"You want to know what I think? I think Harmonia was right," the Goddess of Justice declared. "Something is changing. Hestia, you know very well that there is a balance for everything within this world and in order for peace and justice to reign, this balance must be kept and in no way endangered."
"Hm..." Hestia hummed, listening to the words that spoke out what she was already thinking.
"Hera... The Lady Hera completes our King and in a way, she is his counterpart. He needs her. They are the supreme example, as well as our role model, of how we have to behave, of our limits, good as bad and our values, at least what we should or should strive to be. However..." she trailed off, her mind searching for the right words, although a part of her did wonder whether there are any right words. "When things happen, that no one had seen coming, that had never been before,... then it's a something new, a surprise, which might knock people out, because they had not counted on it. It confuses them."
"It is a mere confusion."
"It is something that had not happened before," she corrected her.
"But she always returned before," Hestia argued.
"Yes, indeed. She always did..." Themis seemingly agreed. "She returned... before."
"I think he was rather... touchy, no? The way his face contorted to suddenly by the mere mention of her name. How beautiful it was..."
Eris laughed.
"Why did you have to mention... the latest thing. As the reigning King of the Sea, he has probably enough to trouble on, without you adding more pressure on his role."
"You know as well as I do and everyone else, that this was not the reason behind it."
"Eris..."
"Amphitrite was raised along with Hera and rumors say that they shared a close bond as siblings only could have, even if they did not share the same blood in that respect. Amphitrite was also raised by Tethys and Oceanus, additionally living underwater and thus enjoying a rather wild and free life. Although I do not know her well, I would not be surprised that she does share a few traits with Hera,"she quoted. "Actually, it is you and Themis that are to blame, after all, you were the one, who had given me this information."
Harmonia remained quiet.
"And let us not forget how alike their husbands are..." Eris repeated, with an evil glint in her eyes. "Marital problems are most fun to watch."
Her min was filled with wild imagination of what was and what could occur.
"Eris," Harmonia spoke in a chiding tone.
"Do not tell me that you do not find it interesting, as well."
Harmonia sighed in frustrated resignation and turned away, deciding to not deign her behavior with an answer of her's.
"Harmonia, I mean it. What do you really think of all of this?" Eris asked Harmonia, whilst walking with her with their arms linked together.
"About what?"
It merely earned her a chuckle.
"You know what I mean..."
"Those are matters that should better be left untouched by others."
Her answer was curt and brusquely and Eris suspected that she resented her for what had happened.
"Would you say we are outsiders? For I doubt that, considering it would affect all of us."
Harmonia wanted to argue on that, but Eris merely raised her eyebrow, knowing that even her innocent goddess friend of harmony would not be capable of deluding herself into denying this.
"In this world," Eris began,"there is nothing personal. In a world like this, where everyone is in one way tied to another, there are no outsiders, there is no privacy."
"Do not be crude."
"I am crude... Just cruel," she explained and pecked her on her cheek.
"Divorces are a terrible thing, one of which you should not talk to lightly about."
"A divorce hm..." Eris shook her head. "Do you think... but she has never really expressed such thoughts before. They always make such a pretty perfect picture."
Harmonia eyed her, listening and watching Eris express of disgust.
"Yes..." she said, her eyes slightly turning to the direction where Poseidon went down. "She used to..."