Author's Note: Sorry it has been so long since I updated. My old computer got stuck in a cycle of not being able to fully boot up and let me in. I've been locked out of it since April. I spent most that time - when it became obvious that we couldn't get it fixed at all - saving up money so that I could buy myself a new one, which is what I'm on right now. Then, once it arrived, I had to update and do all of those lovely little things that one has to do in order to make sure the computer runs properly. But now I should be able to continue to do my writing and updating.
This is just a small update to let everyone know who is following this story but not my others what happened. It will be added onto at a later date. Thanks so much for the support, reviews, check-ins, and every other thing that you all do that helps me keep connected and determined to do my best to finish my stories.
P.S. I hope that Métis lives up to expectation.
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Hera walked into her office and stopped dead, looking at the mess that covered the entire area. She could barely see her desk from her position in the doorway. "What happened in here?" she gasped, utterly horrified to find the place so trashed. It hadn't looked like this when she left. She knew that full well.
She had done her best to make sure that everything was set in order so that Zeus could maintain the high level of efficiency that they always did.
Zeus burst out of his office, a relieved smile on his face to see her. Though her expression was far from overjoyed, he half-embraced her. "I'm so thankful that you're back. So very, unbelievably grateful. No one here knows how to do anything right," he said.
"Including you?" she dryly retorted. Not quite sure what to make of his embrace, she remained motionless. Though she couldn't stop the slight stiffening of her body and she hoped that he wouldn't notice. If he did, there would be questions she didn't want to answer.
"And you didn't answer my question. What happened? When I went on vacation a week ago, this office was spotless. All of our files were in order. I know I was with family but I thought we were enjoying a tense peace with the giants." She referred to the talks that had taken five years to work through.
And the only reason the giants had been willing to talk was because Zeus had managed to wound Pallas, though, unfortunately, it had not been a fatal wound.
"Like I said, no one knows how to do anything around here," he said, finally moving away. A step or two, true, but it was a definite move away from her. "You can't take any more vacations. Do you know how many assistants they sent to me and none of them – not one – could do a thing after arriving. At least, nothing of any real value to me. They took half a morning to get ready and still couldn't find anything."
"So, you let them tear my office apart?" she asked, doing mental calculations to figure out how long it would take her to restore everything.
"They didn't consult me, Hera," he replied, slightly offended. How could she possibly think that he enjoyed this chaos? "Aren't you even a little bit happy to be back?"
Putting her bag on the coat hook, she shook her head. "Give me three hours to fix this mess and I'll let you know. Or is there more in your office I need to worry about?"
"Give me some credit," Zeus started.
"Are you good for it?" she asked, starting to pick up the scrolls nearest to her.
"I'll ignore that."
"I'll take that as a no," she retorted, giving him a teasing smile over her shoulder. "You were saying about your office?"
Zeus really wished she'd stop finding new ways to be attractive to him. Really, he did. "I kept them out. Any time I needed to do diction or reviews, we stayed out here. With the door open and I made sure Hermes kept dropping by so that I wouldn't be tempted to strangle any of them."
"I'll check anyway," she said, suspecting that there were things he wasn't telling her. She was not looking forward to any of this but knew that she had take care of things. "We're not going to be able to work for a while, why don't you see Métis? She has something to share with you."
"I'll be right back," he told her. Métis had gone to see the Moirae about defeating the giants. Though they were less mysterious and had more compassion than the Graeae, he still worried about her mental state.
"Don't hurry on my account," she quipped. "I don't think it was as easy as she made it sound. She's going to need your support and strength more than I will."
Zeus nodded, walking out. He found Métis in the garden, admiring Demeter's new creation. Wrapping his arms around the blond beauty, he greeted her. "Hi, love. Hera said you had some news for me."
Her sky blue eyes were almost empty of feeling as she recounted her strange meeting with the curious beings known as the Fates. Though she leaned back into his embrace, he could tell she drew neither comfort nor warmth from it. Her body remained almost stiff and unyielding as stone.
Yet, at the same time, it felt as though he was holding nothing more than air.
"So, if we fight, we need a mortal hero with the blood of a god inside?" he asked. "No problem, there are several gods who can father such a child." His hand ran through her hair, heedless of the pins he scattered about. He never could figure out why she pulled her hair back. It wasn't as if she actually had to do so.
"The hero has to have a godly parent, but also needs the mortal parent to descend from a godly line," she paused. Not looking up at him, she continued, voice dead. "And the godly parent must have control over air and some in the water in order to fight the forces of the earth and the sky."
Zeus sighed. "That makes it a bit more difficult for there aren't many who fit that description."
"There's only one, Zeus," she stared up at him. "You."
He felt his stomach drop. No wonder she was so hurt. In order to save them from this threat, she had to let her husband have a child with his mistress – whoever that may be. A child which would permanently tie this woman to them, through the presence of the child if nothing else.
"It wouldn't be forever, just for the length of his mortal life," he said, trying to be comforting.
"He will gain immortality with this act," she dully replied. "Fighting the Gigantes as a mortal would require extraordinary courage. And you know that children of divine blood always have a destiny greater than their mortal life. Even if he were not to gain immortality, his name would live on forever."
"Oh," it was not an inspiring nor a comforting remark. A mortal son made immortal through an act of courage. It had no precedence in all known history, not even their allies to the North had something like this for him to look at. How would this affect the course of the Pantheon? Would the boy expect more of him, of them all just because he was his father?
More importantly, would his marriage survive this set back?
Métis shook herself. "Enough of this nonsense. I'm being silly."
"No, you're not," he softly refuted. "This can't be easy for you. So, I don't think you're silly or unreasonable. If our positions were reversed, I would be angrier than you are right now."
Kissing him, she smiled up at him. Life returning to her eyes and making them sparkle gaily. "You're sweet to say that."
"Whose being sweet?" he protested, hugging her closer to him. "I'm being serious."
"And that's why it's so sweet," she replied, slapping his roving hands away from her neckline. "Zeus, cut that out. Anyone could walk in here."
His eyebrow went up, "In my private garden? I don't think so. And if anyone does, we'll sick Hera on them. She's rather frightening." Though he gave a mock shudder, he also wasn't kidding. Hera could be a real termagant when she wanted to be. Some of his more persistent, dismissed mistresses had found that out when he'd asked her to deal with them for they'd been troubling both him and Métis.
"And you like that about her," she shot back, no real heat there.
"Yeah," he dryly replied, "I like being scared to death by the woman."
Métis rolled her eyes, laughing softly. No matter what he said, she was fully aware of the truth. "The first order of business is to choose an appropriate mother. If I know Hera, she's already compiling a list of suitable candidates the both of us like. What?" she asked, catching the grimace on his face.
"My temps left her office a mess. I doubt she'll be doing anything for a while."
Métis laughed again, life and fire coming back into her. "You don't know my sister that well if you think that. Not only will she have a list but I'm sure that she'll be arranging for interviews."
Zeus looked at her doubtfully.
"How long has Hera worked for you – officially and as your temp?"
Thinking it over for a moment, he answered after he did the calculations. "One hundred sixty one years."
"And you doubt her ability to do any kind of work after working? You really need to rethink what you know of her if such is the case. I've never known Hera to be truly thrown by anything," she paused, thinking about something and her eyes darkened. "The only time I've ever seen her shaken was when she met some half mortal eons ago."
"Hera? Shaken?" Zeus repeated. "You have got to be kidding me."
"Why would I kid you?"
Thinking about the goddess with her perfectly done hair and fair, the trimmed to a specific length nails, the chiton always properly pressed, and the bag that was kept ruthlessly in order…the image of her anything as else than perfectly composed defied him. "That would be quite a sight."
"She was thirteen at the time," she added. "Barely out the schoolroom and pushed into womanhood far to soon because of the war."
"It's still something I would've liked to see," he said. With sigh, he relented to her constant push away from him. "I'd best get back to work. Are you going to be alright?"
Métis smiled, no longer shadowed by pain. "Yeah. The worst is over now that you know."
"Not quite," he corrected. "Mother has to be told."
Her face fell, imagining Rhea's reaction. Her mother-in-law none to fond of Métis' way of looking the other way with regards to her husband's philandering. She found it terribly disrespectful that she even interviewed these women.
Thus, they didn't get along well at all.
"I was so concerned with you, I forgot about her." She rubbed the back of her neck.
"Get it over with now," he advised. At her sour look, he had to stifle a laugh. He did, after all, want his wife in his bed tonight. "She's not going to eat you, you know."
"Oh, but I'm sure she'd like too. She doesn't quite approve of me you know. Thinks I'm a bit to liberal when it comes to you," she said conversationally.
Zeus knew she was referring to her attitude towards his liaisons. It was no secret his mother wanted him to stay faithful, that she wished Métis would be firmer with him. But this worked for them, so long as his mistress understood her place – and she never had a child.
"I could tell her," he offered.
"Thanks, but this is my task." She smiled. Though grateful to him for the offer, she couldn't let him do this. It was her task. "As the future Queen of the Olympos, I can't run away from a task, no matter how distasteful I find it."
"I could go with you," he said. He knew she was right. This was something that she should handle for she was the one who was told the prophecy. But he also knew his mother. This would not go over well.
Shaking her head, she gently refused. "It would do my cause no good if I can't stand on my own before her." After standing on her tiptoes to kiss him, she watched him walk reluctantly away from her before she turned away. She was fully aware that he'd stopped and watched her, hoping she'd call him back.
But as much as she wanted to, she couldn't. This was her message to give and she needed to do it alone.
Demeter emerged from one of the rooms and saw her. Her eyes widened and then she shook her head. "You may want to clean up before going to see Queen Rhea."
"Is something wrong?" she asked. Her hands smoothed down her hair and then her dress.
"Come on," she invited, smiling warmly. "What you really want is a hairbrush and a mirror so you can replace your pins. A new outer robe wouldn't hurt either. Had it been anyone but Zeus a quick brush down would work."
Knowing what her husband was like, Métis didn't get upset by the reminder of this woman's past with him – much. It was hard to ignore the knowing in her voice. The really difficult part about Demeter was that Métis really liked her. She was funny and smart, without being in your face about it.
Plus, she was a terrific mother to Persephone - it slightly overprotective. She feared the day that the girl entered the marriage arena for she had a feeling that Demeter would fight it every step of the way.
And Persephone's presence was a genuine concern for her.
Every time she saw her, she could only see that Demeter had done something with her husband that she had yet to do. Though he was constantly in her bed, she had not conceived. They had been wed for several years and she hadn't even had a false alarm.
Such things worried her because she had yet to see any signs that she could conceive.
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"Your most honored Excellency," she addressed her as she curtsied low. Out of the corner of her eye, she studied the queen, grateful for Demeter and Aphrodite's timely interference. Had she come in looking as though she'd just stumbled out of Zeus' bed, Rhea would've thrown her out. She'd had cause to do it once before, though that was not her fault.
"Ah, Princess Métis," she politely greeted her. "I trust you have some favorable word for the Moirae."
Rising, she kept her eyes lowered and hands folded in front of her. "I would not say that the message that the message is favorable, my Queen. While they gave me news of peace, they also revealed a most disturbing fact."
The heavens darkened slightly outside. The pillars spaced sporadically around the room to let the light in took on a more ominous look. She shivered in the sudden chill but held steady. Now was no time to falter, her message to important. A part of her did fear that it was Ouranos who had created the sudden change in the atmosphere for he had allied himself to the giants.
"Oh?" Rhea's voice went deadly still. "And what is this word?"
"That when war came, victory would only be assured with the assistance of a mortal of divine blood who also descends from that lineage."
Rhea's head tilted, "That does not sound to difficult a task to manage. We have several single gods who could perform the task given the right list of mortal women to choose from. Even, if necessary, a goddess could do the task with a male of the appropriate status. Of course, we would require that there be a marriage for the duration of the mortal's life but that is nothing to a goddess when a mortal's life is so short."
Métis quietly said, "That's when we run into trouble. There was a proviso added that the child's parent have control over the sky and influence in the sea in order to combat the earth and sky in the giants."
"Zeus."
"Zeus," she needlessly confirmed.
A sharp breath escaped Rhea. "Is there anything else I should know?"
"The child shall become a god for this act of bravery and overcoming mortal fears to fight them," she finished, trying not to rush the words.
For a moment, everything went completely still. Not even a puff of air moved before everything exploded into chaotic sounds and severe storms. Swirling about the room, everything became cold and damp. Métis knelt to the ground, paralyzed with terror.
She almost wished that Rhea had eaten her.
It would have been preferable to this.
"Mother!"
"Rhea? What are you doing?" Kronus asked, pushing Zeus to the side.
Zeus felt nothing. His eyes were on his wife and he quickly moved to embrace her. Protecting her with his body, they made their way unsteadily through the debris to the door. Behind them, they could hear Rhea telling Kronus the news.
"We'd best get everyone to higher ground," she said as the mountain rumbled ominously beneath their feet.
Hestia's voice was clearly heard from across the hall. "Already have that covered. The start of mother's storm front said we should prepare for the worst. Most of the Temples have been evacuated but Hermes was unable to get into your offices."
"Hera!" They exclaimed before Métis was pushing him towards the other staircase. "GO! I'll be fine," she added, seeing his doubtful look. Really, just because she wasn't as powerful as Hera, that didn't make her incapable. She wished he'd realize that.
"Take care of her, Hestia," he ordered needlessly before racing up the stairs. Taking them two at a time, he casually threw out his own powers to block or push away the obstacles in his path. Upon reaching the area his office was, he saw the blockage and knew why Hermes hadn't been able to get through. God of thieves he may have been but even this mess would defy his ability.
"Need a hand?" Poseidon asked.
Together they cleared the way and Zeus pushed open the door. Hera sat in front of seven clouds, debris and files scattered all over the floor.
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