Chapter 10

The council room door closes and the newly weds were advised to sit at the center. Zeus is sitting infront of them, still holding his bolt in one hand. Hera is looking at her son, Ares, worry present on her face.

"Look at me Athena." Zeus commanded. She forces herself to look at Zeus face. He smiled at her so she returned the gesture. "Ares can you move forward?" Zeus then said.

"Father." Athena said, holding Ares's hand.

"Athena, let him go." Her father said.

"Father."

"Athena. Let. Him. Go." Zeus voice is now dark and the lightning and thunder outside is back again.

Ares removed her hands and do what Zeus told him to do. He move forward and now standing in front of their father. He smiled at his mother and Hera smiled back, but you can still see the nervousness on her eyes.

"Do you know the consequences of what you did to my daughter? You tainted her. You marked her with your dirty hands. You..you raped her."

"No, I made love to her, that is different from raping like what you always do" Ares answered not thinking on what he just said in front of Zeus, their king, the most powerful man in the whole Olympus.

"Ares!" Hera scolded his son, not believing that he will say that infront of her husband with Olympians around them. Ares is really a brat, she thought.

"What did you say?"

"I will not repeat it. I said what I said, I will not take it back. And I know the consequences, Zeus. You will kill me for taking your princess? Well I tell you tonight, you can kill me but you have to let go of Athena. My life for her freedom. How about that?"

No one said a thing, Athena is now crying looking at Ares who is willing to take all the blame. She's the reason on why this is happening. This is because of her selfishness. She was about to stand up and face her father like what Ares is doing, when a lightning bolt strike Ares. He is a God yes, but Zeus lightning bolt can kill him.

"Ares!" Athena run towards Ares who is now on his knee because of Zeus attack. He is wounded but he is still grinning like a mad man.

"Is that all that you can do?" Ares said, challenging Zeus. Athena glared at him and help him to stand up. Ares then shoved her away when another bolt strike on his feet. He laughed, he is indeed war freak, Athena thought but she admired him for standing up against their father.

"Stop it Zeus!" Hera said trying to calm her husband down.

"Shut up!" he answered.

"I am your wife and I will not shut up! He is your son too, bastard!" Hera is now fuming mad. "And you Ares, shut your mouth!"

Another lightning hit Ares. Hades and Poseidon is now beside Zeus, trying to stop him. The other Gods not able to move from their respective places.

"Brother, you're killing him." Hades then said.

"I'm sure there's other way, Zeus" Poseidon added.

But no, when Zeus is mad, he is mad, no one can stop him. Ares is now too weak to stand up so Athena is covering him from Zeus's attack.

"Move away, Athena. I'll kill that God."

"Stop it, please father. Please." she is now on her knees pleading for her husband's life.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldnt kill him! Just one good reason Princess."

No one is saying a thing, they are waiting for Athena's answer. There are many things running on her mind on why Zeus shouldnt kill Ares. He is an asset for Olympus and he is a great warrior. He is one of the best figther and he is stronger like Zeus. Ares is sweet and funny, he can change the mood from down to happy in just a second. He is a great lover and she will not welcome other Gods to be her lover, Ares is more than enough. He loves her. Love, yes that is a good reason and worth fighting for. Love is the reason why Hades got Persephone as his Queen, the reason why Artemis marry Hermes, why Eris is now carrying Apollo's child. Love is also the reason why Hephaestus accepted Aphrodite despite of what happened before. Love is what made her choose Ares. She might not confessed it like what Ares did, but she loves him..she will fight for him.

"Because I love him, Father. And I will fight for our love. I will fight for him." Zeus then calm down, looking at his grey eyed princess, kneeling in front of him to save Ares's life. Her eyes are full of tears but you can see the determination on her face, always ready to fight he thought.

"This meeting is over. Everyone, go out."

Athena is now inside her temple. She's with Artemis while Apollo is tending Ares's wounds. She's still shaking from what happened earlier. Her husband was almost killed by her father and she can only stare.

"Athena, everything's going to be okay. He'll live. Maybe he will need to rest for a week but Ares is a tough God, we all know that. You should take a rest too. Its a very stressful day. You of all the Gods here deserved to rest."

She nodded but she's still feeling guilty. She can't help but blame herself.

"It is because of my selfishness that all of this happened, Artemis."

"No its not. Don't blame yourself." Hermes then entered her temple and fetch his wife. Apollo said his goodbyes as well leaving Athena with a wounded and unconscious Ares on her side. She hold Ares's hand and kissed him on cheek.

"I love you."

The next morning, Hera visited Athena's temple. She expected Hera to visit them. Ares is her favorite son anyway.

"Still sleeping?" she asked.

"Yeah, Apollo told me he will wake up later this day so I'm making his favorite soup."

She can feel Hera's eyes on her fourth finger where the ring is located.

"You really are married."

"Yes."

"I never thought this day will come, Athena. You're..a good girl. This rebellion, its new."

She chuckled at her words and handed her a glass of wine. Hera accepted the drink.

"I'm sorry Hera."

"For what my dear?"

"For this. I know how you love Ares. He is your favorite. He was almost killed by Zeus because of me."

Hera looked at her smile.

"First all of all, I don't do favorites. Only your father does that. And you don't need to apologize, I'm sure Ares is proud of himself. He got the woman he's been dreaming off for so long."

"I thought he is your favorite."

"No and will never be. They all thought that he is, but I'm her mother so its just normal that I protect him from harm. Unlike you, you have your father's attention, Apollo and Artemis have Leto, Persephone with Demeter. So its just Ares and Hephaestus with me. No favorites, dear"

This is new, Athena thought. She always thought Hera hates her but right now she's like a mother. A mother she never have. Hera then asked Athena to tell her about what really happened and where they made the oath.

"You deserved a grand wedding celebration, Athena. And you will have that. I will talk to your father, don't worry. Just take care of Ares for me. I'll go now."

Just after an hour, Ares opened his eyes. He's still hurting from the wounds but at least he is now awake.

"Love, be careful. The wounds are still open. Here, I made your favorite soup. Eat first." Athena help him eat the soup and gave him some water to drink.

"Are you okay? Did Zeus hurt you?"

"No, he didnt hurt me. Father will not do that."

"Good."

They just look at each other and not saying a single word. His brown eyes locked on her grey ones. Both understanding that they love each other even if their Father dissapproves.

"You said you love me. Is that true?" Ares asked.

"I will not marry you and broke my vows of being a virgin forever if I don't, idiot."

"Now that's my wife." and they both laugh.