Hades arrived first, walking into the dining hall while the rest of us were just finishing up breakfast. Persephone quickly jumped out of her chair and dashed to her husband, sighing in utter relief while locking him in a tight embrace. Hades held her just as tightly. However, none of the rest of us missed the disapproving glare that Demeter was shooting at the both of them.

We were allowed to do our own things while we wait for Poseidon's arrival. I would have expectedly gone to the gardens and just roam or practise my archery there. Sometimes maybe even go to Hephaestus' workshop and chat with him as he worked. But instead, I went to my room and just sat down to think.

I sat on the centre of my bed with my knees drawn to my chest. My back was to the door, so I was facing the large glassless window, gazing at the bright blue sky with the silver-lined white clouds floating aimlessly in the air.

Many thoughts were running through my mind at that moment. Most importantly; how long was this going to drag on? How long will Ares stay trapped? How long was Aphrodite going to wallow in sadness? How long will Zeus worry about keeping his throne? How long was I going to be afraid?

These questions stressed out all of us. It made me wonder if any of us would come out with the solution any longer.

For some reason, I felt like that responsibility had to go to me.

I don't know why.

But I felt like I had to.

A knock on the door interrupted my long track of thoughts, and I jumped at the abruptness. "Yes?" I called out loudly.

Hermes' voice spoke up on the other side. "Poseidon had just arrived."

I didn't say anything else. I just simply got off the bed, straightened my dress and commanded the doors to open for me. Hermes stood on the other side, watching me approach. When I had stepped out of my room and the doors closed behind me, I followed him to the council room.

Hermes and I were the last to arrive. But luckily, we arrived just as the meeting was about to start. We bowed to the three God-Kings, and they nodded their heads once in acknowledgement. We then moved to our respective thrones; mine in between Apollo and Athena, his in between Athena and Dionysus.

Zeus took a stand then, and said sternly, "This cannot go on any longer. The Aloadae must be stopped before something even more drastic happens."

"I agree," Demeter said in return. It was then I noticed Persephone wasn't there with her. "The mortals would be affected as well, only putting more burdens onto our shoulders."

Some of us nodded their heads in agreement.

"I say we attack them by surprise, as how they did to us the previous night," Dionysus proposed. "If they can do it, then so can we!"

"And maybe I can craft more powerful weapons for that situation," Hephaestus added, his mismatch eyes – his left one was a hazel-green while his right was brown – hard with determination.

"I have a better idea!" Aphrodite exclaimed. "Why not we plan a rescue attempt for Ares? If we manage to do so and he would heal, we could then band up against them and attempt to take over those giants!"

From beside me, Athena shook her head in dismay. "We cannot act so rashly. Although a surprise attack sounds like quite a good idea, an abrupt action can bring many consequences. Consequences that would bring more problems to us. A rescue attempt may be made, but it would be too risky."

Zeus spoke up then. "And whatever weapon we have can do them no harm. They are invincible to us."

"So there is nothing we can do?" Dionysus questioned dryly, his voice losing all the determination he had at first.

"We must not lose hope," Hera replied, her voice gentle but with a tinge of worry. "I suggest the one thing we do now is discover their weaknesses."

"Which I think I may have."

I whipped my head to the side to look at Apollo, who had risen from his throne. The rest of us kept silent, wondering whatever he was talking about and waiting for him to continue.

"During the attack yesterday, I witnessed Otus strike his brother in the face for throwing a boulder at Artemis. And what was interesting was that Ephialtes had yelled and clutched his face in pain."

Hermes then murmured, "So what you are saying is…"

Apollo nodded solemnly.

"Maybe that is it," Hades stated. "Maybe that is the answer."

"Are you saying that we try and get the giants to kill each other?" Hestia inquired.

Aphrodite then muttered, "That isn't a bad idea."

I had to admit, it wasn't. What better way for them to die than by having them killed by each other's own hands?

Then Aphrodite continued on. "But now that we have the solution, when will we execute it? When will we be able to free Ares?"

I heard a heavy sigh and my eyes slid over to Poseidon, who frowned in deep thought.

"I do not know whether that is possible," he muttered. "The Aloadae need a perfectly good reason to do such a thing to each other…."

"Then we give them one!" Aphrodite interjected. "Give them a reason for them to rival each other!"

"They are smarter than you think, Aphrodite," Poseidon grumbled. "They too share the same arrogance that gave them the will to be strong…"

Suddenly, all of us heard Zeus mutter 'discreetly', "An obvious trait that they had inherited from their father."

Poseidon clearly heard it, and had stood from his throne abruptly. "What did you say, brother?" he seethed.

Zeus did not hesitate to let his anger and frustration show this time, and stood up from his throne to show Poseidon that he was not intimidated. He then snarled, "If it wasn't for the arrogance that your monstrous bastards had inherited from you, we wouldn't even be in this sort of situation in the first place!"

Poseidon growled menacingly, "YOU SPEAK OF ARROGANCE? YOU SPEAK OF BASTARDS? THEN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING, ZEUS-"

"ENOUGH!" Hades snapped, standing from his ebony throne. "Do you two have no shame? No correct mind-set? We were to discuss of our plan of retaliation against the Aloadae, not speak of arrogance and or bastard children!"

I found Hades to be the only one correct in the Big Three's petty argument. Unlike his brothers, the Lord of the Underworld was neither arrogant nor does he have any illegitimate offspring, especially one that could cause us so much trouble.

"Do you really believe that fighting over such an insignificant matter would help? We should be coming up with an elaborate plan to rescue Ares and stop the Alodae! Like Aphrodite had said; we should give them a reason for the both of them to fight each other!"

Poseidon, who was still fuming mad, turned to him and shouted, "But do you have that 'elaborate' plan?"

I took that very moment as the time to stand from my throne.

Suddenly, everyone's eyes were all on me. I had not spoken even a single word from the beginning, so all was probably wondering what I was going to say.

Or better yet, what I was going to do.

The Big Three stopped their quarrel and looked over to me as I walked down the steps of my dais to the centre of the room. Then, standing before Zeus, I kneeled. My hands planted firmly down on the floor and my head hung as my eyes stared at the smooth and clean marble.

"What do you wish to speak of, Artemis?" Zeus questioned, and I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my head.

I felt my throat go dry at the very thought of the words in my head. I was hesitant to do it. I didn't know if I wanted to. But I knew that Ares had to be saved sooner or later. That would at least take one burden off all of our shoulders.

I did not lift my head to look up at Zeus and all who were staring at me. In a loud and solemn voice, I then announced, "Lord Zeus. I have made a decision for myself."

"And what decision is that?" he asked me.

I felt like I wanted to cry. I didn't want to say those words. I felt sick in the stomach just by tasting those horrible words on my tongue.

But I had to.

With a quivering voice, I said, "I have decided that I will wed Otus."

A roar of protest came immediately after I had finished my words. But of course, the loudest was from Apollo.

"WHAT IN TARTARUS ARE YOU SAYING?" he roared. "YOU WILL NOT BE A FOOL AND SUCCUMB TO THAT BEAST! I FORBID IT!"

"Why, Artemis? Why?" I heard Hermes question in a shaky voice.

"Surely you would not do such a thing…" Hestia murmured.

I could feel the tears rimming around my eyes, and I willed myself to look up at all of them. All had expressions of shock and worry on their faces, but Apollo's was anger. Burning anger. Both at my stupid decision and my foolishness.

But I was not acting on stupidity. I had a plan.

A plan he had no knowledge off at the moment.

"What made you decide such a thing?" Hades questioned me.

I focused my gaze on him and answered, "I can exchange myself for Ares."

"You would risk your life for his?" Demeter asked gently. I turned my gaze to her and saw her olive green eyes ridden with pity.

I sighed. "I think I would be more capable than Ares at the moment. Besides, if he remains trapped by them, he would not be able to take it any longer…"

"AND THEN YOU WOULD BE THE ONE WHO WOULD SUFFER!" Apollo snarled. I winced at his sharp words. Apollo had never sounded so vicious before, and it scared me.

"Artemis…" I heard Zeus say. I turned to look at him, my midnight blue eyes locking with his grey ones.

"Yes, Lord Zeus?"

He took a deep breath and exhaled, all while he contemplated his words.

"Why do you wish to do this?"

"Lady Hera should not do this. I know. So if not Hera, then who?" I took in a deep breath and continued, "I can free Ares from his confinement. And then, I will give them something to fight about. I will give them a reason for them to quarrel with one another."

Suddenly, a new voice spoke up. It was Hera's.

"Artemis… You have no need to do this…"

"Then what are we supposed to do now?" I questioned, not only to her, but to everyone. "Nobody is taking action, because everybody is afraid and hesitant and confused. I am afraid as well, but I know what I can do. And I would be willing to do it."

"Are you sure?" Poseidon questioned.

I silently nodded my head.

"This is quite a choice you are making," Hades muttered.

"A foolish one…" Apollo snarled loudly.

I tried to think of something to further enhance my claim. "Perhaps, maybe, I would be able to escape. If the Fates would so willingly give me that chance."

Zeus stared at me with hard, expressionless eyes. But I could see many thoughts running through them.

Just then, I heard Apollo address him. "Lord Zeus. I forbid my sister from doing such a thing. I simply forbid it."

Daringly, I turned to look at him, and told him sharply, "You forbid your older sister from attempting to save the life of another?"

He glared at me in return, muttering lowly, "Not when it could get her hurt. You would be walking in a trap. I won't allow you to take Ares' place in the clutches of the Aloadae."

Suddenly, I heard Zeus say, "Artemis' intentions are of a good cause. And she is a fighter. She would know how to defend herself and she would know how to escape. So I have decided that I will allow her to perform her task. She will exchange herself for Ares and attempt to trick the Aloadae on our behalf."

Everyone kept silent, letting the words sink in to their skin. I could feel Apollo's angered aura, but I tried my best to avert my attentions away from it.

Suddenly, I heard Hestia murmur, "You poor girl... Having to wed one of those monsters..."

I sucked in air sharply, letting the sting of those words burn me.