AN: Thank you for being super patient! Last chapter!
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In the tales of mortal men, the Trojan War bore many heroes and legends alike.
The people will remember Achilles defeating Hector before the gates of Troy. Then tragically, he would be arrowed down by Paris near the end of the war in his one weak spot, the vulnerable tendon behind his ankle. But he would be recalled as a hero through and through.
They'll remember the Trojan Horse that secretly held many men and they recall the fools that took such a 'gift' into their haven, only to be slaughtered that very night.
Helen of Troy's name would be whispered, the name cursed for having been the reason for the war.
Then, there would be two deities that will last past the war. Young boys they were when they entered the war. They were silver haired and dark eyed, always darting ahead before their blood lusting father to scare mortals. Every snapping twig, every 'accident' before battle, and sudden quaking in their bones could be attributed to these twins.
Phobos and Deimos.
Fear and Terror.
The goddess that bore them would not be known until many years later. And even then, mortals and gods alike would wonder how such males could have come from the womb of the goddess of Love. But then they would recall their sire War and understand. For War was not gentle nor kind. He only knew of hunger and battle. Those traits carried strongly into War's sons.
Ares was proud.
Aphrodite wept at the loss of her babes, but knew that they were destined to join their sire.
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In the temple, Harmonia arranged some flowers.
Her mother played the harp distractedly, her fingers strumming in a sort of listless way. The war had ended, Ares did not come yet. The last time she had seen him was years back when they made Phobos and Deimos. She plucked a sour note, letting it quiver in the air. She hadn't seen her sons either. Not since they asked after their sire, telling her that they desired to join him in battle. She couldn't refuse; after all, she had begged Ares to make love one more time in the hopes that she could bear him a strong child for battle.
It seemed she got her wish, though she hadn't fully understood what that would mean.
She softly sighed, rubbing her belly. They had been born too soon, grown up too fast. She felt cheated out of being a mother to them. But they were meant for War. They could not be softened too much with Love. She understood. But did not want it to be so. Harmonia caught the wistful sigh. She left the table to attend to her.
"Mother? Are you unwell?"
Aphrodite petted her daughter's dark red hair. "No, love."
Harmonia kneeled beside her mother, placing her head on her leg. Her mother petted her hair gently, lovingly, as she did when she was a little child. Harmonia sighed, putting her hand along her mother's.
"You should go to him."
Aphrodite's hand paused. "Who, sweet child?"
Her grey eyes gleamed in the sunlight. "My sire."
"...Harmonia?"
"I know, mother," she softly murmured. "I am no longer a child."
Aphrodite gave her a bittersweet smile. "You're not." Then, with a twinkle in her eye, she murmured, "I hear you have a young man asking for you at the entrance to the temple lately. Is he good looking?"
"Mother!"
"Do not fret love," she merrily laughed, kissing her daughter's head. "I will keep the secret."
Harmonia blushed against her mother's robe. "His name is Cadmus. He is...mortal. But kind."
"That's good to hear."
There was a rustling of robes and feet. Sora lifted her eyes to see the head priestess.
"Mi'lady, you have a visitor."
Her heart thudded in anticipation, feeling the tug of an immortal nearby. Hephaestus hobbled in, minding his lame leg. She kept her smile but it was lacking in emotion.
"Hephaestus. What a surprise."
Sora slowly undid the pearls in her hair, taking her time in placing them in their box.
He came for a supposed visit of Harmonia.
His calloused hand rubbed her arm. She could smell the smoke from the smithy in his skin and the smell of the ale from dinner earlier in the day. She swallowed hard. She was not a fool; she knew the true purpose of his visit. It was what every husband wanted from his wife. They were no different, though they be gods.
"You haven't been home in a while."
She took the comb, trying to distract herself from the smell. "You were busy in the forge, what with the war."
"War's over."
She caught a tangle and then smoothly loosened the comb. "Yes, it is."
He slid her strap down, stilling her.
"You've been gone for years."
"The war lasted for years," she bit out. "I was not about to be at Lemnos alone when I could be with my daughter in the temple."
"Yes. Of course." Pause. "I don't have any commissions at the moment..."
"Ken." She quickly stood up. "You should bathe first. Let the water relax you."
He eyed her, assessing her. "I am relaxed." He pulled something out from his pouch. "Do not worry."
Her eyes widened as he pulled out the magical girdle. But instead of giving it to her, he made to tie it around his waist. She didn't know whether to try to escape the room or make a grab for the girdle.
"Ken -"
Either choice was too late. The magic of the girdle kicked in, making her blood heat up. She walked up to him, her strap having fallen so low as to reveal a breast. Her hands undid his cloak and then slipped beneath his tunic, rubbing his chest. His eyes closed, letting out a low groan.
"You should finish removing your clothes."
Wordlessly, her hands removed the other strap though her mind rebelled against it. She was naked before him and his hands were over her, running frantically over her hips and then her breasts. Lust raged in her veins as well as frustration. She felt a pit form in her stomach as she tried to fight against the power of the girdle, but with little luck. She was the goddess of love, beauty, and procreation.
To successfully fight off the lust the magic created would be to deny her being.
"Get on the bed."
Her legs shook as she obeyed. She laid down slowly, trying to prolong the inevitable. He was removing his loin cloth. She closed her eyes, feeling him get on the bed. His hands were on her thighs, parting them. His ale breath was on her throat. She whimpered involuntarily as she felt him at her entrance. He rubbed against her, arousing himself more. She felt the tickling of lust in her lower stomach despite her inner protest.
He entered her fully. She arched beneath him, biting her lip hard.
He moved in and out, his breath getting heavier. She gripped the sheet hard, reminding herself that he usually didn't last long. But he had never worn the girdle before. He usually had her wear it so he could feel lust for her. What changed? Why was he making her supple when before he was the one that didn't want to touch her?
His eyes were closed tight as he palmed a breast. He moaned out a name, but it was not her own. He spilled inside her, stayed on her for a while, not pulling out. Then he rolled off of her, but kept an arm around her. She stayed still as he continued to fondle a breast, making her unfulfilled need worse. She rubbed her legs together to try to dispel it, but it only heightened it. She fisted her hand, the magic of the girdle still in effect so long as he wore it. She hated what she was about to say.
"Ken," she half whispered. "I need you."
The hand fondling went lower. Her breath sharpened as his fingers entered.
He wasn't the smoothest of lovers. She knew that already. She tried to guide him, first telling him to go higher or lower, deeper, harder. He fumbled with her instructions. She put her hand along his wrist, trying to help. She rather this than having him hover over her again.
She released a breath as the tension eased.
He fell asleep soon after. Immediately, she removed the girdle and hid it. She would have burned it if it had not been forged in fire to begin with. Hastily grabbing a robe, she dressed herself, not bothering with her hair or shoes and made for her daughter's room. She slipped inside, locking the door. Harmonia was half awoke, feeling her mother hug her from behind.
"Mother? What's the matter?"
She couldn't control the tears, but she did choke back the sob that wanted to come out.
"Foolishness, love. Go back to bed."
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Ares' refuge was a stone place in the woods of Thrace.
It was there that he rested after battle and practiced with his sons. They were growing fiercer in the ways of battle. It was as if the hunger was in their very blood. Ares smirked as his sons charged him at the same time, one going high and the other low. He parried them off almost flawlessly. It would have been smooth if he hadn't caught red in the corner of his eye.
There was a cut on his cheek.
"That is enough."
Phobos and Deimos looked at each other and then bowed their heads. They walked off to their home, intent on bathing and eating. Ares looked into the woods, narrowing his eyes.
"Come out."
Hesitantly, a redhead came out, but not who he thought.
"Harmonia." He put his blade away and waited for the girl to come to him.
"Pardon my intrusion, god of war." She bowed her head a little, her red locks going over her shoulder. "Auntie Artemis said I could find you here."
Sophie. That sister of his needed to stay out of his business.
"So you have."
She fiddled with her belt a little. "Yes." Pause. "My mother needs you."
"What for?"
"She grows lonesome," she looked straight into his eyes, "...father."
"...She told you?"
She lightly shook her head. "I found out on my own."
He sized her up and then turned away. "Go home."
"But father -"
"I will go," he quietly murmured. "Fret not."
She blinked at his wording and then smiled. Her mother was rubbing off on him.
"Yes father."
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The temple had a separate bathing area nearby.
Aphrodite was there now, scrubbing at her skin. She was unnaturally focused on the task, having already cleaned herself fully. But the smell of the furnace was still there. She could smell it cling to her like a second skin. She rubbed the washing cloth harder against her neck until it was nearly painful. Water trickled down her cheeks.
"You'll break the skin."
Her hand slowed. "Ares." She did not turn to him, choosing instead to dip the cloth into the water. "If you go into the temple, Harmonia may bring you food and drink." She squeezed the water out of the cloth over her abused neck, trying to bring some relief. "I am currently indisposed."
His armor lightly sounded as he circled the pool. Her head merely turned away. He sighed to himself. Why was he surrounded by headstrong women?
"She has grown."
"Yes."
He sat down on a stump, mindful of his sword. "She visited me three days ago."
"What for?"
He arched a brow. "You play coy at the strangest of times."
She turned her head at that. "I did not send her to you."
"Hm." He tilted his head, getting a better look at her face. "Something has upset you."
She touched her wet cheek and then wiped it clear.
"Nothing that concerns you."
His face was stone. She recognized the mask. It was when he was getting irritated but was trying to keep it from boiling out. He withheld himself for her. She had not seen him do that for anyone else. She stayed in the middle of the pool, cupping water to pour over her face and into her hair.
"I'll ask only once," he tersely murmured, "what's the matter?"
She lightly tittered. "So you do care." she ran her fingers through her wet hair. "Here I thought your absence meant the opposite."
He clenched the pommel of his sword. "I had things to attend to."
"Mm, yes. War is always busy in that aimless way." Pause. "How are my sons?"
"Growing stronger."
"Where do they live? With you?"
He nodded.
Her shoulders relaxed a little. "I'm glad." She looked up into the sky. "They were so eager to join you..."
"You have yet to answer my question."
She did not look at him, choosing to look at the moving clouds. "Harmonia met someone. Cadmus. He comes to visit frequently." She gave a small smile. "Young love is so beautiful."
A breeze blew through, making her rub her arms. The wind died down, but she still felt cold. She hugged herself tightly, feeling the coldness seep inside. Or was it coming from inside of her? She couldn't tell. It felt like a storm from both ends.
Tears streamed down her face and neck.
Her children were growing up. Ken had stayed for a couple of days, but ever since the night he used the magic girdle and called out another's name in the throes of his release, she felt so empty. Since the War, the nymphs had left Lemnos, including her husband's favorite with the dark hair and blue eyes. And then her lover was gone, having gotten the sons he always wanted. She hadn't noticed him enter the pool, or even heard when he removed his sword and armor. He tilted her chin up. She shook her head, merely sobbing into her hands. In a moment of anger, he pulled her hands away from her face, shaking her.
"Look at me," he harshly demanded.
She looked up, her eyes red and wet. "He used me," she choked out.
His eyes were sharp and steely. "Who?"
"He said that nymph's name," she bitterly continued, "while he took me. And you..." Her lips trembled. "I fooled myself into thinking you were better," her eyes were lit with scorn, despite the tears, "but you're worse."
"I have never used you."
"You were more subtle." She pulled away, but he would not let go. "You waited and waited and now, you have sons for War." She stared him straight in his eyes, fierce as any fury. "War has no further use for Love."
"You wanted to give me sons."
"And then you disappeared," she spat out. "You had no issue visiting me during the War before they were born."
"I..." he clenched his teeth hard, "I did stay away purposely." He looked at the water, trying to find the words. "My men and I lost the War because of this." He looked at her face. "Because of you."
"Don't you dare blame me."
He put a heavy hand against her face, his thumb over her lips. "It's the truth," he murmured. "I wanted for the battle to end. To return here. My lust for the fight had been lesser than..." his thumb rubbed over her lips. "When I realized this, I tried to harden myself again."
"By avoiding me?" she bit out.
"Exactly." Pause. "I think...it was too late..."
She stared at his eyes, the only place that she could ever truly decipher. She pulled his hair down. His head followed obediently, coming down to her face to face. Her lips ghosted his, his breath came out ragged, his fingers gripping her arms harder. She pulled her lips away. He followed willingly, only to have her lightly brush against his upper lip, just giving him a taste of what he wanted. In the beginning, he had proclaimed to dominant her in the most carnal and primal of ways. She had warned him playfully that Love might overwhelm him instead.
She had not realized...
"I am weaker," he rasped out.
She put her hands against his face, smiling. "You would see it that way." She lightly kissed his forehead. "To me, you are stronger."
His hands loosened around her arms. She took his hand and pulled him out of the water.
He followed her silently, willingly.
Apollo sat on his chariot as he conversed with Helios.
The older sun god was teaching him how to take advantage of his power.
"We oversee all of the earth," Helios spread his hands out, "therefore, everything is open to our gaze."
Apollo smirked. "Everything?"
"Yes, young godling." Helios grinned back. "Everything."
Helios waved his hand in the air, that area he hovered over quickly zoomed in until it was clear. Nymphs were naked and playing in the water, laughing and giggling, breasts and hair bouncing.
"They like to bathe there frequently."
Apollo leaned forward, taking in the view. "You are very wise, Helios." He tilted his chin. "Are you able to find anyone?"
"You have someone in mind?"
Apollo half grinned. "A goddess. I hear she bathes as much as the nymphs."
In her room in the temple, Sora sat on the bed.
Leon ran the ointment along her neck, shaking his head. Her rough scrubbing nearly blistered the skin. She let out a soft pained sound. He lightened his touch to two fingers. He didn't want to agitate it any further. She placed her hand on his leg. He subconsciously brought it closer to her, letting her caress the limb more.
"Thank you."
He nodded, wiping his fingers on the edge of his tunic. "Do not be so harsh on your skin."
Her hand slipped under the tunic a little, teasingly. "That duty is yours only," she lightly smiled. With a sigh, she stood up, her smiled waning. "How strong are you?"
"The strongest."
She let her fingers brushed his cheek. "I need you to destroy something."
His eyes were alert. "Name thine enemy."
"It's not a person," she shook her head.
She walked over to a stone in the wall, loosened it and then pulled out a golden girdle. He quirked a brow, recognizing it. She had worn it once, when she visited him in the Spartan's war room before this whole mess of the Trojan War.
"It's magical," she murmured. "It makes the wearer desirable."
"Ah." That was why he could not control his lust that day. At least initially. He had taken off the sash very early in the encounter. "Why destroy such a powerful weapon?"
She gave him a rueful smile. He would refer it as such.
She looked down at the cloth, her eyes lowered. "If I tell you, you are not allowed to seek retribution."
"I cannot blindly promise that."
"Then I will not tell you."
"...Someone used it against you." His eyes grew dark and murderous. "Name him."
"The person does not matter. What does is getting rid of this."
"Your room reeks of metal and smoke." His eyes narrowed into slits. "Hephaestus."
"Leon..." he stood up, grabbing his sword by the door, "Leon, stop!" Her hand rested against his arm. "It is done already," she soothed. "Zeus needs him for his thunder bolts. You'll only cause trouble for yourself." Her fingers ran up and down his arm. "I cannot bear to see you imprisoned again."
Desire sparked in his eyes. He looked at her with a glare.
"Do not rob me of my reason."
"You wish to hurt him?" She placed gentle kisses up his bared arm. "Then rob him of this weapon."
His sword went through the cloth repeatedly. His hands tore it up into the smallest of pieces. Seeing it destroyed brought her untold euphoria. She kissed his knuckles, his palm, his fingertips. He gripped her hair tightly, tilting her head back. His mouth overtook hers. Her tongue ran along his canines before his tongue override hers, conquering her mouth.
He pushed her to the bed.
In the instant they fell, she had transported them to a different bed.
Helios and Apollo stared at the two gods in a stupor as they ripped their clothes off.
The goddess arched and bent in ways they hadn't seen before, making sounds of pleasure that was strong enough to arouse them from so far away. The god's hands were not idle, nor his mouth as he took from her willing body, giving back what she gave in ways they hadn't even thought of.
It was Apollo that snapped out of it. "The goddess of Love is with War."
"Yes."
"But she married the blacksmith."
Helios continued to watch avidly, distractedly nodding to what Apollo was saying.
Sora moaned freely, her hands clenching her lover's backside.
He thrusted harder, feeling her grip on him tighten.
"Gods, yes," she rolled her head against the mattress, arching into him. "More, Leon."
The house on Lemnos was empty, predictably. Ken was on Mount Olympus in the forge as he had warned her. He had told her in case she searched for his company. But she was not interested in being a victim to his blackened hands and weak thrusts. She wanted someone stronger, more potent. Her hands fisted in long silver hair as he took a breast into his mouth.
She wanted War here, on her marriage bed.
She wanted him to erase any memory she ever had of laying with Hephaestus. She only wanted to recall him and her, naked, sweaty, and passionate in these sheets. She wanted the memory of his hands on hers, his hungry mouth taking her, calling her name in the fires of lust. She couldn't bear to think of having memories of any other supposed lover.
He was hers.
She was his.
The mattress shook at the strength of his thrusts. She panted as she followed his frenzied pace. He wanted her fast and hard. She was not worried. Their next round would be slower, deeper...Her eyes closed at the thought. She knew he would not object. He had more than enough endurance to pleasure her completely.
He did have several years to make up for.
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The forge was hot and dense.
Ken pounded his hammer into the heated material, making a new set of bolts for Zeus.
"Hephaestus."
He looked up from his work. "Helios. What brings you from the sky?"
Helios glanced behind him, seeing Apollo watching by the doorway. He knew the god had been infatuated with Aphrodite. The fact that he had given her up when news of the engagement had gone around, but Ares was having his way with her anyways made Apollo spiteful. But Apollo thought this information would not be taken seriously if Hephaestus heard it from him.
Thus, Helios would be the one to tell him.
"It's about your wife..."
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Morning came upon the lovers.
Sora shifted her legs, rubbing against Leon's calf. He stirred a little, his breath heating her neck.
"Good morning," she kissed his lips.
His hands rubbed her back. He lifted his head to speak, but then his eyes narrowed. He heard something. He sat up suddenly, about to tell her. A steel net fell from the canopy, catching them.
"Leon!"
His strong hands gripped the links, trying to break them apart.
"Might won't break those links."
Leon's eyes cut across the room. "Hephaestus."
He entered into the room, gazing at both of them. "On our wedding bed, Aphrodite?" He slowly shook his head. "This is not a brothel, wife."
Leon lunged for him, but the chains would not budge. "Release us, coward."
"Not yet." Ken wobbled out of the room. "It has just begun."
Ken shortly came back with as many gods as he could find, including Zeus.
They laughed at them, jeering at the position they were in. Leon tried to shield her nakedness from their eyes with his own body, but she was not one that cared about others seeing her nudity. It was the situation that made her eyes water and her face bury against his neck. Sora felt her face burn in humiliation. She hadn't imagined Ken would do something like this. They did do wrong, but she hadn't expected to be treated like a caught animal.
"That's enough amusement," boomed Zeus' voice. "Get them loose."
Ken sharply turned to the head of the gods. "I want a trial first."
"For infidelity?" Zeus barked out a laughter. "You are not the first male to be cuckolded, and most certainly not the last."
"But -"
"This is a marital issue, not a violation of Olympian law."
Ken fisted his hands as the cheating couple was released. Dionysus came up to him, clasping a hand on his shoulder.
"We all have our woes." The god of wine eyed the blonde Athena with no small amount of lust. "We just grin and bear it."
"I suppose..." Ken grumbled. Then, a thought occurred to him. "Harmonia. Is she even mine?"
Dionysus blinked and then laughed. "Did Zeus never tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"The wine I gave you to knock you out and bring you back to Olympus...it also made your seed lifeless. It was punishment for building that throne that would not release your mother."
Ken stumbled back as if struck. "You knew...both of you knew they were coupling together!"
Dionysus gave him a pitying look.
"You are the last to know."
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The infamous capture of Love and War made its way to even mortal ears.
But it did liberate the two in a way.
Though Hephaestus refused to release Aphrodite from their marriage, she no longer felt compelled to lay with him when he wanted attention. Perhaps it was out of spite or because he was impotent, therefore the odds of him getting a new wife were far slimmer. She didn't bother with his reasons anymore. She was hardly ever at their house in Lemnos. She had three homes now: the temple, her seaside getaway, and the stone place in Thrace where Ares and their sons lived.
They no longer sneaked about. Though they did find pleasure in secret meeting places.
Aphrodite watched as her sons and lover sparred. The shade of the house made for a good sitting spot. She softly tittered when Phobos tripped, bumping into his twin. The boys began to argue, shoving the other and then wrestling in the dirt. Ares pinched the bridge of his nose before grabbing both by the back of their togas.
"They're at it again?"
Aphrodite turned to her daughter. "When are they never?"
"True."
She offered her mother a goblet. Sora took it with a smile.
"That head scarf is new."
Harmonia touched it with a blush. "It was Cadmus' proposal gift."
Sora sighed. Young love was so fulfilling to watch. Her eyes widened a little, making her lay a hand on her stomach.
"Is something wrong, mother?"
Sora smiled. "Your brother kicked."
Harmonia leaned over to feel the swell of her mother's belly. "Did the oracle tell you it would be a boy?"
"No," she rubbed her belly. "The strength of his kicks does."
Harmonia shook her head at her mother's logic. "What will you name him? Or her?"
"I'll name him Eros." Sora's smile widened as she looked at the back of her lover.
He was, after all, the child of Love and War.
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The End.
AN: Fi-na-llyy dooone!
Only took me like two or three years. XD It feels so much longer than that. So the whole net thing to catch Ares and Aphrodite was directly from the myth, to which Hephaestus brought the other gods to scorn them. But then it backfired kind of, since Zeus didn't consider it worthy of trial.
There are definitely more stories between these two, especially with their child Eros aka Cupid with the whole drama with his love interest Psyche, as well as Harmonia and Cadmus, but this needed to end. lol. I will most likely be touching on the tale of Cupid and Psyche in the upcoming Hades and Persephone story.
As for Cupid's parents...I found sources that said Ares and Aphrodite were his parents and then a couple that said he's an older god and they weren't. I obviously went with the former.
Thank you for reading! :D
