Chapter 14

Late. They were always late. Time of day or night mattered very little to their kind. Greeks mattered very little to them. As did they matter very little to the Greeks. There was no bad blood between the two. Not like Greece and Egypt, a grudge that went deeper than could ever be estimated. But the Greeks saw them as nothing more than another band of living beings. Regardless of how many times they were proven otherwise.

Queen Hera waited, standing at the edge of the beach in a royal elegant dress. It was both sleeveless and backless. White was the base color for the cloth. Along the dress going downward were thousands of tiny golden dots, all in alignment. The edges of the dress in between her chest was laced with gold as well in very small circles going all the way down the V cut line. Continuing those lines into the dress, the circles followed the V line down and around her dress, going around her ribs and crossing over into an X over her back and coming back around to her front along her noticeable curves and hips. The circles ended gently meeting at her knees.

On her left shoulder, was a long piece of cloth that extended down and came across to her right hip, came around her back and returned to her right shoulder. Along the edge of that cloth, on the top and front side close to her neck, she had diamond shaped pieces of gold running the edge. They were broken apart, all lined perfectly and radiating the gravity around her. Every square had its own radiant gem. Below the lined edge along the cloth were the same tiny dots all along its white base and cream-colored folds. Larger diamond shaped stars were placed here and there across its surface. They were laces with a barely noticeable dark blue.

The straps on her shoulders were metal bronze and held two gems each in oval-shaped grooves. In thick and long diamonds cut expertly inside as well as out. Within the diamonds were five miniature peacock feathers each. On her head was an unforgettable circlet made by the finest smiths of her Amazons. It was made of metal, however, the design along the entirety of it represented a Peacock. A large piece of sapphire was used for the base outline of its color and shape. Place over the top and bottom of the circles were long expertly curved cut topaz's that hugged the large sapphire gem. Lined underneath the topazes were thin long strips of rubies that gleamed in the sunlight. The blood colored rock was shiny and reflected the sunlight in a crown of warm crimson. And lastly was a slightly thicker long cut piece of diamond tinted green that rested in between the rubies.

Hera's hair was enchanting. It was its usual bright chocolate brown. A large amount of it was covering the back half of the circlet as it dipped into its extremely long and thick locks. It was braided in an incredibly complex style known only to her and her sisters. Three braids along both sides of her head that came off into one long excellent braid down the rest of her hair that flowed and waved freely. On her biceps, she had long gold bands that rested comfortably. And on her wrist many thin but shiny gold and silver bracelets.

Her face was without a single touch of makeup or alterations of any kind. And yet, her golden eyes were richer than the softest and smoothest of silk. And glowing with a power only her three brothers could match as she was 1 of the big 4. Her eyes were captivating as if they spoke for themselves. Royalty. Power. Beauty. Kindness. Fury. Eyes that if one was to slip up for even a second, they would become a follower. A mindless husk with no other purpose in life than to gaze upon her eyes just for one second longer. Her skin a perfect tan. A figure and face that would make even Aphrodite envious and rivaled hers as well. Times like this, Hera and Aphrodite were tied for the most beautiful creation in all of existence.

"My Queen," A sugar-sweet voice came from behind Hera, "your guests have arrived."

Hera slowly turned around and looked at Calypso. She noted that if she had ever had a daughter, she'd look a lot like the Titaness before her. The girl had a fit figure. Long braided caramel colored and smelling hair over her right shoulder that came down to the bottom of her ribs. Almost shaped eyes with a gentle and soft dark brown around her irises.

She wore a plain but elegant white chiton with one strap over her right shoulder and a single bronze braze over he left bicep. A thick brown belt around her core. Her beauty was also otherworldly. Like Hera's mother, she possessed a radiance different than Goddesses. An air about her that would draw any eyes.

Calypso was likely a few Millenia older than all the Gods and Goddesses, certainly older than she. And still, Hera knew the girl was quite innocent in the ways of her heart and other aspects of life. And she was not unaware of the Titaness's feelings toward her only child. Even if he was. She was a sweet girl. Kind and graceful. Untouched and unspoiled by man. Hera envied her in a way. If she could turn back time, she'd make it so that she'd never married Zeus in the first place. Of course, she restored her chastity with her annual bath once she finally decided she didn't need him any longer. But it wasn't the same. She wanted to take everything back.

"Thank you, Calypso. Please, lead the way." Hera responded in a neutral but friendly voice. She was partially the reason the Titaness was banished to this place devoid of any life other than her own. She was among most Gods that voted to have her put somewhere she could not interfere with any important or irrelevant matters.

"My Queen." She responded straitening herself from her respectful bow.

Hera fell into step behind Calypso as she led the way back up the beach along the island Ogygia. On top of everything the Titaness had endured, she managed to make what was cruel isolation, a very comfortable place to spend one's eternity. The seas themselves were an unreal green and blue. Always clear and clean. Hera wasn't one for ocean's, but even she had to admit, she understood why Perseus loved this ocean in particular so much.

The phantom island appeared as a paradise. If a mortal were to step foot on this island, even without seeing Calypso, they would likely never leave. The sands were an excellent tan color. The perfect blend of soft and tough. An excellent temperature of warm with a cool breeze always blowing. At night, a nice coat of cold but not enough to require a heavy cloak or blanket. The trees along the island were tall, strong and healthy. Trees bearing everything from Coconuts and Bananas to Avocados and Lychee. And the invisible servants that catered to Calypso's every wish. They weren't always here.

Perseus had come across this island one day while doing something for the sea with his brother. He was only 5 years old, 2 and a half in mortal years. He had spent the entire day here, him and Triton. His older brother left early, but Perseus, as young as he was, stayed on the island. And when he returned home Hera had been furious with him for not returning home as soon as possible and worrying her. But she didn't stay mad at him for long. She never could, even now. He brought her too much joy to be upset with him.

That night, he spent it telling her how alone Calypso was, and that she had taught him to be a gentleman at all times. And that was what he did. He told Hera of Calypso's Isolation and how surprised she seemed, finally getting to interact with a person for the first time in centuries. A mortal would have gone completely insane after a year or so. Hera's heart went out to her son and the trapped Titaness. She sent some of her Palace's invisible servant over to this island and they'd been here ever since.

"My Lord, my lady, I present Queen Hera." Calypso said giving the two Gods in front of her a much lesser bow.

Hera stopped next to Calypso and took in the guest in front of her.

To her left was a large, barrel-chested man with massive arms. He had close-cropped gray hair and a squarely cut beard. He had a weathered and hardened face with scars along his chin and nose. His right eye was blue, while his left was empty and covered with a black eye patch. He was wearing dark armor on his chest and legs with no noticeable features. Odin.

Next to the man on Hera's right was a gracefully beautiful woman. Among the most beautiful alive. Her hair was long, straight and the color of chestnut. Her skin was a pearly white and didn't have a single scar just as Hera's. Her eyes glowed with a brilliant green and orange as if to portray a warm summers day. She wore a royal pale green dress that aligned with her healthy figure. She also had a short red cloak laying on her should and down her upper back. Frigg.

"Queen Hera," Odin began first, "still as jaw-dropping as a hammer to the face I see. You only get more gorgeous as the seconds pass by."

"King Odin," Hera responded, "still as subtle as a hammer to the face I see."

Odin let out a booming laugh, filling the air with his chuckles before Frigg said, "Forgive my husband, Queen Hera. As you can see, nothing has changed."

"Quite so Queen Frigg. There is nothing to forgive. This is a neutral zone. None other may come here this evening. We are all equals here." She responded.

"All but one." Odin said turning his eye to Calypso, "If you'd be so kind as to leave us to our business."

Hera quickly caught onto how Odin attempted to assert his dominance over this meeting by dismissing a Greek from their presence, and she did not like it, nor was she having it this day.

"She will stay with me." Hera said, her voice neutral, and threatening at the same time.

"Certainly, this is not a matter concerning a low born. Much less a Titan at that." He said bluntly, spelling out his dislike for the girl standing next to her.

"This matter is what I choose it to be and will concern whoever I please it to concern." She said giving Odin a smile. A much bigger threat than any glare she could give. Her teeth were white, perfect, dazzling and a deadly. This was a warning. And he'd be foolish to think it was anything but a shot at his life.

"Absolutely Queen Hera. We will respect your domain as you have our own." Frigg said responding before her husband got a chance to and resting a hand on one of his large arms.

"This island is not my domain. It belongs to my son and him alone." Hera chided looking over to the Queen of Asgard.

"The subject of the evening as well. Though," Odin said looking around the beautiful island, "how is it he owns the island over you?"

"He claimed it years ago as well and became Lord Protector overall its affiliations. He earned it." Hera spoke.

"Sounds like a strong boy. I look forward to meeting him." Odin said satisfied and once more his blunt and happy brute self.

Hera didn't like that, but she was a queen. A queen had to ensure customs were followed. Thus, she asked, "Would you like to sit so that we might get down to the matter at hand?"

Hera waved her hand across her body and warded the reality in the air. Four tall and handsome chairs appeared instantly as well as a decent sized round table made of gold formed itself in between them. Hera and Calypso on one side, Odin, and Frigg on the other.

They took their seats and Calypso looked to Hera, making sure taking a seat was really something she was ok with. Hera nodded to the Titaness and gave her a genuine and gentle smile, ensuring her she was more than welcome. Calypso cleared her throat and pulled her seat forward as she sat down in it. She turned to her left and gave an enchanting whistle into the air. Besides the animals that shifted around them, in an instant, a silver tray full of all types of drinks was placed on the table in multiple different goblets.

"Please," Hera started, "help yourself."

Odin made a grab for the goblet containing mead in it and put the edge to his mouth, not bothering to grab one of the smaller goblets first. He brought it back down onto the table a few seconds later wiping his mustache dry of the drink.

"That's damn good!" Odin said blinking away the swig and refocusing, "Perhaps having you around won't bring about our downfall after all." He aimed that at Calypso.

"On with it then," Hera said controlling her tempter at Odin's comment, "what is it you want?"

"The boy," Odin said, "your son."

"What of him?" Hera asked.

"He must come to Asgard," Frigg said on Odin's left.

"Excuse me?" Hera asked wondering if she heard what she heard.

"Not for good. But long enough for us to…give him the tools he'll need." Frigg concluded.

"Just so that I understand," Hera said unbelievably, "you wish to take my son to Asgard for an unknown amount of time? And for what?"

"That is for us to know, and him to learn when he arrives in Asgard." Odin said taking another swig of the delicious mead.

"You cannot truly expect me to hand my only offspring off to you Norse because you 'request' his presence."

"No request about it Queen Hera," Odin said, "Your boy will be coming to Asgard."

"I heard you are a gambling man King Odin. Care to make a wager on whether that is true? Because I can assure you this instant, my son will be going to no other world with anyone." Hera was getting frustrated quickly, but she didn't let it control her. They had nothing. Perseus was HER son. Not theirs, he belonged to her and Poseidon. If neither approved, her son would be going nowhere.

"I'll bet my eye on that wager, that he'll be coming with us. Besides it being what's best for him, we know exactly what he is. And we've as much right to bring him to Asgard as you have to keep him on Olympus." Odin barked.

"On what possible grounds?" Hera asked confidently.

Odin turned his eye to his wife and nodded once towards her. Hera watched as Frigg gave her a somewhat regretful look and looked into her lap, before bringing a 1 foot long, 3-inch-wide obsidian box out of her lap and placing it on the table. Wasting no time, she pushed it a few feet in the direction of Olympus's queen before sitting back in her seat.

Hera eyed Frigg for a few seconds, wondering what could possibly be in that box that they felt would entitle them to her son. Her flesh and blood. Her pride and joy. The light of her life. The only reason she like that her heart continued pumping her blood. The reason she was no longer a cruel and heartless goddess. What could they have that would make her give that up?

Hera reached for the box and lifted it to where it was right in front of her before settling it down. She gave one more silent look to the pair on the other side of the table and received a cocky look from Odin and a waiting look from Frigg. Hera grabbed the edge of the box before pulling the front flap forward. She lifted the top of the box and moved it back.

Hera's breath was knocked out of her chest. Slowly, Hera brought her hand down into the box and pulled out a glass dagger. It was nothing overly iconic. Not to the normal eye. But this dagger…this damned dagger. But how? This wasn't possible. And it wasn't valid. It couldn't be. But Hera had to ask the question. As much as she dreaded the answer, she needed to know.

"You foresaw this?" Hera asked. "Can you see it now?" She asked. Her world was being pulled right from under her.

"Yes," Asgard's queen responded, "years ago. It is with him this moment." Frigg was the Norse Goddess of Prophesy and thus could see all. And she'd had it a few hundred millennia than Apollo, so she saw so much more than he would at the moment.

"This could only be valid if my son had magic." Hera said choking back the tears trying to spring forward from behind her eyes.

"Indeed, he does hold magic. He is a full caster like myself or your Titaness here." Frigg said.

Hera was caught off guard. How? He had no magic when he left. No one with any form of magical ability blessed him or made them his champion. It didn't make any sense. Unless…Hera recalled herself spasming at the tournament hours after Perseus had left.

"Hecate…" Hera spoke out into the air spitefully.

"Her intentions were pure. At least to a certain degree." Frigg said. "Your son would have joined mine in death if she had not opened the gates of magic to him."

Heras blood boiled, and her left hand shook. She gripped the knives handle so tightly in her right hand she could see her knuckles turning white. Both Odin and Frigg in truth felt the need to come prepared for such an occurrence. They'd heard the legends of Hera's wrath before. It was something no mortal or immortal ever wanted to face.

"Perseus…" Hera whispered through a surprisingly dry throat. All that fury became sadness in all but a second. Of course, it was written in her fate. Her son would be leaving at some point and there wasn't anything she could do. Not with this dagger being here. "My Perseus…" she whispered again.

"My Queen, are you alright? What is happening?" Calypso said wanting to comfort her, but not daring to get any closer to her. Calypso feared the old Hera as well. Plus, she was the highest royalty, and Calypso was an exiled Titan princess.

"Queen He—Hera, please do not see it as though we wish to take him away." Frigg began, "We simply need the same opportunities with him as you Greeks have. We—"

"3,000 years old." Hera said cutting the Norse Queen off.

"What?" Odin asked.

"Perseus will remain here until he is 3,000 years of age. After that, I will allow him to go to Asgard. No resistance. These are my terms, and it is nonnegotiable. He has barely reached his 20th Godly birthday and hardly knows what I must teach him of the other realms of any of his true powers. If he were to leave with you to Asgard this minute your warriors would see him as weak, and your entire journey would be wasted and for not. That's the deal. 3,000 years." Hera finished.

Odin put his hand in his beard and began stroking it in contemplation. Hera knew whatever they were thinking, it was to get her son on Asgard much sooner than she planned. But what were 3 millennia to beings that would live forever? And she wanted as much time with her son as possible. Especially with this prophecy hanging over his head. Who knew how much time he truly had. If it was short, she deserved to spend as much living time with him as possible. And if he died, Hera refused to continue living in a world where her son was not. She'd join him in death as soon as possible. Whether it was fading or Elysium.

"We know your boy was made Falnothiin. Whose to say he has 3,000 years' worth of life in him anyway?" Odin asked.

Falnothiin: Eklektos.

"Exactly. Frigg," Hera said turning to the Norse queen, "wouldn't you want to have had all the time in the world with your son? Would you not desperately do whatever was possible to have that time with him once more? Will you lie to us both and say no?"

Odin was visibly getting annoyed with Hera's ability to turn everything back to her side by appealing to the good in someone. He didn't think this was a time to be emotional. They were on limited time. And if Perseus didn't go to Asgard as soon as possible, who knew how much time the Norse had either. This was crucial.

"I'd give anything…" Frigg said looking down at her hands.

"Frigg!" Odin said raising his voice.

"3,000 years of age. Nothing more. You have a deal." Frigg concluded.

"Frigg!" Odin yelled even louder.

"We will allow her that much Odin! She will offer us no resistance when the time comes. It is fine!" Frigg said looking to her husband with anger.

Odin slowly looked back to Hera and said carefully said, "You realize, that dagger entitles us to take him at any point. Less you wish for him to be hunted and killed."

"Try such a thing and your kind will know not just the full force of my wrath, but all of Olympus. And I guarantee, it is the last thing you wish to happen. Less you wish for a war between all of our kind. I could just as easily go public with this dagger and begin a war that would end with the destruction of us all." Hera said, her eyes exploding with power and energy.

Odin looked furious as well. His pale and scarred face was red with anger and likely a breath being held into his chest. His own arms shook and the ear around him shimmered with his inner rage and short temper. Hera was having none of it. Odin was used to getting his way regardless of how someone fought against him. Except this time, Hera was not budging for anything. This was her son. If she had to go to war for the right to have him home where he belonged, she'd do it without hesitation. Looking into Odin's eyes she expected him to reach for his spear.

"BAAAAHAAAAHAHA!" Odin busted out laughing, "Aaaahhhh! I like you, Queen Hera! You've still got that same fiery temper! And your mind is still as sharp and determined as ever! If your boy is anything like you, he will do well in Asgard! 3,000 years of age, not a problem. In 3 millennia, the prince of Olympus will join us in Asgard, no resistance from Greece. You've got a deal. Let us seal it in a royal Kratch."

Odin downed the rest of the mead before slamming back onto the table and summoning his spear and slamming the bottom end into the ground and tilting it forward. Hera copied the action tilted her spear forward, forming an X with the two royal Godly weapons. The ground beneath them shook and slowly, two patches of sand began to float up around Hera and Odin. Rising in a slow and steady motion, it spiraled around them both and made its way to the top of their bodies. As it reached the peak of both their heights, their weapons began glowing icy clue, shining with a radiance hat left Calypso in awe.

"On this day," Hera and Odin spoke in unison, "it was agreed upon by the royals of the Greek and Norse, that Perseus, son of King Poseidon of the seas and Queen Hera of Olympus, Prince of Olympus will take passage into Asgard upon reaching 3,000 years of age. Let it be sworn today in Royal Kratch, not until it has been fulfilled and official. To be known, Queen Frigg bore witness and will be called upon by the powers of Kratch to ensure the promise is fulfilled. To the day and made by trial, it is done."

Both weapons ceased their glow and the sand around them burst away in a loud thunderous clap. Hera looked over to a smiling Odin and yanked her spear out of the ground. Odin did the same.

"I look forward to working with a mini male you. Should be fun, to say the least!" Odin Hollard, "And you Titan!" Odin said pointing to Calypso, "Please have more of that excellent mead waiting upon our return. It is damn good."

Odin walked away, and Frigg walked up to Hera and said, "I apologize for how this turned out. I wish we didn't require your only child for our endeavors."

"Save the sorry's, Queen Frigg. What is, is. I've matters to attend to." Hera responded turning her back on the Norse Queen.

Queen Frigg herself started to turn around before looking back to Hera once more and said, "You were right. You deserve as much time with your son as you can get. I know what it is to lose a son to that accursed prophecy."

Queen Frigg joined her Husband Odin a few feet away, and the two were gone in an instant with a bright flash of white.

"My Queen," Calypso said carefully, "might I ask, why does that dagger have such significance over you and Perseus?"

The Queen of Olympus looked to Calypso and opened her mouth to tell her not to worry herself about such matters. This was something none but her and her siblings were to know. However, just as her mouth opened, Hera's chest felt as though it had been ripped open and left empty. Her body went limp and her mind nearly crippled all of her body functions. Her ears rang with a high-pitched sound and everything around her was almost nonexistent with almost every sound completely drowned out. She began to fall forward before Calypso caught her.

"Queen Hera? Queen Hera! Are you alright?" Calypso asked. "I must get you inside."

"Perseus…" She said, her entire body in miser. Her mind unsettled. "No no no no no no…"

"Queen Hera!"

Hera couldn't let herself believe it. It wasn't true. It was impossible. There was no way. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Not Perseus. But then why? Why the disability? Why the sudden misery in every part of her body? Why did it feel as though her heart was gone? Everything that meant anything to her, gone in an instant.

"Queen Hera! What has happened?"

"Perseus…" Hera cried uncontrollably.

"What of him?" Calypso dared not believe.

"This…this wouldn't happen. It couldn't. Not unless…"

"Unless what?"

"I cannot feel Perseus any longer…He is of my blood. I should be connected to him always. But If I can't feel him then…he's…"

"Queen Hera?" Calypso asked.

"This could only happen…if Perseus had just died…"

#PJO#

Thank you for reading! Sorry, this took so long. I just moved to Germany from Japan, so a lot of stuff had to be put on hold. My story included. I got sent a couple questions, but I'll be sure to answer them all next chapter. 430 People is absolutely crazy and I just gotta thank everybody! You guys are the business!