FOUR SIDES
Poseidon
Rocky Edge, Corinth
Poseidon rooted himself at the far end corner outside Amphitrite's chambers, arms folded across his chest, scowling heavily at the door.
He has been rooted at his place ever since the successive arrival of Thetis, Doris and his mother has found him booted out from the his wife's room and effectively cut off from any human contact.
'What on earth had just happened?' he wondered.
He had been mulling over it for the past few hours and still he couldn't wrap his head around everything that transpired.
Earlier, he had just decided to return to Rocky Edge after that disastrously ill-advised, and yet nonetheless ongoing, war that Sparta launched with Messania over a strip of land when he received a word from his palace messenger that Amphitrite remained in Corinth despite his orders.
Positively annoyed, he left his general to overlook his position, headed back to Rocky Edge, only to be greeted at the door by his laughing wife, completely drenched, still donning that dress she wore in the festivities.
Poseidon could still distinctively remember how her smile and that beaming look on her face instantly changed when she caught sight of him. And within just a moment, out came the man he had silently cursed in his heart, Deioneus, strolling from the guest chamber, newly-bathed and wearing one of Poseidon's tunic!
Poseidon turned ballistic.
It's like something inside him went off after that.
He couldn't quite remember what he said or mostly of what he did right after seeing Deion inside Amphitrite's house. All that he could remember was that consuming desire to kill the man. He just wanted to put his hands on the Phorcian prince and pounce on him.
The next thing he knew, they were chasing each other down the gravelly path from Rocky Edge; Poseidon chasing after Deion, and Amphitrite trailing after him.
And then, boom!
That dreadful sound that will forever be etched in his mind.
He heard the sound of crashing carriage behind him and he remembered his heart painfully constricting at once in his rib cage.
He really did thought Amphitrite got herself crushed in the collision. He really did!
Then came that overwhelming feeling of relief at seeing Amphitrite alive, pushing herself to a stand under a large tree, was quickly followed by rage at her constant lack of self regard, and then a sharp terror at realizing that his wife was actually bleeding.
Amphitrite was having a miscarriage, right there at the middle of the road!
By Damn! She was losing his child!
...or whomever that child is.
Poseidon cut the thought off as he caught site of his arms. Amphitrite's blood were still all over him, they were on his skin, they were stained in his battle gear, it was...
He shook his head.
Poseidon nearly jumped when the door to Amphitrite's room suddenly bolted open, distracting him from his dark thoughts.
Thetis came out, removing the apron she wore around her waist filled with his wife's blood, closing the door behind her and purposely walking over to Poseidon, her expression unreadable,
Thetis levelled her gaze up at him, "She's alright."
The weight that Poseidon didn't even realized he was carrying all broke loose from that one statement, and he threw his head back to the wall in utter reprieval, both his hands, fisted, to cover his eyes.
He instantly felt Thetis reaching out to him, one hand patting his back in comfort, the other grasping his arm, "...and so does your child," she confirmed.
Poseidon straightened his shoulders, glancing down at Thetis, astonished.
"It's holding on," Thetis whispered, nodding her head, tears brimming on her eyes.
He heard himself let out a breath. He had never cried before. Hell, he didn't really know how that felt, but this must be it. He felt like crying and laughing at the same time.
"I still have no idea what both our mothers did," Thetis continued, "They were giving her all sorts of herbs and medicines... it was hard to keep track, and I was hardly in a frame of mind to keep track," she rambled, "All that I ever cared about was that Amphitritestop bleeding."
Poseidon was at a loss of words. All he could do was shake his head, feeling out of control of everything.
"Amphitrite had lost a lot of blood, Poseidon," Thetis informed, "She's still feverish, but mother said it'll subside soon," she looked at him, "Do you want to see her?"
"Yes, please," Poseidon felt his shoulders slumping, clutching Thetis' hand.
Leading him into the chamber, Thetis ushered Poseidon inside. His mother, Rhea, was by the table, squeezing bloodied cloths at the basin, sparing him a glance. Doris slowly standing up from where she was sitting by her daughter's bedside when Poseidon entered.
Replacing Doris' spot, Poseidon eagerly seized Amphitrite's hand, too warm for his own peace of mind, her glorious auburn hair lay wildly over her white pillows, drenched in sweat and from the humid water they'd pressed on her, still unconscious and looking terribly pale.
His chest constricting with too much concern, Poseidon gently pressed his lips into her forehead, trailing another one on her cheek.
Turning his head to Doris, "She's hot," he mumbled, airing his anxiety, "She's too hot."
"She's having a fever," Doris confirmed.
"Well, will she be okay?" Poseidon asked, each word increasing in volume, "Will that affect the baby? How... how long will she stay like this..."
"Honey," his mother, Rhea, interrupted his mad rambling in the sweetest possible tone he had ever heard her use, "She is okay."
Poseidon glanced back down at his heavily breathing wife, "She doesn't look okay," he refuted.
She was in pain.
Amphitrite was alive, but she was in clear pain. And so does the child that she is carrying.
He abruptly stood up, marching towards the door.
"Poseidon," Rhea called in a gentle voice.
He wasn't listening and Thetis repeated, "Poseidon," she summoned, trying to gain his attention, "Where are you going?"
"I think you know exactly where I'm going."
"No," Thetis clarified, "I'm afraid, I don't know where YOU are going"
"I'm going to Phorcia, Thetis," he proclaimed, sarcasm very clearly lined in his voice, "And don't anyone of you dare to try to stop me."
Deioneus
Royal Palace of Phorcia
Deion silently closed the door behind him, welcoming the rare moment of solitude he could afford in the palace, crossing the length of his study and purposely grabbing his wine decanter, pouring himself a good amount of spirits.
One glass just wasn't enough, he decided.
He poured himself another goblet and strode out into his veranda, breathing in the soft breeze of the night air, and the pleasant sight of the vast palatial garden lying out before him.
Turning around, he leaned his back on the railings, and nearly dropped the glass in his hand when he caught sight of the figure at the other end of the terrace,
"Poseidon," he uttered.
The god stepped out from the shadows, no emotion clear on his face. The man was still wearing his full battle garments, his chestplate and arms covered with telltale signs of blood from Amphitrite's accident the other night.
"If you came here for my head, Poseidon," Deion waved both his arms open, "I'm not running away. You can have your revenge if you want to. I..." he repeated, "... am not running away."
Poseidon remained glaringly silent, not saying anything, just looking at him, as if challenging him, before he said,
"Stay away from my wife, Deioneus," he declared ominously. "I want you completely OUT of our lives."
Deion shook his head, "You can't ask that of me... we've known each other for..."
"Even in public occasions, in official events," Poseidon interrupted, "You are not to set foot anywhere near my wife, nor to speak any word to her."
Deion scoffed, "Am I also expected to ignore it if Red starts speaking to me?"
Poseidon shook his head, "Don't call her that."
"Call her what?"
"Red," the god clarified.
"I've been calling her that LONG before you ever did!"
"SHE NEARLY DIED TODAY, DEIONEUS!" Poseidon roared, his voice echoing out to the thick night air.
"DON'T YOU THINK I DIDN'T KNOW THAT?" he returned, drinking roughly on his goblet, "Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is for me to stay where I am and not come rushing back to Corinth because YOU damn well are there!"
"She nearly lost our child."
Deion felt his goblet pausing midway from his lips.
Amphitrite was pregnant?
"She nearly lost our child..." Poseidon repeated, uncharacteristically as if in a daze.
Deion shook his head, "I'm sorry, Poseidon," he consoled, "I didn't know..."
Poseidon turned a glance at him, as if assessing if he was not lying, and declared, "Of course, you didn't..."
"How is she?" Deion asked in a muted voice.
Poseidon looked at him, "Still unconscious," he provided, "But she's coping."
"Poseidon..." Deion called.
"I am NOT going to expose her into that same situation ever again, Deioneus," Poseidon interrupted, and as if in a whisper, added, "I couldn't bear it."
"And you think I can?" he challenged.
"Phorcian," the god said ominously, "Stay away from my wife," he reiterated, "She is not yours to bear, or to protect, or to look after... she is mine," he stated very clearly, "Stay away, Deioneus... or by the Styx I shall have your head."
Diomede
Rocky Edge
Amphitrite was comfortably propped up on her pillows, when Diomede quietly slipped into her room. A look of immediate recognition washed over the nymph's face at her appearance.
Diomede shrugged the hood off her cloak.
"I don't really want to see you right now," Amphitrite declared. Her voice still weak, but was spoken with not a hint of hesitation.
Still looking pale, Amphitrite's auburn hair was neatly braided over her shoulder, and while sitting there at the middle of the bed, white blanket covering the lower part of her body, Diomede swore she had never seen the nymph looking so frail than she'd ever been.
Amphitrite had always had that vibrant energy around her wherever she went. She never was that shrinking violet, Amphitrite had always rather been full of life, effervescent.
"I know I am the last person you'd want to see today..." Diomede began.
"I don't want to see you ever," Amphitrite corrected.
"And for good reason," she agreed, "Amphitrite, I just..." she took a step towards her.
"If you dare take another step, I will scream," Amphitrite proclaimed. Her voice was breaking but the look on her face said she was serious about it.
Diomede nodded, taking a step back. "I just came to tell you that..." helplessly gesturing her hands, grasping the right words to explain to her rival of sorts, "Amphitrite, I didn't know," she confessed, "I didn't know you were with child... I'm sorry..."
"You nearly killed my baby..." each word spoken with an emphasis.
"It was beyond what my..."
"Your jealousy, Diomede, nearly cost me the life of my child!" Amphitrite returned, her voice cracking with wrought emotions.
"I know!" she expressed, "And it kills me to be the reason for it. I have four of my own... when I saw you there... bleeding... it shook me to my very core..." she ran a hand through her hair, "The only thing on my mind then was pure anger... and exasperation... at catching my husband speeding down from your home, and you running after him because Poseidon was hunting him down."
"Oh Diomede," Amphitrite dropped her head to her hands, "Was that how it looked like to you?" she returned, gazing back up at her.
Diomede acknowledged.
Amphitrite sighed, "I was not running after your husband, Diomede," Amphitrite professed, "I was running after mine."
Diomede felt shame and guilt washing over her all at once.
"When you told me, three years ago, to move away... to keep away from Deion, I did," Amphitrite started, "I thought I loved him... God, I've always thought he was the love of my life... he was the only one I've ever loved... before..." she paused, "But I also knew that I've made some pretty bad decisions that cost me losing him. That was my fault. And I accepted that. But after reconnecting with Deion... I admit, for a good while I fooled myself into thinking there could still be a chance... even if the rest of the circumstances were already against us... I thought we could... make it work, somehow, but it just was never the same again, because there already was you," she said, "And I couldn't bear being the source of somebody else's pain. So I walked away. I kept my distance. And it had remained thus."
Amphitrite continued, "The regret and loneliness that came after was the punishment I accepted for hurting Deion and you," Amphitrite conceded, "But Poseidon was the pleasant surprise I wasn't expecting the Fates to throw at me for actually stepping away," she surmised, "It was like I was asleep for years and he woke me up from my slumber," there was a hint of a sad smile that formed on Amphitrite's lips before it was taken over by a fiery look on her eyes, "And by the gods, I will NOT lose him because of you and Deion, Diomede," Amphitrite swore, "I won't lose him because of you. And Deion..." she added waveringly, "I've already lost enough for the both of you. I won't lose Poseidon."
Diomede looked away, finding no words to say to Amphitrite.
"Three years ago, you approached me to tell me to stay away from you and Deion," Amphitrite recalled, "I'm asking you now to stay away from me and Poseidon," she shook her head, "I don't care how you do it - avoid us during public events or walking the other way on any occasion, I don't care..." she gestured, her voice already muffled, "Just... stay away from me and my husband. We can't go on like this!"
Diomede flinched.
"And don't worry, Diomede," Amphitrite said as a parting word, "Poseidon will not hear anything from me about your hand on my accident," she promised, "I just really want you and Deion out of my life. For good."
Amphitrite
Rocky Edge
She woke up at the blinding crack of lightning and startling sound of thunder.
Amphitrite opened her eyes at the dim-lighted chamber, her eyes still adjusting to the darkness, before belatedly realizing Poseidon was sitting at the edge of the window overlooking the view to the Mediterranean Sea.
He slowly stood up from where he was sitting, "Do you need anything?"
She cleared her throat, "Yes," she could hear the dryness in her voice, "Water, please."
Poseidon crossed the room to the table and poured her water, bringing the goblet to her.
She pushed herself on one arm, as Poseidon adjusted the pillows behind her for her to lean on, "Thank you," she murmured, accepting the glass of water with gratitude.
"Why are you still awake?" Amphitrite inquired, handing back the goblet to her husband after she finished drinking.
Poseidon shrugged, "Can't sleep," taking the glass back to the table.
"When did you return?" Amphitrite inquired
"A couple of hours ago..." he replied avoidingly.
"Thetis told me you went to town..."
Poseidon stopped just by the end of the bed, placing both hands to his pockets, "Yes," he affirmed, "To a town in Phorcia."
She felt her jaw tightened.
"Your Deioneus is still alive, if that's what you're thinking," Poseidon immediately assured, based from the reaction on her face.
"He is not my Deioneus," she corrected.
Poseidon's mouth twitched, "You say so..."
"Please don't be so uncouth about it..." she whispered.
"Uncouth?" he repeated, more like spitting it out, "You risked the life of our child to secure his safety."
Amphitrite closed her eyes, one hand instinctively running over belly, "I did not mean to, Poseidon," stubborn tears began to pool over, "I'm sorry."
Poseidon started to pace, "Is that..." he rambled, "Is that even MY child?" he hissed.
Amphitrite froze, "What?"
"Is that even MY child you are carrying?" he demanded.
"Ofcourse it is YOUR child!" she blurted out in shock.
"Excellent!" he scoffed, "Thanks for showing me how much care you actually have for my child!"
"Poseidon," she begged, feeling as if he had just physically ripped her heart away from her, "Please..."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his entire face hardening, "Why didn't you tell me you're pregnant?"
"I was planning to," she explained, "I had the whole surprise prepared during the Thanksgiving celebration in Corinth... I was just about to tell you... when you were summoned for war..."
"Curse that war!" Poseidon exclaimed.
"Please Poseidon, believe me..." she implored, ""I lov..."
"Don't," he warned, one hand raised to stop her, "Don't say it."
She pursued, "Poseidon, I love you..."
He looked away and shook his head.
"With all my heart," Amphitrite wanted to cry, "Sometimes I feel like I don't own it anymore. I have fully and completely surrendered my heart to you."
"You really shouldn't have said that..." he counselled, his voice grave. Amphitrite could swear he actually cringed at her statement.
"What's wrong with me telling you how I feel?" she defended, "You tell me how you feel all the time!"
"The difference, Amphitrite, is that you're using your faint excuse of love as a weapon," he answered.
Amphitrite felt her brows furrowed in return.
"See here, Amphitrite, I love you," he rationalized, "Been telling you that from the very beginning, and you only find it now to be the right time to say that back to me? After you nearly lost our child because of your incessant need to protect your lover from me!" he pondered, "Well how convenient!"
Amphitrite opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't the right words, "He is not my lover," she renounced.
"Thank you, my darling, for making love sound so cheap," Poseidon sneered.
Amphitrite heard herself gasp in aghast.
"Why wouldn't you believe me?" she remarked, horrified.
"Sweetheart, until we have Deioneus in between the two of us, I think you'll understand why I find that hard to believe," he nodded.
"Deioneus is no longer a factor!" she insisted.
Poseidon mocked, "Well then prove it," he challenged, "Because just the other night, my dear, you had no qualms about racing down the steep, rocky field, riding a chariot while pregnant with my child just to protect him!"
"I was not trying to protect him!" she reasoned, "I was after you..."
"It didn't look like it..." he refuted.
Amphitrite gestured helplessly, "I don't know what you want me to do, Poseidon..." she whispered, "What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know, Amphitrite," he shrugged, "I suppose, let's start with actually forgetting him..." Poseidon replied sardonically.
Amphitrite uttered defeatedly, "You don't have to be so sarcastic about it."
"Oh, it's not as if it's something you didn't know before," he rebuffed, "Forget Deioneus, Amphitrite," he repeated like an ultimatum, "Just forget the man, once and for all."