Ares watched the gold-fringed boat drift silently across the placid seawater. It harbored a chest ingrained with the rarest pearls and dark serpentines, coral stones, incense and wreaths of pine. Despite sullying his own fearsome reputation, Poseidon was recognized with an engraved trident and the golden horns of a Minotaur on the cover. His body—or at least what was left of it—was graced with the finest vicuna wool. His missing parts were plastered carefully, his remolded body laid in the most fragrant spices.
The gods silently stood on cliff's edge with their black garments rippling in the wind and the dense, dark fog that concealed divinity from mortal sight. He narrowed his eyes as the boat was slowly engulfed by the fog, marking the final moment and any trace of Poseidon's existence. Ares sighed, his face hardening at the memory that shook the palace a couple of days past.
As soon as he tore away from Demeter's temple, the hours seemed to have sped along his hellbent ride back home without a second of looking back, taking any forbidden road which can possibly shorten the distance. The Olympian gates were barely a quarter opened but the King cut through like a comet swaying off its orbit. Gods and guards were stirred the moment he appeared by the courtyard with the whicker of his beast, throwing off two servants on the ground at first attempt to calm it.
"Welcome back, I guess?"
Hermes was practically the only one who can catch up with Ares' pace if not for the winged sandals. Deciding he wasn't going to be offered any response, Hermes cleared his throat and finally plunged into his announcements.
"The Queen—" "Where is she?"
Wide-eyed, the Messenger woke himself from the startle as the King's face was suddenly glaring an inch from his.
"Uh, yes, the Queen is with Hephaestus as we speak. Asceplius has succeeded waking him from a new kind of herbal fume. Though you might not want to hear about that first but you asked Athena's whereabouts, I was meaning to tell you that yesterday she fell unconscious BUT is now awake…" Hermes' panicky grin came forth, wiping off the bullets of sweat in his temples, "She is fine. She is alright. There is definitely no need to kill someone because, I repeat, my King, the Queen is fine."
Hermes heavily sighed with relief as Ares' sights seemed to have wandered somewhere over them. Not until a menacing darkness began creeping from behind him did he understand that the palace was being engulfed in a massive shadow.
Ares watched the eclipse take full form until the sun's disc was but a line of red. All other witnesses felt enamored at the bleak yet beautiful spectacle, until the celestial bodies seceded and the daylight conquered everything back. Ares was sure this has not slipped past Athena's watch, her mind must be running wild with theories. He turned his attention back to Hermes.
"Tell the Queen I'd see her immediately," Ares sternly commanded and began to leave, but was suddenly halted without catching the Messenger's eyes. "And that I have to tell her— she needs to know something. About Demeter, I mean."
"Right away," Hermes answered all too willingly, "Is it good or bad news?"
When Ares looked at him in disbelief, he acted out a gasp—"Bad news then?"
The King hurled a sharp look before completely ignoring the nosy smirk, only to be met by a distressed call from Enyalius followed by two helmed sentries all marching from an opposite direction. Ares looked suspiciously at the general's hardened jaws which broke news of the nauseating corpse in the infirmary.
When the waves began to stir the ocean once more, and strong currents crashed the sharp rocks beneath them did Ares' thoughts return to the present. The gods began retreating in staggered numbers. Only one remained by a protruding cliff's edge, still looking beyond the line where the sky meets the sea. The dark lacey shawl might have concealed her face but showed snips of the pale skin underneath. She remained passive while the hem of her black skirts constantly heaved with the wind.
"They're leaving."
Athena felt her husband behind her. Taking a last look at the ocean, she turned to his direction in careful steps and both began to take the stony path back home. A group of armed men and servants awaited a safe distance from them.
"Are you alright?" Ares murmured without facing her. Their steps were small and calculated, both feeling an imminent need to discuss matters before a very important gathering. In an hour, Olympus' great pillared halls shall be opened again to accommodate all divinity under their wing. But this was an agenda not meant for feasting and music and merriments. Today there will be no singers in the foyer, nor harps and drums for joy. There will be no cause for drunkenness and meaningless brawls, no overflowing wine nor blinding lights and laughter. Today was a great cause for fear.
"You could still think this through, you know that." Ares glanced at his wife, guilt apparent in his voice, "When I had given this idea of an assembly, it was merely the wine talking. Nothing else."
The waves were even stronger this time. They could feel the thin salty droplets disperse in the air.
"Do you regret speaking out your mind?"
"No," his body tensed, "I meant what I said that night Poseidon died—the realm has to know, not just the demise, but of everything." He was backed with the last word, immediately recalling Demeter to mind. Since his return he had been trying to steal off a moment for confession but Poseidon's assassination was too much to handle for the time.
"Ares," Athena turned to him, "I believe that is the most sensible thing to do. I ought to thank you for making sense of matters, I should have thanked you earlier. And I… I know I've been quite distant since you returned and I am truly sorry—it's just too much— and with Artemis, too, this—"
The next words came out a heavy sigh as Ares pulled her to his chest. He could not bear to hear the breaking of her voice and decided there was nothing else to talk about. Athena shut her eyes and bit down the sob threatening to escape her throat, greedily taking in the comfort offered despite the way he awkwardly held her. They remained still for a few more seconds, until Ares released her with an effort to lighten the mood but which indeed, made Athena smile—
"You'll have to make the fancy talking, though. The only speeches I make are riotous war quotes."
In an hour, the only line drawn between Ares and Athena and the rest of the gods were velvet curtains. Still in their mourning garments, the deities talked in hushed voices their temples' concerns or Poseidon's fate, some happy to have seen each other after a long while, some unable to find this reunion a discomfort, while some noticing the absences of the remaining principal ones at least—Artemis, Hestia, Demeter, and Hades.
Hermes peeked his head in to signal that the crowd was awaiting and are starting to grow highly curious. The Queen took a last sip of tepid water before clearing her throat. She had not taken a glimpse of the dubious way Ares stared at her.
Quickly the hall went into silence when the Queen emerged from the platform with her husband following by. She scanned the audience before her, at the serious gazes and eager reactions. Where this used to be a haven for parties and oft nonsensical theatrics, what was before the King and Queen was dry crowd.
Athena closed her eyes as if in prayer, the words from her mouth were bitter.
"Thank you, for being here, at a dire time. At a time we need you more than ever."
The stares she was receiving were quite catatonic, but she will not to befall into another swirl into unconsciousness. The Queen straightened her back and had finally summoned the fire that had once been raging within her as a youth.
"Once upon a time— Olympus was at its peak of glory. Those were centuries the sun shone brighter and the days only promised happiness… and freedom, safety…
When our father, and once King, faded from reasons beyond our imagination, we regret to say that most of which was once our existence has gone down with him… and though he entrusted Olympus—and all of you—to us, in good faith we are to keep you from harm's way—we failed. And this is the beginning of an apology.
"I know from now there is only one shred of emotion that will constantly plague you. Fear… Which is why your King disagrees that I make this known, and I understand why. YOU do not deserve to wake distressed whether this day we shall breathe our last. But I also know you do not deserve to be kept secrets from, that the strange events—village burnings… pestilences... disappearances… destructions… deaths—they—are—real. These have happened, they are happening… And there could be more."
From a shadowed corner of the banquet Hall, Hephaestus leaned on a pillar, creasing his brows as murmurs began to emerge from the anxious crowd.
"If there was just something I could go back into time, that would be to apprehend Zeus about keeping us from knowing. This cluelessness, this ignorance. It made us fail you, not only once… It allowed us to be betrayed by the closest kin and abandoned by those we trusted.
We will not have you suffer the same mistake our Father did to us. So the least we could do… for now… is have you know what invisible enemy we are trying to fend off."
The silence was nauseating. Athena could hear the faintest whiff of breeze coursing through fringes of a silk curtain. She inhaled densely, filling her lungs with crooked air until her chest went stiff—
"And now we make a graver… warning… that one of our own, once a brother… and friend—"
Athena's breath was cut when a rough hand wound tight around her elbow. She turned to Ares and a low degree of his glare.
"Enough," He muttered between gritted teeth, "I repeat, you don't need to do this."
Athena looked deep into his eyes, the discord of storm and blood igniting before the pantheon was making matters more terrifying. Until the Queen lowered her gaze and thread her fingers with his to loosen the grip and calm him down.
"I have to, Ares," she spoke low and broken, "I need to hear myself say this."
"But 'this'…"
Ares sighed, filled with conflict, "This is Apollo."
She paused in contemplation, gauging the tumult she felt from his emphases, the sting of agony in his eyes.
"You said he is dear to you."
When Athena's lips formed a sad smile, Ares could not fathom the certain twinge in his chest.
"Nothing can change that," she answered softly, "And neither is our duty to protect them."
The King's lips fell into a line then, unable to calm the sore dejection spilling across his veins. When his grip loosened, Athena was cued to face back the crowd.
"Today, we are burdened to declare that Apollo, son of Zeus and Maia… an outlaw."
Ares lowered his eyes, the muscles in his jaws tensing as buzzes and gasps intensified it almost darkened the room. Now and then the Queen's voice trembled. Athena watched discomfiture bubble from the deities' expressions, at the heads that began turning to directions, at the cynical gazes, the pity, the confusion. It was everything she had expected. Corner to corner, some of the gods stood in debate, others remained seated. Even Hermes' fingers froze over his mouth. A few tables from him was Aphrodite, beautiful even in grief and in her own befuddled quietness while the Graces mouthed words to her in surprise.
"Therefore he is cast off the principal tier and from Olympus. Apollo shall be treated a danger to anyone's safety. The gates shall not open for him no more. We ask—no," Athena bit down on her tongue, firming her voice as she went on a hardened tone, "We require that any sightings of him shall be put forth. No god nor mortal shall take him under their roof, and any encounter with him shall be proclaimed a threat. He possesses a certain power which is dangerous to deal with; he can kill.
"Your temples shall be doubled with guards, as we shall be sending reinforcements from Rome if necessary. You are to cooperate with the militia about anything related to his presence. Even so, protect humankind. Send your priests words of precaution, your kings are to be warned of an impending danger. Your children are to be kept within the confines of the palace, and you yourselves highly encouraged to move within these walls.
Above all else… be careful."
At the drop of her farewells, Athena remained undisputed even as she returned behind the curtained divide.
The evening swelled quietly from burgundy skies to indigo. But the night hadn't been friendly to the Queen holding on the mouth of a chamber pot as watery morsels hurled its way from her throat. She felt she had been retching a week's worth of food. Again her stomach tightened, stifling the urge to spew her guts clean.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and as she leaned her head by the bed frame did she notice the figures timidly standing by the doorway of her quarters. These three young women, daughters of Themis, had been familiar faces to her and her chambers since Nike had left. She had not asked for another ward and felt none could have kept up with her as Nike did, but Dike, Eunomia, and Eirene had been following her around, and she could sense their hopes for mentorship. They were the Horai after all, goddesses of laws and governance in the making.
And now they were staring worriedly albeit shying from invading her solitude.
Athena tucked stray hairs behind her ears. She must have looked terrible, judging the way the Horai were looking at her.
"I'm sorry, come in," the Queen cleared her throat, "Come in."
"Are you… alright?"
"Do you need anything?"
"Water? Ambrosia, my Queen?"
The voices approached like echoes, and within a blink, three young deities were already around her. They smelt of honeysuckle. Athena found it a comfortable scent.
"I'm fine," the Queen sighed, "Have you… found him, though?"
The three looked at each other, stammering in hopes one of them would save the others from letting their Queen's hopes down. It was Athena's instinct which answered her own question. She had been asking for Ares' whereabouts since the assembly as he had suddenly disappeared from her side without a trace nor word. Now dawn was nearly breaking.
"You've looked into the cellars?"
"Yes, my Queen…"
"The training fields? Arsenal? Have you asked Helios?"
They nodded. She bit the wall of her mouth, nauseated at the aftertaste of bile.
"The Kingschamber?"
Eirene was youngest of the sisters, distinctive with her auburn locks and big doe eyes as compared to Dike's and Eunomia's chestnut browns. She answered timidly, unable to look straight, "There was no sign of life there, my Queen."
Of course. Athena pondered. He began disliking that chamber since he had started moving in hers, but no sign of life hadn't exactly meant someone wasn't cooped up there. She thanked the girls for their services, instructed them their readings in the morn, and as soon as they disappeared to their parlors then she found herself standing before the great doors to the Kingschamber. It was quiet as a crypt, and the mere knowledge of finding Ares inside it would have made the Horai shiver. Of course they wouldn't dare.
Athena pushed the doors and walked in the darkened halls. The stillness was haunting, and only the star-studded horizon provided light between the massive columns of the veranda. She sighed relief to see the a very familiar silhouette leaning against a pillar by the shoulder. Distorted warbles from the pool reflected on the walls.
"Ares. I was looking for you," the soft taps of her feet resonated as she walked towards him, "In the more expected places to find you though…"
Slowly he turned his head sidewards without breathing a word, and Athena whiffed the typical scent of alcohol. Stopping a couple of feet, she was met by the King looking blankly at her. Half his face was cast in shadows yet it could not diminish the deep crimson glow of his eyes. His hair was a mess with loose strands plastered above a sweat-stained forehead. He'd been wearing the same armor, but unrulier.
"Come now," the Queen smiled faintly, sincerely, her hand stretching out to him, "Let's get you to bed."
It was taking quite a while for Ares' senses to pull himself together. He stared at her hand, at the creases of veins faintly running beneath her skin… at the luster of a wedding band on her finger. When their eyes met, his expression coarsened while her voice echoed in his mind hours before—
Nothing can change that.
Out of nowhere, Ares heard himself whisper.
"Not even me?"
"What?" Athena tipped her head, making him stall when the slip of words dawned over. Ares could only deflect his flustered gaze from hers to the vast night sky laid before them.
Nothing can change that.
"You know I would not blame you," he muttered, "For loving another."
Athena clenched her jaws at the bizarre choreography of his thoughts. What had wine been whispering to him now?
"Everyone knew who I was. In fact it would be preposterous for you not to have searched for, nor have been showered with someone else's attention… given how I once… treated you…"
When the hint of brokenness reached his last word, Athena knew he was not brewing any pun. There was an evidential pain and shame to it that kept her silence running, and the more she fell quiet, the more did Ares' expression turn bitter.
"Th—there is someone else between us, is there?"
Athena could only stare on, before gently nodding with lowered eyes. She heard his sharp inhale.
The King himself was bewildered on how, in the range of angry to murderous at the context of betrayal, the only expression he could conjure was pain. He could feel his throat dilate.
"I… well…" Ares forced a laughter which immediately melted, "I thought we… I mean, I know—I said I would endure for you but, this… Athena… can't we be just… us?"
Athena wet her lips, looking apologetic as she shook her head. White knuckles appeared on Ares' tight fists which threatened to plunge into the marble but went off as a harsh sigh. Eyes shut, he pressed his forehead on the pillar as both listened to his shaky breaths and gritty chuckles. Her silence was spurring the familiar twinge in his chest.
"Alright. It's alright. It's not as if everyone would be surprised… this is Olympus after all… Look at you: a walking perfection, Dionysus once said." Ares was grinning nonchalantly, before crumpling into the same despair, "…It's just that you're the only one I've ever opened up to. And I thought… I thought we…"
The strained pressure from Ares' fist dispersed when her fingertips grazed down the length of his arm. Athena was ever stoic, and it hurt him all the more to be so calm and oblivious to his pain. But him brooding over a misunderstood, albeit overanalyzed, statement about her affection for Apollo was not how she imagined to reveal the big news.
"Ares… I'm sorry. I should have confessed sooner. Yes. There is someone between us, and I would have to ask you to accept this as truth from now. We both have to live with it…"
"Well that must be the most convenient request now, is it?" His teeth chattered, "What do you want me to do next, us to do next? Ride off to the sunsets and braid each other's hair while you are gone? Strategize the days and nights you would spend with me and him? Help reconstruct your chamber to accommodate his belongings?"
"I was thinking of gentler things," the Queen drew his hand to her lips, kissed the rough surface, and began leading it down above the silken sheets of her night gown, "Like holding him in your arms, rocking him to sleep, teaching him to ride his first pony. If it's a she, you can show her proper dancing—I secretly like that about you—but the truth is, your love would suffice, Ares." And the universe halted when she left his palm spread over her womb, "…though I'd like to see how you intend to braid each other's hair."
A stifled breath flushed from Ares' lips. Warmth spilled from the base of his neck and throughout his body, spiraling him into a newfound bliss. A grin. A sniffle. An expression of wonder and disbelief. Ares found her smiling warmly at him. As if his bones had melted, the King fell to his knees, pressed his hands on her hips and his face on her belly, snuggling as close as possible like a babe himself to her flesh.
Athena thread her fingers across his hair. She felt the caress of his kisses hovering between the folds of her dress, the firm hold around her waist which she tries hard to balance with. Nothing pleasant would appear to mind with all things that make up Ares. He was an antagonizing son, a fickle lover, a coldblooded warrior, but beneath it all is a peculiarly committed father. And for once, this was a responsibility she was confident he would satisfy.
"I remember," the Queen halted, "That day you came back from Eleusis, from Demeter's. Hermes said you needed to tell me something?"
Ares kept his head leaning in her warmth. He heard her askquestion but he never looked up nor responded. The night was theirs; no word nor threat will steal from him this moment he would lie for. "Nothing," the King murmured, eyes unshut towards uncertainty…
"Nothing at all."
A/N: Wishing you all an advanced Happy Valentines' day! :) My replies on the review section again. Thank you very much for the continuous support.