The Child of Moon and Sun.
Chapter 1 - Union of Moon and Sun
"A sunset is the sun's fiery kiss to the night." ― Crystal Woods
Mount Othrys...
Whilst silence dominated the throne room, it did not rule. No, that honour befell the Lord of Time, the King of the Earth, the Heavens and the Cosmos, Kronos. His voice still echoed through the halls and alcoves, marble and basalt and gold shaking under the stress of the Titan King's decree.
Before the throne of Kronos stood his nephew, the Titan of the Sun, Helios, and his niece, the Titaness of the Moon, Selene. Kneeling before his uncle and king, his face shrouded by curls turned golden from days in the sun, Helios displayed a look of unchecked shock. Under the piercing stare of Kronos, he removed all emotion from is face and lowered himself to a knee and broke the silence.
"I thank you, uncle, for this prestigious offer. I-I am luckier a Titan than many for such an offer, however," he paused for half a moment, risking a glance at his sister. Selene was failing to hide her emotions in front of their uncle, her skin pale and the tears upon her cheeks shone in her silver aura. Helios' resolve hardened; "if I could consider this offer with my sister perhaps, we-"
"No." Kronos narrowed his swirling golden eyes, half hidden behind a mop of dark curls. The refusal knocked the breath from the Sun Titan's lungs and the confidence from his head. His voice shook slightly as he spoke.
"But-"
"It was not an offer." The King growled out. "It was a command. Helios and Selene, children of my most trusted brother Hyperion, I declare that you are now formally betrothed. Let it be known that the Sun and the Moon shall be married."
A quiet murmur rippled through the throne room. Helios looked desperately at each and every Titan and saw no support. Some of them smiled at him. From his throne beside the King of the Titans, Iapetus stood.
"I believe congratulations are in order." He addressed the other Titans, before turning to his nephew and niece. "I hope that the fruit borne from this union-"
Iapetus' words were cut off by a choked-up sob, originating from the weeping Titaness of the Moon. In a storm of lazily brushed away tears, she gathered her skirts and ran from the hall of the Titans. A general tutting sound could be heard.
"You've got a handful there, Helios." Atlas smirked from his throne besides his father Iapetus. Helios raised from the floor and balled his fists quietly, bowing to his uncle stiffly before leaving, though his stride faltered when Atlas called out again. "Quite the beauty though, don't look so down cousin. Others would kill to be you."
How Helios mustered the restraint not to throw a fireball at Atlas, he did not know.
"They're not yours to control."
Hyperion had known something was amiss when Kronos had sent him off to do some errand any dim-witted lackey could complete. Now he knew why.
"They're my children. They belong to me." Hyperion strode towards the King of the Titans and stopped slightly too close for either of their comforts. Kronos raised an eyebrow.
"That in itself, is an incorrect statement, brother." Kronos squared up to Hyperion. "Helios and Selene, whilst they are your children, do not belong to you. They owe their loyalty to me, brother. They'll do as I say."
"Look here little brother-"
In a flash of celestial bronze, Kronos had him pushed against a wall of basalt with a dagger at his throat.
"Such an insolent tone. You never used to speak with father like this, when he was king." Hyperion grimaced when the dagger was pushed harder into his Adam's apple. A thin line of golden blood formed. "I was the only one with the courage to kill father, none of you had it in you."
Whilst he spoke, Kronos' eyes shifted colour, changing at an alarming rate from the usual golden honey colour that inspired want and lust, to molten pools of gold that whispered of maliciousness.
"The moment I killed father, I surpassed any of you. My siblings. You forfeited the right to call me anything but King, Hyperion."
The Titan of Time's eyes finally settled, two deep pools of molten amber and gold, that swirled in his iris like whirlpools. Smiling, he removed the dagger from the other Titan's throat and turned his back to him, looking out of a balcony, over the palace of the Titans.
"I won't let you force my children to marry. They're mine." Hyperion growled as he rubbed his throat. Unknown to him, Kronos' smile broadened.
"In the morning you'll be a… new man, and your children will marry because it's what you wish." Kronos' eyes were even brighter than before, flashing dangerously, unspoken power glowed. "You've always been so obsessed with control, brother of mine." Kronos turned and held his arms up.
In a flash of golden light, a scythe appeared in Kronos' hand. Not any scythe, the scythe, that had sent kings and protogenoi to the void. The temperature in the room dropped, and only then Hyperion realised that behind him stood Iapetus and Atlas. Hyperion could almost feel his soul being drawn towards the rough, cold, steel of the weapon, urging him forward.
"You're not in control."
That night Kronos taught him such.
Selene managed not to cry on the morning of her wedding.
That wasn't to say that she hated Helios, far from it. She loved Helios. For as long as she had known him, he had been there for her. Whenever she was without the confidence to carry on, he was there. He was kind and caring, outgoing and daring, but he was her brother, and she had never loved him otherwise.
"Try not to frown so much dear, it is not the end of the world." Her mother's cheery voice broke through her inner monologue. Selene stared hard at her through the mirror.
"You wouldn't understand." Selene sighed angrily. Theia smiled through the mirror at her.
"I wouldn't understand what? Marrying your own brother?" She chuckled. "It's tradition my dear-"
"It's wrong." Selene snapped. "I don't care that you married father, at least you fell in love with him beforehand. Helios is my brother and nothing else."
"No." Her mother said firmly, her usual cheeriness gone. "After today he will be your husband and your consort. There's no getting out of this Selene, Kronos will not be defied." They spent a long while in silence after that.
When Theia had finished preparing Selene for the wedding ceremony, she found herself angry that she looked so… so… pretty! It infuriated her. Her dark hair wasn't plaited like it usually was, it was free and wavy, flowing all the way to the small of her back. The ivory dress was without much pattern or lace, was strapless and made of the finest material found. Aunt Phoebe waltzed into the room and nodded her approval.
"You look fantastic my dear." She hummed. Selene muttered her thanks. Her aunt opened her mouth to speak, but a commotion outside her chambers interrupted her.
The door flew open and at the door stood her brother, golden aura striking, all dressed up and with an angry expression. Despite all her previous complaints, at that moment Helios couldn't have possibly looked more handsome. Their eyes locked, before she quickly looked away. She felt a small blush raise to her pale cheeks. A maid hurried in after him.
"I'm sorry my lady!" She squeaked. "He insisted!"
"Helios!" Theia scolded. "You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding." The Titan of the Sun rolled his eyes.
"Then I come here as a brother and not a husband. Mother, give me a moment alone with her." Helios said seriously. Their mother looked likely to refuse him, but aunt Phoebe took her hand.
"Come dear sister, let them have their last moments as siblings. You too Aelia, come now." They left.
With the room to themselves, a pregnant silence fell upon them. Selene could feel Helios' eyes on her, but she kept her gaze averted. Finally, Helios sighed and sat on the balcony ledge.
"I just wanted you to know… I did everything I could to stop this marriage." Helios said quietly. "I asked every Titan, every nature spirit. I even asked Pontus."
"But it wasn't enough." Selene whispered.
"It wasn't enough." He agreed. "I want you to know, that whatever happens, I will not force you to do anything you don't want to."
Selene laughed.
"Helios, you must think me daft." The Titaness of the Moon stood, dress trailing behind her along the marble floor. She finally looked her brother in the eye. "How many women have you been with? Do you even know?"
Helios looked at her, frowning.
"I know you Helios. You are a being of want and lust." Selene spat. "I will not be your whore, little brother!"
Her words rang through the room, leaving a prickly silence behind it. The Titan of the Sun didn't raise to her challenge, he barely reacted, only his eyes. They looked like shattered glass. The harshness of her words dawned on her. What she had said was true, Helios had known many women, but she had never seen that in her supporting, caring brother. He was a different person with her. The Titaness of the Moon came to realise how horrible she could be and found herself crying once more. Not just because of her words, but from the frustration of everything.
Helios wrapped his arms around her, no words, just comfort. Selene cursed herself over and over for breaking down so easily. If it wasn't for him, she'd likely collapse.
"We'll make it work." Helios whispered with earnest promise. It only made her cry more.
Golden haired Helios then married silver eyed Selene, in a ceremony attended by more and many.
Oceanus and Tethys, along with their brood of children, river naiads and ocean nymphs all of them.
Krios of the South and his sons warlike Pallas and destructive Perses, his grandchildren victorious Nike and magical Hecate, all feasted at their table.
All-knowing Phoebe and Koios of the North, Iapetus of the West and his sons, Atlas and Prometheus, all raised a toast to the Moon and the Sun.
Mnemosyne, Themis and Rhea, aunts to the couple kept peace and tranquillity, no small feat.
Hyperion of the East, father to the newlyweds drank often and laughed loudly, showing no discomfort in the forced marriage.
Kronos gave a toast to all Titans and spirits, before congratulating Helios and Selene's love for one another.
Even Gaia, in all her vast beauty and wisdom sent gifts aplenty.
Not too long thereafter, Selene gave birth to a baby Titan, dark of hair with eyes of pale gold. At the urging of her aunt Phoebe, she named him Περσεύς, 'Perseus'.
Here's the first chapter of this story!
I might be a bit out of practise because I haven't written anything in a long while, but I want this one to work :D
I'd appreciate it if you left a review!
I wish you a very happy day, and thank you for reading ^^
XanderP764