CHAPTER 2

"I cannot believe that my father would do this to me!"

I am sitting with my back against the marble fountain in the Olympian gardens, watching my aunt Hestia prune the rosebushes. My chin rests upon my knees, which are hugged up against my chest as though I am still a little girl. I realize that my whining sounds like that of a spoiled child, but I do not care. How could Zeus condemn me, his favorite child and firstborn, to a year of mortal existence merely because I dared to put Ares in his proper place? It is not as though I participated in a coup to overthrow Zeus and place myself upon his throne. He once condemned his brother Poseidon and my brother Apollo to human servitude just for that reason. But all of us quarrel with Ares, so why would Zeus brand me as the scapegoat?

So many questions pour through my mind that I feel as though my head might explode. I do not even notice that Hestia has finished pruning the roses and is now sitting beside me, rubbing a small amount of oil onto her hands. One of Hestia's best characteristics is that she is a good listener. She will allow you to tell her your troubles and not speak until you finish. This trait makes it easy for one to trust and confide in her. I once saw, to my great surprise, my reclusive uncle Hades conversing quietly with Hestia in these same gardens. I have often wondered what the two discussed but know better than to question Hestia, for she will never betray a confidence.

Now Hestia speaks. "Maybe Zeus is struggling with a matter more troubling than your spat with Ares. It is no easy thing to be king of the gods, you know. Your father risked much and more to get to where he is today. He has faced countless enemies who would have taken his throne from him in an instant had he not wiped them out first. And I imagine that his liaisons with mortal women have not always been as blissful as he would have liked. He has many mortal offspring, every one of whom he is charged to protect, and he also has to contend with Hera's displeasure at their very existence." She sighs a little and then adds, "Not that I am condoning his extramarital relationships, but he is a god and gods take their pleasures as seriously as the mortal men do.

"What I am saying, dearest niece, is try to understand the scene from your father's point of view. Zeus can endure conflict between mortals, even his own clashes against monsters like Typhoeus. But the one thing Zeus cannot abide is strife within his own house, particularly when the argument is between two of his own offspring. It reflects upon his ability to maintain order in Olympus and might undermine his authority as ruler of gods and men. Worst of all, the mortals would no longer make offerings or say prayers to him." Hestia looks seriously at me. "Do you understand what I am saying to you, Athena?"

I understand much of what my aunt has said to me regarding my father, but at the same time feel just as confused as ever about the complications that might arise from something as petty as a simple argument between brother and sister.

Silently, I nod and our conversation ends there.