Styx was very tired.

She was tired of the disrespect. She was tired of the exceptions. How dare they swear and pollute her waters for bindings that they would only shake off. Would she be wrong to stop her flow and let no dead pass? Would she be wrong to no longer accept oaths in general?

She turned her eyes onto the Fated, especially the three little bastards that she could sense broken bindings around. Apollon's lover was one and she was not even surprised. She turned her gaze over to the god of sun, running her hand over the links that connected him to her. None had faded since the day he swore to them all those millennia ago.

Well none but one...

She held the link gently in palms; eyes swirling dangerously as she thought about the reasoning behind it. That little girl was becoming quite irritable.

Styx turned her gaze back to his lover. While Styx may not be able to remember what vow had been made, the girl had been born from a broken oath. Styx could not punish the girl's father. Her sister would never let her harm her son in law nor would Zeus allow her to harm him or his brother.

Still– Apollon was right. He had not broken an oath. And oh how she ached to see him exiled from the assembly of gods for ten years and be denied nectar and ambrosia. Unable to move in any shape or form as he would be stuck in a coma-like state unable to move in any way. She would be able to have her way with him afterwards as he would be denied the right to attend any of the assemblies or festivals of the gods for nine years.

He would be hers to punish as she saw fit.

She yanked onto the thread between them, tightening its hold. She would not let him break this oath. It burned in her hand as his power resonated through it, but she cared not. He swore to never take a spouse and she would hold him to it.

Styx turned his gaze to his lover once more, watching as he and Hermes covered her in their love. She wondered what her sister, Peitho, had to say about that. Styx was always protective of her siblings.

She wouldn't touch their children. She remembered Apollon's threat.

[Hand wrapping around her throat, she felt fear she had felt since Kronos swallowed his first child. His eyes had glared at her with the power of a thousand suns. Gone was the blue hue of his pupils instead replaced with the full effect of his own essence. Golden eyes that spoke of the blood of Kronos' that resonated within him. He was Apollon, son of Leto and Zeus. He was Apollon, brother of Artemis. He was Apollon, the healer. He was Apollon, the destroyer. He was Apollon, the favored son. He was Apollon, the sun. He was Apollon, the one who never let a slight go unpunished.

She could hear him even now; voice soft yet powerful. Gentle yet cruel. Caring yet destructive. "Watch your words, Lady Styx. I've broken no vow, but if you think of touching my children, I will burn your flesh from your body, feed you to my cattle and drift your divinity across the morning sky. I will make you obsolete. I have kept you whole for millennials as the other gods broke you to pieces without a care to piece you back together. I incurred the wrath of my own sister to keep you from falling into a euphoria that would have destroyed you. Stay away from my children, Lady Styx because not even Lord Khaos himself would stop me from hunting you down."]

No, she could not touch their children as even Hermes would not let a slight go unpunished. Nor would Apollon allow it as his bond with Hermes transcended all but his sister and mother.

(And Apollo, son of Leto, swore he would be Hermes' friend and companion. Of all the immortals, be they gods or human children of Zeus, he vowed to love none better than he loved Hermes.)

She could not touch their children, but— her eyes moved past them and onto the two that sea's spawn had claimed as her own. No one ever said anything about the two of them. Styx stood as she exited her room, "I will have my due. The Olympians will PAY for their broken promises."

The gods watched silently from their thrones as Zephyrus descended from the heavens with Grace in his arms. They watched the sneer that appeared on Ariadne's face at the sight of him, but her features softened immediately looking at the demigoddesses in his arms.

They were standing by the doorway that connected Castellan to Camp Half-Blood. Everyone was silent as Zephyrus placed the girl on a bed made from pine. Her hair haloed around her as she rested peacefully. Each of the Fated stepped forth to hoist the bed onto their shoulders as they walked into Camp Half Blood. Iris messages sprung around the entire kingdom of Castellan so that the people could watch.

They placed the bed right in front of the pine tree that Thalia had once said her own stood. The group turned as one as Ares' daughter walked forward. The golden fleece glittered in her arms; sprouting life to the laurel leaves that had been woven into her hair.

The entire camp bent to one knee as Thalia took the fleece in hand. She was dressed in traditional armor, her lieutenants' circlet woven within her dark locks. She placed the fleece onto a tree branch directly above Grace.

Miles away under the earth hidden within their alcove, the Moirai released their hold on her lifestring.

They waited patiently as the golden fleece worked its magick. It danced in the wind around her, covering her like a blanket. Sinking into her skin bit by bit. They were not surprised to see the light sparks emerging from her body.

It took one... two... three beats before her eyes opened. A startling eclectic blue so similar to her father's.

Thalia turned her gaze back to the crowd before them, "King of the Gods. King of Olympus. Father of Gods and Men. Hail, Thalia Grace, daughter of the Sky God."

Apollon tracked down Hermes.

His brother was hidden away in Castellan in what his children had changed into the processing center for all his mail. There were already bins filled to the brim for things for Hera that he had set aside for Iris to pick up.

"Hermes," he called, smiling as the younger god spun around with a smile on his face. The mortal vessel he was wearing switched into a look closer to his true form. "Brother," he replied excitingly. Apollon clasped the other on the back and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "What are you doing here, Apollon? I thought you would be driving the chariot?"

Apollon shook his head, "No. Helios has returned from where he and Selene hid the other 'friendly' titans. I now have more time to dedicate to all my other duties." Hermes cheered as he knew that also meant that the elder's workload had decreased and meant more time with his favored sibling.

"I also just had a riveting conversation with Aphrodite," he told the younger who tilted his head in question. Apollon smiled as he turned to look through the packages that were marked for himself. "There is apparently a reason as to why Ariadne yearns for the attention of us both."

"Oh?"

Apollon looked over the tapestry that Athena crafted for him, taking in the details and feeling the unbridled joy that he always gained looking at his sister's work. "Ah yes. The simple fact that she is seemingly jealous but also in love with our close relationship. In a bid to never miss the energy that we bring when we are together, she goes out of her way to make sure that any moment she has with us could be spread between the three of us."

"So... you aren't jealous?"

Apollon blinked, turning back the other. A small pout appeared on his beautiful face before it cleared, "I'll admit I was at first. I do not like sharing my love after all. Nor do I wish for my lovers to care for anyone else." His heart arched with the familiar pain that he always gained whenever his thoughts strayed to Hyacinthus. "Alas, you are my most beloved brother. I promise to not love anyone more than you, yes? I get to have both of what I want now. A beautiful lover and you at my side for eternity."

The smile that graced Hermes' face stretched over it entirely. He threw himself at Apollon, flying around him until he was wrapped around him like boa. "We will have lots of fun together. Oh, I cant wait to see what she would add on to the fun that we are get into. Do you think she would be like Ariadne and just watch as you, me, and Dionysus create delightful chaos with our every step?"

Apollon laughed prettily, "I think she and Ariadne would first come to an agreement on just calling her Ari or Aria to avoid confusion. And let's not forget that her definition of fun also includes a lot of sparring. We may find her more with the theoi polemikoi more often than not." Hermes nodded from where he was sitting atop of his brother's shoulder, "Yes you are right. Hm... do you think we can convince Father to host an early arrival of the games? I bet she would dominate there."

The god of light inclined his head, "While I do agree, you know most would underestimate her because she is a female and it's mainly a man's competition. And not only that, if she were to compete, they would not hold back."

Hermes hummed, "She will also have to compete naked." A low growl built in the back of their throats before they realized this was Ariadne that they were talking about. "She would definitely fight back against that. While she doesn't mind showing skin, she would refuse to be naked in front of people unworthy of seeing her body."

Hermes' lips twitched into a smile, "Knowing her, she would probably ask Artemis and Aphrodite to curse whomever gazed upon her with impure intentions." Apollon laughed in delight, "That's of course if her father does not beat any of us to it."

Hermes' form shimmered once more, falling into a younger age as he swung around Apollon. "I believe she will dominate the competition. With the end of the age of heroes nearing, all that excess energy would be split between the Fated and Herakles. That extra strength would be enough to plummet those god-born competitors."

Apollon hummed teasingly, "If I didn't know any better, I would assume you were saying she could beat me." Hermes laughed, the sound so musical that Apollon's essence sang alongside it. "How could she? How could anyone beat our beloved, Apollon... Thou father favored son... the light of our day that heals our hearts with but a simple strum of his lyre."

Apollon turned his gaze to the younger, "If I didn't know any better, Hermes... I would assume you were flirting with me," Hermes' lips twitched into a familiar smirk, "The world flirts with you, dear Apollon. What makes my words any different?"

The god of light's smile softened as he gazed upon the young herald, "The difference being that they come from you."

Zeus approached Hera as she gazed around her garden. His favorite smile was on her face; not tainted with any sadness or pain. There was a light in her eyes that he hadn't seen since before his first affair.

"My Queen," he said as he drew nearer. She turned to him, smiling even wider at the sight. He remembered those counseling sessions and how the mortals had so many different ways to fix their marriages and he... he forgot all of them in the face of her love.

What was a mortal to a god?

"The age of heroes is almost over," she told him. She was excited; her body almost glowing from happiness. "No more prophecies. At least none that the theoi cannot handle on our own." He smiled at her, happiness fueling his entire being. Taking her hand into his own, he placed a kiss onto it: "I will be able to love you freely and purely as I have promised. I will never stray from your side ever again."

Her eyes shined with love. "A dinner with the council, another with the kids, another with just our lineage, one with our siblings, and many just for ourselves."

Zeus brushed some hair from her face as he returned her look of love, "Whatever you want, my Queen. Whatever you want and you shall have it."

And they sealed the words with a kiss.