Although there were very few gods on Olympus whom Hephaestus could call friends, the gods love more than anything a celebration. And so the marriage of Hephaestus and Aphrodite was an affair to remember. The bride was as beautiful as sin, which made up for the groom. However, it was the affair after the marriage that is remembered by most.

Hephaestus could not believe his good fortune. In less than year he went from having nothing to gaining everything he could possibly desire: the respect of the gods, a true forge, and a beautiful wife. He felt as if he were wearing Hermes's winged sandals every day as he went to the forge to labor and every night as he went home to his gorgeous wife.

One day at the forge, while singing a foolish happy love song with Algaea, Hephaestus received a message from Zeus, delivered by a nymph. Zeus requested his presence immediately. He and Algaea shared a puzzled glance. Zeus clearly admired his work, but never met with Hephaestus if he could help it, after the throne incident.

"Do you know why Zeus needs to see me?" Hephaestus asked.

"Sorry," replied the nymph in sweet tones, "I really don't know."

"What happened to Hermes?" Algaea asked. "Isn't he normally King Zeus's messenger?"

"Sorry," the nymph repeated.

Another puzzled glance.

"Well, that was odd," Hephaestus said when the nymph left.

"You should probably hurry and go anyways," Algaea said.

"You're probably right." Hephaestus wiped down his tools and washed his face and hands. When Algaea was finally satisfied with his appearance, he left for the throne room. On the way there he heard some strange sounds coming from a clearing near the palace. Without thinking, Hephaestus went to see what the noise was. He peeked around a tree and saw, to his utter embarrassment, a young couple engaged in a passionate act of lovemaking. Not sure if he should apologize, but certain he should leave, Hephaestus was in the middle of backing away quickly when he recognized the god as Hermes. Well, that explains why Hermes couldn't deliver the message, he thought. Hephaestus was just about to berate him for neglecting his duties when he recognized the goddess Hermes was entwined with: his wife.

Hephaestus walked with a deadly calm back to the forge.

"Back so soon?" Algaea asked.

Hephaestus ignored her, and grabbed the unbreakable net he was working on for Artemis.

He walked back to the clearing where he had discovered the lovers, and cast the net over them. Aphrodite screamed as she and Hermes struggled with the net, further entangling themselves. Without saying a word Hephaestus grabbed the net, complete with his wife and her lover, and dragged them to the throne room, where he deposited them unceremoniously at the foot of Zeus. Zeus seemed only mildly surprised.

"Why what have we got here?" he exclaimed.

Aphrodite and Hermes finally managed to untangle themselves and stood unabashed in the throne room.

"Ah, Hermes, been busy I see," Zeus quipped dryly.

"Explain this," Hephaestus said, through clenched teeth.

"What is there to explain?" Aphrodite asked, seemingly unconcerned by her husband's anger.

"You are my wife!" he shouted, clearly enraged.

"Yes," Aphrodite said.

Hephaestus was taken aback. He didn't know what he expected when he dumped the lovers on the floor in front of Zeus, but it certainly wasn't this shameless composure.

"Oh!" Aphrodite exclaimed. "I see! You thought that because we were married it meant I loved you and that I would be faithful. How sweet! You forget: I'm not the goddess of love; I'm the goddess of lust. Although I do admire your work, darling, there is so much more to life than work. And you are clearly not as lustworthy as dear Hermes here. Don't you remember, love? If there is one thing I admire it is beauty. And you, my fallen angel, are not beautiful by any standard."

Aphrodite's little speech successfully caused Zeus to burst into laughter, and soon the entire court was once again laughing at Hephaestus. Even Aphrodite allowed herself to chuckle briefly, the tiny tinkling tolls of death bells. Hephaestus turned and left, to return to the safety of his forge. At the door he stopped to catch his breath. Decisions would have to be made, important ones. Was it worth staying here on Olympus, now that he knew the true debauchery of the gods? He was disillusioned and heartbroken, and more than anything he wanted to be alone in his forge, to temper his rage with work. That, however, was not to be the case. Algaea was waiting for him.