Hide and Seek

Poseidon, the mighty god of the sea, wants Amphitrite, the beautiful and agile Neried. She declares "not interested" and runs into hiding. But Poseidon is not the kind of god who takes "no" for an answer. He's gonna get Amphitrite one way or another. So it's hide and seek time, let the game begin!

Part 1 - Olympos

Amphitrite had always been fascinated by Olympos, the mountain stronghold of the supreme gods. Ever since being a little child the twice a year visits to the mountaintop had been events to look forward to with great expectation, counting down the weeks and then the days.

This time was no exception. Amphitrite, Ami among friends, had just turned nineteen and she was still mostly interested in dancing and having fun. Career plans were way into the future. For her Olympos was not a place for networking and politicking, she went there to party. She was thrilled by the lot of handsome and interesting gods around for this spring ball. Gods up for catch, gods ready for some fun without obligations. Perhaps some cute rivergod, a wild, rowdy wind or why not one of those broad-shouldered hunks who worked in Hephestos' forges.

The only thing she didn't want was a longer relation, she was far from ready to settle down. There were so many places to go, so much things to do and see. She could at least wait another century before she started thinking of marriage and children. She wanted to stay the vibrant and graceful dancer with no cares in the world, surrounded by waist-long, wavy, honey-blond hair and keep on smiling at the world with worry-less, big blue eyes.

Being a daughter of Nereus, the old man of the sea, she knew she wasn't really that hot. There were after all fifty of them, about one third unmarried or divorced. And when her sister Galathea told she was going for Apollo, Amphitrite just rolled her eyes.
- Do you know how long the line is? she said. At least half of the Oceanides are out to get him and then there are countless of nymphs and dryads and...
- You know what's funny with Apollo? Laomedia, another sister asked.
- No? Amphitrite and Galathea choired, Galathea pushing back her foam-white hair and regarding her own reflection in the port window of their flying chariot.

- He doesn't pick from that line, Laomedia told. He's running after those who don't want him. So the best way of getting Apollo is playing hard to get.
- Then that's what I'm going to do, Galathea stated.

- Guess it runs in the family, Thetis said. All of the sisters turned to her, she was far from the oldest or brightest of the Nerieds, but she was a natural leader, someone everybody listened to.
- I had to turn down Poseidon last year. And Zeus. Guess it was only the arrival of Hera that saved me.

Thetis had said that without boasting. In fact she told it more as a way of hinting that she had advises to give. But now the chariot was closing in on Olympos, and Galathea pointed out the mountain and exclaimed her joy.

What from the ground looked like just another a cloud-shrouded, snow-capped peak was really a lush landscape of emerald green forests and fields where wild animals grazed, tended gardens with small gazebos and glittering ponds. When winter still lingered beneath spring was in full swing here. Or rather – spring was eternal here. This was the land of gods, where no normal rules applied.

In the middle of this paradise garden rose a palace of marble and crystal, inlaid with golden, silver and polished copper details, glittering and shimmering in the sun. The palace wasn't really large, its imposing qualities were elsewhere, in the rare building materials, in the airy and beautiful architecture that seemed to defy gravity, and most of all in the feelings it projected. An open-armed welcome to those invited and at the same time a warning to everybody not supposed to be around.

Around the palace laid smaller buildings, like a little town, with streets of gold and copper in swirling patterns. There were small squares with marble statues, parks and tiny bridges crossing little chanals.

The glittering bridge crossing the moat seemed like made of glazed sugar. It was hard to believe that its thin and delicate structure could carry someone across and up to the crystal gates in front of it. And yet it was able to carry both men and vehicles. When halfway across the silvery bridge, the great glittering gates started to swing open, turning rainbow as they did, letting in the chariot of Nereus.

ooo

The ball had been in full swing for some hours and it was not even halfway to its ending at dawn. Yet Amphitrite was disappointed. Al right, she had danced to the tunes of the muses, ate and drank a lot of goodies, gossiped with the daughters of Oceanos and met and flirted with a lot of gods; it just wasn't as interesting as earlier years. She wanted more than just wet kisses and eager hands inside her dress, but she didn't know what it was. Someone to talk with perhaps.

Most rivergods seemed to have water between their ears as well, the workers of Hephestos were thinking with wrong bodyparts and on top of that there was that brat Narcissus. He had seemed promising first. Handsome and smart. But when they had sat down for a chat he had been all "me me me". Amphitrite had excused herself as soon as politeness admitted.

Now she was debating with herself about trying the dancefloor once more or hitting the bar, where Ganymedes was handing out liquid miracles. But someone settled the matter.
- Dancing? She heard behind her, a deep male voice sounding somewhat familiar.
- Certainly, Amphitrite turned, taking the hand offered her.

This was no stupid rivergod or horny blacksmith. The man escorting her out on the shining floor was no other than Poseidon, the God of the Sea himself, the ruler and leader of all things living beneath the waves. If Amphitrite had ever been nervous, she sure was now. Poseidon was a great dancer and he was not into playing other games than simply dancing, but he made Ami shiver nevertheless.

She had listened to the warnings of her older sisters more than enough, but this man was still interesting. He had class and charisma, his deep green eyes seemed to be reading her mind and his smile was enigmatic, like Poseidon knew a secret about her.

When the dance was over the Sea God bowed down and kissed her hand gently. Amphitrite was certain he was going to move on so she prepared to make her own graceful exit. Instead Poseidon took her under her arm and said:
- Let's see what Ganymedes can conjure up for us tonight.
- Anything you want, I guess, Ami laughed nervously.
- Relax! I don't bite.
- Oh...

She could feel eyes watching as they entered the bar, Poseidon directing her to two empty chairs. Krinaiai - Naiads of Fountains, were whispering to each other. Oh, they were the worst gossipers there were! When they got hold on something interesting it would travel from ear to ear faster than the lightnings of Zeus.
- Tonight's special, Ganymedes was saying and handing over something rainbow-coloured and glittery in high glasses to Amphitrite and Poseidon. Ami had seen people sipping on that thing before, but she had not dared to try it, the drink had looked way too sophisticated for her simple taste.

But now she found herself toasting with the Sea God, tasting a drink that was not really sweet but flavoury and sparkling upon her tongue. Apollo had taken up singing over at the stage and most people were going there to watch and listen. But Poseidon remained sitting, putting a large hand on her arm:
- We can hear as well from over here, and I don't like crowds.
- Sure, Amphitrite said, suddenly at loss for words. It was like her brain had ploughed itself down in clay and wasn't working properly. And it wasn't the drink, she had only taken two or three sips from it.

- I have an interesting proposition to make, daughter of Nereus. Poseidon was leaning closer, blocking her view to the antics at the stage. Of course, Ami thought, he wanted her for tonight. And he sure was intriguing, but could it be without risk? What was it Themis had said? He, like his brother Zeus, had a way of making women pregnant. And if there was one thing Amphitrite sure did not want it was a kid.

- What about? Ami stirred her drink, trying to sound urbane, but only managing to show her insecurity.
- I want you to come with me beneath the waves and be my wife, the God of the Sea said.
- You sure have a novelty way of flirting.
- I'm not joking, Poseidon said. I never joke about these things.
- But I'm - I'm only nineteen, I'm in no way ready to make such a grand leap in life. And with a man I've only known for some minutes and exchanged less than a dozen words with.

- You want to talk, there'll be plenty of time for that when we soft in my palace or lie together on the beach.
- I don't think I want...
- Come on, sweetie, Poseidon said. You don't want to marry me? You want to remain a maiden? Or is there somebody else? And how can I make you change your mind about marrying me?
- On 1 I answer "no", on 2 I answer "perhaps", on 3 "that's none of your business" and on 4 "Troisen".
- Troisen? Poseidon wrinkled his brows in consternation.
- That was always the answer to the questions I didn't know back in school, Amphitrite stated.

Poseidon kept quiet for some seconds, a strange look upon his face, and suddenly Ami feared that she had angered the Sea God. But instead he threw back his head and laughed with such a strong voice that it was heard all over the large hall and even drowning out the music on the stage, Apollo looking angrily over at their spot. Ami felt her cheeks redden alarmingly.

- You sure are a funny, girl, Poseidon said, drying tears from the corners of his eyes. "Troisen"! I used to suck at geography too, at least when it came to dry land. These cities all seemed the same to me. Now, finish your drink, so we can go somewhere quieter and draw up our future plans. For instance what do you want for...
- Poseidon please, get the message! I do not want to marry you. I'm too young. I'm too much of a child still. I want to dance and play, discover the world. We have nothing in common.

- I sure won't stop you from discovering the world. We can do it together you and I. His hand was suddenly around her back and Ami felt trapped, like a fish in a net. But she got saved just like her sister Thetis, an angry goddess interrupting Poseidon the way Hera had interrupted Zeus when he had been bothering Thetis.

It was Athena standing in front of them, demanding to know something about a claim Poseidon had laid upon a town that was hers. Amphitrite had never really liked Athena, Zeus's daughter seemed stern and haughty, almost scary to the Neried; but now Ami blessed her arrival, because Poseidon suddenly forgot about her and started arguing with his niece. And Amphitrite could sneak away.

ooo

She didn't stop running until she was back home at Nereus' palace. Shaking she sat down in the entrance hall, back against a green marble pillar. She knew she had just bought herself some time. When Poseidon was done with Athena he sure was going to come for her again. Themis was right, these Olympians were not taking "no" for an answer.