She cries when no one is around to hear her sobs or to see her tears. Her flawless skin is contorted by the merciless hands of grief, and her eyes are swollen from the vicious blows of betrayal. Her pillow is her only friend; it catches her tears and cradles her head in its fluffy embrace. It does not speak, and perhaps that is for the best. What words can you say in moments like these?

She knows she is beautiful. She sees the beauty with her own eyes reflected in her bedroom mirrors. But she doesn't feel her beauty. Zeus cheats on her; the men down-cast their eyes in her presence; and the women look upon her with pity. Even her servant girls look down upon her with pity! Who knows how many of them Zeus had made passes at, or even had lain with already?

This was how she had spent many years of her existence after their wonderful 300 year old honeymoon...in solitude...in painful memories...in tears...

Until...

"Hear ye, hear ye," he had shouted from the table-top on which he had now stood.

The entire banquet was focused on the young man who had scampered atop the table so late in their feast. "He must be drunk," one of the men whispered conpiratorially to his companion who, if he had been paying much attention too, would've noticed that, was staring at the man on top of the table with an eye of pleasant memories that involved many sleepless nights and slept in days. In fact, many of the women were quite 'intimate' with Eramis.

"I propose a toast!" he hollered.

The crowd erupted in cheers and many cups and goblets of wine were lifted into the air.

"To King Zeus, may you continue to reign supreme..."

Cheers. The clanking of goblets. They had thought he had finished.

"...and to continue to bed the women of Gaia for many years to come!"

As if cut by a sword, the cheers instantly died down as Eramis took the opportunity to take a long swig of his goblet. Eyes turned to Zeus.

Zeus slowly placed his goblet down. "What did you say, my boy?"

"Aye, your boy? I very well might be!"

One of the men at Eramis' table immediately jumped onto the table and clamped his hand over Eramis' mouth. "Sorry, your Majesty, Eramis here is very sorry. Very sorry, sir. Aren't you, Eramis?" Eramis laughed. "Indeed. As repentance, I propose another toast..."

Zeus subtly nodded. Eramis' friend sighed in relief, as did the rest of the people in the hall. Eramis was very well-liked and they did not want to see him beheaded.

"To Queen Hera."

Eramis' friend groaned, as did the other people in the hall. Eramis continued:

"To the most beautiful Queen in the Heavens, may you continue to bless our dreams with your beauty. And let no woman who may pass before you, ever make you feel inferior to them in any way, shape, or form. And we drink!"

He gazed deeply into her eyes as he drank, the crowd following hesitantly right after. Even Zeus drank with narrowed eyes, suspicious, but ultimately oblivious to the hidden meanings in his toast. But Hera understood every last one. And for the first time, in many years, she felt beautiful.

He had shown up to every party after that. Many times under disguise; but she could not forget that look in his eyes. And despite him jumping atop a table at every party and proposing ever-scandalous, ever-subtle toasts to Hera, he had a charm that even Zeus succumbed too. "He's much too fun to kill just yet," Zeus would declare in the bedroom. "And what if he does happen to be my son? That...that wouldn't be too bad...Not bad at all."

But Hera didn't particularly like that thought, as she had grown quite strong feelings for this young Eramis. Even with the tales of Eramis' countless conquests, she could not help but be attracted to him. He reminded her a young Zeus, albeit more charming, and less powerful...and maybe this is what attracted her to him. She had good times with the young Zeus, and Eramis certainly promised good times.

And now he stood before her with the man from the dungeon. Two men she had strong feelings for. One she had an unconsummated desire for; and for the other, she had strong feelings of love turned to bitterness and hate.

As she gazed upon Enamore, she felt electrified. As she gazed upon Eramis, even more devilish and handsome than she remembered, she felt hate...but also an irresistible desire for him. She could not do this. Not here. Not now.

Her vision clouded. She could hear concerned gasps, voices, and footsteps trudging in her direction. With her last remaining strength, she lifted her arm. "Guards, do not let those two leave!"

She fainted.

A/N: My gratitude to all who reviewed the last chapter. Many good ideas. This story for the most part is improvised, and many of the reviewers ideas are so out-of-the-box or common sense, that I might incorporate them into the story as I go along. So review and, who knows, you might see something you said you wanted in one of the upcoming chapters!

We shall write this story together!