Chapter five
Ares is about to go to sleep when someone knocked on his door. He's expecting it to be Dionysius, or maybe one of the nymphs that is begging for him to fuck. He's actually tired with those woman who keeps on hitting on him. Yeah he is pervert, he doesnt deny that but he wanted to settle down, and he only want it to be with Athena. He's so in love with that woman even if she doesnt reciprocate his feelings.
If that is a nymph trying to bed him, they can all go to Tartarus. He only want one woman and that is the grey eyed Princess. But that is next to impossible so he doesnt expect that much.
"One second." He doesnt bother to put on some shirt, why waste some time. He opened the door and almost passed out when he saw Athena, her eyes are red from crying. She is still wearing the dress she wore earlier at the wedding, she doesnt even have a sandal.
"Holy styx! What are you doing here?!" Athena pushes him inside and enter the room. She locked it and sat on the floor, she's still crying. Ares is still suprised to see the love of his life, inside his room, his room for Zeus sake! He then carry the woman to his bed and asked her what's wrong.
"Princess, look at me. What's wrong? What happened? Tell me, please." Athena is covering her face, embarassed on why she is acting so weak in front of her rival. Ares wiped her tears away and gently removed her hands away from her face to see her beautiful face.
"What's wrong, Princess?" She looked at him, at last she stop crying, Ares thought. He doesnt want to see those beautiful grey eyes full of tears.
"Did someone hurt you?" she shook her head.
"Are you in pain, cut yourself?" she shook her head again.
"Then tell me what's wrong Athena."
She opened her mouth but there's no words coming out. She closes it again. She stared at her hands, minutes passed and she's still staring at her hands.
"Athena?" it feels good to hear her name from him, Athena thought.
"Ares."
"Finally." he answered.
"Marry me."
"What?"
"I said marry me." Athena looked at her, determination present on her face. While on Ares, he looks like he saw a titan trying to eat him alive. His mouth is open and his eyes are wide like saucers.
"Come again?"
"I said marry me. Marry me. Let's get married. You as my husband, me as your wife. Like what Artemis and Hermes did earlier. Marry me, Ares."
The words that Athena has said is still registering on his mind. Marry. Wedding. Husband and wife. Athena. Him, being married to Athena. Wow. But why so sudden? He thought. Is the world ending now? Is he dreaming? This is impossible!
"Athena..are you..drunk?" That is the first question that pops into his mind. Only a drunk Athena will say something like that.
"No..no I'm not."
"Then why? I mean, I know I'm hot and handsome but..Athena, are you out of your mind?"
"Yeah, maybe I really am out of my mind." she stood up and walked towards the door. Before she can open the door, Ares blocked her way.
"Athena, be honest to me. Just this once. What's wrong and why?"
"Remember those words you told me after the council meeting? About me marrying you and me having my freedom at last. I want my freedom too just like what Artemis have just today. I want to be..happy. I just want to be happy." the tears are now flowing on her cheeks and Ares didnt wipe it away. He just hugged the goddess and kisses her hair.
After Athena stop crying, he led her to the living room and gave her some water to drink. Athena said her thank you's and drank the water to calm herself down.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Ares. Its late and you're about to sleep. I'm just so desperate. Earlier at the wedding, when I saw how happy Artemis is with Hermes, I told myself..I want to experience that kind of happiness too. But how? When father wants me under his protection all the time. I'm always the good daughter. I can't be bad even once. I can't."
"Who told you that?"
"No one, but that is my purpose in life. To be the good daughter, the noble goddess."
"And to be the sad maiden. Right?" Ares added and Athena smiled.
"Fine."
"Fine, what?" Athena asked.
"Let's get married. If you can have your freedom by marrying me. If it will make you happy, then marry me. I am willing."
"I am too...but we can't. Zeus will not allow it."
"Who said we need Zeus approval? A vow made in the underworld is much more strong than the one made in Mount Olympus. We just need witnesses, only two and then we're bound together. Trust me on this Athena. I got your back."
"How?" Athena hates that she is asking dumb question even though she is the Goddess of Wisdom.
"Come on, we're going to ride my chariot. We'll go to the underworld, maybe dragged Hecate and Thanatos as our witness. We'll exchange our vows in front of the fates. That's how we are going to do it, my princess." He smirked at her. Again, his smugness always makes her smile.
"But let's sleep first my future wife. We both need a beauty sleep, we have a wedding to celebrate tomorrow."
She said her goodbyes to Ares and kisses him on cheeks. Ares blushes and Athena thinks its cute. When she's back at her temple, she took a bath first before going to bed. She's going to be a wife tomorrow. Ares's wife to be exact. She smile at that thought. For the first time in her life, Athena is happy with her decision.