Part 2: Chapter 4

Dionysus

I took in everything I saw as I made my way alongside Hermes through the brightly-lit corridors. All those that I had passed by – minor deities and servants – bowed down to me in respectful greeting, with some even welcoming back to Mount Olympus after my long absence.

While I smiled back and acknowledged their greetings, my mind was still heavy with many assumptions, all wondering about the reason of my presence here. I had absolutely no idea, but by the look on Hermes' face, which was serious and worried, I could only tell that it was not something good or it was something that needed to be brought to my attentions.

But what could it possibly be? Was I needed for something important? Had something happened in Mount Olympus that concerned me?

Or was I in trouble with something?

I remained mum, allowing myself to ponder on what I could do in those type of situations, when Hermes suddenly came to a stop after we took a turn and walked down a long corridor. I had been so distracted with my thoughts that I did not realize I had been blindly following him without knowing where we were.

I snapped out of my thoughts and took in my surroundings. At the end of the long corridor we had walked in, where we stood right now, stood a pair of tall and heavily-built golden doors that seemed to glow from the fire of the marble white hearths that stood at its sides. This particular set of doors was much more grander than the other golden doors that I had walked past a while ago.

But I knew why it was so.

This door was none other than the door of the council room of the Twelve Olympians.

Immediately, my curiosity became more aroused. Whatever were we doing here? What was needed here that involved me? I have not been to any of the council meetings as of recently. In fact, I think the last time I had been to a council meeting was a few years back. And I am not sure if there had been any meetings during my absence for I was not informed of such.

It has been a long time since I had attended an actual council meeting, so why now?

Before I could even question anything that popped up in my mind out of curiosity, the doors magically opened by themselves from the inside, as though it had sensed our presence and were allowing us access. When the doors had fully opened, Hermes walked ahead first, while I followed behind at an equal but slightly hesitant pace. When we had both entered, the doors closed by itself in our wake.

I then found myself in a room that was made entirely out of pale white marble as the rest of the palace, except the golden hearths that stood in different corners of the room, and the twelve golden thrones that sat atop twelve white marble daises in a circle in the center of the room.

Only ten of those thrones were occupied when we entered. Eleven now, since Hermes had gone away from my side, climbed a set of steps of the white marble dais of his throne, and took his seat.

That only remained one empty throne left.

My throne.

The rest of thrones were occupied by the other Olympians. As I walked to the circular space in the center of the circle of golden thrones, I took in the faces of all those who were present and seated around me. So many I have not seen in a long time, while the others are recent.

On my left, there were Apollo, Artemis, Athena and Poseidon. On my right, there were Hermes, Demeter, Hephaestus, Ares, Aphrodite, and Hera. The Queen looked at me with a clear look of disdain, to which I expertly ignored by casting my eyes away from her.

Ahead of the room, sitting beside his Queen Hera, sat my father Zeus, who sat in his extravagant golden throne in all his glory and majesty.

Every single one of them were looking at me in silence. All of them were waiting for something.

With a silent deep breath, I promptly walked up ahead and came to a stop a few feet in front of the foot of the dais which Zeus' throne stood upon. Immediately, I bowed to him in respect, greeting him steadily, "Hail Lord Zeus. And hail my Olympian brethren."

When I straightened up, my father bowed his head to me, a small smile visible on his lips. "Dionysus," he said my name warmly. "I welcome you back to Mount Olympus. It has indeed been a long time since you have been here."

I smiled back at him and shrugged, replying, "Indeed, it has. Well, I still have a lot to do to spread my name throughout the mortal lands and gain more followers in my practices. I guess I must have been too busy and have found no time to return to Mount Olympus, although I do intend to return here for permanence soon."

But just then, the look on Zeus' face changed. His expression changed into a more solemn and serious one, looking at me with serious and criticizing eyes. I became silent and still under his gaze, feeling the weight of it burden my shoulders. I became uneasy then, wondering why was it the reason of my presence was the reason for the look on his face.

Silently, he raised his hand and gestured it to the empty golden throne in between Hermes and Demeter's. I knew then that he was telling me to go and take a seat in my throne, and I obediently did so. When I took my seat, I experienced the familiar but foreign feel of sitting here, among the council of the Twelve Olympians.

When I had taken my seat on my own throne, the very throne that had been given to me by my aunt Hestia, Zeus said in a sombre tone of voice, "I suppose you are wondering why you have been called here, Dionysus."

Meeting his eyes, I replied truthfully, "Yes. Yes, I do."

"Well," he began. "The reason is, unfortunately, something dire and serious. We had faced serious and severe issues in the mortal lands just of recent, and it all traced to you. It had come to my attention that you had initiated quite a serious and problematic act, and it is only now that it reaches the light of my attentions. I had mistakenly let your deed go on quietly for quite too long. It is time for me to acknowledge this to you."

I remained quiet, only staring back at him. I need not ask him what he meant by his words. I knew all too well already.

Zeus then turned his attentions to Apollo, and gestured silently with a look for him to stand. My half-brother promptly did so, and then looked at the faces of everyone present, his gaze lingering on mine especially. With a serious and no-nonsensical expression, he began to speak.

"I have seen through the Sun of what happens in Argos. In the land, women are turned mad and hysterical, running around in a crazed frenzy as they shriek at the top of their voices and tear their clothes from the bodies to reveal their bare forms. The induced madness that they suffer from has caused them to be sick in the mind, and have prompted them to commit murder."

At the mention of the last word, the air in the room became tenser.

Apollo continued on in his steady voice. "These mad women wield knives and any other sharp and dangerous objects in their hands as they run. They attack men, slashing them across the chests and trampling in a dance over their dying bodies. But not only do the men suffer, but the newborn children of the land as well. These babes suffer a more deadly fate, as they are killed by being eaten by these maddened females. Infants who are barely of age are consumed alive by their mothers whose breasts they were feeding from."

With a heavy and stressful sigh, Apollo told the whole council with a hard edge in his voice, "For the past few days, I hear the cries of the people of Argos. Men screaming in agony, infants crying in pain, and women laughing in hysterics. The few who are still sane had sought refuge within the walls of the palace of Argos, and they pray to us to lift this horrible curse off their lands. Alas, we cannot do anything about this, for it is a work of Dionysus' abilities."

Finally, he directed his blue-eyed gaze to me, and I could finally see the anger that dwelt within the pair.

"Be ashamed of what you had done, Dionysus. It is because of your heinous act that you had also brought troubles to us here. For the past few days, fathers pray that their infant children would be safe from their impending cruel fate of being consumed by their cannibalistic mothers. Artemis and I had felt obliged to answer their prayers, for we are the deities who hold patronage over children – she over the females while I over the males. But we cannot do so, for it is a work of your hand. Both she and I agree that you must put an end to this, or we will take action against you."

Everyone's eyes immediately shifted to me, looking at me with accusation that I am the cause of what was happening in Argos right now. While I could feel myself tensing under their scrutinizing gazes, I willed myself to ignore them, and also maintain a mutual look on my face to not allow them to see the fear I felt inside.

My gaze shifted from Apollo to Artemis, who was sitting on the throne on his right. A stark contrast from the angered and hard look on her brother's face, Artemis' was of cool calmness. But when her midnight blue eyes – another stark contrast to her younger twin brother's sky blue eyes – met my eyes, they held just the faintest amount of guilt.

You would abide to his words?I spoke to her in my thoughts, knowing that she could hear the words that were intended for her.

Her gaze remained fixed on mine and her expression softened as she replied mentally in a very remorseful tone of voice, I'm very sorry… I know I had been the one that had suggested to you to take action… But I had not known that it would end up like this… I would have to agree, Dionysus… The children need my help, and I cannot let their cries go unheard because of what you did…

I could not say that I was angry or disappointed at Artemis. Truthfully, it if had been her in my situation, I knew that she would surely take action to those who commit hubris against her. But I also knew that my actions had caused a distress upon her, and many others who were present in this room. Her decision to go against me now was only based on duty, and that was why I could not blame her. If it had been me, I would have done the same.

I truly am sorry, Dionysus…Artemis continued to say in my thoughts. I am sorry that all this had to happen to you…

With no other words to say to her, I only nodded my head in understanding, my gaze casted downwards in deep thought. But it was then pulled to my uncle Poseidon, who was now speaking to me.

"Furthermore, nephew, your curse had caused the people of Argos to throw the bodies of the dead women into sea!" he complained loudly in a haughty manner. "Dare they disrespect my ocean?! I should send a flood to wash them off their evil!"

Before he could continue on with his rambling, Hera snapped at him in response. "Cease your foolish talk, Poseidon!" she said venomously. "The city of Argos is mysacred city, and I should be the one who is most angered by these terrible events!"

And then, her glare shifted over to me, and her look of disdain and anger deepened as she spoke in a voice that was as poisonous as venom and as hard as steel, "It should be he who pays dearly for his crimes against what is mine, and should be punished for inflicting such diseases upon mylands."

I could feel a slight burning of loathe from deep within me at the fact that wrathful Hera would never let go of the grudge she has against me, and that I know she would revel in glee at the prospect of me being punished. I could feel my grip on the armrests of my throne tightening, trying to maintain my cool.

Thankfully, Zeus intervened then, saying to his wife in firm disapproval and warning, "Hera, we are nothere to sentence Dionysus to punishment. We are having this council meeting now to address the problem that he had caused in Argos, and to have him find a way to end this himself."

A loud clearing of throat brought all our attentions to Hermes, who was standing up from his throne. "If I may, Lord Zeus, I have an important message to relay to Dionysus."

"Granted," Zeus said, gesturing for him to go on.

Once he knew he had my attentions, Hermes told me, "Dionysus, I bear a message for you from Perseus, King of Argos."

At the mention of that name, I froze.

"I think that this is a matter that deserves the attentions of all of us here," he explained seriously, before getting to the point. "Perseus says that he will not let your deed go by idly, and he will not let his people suffer at your hands. In proclamation to Mount Olympus, he challenges you."

I inclined my head to the side, looking at Hermes in complete curiosity. "He challenges me to… what, exactly?" I questioned, feeling strain in my voice as I tried hard to contain the anger and tension within me.

Everyone looked at Hermes in anticipation, waiting for the reason. Hermes looked at each and every one of us in the eye, making sure that he had all our attentions. It seemed that what he was about to say was so interesting and important that the others must know of it as well.

With a deep breath, he finally said what.

"Perseus had decided to wage war against you."

His words suddenly created a sudden uproar of shock and outrage within the room. The other Olympians started talking to themselves and others in mumbles, questioning what the meaning of such was.

However, only one voice stood out from the rest, loud and angry it sounded the minute Hermes had said what was said.

"What foolishness is this?!" Ares growled in menace. My older half-brother, with stark blood red hair and piercing grey eyes that were fixed in a permanent scowl, banged his tightly-clenched fist on the armrest of his throne, most certainly not taking the piece of information well. "Dare a blasted mortal challenge one of us?! I say good thing that his city is in ruins for his foul words! That will teach him a lesson that his foul insolence will not be taken lightly!"

Hera, the mother of the God of War, shouted in angry response, "Did you not hear and listen to what I had just said, my foolish and ignorant son?! The city of Argos is my city! Despite the land being ruled by one of many your father's bastards, it is still mine! No one shall speak ill of it, or condemn it to further destruction!"

Her statement was then argued by Poseidon, who loudly proclaimed haughtily, "But still! A half-blood daring to decree war upon a full-blood? Either this Perseus is someone who thinks too highly of himself, or someone who is so foolish that he plans to court death!"

In response, Apollo argued against our uncle's claim. "Although I find it true that Perseus deserves punishment, may we not forget that the city of Argos is in peril? Mortals are praying every single day – with every passing hour, minute and second – for our aid and are waiting for us to answer, but we cannot do so until this matter has been settled. With every count of time that passes, more deaths occur, and they become desperate!"

I expected someone else to jump in and argue or support his claim afterwards, but any further discussion was quickly stopped abolished when Zeus suddenly banged his tightly-clenched fist on the armrest of his throne and shouted loudly in command.

"SILENCE!"

In an instant, everything became silent. The fires that were burning in the strategically-placed hearths flickered suddenly from the invisible force of Zeus' voice, and the air became thicker with tension and anticipation of what was to come. The argument suddenly died down into a deafening silence.

I, like all the others in the room, kept my eyes fixed on him. He was looking angrily into the eyes of everyone else in the room, his eyes clearly showing all signs of irritation and annoyance at the sudden conflict just a few seconds ago. But then, his sights came to a stop on me, looking at me with so much intensity that I could feel myself getting uncomfortable all over again.

"What I would like to know," he began, his firm and hard eyes still holding mine, "is how all of this mess had started. I will not let this debate continue until I myself have the basis of the story, which I can get from none other than Dionysus himself. Only then can I come up with the final decision."

He then let out a low sigh, to relieve him of the tense anger and annoyance he felt inside. His storm grey eyes were much calmer now, though still holding that bit of tension within them. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Go on, Dionysus. Tell."

Obediently, but with a quiet sigh under my breath, I stood up from my throne and whetted my tongue to prepare for the story I had for them.

And so I told them about everything. I told them about having found out that Perseus had banned my rituals and practices in Argos (they did not ask how I found out, so I did not mention Artemis), because he did not condone the madness and ecstasy that my rites supported and created. I told them of how he decreed that I was not a true god, but a fraud. I explained to them how, as a result of his words, my temples became desolate and was slowly being abandoned, my devout followers were seen as outcasts by the majority who agreed with the King, and of how the people of Argos were beginning to lose faith in my identity as a true god.

With every word I spoke, I spoke with a hidden fire of anger and tension that had been building up since I had first heard of this incident from Artemis, to the time I had placed the curse upon the women of Argos just a week back, until now when I heard from Hermes that Perseus intended to settle our conflict in a decreed battle. While I maintained my composure, the fire inside me felt like it could become too out of control any minute now, and I was afraid that even I would not be able to control it.

When I had ended my words, I took a deep breath of air before I acknowledged the other Olympians with a question.

"Do you think that what I am doing now is wrong? Can you not see the reason behind my actions? Can you not see that it is I who is not entirely to blame?"

Everybody had been silent and attentive as they listened to my words. But nobody said a word in response. All of them remained silent. However, they turned their heads to Zeus, waiting to hear what he had to say about all this.

But Zeus only eyed me with a decisive and contemplating expression in his eyes, and an uncomfortable feeling inside told me that he was not convinced enough, and that he could not see the reason.

And if he did not see reason, I knew that I had landed myself in some serious trouble as consequences for my actions.

This is it…I thought to myself in dismay. I am done for…

Author's Note:

Sorry it had to end on a slight cliffhanger guys! I needed to build up the tension for the next chapter.

But anyway, it seems that Dionysus had landed himself in a serious dilemma that he could cause him to have to face the severe consequences from the council of the Olympians! Everybody seems to be pitting against him, and it looks like he might not have a way out!

Will the odds be in Dionysus' favor?

Find out in the next chapter on Monday!

Muse of Fanfiction