17. Divine Competition

The public sight pool of the Palace of Zeus was located at the bottom floor in an immense, circular hall facing east and the Aegean through a large opening where a gallery of snow white marble pillars carried up the ceiling. Since the pool was vast it more or less dominated the room where it was sunken into the floor with theatre-like steps of submersions leading down to it. However it still felt crowded that midmorning since almost every god and goddess who could make it had gathered around it, all eager to see the outcome in the competition between Poseidon and Athena over the town of Cecropia.

Zeus had ruled that no other Olympian god but those two were allowed down in Attica during the competition, to prevent anyone from affecting the result in one direction or the other. So coming here was the best way to see what would happen and to more or less loud mouthed root for a favourite. Ares let everyone know why he believed Attica belonged to the god of the sea while Artemis firmly told that she thought her sister should call the place hers.

"It's up to the mortals," Zeus told firmly, and Hera responded:
"Yes, but we all have the right to our opinions, don't we?"
"Of course we do," her husband replied. "But what we may think changes nothing."

The King of the Gods stood almost opposite of where Aphrodite was seated, straight-backed and with arms crossed over his broad chest, radiating power and command. Everything he said would be heard and obeyed, such was the mere force of his character. He hardly needed to raise his voice to receive obedience and Aphrodite understood well why his appearance inspired awe in so many people. Once she'd also been scared of him, yet since her arrival to Olympos she had met another Zeus. A fair and sincere man who believed in justice and comradeship and who held this mountain pantheon together with a few simple rules about respect and co-operation. If any gods should disagree over something of importance, they knew they could always go to Zeus and he would help them sort the delinquent out. Not by some relentless decision of his own, but through negotiations and reasoning. Like having Poseidon and Athena competing over Cecropia this way and agreeing upon the rules for this unique competition.

Next to Zeus stood Hera with her hands on her back. She seemed to be more into regarding the assembled gods than watching what was going on in the pool. Aphrodite saw Hestia and Demeter talking silently between each other and Hermes, who was taking bets. There were also Aiolos, Iris, Apollo and some of the Muses and their mother Mnemosyne, Artemis, Helios, Hemera, Selene, Boreas and his young brother Notus and next to him another youth, a sourly-looking girl named Nemesis. There were Nike and her siblings Zelos, Kratos and Bia. Behind them Aphrodite saw Nereus, Cyges, Kotos, Hemera, Themis, Persephone, Eos and quite a few others. The only ones of importance who were missing appeared to be Hades and Hephaestos; on the other hand they were very seldom seen anyhow. And Nyx was probably still asleep.

The sight pool displayed the area outside Cecropia where the score was going to be settled. Aphrodite saw a large field of grass, sloping gradually towards the sea in the south-east. Large crowds of mortals were gathered, some carrying banners and boards proclaiming their support for one or another deity and up front stood the foreign goddess Cybele, employed to act as an independent observer, to make sure everything went all right. The obese, old king of Cecropia was standing on a podium flanked by his entourage and bodyguards and he was obviously awaiting the arrival of the two gods, fidgeting with his togas and stature in a desperate attempt at looking younger and slimmer, gold gleaming in the sun from his many rings, chain of profession and thick headband.

"When are they coming?" Aphrodite could hear young Nemesis ask.
"Should be anytime now," Notus replied.
"I bet Athena's gonna wipe his ass," Nemesis went on.
"No way!" Notus disagreed.
"That ass is wet so it's in need of wiping anyhow," someone tried a bad joke but nobody was laughing.

Finally a buzz was emitting from the crowding mortals and heads began turning, people stretching to see. Some chanting started in one corner and other people were yelling something. And there, from the sea, Poseidon was arriving in his chariot drawn by pegases. Aphrodite leaned in and looked closer, he sure looked powerful now, the god of the Sea. Invincible. She could hear similar voicing's among the Olympians.
"Athena won't stand a chance," Bia stated.
"You bet she will, even if she's not that keen on showing off," Nike answered back as Poseidon flew in over the stunned crowds of mortals and landed in front of the dais with the king and his entourage.

"You think she stand a chance?" Persephone asked Nike.
"No."
"No? But you just said..."
"By 'no' I mean I do not think," Nike answered and turned to Demeter's daughter. "I mean I know she'll bring this laurel home."
"Pah!" Bia snorted and Zelos was smirking in disbelief as well. Persephone replied something Aphrodite didn't catch, however she looked less convinced than Nike.

"Mighty Poseidon," the king fell down on his knees and all the people around him did the same.
"People of Attica," Poseidon began as he stepped down from his chariot, carrying his powerful trident. Then he launched into a lengthy speech which Aphrodite couldn't care to listen about. Instead she raised her eyes and regarded the other gods and goddesses around her. They weren't exactly listening either but discussing between themselves.
"Where's Athena?" Eileithya was asking. She was Hera's daughter, more or less a spitting image of her mother, and a goddess of childbirth.
"She's late," Ares snided. "Probably due to walk-over."
"Forget it, she's not giving that region up," Artemis shot back and Ares was murmuring something while Bia's laughter could be heard.
"Sorry, Artie," Zeus' enforcer was saying. "She's already lost that site. After all Poseidon is Poseidon. And the God of the Sea is not known for being the one backing off."

At the same time Aphrodite saw a flash of light down in the pool and as she turned her attention down there, she caught Athena materializing in the characteristic mist of glitter. She had zapped in instead.
"Hush!" Apollo was saying and leant forward until he almost fell in the water, Calliope grasping his arm just in time.
"Are you done or are you going to chatter all day long?" Athena called out where she stood facing her opponent, arms crossed and fair hair tied off from her striking face. Her short, purple dress was barely covering her modesty, still there was nothing sleazy about the goddess, she looked more like practically dressed, and the Love Goddess wondered how Athena did it. Aphrodite herself would definitely look inviting in a dress like that, especially with those slits.

Poseidon turned distracted to face the oldest daughter of his brother in arms.
"So you did show up after all," he was saying, disdain colouring his deep bass.
"Of course I did," Athena snided. "You certainly didn't think you'd win this competition by letting your cheek flap, did you."

Behind her, Aphrodite heard a minor goddess stifle laughter and Boreas said something about 'dangerous play'.
"Now, watch this instead, Athena," Poseidon replied and went on, while raising his voice. "I have a gift for the people of Attica! Behold!" By those words he lifted his trident up in the sky and it glittered alluringly in the sunlight, several mortals standing nearest were shielding their eyes. Tiny blue tendrils of aquatic magic were flickering around the device and disrupting the magic reception in the sight pool, making the picture jump and pop, almost as if someone had thrown small pebbles in the pool. The next second the Sea God drove his trident down forcefully into the ground and as it connected the earth shook and rumbled threatingly, making the mortals gasp in surprise and anxiety. Even the gathered immortals were murmuring a bit worried. What was he up to?

The force of Poseidon made the ground crack open and then a high beam of water shot up in the air as the ground collapsed in a neat circle around the fissure.
"Behold!" the Sea God called out again. "Behold the well of Poseidon! This water will last forever; this well will never run dry! No matter what you use it for. This is my gift to Attica! Use it well!" Some giggles were heard as a few people got the pun while the mortals were calling out in delight this time. First a few then several more started to run up to the newly formed pond, ready to taste the water the god had bestowed them.
"Athena is toasted," Ares was saying and Artemis responded again something about the Goddess having not yet shown her gift.
"But a well of everlasting water, what can match that?" Zelos drily pointed out as the first mortals were reaching the pond and kneeling down to taste the water, a smug-looking Poseidon looking on.

Then the first of the mortals began spitting out the water and raise protests. Others were swallowing their mouthfuls, probably out of respect and fear for the mighty god in front of them. Now what?
"It's salt!" someone was saying.
"Yeah," somebody else responded. "Salt!" The word began to be heard around the area, first in shattered protests then more prominent. "Salt, salt, salt!" It all reminded Aphrodite of how Demeter had commented Athena's olives the other day. A strange sense of deja-vu.

"What?" Poseidon said and raised his brows. Then he too turned to the pond and held out his arm over it, and a small orb of water rose from it and he was able to catch it and sample the liquid. And no, not even he could deny it – he had managed to create a well of salt water for the people of Attica.
"Fail," Artemis said with a grin.
"What did he just – do?" someone else asked and another god started to explain. When Aphrodite looked down in the sight pool again, Poseidon was hiding his face in his hands, no doubt embarrassed. Meanwhile Athena had brought up a stalk which Aphrodite recognized from Demeter's place.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of Attica!" she called out. "I guess we have all found that Poseidon's gift was a puddle of salt. It's a trifle useless, so I am fully convinced that it'll never run dry. Now, my gift is of a quite different kind. It's a plant with many purposes. You'll eat the berries; you can make oil out of them – oil for nourishment and for burning light. Wood – for many uses – and most of all, lovely trees which can stand this dry corner of the world, and bring lovely shade on the hottest of days. These are the Olives. This is my gift to Attica!"

Squatting on the ground Athena put the stalk down in the soil. The next moment it had rooted and now the goddess used growth magic to make the stalk grow rapidly, and within moment it had turned into large, gnarly tree with a crown of tiny and silvery green leaves and generously dotted with those dark blue berries Athena had presented to Aphrodite and Demeter. Now she offered the people of Attica to come forward and have a taste of these, and even though someone looked suspicious upon the olives, many enough came forward to sample what the goddess was offering. Young and old, soon all were reaching for the berries, and Athena herself helped them to pluck and to taste. Not everyone liked them of course, but plenty enough found the taste appealing. Since they weren't expecting anything sweet, most were positive to the oily and slightly salty mellowness.

"They're great!" the king was saying with his mouth full. "A bit salty, but I guess that's because of the water. After all Poseidon did mess it up. I guess I can fairly say that this was the better gift to our Attica. Thank you, Great Athena!" Then he was throwing kernels away and since the growth magic still lingered within the kernels, they were soon sprouting new plants, small stalks that would become new olive trees in time. The words of the king triggered a spontaneous response among the gathered mortals. Some of them started to chant Athena's name and others were soon following. A few were taking each other's hands and begun a dance around the new kind of tree while others were still plucking of the fruit, youngsters even climbing up in the tree to reach the topmost gems. Since the magic still lasted, the tree kept sprouting new berries, making it possible for everyone who should so desire to get their own sample of this new asset of Attica.

"I guess this settles it," Zeus said as the talking died down somewhat over at Olympos. "The people of Attica seem to have made up their mind. They want Athena's tree rather than Poseidon's salty well. I cannot say I denunciate them. It was a good choice. This tree will benefit the people a lot more better than one single well, no matter if there had been freshwater in it or not."

0O0O0

A lot can be said about Poseidon, but Aphrodite was around that night when he came over to Athena and took her hand, thanking her for a good game and proclaiming that Attica was justly won.
"I should've done something like that," he admitted. "I was thinking of a special breed of horses I've been working on, but I guess I went for what made the largest effect. The water well. Little did I know that I'd screw up that bad and deliver something salty instead."
"It's all right," Athena replied. "The world is a big place. I'm sure you can find somewhere where people'll appreciate your gifts. Just make sure you give them that horse instead the next time!"

"I guess that makes it a happy ending," Aphrodite turned to Ares and the war god was grinning slightly where he sat next to her, he still wasn't really over that he had lost his bet.
"But she could have made better berries," the War God replied. "I'm not that found of them."
"I guess it's an acquired taste," Artemis said and pulled the bowl with olives towards her across the table. "I can think of dishes to use them for. Filling up a goose for instance."
"Might work," Ares admitted. "But you've gotta have something sweet to it as an accent."
"I guess I can figure something out," the goddess of hunt replied. "Plum perhaps. Or honey."

Aphrodite stopped listening. Cooking had never been her thing. Her mind started to wander back to Oreithyia as she was seeing Boreas over at the other side of the hall, where he was talking with Hermes. Oreithyia was scared of that god. It seemed like a hopeless hindrance – at first sight. But Aphrodite figured there might be a way around that. She had gotten an idea while watching Poseidon and Athena battling for Attica and now her plan was slowly taking form. She was just going to need a...
"Aphrodite?" Ares was asking. "Are you listening to me?"
"Sorry, no!"
"I guess I'll ask you again then. Shan't we ask Apollo to play our song again?"
"You wanna dance?"
"Sure!" Ares grinned.
"You're really found of it, right," she beamed.
"Only with certain ladies!"

Oh, that man – he was making her forgetting Oreithyia and everything else of importance!

"Awww – right," she grinned at him, tickling his chin. "But then there's a little certain thing you can do for me as well."
"Yes I know," he answered.
"Well, that too. But one other thing – yet I guess that can wait 'till tomorrow."

0O0O0

"I didn't know you were interested in arms," Ares said as they walked through his large basement, filled with swords, spears, bows, axes, knives, javelins and a plethora of other weapon which Aphrodite had no idea how they were used, only that they looked terrifying.
"It's a special weapon I'm interested in," she said. "And I know you have one."
"And that should be?" He stopped and once again he got that look in his eyes.
"No not THAT one."
"Not?"
"Well, I am... – but not right now. This is merely business."
"As a matter of fact my weapon is very business oriented – especially when it comes to you, Aphrie."

"Ares! Not that kind of business!"
"But – I thought you were the Goddess of Love!"
"Aaahrg!" she hit him playfully across his torso and he caught her wrists and wrestled her a bit before he nicked a kiss from her.
"You're hopeless, Ares, you know that?"
"So they keep telling me."

"Now are you going to help me or not?"
"What exactly is it you're looking for?"
"A magic emitter. Like Poseidon's Trident. Something which can enhance a god's own power by tenfold and then let it loose in a single blast. The way Poseidon cracked the ground in Attica and..."
"And look what good that did him! No, Aphrodite, I do have one of those, but I cannot see what use you might have for it. Are you going to blast some poor sod with hornyness or what?"
"Not exactly. I'm going to stun someone."

"Aphrodite!" Now Ares suddenly got very serious and he put his hands upon her shoulders, before going on: "The magic emitters are dangerous weapons. They are not to be used lightly. You use them against powerful enemies and you load them with your own energy for hours so when you fire it off it becomes a concentrated ray of your own power tenfold or perhaps even twentyfold enhanced. That's a killer weapon, not something you use against a guy because you happen to be a bit pissed with him."

"But..."
"No buts, Aphrodite!" he went on, and he didn't even try to turn that into a pun. "I admit that Poseidon may use his trident a little bit too reckless and too often. Cracking the ground the way he did in Attica wasn't the smartest thing to do. Still, I won't let you use my emitter. I've hardly use it myself. You know, most fights I'm involved in these days are with mortals. Then I'm mostly around as an inspirer – I fight their way using their weaponry, no god powers involved at all. Most of the times the mortals don't even recognize me in the battle. They only know that 'someone' is there urging them on. Someone with 'the spirit of Ares' within. A mere encouragement enforcer."

"Well..." she shrugged.
"What were you going to do with it? Who were you going to stun?"
"Boreas."
"Boreas!" Ares' brows rocketed up almost to his hairline. "For fate's sake why?"
"I was going to lure him to Attica and then stun him so he fell down in the river where Oreithyia lives. And I'd make sure she'd be the one to find him."
"And then she's supposed to carry him into her home and care for him and forget that she's terrified of him, right?" Ares was saying. "Sorry, dear, you'll have to do better than that."
"I..."
"Firstly you can't simply stun the Northern Wind using a magic emitter. You don't know how to use that weapon. It takes years to master. Then who knows, perhaps Oreithyia doesn't give a shit if some god falls down into Ilissos. Perhaps she doesn't even notice."

Aphrodite sighted with frustration.
"Do you have any better idea then?"
"No, not at handy. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a war god. I don't do matchmaking. Whatever you can't go around stunning gods. And that's a final."
"Why does it have to be so complicated with gods? Mortals are much easier."
"Why is that?"
"They're more like – on the same level. Every mortal a certain age wants to meet someone and fall in love and start a family and all that usual stuff. You sort of make sure they just come across the chosen partner one way or another and then you trigger their hormones a bit – and there you go! All set. Whereas with immortals, perhaps one of the two is not interested at all."

"Which should be Oreithyia?" Ares asked and sat down upon a crate containing arrows. He felt it a bit strange to be here in his armory and discuss love and matchmaking. But that was Aphrodite; she was – well – different. Her mind flew like the wind, all around the place. And she didn't care what you 'should' do or not. She got some crazy idea into her mind and then she went all for it. Almost like a berserk although outside the battlefield and in a non-violent way. Now she sat down next to him and he laid his arm around her, leaned his head to hers and breathed in the fragrance of her blonde hair as it somewhat tickled the tip of his nose.
"Yeah – she doesn't want someone in her life. Especially not an Olympian."
"You sure?"
"I encountered her in Attica. Spied upon her a bit. Enough to learn that the only thing she wants is to hang with her nymph friends, ride her horses and have a bit of fun."

"Okay – makes sense. A good life for a goddess with no aspirations. But that can change."
"I'm not interested in changing her. I just want her to fall in love with Boreas."
"And what does he want? Is he in love?"
"At least that's what Zephyros claims."
"Have you asked him?" Ares asked and Aphrodite almost flinched. She groined at her stupidity and Ares went on: "Perhaps he doesn't care about her at all. Perhaps Zephy's just full of bull."
"But why should he make up such a thing about his brother?"
"Dunno," Ares shrugged. "Pull his leg perhaps. Make a bit fun of him."

"You really think he might, Ar?" Aphrodite asked, turning around so she came to face the god's dark eyes. They were sincere enough, she concluded.
"Yes – Although I cannot say for sure. I'm only guessing. But those two brothers have a way of always playing each other. So if I was you I'd make sure Boreas really wants that chick before you start anything."
"You're right, Ares, I've been so stupid."
"No, not stupid. Only unfamiliar with certain people's behaviour here. That's not a flaw of character, Aphrie-dear. So relax – and be glad you have me to help you along!"
"Okay, thank you Ares!" Leaning in she gave him a kiss. How could she have been so thoughtless! Of course she should have checked with Boreas before running ahead and done something which perhaps had been overly senseless.

0O0O0

"Honey?" Ares was toying with her hair as she lied upon his arm, regarding his handsome face in the light of the breaking dawn.
"Um – yeah..." she was still a bit sleepy, the night's dreams lingering like dusty spider web in her brain. Something about Cyprus and Oceanus whom she had met yesterday when he came to one of his rare visits to Olympos.
"I'll need to go away for a while."
"Huh – why?" she turned and regarded him with a wrinkle marring her forehead.
"Don't look at me like that! I won't be gone for long. But there have been some disturbances up north. Some Trachian tribe lords messing with the wrong people. Now it seems we're looking at war up there."
"You have to go there?"

"I will."
"For how long?"
"Can't say. A couple of weeks. A month the longest."
"Can't they take care of their wars themselves?"
"Apparently not."
"You really like this don't you?"
"Actually – I'd be lying if I'd say I didn't."

"Thank you!" she said after a few moments of silence.
"For what," Ares looked a tad puzzled.
"For being honest with me."
"'Kay.."
"Well, off with you to your war then, I guess we all have things to do in any case. I need to check with Boreas about Oreithyia. I've been postponing that long enough by now. Then I have to help Hera with another royal house in a mess."
"Which one this time?"
"Sparta."
"Sparta huh! Well, good luck, lass! They're almost as impossible as Crete."
"I don't know the deal with Crete. And I'm not so sure I want to know. Not at the moment anyway."

She sighed and then she and Ares busied themselves with other things.