Wise-counselled Themis told that it was ruled of fate that the sea-goddess, Thetis, should bring forth a son, of strength mightier than his father, whose hand should launch a shaft more powerful than the bolt of thunder or the fearsome trident, if she wed with Ζεύς or with his brothers.
Apóllōn looked down from Olympos watching over the Ellada. The people were going about their days, not knowing that their lives would soon be changed forever. His eyes focused with unwavering intensity at the location in which Huákinthos had been as he leaned upon the laurel tree in which Dáphnē had transformed.
Her branches woven around his head, and he inwardly mourned what could have been. He stood straighter as he turned to Castellan. He watched as the Half-Divine twins pummeled Theseus and Peirithoos into the ground. Thalia, who had been visiting, took Helénē into her arms, carrying her off to Yew Village where the Artemis' huntresses were relaxing.
Ariadnê perched atop of King Peirithoos' fallen form as she cheered her twin on. Perseús took down five buildings with one strike as he threw Theseus around happily. They were seemingly not fond of Theseus attempting to groom a child, never mind that she was but a few years shy of marrying age.
He thought over everything that happened as the years passed in molasses.
Ever-ageing Time waited on no man nor woman.
The gods watched the change in dynamics of those ruling Castellan. Thalia had returned from hunting with Artemis, a break the goddess declared that she deserved. Rachel had returned from her training to the delight of the others. They crowned her Queen, and were not afraid to silence anyone that argued that a woman could not rule without the hand of a man.
The girls had fun whenever the topic was brought forth.
They found amusement in watching how things had changed in the years since the official closure of the one-sided relationship between Connor and Ariadnê. The two of them avoided each other as if Apóllōn had sent an arrow of plague between them.
Whenever the two did end up in each other's presence, the conversations were stilted as they struggled with the newfound boundaries of their friendship. Though that was downright pleasant in comparison how Ariadnê treated him as if he were Luke and Silena whenever Apóllōn deigned him a visit.
She behaved as if the boy didn't even exist, not sparing him or the god a second glance.
The one time she cared for his opinion was during the first year in which they held their first marriage season which was held at their behest. She was the only one participating as the others had vows of chastity or were in relationships. Each of them had dresses custom-made by Silena in different colored cloths and designed in their strange fashion.
And all the race of gods hasted to do honour to the white-armed bride [Thetis] . . . But Eris (Strife) [alone] did Kheirôn (Chiron) [who sent out the invitations] leave unhonoured: Kheirôn did not regard her and Peleus heeded her not . . . And Eris (Strife) overcome by the pangs of angry jealousy, wandered in search of a way to disturb the banquet of the gods.
The dress that Ariadnê wore was made of something that they called sheer fabric with diamonds and rhinestones covering the rest of her. It was daring and borderline indecent, but she moved as if she could hear none of their words.
Perseús had presented her before the Castellan council who all looked back at her amused. Her hair had been pulled into a high bun at the top of her head until she let the bun loose so that her hair fell into a long ponytail.
They showered her with compliments, doing their best to spread the flush that appeared on her face at their words. It was Connor, however, who had managed to draw a small smile on her face.
"You look as if you were a goddess amongst men," he had said. "A pedestal of unchallenged beauty graced by Aphrodítē Pontia that none can shake."
Stesikhoros says that while sacrificing to the gods Tyndareus forgot Aphrodítē and that the goddess was angry and made his daughters twice and thrice wed and deserters of their husbands.
They stared at each other for a moment before she inclined her head at him in thanks. How easy the bare bones of a conversation between them seemed since the boy had accepted the courtship of Apóllōn.
"Perseús Pelagaios, is there anyone here worthy of the hand of your sister, Ariadnê Pelagaios?"
The godling shook his head, "There is none who could see her for who she is."
"And what is that," Rachel questioned with a smile. Perseús looked at his sister who gazed back at him in curiosity. "She is the light that most will never deserve."
Her mouth dropped open in a small o as she processed her brother's words. A brighter smile appeared on her face as she gave his hand a squeeze.
Admittedly, Apóllōn was sure that he was not the only one shocked when Hermês left his seat in the Heavens and appeared in a mortal guise objecting to Perseús' words. The same unnerving intensity overcame them as they locked their gazes onto him. He moved forward, passed the outrage and shocked looks on the faces of mortal men to stop right in front of the Half-Divine Twins. "I make this pledge to you, Ariadnê Pelagaios, before all of Castellan and before the deathless gods above us to treat you like a queen and show you how life's supposed to be." He held his hand out to her and she didn't even hesitate to place hers within. "If all people that resided on well-founded Gaea would turn their backs on you, I'll turn mine too so that I may carry you on my back."
There was a look of wonder on her face at those words. She had shared a look with her brother who stepped aside to let the god sweep her away, none of them paying mind to his youngest son who watched with dark eyes. With everything that happened with the godlings, Ariadnê could be found at the side of Hermês when she was not focusing on the kingdom or training. The younger god spent an almost alarming amount of time with the demigoddess. He started and ended his day with a visit to the kingdom. He would visit in-between his deliveries to spend time with his children and lead new people to the kingdom.
Apóllōn had been alarmed (re: jealous) the first time he had taken the girl with him on one of his deliveries. Her delighted laugh had sounded like bells from the heavens as the two soared over Ellada.
If Apóllōn didn't know any better, he would suspect the two of them were falling in love.
But he could still see. The girl looked at Hermês in the same manner she looked at her twin brother except there was a twinge of something almost hungry in their gazes at times as they exchanged glances heavy with the secrets of the universe.
And yet, she still looked at Apóllōn as if he was the one to plant stars within Nýx. No matter how well she may mask it, the girl was still very much in love with him. [It was all the more obvious when she would walk out the room barely a minute after he had shown up. Dinner with the godlings was almost always uncomfortable afterwards.]
Apollôn watched silently as she threw herself into training. And when her brother managed to drag her away from that, she was drowning in improving the affairs of the kingdom. She waited tables at Silena's Eatery or sang songs in a language that Apóllōn had never heard before. [Though he could tell that whatever she was singing was very moving just from the emotion she put into the melody.]
She rushed forward with a smile on her face to put on shows for their guests. Her tail glimmered beautifully underneath the sun and moonlight as she slipped and twirled through the air.
She didn't visit his temple anymore. She actively avoided it, leaving only the barest offerings to not offend him.
[A part of him was offended. She had thought her offerings were enough to gain his love?]
Though he would admit to no one, it was saddening to no longer hear ramblings in that private room of hers. The items she had left inside on her last visit were still there gaining dust. The apple she had left within had rotten to the core, an emptiness in which Apóllōn could recall Hermês stating that the girl felt as Apóllōn renounced the love in which she claimed to feel.
"You can have my golden apple if you're the fairest of them all."
And now she bethought her of the golden apples of the Hesperides. Thence Eris took the fruit that should be the harbinger of war, even the apple, and devised the scheme of signal woes. Whirling her arm she hurled into the banquet the primal seed of turmoil and disturbed the choir of goddesses. Hḗrē, glorying to be the spouse and to share the bed of Ζεύς, rose up amazed, and would fain have seized it. And Aphrodítē, as being more excellent than all, desired to have the apple, for that it is the treasure of the Erôtes. But Hḗrē would not give it up and Athênê would not yield.
"And you goddesses don't see it now, but this will be your downfall."
And Ζεύς, seeing the quarrel of the goddesses, and calling his son Hermês, who sat below his throne, addressed him thus : 'If haply, my son, thou hast heard of a son of Priamos (Priam), one Paris, the splendid youth, who tends his herds on this hills of Troy, give to him the apple; and bid him judge the goddesses' meeting brows and orbed eyes. And let her that is preferred have the famous fruit to carry away as the prize of the fairer and ornament of the Loves.'
"They forget about my love of war and how I look at bloodshed with glee. They should know what happens when you let discord run free."
Castellan had tripled the population expectations that had been placed upon them. It was quickly becoming one of the gods' favored places to visit. A large part of that had been due to the "small warrior that fell for the sun".
Apóllōn internally grimaced. He could already see how history would slander their names in the future. [And he knew how the gods of the sea and sky watched the two of them critically. The Twilight Prophecy did emphasize that the end of times would come by the sea swallowing the sun.]
He looked back over the kingdom as the twins swam around one another in the river. They clutched at each other tightly as the after effects of their Father's wrath within the middle of the sea pushed at their own lands.
"Do you know why Father is agitated," she asked him. Her tail transformed back into legs which she wrapped around him at a violent wave. Perseús winced, "I think he's a little upset about my relationship with Annabeth."
Ariadnê snorted, giving a disbelieving look. Neither of them scream at the particular harsh wave that pushed them under. They appeared once more, clutching even impossibly closer. "Just a little?"
Perseús gave her a dry stare before swimming them over the closest shore. The water pushed them away once more before she sighed, summoning a crossbow into her hands. The arrow that shot out was connected to a rope, piercing one of the trees to what they called Gleeson's Grove. The rope grew taunt and the twins used it to climb out of the river.
Amusingly enough, the river calmed as if Poseidón had stopped lecturing his children.
The two stared silently at the still waves before she gave her brother a look. Perseús winced before they made their way back across the bridge to the main kingdom. "Are you leaving back out soon," he asked her. She hummed absently, "Yes." She switched to that strange language that only the twelve of them could understand though Apóllōn had heard Hermês muttering phrases that Ariadnê taught him.
"Dionysos will be reaching adulthood soon. I want to be there to see the god of madness, phantoms and hallucination in action." Percy gave her a judgmental stare. Her cheeks flushed as she began to walk faster, "Leave me alone. I don't kink shame you."]
"Will he be okay?"
Ariadnê sighed, looking to the heavens. "I do not know. Hêrê has cursed our half-sister. Lamia, the Libyan queen loved by Ζεύς. He had children with her, but Hḗrē discovered their involvement and kidnapped the children. Their ultimate fate is unknown. This loss drove Lamia insane; in revenge and despair she snatched up the children of others and murdered them. The cruelty, which became obsessive, caused her appearance to change, and she became ugly with distorted features. Perhaps in a well-intended gesture, Ζεύς inexplicably gave her the power to take out her eyes and then reinsert them."
"Ouch."
His sister laughed lightly. "Yeah. Ouch. Two of them survived the tales though. One was named Akhilleus. Not to be mistaken for that one. He was of an irresistible beauty but challenged Aphrodítē to a beauty contest that he had Pan judge. Pan claimed that he was so Aphrodítē cursed Pan to fall in love with the nymph Ekhô who Hḗrē had also cursed and who he cursed to fade away for spurning the god, leaving behind just a voice to repeat his mountain cries. Aphrodítē also cursed Akhilleus with ugliness."
Their steps slowed as they passed by SWEET SITO, excitedly accepting the tiropita that Katie passed to them. "Their other child was The Libyan Sibylla Herophile, one of the first prophetesses of Delphoi."
"You know a lot," Perseús pointed out. She gave him a dry look, "While your way of not saying anything and letting everyone else tell you worked concerning well, I took the time to study everything. And I was forced to learn more by Sunshine and Mercury."
"Forced?"
"I got pop quizzes while dodging laser blasts and arrows," she shrugged as she walked away. It took her a moment to realize that her brother was no longer at her side.
"What?"
Ariadnê turned to him with a raised brow. He looked at her in undisguised horror.
"WHAT!"
She blinked before snickering, breaking into a run that Perseús immediately followed.
Hand rubbed alongside Apóllōn's shoulders as the scent of lettuce and summer roses enveloped his senses. His sister, laughter-loving Aphrodítē, rested her chin upon his shoulder as she too gazed upon Castellan. "Tis it wrong of me, Phoibos, to be excited for the next phase? I am sure Father Ζεύς has grown tired of the dispute between Hḗrē, Athênê, and I."
Disdain filled the youthful god's expression as he snorted, "Only you, Makhanitis, would find enjoyment in the misery of others. Thousands of lives shall be lost and yet, you only care for a golden apple. One thrown by the Goddess of Discord, no less. Why, if you asked Father, I am sure he would have picked some of the golden apples of the Hesperides."
He did not have to look to know that she was pouting prettily. "I am duty-bound as the goddess of beauty to be named the Fairest. I am beauty personified. Grace and charm makes me as grand as I am. Why should I be denied the treasure of the Erôtes when I am a being more excellent than all. Surely as my masculine counterpart, you understand where I am coming from."
He shook her off his shoulder as he turned to look at her. Apóllōn looked down into her eyes, "It matters not, sister. Your position as goddess of love and your penchant for breaking hearts and leaving families in disarray has given you an unfavorable position amongst the gods. Not to mention the little humans on earth. My sister's hunt is growing speedily as you continue to be meddlesome."
Her eyes flashed the color of mortal ichor in her rage. It was no secret how she felt for those that turned their backs on love and pleasure without due reason. She was the eldest and arguably the most powerful of the Olympioi as there is nothing more powerful than love. She had power that some could only dream of as she was boosted in power by Eros, the fairest among the gods and protogenos, who ruled over the minds and the council of gods and men.
Theoretically, she could rip the hunt into pieces. Aphrodítē was a goddess of war in her own right even if she designed to fight for peace, but everyone knew to not end up on her more wrathful side as she spared no one. Her revenge was timed perfectly. 'Tis why Artemis protected those who joined her hunt fiercely.
"You could have regained honor by gifting the apple to Thetis," Apóllōn explained patiently. Aphrodítē tilted her head to the side as if she were considering the words. She could have denied her right and given the apple to the bride on her day even if it were a marriage that she had not wanted. Aphrodítē could understand that feeling quite well. It could have been something that bonded over if Aphrodítē was married to Hḗphaistos who in which Thetis reared. "Alas, now we all know that war is on the horizon. A war that we must prepare for and one that could have been avoided."
Her features closed off angrily as she scoffed. "You speak of honor, Kourotrophos. And yet, we all turned a blind eye when you slaughtered the Niobes like common cattle."
Apóllōn suppressed the urge to draw his golden sword, instead rolling his shoulders back. He straightened, turning away from her. "I regained my Mother's honor. The honor that Hḗrē and Niobe besmirched. Alas, I will not continue this conversation with you, Aphrodítē. I do not have time for these games."
She disappeared within the winds with a soft laugh.
Hermês was with the godlings of Castellan within Gleeson's Grove. They were going over the white board that Ariadnê and Annabeth and Will had taken to constructing. It was humbling to understand the severity of the future as they map out more of the future.
Well, one one board, it was the timeline. The other had the Five Ages of Man and the historical stages of human existence.
They started with the Golden Age. The only age that falls within the rule of Krónos. Promêtheus molded humans out of clay to reside on Othrys. Those humans had lived with the titan-gods and freely mingled with them. Peace and harmony prevailed during this age. Humans did not have to work to feed themselves, for the earth provided food in abundance. They lived to very old age but with a youthful appearance and eventually died peacefully. Their spirits live on as daemones. They were beneficent, preventing ills, and guardians of mortals.
Then they moved onto The Silver Age and every age that follows fall within the rule of his Father. Men in the Silver age lived for one hundred years under the dominion of their mothers. They lived only a short time as grown adults and spent that time in strife with one another. During this Age men refused to worship the gods and Ζεύς destroyed them for their impiety. After death, humans of this age became "blessed spirits" of the underworld.
Hermês often found himself being drawn into memories as he looked over the white boards. It happened frequently when he looked at their notes on the Bronze Age. The mortals were hardened and tough, as war was their purpose and passion. Ζεύς created those humans out of ash tree. Their armor was forged of bronze, as were their homes, and tools. The people of this Age were undone by their own violent ways and left no named spirits; instead, they dwell in domos Aïdao or well the dark house of Háidēs. This Age came to an end with the flood of Deucalion.
And then he looked at the age in which they were at now. The Heroic Age is the one age that does not correspond with any metal. It is also the only age that improves upon the age it follows. It was the heroes of this Age who fought at Thebes and Troy. This race of humans died and went to Elysium.
Ariadnê tried to not let him know too much of it. She claimed that she had gotten enough lectures that knowing too much of one's own future wasn't good for them. She told him bits and pieces and let the others tell him things if they wanted, but she didn't want him to be as burdened as they were.
"Do you want to know what's going to happen to Polyphêmos?" Ariadnê asked. She wore an expression on her face that Hermês had come to know that she was quoting some show.
"He's fat?" Hermês mused.
"No, no. Better than that."
"He's dead?"
"No. No. He's blind!"
Clarisse called out a loud "YES!" from behind them.
After the Heroic Age, there were three separate boards that were filled to the brim from the front and back that made up the Iron Age. That one she really didn't like for him to look at, but she was pleased to tell him that a fashion brand had been named after him.
("It's technically named after this designer, but it's your name so all the half-bloods in our time say it's really named after you. You actually carried a messenger bag from the company. Hḗrē bought it for you as a birthday gift." The god had smiled because he had always known that he was his step-mother's favorite.)
From what he was told though, the Iron Age was where humans live an existence of toil and misery. Children dishonor their parents, brother fights with brother and the social contract between guest and host (xenia) was forgotten. During this age, might makes right, and bad men use lies to be thought good. At the height of this age, humans no longer feel shame or indignation at wrongdoing; babies will be born with gray hair and the gods will have completely forsaken humanity: "there will be no help against evil."
She had shrugged a little uncaring, "I personally don't blame you all for forsaken humanity. It was what needed to be done." Her eyes went a little unfocused as if she were haunted by things that no longer existed. "I would have forsaken humanity long before you all did."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 34 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Now because of her anger over the Titanes [who were imprisoned in Tartaros by Ζεύς], Ge (Gaea, the Earth) gave birth to the Gigantes (Giants), Ouranos (Uranus, Sky) was the father."
Hermês turned away from the boards gazing tilting to the heavens to look upon Olympos. Unseen by mortal eyes, rocks and flaming oak trees were being hurled into the skies.
The godlings cursed lowly as they came across some information, eyes fluttering towards him.
His gaze was drawn to Erytheia where a giant was driving away the cattle of Hêlios. Rage began to bubble within Hermês.
Aphrodítē screeched, in rage and fear. Hermês stood to his feet at the cry from his sister. Gigantes tried to attack her, but his sister was love and war. She held her own, but there were so many. She called upon Hēraklēs for assistance as the demigod was near.
His Father's face formed within the clouds, those that were born divine all gazed upon his face. "The Gigantes have attacked Olympus. They have treated the rest of mankind in a lawless fashion and, confiding in their bodily superiority and strength, had enslaved their neighbours, and because they were also disobeying the rules of justice which I have proclaimed. They are raising war against the gods and so they shall be punished!"
Ζεύς, from the many-folded peak of Olympos , told Themis to summon all the gods into assembly. Hermês stood from his spot, knowing that war was soon to be on the horizon. The godlings said nothing for what could they say in face of the words of the gods?
"Be careful," they muttered as Hermês ascended to the heavens.
(Ariadnê turned to look at the others. "Dionysos will ascend very soon," she told them.
Annabeth nodded, gaze unseeing as if she could see the realm of the gods. "He did ascend during the Gigantomachia."
"Are we going to battle," Rachel asked. The half-divine children stood straighter. Katie's smile was dark as she muttered, "With pleasure.")
Phlegra was where the battle was held and it was the plain of Phlegra, where the gods withered the pride of the Gigantes with their shafts.
"When the Gigantes (Giants) about Pallene chose to begin war against the immortals, Hēraklēs fought on the side of the gods, and slaying many of the Sons of Ge (Gaea, the Earth) he received the highest approbation. For Ζεύς gave the name of Olympian only to those gods who had fought by his side, in order that the courageous, by being adorned by so honourable a title, might be distinguished by this designation from the coward; and of those who were born of mortal women he considered only Dionysos and Hēraklēs worthy of this name."
When Hēraklēs had destroyed Kos, he found his way with Athênê's help to Phlegra where he helped the gods reduce the Gigantes.
Dionysos held a bunch of giantsbane vine, and ran at Alkyoneus with the mountain upraised in his hands: he wielded no furious lance, no deadly sword, but he struck with this bunch of tendrils and cut off their hands.
He sliced heads from shoulders, and their severed necks danced in the dust. Some of the Gigantes ran from him in fear even as their Mother rushed to heal their fallen bodies.
Fire was another weapon that he wielded. He set the beasts aflame. One fell to the ground with a blaze in his threatening mouth, half-burnt and whistling with a firescorched throat, spitting out smoke instead of a spurt of deadly poison.
Dionysos pulled away the sword of one that was gasping on the ground and attacked the Gigantes' heads, cutting the snaky crop of poison-spitting hair; even without weapon he destroyed the self marshalled host, fighting furiously, and using the tree climbing longleaf ivy to strike the Gigantes.
Indeed he would have slain all with his manbreaking thyrsos, if he had not retired of his own will out of the fray and left enemies alive for his Father."
Hēraklēs first sent an arrow at Alkyoneus, who by falling to the earth recovered somewhat. Athênê advised Hēraklēs to drag him outside of Pallene, which he did, and Alkyoneus thereupon died.
The ground rumbled under their feet, not of any control by the gods nor the giants.
Gods and Giants alike turned at the sound of metal clashing. Standing there, withstanding a blow from Azeios–the giant opposed to Thoôsa– was Perseús and Ariadnê. Their swords crossed in an X, and the earth shook the more the giant pressed down. The twins weren't even straining, sharing glances at each other.
Perseús flipped into the air as Ariadnê rolled away from the blow. Perseús landed on the giants' arm, running upwards as his sister darted around the giant to use his hair as climbing rope.
Azeios roared, trying to shake them off but the twins dodged every strike.
They made it to the top of his head, sharing another look. Perseús wrapped an arm around his sister as she summoned a board of water. Perseús brought forth his other sword; the one that was hidden in the form of what they called a pen. The two of them sailed down Azeios' face as if they were riding a wave and Perseús stabbed the swords into his face, cutting directly through the giants' eyes.
Azeios stumbled backwards, the momentum throwing the twins into the air where they were caught by a giant flower bud. The other godlings of Castellan stood there, and they were angry.
Hermês looked between the godlings and the giant writhing on the ground in pain. What was that saying that Ariadnê was fond of? Oh yes, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. He swiped the bow from Apóllōn and an arrow from Artemis, ignoring their outraged looks as he sent the arrow flying through the air. It pierced the giants' heart.
Azeios stopped moving.
Katie smiled cruelly, waving her hand and a strawberry tree began to grow from the corpse.
Nico strode forward. The enemy army fell back before him like he radiated death, which of course he did. Through the face guard of his skull-shaped helmet, he smiled. "Is it too late to join the party?"
"Son of Háidēs." Eurymedon spat. "Do you love death so much you wish to experience it?"
"Your death," Nico said, "would be great for me."
"I'm deathless, you fool! You have no business here, and no chance to live."
Nico drew his sword-three feet of wicked sharp Stygian iron, black as a nightmare. "I don't agree."
Rachel lounged within the flower bud, the symbols of Apóllōn and Delphi woven into her clothes. "It has been prophesied that the gods themselves would not be able to destroy any of the Gigantes, but would finish them off only with the help of some mortal ally, but a single plant upon Mother Gaea shall make them invincible to all."
"You are not mortal," Porphyriôn pointed out though his gaze was on his now deceased brother. The twins smiled sharply even as Ζεύς turned to his own army barring the appearance of Êôs, Selênê, and Hêlios. He would find this drug before Gaia could and chop it up himself. "You are deathless."
"We are children of inevitability," Clarisse intoned. "Anankê, herself, holds our Fate in her hands. It's she who controls our mortality and our lack."
Annabeth turned her gaze to her own mother, "By the advice of Gaia and starry Ouranos , for so they counselled, in order that no other everlasting god, beside Ζεύς, should ever be given kingly position."
"So," Nico drawled, bringing attention back to himself as his family drew their weapons. "I'll ask again. Is it too late to join the party?"
The giants began to back away, suddenly nervous. The gods flexed the grips of their weapons, eyes lit with determination.
"I—" Eurymedon stuttered.
A large shadow warped behind him, taking on the shape of a screech-owl opened its beak. It seemed to darken as the chill of death grew in strength. The shadow screeched before it swallowed the giant whole.
And like a strike of lightning, the fighting resumed.
Hēraklēs made his way to his Father's side, as Porphyriôn rushed against Hēraklēs and Hḗrē. Ζεύς saw him charging and he shared a look with his Wife who gave him a nod. Ζεύς instilled Porphyriôn with a passion for Hḗrē. He tore her down, and attempted to rape her... she called aloud for help, wrapping her legs around the beast's head, she rolled as she threw him off of her. Ζεύς hit him with a thunderbolt and Hēraklēs slew him with an arrow.
Hêrê stood to her feet, summoning armor to her form. She charged back into battle, her lotus-tipped sceptre cutting down all that aimed for her. She, herself, slew the giant, Phoitos, sceptre sickening into his heart.
As for the rest, Apóllōn sent an arrow into the left eye of Ephialtes, Hēraklēs into the right; Dionysos slew Eurytos with his thyrsos; Hekátē got Klytios with fire-brands; and Hḗphaistos killed Mimas by throwing molten iron at him.
As Enkelados was fleeing, Athênê threw the island of Sikilia in his direction, which burned with the burning yet of that immortal giant, as he breathed fire underground. Never did Athênê wash her mighty arms before she drave the dust from the flanks of her horses–not even when, her armour all defiled with filth. 'Oxi, instead, she stripped the skin off Pallas and used it to protect her own body during the battle.
The twins followed after their Father as he pursued Polybôtês to the sea. The two danced around him in circles, slashing at his serpent legs with fierce cries. They reached Kos and there, Poseidón broke off a fragment of Kos with his trident and hurled it upon him, and the missile became an island, Nisyros, with the Gigante lying beneath it.
Hermês, who had swindled the helmet of Háidēs, took his golden sword and slayed Hippolytos. A fate that was cemented by Chris delightedly stabbing the giant a few more times. "For good measure," he said. Clarisse snorted and just said that it was overkill.
Artemis killed Aigaion with her arrows as Thalia sent one to his forehead like the horn of a unicorn. Pankrates attempted to sneak up on Katie, but she and Her Mother, Dēmḗtēr, grew poppy trees from his lungs.
Travis and Connor played games around Emphytos, stealing the jewels that he had on his person. Their swords cut off his serpent locks and they tied them together as if they were rope. Emphytos fell to his knees on the herald wand of Peithô. She smiled at the boys, sending them on to assist whatever god needed a godling.
Nico fought at the sight of his Father and Stepmother as they allowed the dead to walk the earth and nature to roam free. It was a terrifying mix of dead vines pulling the giants to the house of Háidēs as flowers pierced their eyes. Nico's sword pulsed with power as he pulled the very immortal souls from the monsters.
Annabeth and Clarisse fought back to back as Árēs dispatched the gigante Mimon while Hêlios slayed Molios. From his blood sprung the magical moly plant. In front of them, Aphrodítē smiled cruelly as she battled against Periboia. The princess of the Giangetes was struggling against the goddess of doves for she was Aphrodítē Ourania, the heavens and the sea were home and she would not let anyone take from her glory.
Rachel joined Hēraklēs as they fought alongside the Moirai. The three goddesses clubbed Agrios and Thoon with maces of bronze to death as the mortals stabbed and held them down.
Will shot arrows made of copper and silver and gold into the giants' neck from atop of Katie's flower bud. Ζεύς stood to his full-immortal height, the godlings all averted their eyes as the King of gods and King of kings slew the rest with his thunderbolts. The lightning was almost blinding as the arrow shafts made for good conductors.
And with that came the end of the Gigantomachia.
But—
"The defeat of the Gigantes by the gods angered Gaea all the more, so she had intercourse with Tartaros and bore Typhôeus in Kilikia."
"Typhôeus; the hands and arms of him are mighty, and have work in them, and the feet of the powerful god were tireless, and up from his shoulders there grew a hundred snake heads, those of a dreaded drakon, and the heads licked with dark tongues, and from the eyes on the inhuman heads fire glittered from under the eyelids: from all his heads fire flared from his eyes' glancing; and inside each one of these horrible heads there were voices that threw out every sort of horrible sound, for sometimes it was speech such as the gods could understand, but at other times, the sound of a bellowing bull, proud-eyed and furious beyond holding, or again like a lion shameless in cruelty, or again it was like the barking of dogs, a wonder to listen to, or again he would whistle so the tall mountains re-echoed to it.
Ariadnê let her head fall back as a moan was pulled from her.
Her legs were wrapped tightly around Hermês' waist as every drag of his cock pulled whimpers of pleasure from her. His body burned hot, divinity peeking through his mortal coverage. It warmed her greatly and she had no other thought than to cling closer to him.
She clutched to him as if she were trying to make them one. He pulled her into a kiss, one that started with almost swallowed her whole. She had not left his bed chambers since he had swooped her up after the Gigantomachia.
His whispered sweet mummering into her ears as she lost herself to the pleasure being given to her.
Typhôeus was a mixture of man and beast, the largest and strongest of all Ge's children. Down to the thighs he was human in form, so large that he extended beyond all the mountains while his head often touched even the stars. One hand reached to the west, the other to the east, and attached to these were one hundred heads of serpents. Also from the thighs down he had great coils of vipers, which extended to the top of his head and hissed mightily. All of his body was winged, and the hair that flowed in the wind from his head and cheeks was matted and dirty. In his eyes flashed fire. Such were the appearance and the size of Typhôeus as he hurled red-hot rocks at the sky itself, and set out for it with mixed hisses and shouts, as a great storm of fire boiled forth from his mouth."
Heat washed over them, and it was nothing like the burning desire that the two of them shared. Hermês pulled away from her in confusion. She laid flat, catching her breath for a moment before she too turned to see what was happening.
One could only imagine the fear on their face when they caught sight of him. Hermês gathered her in his arms, sparing but a moment to wrap her in a sheet before depositing her into the midst of Castellan's dining room. Apóllōn looked at his brother in confusion as Ariadnê sank to the ground, shivering in fright.
His younger brother took flight once more, rushing for his Mother and Apóllōn glanced in the way in which he came. A terrible fright overcame him also and he took off after his brother, sparing but a moment to get his Mother and fall at his Sister's side.
The other gods had caught sight of the beast as he was rushing toward the sky. Typhôeus felt an urge to usurp the rule of Ζεύς and not one of the gods could withstand him as he attacked. In panic, they all headed Aigyptos to escape him, all except Athênê and Ζεύς, who alone were left, and as he pursued them they changed themselves into animal shapes.
Apóllōn became a hawk, Hermês an ibis, Árēs became a fish, Artemis a cat, Dionysos took the shape of a goat, Hēraklēs a fawn, Hêphaistos an ox, and Lētṓ a shrew mouse. The rest of the gods each took on what transformations they could.
But Ζεύς from a distance hurled thunderbolts at Typhôeus, and when he had drawn closer Ζεύς tried to strike him down with a sickle made of adamant. Typhôeus took flight, but Ζεύς stayed on his heels right up to Mount Kasion, which lies in Syria. Seeing that he was badly wounded, Ζεύς fell on him with his hands.
But Typhôeus entwined the god and held him fast in his coils, and grabbing the sickle he cut out the sinews from Ζεύς' hands and feet. Then, placing Ζεύς up on his shoulders, he carried him across the sea to Kilikia, where he deposited him in the Korykion cave. He also hid away the sinews there in the skin of a bear, and posted as guard over them the Drakaina Delphyne, a girl who was half animal.
Still there was no rest.
Typhôeus turned back and passed from north to south; he left one pole and stood by the other. With a long arm he dragged the two Fishes out of the sky and cast them into the sea; he buffeted the Ram.
With trailing feet Typhôeus mounted close to the clouds: spreading abroad the far-scattered host of his arms, he shadowed the bright radiance of the unclouded sky by darting forth his tangled army of snakes.
"We can't just sit here and do nothing," Travis stated as he and Percy tried to comfort Ariadnê who had been in shock since the monster appeared.
"What can we do," Connor said. He refused to look at Ariadnê, not wanting to see the love bites that his Father left on her skin, but he also didn't want to be too far from Travis. Since he was young, he had his brother to protect him from monsters and draw comfort from. That would never change. "The gods were barely beating him in our time."
"We'll figure something out," Clarisse stated as she dabbed at Ariadnê's face. Not that the girl could honestly feel it.
She only remembered the heat of the fireballs that had been on the heels of her feet as Typhoeus launched attacks at her and Hermês in their flight. She remembered peeking at his monstrous form and feeling something within her die at the way his image could not remain still. It was madness and none of the comforting feelings that Dionysos gave.
"Will she be okay," they asked Will who was on the other side of her, muttering hymns as he checked her over. The boy nodded absently as he did all he could to make her comfortable.
Percy grimaced, "I suppose seeing Typhon up close and personal and instead of through an IM would be a shock."
Annabeth sighed from where she sat at the table, her curls around her head in disarray, "His image was not made for human visage. We're lucky that she's only in shock."
The battle would go on for many years, leaving the world in disarray as Theoi Ouranioi battled onwards. Trees were levered up from the earth by the roots, and the fruit fell on the ground untimely; the fresh-flowering garden was laid waste, the rosy meadows withered; Zéphyros was beaten by the dry leaves of whirling cypresses. Apóllōn sang a dirge in lamentable tones for his devastated iris, twining a sorrowful song, and lamenting far more bitterly than for his clusters of Amyklaian flowers, when the laurel by his side was struck. Pan in anguish uplifted his fallen pine; Athênê, remembering Moria, groaned over her broken olive-tree, the Attic Nymphe who brought her a city.
Aphrodítē also wept when her anemone was laid to dust, and mourned long over the fragrant tresses of flowercups from her rosebed laid in the dust, while she tore her hair. Dēmḗtēr mourned over the half-grown corn destroyed and no longer celebrated the harvest home.
Still–Selênê's radiant cattle bellowed, amazed at the gaping chasm of Typhôeus' throat. The Horai undaunted armed the starry battalions, and the lines of heavenly Constellations in a disciplined circle came shining to the fray.
Ôriôn, seeing these tribes of wild beasts, drew his sword; the blade of the Tanagraian brand sparkled bright as its master made ready to attack; his thirsty Dog, shooting light from his fiery chin, bubbled up in his starry throat and let out a hot bark, and blew out the steam from his teeth against Typhôeus' beasts instead of the usual hare.
Meanwhile on earth, Ζεύς alongside Hermês and Aigipan conducted a plan to retrieved the King's sinew after the herald's brave return.
Too late Typhôeus he learnt the craft-devising schemes of Ζεύς. It was not long before he called to the God-King in challenge. Ζεύς cared not as he prepared for the final battle to defend his home and his people for who he swore to protect.
Ζεύς was alone, when Nikê came to comfort him, scoring the high paths of the air with her shoe.
She had the form of Lētṓ; and while she armed her Father-King, she made him a speech full of reproaches with guileful lips : 'Lord Ζεύς! Stand up as champion of your own children! Let me never see Athênê mingled with Typhôeus, she who knows not the way of a man with a maid! Make not a mother of the unmothered! Fight, brandish your lightning, the fiery spear of Olympos! Gather once more your clouds, lord of the rain! For the foundations of the steadfast universe are already shaking under Typhôeus' hands: the four blended elements are melted! Dēmḗtēr has renounced her harvests. Hêbê has left her cup, Árēs has thrown down his spear, Hermês has dropped his staff, Apóllōn has cast away his harp, and taken a swan's form, and flown off on the wing, leaving his winged arrows behind! Aphrodítē, the goddess who brings wedlock to pass, has gone a wandering, and the universe is without seed. The bonds indissoluble of harmony are dissolved, leaving behind his generative arrows, the adorner of brides, he the all-mastering, the unmastered! And your fiery Hḗphaistos has left his favourite Lemnos, and dragging unruly knees, look how slowly he keeps his unsteady course! See a great miracle-I pity your Hḗrē, though she hates me sure enough! What-is your begetter to come back into the assembly of the stars? May that never be, I pray! Even if I am called a Titenis, I wish to see no Titan lords of Olympos, but you and your children. Take your lordly thunderbolt and champion chase Artemis . . .'
So she spoke: and Hypnos beating his shady wing sent all breathing nature to rest; but Ζεύς alone remained sleepless. Typhôeus stretched out his sluggish back and lay heavy upon his bed, covering his Mother Earth; she opened wide her bosom, and lurking lairs were hollowed out in a grinning chasm for the snaky heads which sank into the ground.
But Typhôeus did not sleep for long. He woke anew, yelling his challenges across the world. And so Ζεύς heard, laughing as he did so.
Then the din of battle resounded on both sides. Eris was Typhôeus' escort in the mellay, Nikê led Ζεύς into battle. No herds of cattle were the cause of that struggle, no flocks of sheep, this was no quarrel for a beautiful woman, no fray for a petty town: heaven itself was the stake in the fight, the sceptre and throne of Ζεύς lay on the knees of Nikê as the prize of combat.
Yes-to quench the ethereal fire was the bold Gigante's plan, poor fool! He knew not that the fire-flaming thunderbolts and lightnings are the offspring of the clouds from whence the rain-showers come!
Ζεύς cast his bolt, and one blaze burnt the monster's endless hands, one blaze consumed his numberless shoulders and the speckled tribes of his serpents; heaven's blades cut off those countless heads; a writhing comet met him front to front discharging a thick bush of sparks, and consumed the monster's hair.
The Gigante fought on : his eyes were burnt to ashes in the murky smoke, his cheeks were whitened with hoar-frost, his faces beaten with showers of snow. He suffered the fourfold compulsion of the four Winds. For if he turned flickering eyes to the sunrise, he received the fiery battle of neighboring Euros.
If he gazed towards the stormy clime of the Arkadian Bear, he was beaten by the chilly frost of wintry whirlwinds. If he shunned the cold blast of snow-beaten Boréas, he was shaken by the volleys of wet and hot together.
If he looked to the sunset, opposite to the dawn of the grim east, he shivered before Enyô and her western tempests when he heard the noise of Zephyros cracking his spring-time lash; and Notos, that hot wind, round about the southern foot of Aigokeros flogged the aerial vaults, leading against Typhôeus a glowing blaze with steamy heat. If again Rainy Ζεύς poured down a watery torrent, Typhôeus bathed all his body in trouble-soothing showers, and refreshed his benumbed limbs after the stifling thunderbolts.
But Gaia had thrown off her veil of forests with her hand, and just then was grieving to behold Typhôeus' smoking heads. While his faces were shrivelling, the Gigante's knees gave way beneath him; the trumpet of Ζεύς brayed, foretelling victory with a roll of thunder; down fell Typhôeus high-uplifted frame, drunk with the fiery bolt from heaven, stricken with a war-wound of something more than steel, and lay with his back upon Gaia, stretching his snaky limbs in the dust and belching flame.
Ζεύς brought down Sikelia's Mount Aitna on him, a great mountain which will still erupt fire from the thunderbolts thrown by Ζεύς .
Ζεύς swiftly turned his golden chariot toward the round of the ethereal stars, while Nikê by his side drove her father's team with the heavenly whip. So the god came once more to the sky; and to receive him the stately Horai threw open the heavenly gates, and crowned the heavens.
With Ζεύς victorious, the other gods came home to Olympos, in their own form come again, for they put off the winged shapes which they had taken on. Athênê came into heaven unarmed, in dainty robes with Árēs turned Komos, and Nikê for Melos; and Themis displayed to dumbfounded Gaia, the spoils of the Gigante destroyed, an awful warning for the future, and hung them up high in the vestibule of Olympos."
Tis not surprising to the Castellan Twelve that not even the years of rest after the War... Ζεύς plans with Themis to bring about the prophesized Trojan war.
How Ironic that they did not have much to plan as the wheel of Fate had long been in motion.
The Oympioi sat quietly within the throne as Hermês told Paris of his task. He ascended to the heavens as Athênê, Hḗrē, and Aphrodítē crowded around Prince Aléxandros.
'Tis the destined War of Troy.
Mischievous giggles came from laughter-loving Aphrodítē as she lifted up her deep-bosomed robe and bared her breast to the air and had no shame. And lifting with her hands the honeyed girdle of the Erotes (Loves) she bared all her bosom and heeded not her breasts. And smilingly she thus spake to the herdsman, weaving lies and desire as a secret wrath hid within her eyes : 'Accept me and forget wars : take my beauty and leave the sceptre and the land of Asia. I know not the works of battle. What has Aphrodítē to do with shields? By beauty much more do women excel. In place of manly prowess I will give thee a lovely bride, and, instead of kingship, enter thou the bed of Helénē. Lakedaimon, after Troy, shall see thee a bridegroom. Tis that not all the moves thee, enther thou the bed of Ariadnê. Daughter of dark-haired Poseidón whose beauty in which I have blessed.'
She brought forth a beautifully crafted dagger, one in which she had planned to give her beloved son, Aineías. Katoptron glinted under the sun, a weapon in which she usually used a mirror. She held it for Aléxandros to view, and the image within shimmered from his reflection.
One side showed Helénē of Sparta gazing about her kingdom as her husband, a warrior spearmen, Menelaos moved about the room behind her as he held their daughter within his arms. Her hair, a light reddish-blonde like the setting sun, hung heavily down her back, crowned by a wreath of jewels.
And when she flipped the dagger, the image swirled to show Ariadnê of Castellan laughing alongside her family atop the roof of the palace. Her eyes, as blue as the infinite laughter of the waves of sea, sparkled and drew in all that gaze upon them. Her hair fell in waves down her back as if blackgirdled goddess Nýx descended from her head.
Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 4 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) : "It is said, following the resentment of Aphrodítē against Menelaos who had arranged the abduction of Helénē: he had promised a hecatomb to Aphrodítē as the price of the marriage, and didn't offer it."
The throne room was filled with gasps of indignation as Aphrodítē stated her bargain. Poseidón and Theoi tou Halioi in which he commanded, jumped out of their seats alongside Háidēs and Hermês. Wrath unlike any had seen before poured from them in waves, shaking the earth as their essence fluctuated within their domains.
(The godlings of Castellan yelped as the Half-Divine Twins alongside Nico and the children of the athlete-god Hermês did their best to push back the dead and rivers around them as the others escorted their people to the underground city in which they finally named Bianca Angelia.)
"Ζεύς! You are King!," Poseidón turned to his younger brother, a snarl on his lips as he clutched his trident, "Do something. I will not let my daughter be a part of such foolishness."
Háidēs stood at his side, sceptre drawn as fair-haired Persephonê attempted to soothe his wrath in an ironic change. Hermês stood silently, eyes dark with rage mingled in his eyes as Apóllōn and Artemis laid calming hands on his person.
"We cannot interfere with destiny," Ζεύς reasoned. "She is of course using my daughter also."
"Then why in Fates' name, are you not doing anything." Háidēs sneered, the temperature dropping into the icy chill of death for a brief second. "You are King! Your daughter would be caught within the crossfire if she is not careful and that is without mentioning those of whom would go after her in revenge."
The other gods turned to look at the king, and Ζεύς gave a reassuring smile to his people. "It is our job to ensure the will of destiny," he reminded them. "We all know that neither of them is predestined to die within this war."
"Castellan would not sit back idly if one of their own shall be taken. They will wage war. You've watched them, Father. You have seen how strong these godlings are. They will not stop until Troy and Sparta are nothing but specks on the map," Hermês declared solemnly. His friend was to be kidnapped and he could do nothing. He wasn't liking these odds at all.
Ζεύς sat straighter in his throne as he looked to his son. "You shall tell them that they are to be neutral. This war has been destined long before they were born. They are under the protection of Fate and Inevitability. They shall know that they cannot interfere."
Apóllōn gazed about the room as he said, "I do not believe this to be a wise decision." He paused as a vision shined upon him. Ariadnê facing off against Ahkilleus. Perseús breaking the walls around Troy. Annabeth leading a charge against the Trojans. Clarisse leading one against the Argives. He blinked as he came back to himself. "No, I know this will not be a wise decision. These godlings will find a way to take their revenge and come out all the stronger for it."
Without waiting for a dismissal, Apóllōn walked out of the room.
Only days later did Aléxandros sneak into Sparta under the guise of a diplomatic meeting. At Aléxandros' side were Hektōr and Helenos and Deiphobus and Polites and Antiphus, five of his brothers and Aineías, the son of Aphrodítē and Aléxandros' own cousin, and Aria, the half-sister of Aineías who only ventured along as she knew it had been foretold that Hektōr shall find his wife while on the trip.
Homer, Iliad 22. 466 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) : "The shining gear that ordered her [Andromákhē's] headdress, the diadem and the cap, and the holding-band woven together, and the circlet, which Aphrodítē the golden (khrysee) had once given her on that day when Hektōr of the shining helmet led her forth from the house of Eetion, and gave numberless gifts to win her."
Aléxandros lands in Lakedaimon and is entertained by the sons of Tyndareus, and afterwards by Menelaus in Sparta, where in the course of a feast he gives gifts to Helénē.
After this, Menelaus sets sail for Krḗtē, ordering Helénē to furnish the guests with all they require until they depart.
Meanwhile, Aphrodítē brings Helénē and Alexandros together, and they, after their union, put very great treasures on board and sail away by night. Hḗrē stirs up a storm against them and they are carried to Sidon, where Aléxandros takes the city. From there he sailed to Troy and celebrated his marriage with Helénē.
Meanwhile within Castellan, Rachel leads her court to the coast of the Kingdom. The greens of her eyes shone with the essence of earth's navel. She spoke with the prophetic voice of The First Mother, the Earth.
"War is on the horizon," she had said. "Take heed, daughter of the Aigaiôn. Tis you that they wish to steal away."
Perseús had nearly thrown a fit. No one was taking his sister from him. He wouldn't lose her. Not again.
When the ships appeared on the harbor, it was Perseús who first stood there alone. His cheek emits a smile mingled with wrath as his eyes were as dark as the depth of the sea. Aria gazed over the ships, a brow raised as she looked at the boy.
She turned back to her family members, laughing inwardly. She knew how great Aineías and Hektōr fought, a strength that not many could compare, but the boy in front of her... she had seen within her dreams. He would not be an enemy that can easily be defeated.
The barrier around the land refused to let them in, sensing their hostile actions.
Within the city, people were being sent to Bianca Angelia as their army gathered. Annabeth and Clarisse both doubted that they would be able to pass Perseús at the height of his anger in the middle of his element, but they would not take any chances.
The grounds shook as Katie and Nico made their way to their cousin's side, the defenses of the kingdom activated and salivating with the chance to rain down destruction.
Aphrodítē, rage within her eyes, turned towards her Father: "Father Ζεύς! How can we ensure the will of destiny if they disrespect our commands?"
"She was not one of the candidates in the first place," Hermês sneered at his sister before looking back towards Castellan. Ariadnê laid on top of the river leading to her Father's temple uncaringly. He wanted to tell her to escape to Gleeson's Grove, but he knew that her pride would not let her.
And it would be her pride that shall be her downfall.
"Surely, you didn't think that they would just let you take one of their own," the young god continued.
"I promise him two wives," Aphrodítē stated as she glared at the kingdom that she held fondness for. "Her fate was sealed the moment he agreed. They have no choice but to let her go."
Ζεύς inclined his head in agreement. "We cannot stop fate, and neither can they. Due to Hḗrē's actions against my son, it has been proven that a deity can force open the barrier. Aphrodítē, I will allow this only once. After this, we shall not interfere at all unless in dire times."
Hermês gritted his teeth, but Háidēs placed a hand on his shoulder. "The godlings are strong. Their skills are unparalleled. They will not go down without a fight. She will not go down without a fight."
And a fight it was.
Aphrodítē ripped open the barrier with a cruel smile and the ships sailed in. The godlings all turned their gaze to Olympos in frustration as their defenses activated.
Ariadnê stood slowly, eyes almost unseeing as she watched her brother and cousins charge the invaders. Her hands twitched at her sides, desperate with the need to be at their side.
Katie and Nico attacks fed off one another. Skeletons began to crawl from the earth, dragging the soldiers that Aléxandros brought with him down into the earth. Hellpups howled, dragging them to the underworld from within their own shadows.
Katie used the fallen bodies as puppets, using their bodies to fight against their own brothers in arms. In some cases, she didn't even bother with using the dead instead turning the living against their friends. Nymphs and satyrs responded to her call pushing back as hard as they could.
Perseus was a blur as he shot into the sea, pushing the ships back further and further with every swing of his sword. The waves pulled men under as he lived up to his name.
Such a shame that they did not realize those that were being protected and guided away by Aphrodítē.
Ariadnê turned as she heard the rushing feet nearing her position. She raised a brow, her gifted sword appearing in her hand with an ominous sliiiink. She tilted her head to the side, a small smile on her face as she swore to show them why she and her brother held the name The Twin Swords.
The invaders attempted to surround her, yet they were picked off easily as Will stood above his Father's temple, using the bow that adorned the top of the building to pick the enemies off. His voice rang out in symphony with their cries of pain, cursed couplets falling from his mouth as the Trojan's arrows became too heavy for them to lift.
Ariadnê watched on amused, swinging her sword casually.
The warriors attempted to charge her, stopping in their tracks as Annabeth and Clarisse slammed into their flanks. The dagger and spear that they carried frightened the soldiers as they showed how dangerous the two were. The weapons were thrown back and forth between the two easily, electricity sparking wildly to whomever were unfortunate to be on the other end. Left to right, soldiers fell to the ground forever unseeing. Owls and boars appeared from the woods, swooping in to peck out eyeballs and drag some away.
Aineías and Hektōr and Helenos held the children of the Herald back as best as they could while a path was cleared so that Aléxandros may get to Ariadnê.
The demigoddess smiled quite cruelly as the man came for her. Luke and Beckendorf and Silena held off Deiphobus and Polites and Antiphus, scaring the men away.
Aléxandros drew closer to Ariadnê who only waved her hand at the prince. He flew backwards, knocking down three buildings in his flight.
Still, he drew himself to his feet, charging for her once more. She raised a brow, eyes narrowed as he poured something onto his sword. She turned to him fully, sword clenched in her hand.
Aléxandros swung his sword only for the attack to be blocked by Perseús' sudden appearance. The ships once more sailed outside of their border, more bruised than in which it came. Perseús did not care for any of his pleads as he began to pummel the man into the ground for his attempt to steal his sister away. It was all the prince could do to defend himself as Perseús spared no mercy, showing all how he earned his share of the titled Twin Swords. The ground quaked beneath his feet with his fury.
Hektōr, sensing their defeat, also carried a bottle of the drought crafted by Hekátē Aidônaia. He turned away from Connor as if he were to retreat, secretly pouring the drought onto the dagger hidden within his armor folds. And at the last second, he turned, throwing the dagger through the air. It was guided by Aphrodítē to strike Ariadnê's arm.
The girl sensed that something was amiss and she backed away from the dagger, but she alone was not strong enough to fight Fate. The dagger pierced her skin and she could feel the power flowing through her. She allowed herself to drop to the river, keeping the fatigue away.
Her eyes turned furious as she looked at Hektōr, golden-red ichor pouring from the wound. She climbed out of the water slowly, adrenaline rushing through her veins. She overtook Connor in speed, sword swinging through the air fiercely as she attacked the Prince with all her might. The two battled endlessly and she lived up to her swear. Like their brothers before them, Ariadnê spared no mercy, showing all how she earned her share of the titled Twin Swords.
But again, she alone was not strong enough to fight Fate.
The magic took hold, slowing her heart. She fell to her knees, the clanging of her sword hitting the ground echoed around them bringing everyone to a stop. Her eyes fluttered closed, hair fanning around her delicately.
Perseús stared at the fallen body of his sister for a mere second before his rage shook the earth. He immediately abandoned the broken form of Aléxandros charging for Hektōr whom was reaching for the demigoddess. The Prince yelped as Aléxandros barreled into him, bypassing his sword to pummel his fist into his face.
Nico and Katie slammed attacks after attacks against any that stood in their way as they made their way to their cousins. The rivers morphed into hands that grabbed at the soldiers, throwing them into the air and slamming them into the ground. Seaweed and vines rushed from the earth holding them down as beings made of shadows ate at their souls. Annabeth and Clarisse abandoned their weapons, instead using swords with unnerving accuracy while the children of the Herald ran about throwing the warriors that tried to get to her. Will shot all the stragglers down, fury filling his every action.
And yet, they were too late.
Aphrodítē coated her body in a thick level of mist that she obscured Aléxandros with equal strength. One by one, she covered the soldiers, urging them back to their ships where Aria tended to her brother and cousins, looking at the other girl in wariness.
The world seemingly came to a standstill as Perseús' rage exploded outwards. The winds gain speed in uncontrollable amounts as if Ζεύς himself was controlling the cries of the Anemoi. The earth began to erode around the younger twin as something within him began to crack.
Still—
Annabeth could do nothing but hold Perseús tightly as their Family looked on with tears in their eyes as he screamed and raged and pleaded for the return of his sister.
WORD COUNT: 11,139
WORDS TO KNOW:
Aphrodítē Pontia - Aphrodítē Of the Sea
Hekátē Aidônaia - Hekátē Of the Underworld
Perseús Pelagaios - Perseús Of the Sea
Ariadnê Pelagaios - Perseús Of the Sea
Aphrodítē Makhanitis - Aphrodítē who is Common to All People (Love)
Apóllōn Kourotrophos - Apóllōn, the child nurturer
Aphrodítē Ourania - Heavenly Aphrodítē
Theoi tou Halioi - Gods of the Sea
GODS:
Thoôsa - the sea-nymph mother of Polyphêmos by the god Poseidón. Goddess of dangerously swift currents.
Peithô - the goddess or personified spirit (daimona) of persuasion, seduction and charming speech. She was a handmaiden and herald of the goddess Aphrodítē.
Aigipan - one of the goat-legged Panes
Notos - the god of the south wind, one of the four directional Anemoi
Euros - the god of the east wind, one of the four directional Anemoi (Wind-Gods)
THINGS TO KNOW:
tiropita - Greek pastry made with layers of buttered phyllo and filled with a cheese-egg mixture
