Page 31 of Hephaestus
Hestio and I both let out an annoyed sigh. So much for having alone time in Arcadia to ourselves. This whole planned celebration for me turned out to be a complete and utter failure.
“And what is the meaning of all this?” I asked Hermes. “What’s the reason behind our impromptu meeting?”
Hermes simply shrugged. “I haven’t been told any details regarding it. My sole mission was to retrieve you. And now that I have, I am done here. This is your official summons.”
And with that, Hermes turned around and took off, flying out of sight.
Hestio threw his hands in the air, as if he was defeated. “I’m sorry, Hephaestus. This day was meant to be entirely about you, but instead…”
I intervened to stop Hestio from speaking any further. “No. It’s completely fine. None of this is your fault. You could not have foreseen any of this happening.”
The two of us then turned around to check on Priapus, but to our astonishment, he was gone. The stealthy god had disappeared, vanished without a trace.
“What a day…” Hestio mumbled.
“Yes. Well, I guess we should make haste and return to Mount Olympus to find out why we were called upon so suddenly.”
Hestio simply nodded. “I suppose so.”
As we departed, my mind was racing with ideas about why Hera and Zeus would call upon us Olympian Gods so unexpectedly. Did it have something to do with me? Perhaps Zeus wanted to make a scene and have all the Olympian Gods and Goddesses present when he announced to them that I’d be joining their league?
Not being able to come up with a logical reason, I remained perplexed by what Zeus and Hera had to share with us, but I knew I would soon be finding out.
***
Hestio and I arrived at Zeus and Hera’s palace together. Per the usual course of action, we were met at the pearl-white entrance gates by two of their servants who escorted us to the throne room. This experience would be different from past ones that I’ve had here, in this very room. Now, I would be a god that could sit behind the dais in my own throne as the other Olympian Gods and Goddesses did. Half of us sat on one side of the room and half on the other, with Zeus and Hera’s enormous thrones directly in the middle, forming the separation between both sides.
Most of the other gods and goddesses were already present as Hestio and I took our seats. We were across from one another at opposite ends. Only two seats now remained vacant. All of us gods and goddesses glanced over at Hera, who had her arms crossed, with a permanent scowl on her face. She held this same expression the moment we walked into the room.
“We are just waiting on Hermes and Aphrodite,” Hera announced to the group.
The moment she said it, the throne room doors flung open and in strode Hermes, with Aphrodite following just behind him.
It was Hermes that stepped forward to bow to Zeus. “I’m sorry, father. I would have arrived sooner, but Aphrodite was elusive as ever. It was nearly impossible to track her down, but thankfully I managed to be able to.” He then rose and took his seat.
Aphrodite did not even bother to greet the King and Queen of the Gods. Instead, she just made her way towards her seat, seeming bored and bothered that she was even here.
“Now that everyone is present, let us get started,” Zeus began with. “My wife has declared for all of us to meet together as a matter of urgency.”
There were a few grunts and groans among the group, but it was Aphrodite who spoke up. “Yes. I was in the middle of a very delicate situation that has now been ruined. I don’t understand what could be so important as to pull me away from…”
Hera rose from her seat, abruptly intervening in what the Goddess of love and beauty was saying. “We are having this meeting because of your actions, Aphrodite!”
“My actions?” Aphrodite flipped her golden blonde hair back. “Whatever did I do?”
“It seems that you have been creating chaos among the other male gods here on Mount Olympus. Poseidon and Ares here are quarreling more than ever, claiming that they deserve your hand in marriage. Hermes, too, has been feuding with them over you,” Hera informed her and the group.
So that’s what this meeting was all about? The ongoing bickering over Aphrodite? The entire thing was absolutely absurd. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I glanced across the room at Hestio who caught my reaction. He then placed his hand over his mouth, trying to conceal his laughter.
Meanwhile, Poseidon, Ares, and Hermes began arguing with one another. The entire throne room was in an uproar. It was only Hestio and I that sat still, remaining silent, watching this ridiculous scene play out before us.
“Silence!” Zeus roared, while slamming his fist into the armrest of his throne. An instant hush fell over the room.
Aphrodite then spoke up, to reply to Hera’s accusation against her. “With all due respect, my Queen, this was not my doing at all, by any means. I cannot control these gods who all want to be my suitors. I am the fairest and most beautiful goddess known to existence, after all. No wonder they are all fighting over me.”
I could not help but lightly chuckle at Aphrodite’s comment. I wasn’t sure who was more self-righteous, her or Hera. Both were beyond conceited, in equal rights.
“Even so, this dispute among us has gone on for far too long. It must be put to an end, for if we are not a united front, we leave ourselves vulnerable to enemies who could exploit this weakness and usurp our reign,” Hera explained.
