Page 33 of Hephaestus
Because of our carelessness, we would now have to suffer. It was all a result of our unwise actions. But at least we would be able to suffer in silence now that I was putting up a wall between Hephaestus and me. It was better this way. Otherwise, we would be forced to cry in each other’s arms and have to fight the temptation that would inevitably linger between us, as with every time he and I were in the same room together.
Thinking and processing through my woes and sorrows was then put to a halt, as I heard Zephyria’s fragile voice call from behind me. “Sir, Hephaestus is here. He has been banging on the doors ferociously. He will not relent until he is able to see you,” she explained.
I shook my head, not only disappointed in Hephaestus’s reaction, but in my own too, for denying him this meeting between us. I knew I was causing him so much anguish, but at least it would be less than what we would have to endure if we discussed our troubles together, in the same setting, in front of each other. I could not fathom having to look at him as we would have to end things between us. It would be unbearable to see those flames in his eyes start to fade out when he came to the realization that there was no way we could remain together.
“Tell him that he can continue to persist all he wants. I will not be speaking to him.” I told her.
“But sir. Are you certain? Hephaestus is so kind. He has been our welcomed guest on so many occasions. Do you truly want me to address him in such a way?”
I was stunned that Zephyria was the one saying this of all people. Never once has she questioned me in all her years of service, that is, until now. I understood that her heart was in the right place, but her trying to persuade me against this already difficult decision was not helping my cause.
“Yes. Inform him that I will be at the wedding ceremony tomorrow. He will just have to wait until then.”
Zephyria let out a somber sigh. “Very well. I will do as you say, my God.” She then turned and sauntered off, while sulking to herself.
It wasn’t until I just told Zephyria about my attendance at the wedding tomorrow that I was now reminded of my expectations for being there. There was no choice allowed for me. All gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus were expected, no,required, to be there not only for the actual wedding ceremony but also for the following feast that would take place at what I presumed to be Hephaestus’s new palace, thereafter.
There would be no possible way for me to find a way to be absent. It would be inexcusable in the eyes of Zeus, Hera and all the other gods and goddesses, for that matter. Hephaestus and I would have to come face to face then. I would have to prepare myself to be able to see him then, because if I wasn’t fully prepared, I don’t think my heart could take it.
Chapter 16
Why wouldn’t he answer me?
Why did he run off without saying a word?
How could he disregard me in such a way?
Why did he refuse to let me into his palace?
What was he thinking?
Hestio had ignored my plead to speak with him. He no longer wanted anything to do with me. And I could understand why, to an extent. I was feeling the same way he was—upset, bitter, completely broken at the possibility of us no longer being able to be together. I had learned that Hestio could sometimes be hard-headed when it came to difficult situations. He preferred to run away from his troubles and avoid them rather than tackle them head on, like I did. We were completely different in that regard.
But I was caught off-guard with Hestio now wanting to ignore me completely. This was similar to the last time we had to part ways. It was Hestio who first pulled away back then and was so distraught over being separated from me that it destroyed him. Did he not think that same situation would play out this time around as well?
Although, the circumstances were slightly different in that the waters were far more turbulent to navigate in this current predicament. Now, I was soon to be married. How could Hestio and I be content if Aphrodite and I were to be wed and living together? Was it not against the moral code of the gods to be faithful to your spouses?
I knew Hera and Zeus were the exception to that rule, since they frequently made love to other gods, goddesses, nymphs, and mortals. But I wondered if any other Olympian Gods and Goddesses committed to such acts of infidelity. If they did, they were extremely furtive in doing so.
Could I commit to the same sort of lifestyle, in being able to be in a sexual relationship with Hestio while being married to Aphrodite? I highly doubted Aphrodite, being the Goddess of love and beauty, would have the temperament to be faithful to me. Perhaps I would be able to somehow discuss our arrangements with her. However, from what I already knew of Aphrodite, she was stubborn and strong-willed to a fault. I pondered how she would handle the idea of me being in love with Hestio. Would she welcome or disdain it? What if she demanded I no longer communicate with Hestio unless it was in a public audience? I hoped this would not be the case at all.
At any rate, I would not be able to inquire about any of this with her until after our wedding ceremony, which was set to take place just several hours from now. I sat in my palace, just staring at my reflection in the mirror, wondering how I ended up in this situation to begin with.
Clearly, this was all Hera’s doing. The Queen of the Gods was undoubtedly jealous and envious of Aphrodite’s beauty and the attention she had garnered from many of the male gods. Hera demanding that Aphrodite wed me was meant to be a punishment for Aphrodite. Hera thought she was getting revenge by having her wed to what Hera considered anugly and deformed god.Little did Hera know that an equal amount of harm was also being done to me because of these nuptials. If she did learn about how afflicted I was by this decision, she would probably bask in it. However, I did speculate on just how reticent Hestio’s and my relationship was. Did we conceal it well enough from the other gods and goddesses to catch on, or were they aware about us without my knowledge?
To my understanding, the only person who knew that Hestio and I were in love was that vulgar and ornery Priapus. But even so, he learned about our affair just moments before Hestio and I were summoned to return to Mount Olympus for Hera to reveal her plan that would force the two of us apart. So, there was no way Priapus had the capability to run and tell anyone about Hestio and me prior to the Olympian Gods’ meeting.
I let out a deep sigh, vexed that my mind was wandering in every which direction. I was coming up with no concrete resolution that could help me navigate through this cumbersome situation. I wish there was something I could do to make this all go away, to somehow make Hestio see that all was not lost between us. Unfortunately, I hadn’t the slightest idea as to how to fix this and time was completely stacked against me. Even I, the God of blacksmithing did not know how to iron all of this out.
***
The Garden of Hesperides—this was Hera’s orchard, far west of Mount Olympus. Its groves were plentiful and luscious, full of the most gorgeous flowers, plants, and succulent fruits the world has ever seen. Despite how stunning everything in these gardens were, there was one object that stood out among the rest, and this was the golden apple tree that stood tall in the very center of the Garden of Hesperides. It was guarded by the draconic serpent, Ladon. The monster soared in the sky, hovering above the tree, with its one hundred heads keeping its multitude of watchful eyes peeled open to protect the golden apples from being plucked by any intruders.
It was just beneath this golden apple tree where Aphrodite and I stood across from one another on a golden-crafted altar, facing each other. The other gods and goddesses watched us from the crowd. Hera and Zeus stood by our sides, reading aloud from the grand scroll they used during any wedding ceremony among the gods.
Once they were done giving their speech, it was then that Aphrodite and I would be expected to kiss. It was the necessary seal needed to solidify the marriage. As Zeus was coming to a close with his remarks, I could not help but scan the audience, searching through the many gods and goddesses that were present, trying to spot one of them in particular. Soon, I was able to find Hestio standing among the masses. It was not that hard to pinpoint him. His blazing auburn hair stood out so spectacularly. Even from this distance, I could still recognize the hurt in those intense red eyes of his.
The second we made eye contact with one another, he turned his head to the side to avoid my gaze. It pained me to no end to see him suffering through this. But there was absolutely nothing I could do to rectify this. I felt weak, powerless, with no control, even as an Olympian God, one of the twelve most almighty individuals in the world.
