Page 39 of Hephaestus
He and I then remained silent, just thinking all of this through, deep in thought, trying to come up with a solution to another posed problem for us. There had to have been some sort of way that would allow mortals to be able to craft and develop their own weapons and tools and also be able to use and build fire. If this was accomplished, then it meant that there would be less labor, and time spent for Hephaestus and me to be catering to their survival needs.
Just then, as I was thinking that very thing, an idea came to mind. It would be risky, but I had a possible plan that would advance the human race and their causes without any traces leaking back to Hephaestus and me. For if Hera and Zeus learned that Hephaestus and I were involved with advancing the lifestyle of mortals, it would surely be viewed as treason.
“I think I know what we can do to avoid this growing problem,” I revealed to him.
“You do?” Hephaestus asked with skepticism.
“Yes. Although it will be extremely precarious, I think it’s worth a shot.”
And this would be my contribution to keeping Hephaestus and me together, and our love still aflame. It was he who worked so hard to make sure that the two of us could remain intact even after he was married to Aphrodite. And now it was my turn to elicit my efforts and show Hephaestus just how devoted I was to the two of us.
Chapter 20
Hestiopersuadedmetotake him to the deepest depths of Mount Aetna. There was an inner cavern that existed there at scorching temperatures that I knew of that we could use. Hestio and I could obviously withstand the pressure of the heat since we were Gods of fire. However, my lover explained to me that he wanted to meet someone else here, as part of his elaborate plan. I had no idea what other god or person could endure this searing climate, but apparently Hestio must have known someone who was capable of it, for that is who he wanted to meet here.
I waited patiently, still unsure of what Hestio had up his sleeve. However, he insisted that I should trust him and agree to whatever it was he would suggest to the mysterious individual he had arranged for us to encounter.
Hestio and I waited at this very cavern within the volcano. Just outside the enclave where we stood, there was liquid, molten lava ebbing and flowing. Being near the magma brought peace to me. There was an instant serenity that swept over my entire being. Hestio and I were one with fire. It gave us enlightenment and power. It was our natural element.
However, despite how at ease I now was in this ideal location, hidden away from the rest of the world, I was beginning to grow impatient. We had been isolated here for nearly an hour. I paced about the small vicinity in nervousness. “We’ve been here for quite some time. Who are we meeting here? Are you sure they will show up?” I questioned Hestio.
He nodded. “Yes. Just wait a little while longer. I am sure he will arrive soon. This is just as much of an advantageous opportunity for him as it is for us.”
Hestio’s response was beyond enigmatic to me. After all, he had not clued me in on exactly what proposition he was making to this unknown man that would somehow grant us our wishes to not have to spend so many hours a day servicing needy mortals who required our powers and skills for survival.
Suddenly, I turned to see something appear at the entrance of the cave. This figure was a brute. He reeked of strength and vitality. His muscles were flawlessly thick and toned. Wavy brunette hair effortlessly flowed on his head with matching smoothly cut facial hair.
“Ah, Prometheus!” Hestio exclaimed. “Thank you for joining us on such a short notice.”
Prometheus!? Why did Hestio want us to encounter him!?
Prometheus was one of the former Titan gods. He was in reign with the former league of titans before the Olympians Gods claimed power over the world. Zeus despised the titans and anything to do with them. Despite the titans barely having any godly powers, the King of the Gods was constantly petrified of them, afraid that they were somehow conspiring against him, planning to form a rebellion to conquer the Olympians. However, there was never any proof of such a thing occurring among the titans. It was an unjustified fear of Zeus’s, one that he wasted so much time dwelling on.
But that was the concern that I had with being face to face with Prometheus. He was an enemy of ours. If Zeus learned that Hestio and I were meeting here with him by our own arrangements, he would surely view this as a betrayal. Now, I was bewildered as ever as to just what Hestio was up to.
“I am glad that you reached out to me,” Prometheus replied to Hestio. “So, tell me, what is your plan? I am surprised you are a champion of mankind, just as I am.”
“I want you to provide fire to humans,” Hestio began to explain. “With Hephaestus and me here, we can summon a permanent flame that will be available to all mortals. No weather, storm, or rain will be able to put this fire out. Humans will have the ability to take this fire and spread it across their lands, to new colonies and growing populations that need it for survival and further advancement for their civilizations.”
And there it was. I now understood Hestio’s ploy. Prometheus was a titan who wanted to see humans grow and flourish. He desired for them to thrive and succeed in the world. This was in complete opposition to Zeus’s beliefs. He wanted mortals to remain restrained with limitations on their advancements. But, even if it meant going against the King of the Gods, if Prometheus was presented an opportunity to assist humans, he would definitely take it.
“There has to be more to this,” Prometheus stated, with apprehension. “What is in it for you? If you really wanted mortals to have access to fire, you would have given it to them so many years ago. So, why now? What makes you want to provide this to them at this very moment in time?”
“I am afraid I cannot provide you with the answer to that,” Hestio boldly stated, while glancing at me. I could easily see the sense of alarm in his eyes, but only I knew that very look of his. I suspected Prometheus was unaware of what that expression meant. “You just need to trust us on this. We are the only gods capable of providing you with an eternal flame for humans. All you must do is sneak it into one of their villages or towns. Then, they will easily be able to spread it to the rest of the world.”
Prometheus shrugged. “Very well. There is nothing left for me to lose. I am beyond grateful you are allowing me to be the one to deliver it to them.”
“Yes, but there is just one promise we need you to make before we give it to you,” Hestio revealed.
“Name it,” Prometheus replied.
“If word was to ever get back to Zeus that you were the one that gave these mortals fire, you need to promise us that you will never mention mine or Hephaestus’s name to him. You will need to come up with a convincing argument as to how you acquired the fire. You may need to say that you somehow stole it from Mount Olympus. Whatever excuse you need to use, under no circumstances can you say that the two of us had any involvement. Otherwise, if you cannot commit to this, consider this deal off the table.”
“No!” Prometheus shouted, desperately. “I accept all your terms. And I have no doubt that I will be able to do this stealthily. Not Zeus nor anyone else will be able to find out that I was the one who delivered the fire to mortals. But by the small chance that I am caught, I can vow that your names will never come out of my mouth.”
Hestio then tilted his head, now glancing at me out of the corners of his eyes. “What do you think, Hephaestus? Does this all sound reasonable to you?”
It was a tricky situation, to say the least. I could see why Hestio thought this was the perfect solution. If it went off without a hitch, humans would have access to fire and would barely ever require the assistance of Hestio to help light their temples, fireplaces, and so forth. Eventually, mortals would be able to harness fire and use it to craft tools and weapons, no longer requiring me to provide for them. This would allow Hestio and me to have so much free time to spend with one another. But the main question that lingered was, was this all worth it? Was this great of a risk worth the reward? And at the end of the day, it really was. I would give anything to be able to have as much time as possible with Hestio. I’d risk even more than this, if it meant that I could be with him for an even longer period of time than what we were already given.
