Page 34 of Hephaestus
And within what seemed the blink of an eye, Zeus was already at the very tail end of his speech. “And now, I decree thee Hephaestus and Aphrodite wed under this matrimony and recognized by the Olympian Gods. Hephaestus, you may now kiss your bride.”
Everyone in the crowd cheered us on, as Aphrodite and I hesitantly leaned in to kiss one another on the lips. It was a brief moment that lasted all but three seconds before we pulled away. The whole thing felt repulsive to me, as I’m sure it did to her as well.
It was official. Aphrodite and I were now formally recognized as husband and wife. This was not what I wished for at all. I wanted to be in love and together with the person who, although not the actual Goddess of love and beauty, possessed the most beauty and love on the inside, more than any other god and goddess on Mount Olympus. All I could think about was Hestio. He was on my mind every waking second of the day, and even now, as I kissed my bride.
After Aphrodite and I released from one another, sealing our fates, I scanned the crowd, to the very exact spot where I saw Hestio standing just moments ago. Only now, he was no longer there. He was quick to vanish, and I should have suspected that he would have.
But I had no time to even process the possible whereabouts of Hestio, for all the gods and goddesses were rushing to Aphrodite and me to express their congratulations for our marriage. There were many pats on my back and kisses on my cheek. I heard many laudable praises from various people, but the only voice I wanted to hear was Hestio’s, but unfortunately for me, it was nowhere to be found.
***
After the wedding, it was expected that an extravagant feast was to be held for all the gods and goddesses to be able to merrily eat and drink the night away in honor of the newlyweds. The location of this feast was left to be determined by Aphrodite and me. However, before she and I could have a conversation as to the whereabouts of where the celebration should be held, Dionysus offered his palace up right away.
Before I could even have the chance to respond to his offer, Aphrodite spoke up, accepting his generosity, claiming that she preferred for us to hold the feast at the very place where the infinite amount of wine was supplied.
I was not in the right frame of mind to even question the decision. So, with no objection, I agreed to allow our post-nuptial feast to occur at Dionysus’s palace. The dinner proceeded with so many formalities of various gods and goddesses speaking up to give their blessings and express their approval of our marriage.
The ambrosia and food were far more extravagant than I had anticipated. The table of food and drinks stretched far and long, especially the libations with what Dionysus had at his disposal.
I made sure that I only had a sparing amount of wine, while I was amazed to find everyone else being carefree with their consumption of the crimson liquids.
To my surprise, Aphrodite decided to pipe up, wanting to make a toast to everyone that was present. I watched her curiously, wondering just what she had to say in this moment, knowing for sure it would not be authentic at all.
“I would like to make a toast to my wonderful, new husband, Hephaestus,” she announced while winking at me, holding her goblet of wine high in the air. “As the Goddess of love, I can undeniably recognize that for what most may think Hephaestus lacks in grace, love and beauty on the outside, he surely makes up for on the inside.”
Aphrodite leaned her head back to take a generous helping from her goblet. I was quite stunned by that brief remark of hers. It was the first time she had ever paid a compliment to me, even if there was a slight insult added to it in the beginning. I was not sure what to make of it. Knowing Aphrodite, I had a hunch that there was a hidden motive here. I suspected there was a favor or request she wanted to make of me in the very near future, and it was just an attempt to get in the better of my graces.
But I could not hold my focus on her for too long. Now I was glancing about the dining hall, trying to see where Hestio was seated. It took a while for me to finally locate him at one of the very far seats, closest to the entrance doors of the dining hall. Once he had caught me staring at him, Hestio abruptly stood up and walked out from the feast.
This left me bothered. But I had to consider the opportunity this scene afforded me. I presumed that since all the gods and goddesses were mostly drunk and present here, there was a good chance I could sneak out of the room for a short while to find Hestio and have a conversation with him. It needed to be had.
As I stumbled my way out of the hall and onto Dionysus’s veranda, I lowered my gaze to the grounds. I was able to recognize Hestio’s figure wandering into the gardens full of tall hedges. Just why was he heading there, of all locations? It left me stumped and curious. So, I did the only thing I wanted to do, at this moment, which was to follow him in pursuit.
Chapter 17
Itwashardtoconceal my feelings about Hephaestus and Aphrodite being married to each other, especially considering I would be getting a front-row seat in the Garden of Hesperides and having to watch the two kiss one another in order to mark their fates as a married god and goddess.
I could not hide the remorse and agony expressed on my face over the position I was now in. I was having to lose the love of my eternal existence to the vulgar and pompous Aphrodite, who was completely unworthy of Hephaestus’s affection.
Sitting through and enduring this wedding ceremony felt like I was slowly drowning in the Aegean Sea. I could start to feel the flames in every part of my body begin to burn out with each passing second, up until the moment came when Hephaestus and Aphrodite would lock their lips together. Only then would the fire burning within me be completely extinguished.
I thought I could hold my own and show strength and perseverance during this wedding. Yet even I could not prepare myself for the onslaught of anguish that would whip hard against me, leaving me bruised.
Therefore, I had to slowly back away, so that I was behind most of the other gods and goddesses in the crowd, allowing myself to onlook the two at the altar from far away. At least this distance was much more manageable, and I could hide my grief from others, who would be too engrossed with the ritual up front to inspect me.
Luckily, Hephaestus was focused on Aphrodite, not once taking a glance into the audience. It was better this way—best for him to just keep his attention on her because I knew how afflicted I would be if he searched for me. It would mean that he cared and was just as forlorn as I was, which would only bring on more despair for the both of us.
But I should have known better. Just before Hephaestus was set to kiss Aphrodite, he scanned the crowd, and I knew without any doubt that he was trying to find me. The second his gaze met mine, I could see the sorrow in his eyes. This was his way of apologizing for what he was about to do. And it was with this look that I lost control of my emotions. I could feel the tears accumulating in the corners of my eyes. So, before I could allow anyone to witness my lamenting, I abruptly turned my back to the altar and walked off, just as Hephaestus and Aphrodite were officially made husband and wife.
***
After the wedding, I made my way to Dionysus’s palace, choosing to stroll on my own, not caring to accompany any of the other gods and goddesses on the walk there. I was not in the right frame of mind to even be able to carry on a conversation with any of them.
Now that Hephaestus and Aphrodite were married, everyone who attended the wedding was expected to join them for a feast full of ambrosia and wine to celebrate their matrimony. Anyone who was absent from the event would instantly be recognized by the King of the Gods and punished for their lack of participation. This was tradition on Mount Olympus during any wedding of a god or goddess.
As I entered Dionysus’s ostentatious, lavender dining hall, I kept the same strategy as I did at the Garden of Hesperides, maintaining my distance from Hephaestus and Aphrodite. I chose to sit at the table closest to the entrance to the dining hall, giving me the opportunity to make a clean escape if a situation were to arise that would warrant it.
For the most part, the feast was pleasant. Everyone was lively and in good spirits. I even found myself retrieving a full goblet of wine to at least enjoy the contents of it. Wine at Dionysus’s palace was unlike anywhere else, since it came fresh from the vineyards of his grounds just beside his home.
