Ancient Fear (ON HOLD)

Chapter 7 Ancient 12-Part 1

       Hera's P.O.V

        It's not as easy as you'd think it would be being the host of the council. You always have to come early and leave late. And there's always someone late (usually Ares- arrogant fool). And of course someone always tends to stick around afterwards, which of course means that you have to stay too. Of course Zeus always seems to have an excuse not to be apart of the hostings.We always meet when there as an issue of importance to discuss.

        Well, today we've gotten an issue of importance all right. Metis, is of course the issue of utter importance. She got spit up this afternoon from Zeus' stomach. You can bet that Athena was a bit surprised to turn around and see a goddess sitting on the floor of the war room, slowly expanding to her full height. Which was not very impressive at 5'2.This annoyed me greatly, everything was perfectly normal- or as normal as it gets on Olympus until she popped up randomly. Apparently it was me that caused this disturbance by punching Zeus, but he just chose to spit her up just to annoy me. And it's working. 

        Sitting in the throne room I wonder how we were to tell Athena that she has a different mother and a- well best not think about that. I recently heard the shocking news and am still confused by it. How Athena will take it is impossible to predict.

        I felt a grimace spread across my face, a most unappealing look for me I dear say. But at the same moment I heard a WHOOSH! And saw a flash, then it quickly turned itself into a dazzling fake smile, perfected over thousands of years. "It's good to see you Aphrodite." "And you, my queen." She replied absent-mindedly clutching her slightly rounded stomach. I smiled for real, even pregnant Aphrodite was stunning. Aphrodite sat down on my right side three thrones down in a pink throne covered in hearts with two doves flying overhead.

        The thrones were arranged with two thrones at the heads and four thrones on either side. Zeus sat to my left with us two at the head. Zeus liked to arrange the thrones to places that would make things interesting to say in the least. Needless to say the seating arrangements changed often.

        We sat in silence for a few minutes until we heard another WHOOSH and a bright flash, and the wine god appeared "Greetings Dionysus" He dismissed my hello, immediately talking about what his life revolved around " Anyone want wine?" "No thank you" Aphrodite answered. I said the same. Dionysus sat to my right also four thrones down, in a grape vine covered throne.

        In a steady stream they came, Hermes who sat directly across from me in a marble chair with wings carved into them so when he sat down it looked like he had wings. Next came Athena and Artemis who sat next to each other, with Athena to my right next to Zeus and Artemis the throne after. Athena's Throne was grey with owls carved into the arm rests and her back rest had two swords crossing each other with the word knowledge carved into one and wisdom carved into the other. Artemis' throne was white granite with a grey arrow carved into each arm rest. On the backrest she had a silver outlining and the faces of three grey wolf heads carve d into it. 

        Apollo followed closely behind sitting down to my right five thrones down after to Dionysus, in a bright yellow throne that also had an arrow carved into each armrest. On the back was carved a setting sun on a hill with the raise fanned out. I swore his eyes trailed to Athena, and hers to his. Then came Poseidon and Zeus, who's argument came to an abrupt stop noticing others were watching. Zeus sat to my right in a sky blue throne with electricity coursing through it. His brother sat directly to my left and across from Athena. Poseidon's throne was a deeper blue with statues of horses holding up the armrests, the back rest had shells carved into it and two of the biggest pearls I'd ever seen had been placed on the top two corners.

        After a few minutes of silence Hephaestus appeared sitting to my right the throne after Aphrodite. His throne was made up of different mechanical parts that all moved and created a purpose. Say someone else sat on his throne there were a thousand and one ways he could die. I briefly remembered that hero years ago who did, Perry Johnson or something. As Hephaestus sat down he glanced at Aphrodite who smartly ignored his gaze, things had been awkward between them since the father of Aphrodite's baby bump is seemingly not him. "Demeter could not attend due to some importance in the Underworld." There was no reply. So as usual Ares kept us waiting, none of us spoke why should we spend enough time together, we literally have forever.

        Minutes ticked away slowly finally Ares appeared no one spoke still, he sat down in a blood red throne, with statues of people in pain held up his armrests on the back was carved with two spears crossed and blood dripping down both. He sat in between Poseidon and Aphrodite, he as it seems is supposedly the father, not Hephaestus.

        Zeus stood, "Right, we seem to all be here now. So let's get this meeting started. So we've all heard the shocking news." Everyone groaned. Not again. Zeus kept going, "This afternoon I seem to have puked up the long lost Metis. If she'd be so kind to step out here..." I looked at her curious to know what she looked like, she came out slowly taking each step with care. When she got to the middle of the room she faced us, "It's been a long time Zeus." She stood small but proud, we were all in our larger state to fit into the thrones she was not. This made her already small self tiny to us. She had long black wavy hair that went to mid-back, her icy blue eyes challenged anyone it reminded me of Athena. I glanced her way, she looked thoughtful like she was already trying to find some connection. "Er-yes long time no see." She rolled her eyes. "No Zeus I've seen plenty of you" She stayed standing in the middle of the room until Aphrodite chose to do something, "Hebe" She clapped her hands twice. Hebe came out with a short metal stool. Metis sat down. "I take it you haven't told her yet? She has a right to know." Metis looked at Athena fully for the first time.

                                          "So were should we begin?"