201. Fate
Fate
As we sat in audience with Zeus,
we were offered ambrosia and nectar.
Our children drank and ate happily,
but Pallas and I declined any offerings.
We were still tense, unsure of the cost.
‘Pallas,’ Zeus’s voice boomed,
‘we would like you to start crafting
weapons for us. We could use your mastery.’
Pallas did not say anything,
just gave the slightest of nods.
Then Zeus turned to my children.
Only Nike, Kratos, and Bia had joined us.
Zelus was still healing in our chambers.
‘As for you, you will join us in battle, yes?’
I tensed at this, my back straightening.
‘No. That wasn’t in the agreement.’ I pulled Bia close.
Zeus frowned. ‘Metis, did you not mention it?’
Metis simply smiled. ‘I thought it would be
better coming from you, my king.’
How had I never noticed her catlike
features, her sly feline smile as she turned
whole rooms to her favour?
‘We ask all Gods who join us
to fight, Styx,’ Zeus told me.
‘Your father was allowed otherwise,
because he simply offered to reduce
the Titan forces by three thousand Gods.’
I stared at him. ‘But Bia is only young.’
I looked down at my smallest child.
The others were almost full-grown Gods now.
Zeus was quiet. ‘I see. Well, we can allow
Bia more time to grow older.
But if the war still continues,
she must join us. Our numbers
are less that the Titans.
They can keep their Goddesses home.
We need our Goddesses
to fight alongside us.’
I waited. Waited for Pallas to say something,
for Metis to reproach Zeus.
But when none of them spoke,
I took a long, deep breath.
‘No.’ The word was quiet,
holding my every conviction.
Zeus leaned forward,
and I saw the cold in his features.
‘I think you are mistaken, nymph,
about what you get to dictate here.’
My body felt like it had turned to ice,
but I stood my ground.
‘My children are not a bargaining chip
for any God, mighty Zeus.’
He sat back, his features betraying
a growing fury that I felt upon me.
‘It is either this or when I win,
and I will win, make no mistake,
you and your daughters will be enslaved.
Your consort and sons will be in cages.
Your choice, nymph.
Either they fight for us now,
or you all spend an eternity
I will ensure is an absolute agony.’
The brutality and finality in his words
made my own fury give way to
something I had never felt before.
Fear. Fear for my daughters. My sons.
For Pallas. I could take any punishment
Zeus meted on me. But not my children.
Not Pallas. Realizing I had no choice left,
I accepted defeat bitterly with these words,
‘You promise nothing
will harm my children?’
And Zeus smiled.
The smile of a shark seeing prey.
‘I promise. They will be protected.’