The Immortal Heart

Chapter 7

Zeus was in high spirits upon his return to the fortress; the hunt had once again been successful, and the two Olympian brothers returned with not one but two prey, both of them young, healthy stags which would provide the gods with meat for many weeks ahead. The winter was a time of the year when the food supplies ran scarce, and meat was not always to be expected on the menu.

The Olympian leader barely felt the weight of the deer thrown over his shoulder as he walked across the courtyard toward the entrance to their home, Poseidon following only a few steps behind.

“Brother,” the younger god addressed the other. “Why so modest? We have now managed to grant ourselves and our family enough meat on the table for at least two weeks ahead. Are you not proud of our achievement?”

“Oh, I am,” Poseidon replied thoughtfully. “However, Zeus… If I may say so, we could have done well with another hunter by our side. Perhaps you should reconsider your decision and bring our brother along next time.”

Sounds of scornful laughter filled the courtyard in response to Poseidon’s proposal, and the god could not help but give his younger brother a reproachful look. “What is the amusement, Zeus?” he asked as the two entered the fortress with their quarries.

“In fact Hades himself asked me if he could join us for today’s hunt,” the leader explained, still laughing. “Can you picture our brother as a hunter? He would soil himself in fear if our prey would happen to charge him rather than flee!”

Poseidon could only stare at his brother in response to the speculation. “If you say so…”

“You disagree?” Zeus asked with an amused grin. “Indulge me then: how would Hades fare on the hunt?”

“I am not certain,” the elder god answered. “But he has never given me the impression that he would behave like a child in such a situation. Perhaps you need to give him a chance.”

Zeus only laughed again. “Oh, you jest brilliantly, brother.”

Poseidon cocked an eyebrow.

“You should have seen the innocence in his eyes when he asked to accompany us,” the younger god continued, ignoring the look on the other’s face. “It was almost sweet. Had me nearly in tears from laughing…”

Poseidon grimaced. “Do you not think that was too strong of a response?”

“How so?”

Brow knitted, the older Olympian explained further. “He wanted to join us and you laughed at him. I would think that declining his request in such a fashion would have been more than discouraging. Would you have laughed in any of our sisters’ faces?”

Zeus was about to say yes, but the look on his brother’s face made him stay his tongue “And you would not?” he asked instead.

“Perhaps this is an exaggeration, but I’d sooner laugh at one of your decisions.”

Zeus came to a halt, staring at his brother as the elder god passed him, their eyes locking.

“Think about it, brother.”

“Are you suggesting that I may have hurt his feelings?” Zeus asked, trying to think back on how Hades had acted after Zeus dramatically rejected his request to join his brothers. He could not recall the older god showing obvious signs of offense, but then again, even Zeus was aware that Hades did not always – or even mostly – speak what was on his mind.

“Hades is… sensitive,” Poseidon replied after a long pause. “Granted he is weaker than you or I, but you have treated him as something less than a god for so long that his self image has suffered greatly. He wishes nothing more than to please you, Zeus; to earn your respect. Why won’t you let him?”

Zeus stopped his brother with a hand against his shoulder, all the previous mirth gone from his face. “What do you mean by that?” he asked sharply. “Hades might be unfit for hunting, but I have found other uses for him. Things that he truly excels at.” A small smile found its way back to Zeus’ lips as he thought of how apt their eldest brother had become at pleasing him in bed.

“Do you care for Hades, brother?” Poseidon asked.

“What kind of a question is that? I care for all of you!”

“Then show it to him. Give him something special, something out of the ordinary, that makes him feel valued.”

Zeus stood there, digesting the words his brother had given him. When had he not shown how much he cared for his family? He showed his caring for them always. The fault was not his if his siblings were unable to notice such gestures. He had saved them from Cronos’ imprisonment, for goodness’ sake.

However, the issue of who had freed who was hardly the point at present time. Had he truly hurt Hades’ feelings? What was Zeus to do in remorse? Complying with Hades’ request was out of the question entirely. The Olympian leader knew that the eldest god did not share his brothers’ physical strength, and he would either slow the group down or be wounded in the hunt.

So what could Zeus do?

Shifting the weight of the stag, which was beginning to slide off his shoulder, he walked onward, forming an idea.

*

Watching Poseidon walk by, Demeter looked around, clueless as to where Zeus could be. Giving up the wait, she returned to Hades’ bedside, sitting at the edge and debating whether or not she should wake him.

She was about to rouse the god from his sleep when the bedchamber door opened. Zeus entered, predictably without knocking and looked down at his siblings with an unreadable expression.

“Hades,” he said, his voice loud enough to wake his brother. “I require an audience with you.”

Shaken from his slumber by a familiar voice, Hades realized its owner in an instant and jolted awake, staring up from his bed at the much taller god. “Zeus…” he all but stammered. “You wish to speak with me?”

“Alone.”

Demeter felt a hand grip at her arm tightly, but she merely gripped back, smiling at Hades. “It will be alright.”

Taking a deep breath and gathering his robes around him, Hades stood up and followed his brother down the halls until they arrived at the room where their food was prepared. Two stags hung headless from the ceiling, their blood draining into jars below.

“You were displeased with my answer last night,” Zeus stated, glancing at the corpses.

Hades gulped and tried to explain himself, to say that he was at fault for his foolishness, but a large hand grasped his shoulder.

“No explanation is needed, brother,” the younger Olympian said, and he walked toward the closest buck, picking up a knife. The weapon immediately made Hades nervous.

“I simply do not think your assistance would be best on the hunt.” Zeus examined a slit traveling from the animal’s neck down to its belly. Upon killing it, Hades’ brothers had removed the stag’s vital organs, which were of little use compared to the meat. Removing his robes so that he was naked to the waist, Zeus proceeded to reach into the slit with both hand and knife.

“You must trust my judgment on such matters, Hades,” the younger god said. “We all have duties to fulfill. Do not worry… you will find another way to help.”

Hades said nothing, only staring at the floor, at the splattering of blood which missed the jars. Sawing at something within the ribs of the carcass, Zeus finally removed his hands and held up a small slab of meat.

“Sweetbreads…” he mused.

“What?” Hades asked, confused. “What about them?”

“Possibly the most tender flesh one could eat…” Zeus took the piece of meat to a nearby basin of water and carefully rinsed his prize. “Also the first cut made from what is eaten from the prey. It goes to whoever was lucky enough to make the kill.”

Looking at the sizeable morsel thoughtfully, Zeus finally turned towards Hades and held it out to him, silently asking him to take it.

“Oh… oh, no, I couldn’t possibly,” Hades instinctively said, in utter disbelief that Zeus would offer him such a treat.

“Hurry, before it spoils,” Zeus said, his tone insistent yet not forceful. Tentatively, Hades took the meat and ate it in one bite. His brother was right: sweetbreads were delicious.

“Thank you…” he managed to say, despite knowing how unseemly it was considered to speak with one’s mouth full.

“Think nothing of it, brother,” the younger god replied, smiling sweetly at his fellow Olympian. It surprised him but also pleased him greatly to see how awed Hades was just from such a small gesture, and Zeus began to realize that he truly hadn’t given Hades enough credit or appreciation up until this day. That has to change, he thought, looking on as the other swallowed his treat, very careful not to smear his face or his robes with the leftover blood now on his hands.

Zeus rinsed his own hands in the wash basin and approached his brother. Hades looked up at him with large, expectant eyes.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Zeus asked.

“I have none,” Hades replied quietly, but hope had already ignited in his eyes.

“Our storage of wine is growing thin,” the leader continued. “I am planning to spend tomorrow on rectifying this problem.” The production of wine was one task that Zeus would not delegate to any of his siblings; it was his duty and his alone to make sure that the family always had enough to drink, but this time he was willing to make an exception. “If you want to, Hades, you could assist me.”

The smile that appeared on the older god’s face revealed his almost uncanny joy mixed with the expected surprise. “You… you would like me to?”

“Yes, brother, I would appreciate your help… as well as your company.”

“Nothing would please me more.”

“Good, then it is decided.” Zeus returned the childishly excited grin on his brother’s face with a more reserved smile of his own and placed a kiss on Hades’ crown. If only it was this easy to please all his siblings…

*

Demeter had been anxiously waiting for the return of her brother, unaware of whether or not Zeus was angry with Hades. The very moment she saw the latter walking down the hall, she hurried to him, and was happy to see him smiling. It was a strange little smile, with the faintest hint of excitement.

“I suppose your talk went well,” the goddess said.

Hades grinned at her. “He wants me to help him with the winemaking tomorrow.”

Eyebrows raised in genuine surprise, Demeter’s grin would not waver. “That’s wonderful, Hades! Was I not right?” She nudged her brother in the arm. “He was not angry.”

“I should believe you more often,” Hades said with a small laugh.


TBC...