Chapter 27: The Twelve Olympian Gods (1)
With the establishment of the king and queen of the gods, peace settled over the previously chaotic Olympus.
However, Zeus' persistent womanizing remained a problem.
Hades, still bitter, didn't attend Hera and Zeus' wedding and considered sending Eris, the goddess of discord, to wreak havoc. But Eris was already loyal to Hera.
After all, only Hera, her sisters, and Poseidon treated Eris and her children kindly.
As a result, instead of disrupting the wedding, Hades' underworld ended up in chaos—an amusing mishap.
"Arghhh!"
***
On an ordinary day, Poseidon rode the waves as usual.
The primordial sea, Oceanus, was managed by Amphitrite, and all the other seas were under the care of Eurynome.
Gaia handled volcanoes and earthquakes, leaving Poseidon looking like an idle god living off his capable wives.
Sure, he occasionally played with mischievous spirits and young nymphs, but…
Playing with kids like a neighborhood uncle didn't exactly count as work, did it?
More telling was that Poseidon seemed to enjoy it more than the spirits and nymphs did.
Once, he got so carried away that he churned the sea into chaos, earning a stern scolding from Eurynome.
"That spot still stings," Poseidon grumbled.
"Well, you deserved it," a voice replied from above.
Though nothing was visible, Poseidon flicked the air with a knuckle.
Pop.
"What? You cheeky brat!"
"Ow! Why'd you hit me?"
"You were having just as much fun back then, weren't you?"
"I didn't know you were so whipped back then!"
"What? You impudent little—typical of Zeus' kid, so brazen!"
"Hehe, who else would I take after if not my dad?"
Despite his carefree demeanor, Poseidon was a great god, one few—save his siblings—dared tease. Yet this invisible being taunted him freely.
Sighing, Poseidon yanked the figure from the air.
"Enough. Show yourself. What trick did you learn this time to hide in midair, Hermes?"
Emerging from the air was Hermes, wearing winged sandals and a cap.
The god of thieves, messengers, lies, and trickery—another of Zeus' children.
Poseidon shook his head at the chatty son of Zeus trailing him.
"How many kids does that lunatic Zeus keep churning out?"
Hermes grinned mischievously, teasing Poseidon further.
"Gasp! How can one of the three chief gods use such crude words like 'churning out'? A young god like me could go astray hearing that!"
Pop.
Another flick landed on Hermes' forehead.
"Argh!"
"Don't be dramatic. I didn't hit you that hard."
"Hehehe."
Rubbing the spot, Hermes floated behind Poseidon, his winged sandals—gifts from Zeus—carrying him through the air.
Though still a young god clumsy with his sandals, Hermes couldn't understand why others feared Poseidon.
The sea god slowed his pace to match Hermes' unsteady flight, showing a surprising thoughtfulness.
Plus, Poseidon had protected Hermes and his mother from Hera's wrath.
"Let's go together!"
Hermes eagerly followed the blue-haired god, his clumsy wingbeats full of enthusiasm.
He loved hanging out with Poseidon.
***
To understand Hermes' story, one must first know the relationship between Apollo and Poseidon.
It began after the resolution of Metis' twin children and Hera's marriage to Zeus, cementing her role as queen of the gods.
Hera and Zeus' union wasn't born of love but of mutual need.
As such, they were bound to respect each other's domains and honor, but…
As everyone knew, Zeus' womanizing didn't stop after marrying Hera.
"Zeus!!!"
Hera's voice shook the heavens daily because of Zeus' escapades, and the tipping point came with his affair with Leto.
"Oh, Leto, your beauty surpasses all!"
"Even Hera's?"
"Well…"
"Don't you love me, Lord Zeus?"
"Of course I do! Your beauty outshines even Hera's in my eyes."
"Really? I love you, Zeus!"
If Poseidon had overheard, he'd have gagged.
Unfortunately, this conversation reached Hera's ears, escalating beyond her personal grievance to an affront against her followers.
Hera herself might not have cared much about Zeus' infidelity, but for those who revered her, comparing anyone to the queen of the gods was an outrage.
Worse, the scandal spread to the mortal realm, tarnishing Hera's honor and her divine domains of marriage and family.
***
Hera was furious, not just at Zeus but at the damage to her reputation and divine essence.
"You fool, Zeus. Even if you stray, you shouldn't have been caught. If you can't control your urges, the children of the women you love will bear my wrath. From now on, no woman you touch will escape my fury."
Her rage was so Intense that all beings in the world bowed their heads in fear.
Even Hades didn't mock her this time, a testament to the magnitude of her anger.
Those who knew Hera's temperament shook their heads.
"Tch, Zeus really crossed Hera this time," Poseidon remarked.
"How can siblings be so different? If Zeus were half like you, would Hera be this enraged?" Eurynome said.
"Haha, Eurynome, you must love the clothes I gifted you to flatter me like that."
"It's not flattery—I mean it."
"Then prove it."
"What? Eek!"
Hera's fury was palpable even to Poseidon, who was spending time with his wife.
'The fact that Zeus and Leto's affair became public knowledge was too much. Now that Hera's declared she'll curb Zeus' infidelity, his good days are over.'
As time passed and Leto's time to give birth approached, Hera issued an order to Python, a son of Gaia and a subordinate given to her by Poseidon.
"Ensure that wretched Leto cannot give birth. Pursue her relentlessly."
From that moment, Python began hounding Leto. She could find no place to deliver her children.
Every mountain, field, and island rejected her.
Nymphs of the forests, Pan tribes, and centaurs fled at the sight of her.
Worse, Gaia, displeased that her granddaughter Leto was carrying Zeus' children, caused biting winds to sweep through wherever Leto went.
Even Zeus, pitying her plight, was powerless to intervene, bound by the Oath of the Styx.
"Please, let me give birth here!"
"I'm sorry, but we fear Hera's wrath. We can't help you."
"My children are Zeus'! Surely he'll reward those who aid me!"
"It's impossible. Even Zeus' rewards wouldn't save us from Hera's fury. And with Gaia sending those harsh winds, what can we do?"
Leto, nearing the time of birth, could only wander, unable to rest as Python pursued her relentlessly.
Watching from afar, Zeus sighed and, as a last resort, turned to his brother Poseidon for help.
Demeter and Hestia had already turned him away.
"Poseidon, please help Leto."
"Zeus, this is your mess. Who told you to let the affair spread to the mortal world?"
"I didn't know it would get out like that!"
"What, are you proud of acting like a dog in heat?"
"What? Are you picking a fight?"
"Whoa, whoa, getting mad? You won't escape Hera's wrath without my help."
"That's not… I mean…"
Zeus was desperate.
With his sisters refusing, Poseidon was his only option. Hades wasn't even worth considering.
'This guy's bound to cheat again… but Leto's kids are Apollo and Artemis, right?'
In the myths, Apollo was often at odds with Poseidon, and Artemis had her own entanglements with Poseidon's children.
'That makes me hesitant to help. But Zeus' kids are talented. Maybe it's better to put a leash on them now.'
Moreover, Poseidon doubted his refusal would stop Leto from giving birth. The threads woven by the Fates weren't easily altered.
After weighing his options, Poseidon decided to grant Zeus' request.
However, helping too readily would only embolden Zeus' reckless nature, so Poseidon chose to drag it out.
Plus, given Zeus' arrogance—akin to Hades'—Poseidon saw a chance to establish some hierarchy.
"It's not hard to help her behind Hera's back."
"Really?"
"Of course. But from now on, you'll address me respectfully as 'brother.'"
"What?!"
"Or forget it. I don't care if that woman lives or dies."
"Ugh…"
Zeus agonized.
As king of the gods, he was technically the elder, but calling Poseidon "brother" was a blow to his pride. What would the other gods think?
Yet, seeing Leto's suffering—and with his children in her womb—he couldn't refuse.
"Fine. I swear on the Styx to call you 'brother Poseidon' from now on."
"Deal."
Poseidon immediately raised towering waves to shield Leto from Hera's gaze and sent his chariot to her aid.
It wouldn't fool Hera or Gaia entirely, but it would buy some time.
'At least it'll pause their pursuit for a bit.'
***
Leto's condition was dire as she fled from Python.
Her skin was marred and dull, her turquoise hair dry and brittle, her once-cherry lips cracked like a drought-stricken land.
She felt she could no longer endure, almost wishing to collapse, when…
"Leto, I've shielded you from Hera's eyes for now. Get in my chariot."
"Lord Poseidon?"
"Your husband—or whatever Zeus is—asked me to help. Don't worry, just get in."
Poseidon's chariot emerged amidst the waves.
As Poseidon whisked Leto away, Python, watching from a distance, turned a blind eye.
From Python's perspective, Poseidon was his former boss, his mother's husband, and his current boss's younger brother — a very tangled relationship indeed.
Thus, with Python's tacit approval, Poseidon brought Leto to the island of Delos deep beneath the sea.
"Delos, will you offer a corner of your island to the goddess Leto?"
Voooong
— Lord Poseidon, it's been a while.
"Yes, it has. Long time no see."
— Indeed… well, since I'm a drifting island, Lady Hera's wrath won't reach me, but I still have some concerns.
"What is it?"
— My island is home to venomous insects and carnivorous plants under my protection, as well as young hydras and predators. What if Lord Zeus's sons are born and come to despise me?
"That will never happen. I, Leto, swear by the River Styx that I will take full responsibility — my children's first temple shall be built here, on this island of Delos."