Trojan War: Aphrodite and Athena

[corneredbliss]

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Aphrodite

High above on Mount Olympus sat a golden city, majestic amidst clouds that seemed to understand the regality of the place. Though its streets were usually breathing with life, Helios had long since finished his journey, leaving Selene to occupy the sky. She bathed the kingdom in moonlight, watching as it twinkled back at her and knowing that it was not as still as it seemed. While the citizens of the legendary city were sleeping soundly in their beds, the gods and goddesses of Olympus were gathered in the grand hall of Zeus's palace. He had called a meeting to discuss the imminent war amongst men below them, and it was no secret that he was displeased with the fact. The atmosphere seemed charged with Zeus's emotion, humming with the buzz of electricity that always came when he was in a state. Though Selene wasn't present at the gathering, she knew she was likely to hear about it soon enough.

Inside the circular meeting hall, the assembled immortals surrendered their attention to Zeus. Seated along the walls in high backed chairs were those whom he considered his immediate family, all eyeing him intently at his place between Poseidon and Hera. The entirety of the congregation were dressed in their white robes, which complimented the glow that the room seemed to be emitting. The god of thunder sat with the bridge of his nose pinched between his thumb and forefinger, taking time to collect his thoughts before lifting his head from its bow to take his company in with an air of seriousness. "The Greeks have declared war against the Trojans," Zeus announced to his audience, letting the words linger in the air for a few moments before continuing. "It is true. As I understand it, they have already begun sending their prayers to you." He paused, his eyes grazing the council to find the god and goddess of war, offering them a somber nod of acknowledgement.

"I also understand that this war is to being fought over an unjust prize," he went on, his voice gruff and somewhat accusing. Though he did not elaborate on the statement, those in the room understood what he was implying. Word of Aphrodite's hand in the dilemma had spread, leaving her at the receiving end of piercing stares in the pause that followed Zeus's words. They knew that she did not deserve full blame for the actions of humans, but were it not for her meddling, there would not be a situation to discuss.

The goddess herself sat a few seats down from Hera, draped along the one of the arm rests of her chair with a leg slung over the other at the knee. Her robes barely covered her fair-skinned body, though it was not in her nature to fix them. Eyes the color of the sea stared directly at the tiled floor while her fingers ran across her full lips absentmindedly. Despite the pairs of eyes that seemed to drill her into her seat, there was no hint of remorse on her features. In fact, Aphrodite looked quite distant, as if she had not been listening to Zeus at all, but was rather absorbed in her own thoughts.

It frustrated her that the Greeks would go to war over a petty woman. Surely Helen was the most beautiful mortal female Aphrodite had ever laid eyes on, and though she would never admit it, the goddess would have absolutely no qualms if she was the object of such grand arguments. Still, it irked her to have such a kink in what would have been a successful trade-off for the golden apple that declared her the most exceptional. A kink that went by the name of Menelaus, who was willing to tear apart another civilization for a woman. A woman! He was the king of the Greeks, for goodness sake! It would be no difficult task for him to have hundreds of lovely others falling at his feet in a moment's notice, and she was sure that he was more than aware of that fact. Though, being the idol of the emotion that drove him, Aphrodite could not wholly oppose the man. Despite wanting Menelaus to simply forget about his wife, she knew that would not be the case. He was going to stop at nothing to retrieve her, and even if the goddess would not admit it openly, she praised him for his strength.

The only real worries she had with the coming war was that her son, Aeneas, was to be a participant in it, as well as Paris, who was sure to be the most wanted. In truth, Aphrodite was feeling a bit guilty for giving the Trojan such trouble in exchange for a simple title, and the only way to compensate for her error was to offer him protection when he most needed it. Unfortunately, Zeus was not going to allow anymore of her infringements.

"With that being said, I forbid any of you to interfere with the war, with the exception of Athena and Ares."

At this, Aphrodite pulled herself from her reverie and lifted her eyes to Zeus, lips parted in a gasp of surprise. She unfolded her legs and leaned forward in her seat, eyebrows furrowed in distress. "But I must aid my son! And protect the male - Paris of the Troy. I owe him that much!" she explained, disregarding the audible scoffs that came from some of the immortals. It did not matter what they thought; She had grown to care for the man as well, and it was only fair that she attempt to get him out of the trouble she had started. "Please, you canno-"

"You will not tell me what I can and cannot do," Zeus bellowed, his voice booming through the room and echoing in rumbles of thunder. Aphrodite immediately quieted herself, though her face had hardened in defiance. She refused to look away as Zeus turned his heated gaze upon her. His volume had returned to a normal level, though the authority behind it still rang clearly. "You are to keep yourself out of this, Aphrodite. You have caused enough trouble as it is. Tend to the affairs of your expertise as you always have... And leave the war to those who know of it." A sudden flare of anger rose up within the immortal as her eyes flickered towards Athena, filled with anger and jealousy. Admittedly, it was the only time she'd ever felt such things towards the woman, who was probably still spiteful of her for winning Paris's judgement. Caught off-guard by the latter emotion, Aphrodite hastily dropped her eyes, resorting to fuming inwardly.

Finally tearing his stare away from her, Zeus inhaled deeply, attempting to keep himself in check before letting out the air in a rush. "Dismissed," he said tiredly, but before he had even finished uttering the word, Aphrodite had risen from her chair and had strode out of the room, chin held high and hips swaying in time with her determined steps. A simple command was not going to keep her from her duties. It wasn't the first time she had disobeyed the god, anyway. Aeneas and Paris would not be without her, that much she promised herself as she made her way down the long corridor. With a quick glance over her shoulder, Aphrodite turned the corner at the end of the hallway and quickened her pace, reaching up with a hand to unclasp the brooch from her hair to free the blonde locks which cascaded down to her lower back. Her plan was to reach the gates before Zeus had time to send anyone after her, though she doubted that he would be so naive.

And she was correct. Back in the room, the god of thunder rubbed the bottom of his chin warily before calling after one of the stragglers of the group. She would be heading to the gates in any case, as she would be needed where the mortals were. "Athena," Zeus called, adjusting himself in his chair so that he leaned in towards her when she came. With his voice low, he murmured, "Keep your eye on her." And with that, he nodded his head in farewell before turning to attend to his wife.

[Snozzberry4947]

Whether Zeus understood it or not, his words of warning were falling upon averted ears. Perhaps it was why he told her to shadow Aphrodite, or maybe he was taking a side in this conflict—something he usually left to Ares and herself. But she would have followed Aphrodite even without his order; the fair goddess was, no doubt, off to counsel Paris. Well, that only meant that she had to reach Paris first with words of logic and wisdom; virtues that came foremost to her than her warring side. In her bones, she felt this would not be a swift battle and wanted nothing more than to forestall excess deaths. Yet her preventative measures usually failed. Men were too headstrong to heed her word, and surely Paris was all but blinded by his little prize. Still, it was her duty to try. Ares, she supposed, had flown to counsel the Greek leaders, and she could already tell they would need all the advice they could grab with their furious fingers. Troy was far across the Aegean Sea and though from Olympus she could clandestinely watch in silence the happenings from afar, the Greeks she feared, would spend too much of their time and energy just trying to find the right city.

“Zeus,” she started and resolutely sat in the chair previously occupied by Poseidon, breaking off the conversation between the thunder god and his wife. “You know she will not idly stand by. I cannot raise armies and be her shadow at--”

“Leave that to Ares, for now. I need you to watch her Athena, and she's about to leave. To Paris, no doubt. Go. Now!” Though his voice was kept rather soft, that familiar rumble of rage prickled her skin and she wasted no time in racing toward the gates.

“They intend to marry,” Hera stated coolly, continuing where they had been broken off in speech. It was true; Paris had asked for Helen's hand in marriage already. Which by all laws was rather illegal. Paris would have to find someone willing enough to acquiesce to a bribe, or someone uneducated enough on current situations to marry the two. Or, as she feared, Aphrodite would step in again. Their hope lay in Athena's wisdom now. It was so like mortals to find such rage in paltry issues as Helen. But unfortunately for them, the gods' influence had been made.

“Have you talked with Eris?” Zeus questioned, his voice taking on a more comfortable and sanguine tone now that he was alone with his wife once more. He knew how she refused to listen when he was upset; it made for a lovely tactic to keep the peace between them.

“Yes. She apologized to me, although there was no need for her to do so. She refuses to meet with Aphrodite, though I doubt much would sway her now. It isn't about the apple anymore...”

Athena re-pinned her tenacious brown curls high on the crown of her head as she sprinted down the painted hallway to those great gates. If she was wrong about where Aphrodite was headed, it was going to cost her much time. But a good guess was better than a head full of air so haste was made to seek Paris once her sandal-clad feet left the realm of the gods. Stealthily, she materialized into the fire-licked room and gently shook off that uncomfortable feeling one gets when bending space like that.

“By Zeus's beard!” The woman muttered, repulsion pulling her wide lips down and back. This is why mortals knocked. It seemed Paris and Helen were busy expressing their devotion physically. The act itself always made her uncomfortable—stone-grey eyes averted for a moment, hoping one of them would notice her sudden entrance. But in anticipation of Aphrodite also appearing, she took note of the seconds that were still at her advantage, and cleared her throat. Loudly.

“I see she's already graced you two with her guidance, but I've more pressing news. You'll have to continue with...that...later. Paris, I do not chastise you for so keenly reading into the promise Aphrodite offered, but you must realize she was wrong to utter such a gift. Helen, you are married. To Menelaus. Paris, you are--” she stopped short as her gaze wandered across multiple sacks in the corner holding what she knew to be much of Menelaus's gold. “Greedy.” She sighed. “You two are fueling a bigger conflict than I think either of you realize. Menelaus has all of Helen's previous suitors behind him in a waged war against the Greeks. All of my intuition tells me this impending battle will not come to fruition in a mere year or two. Paris, you alone have the power to do what is right and return Helen to her husband. At least I can work to let you keep your head if you comply now.”

“I don't want to go back.” The bright-eyed woman answered, rather straightforwardly for being interrupted, and by a goddess, too. “You think I'm the only woman Menelaus keeps in his palace? I'm happier here. What does it matter anymore? I love Paris and he loves me back—something I never had with Menelaus. I found only pity and a caring like that for a pet with that king. I won't go and Paris would never force me to.” Athena's sour pink lips turned into an even more bitter smile. It didn't matter if Aphrodite were here or not. She had already done her work, and well, at that.

“You're willing to let two nations tear each other to shreds just because mortal life is unjust? And to whom is it just? Not many, Helen. I'm trying to repress a war here. Does that mean nothing to you two? Are you so drowned in each other's coos that your brains have been waterlogged? Paris, there is no chance that you will evade fighting in this war.”

“Then I will fight for her freedom with me. I am creating justice, Athena. She deserves a loving husband, not to be owned and marveled at as a trinket.” Paris finally spoke. “I did no wrong in carrying out a promise made to me.”

“But the promise in itself was wrong,” she retorted, feeling this conversation was not headed quite where she wished it were. “Mortal law is mortal law, and you broke it. The dignified decision would be to return Helen and accept that not all gods make perfect choices. Save some of your reputation and save some of your people! This is absolutely--” There came that alternately warm and chill tingling to her skin when someone was warping in proximity. She hoped that it was only Ares she would have to face, and not Aphrodite herself. The woman had caused far enough mess and didn't seem too fervent in cleaning it up. Athena paused amidst an inhale, wide, masculine jaw set tight, ready for whomever had come.

No picture this time. Nothing captured the look I wanted for her.

[corneredbliss]

Despite her hurry, Aphrodite had darted off toward her chambers to retrieve her girdle, which she never left Olympus without. It was foolish of her to have taken it off before the meeting, but there was nothing to be done about the mistake at the moment - Especially not when time was so valuable. Years of experience have shown her that it always came in handy with those testosterone driven humans, and as wars were usually fought with men, the goddess figured there would be ample opportunity for her to use it for her benefit. With the golden cord finally secured around her waist, she made haste towards the gates, curls flowing out behind her as she raced through the city. Despite her confidence, an ill feeling had spawned in the pit of her stomach, warning her that she was indeed late. Those precious moments during which she had fetched her girdle might have been all the time that cursed Zues needed to realize where she would be heading and to send someone in pursuit. It was a shame that she seemed to be an open book to the rest of the gods, who could tell right away that she would be heading straight for Paris.

However, it mattered not whether some other Olympian reached her destination first; Or so Aphrodite attempted to convince herself as the grand gateway came into view. Her work over the two had been done a long while ago, and therefore any reasoning would do naught to sway them. Paris and Helen were much too infatuated with each other to heed any sort of logical explanations as to why the woman should be brought back. To some, the goddess might be considered absolutely insane for praising them, but she was simply admiring her work.

Aphrodite reached the portal in seconds and focused her thoughts onto the couple, whom she knew without a shadow of a doubt would be together. As soon as she stepped out of the gates, the cloudy atmosphere and shiny structures of her home disappeared, to be replaced with a small room that belonged to Paris of Troy. It took only moments for her to reorient herself, firstly confirming that she had transported herself to the correct place. The crackling fire illuminated the familiar bedroom, bathing her in its warm glow as she smoothened out her gown and adjusted her girdle. Her eyes were instantly drawn towards the two who were locked in each other's embrace in the bed, causing her face to light up with a mixture of smugness and joy. She was completely sure they had been making love mere minutes ago - The scent of it still lingered in the air, surrounding the goddess and arousing her just slightly. It always excited her to know that people have been expressing their love through physical means, especially when she knew it was her who brought them together. Needless to say, she was one who took pride in her work, and why should she not? She was merely putting more love in a world that desperately needed it.

The male's eyes shifted and immediately fell on their newest intruder, though this one he greeted with enthusiasm. "Aphrodite!" Paris said in delight, announcing her presence to the room at large. His smile welcomed her as an old friend, and the goddess gladly returned it, offering her acknowledgement to Helen, as well. "Beautiful Aphrodite," he continued, releasing his loved one from his arms and moving towards the edge of the bed as if coming to greet her, though remembered that he bore no clothes and chose instead to return to his original position. "How long has it been?"

"Far too long, my dearest," the goddess replied, taking a step forward so that she might approach them. "I am glad see that you two are quite well. Though I fear that - Ah." Aphrodite paused, having finally caught sight of the goddess that had been sent after her. There was a hunch that it was to be this one in particular, though there could have been no way to make sure. The woman was standing only a few feet to her side, jaw set tight as if readying herself for something. With a sly gleam in her eye, Aphrodite turned towards the woman, her lips curling up into a slight smirk. She knew how uncomfortable the woman must have been upon intruding on the act that was taking place before the two of them arrived. The thought made her emit a soft, knowing chuckle, as she found much amusement in making the innocent goddess ill at ease. "Athena," she breathed, changing her course so that her steps led her closer to her fellow Olympian, "How... Lovely to see you." It only took a few strides to reach her, though Aphrodite did not stop in front of the female. She continued to walk around her, slowly, one hand trailing along the woman's midsection as she did so. "I suppose Zeus sent you?" The question was rhetorical, as they both knew the answer to that. Her voice had dropped to a mere murmur, allowing Aphrodite to lean in closer to Athena's face, suppressing the smirk that still desired to make a home on her face. As her hand traced the length of the woman's shoulders, she added mockingly, "I pray you enjoyed their little show?"

From the bed, Paris and Helen stirred, expressions changing to ones of worry as they watched the two goddesses. "Zeus? Why would Zeus have sent her?" the mortal woman asked, genuine concern coloring her tone as her head fell to the side. Aphrodite halted her steps so that she stood beside her comrade, the fingers of her hand now drifting across the fabric of the wisdom goddess's sleeve. She kept her eyes trained on Athena's profile, burning with resentment even while she continued to caress her arm. "He wants me watched," she purred, though her voice had taken on a hint of aggression in spite of her soft volume.

"But why?" Paris pressed, eyebrows furrowed together. As far as he was concerned, Aphrodite was the epitome of greatness. What wrong could she have done? The goddess in question finally tore her gaze away from the maiden to look over at the humans. "Because he believes that I influenced this war, and wants to keep me out of it for fear of making matters worse. Isn't that right, Athena?" Aphrodite had stopped running her fingers and had somehow wrapped them around the goddess's wrist, tightly enough to convey her dismay but not enough to threaten.

That's alright, I'll just use my imagination then. (: And terribly sorry for the late reply, had so much going on this week. Hope it's alright.

[Snozzberry4947]

As suspected, the mortals had no doubt had numerous visits from the Goddess of Love. Tarnished. Their views were tarnished and Athena feared nothing more than her straight-forward words falling on corrupted ears. The notion that warfare was inevitable came creeping up from behind and was now tickling her ankles. Or perhaps that was just her gown shifting in the breeze that Aphrodite had created in nearing. Too close. The wall of Athena's structured abdominals tightened in protest to the fair-haired goddess's touch. As those fingers trailed their course, it sent her dangerously toned body into defense mode, ready to snap those pretty little digits into bits. Though her face remained as stony as ever, as she was trying to ignore Aphrodite's presence, she knew all too terribly well that her discomfort was emanating from her and that Aphrodite was fueling her mirth with this interaction. As ugly as this war was going to be for the mortals, it seemed it would be just as grotesque between her and this goddess.

"Because," Athena began with a glance sideways and ripped herself from the hold on her wrist with enough force to display her ire at being toyed with; "as I've been trying to explain," her tone was laced with sweet sounds but her jaw remained rigid; "Aphrodite, whether she will ever admit it or not, was wrong to gift you with something so ludicrous as the partnership of a married woman. Your act, perhaps justified by her, but her alone, is causing tumult and quarrels. Zeus would tell you himself that your best and only option to save the lives of your kin--and your own--would be to return Helen to her rightful home. Does his opinion not trump that of your Love Goddess? It is true that he sent me to dissuade you from making such an anarchic decision. It is true he sent me to prevent her from feeding your belief that she is in the right here. Return Helen to Menelaus. It is of no matter whether she wants to go or not, because we speak of the morally correct action. I am giving you a choice not many mortals receive. End this coming war now, or be ready to face your consequences.

"Aphrodite will be with you, I'm sure, but she knows not of warfare. Ares and I will not hear your cries for aid. You realize, Paris, this could end in death. You leave her now with your soul still clinging to your insides while she has a place to return to, or you leave her forever and cause her the strife of knowing you cease to walk this realm." Her arms folded across her chest, hoping her stern composure would better Paris's realization that he held so many lives in his hand. But was it that hard to break a love spell? Was it that hard to force him to see the logic, the truth?

To allow Paris time to think over what she had said, and to allow her to speak privately with Aphrodite, the Goddess of Wisdom made a gesture in the air of a wall and hid herself and Aphrodite from the mortals. For a moment, her gaze remained on Paris and his lover, but her grey eyes slowly turned toward she who had caused it all.

"Why, Aphrodite? Why do you continue to usher them lies? It will take one little utterance of your contrition for them to understand and accept that all of this is wrong. Are you so afraid of them losing faith in you? Do you not realize that their compassion for you will grow when they hear you tell them you made a mistake?" Athena issued a small sigh from her nose. "Or is this just a game to you? You haven't a care for mortals lives lost to sword and spear? Just tell me why." The caustic edge to her tone died down at the end some; she wanted to see what Aphrodite saw. It seemed now that Paris's choice would not matter. It seemed now he still would not heed her warning. War was coming. She felt it in her skin, in her eyes, in her lungs. The mortal's feelings made sense. War made sense. But she did not. That frustrated Athena, whose logical mind could not wrap around the blonde goddess's motives. It frustrated her because emotion played little part in such issues for her. Emotions other than Anger and his relatives were distant from her. It was that, that she failed to understand.