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Athena attends a Wedding
A Story about the Wedding of Thetis and Peleus |
Athena has always been my favourite Greek goddess. She is intelligent, tough, and doesn’t let anyone get the better of her, be it men, women, gods or goddesses. She is not always nice, far from it. But then, none of the Greek gods are. |
| Mount Olympus Athena hummed to herself as she weaved. The narrow band of green and blue grew quickly in her skilful hands. Watching her fingers move swiftly and skilfully, the pattern of the weave emerging in perfect symmetry gave her a feeling of contentment. Just a few more rows and the band would be long enough for hemming in the wedding dress as she knew without measuring. She was good at this, she thought, smiling to herself. Of course, she was good at it. This was her job, after all: She was the goddess of domestic skills and cunning warfare. Without really thinking about it, she stopped weaving, cut the threads and knotted them together. Picking up the shimmering, dark blue wedding dress she started to sow the band to the hem. As goddess of war, she had always bested her inane half-brother and would do so again next time they found themselves opposing each other. Nor would this little idiot Apollo have the slightest chance against her. Granted, war was not his primary discipline, but he fancied himself to be quite a warrior. Why was she thinking about this anyway, Athena wondered, they were going to a wedding not to war. Probably the presence of almost all the family made her feel uncomfortable. They only ever gathered in one place for two reasons: either to hold a feast or go to war, and it seemed she had difficulties keeping her reactions in order. As if summoned by her thoughts, Apollo ascended to the marble halls of Mount Olympus. His glorious, golden curls were crowned by a laurel wreath - poor Daphne - and he was wearing a splendid tunic that showed off his well-muscled arms and legs to great advantage. He clutched his lyre with his left hand and, perhaps in acknowledgement to the festive occasion, he gave Athena a half-smile and a nod as he walked past her to a chair, where he sat down and started to pluck idly on his lyre. Artemis, who followed her twin, paid no attention to Athena at all. The small frown on her face and the haste with which she crossed the floor until she reached the large mirror set against the wall, showed that she had her mind on other things. Her gown, though in the traditional saffron, was longer and more voluminous than the tunic the goddess of hunting usually wore, a concession to the occasion no doubt, as were the delicate golden sandals, and the fact that she had her hair not tied back in a sensible braid, was elaborately arranged and adorned with jewellery. Though the jewellery consisted mostly of bright pebbles and berries, as Athena noticed on closer inspection. Why not, Athena thought, Artemis was mistress of the forests after all. But even if Artemis was willing to dress up for the special occasion she would not be parted from her bow, that as usual hung over her shoulder along with the ever-present quiver of deadly arrows. From her seat, Athena could see Artemis staring in the mirror, a critical expression on her face. Her appearance looked probably as strange to herself as it did to Athena. The frown on Artemis’ face deepened until her nose wrinkled. “You look splendid,” Athena said. “Did you do your hair yourself?” Artemis looked over her shoulder for a long moment, then ignoring Athena’s question, asked with a nod at the shimmering dress in her hand, “Thetis’?” “Yes,” Athena answered. Artemis returned her gaze to her own reflection. “Apollo did it,” she said, gingerly touching the curls hanging heavily over her ears. “You’re not ready yet,” she stated and turned around to face Athena. “I have to finish this first,” she replied, “but I’ll be done in two shakes of a snake’s tale.” “Is the dress ready?” Hera hastened into the hall, herself dressed already in all the splendour and decoration that her position as wife of Zeus allowed her. “Almost,” Athena looked down at her hands, sowing with swift stitches the last few inches of the band to the dress, the band’s end meeting exactly with its beginning. She was better than good at this. “You’re not dressed yet,” Hera stated. “I’ll be dressed and done in a moment,” Athena replied. She stood up and shook the wedding gown out, so it fell in shimmering waves and folds to the ground. Thetis would look breath-taking in it. “You got the veil?” Hera wanted to know, and when Athena nodded at the filmy fabric draped over the back of her chair, Hera asked, “And the sandals?” “Right here, too,” Athena replied. “All we need now is the bride.” “Jewellery,” Hera pointed out. “The jewellery was delivered by your son to Thetis several days ago,” Athena replied. What was Hera so nervous about, Athena wondered, she behaved as if her own daughter was getting married. Athena decided that it was better to allow Zeus’ wife play the worried parent if she wanted to. The last thing they needed now was an argument. Particularly since it seemed they had trouble coming already. One of Thetis’ Nereids - Athena never had troubled to try and keep them apart - came running from the direction of her mistress’ chambers. The girl was in such a hurry she almost fell over her dress and her own feet several times just in the short distance Athena could see her. Hera, noticing the change in Athena’s face, whirled around, just in time to have the Nereid fall right at her feet. Athena was no sure whether the girl prostrated herself before Hera on purpose or whether her feet got entangled in her dress for good. “What is it?” Hera asked, staring down at the nereid, who was holding on to Hera’s dress, disarranging the carefully draped folds. “My mistress,” the nereid gasped out. “She has locked herself into her bath and refuses to let us in to help her prepare for the wedding.” “What?” Athena exclaimed. Artemis and Apollo, sitting closely on a bench together, first looked at the nereid, then at each other and, as if they were mirror images of each other, shook their heads. “Is she sick?” Hera asked, letting Athena wonder for a moment whether the wife of Zeus was herself quite sane. Then, she told herself that even gods and goddesses could fall ill, though this usually required a potent curse, a weapon that was usually handled by another god, or a mythical creature. “No,” the nereid replied, and with a shiver in her voice, continued, “she said she would not attend the wedding.” Athena looked at the wedding dress she still held out for inspection. It was perfect. Whatever had come over Thetis, it had nothing to do with the dress. “She’s not going to …,” Hera began, then stopped herself. “Of course, she is. - Let go,” she ordered the nereid, who flinched back as if afraid, the goddess was about to hit her. “Of course, she is going to be married,” Hera muttered and started in the direction of Thetis’s chambers. “What is she thinking of to baulk now?” Carefully Athena draped the wedding dress over the chair she had occupied and followed Hera. What was Thetis thinking of to refuse the marriage now? Athena admitted that she herself would not wish to marry the man who had forced himself on her, following the good advice of the centaur Proteus. Thetis had indeed been the victim of a god, Athena mused. Hera had reached the doors to Thetis’ chambers and first tried to open them only to find them locked, then she knocked. If Thetis did not want to marry, Athena continued to herself, she ought to have complained to Zeus before now. Though, considering the prophecy Zeus was probably quite glad to marry Thetis off to a mortal. “Thetis, darling,” Hera called and renewed her knocking. Though, Athena reminded herself, only if Thetis gave birth to a son whose father was mortal, the gods could rest easy. “Go away!” Thetis’ shriek sounded muffled as if she had her head buried in a pillow. “What’s the matter, darling?” Hera asked. Something hit the door from the inside. “I am not going to marry a mortal!” Thetis shouted, her voice louder than before. Presumably it was the pillow she had flung against the door. “It’s too late to have qualms about this now,” Athena stated. She placed her hands on the smooth surface of the door. She could feel the fabric of the panel, the hinges and the lock, firmly in place. Concentrating she could perceive the scene behind the door, Thetis sitting on her bad, clad only in a shift, her hair in wild disarray. Her face was splotchy ,and her eyes reddened by the bitter tears she was crying. Perhaps, if she appeared like this in front of her husband to be, he would relent. “I am not going to marry a mere mortal,” Thetis shrieked. “It’s demeaning!” “Dear,” Hera raised her voice to be heard above Thetis’ hysteric sobs. “We all have our burden to bear. And Peleus is not a bad man. He is mortal, yes, but the marriage is ennobling him, not demeaning you.” “I don’t care! I am not going to marry him! Just the thought of touching him makes me sick.” Athena rolled her eyes in exasperation, though she also congratulated herself once more for her resolution not to have any men in her life - mortal or otherwise. “If you do not open this door at once,” she yelled, loud enough to drown out both Thetis’ weeping and sound of the bolt of the lock shooting back, “I’ll break the door down and drag you to your wedding by your splendid tresses.” Hera looked at her and shook her head. “Don’t,” she chided, “the girl is just nervous. - Nereid, fetch Aphrodite.” Athena shrugged. “The door is open. - I’ll get myself ready and you deal with the drama queen.” Hera gave her a startled look and tried the door. As it swung open, Thetis shrieked, “Stay out of my room, you vile bitch!” Athena shrugged again and went back to the hall. She really could not care less what Thetis called her. She did sympathise with Thetis, though. She could very well understand her anger and frustration. But there was nothing that could be done about it. Peleus had won her, and it did not matter whether it had been by fair means or foul. Thetis better submit with some dignity. After all, the man was just a mortal. As a goddess Thetis should have no trouble getting her own way. More importantly, Peleus would die, sooner or later, and Thetis would then be able to go back to wherever she wanted to. Zeus would be breathing a sigh of relief should she bear the man a son. If the prophesy was fulfilled and this prospective son would be greater than his father, he’d still be a mortal and no threat to the mightiest of gods. Zeus would make sure that Thetis would have a son, employing the good services of his sister Demeter if need be. And there she was. She had joined Apollon and Artemis in the Hall together with her daughter Persephone. “What is going on?” Demeter asked. Speaking of enforced marriages, Athena thought. “The bride does not wish to be married,” she answered. She pulled her dress over her head and kicked her sandals off. “Did she speak to Eris?” Demeter wanted to know. Athena turned around to look at Demeter, but of course, the goddess of fertility was serious. “Eris is here?” she asked in return. Of all the gods and goddesses Eris was really the last they needed at this wedding. “I just saw her entering my brother’s chambers,” Demeter explained. “Oh, jolly,” Athena stated. She shook her head and picked up the gown she had especially made for this occasion. So, father was up to something. Talking with Eris just when all his kin was assembling in his halls, there was certainly something in the bush - and it was probably something unpleasant. Knowing Zeus, Athena thought, it also would be something none of them expected. “Let me help you.” Persephone left her mother’s side and walked up to Athena. “Thanks,” Athena said. Persephone took the gown out of her hands. “This is beautiful.” “It is,” Athena stated. As Persephone helped her drape the gown around her, Athena returned to Demeter’s earlier question. “No, Thetis thought of this all by herself. She feels that she is being sold under price. Peleus may be a strapping example of his kind and a king, but he’s still only a mortal.” Demeter frowned. “I guess so.” She looked long at Athena, whose dress just received a few final tugs by Persephone to achieve the perfect draping. “You look lovely in this,” Demeter stated. “You should wear such fine gowns more often.” “I like my armour,” Athena replied. “Sandals?” Persephone asked and then hurried to fetch them when Athena pointed at them. “I just don’t understand why you insist on dressing up as a man. Wearing armour, weapons, Zeus’ shield and,” Demeter shivered, “that horrid cloak. Just like her.” She nodded at Artemis who was too wrapped up in conversation with her twin to pay any attention to them. “She’s not wearing a horrid cloak, and she wouldn’t dare touch the aegis.” “You know what I mean.” “I know,” Athena conceded. “I guess that’s because we are not the goddess of fertility, but of the forests and hunting and - amongst other things - of ingenious warfare respectively.” Demeter shrugged. “I still think you should wear nice gowns more often.” Persephone had brought the golden sandals, and insisted on putting them on Athena’s feet, to avoid messing up her dress again. “Oh, let me do your hair, please,” Persephone begged. “Of course.” Athena had to smile at so much enthusiasm “I’ll just fetch my things,” Persephone breathed and tore out of the room. “She’s a lovely girl,” Athena told Persephone’s mother. “Isn’t she?” Demeter replied with such a strange note in her voice, Athena turned around to look at her. Demeter smiled thinly. “I sometimes have to remind myself that she is not a girl. It’s hard to believe that she’s a goddess, that she’s not only my daughter, but Zeus’s as well.” Demeter paused and sighed. “If she were less nice, perhaps she would not be married to this … this horrible god.” “You mean she ought to be more like me and her,” Athena asked, nodding in the direction of Artemis. “No,” Demeter replied hastily. “I didn’t think so.” Athena smiled at Demeter and turned to look at the twins. Apollo with his arm around his sister’s shoulder was whispering something in her ear. “You know, I don’t understand what she sees in him?” “I don’t know.” Demeter frowned at the two. “Perhaps you should ask my daughter.” “What should you ask me?” Persephone asked as she came running back. She was holding an assortment of brushes and a bundle of bejewelled hairpins. Athena thought, that one could tell she was a goddess because she was neither flushed from running nor became dishevelled in any way. “What does Artemis see in her brother.” Demeter said. Persephone glanced at the twins than turned to Athena. “What do you mean? He’s gorgeous!” “Is he?” Athena shrugged. She was probably not the best person to judge this. After all, she was not interested in men - or women, she thought as she studied Persephone’s beautiful features. In an abstract way, she could say that Demeter’s daughter was blessed with a stunning beauty, but she did not feel attracted in any physical way. It would be interesting, in the fashion of a study, to allow herself to fall in love with somebody. Just to experience what it felt like. Persephone blushed under Athena’s scrutiny. Persephone was married after all, and this fact reminded Athena that most affairs were extremely unpleasant for the female participant. She had no interest in being dragged off to the underworld - or into the wedding bed. “If you sit here,” Persephone said, still blushing. It would be interesting to know what she thought was the reason for Athena’s behaviour. The likelihood of her coming even close to what actually had occupied her was minimal. She had, after all, a solid reputation of refuting any advances made to her. She sat on the chair Persephone had indicated. Demeter turned back to Athena. “What do you think, my estimable brother is up to?” “We will find out, aren’t we?” “I’m afraid we will.” For a moment they looked at each other in silence. Of course, they had no idea what Zeus was planning, but considering the involvement of Eris, it was most certainly nothing good. Demeter was just opening her mouth to say something when a slap, followed by a wild shriek echoed through the halls. It seemed that Thetis had finally worn out Hera’s patience. Moments later a door banged shut and Hera stormed in. “Where is Aphrodite?” she demanded of nobody in particular. “She still refuses to be married?” Demeter asked, and when Hera nodded, she said, “should I talk with her?” Hera shook her head. “No. If she sees you, she will think of pregnancies and the prophesy and will see it as proof that the entire marriage is a plot by Zeus.” Demeter turned to Athena. “Are you sure she hasn’t spoken to Eris?” “Eris is here?” Hera demanded to know. “She’s not invited to the wedding, and she knows it.” Hera glared around the room, as if Aphrodite was hiding behind a pillar or under a chair. “We need Aphrodite - or perhaps Oneiros. He can send her to sleep. I’m sure Peleus won’t mind if his bride is fast asleep as long as she’s there.” “Why don’t you ask your husband to scare some sense into her,” Athena suggested. Hera glared at Athena as if she had suggested something horrible. “What?” Athena asked. Demeter, too, looked annoyed. “You have no sympathies whatsoever with the poor girl.” “I wasn’t the one who smacked her!” Athena retorted. “And, yes, I do sympathise with her. But it’s too late to have hysterics now.” “Well, should anything unpleasant ever happen to you,” Hera stated, “I’ll remind you about the untimeliness of emotional outbursts.” She gave Athena an angry look and stormed out again, yelling, “Iris!” at the top of her voice. As she was a goddess she achieved a considerable volume. Everybody in the hall cringed noticeably. “Hold your head still,” Persephone whispered after the din had died down. Obediently, Athena sat straighter and looked straight ahead. “Zeus must have heard this.” Demeter shook her head and poked one finger in her right ear. “He probably thinks we need fresh flowers for a wedding wreath. If he’s not too busy plotting whatever he is plotting with Eris.” She stared absentmindedly into the air for a moment. “You know sometimes I think we really don’t need Eris to get into fights.” “Yes, most of the time we manage quite well without her.” Persephone was doing something to Athena’s hair that felt incredibly complicated. She wished she had a mirror to see what happened. “Are you sure Eris did not speak with Thetis without any of us noticing,” Demeter returned to her original idea. “No,” Athena replied. “It seems that she was summoned to Zeus and since he wants this marriage to go ahead, she wouldn’t try to stop it. And since Zeus wants the marriage, Thetis would do good to calm down. - We all tried very hard to make the ceremony a success.” “Oh my, Athena,” Demeter sighed. “You really don’t understand what the girl goes through. Just try to put yourself in her place for a moment.” Athena frowned. She tried to feel what it would be like to be forced to marry somebody she did not want to, against her will - but she could not really imagine herself in such a position. “I can’t,” she stated with a shrug. Demeter frowned. “You can’t,” she echoed. “No, something like that would never happen to me,” she explained. Noticing Demeter’s disbelieving look, she continued, “I fought off Hephaistos’ unwanted attention, and he is a god himself and none of the weaker ones. - Additionally, even if by some foul means some man would temporarily get the better of me, he would soon regret it. I’d kill him. And I am sure I’d find a very prolonged and painful way to kill him. Even if that he was a god.” As Athena had spoken, Demeter had taken a step back and, as Athena noticed when she stopped, so had Persephone. Athena had to admit that she had not realised that she had sounded so threatening, nor had she intended to. “You know, sometimes you scare me,” Demeter admitted. “It’s in my nature,” Athena stated. “When I wear my armour, or borrow father’s, when I drape what you call that horrid cloak around myself and carry the aegis, it is to strike fear in the heart of the faithless and wicked. - That is why I cannot put myself in Thetis’ position.” “Yes,” Demeter said. “It is your nature, just as it is Eris’ to cause quarrels and fights wherever she goes. - And speaking of annoying people, guess who just arrived.” Athena was about to turn, since Demeter was staring over her shoulder, but Persephone tugged at her hair. “I’m almost done, and it’s really not worth looking,” she whispered. “Ares,” Demeter explained. No, that was certainly not someone worth twisting your neck for, Athena thought. “I didn’t know that stupid bastard was invited,” she said. “He appears to be,” Demeter stated grimly. “Done,” Persephone announced and stepped around Athena. “Thank you.” Athena smiled and hugged Persephone quickly. Then she turned around to see Ares leaning against one of the pillars. “Hey, dumb bastard,” she yelled, noticing with delight that he immediately reacted. “Where is your flaky sister?” This he obviously did not understand. The stupid expression of his face became even more so. “Aphrodite,” Athena explained. “She is…,” Ares started, but Aphrodite’s sudden appearance interrupted him. “I’m here,” the goddess stated - needlessly, as Athena thought. “What is the matter?” Aphrodite asked. “Thetis refuses to get married,” Demeter stated. “Hera wants you to talk some sense into her.” Athena stifled a derisive snort. In her opinion ‘talking sense’ and Aphrodite did not go together. Aphrodite nodded and hastened towards Thetis room. “We better head towards Mount Pelion,” Demeter said. “The ceremony is to start soon.” Hopefully with the bridge present and pretending to be delighted about getting married, Athena thought as she picked up the flute that she was going to give to the unhappy bride and followed Demeter out of Mount Olympus. Ahead of her, her father, Zeus himself, emerged from the shining building, followed by a rather displeased looking Eris. “But…,” Eris began, only to stop short, when Zeus turned and glared at her. “Nobody wants you there,” he stated harshly. Eris’s face fell and she was gone. Athena shook her head. Was Eris really surprised that no one wanted to see the goddess of strife and discord at a wedding? If so, she was really stupid. Zeus turned, a small, satisfied smile on his face. There was something about it that made Athena uncomfortable. “Let’s go,” he announced and vanished. Athena followed him. |
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