21.5 The True Labors - Zeus's Tale
In Olympus, the palace of the gods, the great king Zeus, who reigned supreme over all the gods, was in a foul mood today.
"So, that Heracles went crawling to Gaia and became a god?"
"When did I say that? I said Gaia, Heracles, Echidna, and Adamantia are getting married."
"Isn't that the same thing! That Heracles must've sweet-talked Gaia with his smug mug because he wanted to become a god. Hmph! Greedy bastard!"
"Son of Cronus, your wisdom never fails to enlighten me anew."
"Hmph, over something this obvious."
Zeus's plans to pair Adamantia with Heracles and elevate him to the rank of Intermediate God had crumbled overnight. He found this deeply irritating. If the boy wanted to become a god, he should've come begging to his father first—why go to Gaia of all people? What grated even more was that his wife, Hera, seemed utterly unconcerned by this major development.
"Aren't you even angry? Heracles seduced Gaia and married her, for gods' sake."
"Polygamy is marriage too. They came to me asking for permission, so it's not like it's an improper union. Gaia herself requested it, and I'm about to head down there personally right now."
"What? You're going down there yourself?"
"Son of Cronus, I can't fathom what has you so enraged. This is a perfectly legal marriage. Are you, the god of marriage, telling me to disregard Gaia's lawful union?"
"……"
Zeus had seethed that Heracles had received his divine seat not from his sky-high father and king of the gods, but from a Protogenoi like Gaia. He grumbled childishly at his wife, but she was speaking irrefutable truth. Though Gaia wielded no formal power, she was the primordial goddess of the earth's vast expanse, mother to nearly every deity. Even without her, Hera had already committed to descending for Adamantia and Heracles's wedding alone— the situation demanded she rush there barefoot if need be.
"Darling, don't look so sour. Isn't this actually a good thing?"
"How is any of this good? My son defied his father to become a god."
"Oh, come on, think about it. Gaia marrying Heracles means she's declaring she won't intervene in the Gigantomachia, right?"
"……But the war with the Gigantes is a fated event foretold by the Fates themselves. It can't be avoided."
"Still, keeping Gaia out of it is a huge win, don't you think?"
"……You're right, Hera. That's a major victory."
Grudging as he was, Zeus had to concede her point. If Gaia sided with the Gigantes and stormed Olympus, the outcome would be anyone's guess. Victory would be hard-fought, and even if won, the losses would be catastrophic. But then Hera dropped an even graver bombshell—one of Zeus's deepest taboos: the fact that his Astrape was stolen goods.
"This is actually perfect. With Heracles marrying Adamantia, you can reconcile with her too, can't you?"
"What are you talking about, Hera? I have nothing to reconcile with her over."
"Don't try to fool me, Zeus. I'm Cronus's daughter too, you know."
"Tch."
Zeus clicked his tongue. The truth—that his mightiest weapon, the thunderbolt Astrape, was pilfered from Adamantia's forge—was known to only a select few. Publicly, it was credited to the Cyclopes, her apprentices and master smiths, who crafted it for him. In reality, Zeus had stolen it outright from her workshop, then had the Cyclopes modify it in exchange for their freedom. Unfortunately for him, his youngest sister and wife Hera was one of those in the know.
"Don't take my words so harshly, Zeus. This is definitely an opportunity."
"Hmmm."
"Think it through. If you keep sulking like this and Adamantia gets truly furious with you, what then?"
"What could she do? She's just a smith hunkered down hammering iron all day."
"Don't mock her power. What if the Gigantes come storming Olympus armed with Adamant weapons?"
"……"
For the first time that day, a chill ran down Zeus's spine. It was a gut-freezing dread. Only Adamantia could work Adamant still. She, the goddess of iron, hadn't shared its secrets with anyone else—not even Hephaestus, who handled bronze and brass but hadn't reached iron yet. If the Gigantes invaded with steel arms, it would be apocalypse. Even mighty Olympus would fall.
"That's why this marriage matters, Zeus."
"……"
"Are you listening?"
"I am. It's a grave issue. But if we're thinking that far ahead, shouldn't we consider other possibilities?"
"Like what?"
"The chance that Heracles has betrayed us and joined the Gigantes."
"……"
Zeus was undoubtedly the wise king of the gods, but he had a nasty habit. Once he sensed a threat to his power, his mind fixated on it obsessively. That was why he'd devoured his first wife, Metis—her very existence challenged his throne. Hera felt goosebumps all over at times like this.
"You're insane. If Heracles betrayed us, Olympus is doomed."
"That's why I'm saying it. Anything's possible. And I hear Adamantia isn't some hag either."
"True, they say she's a stunning beauty, as befits Gaia's eldest daughter."
"Tch, I should've made my move sooner. What a shame."
Zeus's yellow eyes flashed menacingly. It was a bad omen—the sign that Metis in his head had hatched some scheme. Her wisdom was now his alone, and it predictably urged him toward the worst choice where Hera was concerned.
"Observe Heracles closely when you go this time."
"Observe him? What are you planning?"
"Watch for an opening. We need to prepare to send Hebe to him."
"……Zeus, are you saying you're using our daughter as a spy against Gaia?"
Hera was appalled. This fool—what madness is he spouting now? But Zeus brushed off her reaction, even finding it odd.
"Why the fuss? Wasn't Heracles's destined match marriage to Hebe?"
"That was when he was single. Now he's marrying three goddesses."
"Three or four makes no difference. Better our Hebe than fierce ones like Gaia or Echidna, right? Women need a bit of meekness."
"Do my feelings mean nothing to you?"
Unable to hold back, Hera snapped. Zeus tilted his head, perplexed.
"Why should your opinion matter now? I'm the head of Olympus."
"……"
"As the god of marriage, you know better than I: a father decides his daughter's match."
Hera bristled but could offer no retort. It was a father's right. Zeus had already shipped off Kore—Persephone—to Hades for all intents. Now he schemed to thrust their beloved daughter into the midst of powerhouses like Gaia, Echidna, and Adamantia. Hera was sick of it, but she couldn't deny his words.
"I understand. But darling."
"Hm? What is it, Hera?"
"Don't we have some time?"
Hera finally loosened her collar, cinched her girdle tighter, and teased Zeus with a coy smile. He shuddered, his yellow eyes gleaming with thick lust and possessiveness.
"……You're especially beautiful today."
"Thank you, even if it's just words. Why not go chase some nymphs?"
Hera laughed mockingly, and Zeus snorted deeply.
"Nymphs can't compare to you. They're just diversions, Hera."
"Hmmm, that's no lie. I'll believe you."
She extended her slender white arm, wrapping it around the muscled Zeus. Clouds gathered in the sky, thunder rumbling loudly. With the girdle of seduction from Aphrodite, Hera brimmed with the fresh allure of her youthful days that had driven Zeus mad. Yet her lovely eyes overflowed with seasoned sensuality. Zeus forgot all his plots and worries about Heracles. He promptly scooped her up and vanished into the palace depths, oblivious to the triumphant smile blooming on her face…