The Trial of Ares and Poseidon (2)

The next day, I made my way to a hill near Athens. That was the spot Ares had mentioned. Since I had to pass through the city anyway, I might as well take the main road. While I was at it, I could take a look around Athena's city.

As expected of a city that worshipped the goddess of wisdom, the roads were lined with olive trees. The place was as prosperous as Thebes under my rule, and countless free citizens walked among statues of Athena carved from cedar. The reverence for her was plain to see.

"Bronze lamps from another city, for sale!"

"Olive oil blessed by Athena herself, only..."

"I need offerings for the goddess. Will these pigs do?"

The people's faith in Athena was strong. Most citizens were her devotees, and the olives she had bestowed upon them had long become essential to daily life. After a brief look around, I quickened my pace and soon reached the barrier spread across the hill near Athens. It was designed to repel mortals and distort the view within. Passing through it...

"Hah. Do you really think Hades would side with a scoundrel like you? More deaths from war would only mean more work for him in the Underworld."

"Even so, I will not side with the son of an uncle who tried to rape his own daughter!"

"Enough, both of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you. The other gods will arrive soon. Let the trial decide."

Ares and Poseidon were already trading barbs, with Zeus stepping in to mediate. Gods of every stripe had gathered to voice their opinions on the matter. Even Amphitrite, Poseidon's lawful wife, was present.

"Sigh... Olympus never gets a moment's peace."

"Demeter and Artemis have yet to arrive."

"They should be here soon... Ah, Hades!"

Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home, called out to me. Even the floral veil she wore could not hide her beauty.

"Hestia. You came as well."

"I had no intention of getting involved in something like this..."

She sighed and shook her head, her gaze drifting toward Poseidon and Ares, who still radiated hostility. Thanks to Zeus's firm intervention, they had backed down for now.

"Now that Hades is here and the others have mostly arrived, we might as well begin."

The remaining gods trickled in one by one, and at last the trial to settle the dispute between Poseidon and Ares commenced.

Thus began the first trial among the gods, held on the hill near Athens. Stone chairs had been arranged in neat rows, giving the proceedings a proper judicial air. Slightly apart sat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the higher-ranking deities—Zeus, Hestia, and others—in seats reserved for them.

"Then let us begin."

I ascended the modest platform as judge and looked down at the assembly. First order of business... Ares's side would present their case, if I recalled correctly.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, stepped forward holding a parchment and offered a greeting to all present. The glance she exchanged with Ares beforehand made it clear she would be speaking on his behalf.

"I shall speak first. Halirrhothius was notorious throughout Athens as a troublemaker. He frequently harassed and assaulted the priestesses and priests who served me, dined without paying, and even went so far as to recklessly cut down the olive trees that are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my sacred symbol. I can provide ample proof of his misconduct."

"What do you have to say regarding the incident itself, aside from his character?"

Athena cleared her throat at my question and continued.

"The crime of attempting to forcibly violate a chaste woman is grave. Ares, on the other hand, merely acted to protect his daughter. If it had been your own daughter, Uncle Poseidon, on the verge of losing her purity to another man, I believe you would have delivered divine punishment as well."

"Hmph... That does not justify cutting down my son in a single stroke—"

"Poseidon, this is the time to hear Ares's side. Restrain yourself."

I silenced Poseidon and nodded for Athena to proceed.

"Lastly, I submit as evidence the testimonies of the nymphs who witnessed Halirrhothius attempting to violate Ares's daughter, along with the whispers of the plants and animals."

"Evidence provided by Pan and Demeter, then."

Scanning the parchment, I found the sworn statements of the nymphs recounting Halirrhothius's deeds, each one sworn upon the River Styx as truth.

"Next, Poseidon. It is your turn to speak."

"Ahem. Even if his method of courting a woman who disliked him was somewhat misguided, how could anyone cut him down in a single blow? Hades, as the god of the Underworld, you understand the weight of life better than anyone. No god would think it right to swing a blade just because someone's methods were flawed—especially not when that blade took my son's head. This concerns my honor and constitutes kin-slaying. The Erinyes should be the ones to handle this."

Poseidon paused to clear his throat before continuing.

"I offer my sincere condolences for the disturbance Halirrhothius caused at Athena's temple. However, everything else he did was merely mischief directed at mortals. It is unfair to claim that my son, a demigod of the sea, acted improperly simply because he played a few pranks on humans."

Poseidon was not entirely wrong. It was kin-slaying. Yet because the victim was one of the Twelve Olympians, the three Erinyes had not come. Still, the attempted kin-rape had come first. In my view, Poseidon was clearly at fault, but it was time to hear the others.

I turned my gaze toward the seats occupied by Zeus and the other high-ranking gods.

"What does everyone think? Speak freely."

"He tried to rape an innocent woman. Poseidon's son committed a crime deserving death."

Hera spoke with her arms crossed, her expression displeased.

"I agree."

"Forcing oneself upon another without true love is wrong. I would have punished him as well."

Artemis and Aphrodite spoke in turn. The goddess of chastity and the goddess of love naturally sided with Ares.

"Tsk... If it had been my daughter, I would have split the earth itself."

"Life is precious, but this was a father's rightful response to protect his child, was it not? I believe Ares was justified."

Demeter and Hestia also supported Ares.

"Ahem... I have nothing to add. I trust my brother will judge wisely."

Zeus looked satisfied but chose to remain silent. He had already concluded that the trial's momentum favored Ares. A glance at Poseidon showed him scowling deeply. Had he truly believed he would win, relying on his status and Ares's usual fondness for war?

"...Then I shall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deliver the verdict. I, too, believe Ares had no choice but to kill Poseidon's son."

"Hades! He is your nephew—how can you—"

"And the daughter Ares protected from being violated is my grandniece."

I cut off Poseidon's protest.

"After examining Halirrhothius's memories upon his arrival in the Underworld yesterday, I confirmed he was exactly the troublemaker Athena described—and that he had indeed attempted to violate Ares's daughter. Ares did not even realize the man was Poseidon's son when he struck; he simply rushed in. Anyone would draw their blade if their daughter faced such horror."

"No, but—"

I conveyed the message to Poseidon through divine power. Zeus was busy chatting with Hera and paid no attention, so no one else heard. Halirrhothius had indeed been a troublemaker, and he had tried to violate Ares's daughter. However, Poseidon had also subtly encouraged his son to cause trouble near Athens.

"While Ares's actions were justified, he did kill Poseidon's son. Strictly speaking, it was kin-slaying."

"But, Uncle—"

"Therefore, Ares, you will work in the Underworld for two months."

Ares gave me a slight bow. Zeus seemed indifferent, while Poseidon grumbled that the sentence was too lenient, but that was the end of it. The matter appeared settled. The other gods nodded, apparently satisfied with my ruling.

"Ahem..."

"So Ares will serve two months as punishment?"

"...That seems reasonable."

"It is light, considering he killed the son of the sea god."

"Nonsense. Lord Hades was merely preserving his dignity."

"Ahem! In accordance with the judgment of Hades and the other gods, Ares's actions are hereby declared justified! However, as punishment for slaying Poseidon's son, he shall serve two months in the Underworld..."

While Zeus rose to address the assembly, I descended from the platform and offered Poseidon a word of advice.

"Keep a closer eye on your children. That Triton fellow I met before seemed decent enough."

"...That is why he is my heir. The others are nothing but headaches."

The lord of the sea turned and walked away, looking strangely forlorn. Halirrhothius's misdeeds in Athens had stemmed from his own nature, not Poseidon's direct orders. Perhaps even Poseidon did not know how to handle his own sons. A parent's love could not shape a child entirely to their will... Was his blind defense of them a twisted form of affection? The sea endlessly stirred rough and violent waves, yet beneath the surface it embraced every form of life. Perhaps that was simply its nature.