Her Hope

Her hope: Chapter 3

“Lord’s, I came to report.” One of Zeus’s warriors bowed in front of the throne. He looked miserable. His clothes were torn, there were several wounds on his side and by the look of his pose, he could barely bear to kneel. The man was exhausted. Zeus had compassion for this man and wanted to tell him he could stand up and relax, but it was Odin who spoke first.

“How many?”

“Sir?” The man was taken back by the question. Numbers, did the prince really ask him for numbers? Was that all they meant to him, were they nothing more than a number? Even Zeus was a little shamed by Odin’s question. Letting the men who are fighting for you, know that they’re nothing more than a number you’re willing to sacrifice isn’t a bright idea at this point.

Odin ignored his father’s warning look. “How many men did we lose this time.”

The warrior looked at the ground. This was really too shamefully. A couple of thousands sir.

Odin sighed, ‘call them back. Call everyone back” Zeus sat himself a little straighter on the throne. What was Odin planning? First, he ordered all the warriors to go after a war god, knowing damn well those men wouldn't stand a chance. And now they all have to come back. 

The warrior looked at Odin in disbelieve “ Call them back, sir?”

Odin had to bite his tongue, was that man dumb?

 “Yes, call them back all of them. There are already too many lives lost in this battle. Go home to your wives and children. This isn’t a battle that should be fought by you. Only one of the first can defeat Ares. It’s time I’ll get involved.”

It may have sounded like an insult, but the warrior knew better. Odin was afraid. Frightened he might lose Persephone. He had sent those men to fight Ares, so he could stay by Persephone. However, deep inside he always knew that eventually, he had to leave her, to fight him.

All men had done their best, all of them were willing to sacrifice themselves for Persephone, for their long-lost princess. They knew all too well that they couldn’t defeat Ares, maybe they could slow him down a little bit, but defeating him was a fantasy.

“I’ll inform everyone immediately.” The warrior bowed one last time before he left the throne.  

Zeus looked at his son, He knew how hard this decision for him must be. He wasn’t looking forward to telling this news to Hera. Odin watching over Persephone was the only thing that had kept Hera calm. Hera had tried to change Ares's mind, she had even promised that she would find the perfect wife for him. But, all Ares wanted was revenge. Hera had expected that answer and wanted to fight him, but Ares had already disappeared. He had no intention to fight them, he only wanted to kill Persephone and have his grief. He even had had the nerf to ask Zeus for permission to kill Persephone after his confrontation with Hera. Odin was furious when he heard about it, luckily for Ares, he had asked it in a letter. If he had come to the palace Odin would’ve destroyed him the moment he saw him.

Odin saw his father thinking, he patiently waited for what his father had to say. Eventually, Zeus thought there was no good way to speak his mind so he could just say it.

“What if it’s a trap?” From the looks of his son, Zeus knew he had said exactly what Odin was afraid of.

Odin sighed “Let’s hope he doesn’t dare to attack when you're around.”

Now Zeus’s face got all red and he looked at the ground, he didn’t dare to look his son in the eyes.

“I won’t be there.”

“What?” The palace thrilled with Odin’s anger.

“The Fates are in war with each other. Nobody knows why, but they can’t stand each other anymore. They determine the lives of the mortals and other living beings. It’s chaos in the world. If they don’t work together in harmony the mortals are doomed.”

“I don’t give a s**t about the mortals! If I lose Persephone, they can all join us in the underworld.”

“We fought Cronos, all to give us and the mortals a better life. We stood up for the people, we used our talents to create a world for them, even after their death. We still use our talents to help and care for them every day.” Zeus’s voice couldn’t hide how angry he felt. They had lost so much to make life better for them and the mortals. Hearing how Odin wants to throw it all away as if their sacrifices were nothing, was hard to hear. Yet Odin didn’t mind.

“All I hear is what we did for the people, but what have the people done for us? The god’s fought the titans, gave their lives so the humans wouldn’t be used as toys anymore. We gave them the earth to live on and what do they do? They’re destroying it. We gave them animals and what do they do? They hunt and kill them for fun. People don’t deserve our help anymore. ” Zeus knew Odin didn’t mean this, his son was simply blind by anger and fear. He knew that fear wasn’t an emotion Odin was used to having, and it’s hard to deal with it. Before Zeus could answer that they would all slowly disappear if the humans were gone, Persephone walked in. 

“No, the humans need us. Let Zeus go. You can’t ask the lord of God’s to babysit me. Not even if he’s your father. That’s very insulting towards Zeus. Besides I am just one person. You’re talking about million lives. ”

Persephone walked further into the room, she had heard everything. It pained her to see Odin like this, it’s all her fault. Yet the humans don’t need to suffer because of her. Odin felt immediately calm and less tensed the moment his love walk in. He even felt a little ashamed for the words he had spoken. He sometimes forgot how powerful his family was and how many battles they had already fought. He sighed and looked at her while stretching out his hand towards her. Persephone walked to him and gave a little pinch in his hands.

“Don’t forget I was amongst them once, that’s how we’ve met each other.” She moved herself closer to him. Persephone thought that talking about them, about how they met would ease Odin a little bit. But, somehow for a moment, it made it worse. 

Odin’s eyes darkened “If I hadn’t saved you, they would’ve slaughtered you.”

Persephone sighed to bring that up wasn’t one of her best idea’s.

“You mustn’t see it like that. Yes, those hunters might have killed me for fun, but many of them need the money. They hate it too, but have to get food on the table and they have to take care of their families. The humans are suffering too. You can’t let them down. Zeus’s task is curtail for life.”

Odin took her in an embrace and hid his face in her neck, she smelled so good. How can he let her alone. He had already let her fight against Cronos. Why do they always expect him to let her fight her battles, while all he wants to do is protect her. Don’t they see how hard it is. Killing Ares is one way to protect her, he owns it to her.

“I’ll fight Ares. Promise me you’ll be safe here. Don’t do anything dangerous or stupid. If you need me, summon me.” He said it without losing his grip on her. The fear of letting go was hard.

“Go, I’ll be safe.” Her whisper was soft, as if she didn’t want to promise it out loud. Would he notice it?

He took her face in his big hands and looked her in the eyes.

“I’ll promise he’ll pay for every second he keeps me away from you. I’ll promise every god, every creature, every beast in the realm and on earth will know that threatening you has destruction as consequence. I’ll go and  prepare for battle.” Than he kissed her. A long kiss. His lips were warm and he held her against him, his hands were moving possessively over her body. He wanted her, badly. He cursed in her mouth. Ares is death meat definitely. He pulled away, gave Persephone a swift kiss, and disappeared. Persephone knew he was somewhere in the castle right now to prepare himself. Yet she didn’t need to search for him, he had already said goodbye to her in his way. The only thing she had to promise was that she would be safe. Yet, that promise was exactly one she was going to break.