In the Thrall of the Winds
In the Thrall of Winds
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Heloise stood on the edge of the cliff with a smile on her lips as she watched Apollo soar from the higher peaks of Olympus. A heavy sigh pulled from her lips as she watched the handsomest of the gods set out upon his given task. It was a pleasure to watch the Sun God work but Heloise knew it was a masochistic pleasure. She belonged to Zephyrus, the West Wind, who hated Apollo and had since they both competed for Hyacinth's heart.
As she returned to her home she wondered if she would ever know true happiness. Zephyrus had taken her from her home and brought her to Olympus. Zeus himself had pronounced their marriage and Heloise wept for the sorrow of not loving her husband.
Not that Zephyrus was a bad husband, he was actually quite kind and gentle. While he had stolen her from her homeland he was kind to her. He seduced her into his bed instead of forced her. He brought her gifts from all the corners of the Earth he travelled. He treated her like a queen, but she was not in love with him.
Heloise was kept in the lower caves of Olympus where she was unlikely to see the gods and goddesses in their true forms. Thus it was unlikely she would be harmed by the sight of them. While in caves they were lavishly decorated and filled with plants, streams, fountains, and marble decorations. Zephyrus had even created a marble statue of Heloise to give proof to his love.
She sighed as she moved to the bed, Zephyrus had been very secretive about her, keeping Heloise a secret from the other gods. Still, secrets were not kept long on Mount Olympus. As Heloise slept a dryad came across her while looking for the West Wind, she noted the statue made of windswept marble and quickly began to whisper among the lesser deities and other creatures about the woman hidden in Zephyrus' caves.
Eros was curious about what Zephyrus was doing with a woman in his caves. The God of Love owed his marriage to the West Wind and while Psyche had died many years ago, Eros still accredited Zephyrus' aid in helping him win his wife. The God crept through the caves of Olympus to find the sleeping mortal woman. He faintly recalled Zeus muttering about doing a favor to the winds.
Heloise had long, flowing blonde hair with pale skin, and her figure was enough to inspire the God of Love's passion. If this was the woman that Zephyrus' loved then Eros would give him her love in return. Eros leaned over the sleeping woman and began to cast a love spell over her. Eros put the power of Zephyrus' love for the woman into his spell, she would love the West Wind with all the passion of the most powerful of storms. Eros smiled as he quickly retreated.
When Zephyrus returned home he found his wife sleeping and he curled into bed beside her. When she awoke Heloise stared at her husband and found that he was quite handsome. She felt compelled to show him just how much passion she had for him. Zephyrus was shocked and overly pleased by his wife's display.
That night when the West Wind blew it was with a merry song and many of the gods chuckled at the apparent happiness of Zephyrus. Eros was so pleased he began to brag of his spell for his friend. Athena nodded as she heard of Eros' deed. She owed Zephyrus for his kindness to Odysseus.
The next day as Heloise slept it was the Goddess of Wisdom who crept into the room to bestow a gift upon Zephyrus' wife. Athena granted the mortal wife the wisdom to anticipate her husband's need. Gifting them with a home that would always know peace. A servant of Aphrodite saw Athena creeping away and soon the Goddess of Love wished to gift the friend of her son.
One by one, those who called Zephyrus friend snuck in to gift Heloise with some godly gift to make her husband happy. She gained immortal beauty and health, the grace of the Muses, and countless other abilities sure to bring the West Wind happiness.
Of course it was only time till Apollo and Artemis heard about the West Wind's fortune. Apollo was still furious with Zephyrus over the unnecessary death of Hyacinth. Artemis did not forgive the wind for hurting her brother's heart as he had. The two each decided to bring the Wind pain.
Artemis crept into the Wind's home at night when he had to run across the Earth. Heloise slept peacefully and Artemis prepared to place a spell upon the mortal when Heloise awoke. In her shock the Moon Goddess put out one of Heloise's eyes. The mortal woman cried out and Artemis quickly fled before Zephyrus could return.
While Heloise wept over her lost eye, Zephyrus still saw her as lovely and beautiful. He kissed her and brought her gifts. As she slowly got over the loss of her eye, Heloise began to walk along a garden Zephyrus built her on the side of the cliff.
One day Apollo saw the woman and he quickly disguised himself as Zephyrus. As he landed on the cliff Heloise smiled as she ran to him. With a flourish Apollo took Zephyrus' mortal wife to bed. They made love and Apollo was shocked with the passion of the woman. He longed to possess her himself, but before he could steal her away Zephyrus appeared home. Heloise was horrified as she realized she had been tricked and before either god could speak she shuffled away from them to the edge of the cliff. She whispered an apology to Zephyrus before flinging herself off the cliff.
Zephyrus rushed to save his wife but he would be too late so Apollo, realizing his crime did the only thing he could. He turned Heloise into a storm. The West Wind and his wife would be united whenever warm water flowed under the West Wind.