[FIC]: Return
Title: Return
Characters: Zeus/Hera, plus most of the people making appearances
Content Warnings: Nothing particularly explicit wow helpful self
Setting: Immediately after TLH
Word Count: 1599
Notes: Quoth me, "I kinda really would like to write fic of Hera getting back to Olympus at the end of TLH when she's been you know imprisoned and all."
Quoth madri, "I would read the hell out of that fic."
So here it is. I said I'd write it after I finished my dissertation and then I just sat down and wrote it one evening. And Chelle's already read it now because I jump the gun and get excited to share ALL THE THINGS, but that's okay. Thanks to xinvisiblewings to giving parts a quick once over.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon on the shortest day of the year. Even on Olympus the winter air was cold and crisp. It was quiet, too; the Council had begun, and most of the city's inhabitants would be employed at the palace either attending or catering to the meeting.
Hera made her way to the palace. She supposed that she could have simply appeared right in the middle of the throne room, but no. She needed this time, brief though it was, to acclimatise and steel herself for the inevitable confusion that would surround her return.
Finally she reached the palace. The torches were dim this evening, but that was no matter. Though the palace had been expanded and added to over time, the core remained unchanged, and this was a place she had known since her youth.
When she reached the grand doors of the throne room, she paused. After a moment collecting her thoughts and straightening her robes, Hera took a deep breath and walked into the room.
Zeus was speaking, but he stopped mid-sentence and stared at her in disbelief. When he paused, everyone looked around to see her, and slowly, she saw the same shocked expression dawn on everyone's faces. The tension in the air was palpable. Suddenly, there was a loud crash.
"Mom!" Hebe squealed, and ignoring the dropped tray at her feet, she ran the length of the room to throw her arms around Hera.
The silence was broken; everyone began to talk and move at once. Hestia was at her side immediately, looking relieved and exhausted. Hebe began to hop from one foot to another, talking at almost three times her normal pace, ignoring Ares as he tried to demand his mother's full attention. Demeter stepped over and started off on a string of questioning, doing well to be heard over Hebe's constant stream of excited chattering. Even Hephaestus made his way over to enquire after her health.
The rest of the throne room was in a similar commotion. Everyone was talking, questioning, theorising; even Dionysus had his head bent together with Apollo and Hermes. The only one who stayed silent, his expression clouded and unreadable, was Zeus.
"Enough!" he said, and the room fell silent instantly. Hera met his eye and held his gaze. Everyone glanced back and forth between them, the tension crackling in the air.
"You're late," he said finally. Hera arched an eyebrow and drew herself up.
"Forgive me, my Lord, I was otherwise engaged," she replied dryly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hestia bow her head demurely to hide a smile.
"Hmmm," Zeus frowned deeply. "Back to your places, now."
As everyone returned to their seats, Hera walked the length of the room to where her husband was. With grace and dignity, she bowed her head towards him and took her seat at his immediate left. Once everything had stilled, Zeus looked to her.
"Well then?"
She spent time recounting her ordeal and giving her advice, and by the end of it she was quite exhausted. The Council dragged on for several hours and she began to grow more and more frustrated as the discussion went around and around with no sigh of a resolution. When Zeus finally called an end to the meeting, Hera felt as if she could sleep the night right there on her throne.
Instead, she allowed herself to be surrounded by family members asking after her. She addressed them one by one as best she could, trying not to let her exhaustion show. Finally, after satisfying Hebe's desire for "just one last hug" four times, she excused herself and made her way to her own chambers where she collapsed onto her bed. She had not had a chance to recover from her month long imprisonment, and she was just beginning to doze off when there was a knock at her door.
She sat up and stretched. "Come in," she called with a sigh. The door opened to reveal Iris. "Ah, hello dear. How are you?" Iris stepped in and bowed.
"I am well, my Lady," she smiled. "But how are you? It is good to see you home!"
"Thank you dear, I'm quite fine," Hera smiled slightly. "What brings you here?"
"I have a message for you," Iris replied. "Lord Zeus wishes for you to go to his chambers." Hera sighed.
"Now?"
"Immediately, yes," Iris nodded. "Shall I escort you, my Lady?"
"No, that will be quite alright," Hera said, standing. "Go before me and inform him I am on my way."
"Of course, my Lady." Iris bowed again. "And welcome home."
Hera smiled. "Thank you."
When Iris was gone, Hera changed quickly into a fresh robe and wrapped a stole around her bare shoulders. She left her chambers and made her way down the hall to a bronze double-door engraved with lightning bolts that shimmered in the low light. She entered quietly without knocking.
Hera found her husband leaning on the mantelpiece with a glass in his hand. He had his back to the door and was gazing into the fire, but when she shut the door with a soft click behind her, he spoke.
“What. Happened.”
Hera felt affronted. “I beg your pardon?”
“Tell me what happened. Now.”
Hera frowned. “I’m sure you know,” she said. “I was captured and unable to return.”
“I’ll tell you exactly what happened.” Zeus set his glass down on the mantle and turned to face her. “Not only did you disobey a direct order not to interfere, you were stupid and reckless enough to get yourself kidnapped, of all things.” Hera bristled.
“Excuse me, I was acting on my own intelligence because you refused to do anything about this!”
“I can’t believe you!” Zeus scowled. “Doesn’t it ever occur to you that I might be making these decisions for a reason?”
“And doesn’t it ever occur to you,” Hera retaliated, “that not everyone agrees with those decisions?”
“Oh I know they don’t agree with them,” Zeus was glaring hard at her, “but no-one other than you seems to be stubborn enough and foolish enough to actually subvert them.”
“I did what I believed was right! You would not listen to my council and action had to be taken!”
“Just because I do not take your advice does not mean I do not listen to it. You are not the only one on the Council, Hera, and there is more advice to consider than yours alone.”
“You were doing nothing!”
“Yes, and I’m sure your month long imprisonment was highly productive!”
“Well I’m sorry but there was very little I could do,” Hera snapped. “Gaea had me quite effectively trapped and as my essence was being drained to revive Porphyrion I-”
“What?!” Zeus’ scowl deepened considerably. Hera pursed her lips. “Porphyrion?”
“Yes,” she replied, fighting to keep her voice even. “They had me trapped in a cage of Celestial Bronze and they were siphoning my essence to revive him. His intention was to be proclaimed king of Olympus while making me his... his bride.” She spoke the word in a low voice and avoided eye contact with her husband. “I dare say even if I had refused he would have had no qualms with... forcing me into such an agreement.”
A low rumble of thunder rolled around the room. Zeus stepped over to her and took her firmly by the shoulders.
"Why did you not share these details with the Council?"
"I could not," she replied in a low voice. "Many of them already jump to find reasons to blame me for every little thing without mentioning that my essence was used to revive the King of the Giants."
“How dare he.” The look in her husband's eyes was incomprehensible, emotions swirling like a maelstrom as he tried to read her own expression. She held his gaze intently. Finally, his scowl softened slightly and she drew in a sharp breath as he brushed her cheek gently with his thumb. When he kissed her it was deep and overwhelming; she couldn’t stop her eyes filling with tears.
When he pulled away he touched his forehead gently to hers and cupped her face in his hands. “Don’t ever do that again,” he said in a low murmur. She gave a half-hearted scoff.
“I should hardly want to be imprisoned again,” she replied.
“You know what I mean.”
“Dearest, if I don’t challenge you once in a while you will be sure to wander off forever.” Zeus shook his head.
“You’re so stupid, Hera.” When he embraced her he held her so tightly the air was pressed from her lungs. She clung to him just as desperately, remembering all the nights she had spent alone aching for his presence. A shaky sigh escaped her and she pressed her face into the crook of his neck as he ran his fingers into her hair.
"I needed you," she said in a faint whisper. "I need you still."
"Then why are we wasting time talking when we could be in bed?" Zeus asked, a playful lilt in his voice. Hera made a noise of exasperation, but she smiled all the same.
"Fine then," she conceded. "To bed it is."
He took her by the hand and lead her through the room. With each step she took she felt the stress and pain of those past weeks fall away so by the time they were tangled in the sheets, she felt as if she had never left.
Characters: Zeus/Hera, plus most of the people making appearances
Content Warnings: Nothing particularly explicit wow helpful self
Setting: Immediately after TLH
Word Count: 1599
Notes: Quoth me, "I kinda really would like to write fic of Hera getting back to Olympus at the end of TLH when she's been you know imprisoned and all."
Quoth madri, "I would read the hell out of that fic."
So here it is. I said I'd write it after I finished my dissertation and then I just sat down and wrote it one evening. And Chelle's already read it now because I jump the gun and get excited to share ALL THE THINGS, but that's okay. Thanks to xinvisiblewings to giving parts a quick once over.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon on the shortest day of the year. Even on Olympus the winter air was cold and crisp. It was quiet, too; the Council had begun, and most of the city's inhabitants would be employed at the palace either attending or catering to the meeting.
Hera made her way to the palace. She supposed that she could have simply appeared right in the middle of the throne room, but no. She needed this time, brief though it was, to acclimatise and steel herself for the inevitable confusion that would surround her return.
Finally she reached the palace. The torches were dim this evening, but that was no matter. Though the palace had been expanded and added to over time, the core remained unchanged, and this was a place she had known since her youth.
When she reached the grand doors of the throne room, she paused. After a moment collecting her thoughts and straightening her robes, Hera took a deep breath and walked into the room.
Zeus was speaking, but he stopped mid-sentence and stared at her in disbelief. When he paused, everyone looked around to see her, and slowly, she saw the same shocked expression dawn on everyone's faces. The tension in the air was palpable. Suddenly, there was a loud crash.
"Mom!" Hebe squealed, and ignoring the dropped tray at her feet, she ran the length of the room to throw her arms around Hera.
The silence was broken; everyone began to talk and move at once. Hestia was at her side immediately, looking relieved and exhausted. Hebe began to hop from one foot to another, talking at almost three times her normal pace, ignoring Ares as he tried to demand his mother's full attention. Demeter stepped over and started off on a string of questioning, doing well to be heard over Hebe's constant stream of excited chattering. Even Hephaestus made his way over to enquire after her health.
The rest of the throne room was in a similar commotion. Everyone was talking, questioning, theorising; even Dionysus had his head bent together with Apollo and Hermes. The only one who stayed silent, his expression clouded and unreadable, was Zeus.
"Enough!" he said, and the room fell silent instantly. Hera met his eye and held his gaze. Everyone glanced back and forth between them, the tension crackling in the air.
"You're late," he said finally. Hera arched an eyebrow and drew herself up.
"Forgive me, my Lord, I was otherwise engaged," she replied dryly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hestia bow her head demurely to hide a smile.
"Hmmm," Zeus frowned deeply. "Back to your places, now."
As everyone returned to their seats, Hera walked the length of the room to where her husband was. With grace and dignity, she bowed her head towards him and took her seat at his immediate left. Once everything had stilled, Zeus looked to her.
"Well then?"
She spent time recounting her ordeal and giving her advice, and by the end of it she was quite exhausted. The Council dragged on for several hours and she began to grow more and more frustrated as the discussion went around and around with no sigh of a resolution. When Zeus finally called an end to the meeting, Hera felt as if she could sleep the night right there on her throne.
Instead, she allowed herself to be surrounded by family members asking after her. She addressed them one by one as best she could, trying not to let her exhaustion show. Finally, after satisfying Hebe's desire for "just one last hug" four times, she excused herself and made her way to her own chambers where she collapsed onto her bed. She had not had a chance to recover from her month long imprisonment, and she was just beginning to doze off when there was a knock at her door.
She sat up and stretched. "Come in," she called with a sigh. The door opened to reveal Iris. "Ah, hello dear. How are you?" Iris stepped in and bowed.
"I am well, my Lady," she smiled. "But how are you? It is good to see you home!"
"Thank you dear, I'm quite fine," Hera smiled slightly. "What brings you here?"
"I have a message for you," Iris replied. "Lord Zeus wishes for you to go to his chambers." Hera sighed.
"Now?"
"Immediately, yes," Iris nodded. "Shall I escort you, my Lady?"
"No, that will be quite alright," Hera said, standing. "Go before me and inform him I am on my way."
"Of course, my Lady." Iris bowed again. "And welcome home."
Hera smiled. "Thank you."
When Iris was gone, Hera changed quickly into a fresh robe and wrapped a stole around her bare shoulders. She left her chambers and made her way down the hall to a bronze double-door engraved with lightning bolts that shimmered in the low light. She entered quietly without knocking.
Hera found her husband leaning on the mantelpiece with a glass in his hand. He had his back to the door and was gazing into the fire, but when she shut the door with a soft click behind her, he spoke.
“What. Happened.”
Hera felt affronted. “I beg your pardon?”
“Tell me what happened. Now.”
Hera frowned. “I’m sure you know,” she said. “I was captured and unable to return.”
“I’ll tell you exactly what happened.” Zeus set his glass down on the mantle and turned to face her. “Not only did you disobey a direct order not to interfere, you were stupid and reckless enough to get yourself kidnapped, of all things.” Hera bristled.
“Excuse me, I was acting on my own intelligence because you refused to do anything about this!”
“I can’t believe you!” Zeus scowled. “Doesn’t it ever occur to you that I might be making these decisions for a reason?”
“And doesn’t it ever occur to you,” Hera retaliated, “that not everyone agrees with those decisions?”
“Oh I know they don’t agree with them,” Zeus was glaring hard at her, “but no-one other than you seems to be stubborn enough and foolish enough to actually subvert them.”
“I did what I believed was right! You would not listen to my council and action had to be taken!”
“Just because I do not take your advice does not mean I do not listen to it. You are not the only one on the Council, Hera, and there is more advice to consider than yours alone.”
“You were doing nothing!”
“Yes, and I’m sure your month long imprisonment was highly productive!”
“Well I’m sorry but there was very little I could do,” Hera snapped. “Gaea had me quite effectively trapped and as my essence was being drained to revive Porphyrion I-”
“What?!” Zeus’ scowl deepened considerably. Hera pursed her lips. “Porphyrion?”
“Yes,” she replied, fighting to keep her voice even. “They had me trapped in a cage of Celestial Bronze and they were siphoning my essence to revive him. His intention was to be proclaimed king of Olympus while making me his... his bride.” She spoke the word in a low voice and avoided eye contact with her husband. “I dare say even if I had refused he would have had no qualms with... forcing me into such an agreement.”
A low rumble of thunder rolled around the room. Zeus stepped over to her and took her firmly by the shoulders.
"Why did you not share these details with the Council?"
"I could not," she replied in a low voice. "Many of them already jump to find reasons to blame me for every little thing without mentioning that my essence was used to revive the King of the Giants."
“How dare he.” The look in her husband's eyes was incomprehensible, emotions swirling like a maelstrom as he tried to read her own expression. She held his gaze intently. Finally, his scowl softened slightly and she drew in a sharp breath as he brushed her cheek gently with his thumb. When he kissed her it was deep and overwhelming; she couldn’t stop her eyes filling with tears.
When he pulled away he touched his forehead gently to hers and cupped her face in his hands. “Don’t ever do that again,” he said in a low murmur. She gave a half-hearted scoff.
“I should hardly want to be imprisoned again,” she replied.
“You know what I mean.”
“Dearest, if I don’t challenge you once in a while you will be sure to wander off forever.” Zeus shook his head.
“You’re so stupid, Hera.” When he embraced her he held her so tightly the air was pressed from her lungs. She clung to him just as desperately, remembering all the nights she had spent alone aching for his presence. A shaky sigh escaped her and she pressed her face into the crook of his neck as he ran his fingers into her hair.
"I needed you," she said in a faint whisper. "I need you still."
"Then why are we wasting time talking when we could be in bed?" Zeus asked, a playful lilt in his voice. Hera made a noise of exasperation, but she smiled all the same.
"Fine then," she conceded. "To bed it is."
He took her by the hand and lead her through the room. With each step she took she felt the stress and pain of those past weeks fall away so by the time they were tangled in the sheets, she felt as if she had never left.