Chapter 18: A Mad King & A Girl With A Spear

Mount Olympus, Council Hall

In a large, circular room with a miniature model of Greece centered in the floor, are the twelve most important Olympian Gods.

"No! None of you will participate in mortal matters!" Zeus proclaimed, slamming his fist on his thrown. "I don't care for what reasons you want this petty war, but as the King of Gods, I forbid you from entering this mortal squabble. If I find any of you have disobeyed my order, regardless of your godly status, punishment will dealt accordingly." He finished, his eyes boring holes into each Gods skull.

"Says the man who sticks his dick into anything with breasts." Muttered Ares under his breath, unheard by all expect for Aphrodite who was sitting on his lap giggling.

"But Zeus, that mortal has slighted a God! Your wife! Would you sit back and let this insolence slide? What would the other panth-"

"Silence!" Hera's pleas were cut short by Zeus's thunderous voice, his fist slamming into his throne once more cracking it.

"I care not what other pantheons would think. I have made my decision. No God shall further help the mortals in their inevitable war!" Zeus declared, sending a pointed look at Ares, before he got up from his throne and began walking towards the arched exit.

"Father, If I may-"

"Athena." Zeus's stern voice called. Turning around, his cold eyes locked onto his daughter's determined ones, "I have said my piece, I will discuss this no more." He finished, leaving the council hall, and the other eleven Gods to their own thoughts.

"Well, I know whose side I'm taking." Ares exclaimed as soon as Zeus left earshot.

Removing Aphrodite from his lap, and standing to stretch his godly figure, Ares sighed, "My me that was long!".

"Ares, did you not hear what father said?" It was Artemis who questioned Ares, the other Gods awaiting his response.

Artemis was a beautiful woman with tanned white skin, wearing a white and silver fitted chiton with silver bows and arrow's spotted throughout, exposing her athletic arms and legs.

"One, he's not my father. And two; frankly, I don't care. You all fail to realize what my divinity is. Without war what am I? A piece of eye candy? I will not let that hypocrite dictate what matters I involve myself in. Furthermore, who said he's going to find out? I know none of you will tell him." Ares said pointing towards the Gods. "You are all just like me." He said pointing his thumb back to himself. "I'm sure you've all already picked a side to support." Ares said with a knowing smile. All of the Gods present went wide eyed momentarily but quickly schooled their expressions. "Regardless of what Zeus says, the war will be waged, and Gods will be involved." Ares finished, sitting back down, Aphrodite promptly taking her seat on his lap. 'She reminds me of Praeco. I hope she's having fun with Nyx and Primo.' Ares thought.

While thinking about his companions, everyone else present was silently mulling over what Ares had said. It was only when Demeter, minutes after after Ares spoke, broke the silence, "And who are you going to side with my dear nephew?" She asks, her light brown eyes glinting in anticipation.

At this, everyone's attention was on the young God.

"Hmm? Ares replied, turning his focus from his companions to his aunt Demeter. "Both." He replied uninterested. Noticing the looks he was receiving, Ares continued, "Alright you busy bodies. Before you ask why, ill indulge you. Why root for a winner when peace reigns after? What do I have to benefit from peace?" Ares questioned.

'He's right!' every one thought. They felt like smacking themselves. 'He's the God of War, the most brutal aspects! Of course he would want would want a war with no end. The amount of power he'll receive will be tremendous!' They all thought, their minds thinking of ways to gain power through the mortals.

Hera, who was sitting elevated above the others, her throne next to Zeus's, wasn't surprised about her sons decision. She was a little upset he isn't fully on the side of the land they govern, but she's glad he will also provide support it.

She knows her sons divinity. She also knows he has yet to experience one. To see her son this excited, to see his smile so radiant it puts Apollo to shame, she really can't be upset for long.

'He's no longer a flower, but a budding tree, ready to soar for the sky and branch out.' She thought, her eyes softening upon Ares' tall frame, showing a motherly gaze

The silence ensued, until one by one, and without word, the remaining Gods present departed, each one in deep thought; leaving Ares, Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena alone in the council hall.

"Who are you siding with?" Aphrodite asked Hera, her voice full of amusement.

"Of course I want that Trojan Prince to burn. He can't slight me and expect to get away with it." Hera said coldly.

'And why does Zeus still exist?' Ares thought.

You might be thinking, "Why doesn't Ares prevent Zeus from cheating? Well if he did, some Gods wouldn't exist, and things have to play out according to myth, or close enough.

"I agree." Athena said resolutely. "I will grace our lands and provide help when necessary." She finished, her arms crossed, and head high.

'Just like they myths.' Ares thought, absentmindedly stroking Aphrodite's golden locks.

Island of Ithaca

"Look at him, how long has our mad King been doing this for?" A man asked another sitting on a fence, both watching their King, Odysseus, plow a field with an ox and a donkey, showering the ground with salt.

Odysseus was a tall man, standing 6ft8in. His black beard and hair were unkempt but didn't take away from his handsome appearance. He had a toned, athletic build with olive skin and wore a ragged loin cloth, and no sandals.

"I think he's faking it." The man on the fence said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Faking it?" The other man gawked. "There's no way man would purposefully tarnish good crops with salt." He continued, dismissing the thought his King was sane.

Suddenly, from behind the two citizens observing their mad King, was a group of three men, each with the posture of authority.

"Does he really think he can fool me?" One of the men in the arriving trio questioned.

He was 6ft4in, with a muscular build and white skin, wearing a blue tunic and wrapped a darker blue cloth over his right shoulder and waist.

"Do you really think he's feigning madness Palamedes?" Another man asked the now named Palamedes.

This one was also 6ft4in. He had white skin, and a muscular frame, wearing a white and red tunic under a red iron plated linothorax. This was Menelaus, King of Sparta.

"Yes, King Menelaus, I do believe the King of Ithaca here is simply pretending so he wont have to answer your summons. After all he's a clever man. But you know what they say, you reap what you sew." Palamedes said, smiling mischievously his gaze directed at the worn and tired Queen of Ithaca holding her recently born child.

Stepping over the fence separating the sane from the mad, Palamedes walked toward the feeble looking Queen, a gentle smile on his face.

"May I?" Palamedes gestured his open hands to the child in the Queen's arms. Reluctantly, but ultimately handing her child to Palamedes, the latter quickly moved in front of the mad King who was still plowing unaware, and placed the child in his way.

Rounding the field for the umpteenth time and arriving in front of where Palamedes placed the infant child, it wasn't until Odysseus heard his wife's pleas that he focused on what was in front of him.

Widening his eyes and veering to side, avoiding the infant, Odysseus jumped off of the plow and cradled his child, whispering gentle words while swaying side to side. Looking up at Palamedes, he saw a smug smirk on his face, one that infuriated Odysseus to no end.

Handing his child off to its mother and walking toward the three men who recently arrived on his land, he spoke, "I should kill you for endangering my son." Odysseus coldly remarked, pointing at Palamedes, the latter's face still showing a smug smile. Turning his attention to Menelaus he continued, "But I know why your here. And though I do not wish to participate, I too have to honor the oath I made or fear the wrath of the Gods." Odysseus remarked, looking at his wife and child. "Follow me to my abode, let me get ready and then we will be off." Odysseus said, as he began to reluctantly walk off in the direction of his palace.

Three days later, Phthia

"Achilles no matter what, do not reveal yourself until all the soldiers have gone." A motherly voice said to a fifteen year old boy, or girl, as Achilles is currently dressed in garms from his mother's wardrobe.

"Yes mother. But is this necessary?" Achilles asked gesturing to his current attire. "It's not like they know who I am." He remarked, pulling at some uncomfortable fabric.

"But they do my son. They know who your father is and in turn who you are. Please, when your in the market do not do anything do draw attention to yourself and-"

"Do not reveal yourself." Achilles finished his mother's sentence. "You worry too much. I'll be back before you know it." He smiles, kissing his mother's forehead before leaving his home.

As Achilles walked through the roads of Phthia he noticed the once bustling streets nearly empty. Stopping at a stand and buying a fruit, Achilles asked the vendor about the lack of people.

"Haven't you heard?" The old man shout-whispered. "There have been enemies coming and taking women and children and killing the men who fight." The old man told Achilles solemnly. "Leave before they come back young miss, or you might be next." He warned the young, "girl".

Thanking the man, Achilles didn't heed his warning and continued to walk along the almost baron roads of Phthia.

Suddenly, Achilles heard the sound of hooves and screams of terror. Grabbing the nearest thing he could find, which happened to be a spear, he ran toward where he heard the screams, pushing some civilians running the opposite way out of his.

Arriving at the scene where he expected to see dismembered corpses, Achilles found, nothing.

"HAHAHA! At least I didn't dress like a woman." A man's deep voice laughed out, followed by other bouts of laughter.

Turning to said man, Achilles was about to act oblivious and begin questioning him but he didn't have a chance.

"My name is Odysseus, King of Ithaca. Nice try Achilles, son of Peleus, but no girl would fight against warriors. I come at the behest King Menelaus of Sparta. By order of the oath made by your father, you are to pick up arms and aid your homeland. Before you try and weasel your way out of this, you can't. Trust me, I tried. Gather your things and say your goodbyes. We will meet at your cities gates." Odysseus said, turning around and walking off, followed by his men still snickering at Achilles' attire.

"Fuck." Was all Achilles said before his head dropped and he walked back home, empty handed and depressed.