Chapter Text
HESTIA.
“How could you let this happen? How could you be so stupid? ”
Hestia had never seen her brother so furious. Hades had never spoken so loudly, hands flying in outrage. Tears streamed down Demeter’s face. Poseidon was uncharacteristically pale, hands shaking violently in his lap. Hera stood stock still at Hades’ side, her eyes brimming with fury and anguish.
Hestia’s stomach had not stopped churning. Her heart pounded aggressively. She was too terrified to cry.
“I-I-I just thought…” Poseidon began, his voice catching in his throat. He had never been so timid. The fact that he had not started shouting back at Hades proved just how distraught he was. “I thought it would be alright.”
“You just thought ?” Hades demanded. “You always do this! You do things without thinking, and everyone else pays the price.”
Poseidon winced, eyes shining. “Zeus was j-just so sad, I-I thought… If we did something f-fun, he would feel b-better.”
“Really?” Hades spat. “And how do you think he feels now?”
“Hades…” Hestia warned, chest constricting violently. “That’s enough. Yelling won’t bring Zeus back.”
In truth, she did not know how to feel. Perhaps she should have been angry with Poseidon the way Hades was - but instead, she only felt defeat. They had failed at their one duty of keeping their siblings safe. If Hestia had to wager a guess, Hades was just as angry at himself.
Hades huffed, throwing his hands up. “I’m going to find him.”
“No.” It was the first word Hera had said, her unusual silence as unnerving as Poseidon’s lack of fire. “We do not know where Zeus has been taken. If you go charging blindly into this, Hyperion will take you too. We need a plan.”
“We can get Zeus back together.” Demeter whispered.
Hades’ face contorted with anguish. “I will not put all of you in danger.”
Hera rolled her eyes but placed a comforting hand on her brother’s shoulder. “You aren’t putting us anywhere. We are doing this for Zeus. Father is too busy with the war effort… And if I had to guess, taking Zeus was meant to be used as leverage against him. If we get Zeus back ourselves, Father can still win this war and we can save our little brother.”
“I have to help,” Poseidon spoke in a whisper, like he was afraid of setting Hades off again. “I have to help bring him home.”
Hades pinched the bridge of his nose, and then turned to Hestia, meeting her gaze. She could sense the conflict in him easily enough. It was a gamble either way. There was strength in numbers, but there was a greater risk if they were all caught.
“We do not even know where he is.” Hades deflated after a moment. “Even if we were to do this together, we have no idea where to start, and the more of us who leave this clearing, the more attention we draw to ourselves. We cannot just check every palace belonging to the enemy. Allow me to find him first.”
“And where are you going to look?” Hera demanded.
“ I can help you with that part .”
It was impossible to pinpoint the source of the voice. It came from the trees, the wind, the blades of grass. It was everything around them, and could not or would not be bound by a material form. It would have frightened Hestia immensely if she did not already know how to explain the source of the voice. It was Gaia. Though they could not see her, Hestia could feel her presence like a chill that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
“Grandmother?” Demeter asked incredulously.
“ Yes, child. I know where Zeus has been taken. But know that if I divulge this information to you, the rest is in your hands. ”
“You can’t help us fight?” Poseidon asked, disappointed.
“ No, grandson. If I join in the fight, I will upset the balance of this world. I cannot take up arms against my own sons… But I can help a grandchild in need easily enough .”
Hades bobbed his head, eyes shining with hope. “We understand, grandmother. Any help you can give us at all would be appreciated.”
“ Good. There is a fortress north of this glade, nestled in the shadow of Mount Olympus. It is there your brother has been taken. But be warned; this fortress is well-guarded. You will need to be stealthy if you have any hope of finding him .”
“Thank you.” Hestia swelled with gratitude, with hope. If there was a chance to get their brother back - their little brother, so sweet, so innocent, so undeserving of this cruelty- then Hestia would take it. She did not care how dangerous it was.
The fire burning in Hades’ eyes told her he felt the same.
“ One last thing. My sons may be arrogant, but they are not to be underestimated. If you do this, they will do everything they can to harm you .”
Silence followed Gaia’s declaration, even the wind seeming to still in apprehension of the truth.
“We understand.” Hera murmured, her eyes trained on the grass at her feet. Her voice held the sort of conviction Hestia could only marvel at.
“Alright.” Hades turned to face his siblings, hands on his hips, expression fierce and determined. “We must locate this fortress, observe and learn what we can, and prepare to strike.”
“What if Hyperion finds you, too?” Hestia’s heart leapt into her throat, excitement and fear twisting into a nasty concoction inside of her that left her more confused than ever. “He found Zeus the second they set foot outside Gaia’s protection.”
“I don’t think it was that simple.” Poseidon rose back to his feet, and it was with great relief that Hestia found anger in him again. Anger was his fuel, and they would need all the fuel they could get. “Zeus had been wandering for a while outside the borders when Hyperion found us. I think what signalled to him that we had left the boundary was a flower Demeter and I picked.”
“So… Refrain from picking flowers and we’ll be alright?” Hera asked, shaking her head in disbelief. “I don’t think that’s how it works, Poseidon.”
Poseidon clenched his fists, glaring at Hera. “You weren’t there, Hera. I know that I’m right - Hyperion can’t have eyes everywhere. He can’t possibly be watching the entire border of this glen, and be commanding armies, and holding our brother hostage. He needed a system to notify him! It has to be those flowers, I know it!”
“It’s true.” Demeter interjected before Hera could retort. “Zeus was safe until we picked that flower.”
“There is only one way to find out.” Hades said slowly, glowering at the distant trees as though they had betrayed them and stolen their brother away. “I will track down this fortress and report back with what I discover.”
“Hades…” Hestia warned, her eyes welling with tears. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Hades replied without hesitation. “We’re going to bring our little brother back.”
HADES.
Gaia had not been lying about the fortress.
Nestled in the shadow of Mount Olympus was a great stone fortress, grey and bleak and lacking any real grandeur. It was not like the palaces of Iapetus or Hyperion that Hades had grown familiar with. This fortress was constructed for function, not presentation. It was the perfect place to house a political prisoner.
Somewhere within those walls, Zeus was being held captive. Hades could not imagine the terror he must have felt, the despair, the abandonment. It made his stomach twist uncomfortably. He had to push the thoughts aside so he could focus, but doing so still made him feel guilty.
He had always been stealthy. Father had taught him to wield a sword and spear, to face down an enemy and make them suffer. But Hades had always felt more comfortable in the shadows, a dagger in his hand, no eyes on him to judge, poke, or prod him for his mistakes.
He waited until night fell, and approached the walls as close as he dared. There were several guards posted at each of the two exits - the main one, with a large iron gate, and a second entrance to the east, a small door for staff. Getting through would be difficult without drawing attention.
Though Hades could not see the interior courtyard from outside the walls, he knew that there was only one building tall enough to crest the top of the wall, and it stood only a single story above the walls, placed centrally in the courtyard. There may have been other outbuildings, but if Hades had to wager a guess, Zeus would be somewhere in that central building. Well-guarded, and hard to reach.
The options were bleak at best. They could attempt to fight their way in through one of the two gates. But even if they somehow managed to avoid detection by the bulk of the forces inside the courtyard, of which there were sure to be many, they still had to get inside that building. They could not fight so many soldiers without drawing the attention of one of the Titans, surely.
The other option was to sneak in. Hades suspected he could do that on his own, but if he was caught, he would not be able to fight off all the soldiers. And there was still the issue of getting in .
On his second round of the walls, observing every stone, every inch of its surface, Hades found their way in. A smile formed on his mouth, a twisted and exhausted thing that held no real humour. It was so simple, so stupid, that Hades had to bite back a laugh.
A grove of trees grew on the outside of the west wall. One of the tree branches extended just far enough that a well-aimed jump could land a person on the upper wall. A simple thing to miss as a guard, but sometimes the simplest things were the greatest assets.
Satisfied with his discovery, Hades hurried back into the trees, back towards his family, to celebrate this small victory.
~
“Let’s go over the plan one more time.” Hades insisted. He half-expected a groan of annoyance, but instead there were only a handful of resolute nods. He did not know whether to be impressed by his sibling’s newfound maturity and dedication… or heartbroken by it.
“Demeter and I have the first task.” Hestia began, offering their little sister a warm smile. “We will be a ways off, far enough to give ourselves time to run but close enough for the soldiers to see. We will distract them with fire.”
“The three of us will wait at the treeline until we see the fire on the horizon.” Hera continued, gesturing to herself, Hades, and Poseidon. “Ideally, the soldiers will take notice and investigate.”
“We will use the grove to climb the walls and take advantage of the distraction.” Poseidon clutched the sword at his hip tightly, brows furrowed. “Once we are atop the wall, Hera will take up watch and fire upon anyone who draws too close to Hades and I.”
“The two of you will head to the building in the central courtyard to look for Zeus.” Demeter added, her kind voice hardened by determination. “You will find him and bring him home.”
“If all goes well, there will only be a few soldiers left for us to contest with inside the building,” Hades said, hoping his voice sounded more sure than he felt. It was all a gamble. They had no way of determining how many soldiers Hyperion had posted in the fortress, only that the bulk of his forces would be fighting their father’s army. It was risky. Too risky , he could hear his father saying. “Stick to the plan. If anything goes wrong - and I mean anything at all - we flee. We try again another time. Understood?”
A murmur of assent rippled through his siblings, and Hades’ chest constricted with worry. They were brave, so brave, and he felt like a fool putting them in so much danger. But the longer he pondered it, the more clear it became that he could not do this without them. He may have been stealthy and a good fighter, but that meant nothing without the others there to watch his back.
“Night is approaching.” Hestia murmured, gazing up at the sky.
Hades steeled himself, placing a hand on the sword at his hip. “Let’s do this.”
~
“Be safe.” Hera murmured, placing a hand on Hestia’s shoulder.
“You as well.” Hestia’s eyes shone, bright and full of anguish, but she continued to wear a brave face for her younger siblings. “Come, Demeter. We have work to do.”
Demeter’s hands trembled at her side, but she nodded once at their older sister, gave Poseidon a firm hug, and then hurried after Hestia into the forest.
Now all that was left to do was wait.
Poseidon leaned against one of the trees that provided their cover, eyes trained on the fortress. Whatever he was searching for, Hades could not be certain, but his brows furrowed so intensely that he dared not interrupt his brother’s concentration. Hera sat counting and recounting her arrows, bow slung over her lap. She was an incredible shot, but her skills were often underutilized by their father.
Hades kept his gaze trained on the spot where Hestia’s flames would go up. They would wait to see how the fortress responded to the distraction before they moved on the walls. There was time. But his stomach still lurched every time he thought he saw movement in the distant trees.
He hoped this worked. Hades had never hoped for something so desperately in his entire life.
Minutes passed in agonizing slowness. Hades’ foot tapped anxiously against the earth. He waited, and waited, and waited -
And then there it was. In the distance, a burning blaze grew taller and higher with every second that passed. A few more beats passed, the flames growing out of control, moving towards the walls at rapid speed. The soldiers would have to react or risk their entire fort going up in flames.
From within the fortress, a horn sounded. Men shouting echoed across the grassy plain that separated Hades and the others from the fortress walls. Within two minutes, a large number of soldiers filed out the gate, armed with weapons. The guards at the gates remained as their companions marched off towards the blaze that threatened to lick at their current home.
It was now or never.
“Come on,” Hades commanded in a low voice, but Hera and Poseidon were already at his side, ready to move. “Let’s find our brother.”
HERA.
Hera did not know which part would be most difficult. Would it be the journey across an open plain, praying that any watchers on the walls did not spot them in the grass? Or perhaps their climb up the tree, laden with light armour and weapons, cresting a wall that could contain any number of horrors behind it? Or better yet, might it be her brothers’ journey through the interior courtyard and their entrance into the tower, covered only by Hera’s aim?
She could not be certain. No one could until the moment came.
And the time had indeed come. At Hades’ order, the three of them began the trek across the plain, slinking through the grass like deadly serpents. They timed their movements with the shadows of clouds that blew past the moon, drenching the field in temporary inky blackness. They kept low, listening intently for the sounds of shouting or alarm. Despite the cool breeze that blew through the night, Hera found herself sweating profusely the closer they grew to the walls.
By the time they reached the grove of trees that marked their only entrance into the fortress, her forehead was drenched and palms clammy around her bow. Her training had accounted for this, many days spent firing arrows under the heat of the beating sun. But it had not accounted for nervousness nor the tremble of her fingers. Hera prayed her aim remained true.
They wound through the trunks, careful not to disturb the dead leaves and brittle branches below. A single sound might alert the palace to their entrance, and they could not afford that. Not while Zeus was so close and their plan still going off without a hitch.
They reached their makeshift ladder, an olive tree that grew taller than the rest, its gnarled branches reaching skyward. There was but a small gap between the highest branches and the top of the wall. The branch still held some thickness to it, and Hera hoped it would be enough to bear their weight.
Hades met their gaze in the moonlight, back pressed against the wall. Poseidon too ducked out of view, his youthful face crafted with an expression of false confidence. She knew it was an act. It was his eyes that gave away the fear, one that she too felt despite her greatest attempts to deny it.
Hades gestured to her, then to the branches. Hera understood his silent command and threw her bow over her back temporarily. One foot found purchase on a gnarled lump protruding from the trunk, her hands reaching for the higher branches. Slowly, so slowly it pained her, Hera began to climb. Every inch was a gamble. She had no way of knowing which branches were sturdy or which might give way beneath her. She climbed until her hands made purchase on the highest of branches and she managed to hoist herself up. The branch wiggled beneath her, now perched on her toes upon its wood, but it did not break.
Hera breathed a sigh of relief, and took her first glance at the inside of the fortress.
The wall was a narrow walkway, wide enough only for one person to walk at any given time. A low lying wall protected it from the outside, but there was no inner balustrade to protect her from view of the inner courtyard. The interior was smaller than the outer walls had let on. The single tower in the center, their target, was surrounded by open space full of carts, weapon racks, and low-lying fires where embers still burned between the stones. Two outbuildings existed, of much smaller size than the main building. One she suspected was the armory. Another was a storehouse of some kind for food and supplies.
That was good. That meant that the lower floors of the large building were used for something else… like a prison.
The largest concern was the soldiers. Though many had filed out to tend to the fire Hestia had started, many still weaved between the campfires instead. Hera did a quick headcount, eyes darting through the haze of smoke to round them up. There were thirteen that she could see from this angle, and maybe more in the armoury, or the building itself.
None seemed to be looking their way, preoccupied instead by the smoke rising in the distance and the two gates that sat opposite her. But anyone who looked this way would see her sitting on the wall with ease.
It was too exposed. They needed to get to better cover.
Her eyes darted to the side gate. There, a low-lying wall on the inside protected the mechanism that would open or close the gate in a hurry. She could make her post there and fire upon anyone who discovered them.
She peered down at her brothers. Holding up a single finger, signalling them to wait, Hera climbed atop the wall and began her journey.
Progress was slow. Anytime she suspected a soldier was looking her way, she sank to her stomach and prayed the height difference was enough to shield her. She moved slow and low, the same as she had across the field. No shouts were raised. No one seemed to notice her, too preoccupied by the current dilemma to make note of her. By the time she reached her cover, her heart thundered like a thousand spears slammed against shields.
Her brothers had not followed her. Their trust in her made a brief flicker of pride spike inside her chest. Hera knew she could not let them down now.
She nocked an arrow and took aim. But it was not towards any of the soldiers - it was towards the olive grove. She took a breath, aiming for the highest branches of the tree.
Hera fired.
No one seemed to notice that either. The flying of an arrow could be noisy, but there was enough clamour in the courtyard below to cover the noise. Moments later, Poseidon’s head peeked over the edge of the wall, and he slid noiselessly onto the platform.
Silence. Hades appeared after him, his pale face poking over the stone.
After a moment of searching, Hades found her, and she held up a hand. Now, her work truly began. In order for her brothers to make it across the courtyard, she had to eliminate any enemies in their way. Down there, they would have more cover. But there would also be more soldiers milling about, waiting to stumble upon them like sitting ducks.
Hera had to stop them before that happened.
Like Hades had read her mind, some sort of twin connection if she had to guess, he waited until the courtyard below was empty of soldiers. He then directed Poseidon to shimmy down the wall, landing in the dirt below.
They hurried to hide behind a cart. Hades met her gaze - when the coast was clear, Hera gestured to a tanning rack and nodded. They crept across the dirt, low and quick, until they found cover in behind the next object.
Hera was their guide, ushering them across the courtyard, slow and steady. No one had spotted them. Whether by some miracle of the Fates or their own skill, Hera could not be sure.
But they were not out of trouble yet. As her brothers came to their next hiding spot, a figure emerged from the armoury. He wandered across the courtyard, holding a spear over his shoulder. Any moment, and he would spot them. He would sound the alarm. Her brothers would be caught, would be forced to fight their way out.
The arrow flew before Hera could fully register what she was doing.
It went straight through the back of his skull. He did not even have a chance to scream before he hit the floor, gurgling. Golden ichor flowed from the wound, staining the earth.
She signalled her brothers to run for the door of the largest building. They obeyed her command, unaware of what she had done to save them. As they disappeared into the dark, gone from her sight, Hera nocked another arrow.
POSEIDON .
Poseidon did not know how they had done it. He feared that if he stopped to question their good fortune for even a moment, it would be thrown back in his face and everything would go wrong.
But they reached the door. They slipped inside undetected. No alarm had been raised as the door clicked softly shut behind them, and the hallway before them was empty. No soldiers were lying in wait for them, the soft flicker of torchlight in the short hallways before them the only signs of movement. At the end of the hall, a light shone through a half-open doorway. The smell of food wafted towards them, mouthwateringly good. A kitchen, then. A mess hall, perhaps.
To their left, a staircase wound upwards. To their right, a staircase went down.
“This way.” Hades whispered, gesturing to the right.
It had to have been a fairly good guess. If Poseidon were to build a place to house prisoners, he too would have put it in the basement. His heart beat rapidly inside his chest, nausea swirling in his stomach. He clutched the hilt of his sword a little tighter, and followed Hades down the steps as quietly as he could. His brother was a natural, stealthy and silent. Poseidon was clumsier of foot, but he managed all the same. For Zeus, he had to be at his best. Causing a ruckus would not bring their little brother home.
Home. There was a chance none of them would ever be able to go home again - but Gaia’s glade was safer and more like home than a cold prison in a fortress belonging to their uncles.
The staircase curved downwards. As they rounded the corner, two things became obvious to Poseidon.
There was only a single door on this floor, behind which he could presume his little brother was hiding. The second was the two guards standing at attention outside the door, both of whom had turned abruptly towards the door as a loud crackle echoed from behind it.
“What was that?” The first said, reaching for the handle.
“I don’t-” The second began, before his head titled just enough to catch sight of the two brothers standing at the bottom of the stairs. “Wait… Intruders!”
Hades lunged a second before Poseidon did. His brother was speed incarnate, sword whirling so quickly it sliced across the second guard’s throat before he could even draw his weapon. The first managed to brandish his spear before Poseidon reached him. But he batted it aside with a heavy swipe and drove his sword clean through the guard’s chest.
His eyes bulged. Ichor sprayed across Poseidon’s armour. He had never seen so much of it before. Gold stained his hands. The sound of horrible choking rang in his ears.
The body crumpled, and Poseidon pulled his sword free with a sickening gush. Hades stepped over the body and met Poseidon’s gaze.
“Are you alright?” He whispered.
Poseidon nodded resolutely, shoving past his brother to throw open the door.
The sight might have been funny, were the circumstances not so dire. Zeus’ rear wriggled as he tried to shove himself through a tiny window. Somehow, their brother had escaped his cell and was attempting to launch a prison break. Two bars smouldered in one of the cells, but how Zeus had broken them, Poseidon could not be sure.
“Zeus?” He breathed incredulously. Their brother dropped from the window, eyes going wide. A dozen emotions flashed across his young face then. Surprise, relief, anguish, fear, hurt. All of it came and went so quickly, it gave Poseidon whiplash.
“...Poseidon?” Zeus whispered. Hades stepped into the room after him, and Zeus’ eyes welled with tears. He launched forward, throwing himself into Poseidon’s arms. Hades hurried forward and wrapped his arms around the both of them, squeezing tight enough to crush. Neither of them minded much.
“How did you find me?” Zeus asked, tears sliding down his cheeks. When he wiped them away, his expression hardened, and for the first time in all their years, Poseidon did not see his little brother as so little .
“Gaia.” Poseidon explained breathlessly. “But we don’t have much time. We have to get you out of here quickly. Hera is still waiting outside.”
“Hera is here too?” Zeus’s surprise was tangible. “Thank you for saving me. I was trying to save myself before you got here.”
“We saw.” Hades murmured with a laugh, placing a hand on Zeus’ head to ruffle his hair. “You did good, Zeusie.”
“Well, isn’t this touching. ”
Poseidon whirled so quickly, that his blade nearly sliced Hades in two. He only managed to avoid it because Hades leapt forward, placing himself between the younger two and their uncle.
Iapetus. Dark-haired with a cruel face, scarred from many years of battle. His black armour was adorned with a carving of a head on a spike, his reputation as Piercer so well-known and wide-spread it had become immortalized on his clothing.
Poseidon had not seen their uncle in years, mostly due to the distance between kingdoms and Iapetus’ desire to remain uninvolved in politics. Now, with the war on, Poseidon realized that had all been a front to hide his attempted coup.
He had known. All that luck they had faced in the courtyard, the lack of guards - Iapetus had known they were coming. And now he had them cornered, in a room with six cells for six children of Cronus. They had nowhere to go. Even if Hera discovered them in time, she could not fight Iapetus on her own.
He smiled wickedly at them, pressing forward into the room. Hades brandished his sword higher. Poseidon could not see his face, but he did note the tremble in Hades’ arm. His brother’s fear made Poseidon see red, anger exploding inside his chest. Iapetus had torn up everything they knew, thrown them into a dangerous war, and forced six innocent children into hiding. He had housed their little brother and sent allies into their palace to harm their mother. Iapetus deserved to drown for his crimes.
“I thought the little brat would be enough to sway Cronus to surrender.” Iapetus confessed, holding his spear casually, as though at a dinner party discussing the weather with friends. “I admit I was wrong. But with all three of his sons in my clutches, the foolish king will be given no choice. Thank you for cooperating with my plans, young gods. You have made this so much easier for me.”
“You’re a monster.” Hades spat. “Life has been good under Father. You are power-hungry and arrogant. No one will support your rule for long.”
Iapetus scowled, pointing his spear at Hades. Poseidon hissed and held his sword aloft. “You know nothing of this world, boy. When I take the throne, you will see how benevolent a king can truly be.”
“Benevolence?” Hades laughed, but the high-pitched tone betrayed his fear. He was no diplomat, no skilled talker. If they were to get out of this, it would be by strength of arm alone. “Is that what you call imprisoning a child?”
“I call that a necessary evil for a greater purpose.” Iapetus replied. “I don’t expect you to understand. I do expect you to cooperate.”
“I won’t.” Hades held his sword higher, ready to meet Iapetus in combat.
“No? Then I suppose those girls we’re capturing - the ones who started the fire - are of no meaning to you? You will not lay down your sword for their well-being, hm?”
Poseidon’s stomach lurched. At his side, Zeus’ breath hitched.
“No…” Hades whispered.
Iapetus smirked. “Yes. Now get in the cages, boys. One way or another, you will all end up in there. Whether that is with all your limbs attached or not is up to you .”
DEMETER .
Demeter ran and did not complain that her feet hurt. Now was not the time for childish grievances, not when Zeus was captured and no one else was coming to save him. She followed Hestia through the trees, racing while they still had thick enough foliage to cover them. Her older sister led the way with grace, not stopping for even a moment to catch her breath. They could rest when Zeus was safe, she decided.
Hestia came to a halt eventually. She held her palm against a tree, splayed as she surveyed the area around them. If Demeter squinted through the trees, she could see vague torchlight in the distance. It was quite a ways off, but it was visible to her even now. It would be a great spot to stage their distraction, and must have been why Hestia chose it.
Demeter’s chest heaved with each breath, but she kept her expression firm when Hestia finally turned to look at her.
“This will do,” Hestia confirmed. “I need you to help me gather up loose brush and set it all against these trees. I want to make sure this forest goes up quickly.”
“Sorry trees…” Demeter whispered. She hoped they would forgive her for this. Never would she have set a forest ablaze for any other reason - but for Zeusie, she would.
Demeter began her job quickly. She stooped and gathered up as much as she could from the surrounding forest floor- dead leaves, loose sticks, anything that would burn quick and hot. She gathered bundles of it in her arms and set it where Hestia had instructed. The pile grew rapidly with their combined efforts, and Demeter knew that the blaze would have been magnificent, were the situation not so dire.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Hestia whispered, wiping her brow despite the cool night air. “Get back. Once this goes up, we’ll have to run quickly to avoid it.”
Demeter nodded, hurrying back from their brush pile. Hestia knelt beside the deadfall and extended her hand towards it. A moment passed in silence. Demeter wondered briefly if the nerves had gotten to her sister.
And then flames burst from Hestia’s palm, lighting up the brush in seconds. Satisfied with her work, Hestia jumped back and rushed towards her, eyes alight with something Demeter could not comprehend.
“Run!” Hestia instructed, and Demeter did not need to be told twice. They raced back through the trees towards where they had come from, bobbing and weaving between the trunks and over roots. Demeter could feel the heat of the fire as it engulfed the forest, and when she dared to risk a glance back, flames reached high into the night sky towards Ouranos.
“Will they be able to put the fire out?” Demeter wondered as they ran.
Hestia’s laughter surprised her, a wild and untameable thing. “Half of them are river gods, Demeter! If they cannot put the fire out, then they are sorry excuses for their station.”
They had almost reached the rendezvous point when trouble began.
A strange silence fell over the forest then. No longer could Demeter hear the calling of soldiers in the distance or the rustle of wind through the trees. She could not smell the smoke or feel the heat any longer. It was as if their section of woods had been completely cut off from the outside world, an isolated bubble.
“Hestia…” Demeter murmured nervously, slowing in her steps. “Something’s wrong.”
“Dem, we are almost there, just keep moving.” Hestia insisted.
A crack like thunder pierced the silence, a flash of light so bright illuminating the night that Demeter had to avert her eyes or risk being blinded.
“Run!” Hestia cried again, but by then it was too late. From the light emerged the smirking face of their uncle Hyperion, the same visage Demeter had seen only two days earlier when Zeus was taken. Fear swelled in her belly like the tide, but it was quickly squashed by a vicious sort of anger that made Demeter’s blood boil and her vision tint with red.
“Going somewhere, nieces?” Hyperion asked cruelly. Hestia stumbled backward, placing herself between Demeter and their uncle. A good thing, too. Demeter wanted to pummel his face to mush.
“Let us go.” Hestia breathed, and Demeter marvelled at the bravery in it. “I know why you wish to stop us, uncle, but let me tell you why you shouldn’t.”
“Oh, Hestia.” Hyperion cooed, drawing a sword that should have terrified Demeter with its size and sharpness. It only served to make her angrier. “Just like your mother. Always trying to sweet talk the rest of us into doing her awful bidding.”
“I will speak no lie.” Hestia held her chin high. “If you spare my sisters, if you spare my brothers… If you promise they will be safe, I will make you a promise of my own.”
Hyperion raised his sword lazily, advancing. “And that is?”
“You said it once yourself that I was getting too old to remain unwed.” Hestia kept herself between Demeter and the blade, her voice clear as spring water. Demeter’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. She knew where this was headed, and she didn’t like it. “Well, here I am. If you spare my brothers and sisters, I will be the bride you demand. I will marry your son and give you more of a claim to the throne you desire so badly to usurp.”
Hestia hesitated for only a moment, but it was enough for Demeter to feel her disgust. “Or I will be your bride, uncle, if that is what you most desire.”
“Hestia, no! ” Demeter cried, but Hestia raised a hand to silence her.
It was enough to halt Hyperion in his tracks. He seemed to be pondering the idea, weighing the options. Demeter’s eyes darted left and right, searching for escape. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to run, not where Hyperion would not catch them and run them through with his sword. The thought of Hestia marrying this creep made her skin crawl, but what other options did they have?
“You offer me something I could take myself.” Hyperion said slowly. “When I win this war, you could be my bride anyway.”
“True.” Hestia murmured. “But I will not be an easy bride. I will fight you every step of the way. I will not be a wife you can show pride in. I will make your life a hell, uncle, and chains would be the only way to tame me. But if you take my offer now, I will be dutiful. I will follow your every command and be the perfect wife. If you marry me on my terms, I will help you end this war far faster than it would end your way.”
Hyperion’s brow furrowed. Was he truly considering the offer? Would he accept? Would Hestia be forced into an eternity at this monster’s side? What of Aunt Theia?
“Alright, girl.” Hyperion smirked. “But I must make it look like I took you by force. Put up a bit of a fight, would you?”
Flames erupted in Hestia’s hands, the heat nearly scorching Demeter’s dress. “Gladly.”
Hyperion lunged forward to claim them, but contact never came. Another bright light burst to life in the night, followed by a second, until Hyperion disappeared from view behind two sets of broad shoulders in well-crafted armour. Both with dark hair, both wielding impressive weapons.
“You always were the most prideful one, brother.” Uncle Crius spoke in his measured, monotonous tone.
“Hestia here is far too good for the likes of you.” That one was Coeus. Demeter could hardly believe her eyes. How had they found them? How could they have taken time away from battle to save their nieces? How could any of this been possible?
Hyperion’s snarl was visible between a space in their shoulders, his weapon brandished. “Get out of my way! How could you… How have you left the battlefield behind?”
“Unlike you, Hyp, we trust in our wives and children to get the job done .” Crius explained simply. “Now surrender before we cut you into ribbons.”
Hyperion grew pale, his sunny complexion turning cold. “Not possible. You cannot-”
“Defeat you?” Coeus asked lazily. “How many times did we destroy you in our youth? Surrender and spare yourself the humiliation of an easy defeat.”
“I will not!” Hyperion cried.
Crius sighed, almost tired, like the entire thing was a drain on his energy. “Then you give us no choice, brother. Perhaps now you will see the errors in your treachery.”
The clash of blades was violent, piercing the night air. It was mesmerizing to watch, the way the three of them lunged and slashed and rolled to avoid being struck. The energy that rippled off of them was electric. Demeter stood in awe, unmoving, unable to tear her gaze away. Whatever stroke of luck had come their way, whatever forces had warned their uncles just in time to be spared, Demeter could not thank them enough. Hestia seemed to be the same, still as a statue, staring ahead.
“I cannot believe you were going to marry him.” Demeter whispered.
Hestia scoffed. “I would never marry him. I would have figured something else out.”
“Right… Should we go?”
“No.” Hestia shook her head. “When our uncles win, we will go with them to reclaim our brother.”
ZEUS.
Zeus had never felt so many conflicting things at once.
His brothers and sisters had come for him. They had risked their own safety to set him free, they had not let him suffer for long. Zeus did not know what he had expected, but the weight of gratitude was stifling. All the fears and insecurities he had suffered in his cell had gone. It did not matter that father had not come, because Hades had. Poseidon had. Hera had, and so had Hestia and Demeter.
But gratitude was not the only thing he felt.
Staring Iapetus in the face - the titan who had started this war, who had taken his mother from him, had taken his home from him - made Zeus afraid. No longer for himself. Selfish fear was the thing of children, and Zeus did not feel like a child anymore. He was afraid for his family, the ones who had come all this way to rescue him only to end up in the very same clutches. Zeus would never forgive himself if they were hurt because of him. If only he had been faster, if only he had escaped a little sooner.
Iapetus now continued to back them towards the cells. His spear could have easily pierced through any of them, if reputation proved anything. What could they do? Zeus did not even have a weapon save for his secret lightning, and though Poseidon had gotten much better with a blade, together they would still be no match for Iapetus.
Hades did not seem intent on backing down, though. He had been trained to be a soldier first. Fighting was the way of the titans, after all.
“Back down, nephew.” Iapetus hissed. “You will get hurt, and so will your sisters.”
“I know your way. It does not matter if we go peacefully. We get hurt either way.” And then Hades lunged.
The gasp that left Zeus’ mouth was entirely involuntary. The move seemed to catch Iapetus off guard, at the very least, though his recovery was impressively fast. Hades managed to dodge underneath his spear, slashing towards the titan’s legs. He jumped out of the way and whirled his spear, nearly catching Poseidon directly in the chest with the shaft. Poseidon shoved Zeus backwards toward the cells, searching for an opening in the fight.
Zeus was no expert, but there did not seem to be one. Every time Poseidon attempted to move forward, Hades or Iapetus whirled so suddenly, that Poseidon had to falter back to avoid being hacked to pieces.
Hades was holding his own. Iapetus was an impressive fighter, so powerful and swift that only the fastest of fighters could have avoided his blows for long. Hades managed, dodging under swipes of Iapetus’ spear, attacking with vigor. No blow landed, and the sweat on Hades’ brow was evident.
But there was no fear. Hades excelled this way, and it was clear in the confidence of his stance. He fought hard, long enough to give Iapetus reason to be concerned.
It could not last forever, though. Hades would make a mistake eventually, or he would tire, and it would all be over. Zeus had to help somehow, had to intervene, had to give Hades his fighting chance.
But how? With sparks? He could not control them the way Hestia controlled her flames. He would hurt Hades just as much as he hurt Iapetus. He could try to run, but then what? Hades would be captured instead, and they would be right back where they started.
At least Hades would be better at making an escape attempt than he had.
It happened so quickly, that Zeus did not realize what had happened until Hades cried out.
Iapetus’ spear protruded from Hades’ belly, stabbed through a break in Hades’ guard. Golden ichor rolled down Hades’ abdomen, splattering the floor with gold. Iapetus smirked with delight, holding his spear fast as Hades collapsed to the ground in pain.
“Hades!” Poseidon cried, voice rife with anguish. He lurched forward, trying to slam his blade down on Iapetus’ neck, but the titan grabbed his wrist with his opposing hand and held him there.
“I told you to back down.” Iapetus sighed, shaking his head in pity. Pity . As if he felt any remorse for what he had done.
Hades winced, trying to rise and failing. His blade had fallen from his hand, eyes wide and breathing shallow. “I-I’m alright, Poseidon.”
“I will kill you!” Poseidon cried, kicking out at Iapetus’ knee with his foot. The titan grunted, but did not release him.
“You have done great work, my sons. Let me take it from here.”
A figure emerged from the darkness of the hallway, regal and proud and barely masking his fury. Zeus’ eyes went wide, heart thundering in his chest. It was father!
“Let my sons go.” He commanded, and Zeus was certain he had never heard Cronus sound so angry.
“Brother,” Iapetus replied smoothly, dropping Poseidon to the floor. Their middle brother hurried to Hades’ side, trying to soothe his pain. “How nice to see you.”
“You traitorous bastard.” Cronus hissed, glare narrowing. “Did you think this would work? I would sooner throw myself into Tartarus than let you use my children against me.”
“Would you?” Iapetus replied drily.
“Boys, get Hades out of here.” Cronus’ final words before he surged forward and met Iapetus in battle.
The room was not large enough for two powerful beings to fight so viciously. Zeus had to crawl along the floor to reach his brothers, and even then, could feel the power emanating off of the two dueling deities. He could not take the time to watch, to see who was winning or how the fight was going. His focus was on Hades, still bleeding on the floor.
He reached Poseidon and gave a firm nod. With a heave, they got Hades into a standing position and hurried as best as they were able towards the entrance. Hades grimaced with every step, his forehead beaded with sweat, eyes watery. Ichor stained Zeus’ hands, but he did not care. Not when Hades needed him.
They had Hades through the door. He whimpered, leaning heavily against Poseidon who was broad enough to support him. If anyone else tried to stop them, they would be done for. Just a little further, Zeus told himself. Just a little further, that’s all.
A massive whack sounded from behind them, followed by a crashing thud. Zeus risked a glance over his shoulder in alarm, fearing for their father.
But it was not Cronus who laid now in the entryway to the prison, eyes dazed. Iapetus was sprawled across the floor, groaning in pain. Across the room, their father leaned heavily against the wall, ichor trickling from his bicep.
Iapetus began to rise again, and father still had not recovered.
Zeus moved without thinking. He released Hades, who stumbled into Poseidon with a groan. Hand extended, he summoned all the power he could, all the fear and fury and anguish and poured it into the lightning that exploded in his palm.
A palm he pressed firmly against Iapetus’ throat. He held it there even as the titan screamed, even as the smell of burnt flesh - a horrible, nasty smell - reached Zeus’ nose. Only when his father barked at him to stop did Zeus relent.
He could feel the eyes boring into him, shocked stares that could not comprehend what they had just seen.
“How did you do that?” A feminine voice echoed from the stairwell. Standing there, her eyes as wide as Poseidon’s was Hera, bow in her hand.
“I don’t know.” Zeus whispered. Cronus crossed the room and crouched over his groaning brother, who lay smoldering on his prison floor. “I’ve always been able to do this.”
“And you never told us?” Poseidon asked incredulously.
“No one ever asked.”
“Excellent work, son.” Cronus said breathlessly, placing a hand on Iapetus’ chest. With a flash of light, their uncle’s body disappeared. “He will be taken care of by the rest of our allies. There is no sense lingering here any longer.”
“Father…” Hera breathed, eyes alight. “I saw you in the courtyard. You eviscerated all of those guards, it was incredible!”
“Thank you for watching over me.” Cronus said fondly, moving past his sons to pat her on the shoulder. “Come. Your sisters will be joining us any moment.”
“They’re alright?” Poseidon asked, helping Hades limp down the hallway. Hera joined them and threw Hades’ other arm over her shoulder to assist.
“Yes. Your other uncles came to their rescue.” Cronus informed them.
Sure enough, as they broke back into the courtyard, devoid of any signs of life and only a handful of bloodied bodies that would soon regenerate, a shrill voice pierced the air.
“Zeus!” He glanced up in surprise, delight swirling inside of him at the sight. Demeter and Hestia raced across the now-empty courtyard, their faces bright and beaming. Behind them, Uncle Coeus and Crius marched with casual strides, carrying a limp figure between them.
Hyperion .
“Zeus, you’re alright!” Hestia wept, pressing kisses into his hair the moment they met. “Oh, thank goodness. Our uncles came to our rescue, but we were so worried for you.”
“You came to save me!” Zeus cried in excitement, embracing Demeter next. She glanced towards Hades, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open in shock. Fear flashed in her eyes, the same mirrored on Hestia’s face.
“Hades needs attention soon.” Poseidon interrupted, gesturing to their injured brother still supported between him and Hera.
“We will take him to our medics on the frontlines,” Cronus commanded. “There we will tell them this war is over.”
Relief flooded Zeus’ senses. The war was over? With Hyperion and Iapetus now down for the count, there were few left to lead the army. They could go home!
“How did you all do it?” Demeter asked, bouncing on her feet as they gathered together for the journey back to the frontline.
“Father saved us!” Zeus replied, grinning. “He was amazing.”
“No, my son.” Cronus placed his hand on Zeus’ shoulder, squeezing it warmly. Pride surged in Zeus’ chest. “You have saved yourselves.”
Had his father ever said something so kind to him? Had Cronus ever recognized his merit, his ability? A lump formed in Zeus’ throat like he had swallowed too much bread, and it took everything he had not to burst into tears.
“You have all done your father proud,” Cronus added, smiling warmly. A smile suited his face, Zeus decided. He hoped it would not continue to be rare. “Without your efforts, this war may have dragged on much longer. Thank you. Now, let us return home.”
Together, arm in arm, a family united against a common foe, Zeus found solace. Together, six children, their father, and three uncles (one a little worse for wear) disappeared into light and were joined again with the rest of their family.