Life on Olympus: chap 3

Spilled wine laid on the grass and permeated the air. It was a prospect of passed out creatures and drooping oak forms of the forest nymphs. From first glance, one could imagine the scene of unfortunate circumstances of a forest struck by a plague, but the seemingly lifeless bodies sprawled across the earth were the fast asleep satyrs and townspeople recovering from a maddening night of fun. Dionysus sat above him all on the platform and revelled in what he saw. He smiled contentedly and basked in the glory of what made him a god. He, himself, was buzzed from the partaking he had done in his lonesome on Olympus as night turned into day. Taking more sips from his chalice, he stayed and watched as a few regained their senses below and shook off their hangover. Not having an idea of what had occurred, they gathered themselves and looked up at the sky. Some began praising Dionysus for the night, lifting their hands in the air and shouting his name. Others looked to the sky and held their hands in their heart. Some even picked up cups with small amounts of wine in them and began drinking merrily again on their routes home. Dionysus felt a warmth, a strength deep in his core. As the wine filled inside him, and he began hearing the praises sung by those coming back to their senses from below, it felt an unexplainable boost of power. He felt motivated to do more, to drink more, to show more people the wonders of his gifts and abilities to enthrall a room to undying laughter and amusement.

Some time had passed and the hill remained quiet. Athena was taking a small stroll of the complex grounds. Scroll in hand, she was reading off some material to herself, when a hyper and cheery Dionysus sprung from behind her. As a reflex, Athena closed her scroll and pivoted to whip the perceived threat at her backside. Dionysus was smacked to the floor and gasping for air (though making sure his chalice, and the wine within it, were intact). Athena sprung into a readied stance until she realized who she’d struck.

“Oh, my deepest apologies, Dionysus!” Athena repented, crouching to his level to make sure he was okay. Dionysus turned over on his back and finally was able to breathe again. He took Athena’s hand and stood up once more.

“Damnit Athena! Why are you that strong?” Dionysus asked, rubbing the side of his face.

“I’m sorry, but you shouldn’t scare me like that. I have quick reflexes and don’t like being snuck up on.”

“Duly noted.” He said as he fixed his clothes.

“Well why are you so cheery anyway?” Athena unraveled her scroll again and continued reading it.

“I was able to do what gods do yesterday! It was an invigorating experience,” Dionysus started, “It was music and fun galore! People were dancing and singing and laughing in my name, it was the most amazing experience.”

“Yes, godhood can be that way,” Athena responded, “it’s fulfilling to see the lives you touch and seeing mortals worship and praise you. I can tell it’s already had its effect on you.”

“Yes and I fee-wait, so you know of that warm feeling you get when you’re praised by a lot of people?”

“Yes, your power comes from those that believe in you. The feeling catapulted you to godhood, and it continues to grow into an awesome power as more and more people believe in your abilities and your contributions to the world.”

There was a short pause as Dionysus continued to think about the events of last night and the feeling inside him. Taking more drinks from his chalice and walking slower and slower as he thought deeper and deeper, he sprinted back to Athena’s pace.

“So, wisdom goddess, I know you must feel this all the time. I just know you have a giant ball of unmatched power just all inside you waiting to burst out at any moment.”

“Perhaps,” Athena smiled, “but power manifests itself in different ways.”

“What’s that mean?”

“In due time, young one, you’ll find out.” She winked. She continued forward with her eyes on her scroll. Dionysus took another sip of his wine and crossed his arms about what Athena had just told him. He broke from it again and sprinted back to her pace.

“Hey, what do you say I could show all of Olympus what I’m about? What's to say I throw a feast. I’m sure there’s a grand hall where everyone can conglomerate, and I can officially meet all I haven’t yet and make myself known to everyone.”

Athena looked up and quickly nodded her head. She agreed to the idea but then gave a worrisome expression.

“And you’re sure you want to invite everyone?” She asked.

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” Dionysus asked, “As the god of festivity, I should make myself known amongst all the Olympians. This will also be the chance everyone partake in wine at once and I need to be there when it kicks in.”

“”Well, if you’re sure, then I say let’s have a feast!”

“Who’s having a feast?” Aphrodite asked, floating down to the ground.

“We’re having a feast! I’m throwing a party tonight and would love it if you could help spread the word.”

“A party, huh?” Aphrodite put her hands on her hips and pouted out her lips in perplexion, “And you want all of the gods to be there?”

“I would, I think it wouldn’t be proper if I threw an event and excluded some-”

“I heard something about a party,” Artemis said, transforming from a goose back into herself, “And you’re inviting everybody?”

“Yes,” Dionysus annoyingly answered, “Why does everyone keep asking that?”

Athena, Aphrodite and Artemis all looked at each other. Dionysus looked back at them in annoyance. He knew there was something they were not telling him and it boiled him to be kept out of the loop. They all continued looking at each other, and utter silence imposed the conversation until it was broken by a loud “Well!” from Dionysus. They all looked at him, and then looked back at each other again. Artemis looked to Aphrodite and Athena for direction, to where Athena began with, “Why don’t we hold off on the party for n-”

“Absolutely not”, Aphrodite interrupted, “Let him have the party, I’m sure everyone will be fine.”

“Aphrodite, that is not the smart thing to do.” Athena said with her eyes intently locked on the beauty goddess.

“So then what? The god of wine and parties just sits on Olympus and does nothing? I agree with his idea. Having a party would be a great way to loosen everyone’s walls and see him for who he really is.”

“And then what after that? Bouts of righteous fury and impending destruction? I don’t see this going in the proper direction.”

“Since when did we care about impending destruction? It sounds like a good idea and who would dare lose their temper at a party? It will be fun!”

“It will be fun until-she-discovers who-” Athena looked over at Dionysus. She paused and then looked back at Aphrodite, “this isn’t the best idea.”

“Well now, Athena,” Artemis interjected, “I think we all know the consequences but it’ll be fun and exciting. We never truly know what could be made of the night. This could be a time where spirits are lifted and strides are made. I say we do it.”

Athena peered at her sisters, who pouted out to her in a begging fashion. She eventually succumbed to them and hesitantly agreed to the idea, though she warned about having to deal with the situation delicately. Dionysus made it clear he would go to invite each god personally to his party, though it was made abundantly clear that he would not go to the Palace of the Heavens to invite Olympus’ king or queen personally. While Dionysus was annoyed, he obliged for the sake of fun. Reminiscent of his journeys around the world, he ventured throughout Olympus to give the gods their invitations to the party. He visited the palaces of Demeter, Apollo, Hermes, ventured to the fiery forge of Hephaestus, the sea-facing castle of Poseidon, and the iron villa of Ares. He each told them of the merry occasion he was hosting at the Olympian dining hall, and that it would be spectacular if they would come in support. Each of them agreed, both hesitantly and with full interest.

The last place he went was the dwelling of the runt of the litter, the goddess, Hestia. The home was so tucked away in the cyprus forests of Olympus that Dionysus had nearly missed it, save for a glowing light that caught his eye. Dragging his robes down, he carefully bested the steep hill and descended down to the house. A closer look found it to be a very humble and petit abode nestled between trees and flowers. He approached the wooden door and gently knocked. A cloaked woman answered the door.

“Hello?” She greeted in a gentle and soft tone.

“Hello, Hestia” Dionysus widely smiled, “I am hosting a dinner at the banquet hall and am hereby inviting you for a night of fun, pleasure and festivity.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” Hestia replied. She quickly closed the door before Dionysus could protest her decision. Baffled, he shrugged it off and kept up the hill. Hermes flittered up the hill above him, smacking him in the head as he whipped past him.

“Wow you’re too easy.” Hermes laughed as he hovered over the wine god.

“You are very lucky I have not harnessed this god thing, because this would be a moment to transform into some ferocious bird and peck you out of the sky.” Dionysus pointed out to Hermes. The two bantered back and forth for a brief moment until they both eventually chuckled the moment away.

“So, you’re inviting humble Hestia to the party, eh?” Hermes asked.

“Yes, it’s an invitation extended to all the gods,” Dionysus assured, “She did reject it, though.”

“Of course she rejected it, she doesn’t do anything all day. She doesn’t go anywhere. She just sits in that house all day and does who knows what boring and monotonous thing she does all day.”

“She’ll come around one day.”

“If you’d like to think that way, be my guest, but it’s just Hestia. She won’t be missed either way,” Hermes scoffed, “anyway, I’ll see you at nightfall.” He flew off into the sky. Dionysus contemplated Hermes’ words. The party was going to begin soon and it was annoying for him to know that not all the Olympians would be in attendance. So as not to let another ounce of negativity spoil his evening, he took a few gulps of his chalice and breathed out his stress. His wine’s innate ability to soothe the mind and cleanse the consciousness of any burden or constraint of emotions kicked it fast. He felt a burst of energy inside him. His mind and body loosened. He gained a slightly faster pace while walking back into the complex. His confidence shot tremendously as he sacheed along the golden pathways, flicking his hair and puckering his lips.

He helped himself into Aphrodite’s palace, wherein he enlisted her own attendants to set the place up so it’s fit for a party.

“I can line the table in the prettiest flowers. Do you prefer hydrangeas? Or lilies? Or, you’re from the Nysan forest! Let’s do wildflowers!”

“And while Aglaea is doing that, I can deck the halls with the brightest of fabric sure to bring out the smiles and cheer of all the gods!”

“And while Euphrosyne is doing that, I’ll be sure to keep the audience laughing until your arrival. We should keep the spirits of the night high because when He-”

“And while Thalia is doing that,” Aphrodite interjected, knocking Thalia back behind her, “I will be sure to arrive on time and ensure these three set the place smoothingly.”

Aphrodite motioned the girls out of the room, where they all muttered to each other before disappearing from their presence. Dionysus thanked Aphrodite for her efforts and continued on

Once in his villa, Dionysus took to the olive grove. He took as many grapevines as he could off of the bushes and put them into big wooden baskets he crafted from the oak trees. He had his attendants, who were conveniently behind him as they are when he’s home, help him drag the barrels to the courtyard, where he took an old oak branch and began squashing them down to juice. He authorized his attendants to stomp on the other barrels of grapes. Once down to a liquid texture, Dionysus covered the barrels and whispered over them. He ran his hands across each barrel and touched their sides. Once completed, he lifted the tops to release the aroma of freshly fermented wine. He ordered his attendants to see to it they be shuffled to the banquet hall in preparation for the party. Dionysus then went to his quarters to freshen up before the party. He threw his old robes on the ground and looked into his wardrobe. He turned around only to find the attendants, already in formation before even stepping foot into his quarters, had been magically back from their prior task. Stunned and impressed, he ordered them to fetch him the finest of outfits in his repertoire. Together, they grabbed the shiniest bracelets and hands of gold and jewels, a crown of gold wrapped in vines and wildflowers, a deep purple chiton of the finest linen fabric, complete with a white tunic lined in gold trim around its skirts. Dionysus gasped when the attendants pulled these out, and yelped when he was motioned to get changed. The clothes fit perfectly and the attendants were sure to style his hair to match the ensemble; curly and free-flowing down his back. He completed it with his chalice and refilled it again.

He left in stride to the peak of Olympus where the Palace of the Heavens sat. After climbing an immense amount of stairs and traversing even more winding pathways, he’d made it to the palace and inside the banquet hall. The ceiling seemed to be adorned in a slice of the sky with pearl white clouds and chandeliers of gleaming stars hanging from it. Massive white limestone columns sat against the hall’s perimeters. The walls were completed with mosaic and stone portraits and statues of the king of the gods and his heroic duties and pursuits. A massive round stone table was set with wildflowers and hanging ivy. Lounge chairs of fine fabric were placed around, 12 chairs for 12 Olympians. Aglaea was setting the last bouquet of wildflowers on the table. Euphrosyne was flaring out the bright drapes she had set along the columns and Thalia had full attention to notice Dionysus’ entrance.

“Well look at you, adorned in jewels and lined in linens!” Thalia said in approval.

“I must say, you wear your colors well.” Aglaea added, finishing her arrangement.

“Indeed, and punctual!” Euphrosyne laughed.

Dionysus smiled and looked around at the hall’s decorations. He was pleased at the work the three goddesses had done to the place. They’d walked him through the additions they added and the designs they’d put all over the place. He was even more intrigued with the grandioseness of the hall itself. Eventually he refocused on the remaining needs for the evening.

The gods began rolling into the hall to set the party’s beginning. Athena came in first, greeted everyone graciously, and stood off to the side. Aphrodite, Artemis and Apollo came next, then Aphrodite and Ares, then Demeter. Upon Hermes’ arrival, gods began flowing into the hall in droves. Hades and Persephone, Poseidon and Amphitrite, Eros and Psyche, Helios and Selene, Hephaestus, Hecate, Harmonia, Morpheus, Hypnos, Eos, among others showed unexpectedly to the evening. Hermes made it a point to hover near the hall’s great entrance and animatedly greet them as they walked through the. Dionysus pulled his leg down and sharply asked him what the deal was with all of the bodies entering the room.

“I may have gone on my own spree and told a few more people of the function.” Hermes innocently replied. Athena barged her way to them and inquired the same thing, scolding Hermes quietly so as not to upset any of the other guests.

“In any event, perhaps we could use this to our advantage.” Athena said. She stepped directly in front of the entrance and instructed. Stepping through was the tall, olive-skinned and muscular king of gods, toted with a laurel crown caressed on his head and nesselled on his finely curled hair, a light blue toga fastened by a silver belt and draped fabrics resting on his toned arm. Also accompanied with him was his wife, hand in hand, her with a peplos of greens and deep blues of silk fabric, a jeweled diadem with a large jewel in its center. They walked proudly into the room without a beat, smiling royally as they were greeted by their daughter.

“Wonderful to see two all this evening.” Athena said as she curtsied.

“It’s wonderful to see my little owl.” He said in glee. The queen gave a half smile as the two shortly conversed about the events of earlier. Athena looked back to see Dionysus had gone to the other side of the room, so she led them to the opposite end. They all passed through the crowd, greeting and giving niceties to the other gods of the evening. Athena kept a close eye on the movements of Dionysus as he was socializing and moving around the room. She kept them occupied with stimulating topics of the whereabouts of mortals, important battle tactics and artistic pursuits. She kept the couple laughing, intrigued, and distracted from the rest of the function and allowing passing patrons to engage as well. It wasn’t until the king and queen got caught in conversation by the goddess, Iris, about overhearing and message dispute that Athena saw the opportunity to weasel out of the discussion.

She strolled over to the room’s farther side where Dionysus was entertaining a group about his stories from his travels. Their eyes were locked onto the god who was sitting on a table above them, animatedly recounting his times in different cities. He led them to a moment when he was in Thrace. He told them how King Diomedes got so drunk upon finally tasting his wine that he rode on one of his horses into the town, where it was bucking and trying to nab some of the also very drunk Thracians. The group chortled hysterically. Dionysus himself was so ticked by his remark that the wine in his chalice heavily swayed. As they all convulsed in the comedic memoirs, Athena snatched Dionysus from the table.

“Dionysus, I understand that you’re hosting this lovely event, but can we please keep the showing off to a bare minimum? There are esteemed guests at the party an-”

“Athena darling,” Dionysus interrupted, “It’s a party. I’ve to keep my guests entertained!” He turned back and stood atop the table. He faced the group again who were still laughing about the previous story.

“Everyone, the princess of Olympus thinks we must keep the festivities down at the party!” The crowd booed and heckled. Athena turned around to find that the noise drew the king and queen’s attention. She shuffled about the crowd and went back over to their side, pinning them down in even further and deeper conversation. Dionysus kept on entertaining the group, and announcing that the wine would now be served. He clapped his hands and politely asked Hebe, the youth goddess and Olympus’ premier cupbearer, followed by a team of servants, to begin serving the wine.

“So father,” Athena began loudly to wash out Dionysus’ voice and random bouts of noises, “I’d remembered from the party of Tantalus, there were some hospitality laws that were broken.”

“Of course there were! Feeding the gods human remains is a direct affront and disrespect.”

“And do you think the punishment that was given was an equal correlation to the crime?”

“It was the fairest crime I could exact upon him.”

“But father, though the crime was disgusting in nature, having the poor man suffer an eternal punishment as you’ve given him?”

“The man fed us the remains of his own son!” The king thundered, “The punishment provided was the most just consequence to such a heinous act.”

“Why are you defending such a mortal, anyway?” The queen interjected.

“Because he’s been pious and devout to his worship of the gods?” Athena innocently shrugged.

“A blatant oxymoron,” the queen cockily responded, “no devout follower of the gods would ever break a sacred code to feed us any human meat.”

“You’ve always been a forgiving and benevolent goddess, my princess, but the codes and laws are put into place for a reason. Though I second her question, why be so caring of a treasonous mortal. What has gotten into you?”

“I-It had pondered on me before arriving this evening. Would it be wise to deter the life of an otherwise loyal follower of the gods because of one misstep?” As both the king and queen pondered over the question, the mischievous Hermes flittered down next to them.

“Didn’t you beat someone over the head because they beat you in a weaving contest?” Hermes asked, eating grapes. The king and queen snickered under their breath.

“That was very different. That was a hubris claim from a girl whose abilities were bestowed upon her by me!” Athena defended.

“You still got mad at her and beat her up, and didn’t you turn her into a spider?”

“Because she killed herself. I felt horrible thinking I was at all responsible for anyone taking their own life.”

“Lame,” Hermes rebutted, sneering Athena’s explanation, “doesn’t seem very ‘wise’ to me, heh heh.”

“I-” Athena yelled. She quickly gathered herself and took deep breaths. When she opened her eyes to respond, she’d seen Dionysus get back up on a table, this time with a lyre with Apollo. Oh no, Athena thought to herself. Knowing she couldn’t get to them in time before they would start wailing and causing noise, she put her face in her palms and hoped for the best. Apollo began singing a beautiful tune based on the stories mentioned before. Dionysus was drunkenly singing back and encouraging everyone to keep drinking and sing along. The group of gods began singing the tune and sipping more and more on their chalices of wine. Almost as if a spirit can come into them one by one, it was noticeable how each god would become more and more drunk. Their speech began to slur, they began singing more off beat and dancing almost uncontrollably. The entire room began to loosen more as everyone began drinking and passing more drinks around. Hebe and the servants ensured the drinks kept flowing, per Dionysus’ orders before. Eventually Hebe made it to Athena and the group.

“Lord Zeus?” Hebe bowed, holding a golden chalice in her hand to present to him. He obliged the offer and bowed back.

“Lady Hera?” Hebe bowed as before. Visibly annoyed, Hera declined the drink and broke away from her husband’s grasp. Athena’s eyes widened as she knew exactly what was about to happen. She tried grabbing her back and further deterring her, but she broke away again and gave Athena the look of death. She turned her attention to the wine god, of which the entire crowd of gods were laughing at his drunken stupor. The queen of the gods shook her head in disapproval, watching the scene of him trying to get off of the ground while laughing heavily. Apollo, still singing and merrily enjoying the festivities, kept on strumming at the sight of her gaze. Hera looked around at the entire crowd to see them all joyful and free. Most of the room was drunk and doing stupid things they wouldn’t otherwise do. The unruliness was enough to enrage the queen. The more she looked around, the more the anger stirred inside her core. Her face could no longer be composed with a queenly glare. It shifted to a mug of pure disgust and ire. She focused more on the drunken Dionysus. She looked closer at his face as he stood up and swayed around trying to gain his balance. His smile. His lips. His eyes. His hair. They ring true to her husband’s. What sickened her even more was his nose, his brightness, his confidence that could easily be mistaken for arrogance. His spirit. It wreaked of the woman her husband left the graces of their palace, their bed, for. It was the same confidence that radiated off of the skin of the woman who cut her so deep. She blasted through the crowd and demanded Hebe hand her a chalice. When the youth goddess did as instructed, she turned and, in an instant, slung it across the room in the direction of the wine god. Already stumbling, the chalice struck Dionysus in the face and sent him to the ground, his face bruised from the heavy cup’s impact. The crowd stopped and looked at what occurred. Athena came behind Hera and grabbed her, turning her to face her.

“What is the meaning of this?” Athena asked

“You will stay out of this, Athena!” Hera demanded. Zeus stepped up to face his wife. They eyed each other down intently.

“You bring this bastard to Olympus, Zeus! Is this what you do to me?” Hera lashed out, speaking assertively through her teeth.

“Hera, that is my son. We will not speak of this here.”

“No, Zeus, we will speak of it now! Why don’t you mention to everyone how you left me yet again for another mortal whore!”

“Hera, we will talk about this at another time. Let us not do it here.”

Zeus turned his back to her and walked away. Hera chased after him out of the banquet hall, screaming at him. He kept his composure and kept walking as the goddess continued to nag him at every turn. Everyone in the banquet hall continued the festivities after the noises of Hera’s cries were deaf to the ears. Hera eventually returned to the hall, still aroused in fury twice over. Most of the party was so drunk they couldn’t even acknowledge the queen’s loud presence without a disrespectful heckle or snicker. Still, she tried to compose herself and ushered herself to Dionysus. Proudly bearing the scar from the moment prior, he went up to her and formerly introduced himself.

“I’m not so sure how we ended up on the wrong foot,” Dionysus started in a drunken slur, “but I have the utmost *burp* respect for you, your majesty.” He tried to curtsy and ended up falling on his face. Hera looked in distaste as his head lay at her skirts. She picked them up in her hands and backed away to preserve the cleanliness of her dress. He struggled to get himself up but when he did, he let out a loud “woo” and sighed. He kept trying to talk her up in conversation but she stayed quiet, only staring directly into his eyes. She traced his face and was intent on the way he acted. She continued scrunching her face as he went on and on about his first experience on Olympus and his training in godhood.

“I haven’t quite *hiccup* gotten the whole shifting thing just yet, but when I do, oh watch out mortal world! Dionysus will *burp* be there to do what gods of Olympus do”

“Why are you acting like a complete imbecile?” Hera questioned, reaching her peak of stress and annoyance. Dionysus laughed in her face at the word she used.

“Imbecile,” he howled, “That’s a hilarious word.” He began mocking her saying the word and then pronouncing it in other funny ways. The crowd behind him started laughing and doing the same.

“Hey hey, watch this.” Dionysus said to her. He pointed to Demeter, who was so intoxicated she was rocking on the table about to pass out. He tapped Hera’s shoulder and told her to look again. He turned into smoke and whisked into Demeter’s nose. In an instant, she was alert and blinking hard. She looked directly at Hera, opened her mouth wide, and started impersonating a serpent. Hera, wide-eyed at the buffoonery she was looking at, stood back as Demeter stood up on the table, and started hissing and biting at the air. She moved her arms in a wavy motion to represent a slithering snake and sent them in the direction of a weirded out Hera. Backing away as she came closer, Demeter kept her slithering arms in Hera’s direction. The crowd looked on at the comedic scene of the Olympian queen being stalked by her older sister. When they backed into a corner, Demeter ‘struck’ her in the chest before Hera whooshed her back to the table. Demeter chortled before the purple smoke drained from her nose, a twisted look on Demeter’s face while it all escaped her. Demeter then passed out while Dionysus then stood out from the smoke, laughing just as he did in Demeter’s possession.

“Come now, Hera, that was really funny!” Dionysus tapped her shoulder. She snatched her shoulder back and scowled at him.

“Listen carefully. You and I are not kin. You and I are not equal and will never be. You may have earned the title of Olympian, but know I am its queen and control those who call it home,” She grabbed his face and stared directly into his eyes, “You are nothing more than a bastard to Zeus, and you will fall like all the others before you. I have decreed it.” She mushed his face and sent him flying into the table. The goddess turned around and strutted out of the room, her held held high. The rest of the onlookers looked, but paid no real attention to it.

“All of this and dinner has not yet even been served.” Hermes said to Athena, shaking his head and continuing to eat his grapes.