Who: Thetis & Poseidon What: It seems the Sea King decided not to heed the prophecy about Thetis' son, and married her anyway When: Ancient times Where: A beach in Greece
Thetis had never expected to find herself married to one of the two Olympians pursuing her, but since she was now, she had to admit that she was probably better suited as a wife for Poseidon than Zeus. At least she'd never be far from the sea, and that was important to her. It was her home, and her sisters were close by, so she didn't need to go far to see them.
She was spending this morning the way she usually did, right at the water's edge, the hem of her dress tucked around her knees, letting the water wash over her feet and lower legs. It felt like it was pulling her in, and she was just gathering her energy to change form and slip into the waves, when she felt him approach. Poseidon.
She stood, smoothing down her dress. "Husband," she said, greeting him with a smile.
The water inched up past her feet, caressing her skin with it's salty touch just before she stood. The water was pulling her in, begging her to enter until he showed.
She was a prize that Zeus had wanted, and as true to his conflict with the Olympian King, Poseidon had pursued as well. He could have turned up his nose and moved to another, but Poseidon was persistent and he needed a Queen.
She was a shape-shifting water nymph, he could have fun with her. It would have been a waste to give her to some mortal that hadn't a clue how to use her.
She had smoothed away some of that anger in his soul that had started to crack at Demeter's rejections. He walked forward, a swaggering hip, the waves brushing forward and back in tune to his step. A hand snaked up against her shoulder.
"Where were you going?" he asked in a deep whisper.
She put her hand over his. "I was thinking about going for a swim," she replied brightly. "It's so beautiful this morning, and resisting the call of the water was never something I tried terribly hard to do. I was thinking of turning into...hmm. I don't really know. Perhaps a dolphin."
"How are you faring this morning?" she asked, tilting her head to gaze at him.
Part of him was intrigued by her shape-shifting abilities. He liked roping her in when she decided to run away and play.
"The water's nice," he said with an egotistical grin. He wasn't yet the angry god he could be known for, something had switched. She'd remembered him when he was younger, when he was unchanged by jealousy, and she'd managed to stop it from going any further. He had a Queen to rule his kingdom by his side. He wasn't the last one standing in line even if he had bruised his reputation.
He gave her a half smile pulling her close and bruising her lips to answer her question. She still tasted like the water.
"It is," she agreed easily, knowing the pride he took in his kingdom, and finding no fault in him for it. The sea was her home as well, and she was Poseidon's Queen. Honestly, she thought she was doing alright, as far as marriages went. She wasn't expecting it to be picture perfect, that would be boring. But they could work it out. She was stubborn, and she certainly wasn't going anywhere.
She went into his kiss willingly, smiling against his mouth. Being married definitely had its advantages. But after a few long moments, she broke away, smiling and running toward the water. "Come swim with me, husband!" she called, the air shimmering around her as she pulled energy in to change form.
Had Zeus gotten her, Poseidon would have gone on a tirade. Yet, Zeus proved to be the coward he was by backing down for fear of a prophecy. The Almighty himself falling back and looking for his next conquest.
Poseidon may never be sated, but there was something far less vengeful in his eyes these days.
He growled as she pulled back, a seductive growl that said he wasn't ready to let her go just yet. If she thought he wouldn't catch her in whatever form she wrangled into, she was mistaken.