Themis and Zeus Who: Themis and Zeus What: Zeus asks Themis to be his second queen Where: Mount Olympus Rating: K+ Word Count: 2,246 (complete log)
Themis had been sick with worry about what the king might do with her news. She had been afraid for Metis, but perhaps a divorce was not the worse thing that could happen to the queen. Still Themis could not get rid of the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had been brushing her long hair when the knock came to her chambers, rising she answered the door Themis was surprised to find not a person but in fact a large golden bird who dropped a card into her startled hands before flying away.
Themis looked down, it was a note from Zeus, inviting her to his throne room she glanced in the looking glass and ran a hand over her long hair, and she regarded her deep red velvet skirts with its gold and red bodice and sleeves to make sure she was suited to present herself to the king. Pleased with what she was she quickly made her way towards the king. And waited patently as her presence was announced.
And she had probably had reason to worry. Zeus had lain claim to the Sky Realm with high hopes; he'd planned and envisioned a bright future, had invited his brothers and sisters to form the council of Olympus. Everything was supposed to be different.
And then, she had come to him.
His worst fear, something he'd never dreamed tell anyone, had never even dared acknowledge existed, though it was in the deepest depths of his subconscious, was very real.
The hour had been desperate. The Sky King was taking no chances. Her warning had struck near to his heart.
Everything had changed. Everything.
Gone was the young, new king who desired naught but to have the grandest kingdom, perhaps besting his brothers from time to time, in mostly good-natured brotherly competition. He had felt the shortcomings of immortality, now knew that he, like his father, and like his father's father before him, could be replaced. He was taking no chances. He would not be defeated, then imprisoned as the previous king and his allies (or worse, castrated, as Ouranos had been!).
He had done what he needed to do. He did not wait, would never have waited, not as his father had. She might have been carrying a girl, but he was taking no chances. Zeus would make sure that he would not be overthrown, at any cost. And the cost had been high. The young, new king would have thought it unbearable. But he was gone now. He had been several days in his chambers after the occurrence, brooding, volatile, his countenance so frightening that even his grooms seemed to rue coming near him, lest they, too, suffer a horrible fate. He would no longer get close to anyone--no, the potential for disaster would always be there if he allowed himself such attachment. He would never become so attached to another being again.
His dynasty, he was determined, would be a grand one, but he would never fool himself into thinking that another moment would pass without a potential threat to his rule.
And now it was done. The first threat had been eliminated. He had wept, but he would never weep so again, not over anyone.
"And now," he had said, rising from his chair, before penning his note to the woman who had been his saving grace, "I shall take another wife."
The note written, and sent off to be delivered by his faithful familiar, he readied himself, and headed toward the throne room. It was not long before she was announced.
"My lady," he greeted, inviting her in. "I hope I have not disturbed you..."
Themis bowed low and drooped her eyes, spreading her skirts in a beautiful wide circle of lush dark velvet “Your Majesty.” she greeted demurely. Keeping her eyes low ans she stood slowly, her hands joining at her middle where she carried them softly. And perhaps had she known what the king had done her posture would not have been so earnest, and had she known why he had called her she perhaps would not have been so temperate. But Themis could see nothing sinister in those deep blue eyes, at least not from across the dais.
“I hope I did not keep you waiting to long, my lord.” Themis looked upon the king now, really looked at him for the first time. There was something different about him, but she could not place it. “I hope,” she paused thinking about her words for a second before continuing “I hope that I find you well and with out a troubled mind.”
The king watched her, observing every detail of her appearance. She carried herself with great humility, and also modesty, and Zeus could feel his resolve growing.
"You did not keep me waiting at all, my lady," he said, with a small nod. "And while the news you brought me, I found at first disquieting, I resolved to remedy the situation quickly." He ran a hand through his short, dark hair, the trouble in his mind surfacing, multifaceted in its nature--part worry, part despondency, part vexation, part ire, the paranoia he would come to develop in time, as a matter of the whole affair, just hinted at. "I know I thanked you before, but I must thank you again for coming to me with the sight you saw."
Themis bowed her head again as he thanked her, yet again. “As I said before, your Majesty, I only did as I felt any would do in my position.” she said as she began to rise slowly “I care only for the wellness of your Majesty and your kingdom and hope everyday for its longevity.” Themis herself desperately wanted to asked what he had resolved himself to do about the situation but she held her tongue knowing he would tell her if he so desired.
"And for that I am grateful," he said, honestly. He stepped close to her, so that he was right in front of her when he next spoke.
"My marriage is declared null and void." His words, though quiet, carried through the vast chamber, and the air seemed still as he paused for a moment before speaking next.
"It is, you can understand, for the good and continuation of the peace we have come to, to continue the age of the gods." Zeus glanced at the pair of thrones on the dais, then toward the room where the council would meet. "But despite these recent hurts, I have been pleaded with to venture once more into matrimony, in the hope that my bride will produce a legitimate heir."
He looked at her, reaching for her hand with his. "Your virtues are numerous, wisdom and foresight among them," he said, his other hand reaching up to tuck a loose strand of her hair back behind her ear. His fingertips lingered, touch almost electric. "And so, I hope it pleases you that my choice has fallen upon you."
Themis nodded slowly as the king spoke, her breath catching in her chest slightly as he stepped into her personal space, much closer then normal decorum allowed. Themis didn't step away however, and did her best not to show her feeling on her face, mostly because she did not know what her feeling where. She could not deiced if she liked the kings closeness, or if she should like the kings closeness. Surely had there been anyone else in the room the roomers would have spread about their closeness now. So close in fact that Themis could smell Zeus and the deep wood and musk sent that clung to him. Themis took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her heart whose pace was steadily increasing.
“Of course my King.” Themis said softly as he spoke that his marriage is null and void, after all how could a king continue to be married to a woman who would only produce a male heir that would destroy the kingdom? So obviously he would seek a new queen, he was a young and virile and deserved a right and legitimate heir.
But when he took her hand her blood both boiled and froze at the same time. And as he touched her hair and ear she was sure her heart stopped. And she did not need to to have the gift of prophecy to know his next words, yet they shocked her all the same. Her knees went weak and she grasped Zeus' hand for stability but it was not enough and she collapsed to the ground at his feet anyway her was bowed as she gasped for air her corset would not seem to allow. And though it all she could not deny the joy that was almost over whelming that was rising in her chest. “M-me?” she asked when she thought she could support words. “Are you sure? Surely there are others … more qualified ...” she paused looked up at him “I-I only mean … are you sure?”
Zeus bent on one knee, so that he was at near eye-level with her. "More qualified than you?" he asked, almost playfully. But his look was quickly serious as he added, "I'm certain, my lady." He reached up again, letting his fingertips graze over her cheek gently. Everything about her seemed to be warmth--he could feel it as his skin brushed hers. She smelled of honeysuckle.
"I need to nourish love," he half-murmured. He wanted to possess her, to have her and hold her. She would be a fair queen, and sons, he was certain, would surely come from their union. "And I would love nothing more than for you to be my queen."
“Zeus” Themis breathed heavily, for a moment forgetting titles and other silly social things. His touch on her cheek calming her rampaging mind and heart spreading a calming warmth throughout her. Themis looked up at him from her bowed head, she looked up into those clear blue eyes and she felt safe. She felt like Zeus might actually love her, that she could sit by his side as his queen and together they would hold court over the sky. “My lord, how could I say no?” she said honestly, stirred by his words. “If you would love me, I would forever be a loyal and devoted wife to your Majesty.” and this was true, Themis never broke her promises.
And Zeus knew well her reputation for keeping her word--it was nothing short of legend. For an instant, he felt his heart soar, allowed himself to hope. But he quickly restrained himself, tried to frame it, in his mind, around the idea of the practicality of such a union, of the fact that it made such perfect sense. But hearing his name as she breathed it softly past her sweet lips, looking into her eyes, he knew, in the deepest depths of himself, that it was more than just plainly duty that compelled him.
"And I shall be a most devoted husband," he said, cupping her cheek. His hand moved to her chin, and he tilted it up gently, leaning in and placing the softest kiss on her lips affectionately.
And what a sight the pair would have made where anyone to enter, the Titan countess and the god king tangled in each other, on their knees, before the throne. Themis melted into the soft kiss, and she was instantly addicted to the sensation. The electricity that the kiss sent coursing through her body made her feel alive and even though it was just a soft simple kiss when they broke apart she was panting. “Zeus, my king,” she paused her eyes flitting up to his, and it was all she need to make herself sure before the words left her mouth “my only and only love.”
And then something occurred to her, “I only have one request, if you will allow me to have it I would be eternally grateful.” her small hands reached for his, almost out of a compulsive need to continue to touch him, to have contact with him.
"What is it, my love, mine own sweetheart?" he asked, glad she had reached for his hands, and giving them a squeeze. He, too, could not deny the sensation that kissing her evoked, though in his own mind he tried to remain cool and collected.
"What could I allow you that would make you happy?" he nearly cooed, fingertips tracing over her soft little hands, delighting in the feeling of them against his own, larger pair. "Tell me..."
Themis didn't know what inside of her was pushing to ask this, it was just a jut feeling she had and Themis had learned long ago to follow her gut “Please, please do not tell anyone that it was me who told your the prophecy I foretold.” she bit her bottom lip “I would prefer that to be a secret between you and I... I can only imagine what the court would think if they knew the truth.” after all if Themis knew one thing it was people and how they acted and she did not want them to spread rumors about how she had tricked the king into ending his other marriage so she could have him. And had she known how he had gotten rid of Metis the fear or rumors would have been doubled.