Chapter Text
Zeus looked like he would be turning purple if he had the vascular system required for it. Perses was unsympathetic. Hera, at least, didn’t look displeased.
Or, she looked less furious than he had grown accustomed to seeing her. Hopefully that good mood would hold after he explained his reason for requesting her teachings.
“It will be a trial. After the allotted time, if you wish it, I shall make you my apprentice.” Hera truly smiled then, and she was stunning. Zeus, who had appeared ready to interject, wilted at the sight of her happiness.
“If we are finished here, I would introduce the boy to where he will be staying for the next months.” Her strange feathers shimmered in the air.
“You would take him already?” Poseidon frowned, “He is still so young.” Perses hoped she had an answer. He had thought his father would be enthusiastic for Perses to learn from the Queen of Heaven. As far as Hera went, Rhodes had been correct that if he asked then the Queen would not be able to resist swaying Loyalty. Their entire plan revolved around him getting an in with Hera as soon as possible.
“Fret not brother, as you have said the boy shall not be bound, he will be free to visit you when he is not fulfilling his duties.” Hera smiled genially and Perses didn’t buy it for a second. It seemed Poseidon didn’t either because he squinted at her, but ultimately, he didn’t object.
“I would call this meeting complete, don’t you agree husband?” Zeus didn’t startle, but he did sit up just a bit straighter.
“Yes, I believe it is. We will reconvene after the solstice.” Instantly, the room burst into movement, while Zeus flashed away. Hera rose gracefully and paced across the intricately tiled floor to Perses and his father.
“Come little one, we will return to the festivities in due time.” Having no other option, Perses followed after her, he felt eyes on him all the way but made a point not to turn back to see who was staring.
He followed her through the main hall and grit his teeth at the nymphs and gods already dancing, Helios among them. Perses’ family was nowhere in sight, but that was all according to plan. Hera only tutted and led him through corridors and pathways, until they came upon a palace made of brilliant white stone.
Through the grand doors the hall was beautiful, ornamented delicately with vaulted ceilings that seemed to be carved from the heavens. There was no one in sight, he imagined her attendants were already enjoying the celebrations.
“Now tell me, child. What game are you trying to play here?” Perses blanched, and Hera laughed at his expression.
“I am too old to not know when someone is trying to get one over on me, now, tell me.” Her tone had steel in it and Perses had to resist the urge to take a step back. Instead, he widened his stance and tilted his chin up.
“I want you to approve a divorce between my sister Rhodes and Helios.”
“And why should I do that, little one? What do I have to gain?” Her voice was near teasing and her starry eyes twinkled. Realization fell over him; she knew all of their little plans and was enjoying watching him struggle against her. Perses knew he had been outmaneuvered. He bowed his head.
“My lady, I have nothing you might want. Though, if you would only free my sister then I will owe you my Loyalty.” He said the words like an oath and the room felt colder. She pulled back from him, her face again neutral. He wondered if she was disappointed.
“Were I to help your sister I would be going against my lord husband. He has denied your father the same demand, to the point that they threatened war over the issue before your sister herself acquiesced to the marriage.”
“He dishonors her, he neglects her and their children, he parades around his mistresses, and yet he rules the worship of her own sacred island. The better question is what has he done that makes him worthy of her?” Perses’ voice had steadily been raising until he was near shouting. The walls of the palace trembled. He took a deep breath and continued.
“She does not want him anymore, is that not a good enough reason?” Hera, who had raised her eyebrows at his outburst and snorted.
“You would be surprised, child, how little that matters,” She looked tired, so different from the Hera he had known in the future.
“Oh well, I suppose we are both lucky.”
“How are we lucky?” Perses was incredulous.
“We have both found a neat solution to a problem. You see, my husband has happened upon another of his… indiscretions. Specifically, with one of my own priestesses. Her name is Io.” Perses hesitated at that.
“It is a betrayal,” He allowed, “But what could I–” Hera raised a gentle hand to cut him off.
“It is. A betrayal, that is, but not on the part of Io. She prayed for me to save her, but even I cannot stand against my husband.” Perses felt cold anger rush through him, in the back of his mind a voice hissed at the injustice of it all, demanding violence. Hera smiled, it was a bitter thing.
“What can I do?”
“You can make a deal with me. My husband is not near so clever as he believes he is. Io is trapped in his palace, he has transformed her in the shape of a beast. I will simply request her from him, he will have no good reason to refuse. That is where you come in. He believes himself in love with her, though she doesn't reciprocate, I need you to end that.” She said it as if she were asking him to pick up groceries.
“How do you expect me to do that?”
She reached forward, not hesitating even when Perses flinched back minutely. When she touched his forehead, the world was suddenly more. Hundreds of bright strings hung off the Queen of the Heavens tethers phasing through the walls and floor. Some were stretched thin and others were thick and sturdy, but all of them were brilliant. He looked down and saw there were strands of light connected to him as well, strong but fewer.
“You see the bonds, can you not? That is why I accepted your halfbaked request for mentorship.” Perses scowled at that and Hera laughed.
“Over the next six months, I will teach you to see. When the time comes for me to ask for Io, you will see his attachment to Io flare, you must take hold of it and rip it out of him. He will forget why he ever desired her in the first place.”
“Love isn’t my domain, neither is obsession.”
“You would be surprised what aspects Loyalty can take on, not to mention the nature of your birth. It will be enough.” She said it like it was final, but Perses had more questions.
“Why can’t you just do it?
“I am his wife, but more importantly, I am Queen of the Heavens. I cannot act against my brother, even if for the greater good, it would be war.”
Perses was pretty sure he recalled at least one instance where she had in fact acted against Zeus, but he didn’t think that was the moment to mention it.
“If I do this, Rhodes will be granted her divorce?”
“You have my word.”
“Then I am at your service my lady.”
As one, they turned back the way they came and walked towards the celebration, Perses half a step behind the Queen of the Gods.