If I Had Words

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Chapter 78      Chapter 80

Eros landed, carefully cradling Psyche’s body in his arms. 

He didn’t know exactly what he would say, but he needed an audience with Zeus. 

Fortunately Zeus was at Mount Olympus. It didn’t take long before Eros was striding into the receiving hall, determined.

“Zeus, I demand the restoration of this woman’s life,” Eros began. “She is my wife and she has been wrongfully taken from me.”

Zeus looked at Psyche’s body.

“But that is a mortal,” Zeus said, surprised.

“True. I married a mortal, but she is nonetheless my wife,” Eros said.

“That is the trouble with marrying mortals,” Zeus said, unsympathetically. “They die.”

“This mortal was taken before her time, before the Fates would have deemed it her time,” Eros said. 

“How is that?” Zeus said, unconvinced.

“She was performing a task for my mother. She was not meant to die this way,” Eros said, beginning to falter. 

Eros wished he had planned this out better. 

“If she was performing a task for your mother and she accidentally died, I don’t see how that goes against the will of the Fates,” Zeus said, beginning to look uninterested. 

“I love her,” Eros said. “I need her back.” 

Zeus softened.

“Eros. I understand the attraction to mortals, I do. I have loved many myself,” Zeus said. “Partly because of your arrow,” he added with a stern look, “but partly of my own accord. It is sad when they die, but that is their nature. They are not meant to be immortal as we are.”

“I cannot accept that. It cannot be,” Eros said, looking down at Psyche. “You must appeal to your brother, ask him at least to consider –”

“No,” Zeus interrupted. “I don’t enjoy audiences with my brother and he is a hard one to persuade when it comes to disturbing his realm. Best to leave things as they are.”

Eros tried to think. What could he say, what could he do to at least make Zeus see that her death was wrong? 

“Father!!” a voice thundered.

Athena!

The Goddess of Wisdom stormed into her father’s receiving hall, followed closely by Harmonia.

“I call a council of the gods. There must be a trial before the full court. There are deeds which need to be examined and judged,” Athena said.

“It’s going to have to wait,” Zeus said, dismissively. “I’m dealing with Eros here. Maybe you can convince him that it’s not worth resurrecting this mortal.”

“It is this mortal who has been wronged,” Athena said, stopping beside Eros.

Zeus frowned. 

“By whom?” he asked.

“By Eros’s mother, Aphrodite,” Athena said.

Zeus rolled his eyes. 

“Eros has already said that this mortal was performing a task for her,” Zeus said. “Sometimes things just go wrong. I don’t see the need to call a council of the gods.”

Athena looked at Psyche, observing the scratches and marks of her ordeal. Apparently satisfied by what she saw, she continued. 

“This mortal was accused of attempting to elevate herself as if she were a goddess. She was twice punished for her apparent crime,” Athena said. “With the first punishment, she lost her husband. With the second, she lost her life. I demand that both be restored to her as well as the gift of immortality.”

Zeus narrowed his eyes.

“You dare suggest this mortal be given immortality?” he said.

“I do,” Athena said, confidently. 

“For what reason?” Zeus asked.

“Aphrodite’s basis was that Psyche was attracting worshippers of her own and built a shrine to herself. This mortal did not seek it, but rather earned such worship,” Athena said.

Zeus scoffed. 

“No moral is worthy of worship,” Zeus said, dismissively. “I must agree with Aphrodite. We simply cannot let mortals worship other mortals. If they did, they would be abasing themselves, worshiping those who are not worthy. They need to set their sights higher, Athena. They need to look to us, not to each other.”

“Agreed. But —  what if Psyche is more? In that case, she would be worthy of their worship,” Athena said. “Aphrodite has been blind, corrupted by pride and jealousy. No matter. She has, through these punishments, further proved that this mortal is meant to be a goddess.”

Zeus frowned. 

“Are you prepared to prove it?” Zeus said. “I won’t have you making a mockery of the council with some frivolous trial.” 

“I am prepared, Father,” Athena said, looking straight at him. 

Zeus looked curiously at his daughter. She was so much like her mother. Wise — and determined. 

“Very well,” Zeus relented. “We shall call a council of the gods.”

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