Saturday, May 23, 2020

Prince Charming Diaries Vol. 3 DOWP, Part 1

+
+JMJ+

Prince Charming Diaries Volume Three
Diary of a Working Prince

 
Hephaestus' Diary

Sproutling, 1, Year of the Green Horse

Entry One,
Twins are a strange breed. It is as if one mind was born into two bodies. But distance causes the minds to change. Once upon a time, my twin brother and myself thought so much alike that we could complete each others sentences. But then we were separated. Father let him go with the fleet and I remained with mother. But that is now history. I have seen him only a few times in the next six years. But it would seem as if a rift had grown between us. Now here I am under the sea at his wedding to a girl I don't even know the name of. It seems as if he is a complete stranger. But this morning when we awakened something happened that changed everything.

I was lying on my couch, fingering the brace under my pants. I was born with a limp, a defect that would keep any girl from ever looking at me twice. My unfortunate habit of living in a smithy might have helped. The way I lived would never make anyone think I had noble blood in my veins, let alone make me resemble my older brother, Zeus, Lord of Olympus and Sea World. But back to the story. I was fingering my brace, which I had made myself, when I noticed a disturbance in the water. The current had turned.

As far as I knew, the water always flowed from the North to the South. I had never studied the flows of the currents, but that was simply how things went. I certainly had never been as close to it as I was now. Wearing a cloak of the scales of a Verm Fish was the only way for land breathers to stay alive underwater. Unless someone invents a way to bottle air.

The currents had changed and started flowing in the opposite direction. From the South to the North. This is strange, because all of the streams and rivers would be flowing upwards. I scrambled out of bed, jamming my brace and nearly wrenching my leg off. I would have toppled over if the water hadn't been supporting me somewhat. Braces were never meant to be worn underwater. It was to wet. I had to reset the brace before I could it to work again. I limped out of the chamber and bumped into Hades. He was swimming down the corridor without any dignity at all, and waving his Cap of Invisibility. We collided and were flung into the wall. I could feel the pull of the current, trying to push me away.

“My cap, it came back.” Hades cried. I had never seen him with so little dignity, since we were children and he bawled out Ares for playing with Star Fire. He rarely got excited.
What?” I gaped. Hades had already plowed past me. I regained my balance. What did he mean that his cap had come back? Where had his cap been in the first place?

I was still awkwardly trying to push my way down the corridor when Hades came back. This time their was a merboy, Poseidon and his bride with him.
I tell it is really strange.” the merboy was saying excitedly, “Nereus says he never felt such a thing.” They passed me in a rush. I floundered after them. But braces were not meant for swimming. More people rushed by. Hestia took my arm and guided me after the others. She was always the sweetest girl.

We surfaced. The sun had just risen on the horizon, turning the waters gold, red and pink. It was truly beautiful, but I still would prefer to see the fires dancing on my blackened forge, hear the ring of the hammer and watch as the pretty sparks showered over the metal. I smiled and sighed, my eyes closing to thin slits as I envisioned myself at home. If only I could be back there.

Suddenly, a great big sigh went up. My eyes snapped open. It seemed as if Nereus' entire court had surfaced and surrounded me, as well as my brothers and sisters. But this blaze of color was not what had drawn attention. Something was happening, much closer to shore. Two enormous snow white swans with golden beaks had burst out of the water. My eyes widened. These magnificent birds were harnessed to a vast pink and golden shell that glowed in the sunlight. Seated on the back of the shell, with hair like a river gold flowing about her shoulders, was a tall woman with snapping blue eyes. Her white gown looked as if it was made of sea foam. My jaw dropped.

“Now that is a woman to kill.” Ares whistled. I blinked, the beauty suddenly marred by horrible reality. I glanced at my brother. He was leaning forward, his eyes half closed and a look of idiotic stupidity on his face. I would have sworn he was drooling, except there was so much splashing water. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
That is trouble!” I muttered gloomily. Beautiful women always were trouble. Had I not seen such things since my earliest years.
That is trouble!” several voices echoed. I glanced around. All of the men had looks of aw on their faces. The women looked annoyed. It was them that had spoken. Poseidon's bride slapped him hard in the face.
Wipe that look off your face.” she snapped. Poseidon looked suitably chastised.

Nereus ordered several of his Merwarriors to swim out to the lady in the shell and invite her to the palace. Then he ordered the rest of us to depart and prepare ourselves for a feast. Hestia took my arm to guide me back down to my chamber. To my surprise, Poseidon took my other arm.
The Amazons still have my trident.” he muttered, “I wouldn't have even the slightest doubt that they are responsible for this.” For the first time in years I could feel his thoughts. I could tell that he was very disturbed.
You think she is a spy?” I whispered.
Boys.” Hestia scolded lightly, “Give her the benefit of the doubt.”
How did she get past Nereus' centuries? Where did she come from?” Poseidon cried, tightening his grip on my arm.
You got past Nereus' centuries.” I pointed out. I knew he wasn't very pleased with my response.

Poseidon's wife took his arm and pulled him away from me. She looked far from pleased. In fact, irritation was radiating off every fiber of her being. I hastily looked away and avoided eye contact with her hair. There was something creepy about having snakes for hair.
Do not look to deeply into it, Poseidon.” she was snapping, “Let her to the unmarried fools.”
Oh dear.” Hestia whispered, “That would be ugly.” If even sweet gentle Hestia noticed a problem, than things were going to be really bad.

Before I dressed, I removed my brace. On land it was a necessity. I could not walk upright without it. But underwater, I found it much easier to maneuver myself about without it. When I entered the chamber of audiences I found the swan lady already there. The entire court was ogling her, including most of my brothers. Only my three older brothers and the women looked worried. Zeus, as the overlord of all Sea World would have to deal with this problem before she caused a major war for her hand in marriage. Hades always went against the normal and refused to be awed and inspired by anything that pleased everyone else. Poseidon, of course, thought that she was a spy. I did not blame him. What better way to send a spy, than to make all the men fall in love with her?

The woman's name was Aphrodite and she claimed that she come from the Unknown Waters and was born of the wind and stars. I thought for certain that everyone would laugh at her. But apparently her voice cast a spell over the fools and they could do nothing but drool. I was disgusted. But it did not matter much to me. It would not be long before I could return to my little forge and go back to a life of simplicity, far away from the silliness of court and fools.

“Lady, you are most welcome to this humble palace.” Ares said, rising first and bowing with many little twirls and tosses of his cloak. Hades snorted. Clearly, he thought Ares' manners pathetic. I agreed, but did not think I had to voice such things out loud. Especially not in front of Nereus, as this was his court.
Why thank you, young man.” Aphrodite said, a sigh went through the room. Ares sighed long and loudly. Hades snorted again.
What a nincompoop!” Hera sneered. This must have been the first time in six years that Hades and Zeus' wife had ever agreed on anything.

Now that Ares had made the first bold step, all of the eligible, and some ineligible men began to push their way towards Aphrodite. They pushed and shoved. Ares and a merwarrior even came to blows. Zeus and Nereus looked frazzled. The women added to the chaos by shouting at the men. I covered my ears and slunk out of the chamber. It wasn't any of my business what they did. I could go and pack, to prepare for the return journey. Not that I had much to pack.

Farewell,
Hephaestus

To Be continued

No comments:

Post a Comment