A Wayward Arrow

Chapter Sixteen: To Mount Olympus

The great mountain stretched high above the clouds, touching into the heavens. It was a splendid sight, one that Psyche had never seen before. A splendor of gold and marble that even put the house of Aphrodite and even her beloved palace to shame with the very architecture it displayed. It sprawled on forever and though Eros touched them down just outside the front entrance, the many voices of servants and gods could be heard clamoring throughout the entire structure.

Eros took hold of Psyche's hand, pulling her close to his side as if afraid that she would be taken from him, and led her straight through the palace of the Olympians. She had a hard time keeping her eyes forward. For every hall they passed she was stealing glances down them, her head like a swivel as she eyed every piece of luxurious carved statues that guarded every few feet. The paintings that ornamented the walls were the works of something she had never laid eyes on before in the mortal world or done by mortal hands and were awe-inspiring.

The hallway they followed winded around, splitting into a central courtyard where a throne sat in the center. Surrounded by lush greenery and prominent flora that sang of the beauty of the golden palace of mount Olympus. Here there were many gods, most of them talking and laughing amongst themselves. Many that she could name just by sight and looks by the way they resembled the statues in their temples back in the realm of mortals.

Upon the throne he sat. A large man that was both strong for his advancing age but wise in his eyes. While all the other gods had yet to realize Eros had come through the courtyard, Zeus had his gaze firmly set upon the god of love and his guest that he held fast to should she be expelled from the halls of the Olympians. Zeus said nothing as Eros approached, but as they came forward, Psyche found herself kneeling beside Eros, her arms wrapping around his leg as she prostrated herself before the mighty Zeus, but noticed Eros did not bow before the God of Gods.

"Eros, you forget where you are, son? Bringing a mortal to the house of Olympus?"

Zeus's words brought the attention of the others to the center of the courtyard. The silence soon followed as they all turned to look at Eros with his beloved Psyche now standing before Zeus. Only a few whispers could be heard, most of them speaking of "That is the girl." or "that is who Demeter spoke of" before they hushed again, wanting to know exactly what Eros planned to do, for it was unheard of to bring humans this far up the mountain, let alone all the way before Zeus.

"I stand before you, Zeus, not just as a god but as a God in love with this woman. I have come before you to ask that you bless this union between us."

"Stop!" A voice called from the entrance of the courtyard. Aphrodite came running along, nearly through the crowd of people as she approached the throne, "She is a mortal! We all know that love between a God and a Mortal can never truly go on further than the trysts of Earth. What Eros calls for is forbidden. Marriage can only happen between the gods!"

There was a murmur that erupted among the crowd of onlookers. Aphrodite was moving closer towards the center of the courtyard, closer towards where Eros stood front and center before Zeus, but Psyche remained with her head bowed. She clung tightly to Eros's leg, afraid of losing him just as much as he was afraid of losing her. After all, she had already lost him once and she had gone through Hades just to get him back.

"She might be mortal, but our love goes beyond those simple pleasures. Our union goes beyond just lust and s*x. Zeus, surely you understand, for if there is any god that could understand the love I feel for her, it is you."

"Quiet everyone!" Zeus's voice thundered as he tried to listen to Eros. The murmuring once again died out and he'd look to the God of love, seeing the anger and desperation written upon his face. "I understand, Eros, but your mother is right. She is a mortal and mortals cannot be here with us, not like this. You know this. She must return to the mortal world where she belongs."

"No! You listen to me-"

Eros lifted his arm, pointing it straight at Zeus, who sat back in his chair. Those dark wings expanded as those inhuman eyes stared straight at Zeus. There was something dark swirling within him as he stared down at the god of gods and even Zeus would turn his eye away from Eros's gaze and towards Aphrodite, who would cower and back away from her own son. Standing off to the side, least she be the next he pointed towards The whirling of the wind started to twirl around the two of them, his skin was starting to shift, forming darkened scales that matched the pitch of his wings.

"Eros, please..." Aphrodite called from the crowd behind him.

Psyche could tell by the whipping of the wind that Eros's wings were fluttering but he was not taking flight. She turned her head up just once and as she casted her gaze onto her husband she saw the winged beast the oracle had spoken of. For there was not the body of a man she clung onto but something dark and sinister with scaled skin and deep emerald eyes that set into a snout full of sharp-edged teeth. His fingers shifted into long pointed talons, making him seem something akin to a dragon in the middle of shifting. She gasped in disbelief, closing her eyes once again as she clung tighter to him.

"Please, dear gods, listen to Eros... Do not deny him, please." She prayed in a hushed whisper.

"Zeus, God of Gods, Son of Cronus, how many maidens have I shot with one of my arrows for you to defile with your wicked ways? How many have you left stranded on the Earth with half-blooded children? How many times have you broken union with your own deathless wife to chase after that of a mortal?" Eros started, his voice multi-tonal into something dark and inhuman sounding. "You, the one who asks for my help the most would deny me this one request shall know that you will never have help from me again. None of the so-called gods shall have my help in love again, my arrows will stay within their quiver from here on out."

"Eros, son... hold on, we can make a deal as I'm sure we can work something out." Zeus started to back-peddle, "If she remains mortal then there is nothing we can do, that is the way things are. However, if you continue to do your job, if you continue to work your arrow's magic for me and the others whenever we call for it, and you no longer seek out maidens for yourself, then we can make her like us. The Ambrosia she will take part of and become a god."

"Wait!" Aphrodite cried out, "You can't be serious that you will make her immortal like us!"

"I am serious and I will hear not another word from you Aphrodite, I think you have tortured this girl well enough. We all know what you did to her, we all watched as you set her soul apart day after day for weeks while she proved her love for Eros... If Eros is willing to go this far for her, then.... Well, I am willing to do this ritual and we will bless this union. She will be one of us and this marriage will be legitimate. I will give it my own personal blessing."

With the promise, Psyche lifted her head. Immoral? Did they really mean that? Was she going to be like them? Her heart felt overwhelmed and she looked up at Eros as his body started to return to normal as she knew it. She breathed out a sigh of relief and finally looked around at the gods around them. They all seemed just as shocked as Aphrodite was, but many of them didn't seem to be staring at her with that dagger look that Aphrodite was giving her.

Eros reached down for Psyche's arm, pulling her up off of the ground to stand beside him. Eros held her to his side as Zeus was snapping his fingers and a servant came forward with a piece of strange fruit. Eros looked towards it and then at Psyche, who looked at it with a confused look. It was purple on the outside with a strange rind. Eros produced an ornate gold-plated dagger from thin air and took the fruit, holding it for Psyche to take.

The dagger was placed into her other hand and he guided her to cut the fruit. As she did, the inside of it bloomed with a fuzzy vibrant blue and Eros brought it towards her lips. She'd bite into the warm juicy meat of the fruit. The nectar of which was something she had never tasted before. Sweet and tart that had her mouth instantly watering as the juices dripped down her chin. Eros smiled, having her take another bite and then another.

As she ate this fruit, she felt her blood begin to hum inside of her. Her body grew warm and euphoria hit her with a sweet sensation that vibrated and hummed throughout her very bones. She felt her wounds healing and every bruise receding away into nothingness. She breathed out in moans as the sensation spread through her body and then dissipated as fast as it came, but she felt different. No longer did she feel like a simple mortal woman.

"Psyche, you have eaten from the Ambrosia and are now an immortal like the rest of us. Every fiber in your being has been changed to be like that of the gods. This union between you and Eros is blessed by Zeus himself and shall forever be a harmonious union. You are now truly husband and wife." Zeus spoke.

At his words, Psyche looked at Eros and smiled brightly, but Eros grabbed her and kissed her lips. The crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers and though Aphrodite seemed less than thrilled, there was nothing more that she could do. Zeus snapped his fingers and the courtyard transformed into something of a party with lights and festivities as harps and chords began to play lively music to celebrate the union between the two.

While the gods drank and partied, Eros and Psyche did not stick around for the feast to celebrate their marriage, for it had been too long since they had been home. Eros once more took hold of his beloved Psyche and lifted her into the air and the two of them flew off into the sky above. He took them back to their enchanted palace where they lived together in harmony and eternal love forever after.

The End...?