Hera: Chapter One: Woes of a Reluctant Bride (Part Dos)

Chara tiptoed out of the chamber, leaving Hera to her own devices.

Hera sobbed uncontrollably, knowing that in a few short moments her life would be changed eternally. As a god she would live forever, as would her husband. Bound in a marriage for which she felt no love for her companion, there was no way out; not even death. As Chara had said, the mortal she loved, the man who was infinitely better than her younger brother, Zeus, would die in a few short years. All she could do was merely stand by and watch.

These melancholy thoughts brought a fresh wave of tears. Hera smiled ruefully. Her wedding would be the most rainy day the mortals ever had. They would more than likely take the rain as a blessing or gift rather than the product of a tragic doom as it really was.

But even if they knew, would they care? The mortals loved her soon-to-be husband and even enjoyed the tales of his affairs with random nymphs as long as Zeus had to shape-shift once or twice. Hera would receive no sympathy for her grievances; that much she was sure of, not from the mortals and most certainly not from her fellow gods.

After several more minutes of weeping, Hera wiped her tears away. Soon the ceremony would begin and although her heart was being broken, Hera still had her pride. It would never do to have the whole population of Mount Olympus see her with red-rimmed eyes and a runny nose. She was one of the most gorgeous goddesses but she knew that crying did nothing for her complexion.

Breathing in and out slowly, Hera had reached the giant hall of clouds. Peeking in, she saw many gods, nymphs and even a few satyrs. Wine flowed freely, even though no union had been formed yet, and it showed. Grimacing, Hera shielded her eyes from a drunk, giggling nymph and a rather touchy-feely satyr who was intoxicated in more way than one. Hera frowned but couldn’t blame them; with such draperies and music one could have mistaken it for a bedroom, minus the hordes of shrieking people.

After scanning the crowds for some time, Hera finally spotted Zeus. Standing in the middle of the crowd, his laugh booming, Hera admitted to herself that she could have to marry worse. He had clearly inherited the family’s good looks and his mere presence was as electrifying as his thunderbolts.

“Hera?” Chara’s voice shook Hera from her musings. “Finally we can begin the ceremony!”

Protesting mutely, Hera was dragged to Zeus’s feet.