Chapter Text
Arriving at the royal stable of Olympus, Ares does not expect to be greeted by Iris, his mother's handmaiden and one of the messengers of the Olympian council. The way she crosses her arms and leans on one of the pillars shows that she has been waiting for him.
The god of war mounts off his horse-pulled chariot as the rainbow goddess approaches him with a solemn face.
“May I have a word with you in private?” Iris starts.
Ares removes his black helmet, not bothering to look at her as he heads down the path leading to his palace, “You may say in the morning.”
Iris arches an eyebrow, swaying her golden wings, “It has something to do with the King and Queen of Olympus. And it is urgent.”
Ares pauses at his track. A few moments pass before he sighs with a nod and walks away, allowing the goddess to trail after him.
Except for the palaces of the main twelve Olympians, very few places on this mountain are safe from the eyes and ears of pestering deities. Ares takes Iris to his residence and orders all his servants to retreat from the main room.
Ares hangs his helmet, “Now, speak.”
“I know you were with King Zeus yesterday.”
Her blunt statement surprises Ares a bit, but he recovers quickly.
“Sneaky.”
Iris scoffs as if it is obvious, “I must keep an eye on the whereabouts of the Queen's children.”
“I do not expect more from you,” Ares remarks.
Although he has been rude as they conversate, Ares still pours Iris a cup of ambrosia from the silver tray of refreshment the servants left on the table for them.
Iris takes the cup but doesn't drink. She goes straight to the purpose of her seek-out of Ares, “What is the King conspiring?”
“It is none of your business.”
“If this involves my Queen, then so am I.”
“Huh. It is your job to be my mother's little spy,” Ares sips from his cup, “I know you will be this nosy.”
Iris sets her drink on the table, “Why worry about me being nosy? You are not plotting against your mother, are you?”
The sudden speculation the goddess places on him annoys Ares, “What makes you think that?”
The messenger casually taps the cup's mouth in a non-specific rhythm, “You are avoiding the first question. And that is suspicious of you.”
Ares has a deep frown, but he answers none of her vague accusations. He turns to the side and downs another cup of ambrosia. However, Iris' words somehow make the normally honey-sweet drink lose its taste.
“After the reveal of his association with the mortal queen Electra,” Iris continues, “King Zeus often disappears from the mountain without a trace. Not even the Queen could see where he'd gone to.”
She cocks her head as if in deep thought, eyes glinting at the war god, “Only you tracked him down, but you do not want to uncover your father's doings behind your mother's back, while it could very well be something that harms her.”
Ares snaps, “Zeus will not do such things.”
“Did he not bring his lovers and bastard children to Olympus and publicly flaunt them in front of his wife? Did that not harm Queen Hera's pride and image? And here we see her firstborn son siding against the Queen. How disappointing she will be to know this.”
Ares places his cup on the marble surface with a harsh clang. His blood-red eyes glaze at the goddess with indescribable emotions.
“He is my father as well, messenger,” is all he said.
“Did he force you to keep the secret?”
“No,” the war god shakes, “But I cannot betray Zeus' trust.”
“He broke your mother's trust many times,” Iris insists, “How could you side with him? Now I know your treachery, my prince.”
“You dare to doubt my intentions with my mother?”
Iris stands her ground in the face of the provoked Olympian, “Then prove your loyalty to her by doing what is right. If you know what King Zeus is doing that can affect your mother, speak up for her.”
Ares remains silent. But from his constantly shifting eyes, Iris knows her words have affected him.
“If I tell you,” finally, he caves in, “You will reveal it to no one except my mother. Is that clear?”
Iris uses her index finger to draw an invisible cross on her chest, “What you have to say will be safe with me.”