Chapter 6: A Prelude to War

Poseidon stared out at the vast expanse of the water. After being caught up on who their aunts and uncles were when Zeus explained the family tree, he knew there was only one being he could seek out. As such, Poseidon threw himself into the ocean with abandon.

As he held the trident, he released a laugh so long and loud that Poseidon feared that Cronos on Olympus could hear him. He could not help himself. It was so easy. Holding the trident was the most natural thing to him. It was an extension of himself.

Beyond that, it had taken his affinity for water and bolstered it in a way that he had never expected. The waves were his to command. His power felt enhanced somehow. He knew where every drop was, what it would do, where it would go. The liquid could not displease him even if it wanted to.

That water told him where he would need to go, and sure enough, as he swam faster than any being alive, Poseidon came upon the home of a Titan.

On the westernmost shores of Greece, where the land met the boundless extent of the sea, stood Oceanus’ magnificent palace. This abode was a marvel that rose above the waves like a glistening beacon. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm golden hue upon the waters as Poseidon approached the awe-inspiring edifice that melded seamlessly with both the land and sea.

For one who had been trapped within the belly of Cronos, the palace’s grandeur was unlike anything Poseidon could ever have expected. The testament to the power and majesty of Oceanus made Poseidon flinch, second guessing his decision.

The structure’s architecture was a blend of elegance and natural beauty. Towers crowned with spires rose from the earth, their tips seeming to touch the heavens themselves. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings depicting oceanic scenes – playful dolphins, swirling currents, and schools of exotic fish that seemed to swim across the very stone.

Poseidon slowly made his way forward. The empty courtyard at the front of the palace filled Poseidon with worry even as he was surrounded by colonnades adorned with seashells and mother-of-pearl. The courtyard had floral arrangements of exotic aquatic plants bloomed in vibrant hues, their fragrance carried on the ocean breeze.

Poseidon’s eyes were drawn to the palace’s main hall, an imposing structure that seemed to reach for the heavens. Its entrance was guarded by statues of mythic sea creatures, their eyes alight with an otherworldly gleam. The doors, carved from the finest seashells and adorned with precious gems, beckoned with an air of mystery and intrigue.

As Poseidon entered the palace, he was enveloped by a sense of awe. The interior was no less magnificent than the exterior, a symphony of space and light. Massive windows framed panoramic views of the surrounding ocean, rivers, and the setting sun. The walls and ceilings were adorned with intricate mosaics that seemed to shift and change with the play of light, depicting the ever-moving dance of waves and currents.

At the heart of the main hall stood two thrones of masterful craftsmanship. Carved from the rarest coral and adorned with pearls and gemstones, it radiated a regal yet serene aura.

There were two Titans sitting on the thrones, one man and one woman. The woman was beauty and grace itself. The man was enormous, unknowably powerful as the sea itself.

“Well, well, well,” Oceanus, the Titan of the Sea, said. “If it is not Cronos’ little crotch spawn. How are you enjoying the outside world?”

Poseidon stared up, in confusion, at the Titan of the Sea. “You’re Oceanus?”

“I am. And I assume you’re one of Cronos’ sons that might end up deposing him.”

Poseidon grew more confused, and it showed on his face.

“You don’t know?” Tethys, the wife of Oceanus, said. She looked at Oceanus.

He smiled to Tethys and shrugged. “Cronos was told that he would be deposed by his son, much like our father, Ouranos, was deposed by Cronos,” Oceanus explained.

“Then, do you mean to stop us?” Poseidon asked, gripping his trident fiercely.

Oceanus opened his hand. A torrent of seawater flowed into the room. It rushed towards Poseidon. Poseidon only had to raise his weapon, and the water swirled around him. The water acquiesced to Poseidon’s will over Oceanus.

“I do not believe I could even if I wanted to,” Oceanus remarked, pointing at the swirling water. “Beyond even that, I don’t agree with Cronos, little godling. Cronos devouring you and your siblings was wrong. I celebrate your freedom, but I don’t want another fight. I saw the damage between Ouranos and a few of us. If you all battle Cronos and his allies, you will destroy this amazing world.”

“We are not looking to destroy this world,” Poseidon said quickly. “We only want to live in a world where children are not devoured by their parents.”

“A fair hope,” Tethys said. “Surely, we can help somehow, even if we do not fight.”

Oceanus nodded. “Metis,” he called out.

A woman of fair skin, wearing a golden helm and dress of flowing silver, entered the room.

“This is Metis. She is our wisest daughter. From what I have gathered, she has been secretly meeting with Gaia, giving her counsel, so when my mother advised your brother, Zeus, he would be acting less rashly.” Oceanus let out a small burst of laughter, recalling events in his own foolhardy life.

Poseidon was shocked once again.

“Did you not think I, as the Titan of the Ocean, did not know,” Oceanus said with a laugh. “While I and my wife have not helped Zeus or Gaia, we have never stood in their way.”

“And I believe that times are changing,” Metis said with a kind, soothing voice. “We will need a new king, and while you gods might have the power to destroy Cronos, we cannot have conflict that consumed the realm of Greece.”

“Thank you, for your generosity, Oceanus and Tethys,” Poseidon said with a bow. Turning to Metis, Poseidon inclined his head to her, as a sign of respect. “Will you accompany me back to my brothers?”

“I will,” Metis said.

In the shadows of Oceanus’ palace, servants, nymphs, and children of the Ocean Titan all looked on, seeing the first of the newer generations of divinity.

But one looked out for a longer period of time. Her eyes lingered on Poseidon. She wondered if he was sweet and kind as well as powerful. She would not be allowed to think about it for much longer.

Oceanus called out, “Come out now, children. Our guest has gone. You should return to your daily duties.”

“Yes, Father,” they all proclaimed. However, the girl called Amphitrite continued looking at the god of the seas riding away on the ocean’s water.

The summit of Mount Olympus stood shrouded in an eerie silence. After the heavens nearly fell, the tension hung heavy in the air. The once-majestic palace bore the scars of a battle in the throne room.

Iapetus had decided to stay when the other Titans left to prepare for battles with Cronos’ offspring. Iapetus could not help but express a blend of determination and concern. He leaned against a pillar in the throne room.

Cronos looked toward his brother. His gaze was vacant, but held an all-encompassing stare. “Iapetus,” Cronos’ voice, laced with an unsettling undercurrent. “Why are you still here? It is bad enough that Oceanus did not appear.”

“You know Oceanus. He rarely leaves his palace after the fall of Ouranos.”

“Do not offer excuses for our brother’s shit behavior,” Cronos countered.

Iapetus bristled at Cronos’ foul language. Iapetus felt that as divine beings, they had outgrown profanity after Ouranos fell. The Titan had to let it go so as to better focus on his plea.

“Brother, I implore you,” Iapetus said, his voice resonating with a mixture of conviction and urgency. “We stand on the precipice of a greater carnage than what we wrought against Ouranos. This conflict could shatter the very fabric of our existence.”

Cronos’ laughter, cold and hollow, cut through the silence. “And? Brother, destiny itself bends to our will, to my will! We will prevail over this tantrum from my children, and when we are done, I will destroy them and cast their spirits into Tartarus with our father, where they belong!”

Iapetus took a step forward, his eyes locking onto Cronos. The Titan King was resolved in his course, which only cultivated a sense of sadness and caution. “Cronos, you were once a beacon of strength. The path you tread now, it is destructive. Consider sparing your sons. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—”

“Those upstarts?” Cronos’ voice dripped with disdain. “They attacked me! They are challenging the legacy we’ve built! These are the consequences of their defiance!”

“I beg you to reconsider, my brother” Iapetus implored, his voice rising. “Their potential is immense, and they still carry your bloodline. We can find another path. We could come to have peace with your sons.”

Cronos’ gaze turned piercing, his eyes fixed on Iapetus with a mix of derision and scorn. “Peace? They attacked me! You speak of weakness, of compromise. We don’t create peace with disobedient children! We are the Titans, the rulers of this realm! We don’t bend. They bend! Our might is unchallenged.”

“This path will not ensure our legacy,” Iapetus countered. His voice wavered, not in fear but in realization of how much like their father Cronos had become. “Without wisdom to temper strength, without unity to strengthen the single pillar, our very legacy crumbles.”

Cronos’ laughter echoed through the chamber once more, the sound grating against the air. “Words ... You offer words and intangible thoughts in a world where power reigns supreme. I deal with what is real, not your romantic ideas, Iapetus.”

Iapetus took a step back, his shoulders sagging with a heavy realization. “All things end, King Cronos. You are allowing fear to cloud your judgment...”

“And you allow your idealism to cloud yours!” Cronos roared.

Iapetus shook his head. “If you cannot see that that we must do better than Ouranos, I shall not stand in your way, but I will not support you.”

With a solemn nod, Iapetus turned to leave the throne room, the weight of his decision settling upon his heart.