Authors: Lanette Curington
"It's all right," Aglaia said, hoping to reassure it...and herself because she wasn't quite sure what Talos' intentions were. "He's only trying to help me. I think he's waiting for me to replace the torch."
When she did so, Talos moved forward in a stilted gait and carried her back in the direction from which she had come. When they reached the main passageway that led to the bedchamber, Hephaestus was running toward them. He jolted to a halt and commanded, "Talos, stop!"
The little tripod leapt between Hephaestus and Talos, ready to defend the bronze giant against his master if needed.
"Why are you shouting?" Aglaia asked when Talos had come to rest. "Talos is taking me back to the bedchamber. I borrowed one of your walking staffs. I hope you don't mind. Let's go, Talos. I'm sure you have better things to do than stand around here all night holding me."
Aglaia smiled sweetly at Hephaestus' stupefied expression as Talos carried her past him and into the bedchamber. With a rusty squeal, he bent over and gently set her on the bed. The little tripod marched proudly to its place in the shadows.
"Thank you, Talos."
Hephaestus had entered, and Talos walked past him as if he weren't there. Then he rushed across the chamber and loomed over her. "What did you do to Talos?"
Aglaia drew back. She didn't like the accusation in his tone. She slammed the walking staff against his chest. "I did nothing to him except intrude upon his privacy. I didn't realize it was a chamber and not another passageway. He was kind enough to carry me back."
Hephaestus stepped back and shook his head. His hair was unbound and thick damp waves fell into his face. He brushed them back with one sweep of his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that you'd done anything to him. Here, let me help you back into bed."
"I don't need any help," Aglaia protested, but he ignored her. He picked her up and laid her gently on the bed, placing her leg on the pillow and pulling the coverings over her. Then he sat on the edge of the bed only to find the little tripod at his feet.
Hephaestus raised one shaggy eyebrow in exasperation. "What is wrong with you? Return to where you belong."
The tripod stood its ground.
Aglaia leaned over and whispered, "You are very brave, but it's all right. He means no harm."
The tripod hesitated, then slowly made its way back to its place in the shadows.
"Have you bespelled my creations?" he asked, but without anger.
"No, of course not," Aglaia laughed. "If you'll remember, the Nedas were changing before I arrived."
He nodded. "But Talos wasn't. When he was slain, I brought him back here and repaired him, but he hasn't been the same as before. He stands in the dark and never moves."
"What tasks have you given him to do?"
"Tasks?" Hephaestus asked in surprise. "Why, none. I felt he had been ill-used on Crete and thought he should choose for himself what he wants to do."
"Everyone needs to feel useful," Aglaia said softly. "And he is a creation of bronze, not a person of flesh. He's strong and tireless. Have him help you in your forge, and when he's ready, he'll let you know what he wants to do."
"Yes, I guess you're right." Hephaestus glanced into the shadows, then leaned closer to her and lowered his voice. "Since you have all the answers, what about the tripod?"
Aglaia covered her mouth to stifle her giggles in case the little tripod might be offended. "I don't know," she said from behind her hand. "But it was very courageous and protective. It was ready to face Talos when it thought he might be a threat. Then it was ready to face you when it thought you might be angry with Talos and me. You should at least give it a name."
"I'll think about it," Hephaestus said, and Aglaia saw a hint of a smile and a sparkle in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. "I'm not exactly happy that you decided to explore. These passages and caves extend farther than even I know about. You could have hurt yourself again."
"I know, but I wanted to see something beside this cave. All I saw were more passageways and another cave. And the tripod kept me safe. I'm sure if anything had happened, it would have come for you."
Hephaestus stood. "Tomorrow you will walk, I promise. I have a surprise for you."
Aglaia brightened. "Really? What is it?"
"You'll find out tomorrow. Good night, Aglaia."
"Please, don't leave. I'm not at all sleepy." She patted the bed beside her. "Please sit a while and talk to me."
Hephaestus seemed hesitant, but Aglaia patted the bed again, flashing her best smile, and he relented. He sat on the edge of the bed.
"I won't ask you again about my surprise, although I'm nearly bursting with curiosity. Tell me something about yourself."
He shrugged his powerful shoulders. "What do you want to hear?"
"Yesterday, you jarred my memory of falling from the cliffs when you mentioned that Zeus had thrown you from Olympus." She paused, gauging his reaction, but he didn't seem discomfited talking about it. "I've heard there was another time you were thrown from Olympus, too."
He frowned, but didn't seem to mind explaining. "My mother Hera. She wasn't happy that I wasn't the physically perfect son she expected me to be, and she threw me from Olympus in disgust. I landed in the sea and was cared for by two ocean nymphs in their cave. That's where I honed my skills by creating jewelry and armor. I should have stayed there, but I eventually returned to Olympus."
"And the second time?" Aglaia asked.
"Ah, well, I suppose I was trying to prove to Hera that I was a good son no matter my physical condition. Zeus had chained her for harassing Heracles at sea, and I set her free. He was so angry he hurled me all the way here, to Lemnos. I was crippled even worse than before. The people here cared for me until I healed and I made a home here under Mount Mosychlos."
"But you still returned to Olympus?"
He nodded ruefully. "I didn't learn, did I? Yes, I returned to Olympus, and Aphrodite was my wife. I was told about her trysts with Ares, and I planned to catch them. I forged a net so fine it was all but invisible, and when they were in their lovers' embrace, the net caught them and wouldn't let them go. The idea was to humiliate Aphrodite into acquiescence, but Aphrodite cannot be tamed."
"I'm sorry. Aphrodite is..." Aglaia hesitated a moment then finished, "Aphrodite. But she shouldn't have hurt you."
"She didn't," he said much too quickly and stood again. "It's late. You need rest and I have work to do."
He had nearly reached the doorway, when she said, "I know I probably shouldn't ask, but why don't you wear the greave when you come to Olympus?"
Hephaestus' face hardened and his eyes turned darker. "You're right. You shouldn't ask," he replied abruptly and was gone.
Aglaia bit her lip and sank into the pillows. She had almost broken through his tough exterior, but lost whatever she had gained with one question. Sleep was a long time in coming for her this night.
* * * * *
Hephaestus worked hard at his forge all night until he dripped with sweat and his striking arm was numb from fatigue. He made armor and shields, jewelry and trinkets for the immortals. He didn't mind working for them as long as they left him alone, and they seemed eager to leave him be as long as he fulfilled their requests.
When Neda informed him it was after dawn, he realized he'd lost track of time and hadn't yet made the special piece he'd been thinking about—a golden headband for Aglaia.
Hephaestus prepared the gold, then worked it carefully, decorating it with the same entwined flowering vines that adorned her greave and scattering stars among the blossoms. When the metal had cooled, he polished the headband until it glittered in the firelight. He hoped she would be pleased with his gift.
Hephaestus was covered in smoke and sweat and he hastened outside to cleanse himself in the sea. Then he traversed the long passageways to the bathing chamber to rinse off the salt residue. He heard the water pouring from the spout, but he presumed Neda had started the bath for him.
He stopped inside the doorway when he realized Aglaia sat in the basin allowing the hot water to flow over her face and hair. Her head was thrown back, eyes closed as if he'd caught her in a moment of ecstasy, and she was completely unaware of his presence. He should leave...but the sight of her alabaster curves, glistening with droplets and runnels of hot water, immobilized him, and his arousal, sharp and swift, was a painful reminder of what he shouldn't want.
She scrubbed at her face and ran her fingers through her hair, separating the strands. Before he realized what he was doing he had taken a few steps forward, but stopped in time.
What was he thinking
? Well, he knew what he was thinking, but he shouldn't be thinking of the things he wanted to do to Aglaia and with Aglaia. He shouldn't be thinking of Aglaia at all except to help her heal and return her to Olympus. He whirled and left the chamber.
His thoughts scattering like sparks in the wind, he was astounded he remembered the headband. While she finished her bath, he took the band of gold to the bedchamber and placed it in the chest with the greave. He could surprise her with both at the same time.
He lingered near his forge until Neda told him the bathing chamber was once more unoccupied. He rinsed off, the hot water doing nothing for the state of his manhood, and decided he needed to locate a cold water spring as well. He dressed in clean underlinen, leather, and sandal and grimaced while he replaced the greave.
In the bedchamber, Aglaia was seated on the little tripod next to the fire. Another Neda was brushing her hair, the glossy strands ablaze with metallic highlights of gold, copper, and bronze. He wanted to run his hands through her fire, and feel it spread across his chest. When she looked up at him with a smile that reached her lovely blue eyes, his mouth went dry and his arousal grew firmer.
"Hephaestus! Talos was kind enough to carry me to the bathing chamber and back, and Neda found a chiton for me to wear instead of that tunic. I feel so much better. My ankle hardly hurts at all, but I can't put my full weight on it without it nearly collapsing beneath me."
Hephaestus swallowed, trying to banish the images of Aglaia bathing, but they wouldn't disappear from his mind. He went to the chest and took out the greave and sandal. "This should help," he said and presented the greave to her.
"Oh, Hephaestus, how beautiful it is! Here," she said and slowly slid the hem of the chiton up her shapely leg to just above the knee.
Her ankle was now its normal size with only a slight discoloration around the bone, and all the cuts and scrapes had healed completely. His eyes followed up the curve of her calf to the bend of her knee, stopping there because of the chiton. He knelt before her, his arousal as well as his ungainly greave causing him difficulty.
He gently cupped the back of her calf. Her skin was as soft as the petal of a rose. His hand quivered a little as he lifted her leg and placed it in the greave, but he hastily busied himself with fastening the closures. On her other foot, he tied the sandal decorated with the bronze blossoms to match those on the greave.
He stood and looked down at her.
She was smiling prettily, turning her leg one way and then another to admire his handiwork.
"It's so beautiful I regret that my chiton will hide it." Then she raised her head to look up at him, eyes flashing, and held out her hands. "I'm sure I can walk without assistance, but I do need help getting up."
Hephaestus grasped her hands and pulled until she had gained her feet. She lost her balance and fell forward, the hard peaks of her generous breasts pressing into him. He had loosened her hands, and now they were flat on his chest, cool against his overheated skin. He stifled a groan deep within his throat that threatened to explode at her nearness.
His arms had gone around her, but neither of them made a move to part. Aglaia's fingers stroked the thick curls on his chest and took his breath away. The top of her head came to his chin, and he tilted his head, rubbing against her soft fragrant hair. She carried the scent of fresh flowers and aether.
Long past any reasonable amount of time, Aglaia leaned back, letting her hands slide down and away. He didn't let her go. She looked up at him from beneath red-gold dusted lashes, and her tongue ran over her lips, making them moist and plunderable. He was about to bend his head and do just that, but she spoke and brought him back to his senses.
"I'm terribly clumsy for a goddess of grace."
Hephaestus released her and cleared his throat. "I have something else for you."
He retrieved the gold headband from the chest and held it out to her. Her blue eyes widened as she ran her finger over the winding vines.
"Oh, Hephaestus, you do such beautiful work. Please put it on for me."
He carefully slipped the ends just above her ears and pushed it beyond her hairline. Several strands of hair were out of place and he smoothed them down.
"How do I look?" Aglaia asked.
He was at a loss for words. She was lovely and her beauty enhanced the scrap of gold, not the other way around. Before he could decide what to say and how to say it, Aglaia laughed.