Chapter – 5.

Curiosity, the weakness of mortals and immortals alike, struck Hades this time, as He peaked through the bushes to quench his curious mind. Behind it, He saw a group of small poor children, stealing berries from the dense mulberry bushes. Their tiny hands were stained black, pink and purple - the colour of the berries. Suddenly, they saw Hades watching them and they all were terrified. They looked at each other, disheartened at being caught stealing and awaited punishment quietly. Hades saw their scared innocent faces, and slowly went near them. He could see the horror in their eyes in anticipation of the cruelties that will be inflicted on them, by being caught red-handed.

Hades smiled reassuringly and spoke softly," You must hurry back to your homes before the owner of this farm catches you and punish you."

The poor children were shocked at his decency and collected enough berries before running along the trodden path. Hades interrupted them and instructed to take the short-cut along the stream. They obeyed, grateful for his help and followed the other route.

Suddenly, He heard the footsteps of a number of adult men approaching menacingly towards him.

"Lord Hades, have you seen any children around here stealing my berries? I swear I heard them nearby. This time I won't spare them." Said the owner of the large farm.

"I just came here now. But I think I heard the rambling of children along the main path." Hades said innocently.

The owner replied, "I thank you Lord, for your help." He went in the opposite direction, taking his men along.

Hades smiled mischievously and sighed in content.

At this point someone scolded him from behind, "You thief. You stole my job from me!"

Hades recognised the voice instantly and turned towards the source of it. There stood Hermes, the young son of Zeus. Although Hermes was grown-up, yet he retained his boyish charm. Hades smiled warmly at his young nephew.

"What did I do?" Hades asked innocently.

Hermes rebuked his favourite God in a friendly manner, "I am the God of Thieves. I am supposed to be helping them. Not you." He mocked anger.

"My apologies, dear nephew. I just made you jobless." Hades replied instantly.

Hermes shook his handsome head lightly, "Don't worry, Uncle. I will steal my job from you again. Trust me, I am an expert in that field. In the same way, like you are in your harvest." He looked around at the bounty crop.

Hades agreed with him and added," It is delightful to switch duties sometimes."

"True, I would love to switch my job with Dionysus. But I am truly content with my lot." Hermes smiled contently. Then they both started walking in the direction of the trodden path.

"Tell me, little thief, what is happening in Olympus. How is my little brother, Zeus?" Hades spoke putting his hand on Hermes' shoulder in a friendly manner.

Hermes shook his head at the question, "Oh! Don't ask. Hera is furious at him."

Hades was confused, "Why, what has the King of Gods done this time?"

Hermes," He saw Leda bathing in the river and lust overpowered him as always, and he took the form of a swan, caught her by surprise and mated with her."

Hades shook his handsome head, hopelessly, "When will He learn?"

Hermes joked instantly ,"Never".

"No wonder Hera is always so infuriated." Hades mused.

Hermes replied, "I thought She would get used to it by now. Fates know, how will she avenge him this time."

Hades, "Leave it to her for righting Zeus. Only she can tame him."

Hermes laughed at this and continued," As for your first question, Olympus is same as always, complete entertainment."

Hades was curious again," How, now what happened there!"

Hermes spoke enthusiastically, "Hephaestus was informed by Helios that Aphrodite was cheating on him by laying with Ares. He set up a trap to catch them red-handed, had ensnared them in an unbreakable chain-link net so small as to be invisible and dragged them to Mount Olympus to shame them in front of the other gods for retribution. Instead, everyone laughed. It was a hilarious sight to behold." Hermes remembered the awkward lovers and more so, the form of naked Aphrodite (He was Her second favourite lover.)

"Then what happened", asked the astonished Hades.

Breaking from his reverie, Hermes answered, "Well, Uncle Poseidon persuaded Hephaestus to free them in return for a guarantee that Ares would pay the adulterer's fine."

Hades spoke hopelessly, "Thanks to Fates, I live on Earth, with better people around me."

Hermes, "How can you live, without luxuries that the other Olympians are so fond of?"

Hades, "I like to live in humble surroundings. I love simplicity of the rustic people."

Hermes loved the simplicity of this God. Soon He realised he was getting late. "Alright, Uncle Hades. Time to go on work. I will go and find out if the little boys reached their homes safely or they need my help."

Hades bid him a farewell and started moving towards his home. Suddenly, He heard someone calling for help. He immediately turned his head towards the direction of the voice. He heard the voice belonged to a known girl in distress. He quickened his steps so as to find and help her quickly. At a distance, he saw Daphne running towards him. Her beautiful face was full of horror and distress. He knew the nymph very well. Hades had saved Daphne once before when a drunk Satyr was after her. He had warned the satyr to leave the nymph alone, but he was unrelenting. So, Hades turned him into a Cactus, in order to save Her.

"Lord Hades", screamed Daphne in relief as she neared him. "Please Lord, help me. Protect my virtue, my honour from the one who chases me madly." Her beautiful eyes were helpless.

Hades placed a hand on her beautiful head, to calm her down, "Daphne, what happened to you. Tell me who is he. And I will discipline him immediately." His voiced was hard now.

Daphne was nervous in taking the name. But Hades persisted. Finally she spoke, "My Lord, He is no ordinary man, nor a satyr. He is your nephew Apollo."

Hades eyes were shocked at this revelation, and then turned cold, "Do not worry, Daphne. He can't do anything to you. He won't. You are under my protection," declared Hades.

Daphne was still very scared, "Please Lord. I am truly sick of being chased by every male, who lays his lecherous eyes on me. I am tired. Please turn me into a tree so I could live peacefully, without getting the unwanted attention of mortals and Gods alike."

Hades shook his head, "No, Daphne. You deserve to live happily and not like a tree. I will protect you, like I have done before."

Daphne was adamant, "No. You cannot be with me everywhere, My Lord. My beauty has become a curse. Please, I beg you, release me from this cursed and wretched life. I will be perfectly content in living my life as a tree. Totally safe and always around nature. This is what I want." She pleaded.

Hades tried to persuade the reluctant Daphne once more, "Apollo will not harm you. Have faith in me. I will make him swear the oath of great Styx, to abandon your pursuit forever."

"No. If not Apollo, then some other God will start pursuing me instead. I do not trust them, except you. Please my lord. I entreat you to please heed my request," begged Daphne falling on her knees, crying pathetically.

Hades spoke disappointingly, "Is this truly what you want? Is it your heart's desire?"

Daphne answered while wiping her tears, "Yes, my Lord. This is what I desire. To be free from this life and live contently as a tree. Please Lord Hades, give me what I want."

Hades relented dejectedly and ordered, "Stand straight."

She did as ordered.

He raised his index finger and concentrated. Slowly, Daphne started to feel a change in her. A stiffness - all over and inside her. Her beautiful brown hair turned green and took the shape of leaves, her slender arms became branches, her feet converted into roots, her bosom became the bark, her pretty face vanished and instead of a nymph, there stood a tall, proud new tree.

Slowly, Daphne had turned into a beautiful Laurel tree.

Soon, Hades noticed two figures approaching from the same direction where Daphne had appeared few moments ago. He saw distort Apollo coming towards him, followed by Eros. Apollo marched gravely towards Hades.

"Lord Hades," He roared, "What have you done. I saw from a distance you converted Daphne into a tree. I was too late to save her. Why did you do it?" His eyes spat fire.

Hades was unmoved by his words, and replied coldly, "You wanted to save her. It was She who wanted to be saved from your lustful advances. You never take a girl' consent, just follow your loins instinct."

"Don't blame me, Lord Hades. It was all the fault of Eros who shot me with his lethal golden arrow, simply to prove his point. I was helpless." Apollo countered.

Eros shouted from behind, "It was your doing Apollo. You made fun of my skills and I had to show you, I am no less powerful than you, in archery and in command. And look, how miserable I have made you."

Apollo warned Eros, "Don't take my anger lightly. I will get back at you severely. Very soon. I will make you pathetic. You will repent." Both Eros and Apollo glared at each other, only to be rebuked by the senior God Hades himself.

"SILENCE. Because of your petty fights, an innocent harmless girl lost her chance to live happily. No wonder mortals are losing faith in Gods rapidly." He paused and continued, "You both don't deserve to be in the Olympic Council. Fully grown up, but still act and behave like small spoilt children. What a shame."

Both the young Gods stood silently there in front of Him. Then, Hades looked at Eros, and spoke, "Next time use your powers wisely, son of Aphrodite. You have been given the duty to make people fall in love. Do not abuse your power by heeding to low comments by others."

Eros nodded his head and flew away quietly. Hades then turned to face Apollo and spoke in an authoritative voice, "Do not give me the excuse of golden arrow for your lustful pursuits of innocent maidens. I know about your exploits all too well. Next time, I notice you again at your rash behaviour and I will make sure Zeus removes you from the Olympic council."

Apollo moved his arrogant head slightly to acknowledge Hades' words and said," You cannot understand love, Lord Hades. Its madness and passions. How it can make a powerful person weak and helpless. You will only realise it when you yourself fall in love."

Hades commanded, "Do not teach me about love, nephew. Your definition of love matches that of Zeus. And I do not want any more maiden-chasers on Olympus. You few are more than enough to bring bad name to the family. Now go and apologise to Daphne for your carelessness. For the trouble you put her in."

Apollo went towards the Laurel tree and holding her newly formed branches and said wiping his divine tears, "Dear Daphne, since I cannot have you as my lover, I will give you the greatest honour. You will be my sacred tree. I will wear you for my crown. My Harp and Quiver shall be decorated only by your leaves. You shall be woven into wreaths, and set upon the heads of greatest heroes and athletes as a sign of triumph and honour. I give you the blessing of my eternal youth. Your leaf shall know no decay, no withering, you will be eternally green."

The nymph Daphne, now a Laurel tree bowed its head slightly in gratefulness. Hades too, smiled at his nephew's thoughtfulness.

Apollo hugged the tree bark lovingly, then softly let go of its branches and leaves and stood there solemnly, grief and distress evident on his heavenly face. Hades slowly neared him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"She was my first love. Now I can only feel her as a tree. Why did you do it, Uncle. You are part of my family. You should have listened to me first. I loved her." The words came out of Apollo's mouth as chokes, as he spoke them without moving his watery eyes from the newly formed tree.

Hades tried to soothe his broken nephew, "Love should not be taken by force. She never wanted you. Accept it. This is what She truly wanted. I may be your family member, but I am a God first. And to take care of and protect mortals is my foremost priority. Remember that always. You may have loved her truly, but once you got what you wanted, you would have moved on to your next target. I know this and deep down in your heart, you too know it better. Go and resume your assigned duty."

Apollo bowed his head to the senior god and sadly flew back to Olympus. Hades sighed and recalled how such beautiful day turned into a hard one for Him. Love, he pondered, is complicated. He recalled the words of Apollo. It was true, he had never fallen in love in his entire immortal life, he had no say in the matters of heart as he had never experienced its power and madness himself. He looked up at the beautiful sky, it was twilight now, slowly Hades began to move in the familiar direction of his hut, with only one question in his mind – Will He ever fall in love?

I truly enjoyed writing this chapter :)

I have twisted all the myths in my story. Hope you all like it. Do tell me about it. Next chapter is the one you all are waiting for – The Meeting.