The God of Olympus

by Matthew Argyle

  Of course, for so long the dragon had only known darkness and the dampness of his cave. Whenever the cave did shake it was because the dragon was trying to get out, even though he could never break through the rock. Oftentimes throughout the underworld a soft rumble or moan could be heard. Most of Hades’ servants didn’t know what this came from, but some went to investigate and whoever went did not return.

  Despite the dragon hating and despising Hades, he could never destroy him, for Hades’ magic was far too powerful for him. In addition, Hades knew how to speak soothing words to his dragon, how to tame it much like he would a dog. When he entered the dragon’s room, Hades caused his staff globe to light up with a bright light. This lit up the massive room.

  There were many dead bodies and bones scattered across the room. Hades took a few steps forward and saw the dragon curled up in a corner of the cave. For a moment he looked like he was sleeping. His eyes were closed and he took slow, but deep breaths. But then his eyes flipped open.

  Immediately after this the dragon leapt up and moved towards Hades. He tried to eat him, but the chain stopped him just in time. He was angered and lifted his massive head of up in the air and roared. Then he looked down at Hades and released a powerful beam of fire at Hades, but Hades used his staff to emit a powerful shield that protected him from his flame. “Come, my great dragon! Do not be this way! You know that you cannot defeat me. I am a great God! The only way you may be free is if you side with me!” The dragon didn’t seem interested and walked back to the corner of the cave. “War is coming on all of Greece and you may be my dragon. We may destroy Greece and rule it. You do this for me and you may be free! Is this not what you desire?”

  At first there was only silence. Hades turned away and began walking. Then he heard a loud noise. The massive beast emerged forth from the corner of his cave and bowed before Hades as a sign that he had accepted his offer. Hades smiled and said, “Excellent! Now, my great beast, come forth from your underground prison! You I will ride into battle. You will show forth your great power and anger!”

  Hades sent magic from his staff to break the chains from off of him. The dragon seemed pleased to be rid of the chains. Then Hades turned and shot blasts of magic near the entrance that made the doorway much larger, thus allowing the dragon (now having grown much since he was a child) to escape his underground prison.

  After Hades had done this the massive dragon suddenly moved his head forward right in front of Hades. He looked angry and stared down at Hades with eyes as large as Hades’ head and teeth nearly as long as Hades’ body. Hades could feel his warm breathe against his face. Hades felt good having power to control such a powerful and fierce creature. Hades then created his own chains and flung them around the dragon’s neck. Then the dragon’s tail grabbed him and lifted him up onto his back.

  “Come now and do not delay!” said Hades.

  Suddenly the dragon burst off, winding down through the shafts until he had escaped the underworld. Once out of his underworld he stretched his legs and wings. He then looked up into the sky, roared loudly, and spit out a large burst of fire into the sky. Hades was overjoyed in seeing such power. “Off to Athens, where the city will meet its demise!” Then Hades shot off into the sky, with the deadly dragon towards Athens.

  Chapter 14: War at Corinth

  After King Pericles and King Archidamas had left Athens and Sparta with their armies they each secretly had decided to take control of one city first, a city that they both believed was decisive to defeating the other in battle. This was the city of Corinth.

  Corinth was a unique city in that it had not formed an ally with either Sparta or Athens, and would be a great asset for either force. Both kings felt it would be the grain of rice that would tip the scale of war to their favor. The city was on the border of the isthmus between northern and southern Greece. It was a pivotal point. If one controlled the city of Corinth one could control what went on between northern and southern Greece.

  Corinth was one of the largest cities in Greece, but did not have much military power (at least in relation to Athens or Sparta). Their power was concentrated in one area of chief resolve—diplomacy. Corinth had often been the reason that Athens and Sparta had not destroyed each other in the first place. Their location, on the sea by the main passage south, proved to be very vital. Corinth had no king, nor did it think it needed a king, for military efforts were never the objective of the people of Corinth. Thus it was a sad night the night war came upon Corinth. You see, the Spartans were the first ones to arrive at Corinth. When they did arrive at Corinth they quickly tore down its defenses and made their home there. The Corinthians didn’t want war and so quickly allowed the Spartans to take control.

  Before King Archidamas had complete control of Corinth King Pericles arrived at Corinth with his great Athenian armies. It was now that Pericles and his armies reached the eastern wall of Corinth. There they demanded entrance into the city. But it was here that they saw an unexpected figure.

  It was King Archidamas, up on the wall. He looked down at Pericles and the army he had brought. “Pericles!” exclaimed King Archidamas. “What are you doing here at Corinth Pericles?”

  Pericles shook his head. “I should be asking you the same thing. Should you not be at Sparta, or are you already abroad enslaving other cities?”

  “I should have known that you would try to take over Corinth before you tried to take my great nation of Sparta!” retorted King Archidamas.

  “You had the same intentions,” replied Pericles. “You meant to take Corinth first and then Athens. Athens has always been peaceful to you, but you have been building up armies the last many years, armies powerful enough to take over all of Greece!”

  “Pericles, I give you one offer!” said King Archidamas. “If you retreat now, with all your army, back to Athens, then I will not attack Athens. But if you attempt to take this city from me Pericles, then war will begin across all of Greece, and then you will have nobody to blame for starting the war except yourself!”

  It was here that Pericles could have chosen to go back towards Athens, but he was reminded of his deal with Hades. Pericles wanted Hercules dead and the only way he could think this could happen was if he killed King Archidamas. And the only way he could think of killing King Archidamas was to assault the Spartan armies at Corinth. Pericles smiled for a moment and then turned away from King Archidamas and yelled to all his men. “Come my great Athenian warriors! We will take Corinth and kill King Archidamas! We shall end the war now after it had just begun!”

  Then Pericles and his men assaulted the wall of Corinth and war officially began in Greece. And it was here, at Corinth, were the greatest number of Greeks would be killed.

  A great war broke out there and thousands of men were killed that day. The Athenians were able to break through the gate at Corinth and make their way into the city, but they were losing men fast. And it was not just the Spartans and the Athenians that were losing men.

  Many of the citizens of Corinth ran all around chaotically. Many women and children were also killed. Pericles looked around and, after seeing all this death, was saddened greatly. Pericles soon began to realize that attempting to take the city of Corinth was a grave mistake. Not only was his army dwindling, but innocent people within the city were being killed. Pericles realized that he would have better odds at winning this war with the protection of Athens.

  There he yelled to his generals. “Retreat! Order all men to retreat! Move out of the city and head back to Athens!”

  The sun began setting as King Archidamas and his men watched Pericles and his men retreat. Much had occurred this day. Not only had a great battle occurred at Corinth, but Hercules had entered the God storm and suffered greatly in Hades’ underworld.

  Chapter 15: The Adventure of Meg and Philoctetes

  It is now time to return to what occurred to Meg and Philoctetes after Hades and his men rode off in their flying chariots with Hercules. Both Meg and Philoctetes were
left staring up at the sky with great sadness.

  Neither liked the other at all, although both knew very little about each other. Instead, there was a morbid silence. Philoctetes moved away from Meg, gathered what little wood was available in the area and started a fire, while Meg sat silently, almost in tears, watching. As far as they both knew the island seemed entirely uninhabited. It was dark now and the moon above them had turned red. Philoctetes looked up and sighed. “A red moon, the sign of death…abroad death must reign supreme.”

  “Death is not the worst thing,” replied Meg. “There are much worst things that can be felt.”

  Philoctetes removed his hood. Meg, as opposed to what Philoctetes thought, did not show any sign of disgust at his appearance. “You do not fear or are not disgusted by my appearance?” asked Philoctetes.

  “No,” replied Meg. “For I too looked much like you did when I was a wraith, a slave of Hades in his dark underworld. Appearances mean little to me.”

  These words made Philoctetes think a little more of Meg.

  “We are not so much as friends now,” replied Philoctetes. “But for what it is worth I see that you sorrow greatly. And Hercules must have thought very highly of you to do what he did for you.”

  “Thank you, but he thought far too highly of me,” said Meg. “I, despite my efforts at love and my efforts at making this world a better place, have made it worse. I have been Hades’ tool all along, a tool in bringing down Hercules, the greatest and most noble hero that has ever lived!”

  “It is I who has failed him,” said Philoctetes. Philoctetes looked down towards the ground and saw Hercules’ sword. He reached down and picked it up. “This was supposed to be the sword of a great hero, but yet again I have failed another hero. Another hero has fallen into the vile hands of Hades. But, in the end, when death, destruction, and the domination of evil is thought of as an unavoidable reality, that, at least, for the moment will inevitably conquer, the natural inclination of good men is to accept it and move on—to not see evil’s victory as victory at all, but a necessary loss.”

  Meg looked around, but could see nothing. “How long are we going to last on this island? This is no food around.”

  “We must leave in the morning,” said Philoctetes.

  Philoctetes and Meg spent several hours by the fire. Meg ended up falling asleep by the fire, but Philoctetes, as usual, did not sleep, but kept the fire going and, in his spare time, stared up at the moon. Then suddenly he heard a sound, as the sound of a large group of bats. The noise continued to get louder and louder until it woke up Meg as well. She was slightly startled, but did not speak.

  Philoctetes ran over to the fire and kicked up dust at it to put it out. He knew that it was most likely Hades’ servants and who knows what they would do should they find them. Philoctetes quickly put the fire out and both Meg and Philoctetes sat still in the darkness as the large creatures flew in the air above them. Once all the creatures had passed Philoctetes and Meg could finally relax.

  “The appearance again of Hades’ flying servants means Hades’ war will begin soon.”

  “Then we can linger here on this island no longer!” exclaimed Meg. “I must leave immediately.”

  “Leave? But where will you go and in the darkness?”

  Meg nodded. She grabbed a large log from a nearby dead tree and stuck the top of it into the fire to make a torch. “So long ago I wished that the man who betrayed me to Hades would return, but he never did. Now I am in the same situation and I will not abandon Hercules. I know the way to Hades’ underworld and if Hercules is still alive I will find him and save him!”

  Philoctetes was beginning to think this woman was crazy. “You cannot go. There is a large body of water between this island and his. You will never make it by swimming.”

  Meg didn’t seem to care. “I will die trying to get there, if necessary. A way must present itself.”

  “And what do you suppose we do?” asked Philoctetes. “We have no army and certainly no way to defeat Hades.”

  “There must be a way!” exclaimed Meg. “There must be something that we can do! Hercules now needs our help and we must do it! We must not abandon faith in the hero!”

  In these moments Philoctetes was brought back to what he was thinking about while Meg was asleep: namely what was happening with Hercules and whether or not Hercules was alive, and whether or not the Great War had begun between Athens and Sparta. Philoctetes knew that he was needed north.

  “You may go south,” said Philoctetes. “But I will go north. I know more of the war between Athens and Sparta and must journey there, to help those who remain.”

  So there the two separated. Meg went south while Philoctetes went north. Meg knew that somehow she had to get to Hades’ underworld. She could not bear to live without Hercules. Of course, a part of her could not bear to see what Hades would do to Hercules. This would altogether destroy her heart. She knew of Hades’ evil and didn’t dare imagine, although she could, the evil things Hades would do to Hercules. Then the terror would be inflicted upon the Greek world.

  Meg traveled for several miles by foot that night through the terrain (what kind of terrain). She was getting tired and traveling by night was no easy task, considering all the trees and rocks she had to wander through. But she knew that there was no time to waste.

  She knew of Hades and his evil and what things he could be doing to Hercules this very moment. It took Meg several hours to walk to the southern tip of the island. When she finally arrived the sun was rising, which finally brought light back to the world. Meg’s clothing was ripped, dusty, and tattered when she finally collapsed on the beach.

  She looked down and her skin was beginning to crack. Her hair was beginning to tangle and shrivel up. She was also physically getting much weaker. She now remembered why.

  She was supposed to drink of the water of the fountain every night, but it had been over a night since she last drank of it, and her energy was beginning to fade. Her countenance was beginning to get much darker, and she began to look less and less beautiful.

  She looked over the wide expanse of the sea and knew, like Philoctetes had said, she could not swim that distance. That would be far too difficult. No, instead she did the only thing she could think of doing. She looked up towards the skies yelled loudly, “Gods, come to me! I know that I am a mere mortal, but I come on behalf of Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera! Hercules is in dire need!”

  She waited for a few moments, but didn’t hear or see anything. Then suddenly she felt a rumbling beneath her feet and watched as, from the distance a great ship emerged. The ship was larger than any ship Hades, or any Greek possessed. It seemed very old, and it looked like it had been underwater, not above it, as algae, mold, sea plants, and even sea creatures like sponges and starfish were stuck to its surface. The sail of the ship was black and it was torn in several places. Meg could see that the ship must have originally been entirely gold; at a few points the gold shined through the mold and sea plants.

  Meg then watched as, from the depths of ocean Poseidon emerged, walking slowly towards her. Poseidon was arrayed in a great green robe and had a bright gold trident in his left hand. Then a ramp from the ship descended onto the shore and Meg watched as Apollo, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hermes came forth from the ship and stood behind Poseidon. Poseidon appeared to be their leader and moved ahead of them to address Meg.

  Meg seemed quite terrified. “Do not fear,” said Poseidon. “We have heard your call. But why have you called?”

  “It is in my humility and weakness that I call you!” yelled Meg. “It is Hercules…he is in dire need.”

  “Hercules…you speak of the Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera?”

  “Yes,” exclaimed Meg, with some hope in her voice.

  “Bah, Hercules no longer may command us either, for he has forfeited his God power and is now a complete mortal,” said Poseidon. “I am afraid that we will not come for him. You see, we are leaving Greece. For too long have
the people of Greece fallen so easily to Hades’ enticements. For too long has war reigned abroad. As we have no great God to follow we are leaving to a more peaceful land.”

  Poseidon turned around and began walking away, when she suddenly collapsed on the ground. “Please great Gods! I cannot do this alone…it is because of me that Hercules is now mortal. And I am mortal yes. I am not a grand God, like Hercules was, or you are…but I am begging you as a poor unfortunate mortal…”

  Poseidon turned towards her, smiled, and moved towards her. “You are very devout and devoted, the most in fact, of any mortal we have ever seen…but we still cannot help you,” said Poseidon. “We learned a long time ago to not interfere in the affairs of mortals. If we obey your wish then, to be just, we would have to obey the wish of another mortal. And we simply cannot do that. Only a true God may command us!”

  “Then at least take me to Hades’ underworld,” said Meg. “I beg you…please…just take me there.”

  “You wish to go to Hades’ underworld?” asked Poseidon. “To rescue Hercules all by yourself?”

  Meg nodded enthusiastically. “Very well, for your love and determination I shall do this for you,” said Poseidon. “The island of Crete is not far from here. I shall take you on my great ship!”

  And so Megara entered the ship where she talked with the Gods as they moved south towards Crete.

  ******

  It is time to return to Philoctetes and his journey. After Philoctetes separated from Meg he journeyed north, through the trees and rugged rocky terrain. Philoctetes was getting weaker and had not had a drink of water for almost a day. He looked down at Hercules’ sword that he held in his hand. Every time he did he was reminded of how he failed Hercules.

  The sun was rising when he arrived at the border of the sea. He looked down and about a hundred feet down was the water. “What I am to do now?” said Philoctetes, as he stared up to the heavens. “Am I doomed to be banished to yet another island?”