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Forged Bonds Mini 2.1 Transcript

HESTIA: While the main story you came to hear has drawn to a close, Calliope has asked me if I would be willing to turn back the clock for you and tell you a tale of old. Somewhere between a Journey’s End and the start of Aphrodite and Hephaestus’s story, there was another love story unfolding. One just as beautiful and much more tragic than the stories you have heard before. Today, we begin to weave a tale of love, jealousy, betrayal, and heartbreak. A tale of hope and death and everything in between. The tale, dear friends, of Hyacinthus and Apollo. We will begin our tale by flashing back to our gods’ first meeting. Hyacinthus is seated on a bench in Olympus, basking in the rays of the sun, when a familiar god crosses his path.

APOLLO: (on the phone) I know, I know, Arte, I’ll be there! Yes, I know how important this is to you– Arte– Artemis, I know. Don’t worry, you’re going to do great. You threatening me doesn’t mean you’re going to do any less great. (spots Hyacinthus, immediately distracted) I’ll see you in a little while, okay? There’s someone I need to talk to real quick.

HESTIA: Our dear music god made his way over to the park bench, gesturing to the spot next to Hyacinthus.

APOLLO: Do you mind if I sit?

HYACINTHUS: (startled) Oh! Um. Not at all.

APOLLO: Thanks.

HYACINTHUS: …You’re Apollo, right?

APOLLO: Yes, that’s me! And you’re…

HYACINTHUS: Hyacinthus.

APOLLO: Hyacinthus! You’re one of the Spartan soldiers that’s been allowed into Olympus, right?

HYACINTHUS: (flustered) Yes, I’m… I didn’t think you’d know who I was.

APOLLO: I recognized the name, overheard Ares talking about you lot when I was going to drop something off for Aphrodite. Seems you in particular have made quite the stir among Olympus.

HYACINTHUS: Is that right?

APOLLO: Your beauty is renowned even among the gods.

HESTIA: Hyacinthus’s skin grew pink from the compliment, eyes darting away from Apollo’s. He took a breath before gathering the courage fluttering alongside hope in his chest.

HYACINTHUS: I see that tales of your beauty were not exaggerated among mortals. You are quite stunning, if you don’t mind me saying.

APOLLO: Coming from one as gorgeous as you, this is the highest of compliments. (pause) Forgive me if I’m coming on too strong–

HYACINTHUS: You’re not!

APOLLO: –But even from looking at you sitting in the park I could tell there was something different about you. All of Olympus moves so quickly, but you were here, staring at the sky, looking radiant and… And homey. Far more comfortable and comforting than I’m used to seeing here. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I didn’t at least stop to try and say this to you.

HYACINTHUS: I… Thank you, Apollo. I wasn’t expecting anyone to stop by me today, least of all one of the gods, but… You seem different, too. Kinder than mortals make you out to be.

HESTIA: Apollo had been described as many things by many people: attractive, flirtatious, caring, dedicated, but nothing had ever struck him quite as much as being called kind did.

APOLLO: (reverent) Thank you, Hyacinthus. That… Means more than you could possibly know. (phone buzzing) I need to get going, my sister will have my head if I’m late for her competition. But, if you don’t mind–

HYACINTHUS: I could give you my number?

APOLLO: I would love that.

HESTIA: The pair exchanged numbers, a nervous excitement radiating off of both of them as they did so. It felt like the start of something, dear friends. And that’s because it was– it was the start of a story that could only end in one way, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. That first meeting led to a second. And a third. And a fourth and a fifth and so many more meetings that they stopped keeping track.

HYACINTHUS: I didn’t know that a god could be so…

APOLLO: So?

HYACINTHUS: So wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard tales of your power and might for as long as I’ve been alive but to actually see you and know you… It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I have won wars, traveled far and wide, made friends with some of the greatest men in Sparta, but I have never known anyone as wonderful as you are, Apollo. The gods of Olympus pale in comparison to your beauty and your kindness.

APOLLO: (deflecting, flustered) Zeus would strike you where you stood if he heard you say that.

HYACINTHUS: Zeus may strike me down for saying that, but at least I’ll go out telling the only truth I’ve ever known. (pause) Well. Not the only truth. There is one other truth I know of.

APOLLO: And what is that, Hyacinthus?

HYACINTHUS: I know that I love you.

APOLLO: Hyacinthus–

HYACINTHUS: I love you more than I ever thought possible. And I do not love you as a man loves a god, Apollo. I love you as a man loves a man, as a breeze loves a petal, as a river loves the ocean. I love you with all of me. Not because you are a god, but because you are Apollo– kind, gentle, wonderful Apollo.

HESTIA: Hyacinthus was grasping Apollo’s hands in his own, trying to hide the fact that they were shaking. This was his soul, laid bare to the man that he had unwittingly fallen in love with. Whether he was merely a fling for the prophecy god was unknown– but could be unknown no longer. 

APOLLO: I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve your reverence, your love. But I will cherish it until the end of time if you let me. I love you more than words can express, Hyacinthus. The muses themselves could not pull together poems that would accurately depict how much I love you. Meeting you– it had to be a blessing from the Fates, weaving our lives together. You now know three truths, but the third is the most important to me: the truth is I love you and will love you forever as long as that would make you happy.

HESTIA: It was here that the two shared their first kiss– hesitant and soft and hopeful. The first kiss led to a second. And a third. And a fourth and a fifth and so many more that they stopped keeping track. It was after one of these many kisses that Zephyr had caught sight of the two of them.

Zephyr was what you mortals would think of as the western wind. He was an Anemoi– one of the wind gods– and had been looking after Hyacinthus for quite some time. They were friends, as surprising as it was to the Spartan prince. Zephyr had provided favorable winds for many travels for Hyacinthus, earning his trust and his friendship along the way. 

ZEPHYR: (teasing to hide concern) Are you hanging out with Apollo now?

HYACINTHUS: (teasing) A bit more than that, actually, if you know what I mean.

HESTIA: It should be noted, dear friends, that while Zephyr and Hyacinthus were friends, Zephyr had always coveted his Spartan companion. Many across Olympus and beyond had, but Apollo was the first that seemed to have caught Hyacinthus’s eye.

ZEPHYR: You shouldn’t get involved with him like that.

HYACINTHUS: Zeph–

ZEPHYR: No, seriously Hy, I mean it. The only thing Apollo is going to do is hurt you and I can’t bear to see that happen.

HYACINTHUS: He’s not going to hurt me, Zeph. Apollo… He’s been nothing but wonderful to me, I promise. Kind and funny and caring– everything you’d want me to have in a partner. 

ZEPHYR: He can’t be trusted, Hy! I’ve seen the other gods and goddesses he’s been involved with– nothing but broken hearts and betrayals. And Daphne–

HYACINTHUS: That’s not fair and you know it. The Fates themselves were pulling those strings against both of their wills.

ZEPHYR: (conceding) Even still, I just… I don’t trust him. I’ve seen where this ends and it’s never good.

HYACINTHUS: (slightly hurt) Can’t you just be happy for me?

ZEPHYR: Of course I’m happy for you, Hy. I’m just also going to worry– what else are friends for?

HESTIA: And if the word ‘friends’ left a bitter taste in Zephyr’s mouth, well. He would just have to keep that to himself for now, wouldn’t he? 

This, dear friends, is where we shall leave you for now. There is more to this story– including more trips into the past to discover why Zephyr is feeling the way he does about Apollo. Daphne is a story for another day, but it is another day that will come sooner than you think. Until next time, and as always, thank you for listening.