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Forged Bonds Mini Series 2 – Chapter 5

HESTIA: You may recall, dear friends, that our last episode ended with Hyacinthus marching away from Zephyr and his comments about Apollo. Rather than following after Hyacinthus, we are going to follow after Zephyr. Storm clouds are beginning to roll in across Olympus– both in the sky and in the eyes of our wind god.

(door slam)

AEOLUS: Zeph?

ZEPHYR: Who does he think he is? 

AEOLUS: Zeph, what happened?

ZEPHYR: (ignoring Aeolus) He completely ignores my warnings, barely spends time with me, and then has the audacity to tell me off? He has the audacity to say that he can take care of himself when he’s so clearly not taking care of himself if he’s still seeing that absolute bastard–

HESTIA: Aeolus grabbed his brother by the shoulders, just short of shaking sense into Zephyr.

AEOLUS: Stop talking at me and start talking to me. What happened?

ZEPHYR: (breaking down) He won’t listen to me!

AEOLUS: Who?

ZEPHYR: Hyacinthus!

HESTIA: There are many moments in one’s life where they feel like they’re at the precipice of something. The feeling that one decision could change the course of their entire life– for better or for worse. In this moment, as Aeolus looked at his younger brother and the sadness mixing with the rage in his eyes, Aeolus felt as though he were at that precipice. What he said now would direct the course for Zephyr’s life; Aeolus could feel it in his very soul. When we reach the end of our tale, you may find yourself wondering if Aeolus’s words could’ve truly changed Zephyr’s course; unfortunately we’ll never know, as that story can never have happened. 

AEOLUS: (carefully, like trying not to startle a wild animal) Zephyr, I think you need to let this go. I know it hurts– you care for Hyacinthus so much and seeing him with someone else cuts you to the very core, I get it. But the way you’re acting isn’t healthy, Zeph. You’re coming apart at the seams over something that doesn’t even involve you. Hyacinthus and Apollo are happy– isn’t that what you should want as Hyacinthus’s friend? I know it’s hard, brother, but this? This isn’t how to handle things. It’s turning you into someone I don’t recognize anymore.

ZEPHYR: (icily) You don’t recognize me, Aeolus? You call me brother and yet dare to say you don’t recognize me anymore? If you were truly my brother you’d understand me! You would listen and you would help me!

AEOLUS: I’m trying to help you, Zeph–

ZEPHYR: NO! You’re just as bad as everyone else– not listening to me, not trusting me. Treating me like a fool– I’m not a fool, Aeolus. I’m the only one here who is seeing anything clearly! Apollo is not safe to be around!

AEOLUS: Apollo has done nothing to you–

ZEPHYR: Apollo has taken EVERYTHING from me! And if you can’t see that then you’re just as lost as Hyacinthus is. I will make you see reason, brother. I will make you all see reason.

HESTIA: Zephyr stormed off after that, thunder following as he went. There was a brief moment where it seemed like Aeolus was going to follow after his brother, but the other wind god thought better of it. There was no reasoning with Zephyr, that much had become painfully clear. There was, however, someone who could be reasoned with; or, at the very least, warned.

APOLLO: Aeolus? I haven’t seen you in a while, mate, how are you?

AEOLUS: I’m… I’m worried, actually, Apollo. About you. 

APOLLO: About me?

AEOLUS: Can– can I come in?

APOLLO: Yeah, of course.

HESTIA: Aeolus floated into Apollo’s house, the sun god steering him straight to the kitchen. Our dear Huntress Artemis was out at this time, another factor to wonder about when thinking of how things could’ve gone differently. If Artemis– steady and self assured– had been there, would they have found a better plan to handle Zephyr? Once again, we’ll never know as the die had been cast and the story already told.

APOLLO: So, you’re worried about me?

AEOLUS: Worried about Zephyr, really, but by extension I’m worried about you. (pause) I’m worried he’s going to do something to you.

APOLLO: (awkward laugh) Do something to me?

AEOLUS: I’m serious, Apollo, he’s… He’s not well. I don’t know what happened or how he got this fixation on you and Hyacinthus but I’m… I’m worried about it. I’m worried about him. I’m worried about what he might do.

APOLLO: …You don’t think he’d hurt Hyacinthus, do you?

AEOLUS: I’m more worried that he’ll hurt you Apollo. He keeps talking about you in these fits of jealous rage and I… (sigh) And I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt by him, especially not when you haven’t done anything wrong. 

APOLLO: I’ll be fine, Aeolus. It’s a bit hard to kill a god, after all (awkward laugh). (pause) As long as he doesn’t do anything to Hyacinthus, we’ll be fine. Zephyr can take his anger out on me all he likes– though I do wish I knew what he was angry about.

AEOLUS: He said you took everything from him.

APOLLO: How could I possibly have done that?

AEOLUS: Your guess is as good as mine.

HESTIA: It is here, dear friends, that I tell you Apollo and Zephyr had been friends once upon a time. Not the best of friends– at least not from Apollo’s perspective. As far as Apollo knew they were decent friends who drifted apart as life wound on– as so many smaller friendships in life do. But to Zephyr, Apollo was everything. To feel that there was any distance between them was a slight that Zephyr never recovered from, growing and growing into a bitter hatred that cemented several fates across our story. Including his own. But Aeolus didn’t know this and Apollo never knew the depths of this– perhaps if they did, things would’ve been different. 

But things were not different, dear friends. Things were exactly as they were written. Unknowing of any of this, Apollo made his way to see Hyacinthus– trying not to worry too much about Zephyr and almost succeeding. Almost.

HYACINTHUS: You’ve been quiet tonight.

APOLLO: A lot on my mind, I suppose.

HYACINTHUS: Is everything okay?

APOLLO: Everything’s fine, I’m just… 

HYACINTHUS: You’re just?

APOLLO: Aeolus stopped by today. Said he was worried about Zephyr.

HYACINTHUS: Oh. (pause) I’m surprised he went to you instead of me.

APOLLO: Aeolus seems to think I’m in danger. Said that Zephyr has it out for me. (pause) I know he told you to be wary of me, but did he ever…

HYACINTHUS: Ever indicate a reason other than vague nonsense and comments about Daphne? No, he didn’t. I’ve been trying to understand what’s going on with him, but he keeps shutting me out. (pause) Though, I suppose I’m the one who shut him out last time.

APOLLO: Did something happen between you two?

HYACINTHUS: He was running his mouth about you again and I told him to stop. I told him that he didn’t know you and that I could take care of myself. Maybe I shouldn’t have, I don’t know. It just made me so angry and I… I walked away from him. Haven’t heard anything from him since even though he usually messages me throughout the day. Maybe I should check on him.

APOLLO: It honestly might be best just to give him space for now. Aeolus said he seemed pretty unstable; if he’s upset with you for being with me, I’m not sure you being there would help.

HYACINTHUS: You know I don’t believe anything he’s told me about you, right?

APOLLO: I know, Hy. But thank you for telling me again anyway. (pause) I love you. So much.

HYACINTHUS: I love you too, Apollo.

HESTIA: And that, dear friends, is where we shall end things for today. There is one chapter left in our tale, one final portion of the story to tell. The storm is on the horizon, thunder rolling in and lightning visible in the distance. Brace yourself, dear friends, for what is to come; my hearth can only protect you from so much. Until next time, and as always, thank you for listening.