Athena

In the grand palace of Oceanus, the humming of the world's rivers could be heard through every room. But the silence rang louder within the high-arched gilded hall set deep in the earth's rock where Metis was waiting.

Along with her other sisters, the naiads and nymphs and river-gods, waited for Oceanus's most honorable guest. Everyone kept glancing at the threshold where the stone floor was worn smooth by countless divine entries.

The feast had yet to begin when the brazen doors were thrown wide open. The herald announced the arrival of their mysterious visitor. Of course, he had no titles to speak of then, but the Titans knew him by his name alone.

Zeus appeared through the great hall.

Metis looked up from her crystal goblet and saw a bright handsome god. The exiled son of Cronus was flashing like a newly-forged bronze or molten gold. His white tunic hung over his broad shoulders and smooth muscular chest. His hair framed his beardless face, revealing his youth. The young god walked into their ocean palace with such grace and might that the Oceanides and the river nymphs sighed in admiration.

The old Titan god of the sea went to greet Zeus with high regards and brought him to his own table. Then they served him nectar and wines and asked how his mother Rhea was doing.

Zeus spoke to Oceanus with charisma, and everyone hung to his words like the dew on the blades of the grass.

It was still the Golden Age. Cronus was still ruling the cosmos for the Great War hadn't started yet. Oceanus claimed to be neutral, but his heart had already picked what side to stand by. The old Titan saw in the youngest son of Cronus, the rare quality of a ruler. In fact, Zeus already rallied an army with the one-eyed Cyclops and even recruited some of the greatest Titans, Prometheus, the foreseer, and Helio, the sun. If Zeus succeeded in overthrowing the Time Lord as the prophecy had foretold, Oceanus had nothing to lose but more to gain. Besides, Cronus was an awful king, and Oceanus had never been fond of his youngest brother anyway.

Zeus smiled and accepted the drink from the host, but his piercing eyes began to roam over Oceanus's lovely daughters. The nymphs writhed with private longing. They all wanted his gaze to fall upon them. The prospect of being the future queen of Olympus was too hard to resist.

All except for Metis, the elder daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. She was the Titan goddess of counsel and wisdom and the only maiden who caught Zeus' eyes. Metis was older than him in age, but she did not look it. They were both cousins, but he did not care.

Metis was a sight to behold. Her face emitted a warm beauty like the glow of a dawn-fire. Her beautiful lustrous locks shone in rich golden brown, cascading down to her dainty waist. She was the first Titan goddess that made Zeus's heart leap and his eyes blaze like the hot gusts from a burning hearth.

During the feast, Zeus managed to inquire about the lovely maiden.

"Who is she?" he asked Oceanus, who was pleased to see the young god taking interest in one of his children. It only meant stronger alliance.

"My daughter Metis. Isn't she a beauty?"

"She is," Zeus said without taking his ardent gaze off her. "I would quite like to be her acquaintance if you don't mind."

"You could be more than that if it pleases you so, young lord," Oceanus said with a glint of amusement in his eyes. "But I must warn you that this daughter of mine is not dim-witted like those you have lain with. She knows more than all the gods or Titans. Her pretty head is so resourceful that she shall be of great counsel to you in the future. Yet you must learn to match her wits and win her heart."

Zeus needed no more urging.

~*~

One morning when Metis was strolling on the bank of the river, she noticed a familiar young man sitting on a rock, smiling down at her. It was Zeus himself, arrayed in all his glory. The new god was trying to bend even the sunlight about him, which seemed to light up his whole features even more. Metis knew that Zeus was coming for her. She was a frail maiden, but her mind was crafty and sharp like the edge of a spear. The Titaness bowed her head to acknowledge him though she said no word.

"I have been wanting to meet you in person, my lady," Zeus spoke softly with honeyed words. "I have heard so many wonderful things about you from your father."

Although Metis was Oceanus's daughter, she was not considered a nymph but a goddess in her own right, and Zeus saw the path to wisdom and power with her by his side.

"You honor me too much, Lord Zeus," Metis said. "I am sure you must have other important things to attend to other than conversing with me."

"That is not true," Zeus said as he came down to stand before her. His smile never wavered from his glorious face. "Your presence alone is enough to make me forget all my worldly duties. Nothing is more important than seeing you."

"Well, I would have believed your words like one of those moon-eyed naiads if I didn't know you better," the goddess said, which made him laugh. His manly powerful laugh seemed to awake something in Metis's woman nature.

"You are wise as they all said. Indeed, I came here because I believe you would be kind enough to aid me in the war."

"Aid you?" Metis said. "Why should I?"

Zeus greatly enjoyed the challenge. He flattered himself for being desirable. He was a young and handsome god with promising future, but Metis did not jump to the bait like the other maidens. He smiled wider and came closer to the Titaness. Metis could feel his powerful aura enveloped her like the wind of a desert. She knew if Zeus wanted her, she would have no choice, but she must rely on her wits to carve the path for herself as well.

"I will make you queen if you help me slay my father, and we can rule Olympus together," Zeus said.

"Is it a marriage you're proposing?" Metis asked, lifting her face to meet his stormy blue eyes. They held each other's gaze.

"If you so please, my lady." Zeus smiled again and bowed his head to her.

"Very well, then," Metis said with a smile at last. "See if you can keep up with me, young cousin."

Then she turned into a hawk and flew away. Zeus looked up to the sky in utter confusion but then he burst out laughing. He turned into a hawk and flew after. They soared high and low, in circles and through the clouds. Metis then flew over the lake and dived in and became a fish, swimming swiftly in the deep water. Zeus became a fish and swam after her. They swam side by side, dodging rocks and entering caves. Metis climbed back on the bank, and became a serpent and wriggled away. He changed himself into a serpent and wriggled after. Their tricks outdid one another back and forth, but during the chase, what they learned the most was that they were truly compatible.

Metis couldn't help feeling intrigued by the young god. He was tireless and cunning, and nothing could hold her attention more than intelligence, the same quality which she herself held.

At last, the Titaness let him catch her and they became more than acquaintances.

Through marriage, Metis became Zeus's wife and wise counselor. She assisted him by giving valuable strategies. The war took ten years to end. But for the gods, it was just as well as a blink of an eye. Cronus hadn't been aware of the plotting of his wife and son, and he was caught off guard by their treachery.

From the top of Mount Olympus, Zeus delighted to have triumphed so quickly, and with a nauseous potion prepared by Metis herself, he was able to compel Cronus to vomit the unfortunate children he had swallowed.

The Lord of Time immediately tried to devise some plan to get rid of Zeus, but he found himself attacked from all sides. Some of his most powerful Titans betrayed him then he lost Atlas, his trusted general and after a short but terrible encounter, signally defeated.

Zeus took possession of the mighty scythe and slew him to pieces, spilling the blood of the Titan Lord over the earth and the sea.

Shortly after, Zeus grasped the sovereignty of the world with his immortal siblings. At last, the new age began and all was well in Zeus' domain —all was well until Metis became pregnant.