A/N: Artwork is how I imagine Athena.

Considering I've spent a whirlwind month in the Underworld, my first day in Olympus is hell.

After reading Hadrian's letter, Athena dresses me in strange robes of midnight black and hemmed with white, skeletal trees. If she wants me to be formidable, it has the opposite effect: I survey myself in the plain oval mirror hung upon the wall, and I look more like a lost puppy than a warrior. There's a turn to my mouth that makes me look like I'm on the verge of crying, and I guess it's because I am. Athena must notice this, but she doesn't comment. Instead, she steers me out of the door and takes me to the refectory.

Long tables fill a noisy hall of diners, slurping and munching on an assortment of bread, porridge, meats and eggs. Athena fetches herself a bowl of porridge, whilst I pick at an omelette with lacklustre effort.

'Do gods and goddesses really eat down here?' I say, breaking our own silence. Nearby, fellow residents are having lively conversations considering it's early. They're glancing at us; I assume it's because we're so stiff and quiet this morning. I've no idea whether it is still morning though, as there's no windows to show the light. When I'd awoken in my room, dawn had been creeping over Olympus.

Athena pauses, her mug of steaming tea raised to her lips. She takes a quick swallow, as if deciding how to answer.

'No,' she says finally, 'Not really.'

I frown, but I reconsider the glances along the table. Their curious gazes had been at Athena's presence, not about our muted manners.

'The Twelve have their own dining hall,' Athena says, quickly, looking down at her porridge.

'So, "The Twelve" being...?'

'Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Apollo, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Hermes, Hephaestus, Ares, Artemis, Demeter and myself,' Athena says in a single breath. She goes back to picking at her breakfast, as if I'd asked what she was eating and not about who held the fate of Hadrian's— and my— kingdom.

'Slow that down,' I repeat, giving a nervous chuckle, 'Did you say Demeter?'

'Yes, she's one of the Twelve, although she doesn't usually live here. She resides in her court mostly. So, there's usually eleven of us that actually reside here...'

'And none of them are here?'

'No.' She swigs her tea, shivering as the heat hits her tongue.

'When will I meet them?' I ask, completely ignoring my omelette now.

Another pause. 'As soon as you can.'

My eyes narrow. 'When is that?'

Athena swills the tea in her cup, watching the surface jitter. 'It might be next week. It could be six months from now.'

My elbow nearly misses the table as I go to prop up my head on my hand. Six months! The Underworld wouldn't survive that long! And— I imagine Hadrian in Hecate's clutches for that length of time— and my belly twists.

'That's too long,' I breathe, and my body is tense. As if by fighting Athena on this, things might turn out okay. As if by convincing her, I'll be convincing the entire party of Olympus to my cause. 'We need to act now. Before she gets a hold. While Hadrian is still in one damn piece!'

I should have left as soon as I'd woken up. Shouldn't have let myself get led away by Athena, should have run for help. But I'd trusted her judgement— her wisdom—

'Rushing into this will not work,' Athena says, and it's my turn to shiver. There's a darkness in her eyes that dares me to defy her. 'You've seen her army, anassa. It's an army of undead. They can't be beaten by brute combat, and you're no match for her yet, either. Hadrian has bought you valuable time to get allies, get an army, and get ready.'

'But six months—'

'Is hardly any time for a god or goddess,' Athena cuts me off. 'And Hecate plans on staying Queen of the Underworld forever. She'll ensure Hadrian is witness to her triumph. Six months would be an easier time to plan the response than rushing out now.'

I hate it, but I know she's right. Launching any sort of attack now would just land me back in trouble, and not of any use to Hadrian either.

I take a deep breath, and allow the idea of waiting months on end for this. To let him go for that amount of time. To know that he might be hurt, or worse, and I'm not coming for him yet.

I'm sorry, Hades. I'm coming for you, I promise. Please wait for me.

Athena watches as I steady myself and then I ask for her help.

'What do you suggest we do?'

The woman before me smiles, and I realise it's the first time I've seen her do so properly. It changes her face; her dark brown skin shines, and dimples appear on her cheeks. Those wonderful so-brown-they're-almost-black irises gleam in delight. She tosses her thick braid over her shoulder and slams her mug back onto the table.

The tea inside it sloshes. She dips a finger onto the surface, sending ripples across the perfumed water.

'What we do,' she says, smiling, 'is make waves.'

Athena parades me out that first day.

She gives me a tour of my Olympus; that is, the part of Olympus I'm currently invited into. Olympus is a three-tiered city of politics and gossip. My room is on the middle tier, designated for "lesser gods" and deities, whilst the servants live and work on the lesser tier below. The gods of the Pantheon are literally above us, living on the upper tier, their palaces towering in cascades over their lesser beings. According to Athena, those twelve— eleven, as Demeter isn't there— are usually bored, selfish beings with little interest in things that don't catch their attention.

'A coup in the Underworld and an army of the dead hasn't caught their attention?' I shake my head. If that can't excite them, I haven't the chance.

'If the gods interfered every time there was a power bid...' Athena rolls her eyes. 'If it's not on their doorstep, then they won't care. And unless you make it their business, they're not going to open their eyes to see the problem.'

'That's stupid!' I protest.

Athena gives me a wry smile. 'Welcome to politics.'

Our chance, Athena says, lies within piquing the interest of some of the rival gods.

'Heph— that is, Hephaestus— would be an ideal ally,' she says, as we map out a rough plan whilst camped in her room. Each room reflects its occupant, although it takes a while for it to occur. When asked, Athena hypothesises that the magic within the person manifests within the room, although it's just her theory. My room is still empty, as I've only just arrived, she explains.

Athena's room is a beautiful mix of library and relaxation. A plush carpet underfoot leads to a giant chessboard in the centre of the room, surrounded by plush chaise longues. Ceiling-high shelves line the walls, encompassing the room in a shield of books and wisdom. The books are a mix from across the human world, with titles in languages I can't even begin to imagine, and letters that don't look like anything I'd recognise. Some books are entirely pictures, sketched in exquisite detail. And some of the books are Athena's own writings. The window-seat beneath the bay window is Athena's favourite, I notice; she goes there often to think something puzzling through, or of an evening I'll find her engrossed in one of the thousands of books.

'Hephaestus...' I roll the name on my tongue, stalling for time to remember. Athena coaches me daily on the basics of the gods, so that I'll know who I'm talking to and why. It takes me a few seconds to recall Heph, the Smith of the gods. 'Fire, metalwork and crafting, right? A useful ally indeed.'

Athena looks pleased. 'Heph's not likely to consider you unless you bring him a challenge, such as supplying your army with weapons. He's a bit of a loner in that regard.'

'But I don't have an army.'

'Not yet...' Athena makes a frustrated thinking noise, screwing her eyes up in thought. 'Ares is our best hope of getting attention.'

'Ares? God of War?' I shudder. 'Won't he like the thought of Hecate taking over?'

'Yes, although there's nothing in it for him. Now, if he were to see you as a potential leader, and ally, and someone that could provide him with a good fight...'

I grin. 'Ares might just be interested enough to back me.'

Athena grins back, snapping shut the book in her hands. The smell of the bound leather book fills my nose. 'And once we have the attention of one, trust me, news spreads fast. They will all want to know you.'

'But how will we attract the attention of Ares?'

Athena's smile turns to the scheming smile of a con artist. 'I have an idea.'

In keeping with this, Athena spends the day making introductions to lesser gods. We have tea with Chione, the Goddess of snow, whilst chatting to Ersa, Goddess of the morning dew. During a visit to the infirmary, Athena introduces me to the healing gods there; Panacea, Asclepius and Epione, But, her real plan comes into action on the first afternoon, where, whilst waiting for the gods to notice, I end up in a sparring match with Palaestra, the god of wrestling.

Palaestra is a daring sight of muscle and agility. Cheekbones of only god calibre accentuate the high ponytail Palaestra's dark tangles of hair are pulled into. An intelligent and calculating pair of green eyes survey me as the target before inviting me into the ring.

Athena gives me a quick pep talk before I go to my doom.

'She's quick and strong,' my mentor says, almost shrugging in defeat. 'So, there's no weaknesses there.'

'She?'

Athena gives me a blank look. 'Yeah. That's what she refers to herself as.'

'Oh,' I say, cheeks flaming in my error. The goddess of wrestling, then. Or maybe it doesn't matter at all. I suppose the only thing that matters is me, her, and that match I've signed myself up for.

Dazed, and still impressed that Palaestra is perhaps the strongest woman I've ever seen, I'm led to the ring. As with Char's lessons, Palaestra faces me, and we each nod in recognition of the other, promising a fair fight. Our goal is to get the other across the circular line delineating the boundary of the ring, or else take them down to the ground and hold them there.

Athena stands at the side, and there's a small gaggle of soldiers— off duty from their usual guarding of Olympus— also watching. I see some coins moving hands, and I don't know whether I want to scowl or ask them what my odds are.

When the whistle blows, I barely catch Palaestra's movement.

It's neat. Her footwork is fast. She moves towards me with the strange, eerie grace of a predator coaxing its prey into submission. My ankles quiver as I step to the balls of my feet, ready to dip, to shift at any sign of movement.

I'm watching her arms when her feet sweep me.

I let out a pitiful yelp, taken my surprise. Snickers come from over the line. I don't have time to stop and hide my flaming cheeks; Palaestra is coming for the next move, and I roll backwards, pinwheeling.

As I'm scrambling, I nearly fly over that white line marking the boundary. I'm forced to run back in, and Palaestra's already waiting, ready to pounce. I manage to dodge and aim a well-placed jab towards her. She moves out of the way at the last second, my fist clipping her skin.

I hear her breathe out, as if in surprise.

But then, it might have been her getting ready.

The next thing I know, I'm flat out on the ground, pinned by an effective takedown, and Athena is shouting the winner.

After picking up some ice for my jaw, I trudge back with Athena to our rooms. I speculate that there's nothing less appealing to Ares than a girl that gets the crap kicked out of her.

'Surely that's not going to interest him?' I say, huffing. My ribs ache from where Palaestra had taken me down, using a mix of elbows and almost stern movement.

'Not only today, you numpty,' Athena laughs. 'He won't have even seen that match. No, he'll hear about you eventually. Then a while before he dignifies coming to watch. And then he'll want to fight you.'

I shake my head, mainly at the thought of a wrestling match with the god of war. It's a terrible plan. But it's the only one we've got.

Athena shows me where the baths are. 'They're communal,' she explains, waving a hand at the group of lesser gods and goddesses lounging in the steaming water. Her voice echoes in the dim cavern, the torches on the walls flickering in the water. I sink into the shallow end, self-conscious of my being naked, and leave Athena to make the small talk with the crowd. Palaestra, already soaking with the other lesser gods and goddesses, makes her way over to me to talk.

'Nice fight there today,' she says, 'I enjoyed it. We should do it again.'

I smile, despite my awareness of this strange world where I take naked baths with strangers.

'See you at the ring tomorrow afternoon? Same time?' Palaestra holds out a hand to confirm our deal.

I pause, and then suggest, 'If you'll give me some tips, too. Anything would be of help.'

And it would. If I have to win against Hecate, I need to be the strongest I can be.

My day ends when I flop into bed in my sterile white room, exhausted and bruised. Inside my chest, I feel a quiver in my heart, and I know that somewhere, Hadrian's still awake. That's how this bond works; rather than a certainty, I just know the outcome of his side of the link. I roll onto my side, eyes opening, brain whirring. Even though I'm tired, my active mind can't sleep.

A writing desk has appeared in the corner of the room. Puzzled, I swing my legs out of bed and pad across the room, wondering why, of all things, the room has started to mold to me with a desk, a quill, and ink.

I sit on the stool, and, after a few seconds of debating, shrug. I pick up the quill, and dip it into pearly blue ink the colour of the midnight sky.

Dear Hadrian...

I pause in my retelling. What would he want to know? Or rather, how much?

Today I began my life in Olympus. 

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It's a little late but HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Hope 2018 is treating you well thus far...

In January I got my first ever medical job, and it starts in August! 

lots of love

Lara