Warm Hestia suddenly gave a playful smile and winked her rosy, lovely eyes at Zeus, easing the slightly stifled mood.
With a teasing note she went on, "Though you don't have much of a reputation left in matters like this, it's still better than losing a little more."
At this Zeus couldn't help but smile slightly, and he tightened his arms, deeply moved.
Warm Hestia always cares most for all the gods around her.
He drew his two beloved goddesses even more tightly into his embrace.
With a soft sigh he said, "You are my most beloved and most important goddesses. I only want to give you all that is best in me."
"I have flaws I cannot mend, and I've already made you suffer many grievances. How could I bear to let you suffer even a little more that you should never have had to bear?"
Hestia raised a hand and gently pressed a finger to Zeus's lips.
Her warm, soft fingertip upon his lips stopped the words he was about to say.
Upon the mild features of this embodiment of warm fire bloomed the gentlest smile. "Zeus, my love, to receive your love is already the greatest good fortune of my life. What grievance could there be to speak of?"
"You cannot know how flawless and radiant your great divinity is, how ardent and bright."
"To be loved by you—everything else in this world is no longer important to me."
Demeter smiled sweetly, kissed Zeus first, then turned and softly kissed Hestia's cheek.
She said warmly, "My dear Hestia, we are forever the closest of family. We will always be together. No god could be closer than we are."
Hestia nodded slightly, but then suddenly thought of another goddess, and her elegant brows knit a little.
She said softly, "Zeus, there is also Hera. She is the kindest and gentlest of goddesses, but lately she truly…"
Here Hestia cast Zeus a gentle glare and said, in a tone with very little force, "Zeus! You really have gone a bit too far lately! You should go and comfort her properly!"
"How can you bear to leave Hera so downcast for so long? That soft heart of hers is almost broken by you!"
This reminded Demeter. Her brows drew tight at once, and she pushed Zeus away a step.
Folding her arms, she gave a cold, sarcastic laugh and said, "His Majesty the God-King handles affairs day and night, endlessly busy. How could this supreme sovereign still remember us poor sisters?"
"As for heartbreak? Hah! A God-King so beloved by so many goddesses—how could he care about us sisters who are so insignificant?"
Zeus hastened to protest loudly, "My dear Demeter, as you said, we are forever the closest of lovers. How could I possibly forget you?"
"At any time, I will always love you, always hold you in my heart, always care most deeply for you."
"Hera—I all the more do not wish to hurt her heart."
"I went to the Underworld for matters of utmost importance. Come now, my loveliest treasure, I have a gift for you."
Demeter gave a coquettish hum. "Whatever gift you give, I won't just forgive you like that!"
Zeus smiled, pulled the half-resisting Demeter forcibly back into his arms, and coaxed her: "I give you a gift not to barter."
"But because I love you."
"Because I want to give you what is best—and most fitting—for you."
"All I wish to see is your smile of pure, heartfelt joy."
"My love, please lower all the defenses of your divinity."
Demeter rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance, yet she took Zeus's words very much to heart.
She truly could not bear to leave her beloved God-King's arms.
Facing Zeus's request, she did not hesitate in the least.
At once she bared her entire divine source without reserve.
Even if it meant laying everything about herself utterly defenseless before the God-King, she did not pause.
For she believed in Zeus absolutely, completely.
She was willing to give him everything of herself, wholly and without remainder.
Zeus saw it clearly. Within Demeter's vast divinity, the authorities of "Agriculture" and "Harvest" shone with boundless splendor.
These two great authorities, indispensable to every civilization, gleamed brilliantly within Demeter's divinity.
Such beauty had already surpassed the limits of all language and script.
Even the speech and script of gods could not capture the supreme beauty of these great laws.
These two great laws—possessed of infinite allure—made even Zeus sink into deep captivation and love without end.
Of all the world's civilizations and all wise beings, who would not honor "Agriculture," who would not desire "Harvest"?
Moreover, Zeus saw clearly the weighty, unhidden, profound love for himself entwined with his own divinity within his beloved goddess's divinity.
Zeus drew a deep breath and slowly calmed his stirred heart.
Then from his own divinity he drew Kronos's law signifying "Growth," as well as his own "Abundance" and "Lushness."
He also merged a portion of Iapetus's "Ever-Revolving Cycle" into the source of Demeter's law.
As for Kronos's authority of "Harvest," he kept that for himself, fusing it with the concepts of "Reaping" and "Severance" in his divinity.
In that instant, "Agriculture," "Harvest," "Growth," "Abundance," "Lushness," and part of "Cycle"—these six great law-authorities flowed together into one goddess!
The brightest river of life's vitality erupted at once, shining with a splendor to light the entire universe!
In an instant, the universe burst into bloom; a hundred plants flowered, ten thousand fruits weighed the boughs.
A sacred fragrance full of happiness and contentment drifted through every corner of the world.
It was the warm scent of wheat under the sun and the sweetness of fruit upon the vine; the soft warmth of stubble at dusk and the mellow fullness of new grain in wicker baskets.
It was the crispness of pods beaded with morning dew and the tender yielding of ripe apricots among the branches; the mountain yam's sweet smell in the evening breeze and the nut's rich aroma upon the woven tray.
This gentlest, sweetest, happiest harvest permeated the world upon the God-King's wind.
All beings everywhere turned toward Olympus and, in that moment, raised a voiceless praise from the depths of their souls:
Praise to you, Mother of all burgeoning life!
Praise to you, Mother of the earth's harvest!
(The name Demeter in ancient Greek originally means Mother of the Earth or Earth Mother, whereas Gaia means the earth itself.)
In this bestowal Demeter wholly perfected the authority she had already held in vast measure.
At this moment her divine essence received the most vital, grandest exaltation and expansion.
She became a great goddess whom the universe could never again be without.
From this moment, she became the greatest Earth Mother!
Praise the compassionate, merciful, generous, loving Earth Mother—Demeter!
All living things exist because of the Earth Mother!
When Demeter returned from her ascent in law, her emerald eyes brimmed with the endless breath of life like the springtime fields.
And within them shone an unhidden—indeed, not to be hidden—love as deep as the earth for Zeus.
Demeter's bearing had shifted a touch too; from maiden goddess she had grown three parts more mature, with a fuller air of ripeness.
Like a soft vine, she melted against Zeus's chest.
In a voice almost melting in itself, she said, "Zeus, my love… thank you, truly thank you. It is you who have made me whole."
Zeus stroked her smooth green hair with indulgent fondness and said softly, "My most beloved treasure, you never need say thank you to me."
"You have already given me the most precious gift. It is I who should give thanks."
"My love, your flawless and holy love is the greatest treasure of my life."
"Nothing I do can repay this sacred love you bear me."
"Mm—Zeus—"
The Earth Mother, moved past all restraint, could no longer control her love for Zeus, surging like a river breaking its banks.
She ardently offered to the God-King she loved the sweetest nectar.
So ardent and enraptured was her manner that even Hestia, standing by, could not help coughing several times in a row.
If she did not intervene, this impassioned Demeter truly would have, before her eyes, staged a reckless, blazing drama that belonged to Harvest alone.
Hestia felt no envy or jealousy at Zeus's indulgence toward Demeter. She only felt sincere joy for her.
For she was such a goddess—the warmest and most loving.
At this moment, Demeter paid no mind that her dear Hestia was standing right there.
If it had been another goddess, she would certainly not have behaved so—indeed would have been very displeased.
But if it was Hestia, she was willing to share her Zeus with her!
Still, Zeus cared for appearances.
At least, a little.
The God-King would not throw them away entirely.
Chiefly, for a first time, he wished each of his beloved goddesses to have the most perfect, happiest experience.
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