The Big Three

The first to arrive at the gates were the boisterous Hippokampai, followed by the piercing sounds of the earth above quaking. Despite his pompous entrance, this guest was far from arriving on time. In fact, none of the brothers arrived to dinner on time. 

How does one who is hosting a dinner party manage to not arrive on time? 

When you are bestowed the position as leader of the underworld, that is how. 

Centuries of planning have gone into this dinner party. Years of time and energy have been devoted to finding the perfect caterers, cleaning every inch of the under realm, and of course coming up with the perfect plan to convince siblings who haven’t spoken to each other in millenniums to arrive. 

The first guest stepped of his chariot and started towards the gate entrance, Poseidon was dismayed to see a,

‘LEAVE ALL WEAPONS HERE!’’  sign at the gate entrance.

He was even more stunned to see Hades’s beloved helmet displayed and mounted beneath the sign. Suspicious of his brother's actions and request, Poseidon felt inclined to turn his back and leave. However as he headed back towards his chariot, he noticed the silhouette of a sceptre and lighting bolt before him. 

Sure enough, it was his older brother just as late, cynical, and ill prepared as he was.

“Leaving so soon, brother?” Zeus condescendingly asked in a stentorian tone.  

“You come over armed,” Poseidon says as he gestures to the sign behind him. 

Zeus continues towards the gate and scoffs at the sign Hades has put out. Then without hesitation, Zeus places both his sceptre and bolt in a barrel beneath the sign.

“Oh brother, have you yet learned to master your strengths and powers away from the use of your Trident?” Zeus condescendingly asks.

Aggravated and annoyed with his brother’s vain and boastful demeanor, Poseidon immediately followed in releasing his Trident to disprove his brother's patronizing comments. 

“Spending a lot of time with narcissus I assume?” Poseidon jokingly says. 

Zeus, unfazed and unintimidated by any of his siblings, just smiles and laughs before pulling his brother in for what seemed like an innocent hug. 

The two then playfully wrestle and banter before coming to a halt at the sight of the feast displayed on the dining room table. The table was covered with the most extravagant of dishes and meals favored by the Gods. A lekane topped with roast beef, a skypho filled with stew, a phiale serving lamb chops, and kylix for drinking wine. The only thing missing was their brother, the host of the party.

“Is Hades not here? How is he late to his own dinner party?” Zeus frustratingly asks

“This is so like him. I was right to want to turn around and leave,” says Poseidon.

As the two head back towards the gate to leave, they are confronted with the three headed beast Cerberus. Cerberus filled with excitement bounds forward knocking down both Gods on to their backs. 

“Boys, boys, boys. Leaving so soon? I have brought dessert!” Hades gleefully says while gesturing to the phiale of loukoumades from their favorite earth bound deli. 

“You know, Hades. With the time and effort you put into convincing us to come down here, the least you could have done was be on time,”  says Poseidon. 

“You know, with how many years I have been caretaker of the underworld, you would think my brothers understood  how time consuming my role is,” Hades quips. “But no more of that now, let us sit, let us feast”. 

“So Hades, what is this nonsense you speak of in your letters about Persephone not wanting to return to earth for spring? Is what you say true brother? If so, a dinner is no solution to our problem,” Zeus argues.

“Mmm. What? Oh, yes!” Hades stumbles. “No need to fret now brother. No problem is too large for a family not to enjoy one dinner together.”

Hades had planned to sway his brothers to enjoy the feast he had prepared before revealing the true nature of their gathering.

It has been thousands of years since the initial drawing has been made which bestowed Hades the position as ruler of the Underworld. Since the initial drawing, misinterpretation and misconceived judgment has drastically shaped Hades reputation among mortals. Little do they know that the results of the drawing would determine the powers and characteristics each sibling would develop.  Hades longed to alter the connotation associated with both his name and position. 

Hades longed to correct the misconceived idea that he is the God of Death. He wanted mortals to know that it is Thanatos they should fear. He yearned to correct mortals and reveal how his role as ruler of the underworld merely bestows him the position as caretaker and peace keeper of the under realm. He aimed to reveal how not all of the under realm is designed for damned souls. No one discusses the Elysian Fields, which was designed for heroes who have passed. Hades just no longer wished to be associated with darkness and evil. He wanted the opportunity to sit on Mount Olympus with the other 11 Gods as supreme leader and ruler of Gods. But Hades' plans ran deeper than him being ruler of the Gods.

“Let’s get on with this Hades! We all have realms to tend to!” cried Poseidon.

Hades takes a stand, reaches into his cloak, pulls out a crumpled piece of paper and continues to clear his throat.

“Ahem. I know the letter I sent suggested that there was disorder among the underworld and earth due to Persephone’s absence-” 

Poseidon quickie interrupts Hades.

“Suggested?” Your letter claimed you feared the earthly results that would arise from Persephone’s absence! That you needed us brother to solve your problem!”

Hades continues, ignoring Poseidon's cries. 

“Ahem- I have invited you my dear brothers to enjoy this feast before discussing an issue and concern of the realms,” Hades states. 

“What issue?” Zeus asks.

“I have gathered you here to discuss the potential of hosting a redraw,” Hades responds.

“A redraw for what?” asks Zeus.

“For the realms,” Poseidon clarifies without surety. 

Zeus immediately turns to Hades with the most bewildered and disbelief expression on his face. 

Hades smirks.

Zeus immediately bolts up ready to storm out before Poseidons sends out a leeching arm reeling his brother back into his chair.

“We have come all this way. Let's hear our dear old brother out,” Poseidon suggests.

“What is with your capricious change of heart? When I arrived you were already headed on your way out,” Zeus retorts.

“Boys, boys! Please!” cries Hades. “Let us not argue. Are we not the rulers of order within our realms? Let us continue this conversation with a civilized debate.”

Hades is a master at manipulating his brothers. Despite their continual dedication to misunderstanding him, Hades spent centuries analyzing and understanding them. Despite holding the stigma as the power hungry sibling always planning a takeover, it is Poseidon who is a megalomaniac with a quarreling personality. And despite Zeus's reputation as the almighty supreme leader of the Gods, he is not all powerful or omniscient. Hades had succeeded at instigating Poseidon’s greed for expanding power and Zeus’s insecurity of not being an all knowing God holding the potential to ruin his reputation. 

“You forget yourself brother. It was Mother who chose me! Without me, there are no Greek Gods. The Titans would have ruled for eternity!” claimed Zeus.

Poseidon immediately rolls his eyes and Hades mocks Zeus’s cries. 

“You have been singing the same old stories for thousands of centuries brother! Always expecting sorrow and pity!” Poseidon argues. 

“Because it is my birth right!I spent years alone in preparation to defeat our father and save all of you! Why should I let the evil God of the underworld take a chance at my throne? He has never even been to Mount Olympus, how can you go on to suggest he runs it?” Zeus states. 

“No! It is you who forgets yourself brother! Hades declares. “You forget that I did not ask for this! It was the initial drawing that determined my fate as leader of the under realm and the unanticipated responsibilities that impeded me from visiting Olympus. That it was the drawing that determined all of our positions and powers”.

“And what have you done brother to deserve the position as leader of the Gods?” Zeus asked. 

“What have you done Zeus besides cheat on your wife and father multiple children?” Poseidon interrupted.

“I have fathered many heroes, legendary gods and goddesses of Greek lineage. The most he has done was kidnap a woman which resulted in the creation of spring, ” Zeus replies.

“You offered me your daughter’s hand in marriage!” Hades cries.

“Yes, but no one told you to kidnap her once she denied you!” says Zeus. And what? I imagine you want a chance at the throne to give your fish friends a chance at the top of the food chain?  Zeus mockingly asks Poseidon. 

“In fact brother, I would not mind taking a chance at your throne. You are to be keeping order and justice among the mortal realm and yet humans have lost their ways when it comes to maintaining the earth and oceans,” Poseidon replies.

“Oh please. Coming from the man who broke off an entire piece of the island Konos during an anger tantrum, says Zeus. 

“You have also yet learned to manage your emotions brother. Your temper tantrums have caused more weather fluctuations than human activities have in the years,” Poseidon argues.

“Like I have mentioned before my dear brothers. It is my birth right, I defeated our father and am now to be the only supreme leader of the Gods.” Zeus restates.

“You are no better than our father, swallowing your own wife in fear and insecurity of your own weaknesses,” says Hades.

“At least my marriage is not the result of a failed kidnapping and contract with my mother in law!” shouts Zeus.

“That’s enough!” a female voice cries just from outside the gates.

 Seen entering the gates is an eerie dark haired woman clothed in a long black robe. Behind her is a pack of black dogs far smaller yet far more terrifying than Cerberus, even he retreated to his den in fear. 

“Hecate,” whispers Zeus. “What brings you to this disaster of a dinner party my brother has hosted?”

“Your incompetence is what drives me here Zeus” states Hecate. “As supreme leader or the Gods and justice, you are to maintain order among the other Gods. That includes your brothers.. Yet here you are, like mortal school children, bantering to be first in line.” 

“There is no disorder and there will be no redrawing. I have my siblings under control!” Zeus responds. 

“The mere fact that your siblings have come forth requesting a redraw proves that there is disorder within the realms,” Hecate retorts.

“So what is it that you suggest?” asks Zeus. 

“There is only one option but to host a redraw,” Hecate responds. 

“You can not be serious?” Zeus asks in disbelief.

“Zeus is it not you who calls upon me, when man offers a sacrifice or is in need of a favor? Then you should trust me when I say a redraw is the only viable option in order to maintain order in the realms,” Hecate clarifies. “There is just one condition.”

“And what is that?” asks Zeus.

“If I should correctly guess the results of the drawing, then it is I who will be named supreme leader of the Gods and take my place on Mount Olympus,” answers Hecate.

Poseidon scoffs and rolls his eyes. Hades, frozen in disbelief, is blankly staring at the disaster of a dinner party unravelling in front of him. For Hades true reason for being tardy was because he was purchasing a spell from Hecate that would guarantee he received  the larger piece in the drawing.

“I’m sorry, but who are you?” Poseidon rudely asks. 

“Who am I? I am the goddess man depends on for war, for I grant glory and victory. I am the goddess of daily blessings for I am the overseer of the young and am responsible for responding to mortal sacrifices and wishes. I am surprised you have yet to become familiar with me Poseidon, for I give or take catch in the seas. For without me there would not be Spring. For it is I who reunited Persephone with Demeter after someone attempted to kidnap her. Now we can either continue with the redraw or I can accept power on each of the realms as it is my right,” Hecate explains.

“And what is that makes you believe you can rule not one but all of the realms?” Poseidon asks.

“I am the Titanness goddess of the crossroads. I received power of the heavens, earth, and underworld from my mother Asteria and father Perseus. I possess powers compatible with each realm, unlike those bestowed to you which are limited to the realm and weapons received during the initial drawing.

“The power of the Titans rule is no longer significant since the year my siblings and I defeated them in war,” claims Poseidon. 

“Actually…”  says Zeus. “I have gifted her with the torches to the crossroads and rewarded her a piece of each realm as I honored her powerful gifts above all other goddesses”. 

“So what does that mean?” Poseidon angrily asks. 

“That she has just as much of a right to rule over the realms just as much as we do, if not more,” answers Hades. 

“So shall we continue with a redraw?” asks Hecate.

Zeus is shocked and fears his days as the all-powerful supreme God of Gods will be coming to an end, only to be in the hands of one of his brothers. Poseidon, eager to have a shot at the throne, is imagining what his first humanitarian efforts as leader of mortals will be. Probably coral restoration efforts. Hades, suspicious of Hecate’s arrival and plans, still frozen in disbelief.

Hecate proceeds to the table and picks up a bell krater.

“I presume this is where you have placed the scrolls for the redraw?” asks Hecate.

Hades nods. Hecate proceeds to go around the table asking each sibling to draw one scroll. Hades fears Hecate has respelled the krater, reversing the spell he set ensuring he would draw the largest scroll. Once she has gone to each sibling Poseidon asks,

“So any guesses on what the new results are?”.

“I predict the results are as they should be. Leaving you all in the same realms as the initial drawing intended,” Hecate responds.

Poseidon scoffs. Hades grins as he can tell his scroll is already far larger than those of his siblings. And Zeus is shaking in his seat, giving each of his siblings a stare down.

“You may proceed to measure the results,” says Hecate.

As the brothers begin to lift their scrolls from under their table, Zeus and Poseidon quickly notice how far larger Hades scroll appears to be. Zeus's face grows red. Poseidon’s veins are seen piercing through the side of his face. Hades' grin grows wide and more sinningly, amazed at how successful his dinner plans have turned out. Before Poseidon sends his fists through the table, he notices an illusion happening before his eyes. It appears that Hades’s scroll is getting smaller the closer it gets to Zeus’s and Poseidon’s scrolls. Zeus is the last to notice this unravel before him, as the fear of losing his throne has taken his sight. Hades begins to squeal in anger and frustration as he notices what is happening. Once each scroll is side by side, it can be seen that Zeus’s scroll is the largest, Hades’s scroll is the shortest, and Poseidon scroll is not only somewhere in the middle, but has also turned ocean blue. Flames are seen sprouting from Hades’s head, right before he clears the dining table in a fit.

“You! You did this! You promised that I would have the largest pick in the draw!” Shouts Hades.

“And that is what happened. You picked the largest scroll. I made no promise that it would prove to be larger when compared to either of your brothers’ scrolls. Zeus, awoken from his frozen state, looks towards Hecate and asks,

“So that’s it? The realms are under each of our ruling, as it has and should be?” asks Zeus. 

“Not exactly,” replies Hecate.

“We made a deal, oh mighty one,” Poseidon sarcastically remarks. 

“That can’t be true. But you predicted the results would be the same as the initial drawing, that has to be of significance,”  begs Zeus.

“Yes, that she is the omniscient, all knowing God you so desire to be” states Poseidon. 

Before Zeus can turn to beg Hecate for his place on the throne, she is seen headed towards the gate. Hades, in his chair, has flames enraging from his palms and scalp. Poseidon, laughing at his own pain, is in disbelief at how many left turns this dinner party has taken. He can not help but think, what would have happened if he had just left. Zeus, powerless in his chair, stares at Hecate as she makes her way out. Zeus watches as Hecate stops at the gates and gathers all of his siblings' treasured weapons. First she takes Poseidon’s trident, analyzing it closely before throwing it across her back. Next she is seen taking Zeus’s sceptre and holding it near her, before she throws his bolt to one of her wild dogs. Lastly, she is seen putting on Hades’s infamous Helmet. After that moment, all that will be seen of Hecate would be a black floating robe being followed by a pack of wild dogs and the legacy she leaves among the realms.