Poseidon approaches slowly. Hestia doesn’t turn, but her shoulders tighten. She senses him. 

She walks away, robes brushing the marble floor as she moves with purpose.

Hestia approaches Zeus who sits on his high throne.

She lowers herself to one knee at the base of the dais. 

Nestled deep within a mountainous grove, the cave where Poseidon keeps Aphrodite is hidden beneath a canopy of crimson and violet maple leaves, dusted with snow. The stone walls rise high and jagged, partially enclosing a serene, almost sacred space lit by soft golden torches.

At the center, a bed carved from polished stone is draped with furs and white linen, creating an unexpected comfort amid the cold. Cascading green vines fall like curtains from above, forming a natural veil of privacy and seclusion. Small flame-lit sconces dot the walls, their flickers reflecting in the snow-covered ground, casting a warm glow that contrasts the bitter chill outside.

Despite its isolation, the cave has a dreamlike quality — quiet, intimate, and hauntingly beautiful. Here, Aphrodite sits holding her child, Eros, the soft glow catching the gold of her sandals. Poseidon, draped in flowing white robes, arrives in silence, the weight of his loneliness heavy in the still air.

Frustrated and seething with unresolved anger, Poseidon goes to check on Aphrodite. He still hasn’t returned home to Libya — not since his bitter fight with her.

Though he knows she had every reason to be jealous, his pride remains too great to let him apologize or seek reconciliation.

But as the days stretch on, the god of the sea begins to feel the weight of solitude. Loneliness gnaws at him like a tide that never recedes.

Craving warmth and companionship, he finds himself drawn to Aphrodite’s presence more than ever. Aphrodite was likewise feeling lonely after leaving Ares behind.

How are you and the baby?

Aphrodite is silent.

What's wrong? 

Aphrodite tries to smile, but the weight behind her eyes betrays her.
The corners of her lips lift, but only for a moment—grief seeps through the cracks.

I just feel so lost and alone right now.

She rises quietly, gently setting Eros down on a bed of furs. A trembling breath escapes her before the tears do. Her sorrow is soft at first, then uncontainable.

Poseidon draws near. He holds her and pulls her closer, but with a warmth that blurs the line between comfort and desire. His lips find hers, slow and deliberate.