JiminQueens2's blog

Phaethon smiled at Lord Ares as he filled the martial god’s cup.  Ares was his uncle, of course; he was related to all the gods at the table through his father, but for this feast, he was their humble servant, filling their cups, and hoping to get filled by them later.

Phaethon’s father had explained his duties very clearly.  “You must keep your aunts and uncles well-supplied with wine,” he had said.  “And if one of your uncles or your grandfather beckons you to leave the table with him, you must go.”

‘Must.”  Odd word for something Phaethon was willing, even eager, to do.  As he passed around the table, he found himself measuring the male gods in his mind, trying to decide which he hoped would “beckon” him.  His father, of course, was out of the question.  He also hoped brooding Hades, the lord of the underworld, would not see fit to summon him to his bed.  Perhaps lean, muscular Hermes?  Poseidon, lord of the sea?

Perhaps Lord Zeus himself?

Phaethon dreamed of sharing the bed of the lord of the gods.  But there was a significant obstacle in his way; when Lord Zeus decided to bring a youth instead of a maid to his chambers, it was always Ganymede.  Ganymede, the Trojan, not even a child of an Olympian, a jumped-up mortal with pretensions of demi-divinity.

Ganymede, who was moving to refill Lord Zeus’ cup.

*****

Lord Zeus drained his cup and held it out, seemingly negligently.  But the king of the gods knew very well that both Ganymede and Phaethon were close by, and he held his hand out so that it was slightly closer to Ganymede.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Phaethon’s face harden, and Apollo’s son could move quickly when he cared to.

Just as Ganymede reached him, wine bottle in his hands, Phaethon was there, shouldering the other youth aside.  “Your wine, Lord Zeus,” he purred – there was really no other word to describe it. 

“Thank you, Phaethon.”  Zeus smiled at the youth, but he kept an eye on Ganymede, who had a look of murderous fury on his face. Zeus’ smile grew broader.  This was going to be interesting.