We went to Olympus to see Jason. He had a lot on his plate. And to manage the Olympians is giving him a migraine. And Zeus is silent. This was fishy.
"Isn't it a little strange that Zeus is mute the whole time?", I asked them.
"For how long?", Hari asked.
"For more than six months.", Percy replied.
"Shit.", Hari cursed.
"What?", Percy asked.
"Oh! Come on Percy!! You know Zeus. If he is silent for so long..."
"Then he is planning something.", I completed for Hari. This was a serious issue.
"Which gods support Zeus?", Hari asked.
"Mostly his children and Hera. Hera, Dionysus and Ares. Sometimes Artemis. Sometimes Apollo. But they could be convinced otherwise.", I explained.
"Let us go to Jason immediately.", Percy said. We rushed to Jason's Palace, which he temporarily occupied.
"Jason! Jason!!", Percy shouted aloud. If it was any other god, they would have smitten him. But this was Jason. His bro. Their bromance was well known in the camp. After a few seconds, Jason opened the door with a confused expression on his face.
"What is the matter? Why are you here?", he asked, the last question pointed towards Hari with venom. He still could not get over Thalia's... incident. Until the actual Culprit is caught, things would not be smooth sailing between the two.
"Where is Zeus?", Hari asked.
"Why? What with Zeus?", Jason asked.
"Jason! You of all should know!", I chided. "You know how Paranoid and proud Zeus is. And you really made his paranoia of losing his throne come true. Instead of attacking you and trying to kill you, why is he silent the whole time?", I asked.
"Why is it necessary?", Jason asked confused.
"Oh! Jason! Can't you see. He is planning something. Else he would be vocal how he was the better king and you are not the king, blah blah blah or use his weapons to attack you or even plot your so-called assassination, etc. etc. etc.", I rambled.
"Look who is paranoid.", Jason pointed out. Percy Snickered. I blushed.
"That is not the point. My worry is that Zeus is planning something. I don't want him to avenge you by helping the enemy. That would be disastrous.", Percy said. In realty, it was Hari's concerns. But knowing Jason's hate towards Hari, he would never listen to him. Instead, Jason could even defend Zeus. He was his son after all.
"Okay. We should see Hera.", Jason said. We nodded and went to Hera's palace. It was beautiful and white, with Peacocks adorning its pillars. I was fidgety. Who could convince Hera? She had a grudge against all three of us. Or the other way around.
"Hera?!", Jason asked in a tone of authority. I don't know how awkward was it for him to talk authoritatively to his step-mother, who is like the model evil step-mother.
After a minute of silence, Hera flashed in, wearing a scowl.
"Hera! Where is Father Zeus?", Jason asked.
"Why does it matter?", she asked defiantly. Yep! They are definitely hiding something.
"We want to ensure that you do not, in the name of revenge, do something rash and unwise.", Jason said firmly. I still remembered that day in Greece. The first time he said unwise, he was in danger of being smitten. More than three years passed. And many things changed.
"What gives you that impression?", she asked.
"His paranoia is known to the whole world.", Hari snapped out of nowhere. Zeus had really tested Hari's limits.
Hera's eyes flashed guiltily for a moment before regaining composure. "He is not dumb to side with the enemy.", she said.
"Paranoia and Pride makes any sane person insane; any wise person unwise. And Zeus has these two qualities in abundance." Hari countered.
"I assure you that he will not side with the enemy.", she said.
"He better be. Where is he?", Hari demanded.
Jason was about to open his mouth when I signaled him to keep quiet. Let Hari do the talking.
"In the palace. Come in.", she said tentatively. We entered the palace, basking in its beauty and elegance.
"Zeus! We have a visitor.", she said loudly. No response. "Zeus!"
"Where is he?", Hari asked dangerously. Hera started to stutter.
"It is better to spill out the truth Hera.", Hari said gently, all of a sudden, "Covering a crime with lies will increase the quantum of punishment and Condemnation."
"I have no Idea what are you saying.", she said. But she looked taken aback.
"I know your Story Hera. You are a Sati. And in our pantheon, Sati is a very powerful being. It signifies women power. You are powerful than you know, Hera.", Hari said softly. Hera looked at him in a new light.
"Sorry? Who is Sati? Why am I a Sati? Is it good? Or bad?", Hera asked curiously.
"Sati was the First Avatar of Maa Shakti. For us, she is the very definition of energy. The source of all energy. Shiva and Shakti are complementary beings and concepts. Without Shiva, there is no Shakti. Without Shakti, there is no Shiva. Just like you and Zeus. Without Zeus, there is no Hera. Without Hera, there is no Zeus.
Sati was the very definition of How a lady should be. Strong, independent, yet loyal to your husband. Sati's father, Daksha was a devotee of Vishnu and hated Shiva. So, he was majorly pissed off when his daughter Sati married Lord Shiva.
To insult Lord Shiva, Daksha deliberately ignored to Invite Lord Shiva to a big ritual. Yajnya. But he invited Sati because she was his daughter. Sati had a quarrel with Shiva. Shiva saying that Wife should be loyal to Husband and never indulge in activities that harm his honor. While Sati countering that just because a woman is utmost loyal to the Husband, does not mean she should sever ties with her birth family. This quarrel turned nasty and Sati stormed out of their house in Kailash; defied Shiva's orders and went to her Father's Ritual.", Hari said and took a deep breath. Percy and Hera were glued to his lips, hearing every single word. Jason on the other hand, was searching the palace for Zeus. Good thinking Jason.
"At the ritual, Daksha insulted Lord Shiva in front of Sati. Sati was shocked and demanded her father to apologize. When he never budged, Sati, vowed to upkeep the honor of her Husband, plunged herself into the Ritual Fire, immolating herself.", Hari said.
"What?", Hera asked in shock.
"Yes. She was utmost loyal to her Husband. Hence she sacrificed herself to the fire. And since, any Sati, woman who is very loyal to her husband and unwavering to him have a lot of respect and power. Even Sita was a Sati. When she was kidnapped by Ravana, her Sati quality, her unwavering loyalty towards her Husband Shri Ram protected her from Ravana, who tried to make her his own. Even the Devas bow down to Sati. Even Lord Vishnu himself had to bear a curse given by a Sati. Shaaligraam is the result of this curse.", Hari explained and then proceeded to recite the Story of Tulsi and Shankhachur.
(A/N: The story of the Shaaligraam is fascinating. Just type in Google 'The legend of Shaaligraam' and the story would come. Even in Wikipedia. Since Hindu Mythology has many variations, some stories replace Shankhachur and Tulsi with Jalandhar and Vrinda. But the story largely remain the same.)
"Why are you telling me all of this? If I am the Sati as you say, then I am the one who is facing the brunt. I am like the animal to be sacrificed. What is the use of being a Sati?", Hera asked.
"The first Story, where Sati immolates herself, did you know what happened after? Lord Shiva became so enraged that he danced the Taandav, the dance of Destruction. But on losing Sati, he lost his sanity and will to live. He, like an insane person, carried her corpse with him around, unwilling to accept the fact that she has died. This completely destroyed the cosmic balance.
My point is, neither you, nor Zeus understands your role in his life. He takes you for Granted. The day you leave him totally, he would feel your absence, for without you, he would be incomplete. His powers, his command, everything stems from you. You are his power. You can influence him. You haven't till date, but you can now. You were his only support when all the gods were against him at Chaos's realm. Or so did Annabeth say. Had you not supported him, what do you think would happen to him?", Hari asked.
"So, should I start to dominate him?", Hera asked.
"No. But be firm. You should support Zeus; but also, be firm enough to reform him. And only you can do it Hera. What Rhea cannot do, only you can do. His powers stem from your unwavering loyalty. Break it, and even if he becomes the Old Zeus, he would never be the same. His powers would never be the same. All because of you. His support and source of energy.", Hari said soothingly.
"Thank You. I never felt this wanted.", Hera said.
"You are like a house wife, Hera. Taken for Granted. But when you are missing, the household is affected the worst. The house would never be the same again. Just remind him what the house feels like without you. It will take time, but change will surely happen; all for the good.", Hari said and greeted her.
"I will ensure that Zeus does not do something rash.", Hera said firmly.
"And there is still time to rectify.", Hari said. Hera nodded and flashed away.
"Well! That was some persuasion.", Percy exclaimed.
"Where is Jason?", I asked.
"Here. I searched for Zeus. But not here. So, what did I miss?", he asked. I recounted everything.
"Can we trust Hera?", Jason asked.
"I appealed to her conscience. If she has one, she would help us.", Hari said, "Let us go, we got a war to plan.