In many ways, Athena could not be more of Zeus' opposite. But could her zealous dedication to order and her rejection of perfectly normal passions make her an equally intractable ruler? Maybe. But right now, anything seems better than Zeus' egocentric chaos.
"I would expect nothing less from the goddess of wisdom. You and I—we've discussed it enough times before: romantic love can inspire us to great deeds and acts of loyalty. Or it can turn us into fools and villains. Paris brought ruin upon Troy. I massacred the Trojans." His face wavers in the tense space between a wistful smile and a pained frown. "Love is a beautiful and terrible madness."
Achilles wonders if Athena was surprised by his wild grief at Patroclus' death. How many heroes have been completely undone by love and the loss thereof? He can't be the first she's seen.
He finally manages a weak smile and bumps his shoulder against Hermes'. "Your sister must find Lady Aphrodite completely baffling."
*groggily emerges from the maw of the holidays*
"I would expect nothing less from the goddess of wisdom. You and I—we've discussed it enough times before: romantic love can inspire us to great deeds and acts of loyalty. Or it can turn us into fools and villains. Paris brought ruin upon Troy. I massacred the Trojans." His face wavers in the tense space between a wistful smile and a pained frown. "Love is a beautiful and terrible madness."
Achilles wonders if Athena was surprised by his wild grief at Patroclus' death. How many heroes have been completely undone by love and the loss thereof? He can't be the first she's seen.
He finally manages a weak smile and bumps his shoulder against Hermes'. "Your sister must find Lady Aphrodite completely baffling."