Kore

My hands turn red as they frantically slide against the walls of the hallways. I needed to find a hiding place and fast! Before the real Hera caught sight of me.

I turn another corner and then another before I see the familiar path that lead to Eris's room. She told me to leave her be, but I was desperate to conceal myself. Maybe I could hide in there while Zeus ushered the real Hera into the wedding venue.
If I just stayed out of sight, maybe I could still continue the rouge!

I burst through the doors and quickly shut them behind closed. "Eris, sorry for barging in again but I needed a place to hide" I still have my eyes on the door, making sure it did not open.
"I saw Zeus and he—"
My tongue locks as I saw the figure that greeted me.

"Aides ..." My heart freezes.He turns around to face me, watching me as I press my back against the door. He was standing in the middle of the room shirtless, in all his glory.

"Funny you show up before my own brother" he smirks while putting on his black robe. He was still in the process of getting ready.

"I can't seem to tie this back piece" He was struggling with the claps of his armor.

"Oh, you must tie it like this" I walk over to help him, adjusting his chest piece so it laid flat. "Zeus wore his in his first battle so I know how to make it stay" I clap each buckle, making sure it stayed put.

Aides looks at my fingers before lifting his gaze.
We locked eyes, each of us trying to interpret the thoughts of the other.

"I ..I would ask if you were nervous but ...I can see that you are not?" I attempt to make conversation. Anything to distract him about my unexpected appearance in his room.

He nods, turning to the mirror once again.
"Not nervous. Just worried about my kingdom and how she will run it"

"How? Aides she is only marrying you? You will still be king and rule your kingdom the way it should be"

"Eris will kill me tonight" he confesses, his eyes did not break from his reflection.

"What?" I walk towards him.

"She has retrieved the sword of Elesium. A sword that can kill even the most powerful deity"

"That sword was a myth?" He quickly turns his head to face me, wondering how I knew. "So... I thought..." I modify my confidence before he became suspicious.

I thought Eris would have discarded it by now? But it did make sense she would have it in her possession. After she transformed into my image to kill Aides, she had probably kept it for herself. Maybe that is why she was so calm with the circumstances surrounding her coronation.

"And yet, you are calm?" I curse, angered by his lack of urgency.

"Completely calm" he says. I fume, gathering my dress to confront her. Aides may have accepted defeat, but I for one rejected it.

"Hera" he grabs my waist turning me around, "Don't"

"Don't? Why not?" I whisper; tears began to settle in my eyes. I couldn't fathom the thought of loosing him, especially since we were just reunited.

"You would rather stand there, letting her bask in infamy and die, then go out there like a man and confront her!!!"

"If she does not kill me today, then tomorrow she will do it, and if not tomorrow then the next" He rubs my shoulders, comforting me as I stood to face him.

"And what about her?" I whisper, staring up into his soft green eyes.

"What about her?" He says, pushing his palm to my nape. He knew I was talking about Kore... I mean me.

"You would accept death with no hopes with reuniting with her?" We both understood the subject at hand, even without saying my name.

"No inkling of a last goodbye.
No letter of farewell?
No keep sake"

"She did what she did.
Her fate sealed her destiny Hera"

"And that's it! Just like that it's over!" My tears were unwavering.

He wiped them away, forcing my chin into his palm.

"Do you hate her that much that you would rather die a preventable death then face her? Without giving her so much as a goodbye!" I yell, tearing away from his hold. I walk across the room, holding my shoulders to soothe my spirit.

"And what about us?"

"What about us?" It was best to play dumb.

"Our kisses have been far more than.. intimate.
I am unsure of what the future holds so I rater say it now, then be silent and mute.
I am in love with you"

My heart shattered into a million pieces as I heard the confession.
Surely this was a rouge! A trick of the ear. Eris must have warped my reality.
I was dreaming! I must be.

"Aides, you are mad with grief" I correct him.

"No, I am not. I love you. I am in love with your essence. Your being. Your warmth. Your spirit" he walks to meet me from across the room, pulling me once again in his arms.

"You love me? A woman whose heart is tired to another man than reunite with your forgotten love?"

Aides lifted my chin, gently running a finger against my lips before taking me into his lips.
We kissed as of the world was against us.
Carelessly we embraced, fearless of our discovery by Zeus or even Eris.

Slowly, he pulled away, looking into my eyes before studying my lips.

"I love you Kore" he whispers, wiping the corners of my lip with care before looking into my eyes.

Author Note:
So Smart bae Aides knew!!!!
Look at our king using reverse psychology in order to trick Kore
And he said her name! Oh no! Remember what Zeus said. Once aides says her name, she will transform!
Let's see how this aides Kore's plan