The Owl of Athena

I reclined back against the ornate stone pillars that cornered my wide balcony, and surveyed the Half-God as he knelt before me. Half brother or not, to see his still form bowed to me sent a thrill of excitement down my spine. His question; a beg for my help, hung in the air between them. I drew it out, savoured it.

The silence stretched on, a sweet, sweet ode to the power I held.

How utterly delicious.

“What you ask for, brother,” I said finally, “that is no small request.”

Perseus raised his eyes to me. “There is no other I can turn to, sister,” he replied quietly, “Please, Athena, help me.”

I lounged lazily, considering his request. Help my half-brother defeat Medusa, the greatest Gorgon there was. The most powerful by far. Well, I thought with amusement, this was a twist in the very fabrics of Fate. I should know how powerful Medusa was, I created her in the first place.

I let my mind wander back to that fateful day so many years ago. Medusa, a human woman then, a lowly, unremarkable mortal, had dared to desecrate the sanctimony of a temple dedicated to me. The lewd act performed was so indescribably disrespectful it had rendered me utterly wrathful. What she was now, the deadliest of all Gorgons, was the result of my fury; the fury of the Goddess of War. No one had dared desecrate a temple of mine since.

Medusa had spent the last century living as the embodiment of my anger. A winged beast with hair of snakes, and eyes that could end life. A truly terrifying being.

And yet...I tapped my fingers idly against the sun warmed stone of my balcony railings. I suppose in a way Medusa was quite beautiful now, in her absolute indestructibility. In her power to turn men to stone. Perhaps one of my best creations, my best playthings yet. A glimmer of satisfaction stole through me at the thought.

How darkly ironic, now, that I was being asked to help destroy the very creature I had created. I could, I suppose. If I felt like it. I could always create another Medusa. But I did like this one so.

Perseus cleared his throat, breaking through my musings to bring me back to the present day. Irritated at the disruption, I felt my eyes narrow at him.

“I will not help you end Medusa,” I decided. I examined my nails. "You may leave now."

Perseus began to rise. “Athena, please. She is a monster, she needs to be destroyed. She is terrorising villages and-"

Perseus forgets himself. I shot to my feet. “Leave, now,” I hissed, striding across the tiles to the Half-God, “go, before I destroy you.”

Perseus scrambled back, slipping across the gleaming white tiles away from me. “Please, listen to me,” he beseeched, “Athena, Medusa is causing mayhem. I need to find a way to end her, and I need your help."

"You cannot defeat her."

"Then I will die trying, and all the Gods will know that you refused to aid when I called on your for help."

My lips curled back in a feral expression. The very birds of the palace seemed to stop singing, and Perseus paled. I bared my teeth at him, “get out.”

He hurriedly obliged. Left alone once again, I retreated back to the sunlit balcony and leant my back against the great marble pillars. I felt the anger begin to cool within me, a slumbering beast curling back to asleep in my very core. Despite the insult from Perseus, I found my mind wondering over our discussion. One thought troubled me above all else: if Perseus really tried, could Medusa be defeated? Had I created an imperfect creature?

I felt a frown furrow my brow. Surely not.

I perched back up on the balcony railings, my favourite spot to ponder. How could a Half-God defeat the Gorgon? My Gorgon? There was no way…

Was there?

I closed my eyes, and considered the creature I had created, running my mind’s eye over every inch of the Gorgon. I do not know how long I sat there, silent, still as a statue. Until a soft flapping of wings, and a cool breeze against my cheek had my eyes snapping open. The sun was much lower in the sky, almost setting. Without moving, my eyes slid sideways.

Noctua sat perched on the railing at the centre of the balcony, her great wings tucked in tightly, observing me. Her white feathers, flecked with gold and softest brown, gleamed like precious stones in the setting sun. Her large eyes, onyx and gold, regarded me quietly. Her presence brought a sense of calm to my churning mind, and I turned to face my most trusted advisor. The symbol of my Wisdom.

Your brother came to see you today, the owl’s voice, old and young at the same time, spoke softly into my mind, through a bond only the two of us held.

Half brother, I corrected.

Noctua’s head tilted to one side, waiting. I hopped off my perch, and strode to stand beside her, leaning my forearms against the pale railings. Together we stared out at the snow-capped peaks surrounding my Mount Olympus home, rising up like jagged teeth into the darkening sky.

But yes, I sent back eventually, Perseus was here.

He wanted your help, but you sent him away. I turned to look sharply at her, and found those all-knowing owl eyes staring back at me. Not a question, or a judgement, simply a statement of the truth. Why?

He wanted to destroy my creation.

You feel affection for the Gorgon?

She is one of my greatest creations. I could hear the pride in my mind-voice. Noctua heard it too, and her white-feathered head tilted to one side.

Then it is because of hubris, that you sent him away?

I held back a hiss. She is mine, Noctua. She shall only be destroyed when I want her destroyed.

Is the pride of creating a Gorgon more favourable than being the Goddess who blessed Greece’s newest hero?

I - what? I paused. I stared out at the mountains, considering her words carefully. After a few moments I replied, the people of Greece already worship me. I have no need to assist a half-breed.

I remembered too late that Noctua despised that term. The barn owl’s eyes flashed, and her wings snapped out, beating the air angrily. Once, twice, thrice. Her beak, sharp enough to shred even a Goddess’s skin, clicked angrily. I took half a step backwards before I could catch myself. I drew myself to a stand still. Without moving a single feather on her great body, Noctua swiveled her head and fixed those glowing ember eyes on me, glaring. As though I were the half-breed, not Greece’s favourite Goddess.

As she pinned me with that unblinking stare, she reminded me of exactly who she was. Of her power. I may unquestionably be the Goddess of War, but without Noctua I could not be the Goddess of Wisdom. She was my Wisdom. And when she had things to say, it was always better to listen. Even with indignation curling in the pit of my stomach.

I drew a long breath in, even if I did want to help, there is no way Perseus could defeat her. She is too powerful. He would never survive.

Two, three heartbeats of silence. Would she not respond? Had I truly angered her? A follow apprehension replaced the indignation curling through me.

But then, are you certain of this?

I regarded the owl for a quiet moment, and she stared back, unblinking. Those depthless golden-black eyes held my own, as unreadable as always. The silence stretched on for another five, six heart beats. Finally, I relented. What do you know, that I do not?

I felt Noctua’s amusement. A great many things, young one.

Despite my earlier irritation, I felt my lips into a reluctant smile. Only Noctua could call a Goddess, a daughter of Zeus himself young. Others would be struck down for such insolence.

Tell me more, I said. Not a request, but not quite an order either.

Satisfied, Noctua tucked her wings in tightly. We regarded each other over the distance.

Perseus is popular, she sent through the bond.

I pushed down my flicker of irritation, so?

So, you are loved Athena, but so is he. Perhaps equally so.

It became a lot harder to hide the irritation.

She sensed it, and clicked her beak impatiently. Look further than your pride Athena. There is a chance here, child, to become even more loved.

Oh? If I had been an animal, my ears would have pricked. I’m listening.

Perseus has come to you for help, Noctua spoke into my mind. He has shown that even he, a hero, needs your counsel. You have been presented with an opportunity here, one which could be used to your advantage.

She had a point. But reluctant to say anything just yet, I watched her silently. Noctua sidled along the balcony railings, settling down closer to my side.

Goddess Athena, Helper of Heroes, she whispered into my mind. Her voice was a carress to my thoughts. Strong enough to Unmake something she Made. Selfless enough to destroy her very own pet, to protect the people of Greece. Her people.

Oh. Oh.

She had a point. I'd been looking at it all wrong. It wasn't about helping about my Half-God brother. It was about what I could do for the people of Greece. But also...What I could do for me. An opportunity to become even more beloved, even more revered. A story like this would make a grand tale, a tale told for millenia to come. A shiver of delight ran down my spine.

What kind of Goddess would not take this chance?

Here I could be the saviour; the only way Medusa could be defeated. What was Made, I could Unmake. What I Made, I could Unmake. What greater power is there, than to create a monster, and then kill it?

If I missed her, I could always just create another Medusa. If I felt like it. After all, there was no shortage of mortal females to toy with. Or …

Or I could just kill Perseus? Then this wouldn’t be an issue at all. No other God or Half-God would have the impudence to approach me like he did, asking that I help him destroy my own creation. Now that was something to ponder. Why kill my favourite beast, when one could wipe out a Half-God?

I didn’t need to look at Noctua to feel the disapproval down our bond.

Your solution to all problems cannot be to kill your siblings.

Why not? I am the Goddess of War.

And I am your Wisdom. This is your half-brother, Athena.

I suppose Father wouldn’t be pleased.

No, Athena, he would not.

I made a face into the wind.

How can Medusa be defeated? I asked, I made her so strong. If he even looks at her he will be turned to stone.

Noctua clicked her beak at me. All those who meet her gaze turn to stone, correct?

That is correct.

So were Medusa to gaze into her own reflection, she too, would perish?

My heart plummeting caught me by surprise. "Yes," I whispered out loud.

Then you must give Perseus your sacred mirror, and he will defeat her. You will be hailed as the greatest Goddess.

The helper of the heroes.

The Goddess for the people of all Greece.

I closed my eyes. What kind of a Goddess would I be, if I did not take this opportunity? Without opening my eyes, I called for my servants to summon Perseus for the next morning.

Noctua sidled closer to me, and for the first time ever, she pressed the top of the soft feathered head against me. My eyes snapped open in surprise.

You can always create another Gorgon, Noctua spoke softly to me. But this one you need to farewell.

I nodded silently. Without warning, Medusa's mortal face flashed before my eyes. She had been such a young, beautiful woman. What kind of a life would she have lead?

I turned and walked silently into my bed room, shutting the balcony doors. Sleep took a long time to find me that night.

Perseus slayed Medusa four days later.