18 The Banquet (End)

Love makes fools of us all, big and little.

— William Makepeace Thackeray

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It was the big bang.

As the inconceivable light of the Big Bang swept them away like a cosmic tsunami at a speed zillions of times faster than light, Hypnos drew the dazed Hera into his arms. They were catapulted into a burgeoning universe that was being created by the incessant energies unleashed by the Big Bang.

The ruthless hand of light chased darkness into hiding in the nooks and crannies of the universe. The last unwilling scream of darkness echoed throughout the cosmos before silence consumed it all.

Hera and Hypnos floated above an ocean of infinite energies that were all converging to form the super-force—the pillar of creation.

"Touch it," Hypnos instructed.

Hera awoke from her stunned stupor and did as he instructed, extending her index finger towards the infinite surging ocean beneath her, and the moment she made divine contact with it, the super-force collapsed with a cosmic roar, unleashing the forces of nature—gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force—the building blocks of the universe.

And thus the conception of the cosmos began. Hera and Hypnos began to fall into the casting universe, embarking on a hauntingly beautiful voyage.

The echoes of forces and energies coalesced together to form a grand symphony of the universe. Hera and Hypnos immersed themselves in the melodies of creation, watching the opulent scene unfold before them.

The universe was no longer empty—masses of swirling gases filled the darkness, and sparks of light began to emerge from within it, replacing the gases with their glorious lights.

'Stars,' Hera realised. 'Those are stars....' she thought as she looked ahead at the countless swirling masses of stars. 'And those are all....'

'Galaxies…'

Hypnos dragged her into one of the growing galaxies, and they were drowning in a river of stars.

Hera always liked stars. It's ironic since her archenemy was the Titan of Stars, but the stars in the night sky were just so beautiful and mesmerising that she managed to see past the foul Titan that controlled it and into its very nature, and so she had foolishly thought she had almost grasped everything there was to stars, but she was wrong, so wrong.

Hera saw the true magnificence of the stars as she floated through the thriving galaxy, which filled every ounce of her divine being with wonder and awe. Words would fail to convey what she witnessed, as would the rest of this haunting journey that Hypnos created just for her. Truly, any number of words could never do justice to describing the true magnificence of the cosmos. To grasp the infinity that was the Cosmos, you had to witness it firsthand to even be able to understand it.

Hera tightened her grip on Hypnos as they shot out of the galaxy, leaving a trail of starlight behind them.

Their soul-stirring journey continued as they swam through a dark ocean of space flecked with swirling stars, vibrant nebula clouds, and radiant magnetic clouds.

A swarm of innumerable galaxies rose above them, stacking on top of one another like a cosmic stairwell. And they began to climb it, passing through celestial bodies—black holes, red giants, white dwarfs, supergiants, pulsars—that were all endless, burning vibrantly in the darkness of space.

Time had lost its meaning. Is it a second or an aeon since this amazing journey began? Hera wasn't sure, but she found herself unable to care in the face of the grandeur of the cosmos alone with the soothing presence of the Primordial.

After what seemed like an eternity, Hera and Hypnos arrived at the top of the cosmic stairway, turned, and looked down—totality was weaving together in a boundless, dark ocean that would contain everything that is, has ever been, or ever will be.

It was the Cosmos.

Hera merely floated there with Hypnos in serene silence. Her chaotic eyes reflected the entire infinite cosmos, absorbing it all and burning it into her memories for the rest of eternity.

Finally, Hypnos teleported them to a familiar place. They landed weightlessly on a grey landscape dotted with craters of a variety of sizes. A blue-sparkling gem arose above them, half-submerged in the darkness of the cosmos, and a brilliant ball of light floated to their side, lighting up the boundless space.

Hera and Hypnos sat in comfortable silence on the dusty surface of the silver moon, gazing up at the blue earth illuminated by the golden sun.

"That was…." Hera attempted to break it, but immediately found herself at a loss for words.

"Don't try," Hypnos said, shaking his head. "Somethings are best left unsaid, for words could never do them justice."

Hera nodded, clearly understanding the truth. She then looked around at the moon, earth, and sun, recalling bits and pieces of their haunting journey. "So all of this is...?" she ventured a wild guess.

"Yes," Hypnos interrupted, "we are in my dream," he said, watching her reaction intently. Contrary to his expectations, her eyes were filled with wonder rather than disappointment and dismay.

"Impossible.." Hera shook her head vehemently, waving her hands to emphasise her point. "Everything feels real, too real to be a dream." She pinched the silver sand from the ground and let it fall slowly from her fingers. "This sand and those stars—you can't tell they are all unreal?!"

Hypnos fixed his gaze solemnly on Hera. "Who told you it was unreal?" His words had left her perplexed, so he continued. "What is ultimately the difference between dream and reality? Look at my creation and then consider our home; how many differences do you notice between the two?" he asked, causing her eyes to widen in utter terror.

Hypnos immediately laughed, "Look at you"—he pointed at her horrified countenance—"I was just joking."

"You—" Hera clenched her teeth as the terror in her heart was swept away by a storm of rage beneath his laughter.

The Goddess of Marriage, on the other hand, did not believe his words. It was not a joke; she could instinctively tell that his words may have fallacies, but there should still be some truth to them. She chose to bury this frightening revelation deep within her mind instead of being worried about it, which would almost certainly result in her suffering a full-fledged existential crisis right then and there.

She didn't have time for any of that, as she was already dealing with the most difficult problem she'd ever faced in her life, which came in the form of a haunting primordial. He was even laughing audaciously at her face now.

Hera shot the best glare she could muster at the Primordial. "Please refrain from making light of such matters,"

"Fine," Hypnos raised his hands in the air, but his pale lips were set on a perpetual smile, reaching his eyes.

Hera's anger strangely began to fade as she became fixated on his dazzling smile. "Thank you," she found herself saying as her gaze was drawn unknowingly back to his mesmerising silver eyes. In those argent eyes was a well-set foundation, as if it contained all that mattered in creation, which very well could be the truth. "Thank you for taking me on this unforgettable journey. I treasured every second and every moment of it."

Hypnos nodded loftily. "I also enjoyed our journey far more than I had anticipated. It became something different, something….." his eyes finally met hers in this imperceptible moment, and he flattered into silence. Her brown eyes were so different from the last time he laid eyes on them; they seemed to be filled with millions of different hues, making him wonder what the word "brown" even means. Has she always had such beautiful eyes?...

And what happened next was something both Hera and Hypnos never expected; they couldn't even articulate how it happened for the rest of their eternal lives. All they could offer was that it just felt meant to be, this indelible second, this ineffable moment; nothing else in the cosmos mattered but them.

Hypnos and Hera drew closer to each other so carefully, breathing and not breathing, hearts beating between them; they were so close that the emptiness of space escaped them, for all they could feel was each other, everywhere, filling everything.

And their lips met, firmly locking together. Everything seemed to fade away in that moment of kissing, leaving them alone but content with each other.

They parted reluctantly after what seemed like an eternity, sitting close to each other and gazing up at the earth in a resounding silence.

"That happened," Hera said breathlessly.

"Yes," Hypnos repeated silently. "That happened,"

After merely pointing that out, they immediately fell silent again. It was clear to both of them that the other couldn't make sense of what had just happened between them.

"Anyway," Hypnos rose from the silver ground. "Let's go," he uttered begrudgingly, letting the precious moment pass.

Hera nodded reluctantly. "What will happen to your cosmos?" she wondered as she looked around.

"Well.." Hypnos drawled, deciding. "It will merge with my domain—Dreaming."

Hera inquired immediately, her voice tinged with excitement. "Can I come back here at any time?"

"Yes," Hypnos said. "Once my realm is functional and open,"

"Thank you." Hera uttered, firmly squeezing his hand into her hold.

"Don't mention it," Hypnos said gently as they began to float upwards towards earth. "I am just doing what we both want—making this cosmos eternal as our ineffable journey."

Hera glanced at Hypnos in emotional stillness as they shot towards Earth, their home, at breakneck speed. They entered the troposphere in a fraction of a second, passing through clouds that shimmered with an unseen force, and Hera automatically knew she had exited dreaming and retuned to their reality—she was certain this was his work. They finally descended the balcony from which they stood before venturing on their eternal journey.

Realisation immediately swept Hera away like the light of creation. "How long has it been?" she asked, clutching Hypnos in fear of the likely truth.

"Don't worry," Hypnos soothed, "it's only been an hour."

"One hour?" Hera looked around and discovered that it was true—the brilliant stars in the sky had not moved much, and the banquet was still in full swing. "How?" she asked, feeling the unreality of it all.

"Dreams often mess with your perception of time," Hypnos answered, once again finding himself enjoying her shocked countenance. "You'll get used to it if you dream-travel more."

Hera tried to calm herself down, which was difficult given all that had happened in less than an hour. She turned her gaze away from Hypnos because his haunting face was not helping her chaotic heart. Then her gaze was drawn to the banquet. "So...?" she wondered. "The banquet is still in progress..."

"Obviously," Hypnos said as a bad feeling arose in his heart.

"I have a fantastic idea," Hera announced abruptly. She took a step in front of Hypnos and extended her hand to him. "Will you dance with me?"

"Don't tell me this is your wonderful idea?" Hypnos squinted at her impeccable hand.

"Oh, please." Hera persisted, rolling her eyes. "This is a celebration for you, and yet I found you sulking in a corner instead of being in the centre, where you belong, and fully enjoying it, as you should be."

Hypnos looked at the ethereal woman standing in front of him in a whole new light, his eyes widening ever so slightly at her words. "Fine," he quickly composed himself, firmly clasping her hands in his.

Hera looked at the clasped hands with a dazzling smile as bright as the blazing sun. However, Hypnos cut her off before she could say anything. "Um..." he rubbed his other hand behind his neck. "I don't know how to dance…"

Hera snapped her gaze upward at him as if she couldn't believe his words. "Use your abilities," she said immediately, as if it were the obvious thing to do. "Make it so that you already know how to—"

"No." Hypnos looked at her with such solemnity that Hera was taken back. "You can't use your power on everything; it'll make your life completely colourless and lustrous," he paused. "Always remember, simple things are what make life more meaningful."

Hera shuddered as she realised the terrifying possibilities of the path she had just suggested to him. "Then," she finally said. "I will teach you. Just follow my instructions, and you'll be able to learn it in no time, H—" She paused abruptly, words catching in her throat, and she looked at him with an inscrutable expression. "Can I call you by your name?"

Hypnos was heavily silent for a moment, and then he spoke firmly. "You can."

"Hypnos….." Hera exhaled, savouring the taste of his name on her tongue. "Will you dance with me?" she asked again, her bright eyes fixated on him.

"Yes," Hypnos smiled. "I'd love to, Hera."

They entered the main hall hand in hand. The melodious music stopped abruptly, as did the dancing immortals, who were drawn out of their worlds by the incredible sight unfolding in front of them.

Rhea, the Mother of Gods, had been worrying herself over the mood of Hypnos since the Primordial ditched the banquet meant for him. Her concerns grew as she reflected on her temperamental daughter, who did not bother to attend the banquet despite her long admonition earlier tonight.

And just when she felt the banquet was a failure, she noticed the same two people who had been bothering her so much strolling into the banquet hand in hand.

It was an understatement to say that she was astonished, watching her daughter with Hypnos. After all, this was Hera, who was renowned for her temper. She turned down her suitors, arrogantly dismissing their offers. She also looked up to Oceanus and Tethys, wishing to have a perfect marriage like them. This was more than enough to turn off all her suitors.

But now the same Hera was walking contentedly through the dispersing masses with Hypnos, whom she had just offended.

What had happened?...

In the end, Rhea pushed aside questions and doubts in her heart, focusing on the brilliant smile of Hera. She had never seen her daughter so happy and so content, and that was all she needed to know as a mother.

She ordered the nymphs to compose a slow symphony for them. Then she turned to face Hypnos and Hera, her eyes welling up with blissful tears.

Hypnos and Hera reached the centre of the hall under the eyes of all. A divine melody resounded deafeningly, as though it came straight from the bright halls of heaven itself, shattering the silence.

"Follow me," Hera whispered, guiding him furtively with her powers.

Under the heavenly music, Hypnos placed her hand on her hip, and Hera rested her hands on her shoulders. And their feet finally fell in step with the melodious tune.

Immediately, other immortals got out of their stupor and joined them enthusiastically in the centre in pairs—Zeus and Metis, Poseidon and Selene, Helios and Demeter, and so on—but Hypnos and Hera were solely fixated on each other; everything else seemed to fade and melt away in nothingness for them, leaving them stranded in their own wondrous world.

They danced and cavorted together under the sanctifying music, until Hypnos suddenly seized control of their dancing movements perfectly, catching Hera completely off guard with his abnormal learning abilities.

Hypnos pulled Hera close to his chest and wrapped his arms around her neck with a gentle smile. Uncontrollable feelings began racing through her body, and her fingers tingled with joy. Her hand touched his cheek ever so softly.

They continued dancing, too absorbed in the music to stop. Time passed heedlessly as their feet moved in the ceaseless footsteps of the music.

In the end, they were like the creators at the dawning of the cosmos, and their joy was so bright that they could see nothing else but the other.

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