So I wrote a short story that was supposed to be for an anthology for the Roman God Mars then I never heard back from the editor. So I'm going to post it here instead. All hail the mighty Mars!
Mars sat in his chair in his throne room of the great palaces upon Mount Olympus, staring smugly with a grin on his face as Venus slid from view around the lush red drapery. He knew she was Vulcan's wife but that never stopped them before and he wouldn't let that small fact dissuade their amorous intentions in the future either. Getting to his feet from the golden chair, he poured himself a cup of wine as he gazed upon the mystical table where the living image of Rome sat, always in his careful view in case his human descendants needed his help.
From the table he could see the daily lives of the citizens and hear their prayers if he wished it so. If he wanted to walk among them then all he would need to do was grip the specific location in his hand and in an instant he could be on their roads, it wasn't often that he used that method of transportation, normally he'd use his chariots.
Checking in on his human sons' people, he watched their night time activities with amusement. Minor plotting from disgruntled Senators, solemn prayers from soldiers for strength, prayers from farmers for him to protect their fields from plague or any other ailments. He heard prayers like this several times a day, sometimes he was intrigued enough to act on the petitioner's behalf, sometimes he felt as if the petitioner deserved their distress and did nothing. Sometimes he was amiable, other times he was merciless towards his grandchildren. No matter what he chose, he always felt that he made the proper decision to help them grow and learn on their own.
And sometimes Vulcan liked to disrupt the lives of the Romans because they were Mars' children, that was when Mars interfered the most outside of calls to war. He and Vulcan often argued passionately of the disdain the Godly blacksmith had for them and only Jupiter could settle their differences fairly and justly. It had been decades since Vulcan interfered last. Leaving the table that held the living image of the eternal city, he sought to dress himself.
Mercurius joined him in the hall of the palace, Mars stopping to eye the Lord of Commerce strangely, their separate palaces were all connected by halls, courtyards and peristyles but Mercurius' quarters were nowhere close to his own. "Why are you in my vestibule?"
"For you of course dear brother! Neptune has heard a most disturbing prayer, ships sail across his seas with promisings of good offerings if he allows them passage..."
They walked towards the atrium that would lead to another part of the connected palaces, "what is disturbing about that?" He asked his brother Mercurius.
"The people who beseech Neptune and I are also calling for you, have you not heard them?"
Mars stopped, it was only mere minutes ago that he looked in on the city of Rome and there was nothing out of the ordinary. "I just checke-"
"They're not in Rome. They're on the sea in ships. We figure that would have been the reason you had ignored them. Come away to Neptune's domain with me and hear their prayers for yourself."
Neptune, the uncle of both Gods sat on his throne decorated by shells and other curiosities of the sea, holding his feared trident in his right hand. His face was set in stone, not masking the displeasure he had to be feeling at the double intrusion of his underwater palace. He turned a steely gaze upon Mars, "well, listen to them."
Like the table that held the visage of Rome, Neptune's table held the collected mass of seas in his keeping and all that sailed upon it from the most insignificant of leisurely swimmers to fishermen to war ships. Mars saw the triremes but knew nothing of seafaring vessels. Mars bent his head to the table to better hear the muted and muttered prayers in his name. He lifted his head a few seconds later, "they are at war?"
"A minor scuffle between your children who are merchants against pirates and Punics. Would you lend them aid? I have granted them passing because they are merchants fighting to protect their cargo and was offered many coins for a safe voyage."
Mercurius looked to his uncle, "and I will steal away their cargo in haste for a proper return so you may collect your due."
Neptune nodded and continued, "but as merchants they cannot stave off pirates and the Carthaginian rogue ships. If you lend them your strength, we three can prosper."
Mars grimaced, he knew nothing of ships and the sea but if he refused then neither of the Gods would receive proper payment. Sighing to himself he turned quickly from his Uncle's chambers to return to his own. Upon entering his own chambers he called for Bellona, his daughter. He would swiftly lend his talents to the Roman merchants. As soon as his chariots and horses were ready with his armor safely fastened around his body, he left.
His chariots blocked the light of the moon as he swooped down low enough to see the enemy ships. Reeling back gracefully, he tossed his deadly spear through the air towards the pirates, the spear crashed through the middle with thunderous force, tearing the trireme apart. The pirates scrambled to cling on to the sides that was sinking faster than it should. Mars pulled back on the reigns of the horses to study the scene. There were still four more ships closing in on the merchants. Recalling his spear, he lunged towards the closest ship with frightening speed.
He chucked the spear once more just before he pulled up, the spear cracked and splintered the hard wood with a pop and sizzle that sounded more like lightning, Mars quickly jerked his head upward to the sky, "father?" But only silence answered his question.
Circling around the small fleet of ships, his spear returned to his hand ready to destroy the next vessel.
When the five ships were sunk, Mars swiftly departed the watery battlefield.
When the merchants reached their destination, Mercurius delivered on his promise to see their stores promptly sold and the offerings were given freely to Neptune but Mars received nothing but gratitude and while he loved being favored, gratitude wasn't nearly enough. Angry, he took this matter personally as an insult and demanded repayment for his assistance from the merchants and Neptune who had convinced him to help in a small scrimmage rather than a full blown war.
So escalated the argument between Mars and Neptune became that they were dragged in front of Jupiter to settle the matter. Jupiter looked to Juno hoping that her face would reveal a trick in dealing with the two stubborn men before him. She held her tongue and offered nothing to help solve the matter. "The answer is obvious isn't it, brother? Son?" Jupiter's voice was as loud and as intimidating as the lightening bolts he threw down from the mountain top even when he was trying to speak gently.
The two Gods stopped bickering long enough to give Jupiter their complete attention.
"I'm surprised that neither of you have thought of it yet. Start a war at sea. This way you'll both get the offerings you deserve."
"A war at sea?" Neptune questioned.
"Yes. Choose a place close by and instigate a conflict."
"Carthage isn't that far away." Neptune said slowly as he weighed the pros and cons of beginning a conflict with the well known sailors. "And they have been in-massing their fleets recently. They may have been employing those pirates to neutralize the competition as well."
Mars turned to face Neptune, "do you truly believe that was what happened?"
"It's a possibility. Why risk being attacked unaware?"
"If my children ask for war then I will give it to them but not until they ask." Mars declared, taking the stance of protecting them first from foolish infliction's.
A year later The Punic War began.
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