-1Part II: A Not-So-Unfamiliar Face
I.
Alethea squared her shoulders and prepared for the clumsy attack. She knew she couldn't be too hard on him, after all Playthus was no soldier. After almost six months of practicing, he could barely hold the sword upright for a few minutes at a time. He lacked the drive, but today he seemed particularly adamant about practicing in the clearing just beyond the army's campground. Alethea pretended not to know why he had demanded that they practice here, but she knew.
The Turks.
Arion had demanded that Ares give him an army worth fighting, and the God of War had been happy to comply, gathering an army that spanned a continent to bring them down upon Arion's head. Alethea wondered if this is what they called tough love between father and son. Not that Arion mentioned Ares at all. It was a subject they both avoided; Arion because of some mysterious reason and Alethea because she had been raised to not to even mention the name of the War God for fear of repercussion. Today, however, she had nobly brought a sacrifice to the small altar that had been set up in a special tent and asked for Arion's survival. If the God of War heard her request, he gave no sign of it as the sounds of sword clanking against sword echoed through the valley and greeted her ears.
She tried to ignore it, but with each minute passing, she grew afraid. She knew the fear was senseless, Arion would not be stupid enough to charge into his own death. Still, she was as close to him as he would allow, and while they had never mentioned love, there was something between them.
Playthus landed hard in the dirt as she avoided his thrust and he tripped over a rock.
"That wasn't fair," he whined. He too was pretending that everything was fine, even though he longed to be near the battle to ensure Arion's success.
"Life isn't fair," she replied, readying herself for another meek attempt. He wasn't the best pupil, but he did provide an opportunity for her to ignore Arion's disappearance.
He picked himself up and stood facing her. "You know, I'm never going to get this."
"As long as you keep trying, one day you will," she said smiling.
She genuinely liked Playthus. He was witty and clever and never failed to make her laugh. Even his attempts at bravery often brought a smile to her lips. When Arion was away, he often kept her company by telling her stories and keeping her occupied as not to miss Arion.
"You're a good teacher, even though I'm not sure it's working," he answered. "Arion tried to teach me once but he gave up when I couldn't lift the sword."
"You were young."
"I was twenty-seven," he answered causing her to laugh.
He took his stance and danced around her. "See, I'm getting better. My footwork is improving."
Alethea appreciated his attempts to alleviate her worry, but every few moments she looked to the distance where the groans of war could be heard. She knew that Playthus noticed and knew that he didn't know what to say to comfort her. There was nothing to be said. She was Arion's woman, she knew the stakes of each battle. She also knew that if there was fight to be had, Arion would not back down. There was something about a war that got inside him and breathed new life into him and gave him a purpose for living. She saw what a few weeks of peace could do to him--it made him edgy and suspicious, yet when a battle did surface, he didn't immediately throw himself into it, he took his time with care and precision.
He was quite the quandary, yet Alethea's life before him seemed to be a dream and the life she knew now seemed to be all that ever was. She enjoyed being with him. The men knew who she was and went out of their way to be kind to her and the first time she had sensed any bitterness from any of them, she took care of it with a very quick, very public fight. She came away with a black eye and a split lip, the man--a general--a broken nose, and a dislocated shoulder, not to mention a new sense of respect and a bruised ego. She won over the men, which in turn won over Arion who seemed continually surprised by her, as if he didn't believe that she could do what she did.
Alethea returned her attention to Playthus who took a charge at her on the left foot.
"Wrong foot," she called as she met the tip of his sword with a full force swing of hers.
He found himself flying through the air as his sword bent blade down stuck in the dirt. After a few moments of air travel, he rested beneath a tree, upside down as he landed.
Alethea moved to help him up when she noticed the silence. Her sword was dropped and forgotten as Playthus maneuvered his aching body into a sitting position.
"Listen," she whispered.
There was nothing now--not even the sound of metal meeting metal. It seemed as if the world stopped. The wind blew in the trees, a gentle whisper where there once was the sound of bloodshed.
Pulling Playthus to his feet, she took off running toward the camp. She had made it to the first row of tents when she saw Arion's might black stallion stop in the middle of the campground. He flung himself down off of the saddle and removed his helmut.
"Thea! Thea!" he cried out.
She shoved her way through the crowd of slaves and wounded soldiers to where Arion stood calling for her. He seemed like a wild man, war still in his eyes as he searched the crowd for her. She made her way to the edge of the clearing and saw the relief when he spotted her. He crossed the clearing and pulled her into his arms, careless of the blood that stained his armor.
"We've done it!" he cooed in her ear. "We've beaten them!"
Alethea didn't care about the battle, but as she pulled back to stare into his eyes, she noticed the blood.
"Arion!" she said, immediately looking for the puncture wounds in his armor.
"I'm fine," he said pulling her close again and giving her a passionate kiss.
Alethea couldn't describe his kisses. They were familiar yet different. She reasoned that such confusing kisses had to mean something, although she didn't know what it was they meant. Arion's kisses were like his personality, achingly familiar yet so different that she couldn't put a name to it.
"Come," he said taking her hand. "We have much to discuss."
Arion gave Playthus a curt nod to follow and the three of them marched into Arion's tent.
Arion went behind the massive oak table that served as his desk and tossed a velvet sack of dinars toward Alethea.
"What's this?" she asked.
"I want you looking your best when we go before the Fates," he replied, flopping down into his chair.
"The Fates?" she looked into his eyes.
"He's keeping his promise then?" Playthus said skeptically looking at the money and then at Arion.
"He has no choice. I defeated them," Arion couldn't keep the proud smile off of his face. "I've been a good general to him. I've made many enemies in keeping to his wishes."
"Arion, please don't get your hopes up," Playthus said softly. "How many times has it been--this one last battle and he'll make you his heir? What makes you think this time is different?"
"It just is. The Turks were the last army for oceans that didn't run scared at the mention of my name. There's none left."
"Don't be too hasty," Playthus warned. "You are an awesome warlord, Arion, but there will always come someone better."
Arion shook his head. "Sometimes, Playthus, I would like to permanently remove that concerned look on your face, but then I remember that's why I keep you around. Stop worrying. The War God will deliver on his oath. We just have to be at the Temple of the Fates so they can bear witness."
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. I make the announcement tonight. I'm giving the men a few weeks off. They can spend the time with their families or doing whatever it is they like to do before meeting us in Athens. By that time I'll be the official heir to the godhood of War."
As he spoke Arion turned to look at Alethea, whose eyes widened in surprise.
"Surely, you've heard the rumors," he said, commonly. "Ares, God of War is my father."
"You never mention him."
"We're not that close," Arion replied dismissively. "Needless to say, he promised to make me his heir and it is time to deliver upon that promise. I want you to be there with me, Alethea."
There was a tenderness in his eyes that Alethea couldn't deny. She was honored that he wanted her with him. Still, to be the heir of the God of War was astonishing. She didn't know much about Ares but from the stories she'd heard whispered around the village, he wasn't likely to just step aside and allow Arion to assume power. She didn't want to tell him that when he was so clearly excited about the fact that he was finally going to be recognized for all of his hard work.
"Where else would I be?" she asked him, causing him to smile.
"So it's a date with the Fates, then," Arion smiled, then looking down at his bloodstained armor he realized what he must look like. "Call the slave girl, Playthus. I wish to take a bath before we leave tomorrow."
Playthus did as he was told and Alethea was left to face Arion.
"I think we should have a celebration," Arion's excitement was completely out of character. "When Playthus gets back, have him make arrangements. Send some men into the nearest town for the supplies. Tell the boys that tonight they must dine and be merry because their faithful leader has honored a vow!"
Alethea found it hard not to get caught up in Arion's excitement as he laughed merrily, still she had an uneasy feeling.
"I'll even invite the old man. Surely, if there's drinking and women about, he'll find a reason to attend. Then you can meet him, Thea, before the ceremony."
Alethea merely nodded as Playthus reappeared.
"Thea, change into your most alluring dress. Tonight we celebrate!"
x.X.x.
Arion made sure to invite all of his newly acquired generals from the Turkish army. Many of them had decided to leave their homeland and march with Arion. He spent most of the evening conversing with them and leaving Alethea to converse with their snobbish wives who happened to follow them wherever a battle occurred.
Alethea knew immediately that this was no plain gathering for the men to celebrate their tremendous victory. No, it was a bragging contest in which Arion would ultimately be the winner. Alethea sighed in disgust. She had really thought that Arion was above such foolishness. For the first time, Alethea regretted her decision to come along with Arion. How quickly could a man's character change when he was on the verge of getting everything that he wanted.
"So you are the beautiful Alethea," a voice hissed, causing Alethea to stop glaring at Arion and turn to the wide-hipped Turkish woman.
"I don't know about the beautiful part," Alethea answered swiftly.
"Arion speaks very highly of you. He is quite enchanted," the woman hissed. "He tells my husband that you are an accomplished warrior."
"I know my way around a sword," Alethea conceded.
"And that you can sew. Is it true that you made that dress yourself?"
Alethea looked down at the pale blue silk gown that she had sewn herself. Arion had made a gift of the blue silk a few weeks after she had joined him. For days she just looked at the fabric wondering what she could make out of it, and then one morning she woke up with an idea. The top part of the gown was a short halter-like top connected to the long skirt by six thin strips of blue silk that encircled her bare midriff and connected top to bottom.
Alethea shrugged. "I have many skills."
Little did Alethea know, but the moment that those words left her mouth, a somewhat reticent God of War stopped eating the grapes offered by the amply-endowed slave girl and sat up straight from the couch on which he'd been reclining. The slave girls--the party--all was forgotten but that voice--saying those words. His eyes sought the owner of the voice. He finally spotted her--well the back of her as she walked away from him.
"Well, aren't you the inventive one," the Turk hissed, and Alethea knew at that moment, it was best to get away.
Alethea left the group of foreign women to coo over their intelligent husbands who were cooing over Arion to gain his favor. The whole scene was revolting. She didn't know what happened to Arion during that battle, but whatever it was, she was unamused by it. She crossed the room to where Playthus stood by himself in the corner.
"Disgusting, isn't it?" Playthus muttered, sipping his wine. "I suppose Arion has every right in the world to gloat, but why do we have to be here?"
Alethea took a cup of wine from a slave passing by with a tray full of goblets. "I feel like I'm on display."
"You are. You're Arion's second most prized possession," Playthus answered. "His ancestry is his first."
"Is he here?" before the question even left her mouth, Alethea knew the answer. Of course, Ares was here. She could feel it. She had never seen him before, but she knew that he was the tall, dark one laying on the couch surrounded by beautiful slave girls. He had been distracted by their--charms--when Arion and Alethea had entered in spite of the loud cheers, Ares hadn't been moved to look up.
"Yep," Playthus answered, taking another long swig. "I have an idea. Let's go practice."
Alethea turned to look at Playthus. "Are you drunk?"
"Yep," he answered with a drunken smile. "But maybe I'm a better warrior drunk."
Alethea debated staying here for Arion but in the end, boredom won out over duty. "Stay here."
She crossed the room, pointedly ignoring the couch where she'd last glimpsed an pair of fine leather boots--his head hadn't been visible due to the overwhelming response of the slave girls who felt the need to bend over him to fed him. Still his boots had been fine but that didn't mean he was a god. He could be another general feeling his oats here in the victorious foreigner's camp. But some gut instinct told Alethea that he had been the God of War. Her eyes betrayed her as she moved slowly through the throng of people--the couch was empty and in its place several disappointed slave girls pouted.
"There she is! Thea!" Arion called out his favorite nickname and she was forced to endure another round of introductions and appreciatory glances from all the men in the room.
"Arion," Alethea whispered in his ear. "Playthus is drunk. I'm going to walk him back to his tent."
"Have one of the men do it," Arion said far too loudly.
"No, I promised him I would," she answered.
Arion grinned lazily, proving that he too was slightly tipsy. "Very well, darling, but please hurry back. It's not a party without you."
Alethea didn't like Arion's tone of voice, but smiled anyway and turned. Playthus stood where she left him, waiting for her.
"Come on, let's see how much of a warrior you are," Alethea said guiding him out of the crowded room and out into the night air.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Alethea looked over at Playthus.
"I'm not really drunk," Playthus smiled. "I just couldn't think of a better excuse to get away from all those people. Not one of the soldiers were there, did you notice?"
"They were having their own celebration. A few of them have already left for home," Alethea smiled. "And I knew you weren't drunk. You don't even like wine."
"That's true, but I had to gag down a little to deal with those idiots," he replied.
"So what should we do? It's a beautiful night."
"What do we always do? You try to teach me how to handle a sword and I pretend to be interested in learning," he said with a wink.
Alethea took a torch and lit the lights that encircled their jousting place, where they spent most of their days. Arion wouldn't allow Alethea to join him on the battlefield, Playthus was ordered to stand guard over her to ensure that she didn't follow him. They didn't always fight, but it was a good way to spend their time. Often they spoke more than fought, but tonight, it didn't matter what they did as long as they were away from the Turks.
"Okay, let's see whatcha got," Alethea said twirling her sword.
Playthus's courage failed him. "Are you sure you should be fighting in that?"
"Why not?" she asked glancing down at the dress.
"No wonder the whole room was talking about you," Playthus shook his head.
Alethea had suspected that they would talk about her but the knowledge that they had hurt more than it should have. She was not meant to be a wife talking away from the men, she had yearned to hear of conquests, campaigns but when talk turned to horse breeding and sport, she had lost interest.
"I don't care if they were," she said resolutely. She smiled that wicked smile. "What are you waiting for?"
Playthus swung the sword and did a quick step to the left, something he'd learned from watching Arion and Alethea spar a few times.
"That's new," Alethea noted with a raised eyebrow.
"Thought I'd give it a try," he said with a smile.
"Well, let me try something," she said, launching the sword at Playthus's head. He squealed loudly and hit the dirt as the sword speared the tree.
"Nice shot."
The very words dripped with a kind of sarcasm that could only belong to the God of War himself. Ares appeared with the sword deeply embedded in his chest.
II.
Playthus looked between Alethea and Ares in astonishment.
"How did you know--"
"I had a feeling," Alethea replied, her eyes never leaving the God of War. She had never seen his face until this moment but as she stared into those eyes she realized that in her heart she had always known this face. It was familiar as it was dangerous, yet she was unafraid.
Ares broke eye contact with her long enough to look over at Playthus who stared between the two of the slack jawed. "You--beat it."
Playthus looked to Alethea who nodded. "I'll be fine."
"I'll just be over there," Playthus said, throwing a distrustful look at Ares. He left the clearing while Ares turned and pulled Alethea's sword out of the tree.
"You deserve a finer weapon than this," Ares said, inspecting the chipped blade. "Arion has an arsenal of exquisite weaponry, why hasn't he given you something more suitable?"
"You should ask him," she replied, studying his face carefully. Why was he so familiar to her? Why wasn't she afraid?
"Do you know who I am?" he asked without meeting her eyes.
"The God of War," she answered slowly.
"That's so formal. Call me Ares," he said with a devilish smile.
"I prefer formal."
"Don't trust me? Fair enough," he said circling her like a shark circling his prey. "Arion seems to trust you. Does he know that you're sneaking out of his party with that coward?"
"Playthus is no coward and Arion knows that he has nothing to fear from him," Alethea replied.
"A man should be aware of every man his woman consorts with."
"Does he know you're here?"
Ares's eyes snapped to hers. "I am no man. I'm a god."
"And thereby excluded from awareness?" she asked, gazing at him. "I think Arion should be aware of you instead of Playthus."
"I doubt if he's aware of very much of anything at this point," Ares sighed in disgust.
Alethea's gaze pierced the huge tent in which the party was still going on.
"He's a good man. He'll make a good heir," Alethea said in defense of Arion.
"So he's told you of our little arrangement, has he?" Ares's interest was peaked. "And what do you think?"
"I have a feeling that you'll find a way to make him wait even though he's already waited ten years."
"I have to be sure--the Godhood of War is not something to be given away lightly."
"I have a feeling that you'll never retire. Arion is just wasting his life chasing after a dream that you'll never let come true."
"Have me all figured out?" he said looking into her eyes. "What makes you think I won't retire? I am getting old."
"You thrive on your immortality," she answered. "It's fun for you and I have a feeling you'd never adjust to mortal life very well."
"I don't know about that--with the right woman anything is possible."
"Don't you mean women?" Alethea asked with a raised eyebrow. "The right women?"
"Are you implying the God of War can't be faithful? Or that he can't love just one woman?"
Alethea laughed. "You tell me. I've heard the stories. You're almost as legendary for your sexual prowess as you are your warmongering abilities."
She turned to walk away from Ares, but found herself colliding with his broad chest.
"I loved a woman once," he said slowly. "She was unlike any woman I've ever known before or since. She was strong and beautiful; brave and smart; fearless."
As he spoke, the God of War's eyes misted over as he thought back to a time nearly half a century ago.
"What happened to her?" Alethea asked in spite of herself.
"She was mortal," he said closing his eyes for a second. "What always happens to mortals?"
She could feel his pain at losing her. When he opened his eyes again, the pain had vanished and he was back to his usual debonair self, but Alethea had saw it--for a second, the God had known very mortal pain.
"You remind me a lot of her. She was a better fighter but you look a lot like her."
It shouldn't have miffed her that he made a comparison about her fighting ability. Alethea hated to admit it but with Arion constantly praising her natural ability at combat, she had developed a huge ego. She was on her way to having a well known reputation for her skills, yet the God of War was seemingly unimpressed.
"I would expect nothing less from one of your women," Alethea muttered, trying vainly to hide her annoyance.
"Jealous?" Ares asked.
Alethea was and she couldn't explain why. What did she care about the God of War or his women? She had never seen him before in her life, yet he was affecting her, more than anyone ever had. She felt something that she couldn't describe when he looked at her. She knew him. She knew how his mind worked, yet she was drawn to him. The sight of Ares was enough to banish any thought of Arion when he locked those eyes on her.
"I'm not jealous of a dead woman or any woman that you feel particularly attracted to. I have a good man."
"For however long that lasts," Ares returned bitterly. "Arion is fickle."
"Like father, like son?"
"You might think that, but he's always looking for the bigger, better thing."
"Thanks for the warning," she tried to move around him.
"You've got spirit, I like that," Ares said as he again blocked her from leaving.
"Move, or you'll see how much spirit I have," she answered.
"Ooh, show me," he dared her.
Something about his voice and the fact that he thought she was replaceable angered her. That was only the surface, she was still pissed about being compared to a dead woman and her reaction to him. The palms of her hands actually itched to touch him, to make sure he was real. When he gazed at her mouth, her lips involuntarily parted and her breath hitched. She shouldn't feel this way. Arion was the man that insighted a powerful reaction, but looking back she couldn't remember what it was that made him so special when one look from Ares had her melting.
That did it. She refused to be made another one of Ares's many concubines. She was no man's whore, even though the world thought she was.
Alethea shrugged her shoulders and started to turn away but snapped back to deliver a powerful punch to the center of the God of War's face.
He stepped back and held his nose. "That's a lot of spirit."
She shrugged. "Told you so."
This time when she tried to walk away, Ares caught her arm and whirled her around to be pressed up against him; their mouths mere inches from each other.
"You like me," he said.
"I despise you," she replied.
"Then why is your heart racing?"
"Let me go."
"Back to Arion?"
"To bed."
"Come away with me."
"No."
"Alethea, you know you want to."
"I know that I want you to let me go," Alethea answered, her resolution slowly crumbling away. What was it about his touch that made her want to give into what she knew was wrong?
He reluctantly complied, releasing her arm. "By the way, that's some dress."
Then he was gone, vanished into nothing and Alethea was left alone to wonder why the God of War affected her so.
x.X.x.
"What was she like?"
Arion turned his head. He was still happily drunk from the party even though the sun was coming up. Alethea continued to brush her hair, but watched him in the mirror.
"Who, Thea, my sweet?"
"The woman your father loved," Alethea answered, watching the change come over his face.
"So he spoke to you?"
"Briefly," she lied. "He told me I looked like her."
"You do. I've only seen a glimpse of her though. Apparently, Daddy dearest had a portrait of the warrior princess made to remember her by. I saw it once years ago in his temple. He nearly struck me blind though. He's very particular."
"He said he loved her."
"Ares is incapable of love," Arion replied. "But he did lust for her. She never gave in, which is probably why he was so determined to have her. The story is that she used to be his right hand man--well woman, and then one day just like that, she up and changed. Left him in the dirt. She became the defender of good and often she fought against him, which made him even more determined to have her."
Alethea didn't reply, merely looked at herself in the mirror for a long time. Did she really resemble the phenomenal Xena? She had heard the legends--who hadn't? Everyone knew of the warrior princess who defended innocent people from corrupt warlords and gods. Less well-known was her relationship with Ares. Apparently, there was more to it than anyone had ever thought.
"Alethea, come to bed," Arion pleaded.
She complied, blowing out the candles and coming to lie next to him. He was already snoring softly, turned away from her, but Alethea couldn't sleep. She just kept thinking of the War God.
"You like me."
Did she like him? She knew she was attracted to him, but she had saw something in his eyes or was that a trick that the gods used to seduce mortal women? She had never met a god before and it seemed pointless to ask Arion whose disdain for the immortals was only surpassed by his desire to be one of them.
Alethea closed her eyes and only felt Ares's breath on her lips. She could feel the pressure of his touch against her skin. Feel his eyes on her. Her eyes snapped open immediately.
Arion. She had to think of Arion. He was the reason she was here. He was good to her, respected her and valued her input. He was a fierce man, but she knew a different side of him--the mortal side that she would never know in the God of War. Did she love Arion? She was attracted to him--well, had been attracted to him, she amended as he rolled over and tossed a heavy arm across her body and continued to snore against her skin. Suddenly, she was seeing things about Arion in a very different light. He shoveled his food into his mouth without pausing for discussion, he liked to drink and carouse with the men often suggesting crude things about her, and often if she wasn't at his side when he commanded it, he pouted like a child. Why hadn't she saw these things before? Every time Alethea look at him, she noticed something equally more repelling. She wanted to make it stop. She wanted to go back six months ago when she was enchanted by him. The charm of being favored by the most vicious warlord was beginning to wear on her.
She ordered herself to stop it. She was just having a rough night and Arion's drunkiness had just brought on a bad mood. Surely, that was the reason she was picking apart the man who had been generous enough to save her family and her village. She made up her mind that things would be better when they woke up. Arion would be the charming man he had been before and she would forget all about the God of War and the way he made her pulse race. This time, when she closed her eyes, she sighed in relief and welcomed sleep.
III.
The sun was warm on her skin as the leaves from the high trees above her filtered into patches of intense light and intense shade. The road that Arion had chosen for their journey to the temple was one that wove its path through forests. Alethea closed her eyes and held out her arms enjoying the feeling of the sun on her skin as her horse continued to ramble on behind the line of generals that separated her from Arion.
"What are you doing?" Playthus said looking over at her carefully. He, of course, was stationed to ride next to her for the duration of the journey, to "keep an eye on her" as Arion had put it, Alethea was unimpressed by his condescending tone.
"The sun feels amazing," she said, her eyes still closed. "Can you smell the flowers in the air? It's spring time. I would love to own a little cottage in a forest like this and spend each day just riding my horse through the trees."
"You'll always be a country girl, Alethea," Playthus laughed. "Me, I prefer the crowded streets of Athens or the playhouse. The country is nice for a visit but the city--that's where the excitement is."
"Says you. I prefer the country air, better for the mind and the body."
"Speaking of bodies, Arion told me you had a nightmare," Playthus said causing Alethea to drop her arms and open her eyes to look at him. "He said you were thrashing about making weird war calls. He had to hold you down because he was afraid you were going to hit him."
Alethea didn't deny it. She had dreamt she was Xena on the battle field in Britannia, preparing to face off against Julius Caesar. Ares had been there begging her to destroy a temple--something made her run to the temple--her friend was in danger. When she got there, she had to fight a man--no, he wasn't a man, he was some creature and she fought as hard as she could, but in the end she couldn't get to her friend in time.
"It was just a bad dream," she said softly, not bothering to admit that she use to have those kind of dreams when she was younger. Often, one of her brothers would hear her making those yelping calls and come to check on her. When she tried to tell people about her dreams and how real they were, they would just laugh and call her crazy. No one had ever believe her dreams were anything more than dreams.
Eventually, she stopped having them…until three nights ago. Now she dreamt more vividly than ever and often Ares would appear with some surly comment or snide remark. She blamed seeing him the night of the party as what caused the first dream but now they were happening when she wasn't even asleep. She would see something that didn't appear to mean anything, but suddenly she would be thrown back into the past in her Xena wear fighting the good fight.
The Caesar dream wasn't the first battle dream or daydream she'd been having lately, but Alethea wouldn't tell Playthus that, instead she just rode along
"Do you remember anything about the dream? I've always been fascinated by dream interpretation. Maybe we should take you to the oracle."
"No!" Alethea said much too quickly. She had no desire to know what the oracle would interpret her dreams as meaning.
"Okay, okay, your dreams are a touchy subject. I got you," Playthus said turning away.
Alethea had hurt him and she was on the verge of apologizing when she felt strong arms around her waist and an unsettling heat melt into her body.
"Rough night?"
His breath made her earlobe tingle. She sucked air into her lungs. She had to be strong for this. If she gave into him, she was betraying everything she stood for.
"You know, Arion and his many--appetites," she felt him tense and smiled in satisfaction. So she wasn't the only one affected by this--attraction or bothered by the fact that Arion was still involved. She glanced over at Playthus who was making a concerted effort not to look in her direction.
"He can't see me," Ares whispered in her ear. "And I was talking about your dreams."
"Oh, those," she shrugged. "I've been having them since I was a girl. It's nothing."
"Haven't you ever wondered what they mean?"
"Nope," she lied. She'd been burning with curiosity from the first but after no one else shared her enthusiasm for it, she had kept them to herself.
"Mortals," Ares muttered. "You never do things the easy way, do you?"
"Of course not," she answered.
They were silent for a while, and once again Alethea tilted her head up to feel the sun's rays on her face.
"I see you're riding with the sap again."
"Don't call him a sap. He's a good friend," she answered looking over at Playthus.
"I could be a good friend too," Ares whispered in her ear.
"Enough of that," Alethea jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
"Hey, hey, watch it!" he said tightening his arms around her waist. "Don't tell me you have a soft spot for him."
"My spots no matter how soft they are, are none of your business. Why are you here? Arion's up front with the generals," Alethea said, angry with herself for wanting to lean back against his chest and just enjoy the ride.
"I didn't come to see him."
"Maybe you should have," Alethea answered. She tried to straighten her back as not to touch him, but Ares merely scooted closer to her and in the end, she gave up and slouched against him.
"Why be bored with useless chatter when I can be back here where things are so--interesting?"
"There is nothing interesting going on here either. And isn't war your job?"
"Even the God of War needs a vacation," he replied.
"You'll be getting all the time off you need when you name Arion your heir."
Again, his arms tightened around her waist. "Are you sure you wouldn't like the job?"
"Positive. Godhood holds no appeal for me."
"Sure you say that now, but once you taste immortality you wonder how you ever did without it."
"Good thing that I'll never taste it then," Alethea answered, with another jab to the ribs.
"Will you stop that? And to think I brought you a present."
"Keep it."
"Are you sure? I think you'll like it," he pointed to the horizon where a beautiful horse appeared with a blonde coat and a beautiful white mane.
It was the horse she had seen in her dreams. Instinctively she knew what to call it.
"Argo," the word barely left her lips before she realized that her reaction was exactly what Ares wanted. She tried to harden her heart even though she'd always wanted a house like Argo from the first time she dreamt of her.
"I have a horse," she said firmly.
Ares's laughter echoed in her ears. "You know you want her."
"I don't need her. Arion gave me a perfectly good horse."
"Stop it, Alethea," Ares sighed, snapping his fingers causing the entire army to halt mid-step. Ares swung down from the saddle and held out his hand. Alethea reluctantly took it and allowed herself to be helped down.
"Why are you fighting me? Do you know how many men and women would kill for my favor?" they were walking toward the horse, weaving their way around horses and men caught in the middle of laughter. Ares had refused to let go of her hand.
"Including your son," Alethea returned evenly.
"That's different."
"Oh, really? Have you noticed that dagger you gave him never leaves his side? He wants so desperately to be your favorite."
"He has my favor, he knows that."
"Being your favorite and having your favor are two very different things."
"What do you care how we treat each other?" Ares said, as Alethea gently stroked Argo's nose. The horse nickered softly and nudged her. Even the horse knew who she was.
"I care for Arion," Alethea refused to meet the God of War's eyes.
Ares looked taken aback, he dropped her hand as if it burned him. "How much do you care for him?"
Alethea leveled an even look at the shocked God of War. "He spared my family. He could have killed them, enslaved my mother and sisters. A lot of families were spared that particular heartache."
"And that's the reason you stay with him? Defend him to me? He spared your family? Come on," Ares groaned loudly. "He did all that just so you would--"
"Don't finish that sentence, because it didn't happen like that," Alethea threatened. "I don't know why he did it, nor do I care. I made a promise to him and I'm going to keep it. That's something you would know very little about now, isn't it?"
"Keep the horse," Ares disappeared without another word.
"Alethea! How did you get up there?" Arion shouted with a merry laugh, as the army resumed movement. "Saw something you liked?"
Alethea forced a smile. "And she likes me. I think I'll call her Argo!"
"Alethea, the horse tamer!" Arion shouted, but as he rode forward to meet her, she sensed something different about him. Had he heard what had happened? Of course not, Ares had stopped time. "Keep this up and you'll have as many names as you do skills."
x.X.x.
"She's a beautiful horse," Playthus said as he brushed Argo down. Alethea watched him from across the rundown barn that they happened across. It was at least shelter for the horses as the storm continued to rage outside.
"Thank you," Alethea said softly. "I'm sorry about earlier--"
"No need," Playthus waved her apology away. He continued to pamper the horse. "Tomorrow's the big day."
Alethea nodded. "Arion wants to have a huge celebration after the ceremony. He's rode ahead to make arrangements."
"You didn't go with him? Sleep in a nice bed instead of a rundown barn?"
"Nah, I miss rundown barns," she said happily. "I'm surprised he didn't clear his plans with you."
"Arion and I don't talk as much as we used to. It mostly consists of him giving me orders and me trying to warn him that he doesn't always know everything."
"I envy your friendship," Alethea said softly. "I never had a friend like that. I mostly just had my brothers."
"My brothers weren't as nice to me as yours," Playthus replied quietly. "It was no hardship to leave them and come away with Arion."
Alethea had no reply for that because she still dearly missed her family. She would think of them late at night and wonder if her father had forgiven her yet.
"Ares gave me the horse," she blurted out before she could stop herself. She'd been carrying the secret for nearly eight hours and had to tell someone.
"Does Arion know?"
"I don't think so."
"Why would Ares give you a horse?"
"I don't know," she answered softly.
"Maybe it's a welcome gift to the family?" Playthus said with a hopeful smile. "The next thing you know he'll be wanting you to call him Dad."
"I very seriously doubt that will ever happen," Alethea said with a shake of her head.
"Oh," Playthus got her meaning in a big way. "You haven't--"
"No!" she said jumping up to her feet. "No, of course not. I love Arion!"
Playthus raised an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean. I could never betray him like that. Besides, Ares is Arion's father! How twisted is the whole situation."
"The father jealous of the son, now there's a Greek tragedy for you," Playthus muttered. "Especially when the father is a god and the woman is a mortal."
"There's more," Alethea hung her head. "Every since Ares has started coming around, I've been noticing more and more things about Arion."
"Things?"
"Things I can't stand. How he chews with his mouth open, or talks with his mouth full or sometimes rides sidesaddle. I never noticed this before."
"He rides sidesaddle?" laughter was in Playthus's voice.
"Watch him sometime," Alethea said, allowing a smile to break across her face.
"Do you think it's Ares trying to repel you from Arion?"
"I don't know. Is that something the God of War would do?"
At Playthus's pointed look, Alethea shrugged. "Okay, okay. Stupid question. It's just that I can't think straight when he's around."
"Arion or Ares?"
At Alethea's pointed look, Playthus just shrugged. "It's easy to get confused, they sound alike, look alike and sometimes act alike. So the God of War gets you all hot and bothered? There's only one thing to do about it."
Alethea's eyes widened.
"Tomorrow, before the ceremony, we go to Aphrodite's temple and ask her to fix it."
"Fix it? What could she do?"
"You'd be surprised with that Goddess of Love can do, when she puts her mind to it."
IV.
"You know a lot of women would be swayed by the God of War."
Alethea was unsure of where this was going. She slid a look at Playthus. "I'm not."
"I know, but most women would be. He's a big, bad god and he's obviously got the hots for you. A lot of girls wouldn't think twice about giving into him, especially after giving you a horse like this," Playthus reached down and stroked Argo's mane, he and Alethea rode side by side. "Just think of the power--of the fortune. You could live forever."
"Until he got tired of me and moved on to the next girl that struck his fancy," Alethea sighed. "Some people want more than wealth and power. What I yearn for is something the God of War could never give me."
"And Arion can?"
"Arion--" Alethea didn't know how to finish that sentence. She saw a lot of Ares in Arion, but she saw something else there too. Something that drew her to him, in spite of recent events.
"Hard to explain? Neither one of them are easy men to understand, at least Arion isn't; he never has been."
"What about you? You're not so easy to understand either. Why aren't you settled down--married to some nice girl in the city?"
Playthus just laughed quietly.
"You're quite the mystery, Playthus."
"No mystery, just a very boring life."
"Tell me."
"You don't want to know. It will put you to sleep--"
"Yes, I do want to know," Alethea said smiling. "Please?"
"There's not much to tell to be honest," Playthus conceded.
"Tell me anyway."
"I was born in Cyprus. The night my mother had me was the night the great poet Virgil came to town with his son, Xenathan."
Alethea nodded for him to go on, fascinated by the start of what was surely an epic.
"Virgil and his five-year-old son were to stay with my family. My father took my sisters and brothers to hear him speak in the town playhouse while my mother stayed home with little Xenathan. My mother went into labor with me and the boy was the only one in the house with her. She often tells the story that he delivered me, washed me and handed me to her. I find it hard to believe, but she tells it to anyone who will listen."
Alethea smiled warmly.
"She's probably the only other woman besides you who isn't deathly afraid of Arion."
"Arion?"
Playthus smiled, and Alethea realized that he was lost in his memories. "Virgil and the boy left a few weeks later, but Xenathan ran away to come back to my family. Eventually, Virgil stopped traveling when it became evident that Xenathan wanted to stay in Cyprus. He bought a house next door and Xenathan practically lived with us for the next ten years."
Playthus paused for a few minutes. "He was always so much bigger than me, but I followed him everywhere. I know that having a kid follow you around when you were dead set on becoming a warrior had to be rough on him. He was never mean to me, and let me follow him around and ask questions. I always think he was a bit partial to me because he was there when I was born."
The story suddenly stopped being about Playthus and became more about this Xenathan and how he influenced a young Playthus.
"He always wanted to be a warrior, from the first time I can remember, he was always talking about it. At sixteen, he planned to raise an army. Everyone thought he was crazy, there hadn't been a war in years. Many people thought that Ares was dead. Still he talked about it and talked about it. One day he was telling me about it, and Virgil overheard him. I've never seen Virgil get so angry. He started threatening Xenathan and telling him that he should enjoy the peace; that he knew nothing of war. Xenathan was shamed but he couldn't deny what his heart wanted."
"What happened?" Alethea asked, eager to know.
"Xenathan raised the army in secret, but Virgil found out and went crazy. He got drunk at the tavern and came home intent on killing Xenathan. He chased Xenathan with a sword swearing that he would pay for Xenathan's mother's mistakes," Playthus closed his eyes. "He kept screaming that Xenathan was the son of the devil and that only he would want war. He lunged and cut Xenathan across the arm. Xenathan pinned Virgil against the wall merely to protect himself. 'Go ahead and kill me,' Virgil screamed. 'Just like your real father.' Xenathan tried to ask Virgil what he meant and all the poet would say was, 'Ask the God of War. He took your mother from me and left me with his bastard son!'"
Alethea's breath caught in her throat and caused Playthus to look at her. "So you understand then?"
She didn't say anything but regarded him with wide eyes.
"Xenathan allowed Virgil to live, he could have easily killed him, but he didn't. He left the Cyprus that night, changed his name to Arion and became what you know him as."
"And you followed him?"
Playthus nodded. "I had to. He had no one left, he needed someone."
"You're a very good friend, Playthus," Alethea smiled at him. "I hope he knows that."
"He protected me when I was younger, now it's my turn, even though he never listens."
"So will you spend your whole life following him around? No nice little house in Athens with a posse of children running around?"
"No woman in her right mind would have me," Playthus smiled quietly.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Alethea smiled, her head still spinning over what she just heard. People underestimated Playthus in almost everything, especially his loyalty. He was far from the spineless coward that couldn't handle a sword as most of the men thought. He had a courage that many people lacked, courage that had allowed him to follow his dear friend to the gates of Hell and back.
"Let's see how much speed this little filly has!" Playthus successfully changed the subject, spurring his own horse forward causing Argo to surge forward to eventually pass horse and rider.
x.X.x.
Alethea looked at the doorway of the temple and found herself less than surprised the door was shaped like a heart. Of course.
"What are you waiting for?" Playthus demanded, giving her a hard shove forward. "It's now or never. Arion is expecting us by noon."
"Should I really do this? I mean, if it's meant to be--"
"None of that. Do you want to constantly be aware of all of Arion's deficiencies when Ares is around?"
"No."
"Then get in there, sister!" Playthus said, with a smile. "It's the right thing to do."
Alethea hesitated. "Will you come with me?"
Playthus smiled. "Who would have imagined that Alethea with her many skills would need me?"
"Just shut up and go with me, will ya?" she said, looking over at him.
"Lead the way," he sighed in resignation and followed her through the heart shaped door.
Once inside they looked around but the main chamber was suspiciously empty.
"See? No one is here we should go--"
As the words left Alethea's mouth, a blonde materialized out of the corner. But she was no Aphrodite. She wore the robes of a priestess, but there was something decidedly awkward about her. As she stepped into the light, she knocked over an altar and cracked a priceless vase. Alethea and Playthus just looked at her as she turned red, smiling embarrassingly and disappeared through one of the side doors.
"Not yet," Playthus said, continuing where the conversation left off after exchanging a look with Alethea over the clumsy priestess. "We haven't even tried to call her--"
"How do you call the Goddess of Love?" Alethea asked look at him carefully.
"I'd imagine it's something like this," Playthus cleared his throat. "Aphrodite!"
"Smart ass," as Alethea spoke, Aphrodite in her pink gloriousness appeared.
"Chyeah?" she stood before her impatiently staring down at her perfect body. When she looked up, her eyes widened. "Oh, snap. You look just like--"
Alethea waited for her to finish, but Aphrodite closed her mouth, and then opened it again to say, "Whatcha need, hun? I'm kinda busy."
Alethea was struck speechless. She couldn't make her mouth work to say what she needed to say. It was only when Playthus nudged her again, that she realized that she had to speak.
"I need a favor."
"So does everyone these days. Spit it out, Toots, what do you want?"
"I--" she looked at Playthus who nodded. "I care for this man, and everything was fine until someone else showed up and now I'm not so sure I can resist the second man--"
"Oh, juicy love triangle," Aphrodite giggled. "Anyone I know?"
Alethea looked at Playthus, who sighed. "Alethea, just tell her."
"Whoa, the Alethea?" Aphrodite said, her eyes widening again. "As in Arion's Alethea? He was just here this morning--what is wrong with you kids?"
"Arion was here?" Alethea asked.
"Did I say that? He wasn't," she said quickly looking around. "It must be the love in the air between you two, it just makes me dizzy. Um, so what did you need?"
"I need something that makes us like we were before this other man interferred," Alethea finished after staring at the goddess. She was lying, but Alethea knew better than to question her.
"Do you love him?" Aphrodite asked, looking at Alethea carefully. "Not that I really care or anything, but after all, he is my nephew. If I don't ask, it's kinda like a breach of family code or something."
"I don't know. What is love?" Alethea asked seriously.
"What's up with the serious questions? Just say yes, and it'll be cool," Aphrodite said, twirling her blonde curl around her finger.
Alethea hesitated. Should she say yes? What if she didn't love Arion? What if this was just the sign she needed?
Sensing her uncertainty, Playthus stepped forward. "Yes, she loves him. She just doesn't know it yet."
Aphrodite smiled. "I can fix that too. Close your eyes."
Alethea looked at Playthus. Was this really right? Was it fair to Arion to disillusion herself to be with him because she was distracted by his father? What kind of character did she have if she was so willing to use a quick fix?
"Well, Toots, are we doing this or not?"
Alethea drew in a breath and faced the Goddess of Love.
V.
Arion stood with his back to her, scouting locations for his huge celebration following the ceremony that would take place that day at sunset. Alethea had barely stopped Argo before she launched herself out of the saddle and onto his back. Arion caught her easily as she kissed his neck.
"Well, hello to you too," he said, with a laugh. "What do you think? Good place for the gala?"
"I think that anything that you think is great will be great," she said, kissing his cheek.
"What happened to you?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm just so happy to see you," she answered.
"Well, you know what would make me happy--" Arion turned his head and caught her lips in a searing kiss.
"What are we waiting for?" she whispered in his ear when the kiss ended.
Arion was already turning in the direction of the room at the inn that he'd secured, still carrying Alethea piggy-back.
"Alethea?"
Arion stopped mid stride and turned to look at the speaker. From a crowd of people emerged a tall man with dark hair and blue eyes almost the same shade of Alethea's.
"Simon?" Alethea said, looking at her brother as if he were a ghost.
"Do you know him?" Arion asked, eyeing the man suspiciously.
"He's my brother," Alethea answered. Arion visibly relaxed and lowered Alethea to her feet. Alethea stepped toward him hesitantly.
"It's really me," Simon answered, holding out his arms. "I know it's been a while."
"Try six years," she answered as she dashed into his arms. "What brings you here?"
"You know me, traveling is my life. The question is, what are you doing here?"
"I'm with Arion," Alethea answered looking over her shoulder at the handsome general. "He's being named the official heir of Ares tonight."
Simon looked at Arion and then at Alethea, a question in his eyes. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Arion replied, his mouth set in a firm line.
Playthus intruded further on the scene when he summoned Arion back to the square where the party was to take place.
"Alethea, why don't you and your brother catch up? I'm needed back at the square, but I'll see you later. Simon, was it? Why don't you come to the celebration tonight?" Arion said, distrust still in his eyes.
"I'd love to," Simon said with a smile.
Arion marched away leaving Alethea with Simon. Once out of earshot, Simon turned on his sister.
"You're with Arion? When did that happen? You do know that he's a vicious warlord, right?"
"A lot has happened in six years, Simon," she replied evenly. "He marched on the village. It was either join him or he'd kill Papa, Linnaeus and Timonius. I did what I had to do."
"And jumping on him and acting like that in public--that's just something you had to do?"
"I like him. He's not that bad."
"Not that bad? He slaughters innocent villagers for sport--"
"Listen, at least I did something to save the family. I didn't run away to try and find myself!" Alethea snapped. "I was there when the villagers were scared witless. I was there when Papa and Linnaeus were taken. I saw it all and did what I had to. Where were you, Simon? What were you doing when we were fighting?"
Simon hung his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. It's just strange to see my little sister carrying on with a warlord."
Alethea caught him in a hug. "It's okay. I never would have thought that I would do it either, but I did and I don't have any regrets."
Simon nodded. "Good. Does he treat you well?"
"Like a queen," she answered with a smile. "You should get to know him, he's not that bad. Even Papa knew of his fair reputation."
"It will take some getting used to."
"I know," Alethea lead him to a shady side of the square where she sat. "So tell me everything about your journeys. Start from the very beginning."
Two words barely left his mouth before his voice vanished, his mouth still hanging open.
"Not you again," Alethea sighed as Ares materialized in front of her.
"Don't sound so excited to see me," Ares replied drolly, with a wave of his finger, Simon was scooted down away from Alethea, making room for Ares to step in between them. "I was just checking in on the big day."
"Maybe you should be checking in with Arion."
"But you're so much more fascinating," Ares fairly purred in her direction.
"Stop it, you're wasting your time," Alethea said in disgust. "I am absolutely, 100 not attracted to you."
"So you say now," Ares leaned in for a kiss but Alethea dodged away from him.
"What part of not attracted to you didn't you understand? I meant it, I only feel sick when you're around," Alethea said without batting an eye. "I only have eyes for one man."
Her gaze slid across the square to wear Arion stood frozen with a bunch of party-planners for the gala event.
"What's with you?" Ares demanded, watching her carefully.
Finally she dragged her gaze back to him. "Love. I'm in love. With Arion."
Ares jumped to his feet, rage barely concealed in his actions. "You're playing a dangerous game, Alethea. You know I'll win. I always do."
"Play with someone else that you don't create a general feeling of nausea with," she answered, jumping to her feet. "When you unfreeze my brother, make sure to send him to my room at the inn. All of a sudden, I think I need to lie down."
With that she skipped off toward the inn, leaving the God of War angry and speechless.
x.X.x.
"Is red my color?" Alethea stepped from behind the dressing screen in a long red gown that hugged every curve of her body and left much of her bosom bare. Her hair floated down her bare back in soft curls and she looked absolutely breathtaking.
"I'd say so," Playthus said quietly. "You look amazing. Where do you find these dresses or does anything look good on you?"
"Anything," said a deep voice from doorway.
Both Alethea and Playthus looked as Arion stood in the doorway looking very handsome and very dangerous in black. He crossed the room and put his hands around Alethea's waist, before tipping his head for a deep kiss.
"I guess I'll go see about the procession to the temple since I'm no longer needed here," Playthus said loudly as he disappeared out the door.
"You look--" Arion smiled. "I don't even have words for how good you look. If we didn't have to be at the temple right now--"
"Save that thought for later to night," Alethea whispered sultrily. "Right now, you have to go be named heir."
"I've waited for so long for this to happen, I can't believe that it's really happening."
"I know," she whispered squeezing his hand. "But you'll make a great God of War, if that's what you want."
"It's all I've ever wanted."
"Then let's do this," she said with a smile, allowing him to lead her outside into the cool night air.
The temple of the Fates was lit only by old rare candles, and by rule only a select few were allowed into the main chamber where Ares would name Arion heir. Ares still stinging from his earlier rejection slouched in a throne-like chair behind the loom that he'd helped rebuild after it was destroyed all those years ago. The Fates were busy with the fibers barely looking up as Arion, Alethea and Playthus entered.
"Oh goody the gang's all here," Ares muttered loud enough for Arion to hear him.
The eldest-looking Fate stepped back from the loom, followed by the others.
"Are we ready?" she asked, glancing between father and son.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Arion gently squeezed Alethea's hand and she smiled at him encouragingly. Ares didn't miss the exchange.
"Then Arion, take your place before the loom," the youngest looking Fate said.
Arion dropped a careless kiss on Alethea's lips and took his place.
"Do you think he'll actually go through with it?" Playthus whispered in her ear.
"Why wouldn't he?" Alethea's eyes never left Arion's form as Ares moved from his throne to stand beside his son. "Naming him heir isn't that big of a deal."
"Don't you know what doing this in front of the Fates means? It means that Arion becomes immortal. Whether it's this life or the next, Ares has to name Arion as his replacements in his duties. Ares can't get out of this one. It's an eternal bond."
Alethea felt Ares's eyes on her as she pretended to be solely focused on Arion. Inside her heart was racing. The God of War didn't take rejection well, would he take Alethea's rejection out on Arion?
"Ares, the time has come. Is Arion a suitable heir to the Godhood of War?"
Ares's eye locked on Alethea. "Sure. Why not?"
It was his typical smart ass answer and for some reason, Alethea found it comforting. So he wasn't going to let on to Arion what was happening between them. Good. Not that anything was happening, she reminded herself.
"Do you, Arion, want to assume all the responsibilities that come with immortality? Are you ready for that challenge?"
Arion nodded. "Yes."
"Then it is a covenant unbreakable by mortal or God."
Arion fought to keep a smile off of his face as the glow of promise settled around him. Alethea inhaled for the first time since Arion had taken his place before the Fates.
"Now, to the celebration!" Arion waved Alethea to his side. "You will be joining us, won't you, War God?"
Ares's eyes never left Alethea who refused to look at him. She stiffened and tried to look repulsed by the offer.
Ares laughed. "What's a party without me?"
VI.
If he thought he was bothering her by ignoring her and focusing on those two harem girls that appeared out of nowhere, he was wrong. Alethea turned her whole body away from Ares and laid her head on Arion's chest. The four of them lay on a raised sofa bed and sat higher than most guests' heads. It was customary for Arion to celebrate his victories by overlooking all of his men during the celebrations atop one of these elevated platforms. Ares was guest of honor, and as such, he was entitled to share the bed and fine food with Arion. Alethea shuddered at being so near him and not being able to speak to him, which caused even more revulsion on her part.
Arion cradled her against his chest while he spoke to the generals who were atop their own elevated couches, but none were as high or as wide as Arion's.
"Arion, not that this isn't a lovely--shindig--and everything," Ares said drolly, "but don't you have any entertainment planned?"
Arion was immediately at his father's attention. "What did you have in mind?"
Ares smiled down at the two hussies that were splayed across his chest. "Perhaps a little dance?"
Arion smiled. "Surely, you don't think your--friends could keep up with Alethea?"
Alethea's eyes immediately sought out Arion's. There was nothing she wanted to do less than dance in front of the guests at the party. Surely, he wouldn't ask it of her.
"She dances? My, my, how quaint," Ares muttered. "They're professionally trained to taunt and tease with their dancing. A good time for all to be had."
"They can't hold a candle to Alethea."
"Arion--" Alethea's voice held a warning.
"Shall we see then?" Ares raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them.
Arion smiled, a smug smile that mirrored Ares's. "Certainly."
Alethea looked at Arion. "I don't feel like dancing."
"Please?" Arion whispered in her ear. "Do it for me, and show the War God something he'll never have."
"Arion, don't ask me to do this," Alethea pleaded.
"It's just a dance, Thea. Please?" he stuck out his lower lip and pouted.
Reluctantly, Alethea stood and waited until two slaves could help her to the ground. From his place among the standing people, Playthus saw Alethea take center stage followed by Ares's harem girls. He sent her a questioning look, but when she didn't answer, he made his way to the couch and was assisted to Arion's right-hand position, where he could watch the show without distraction.
"A little music," Arion called and from the distance a slow, sultry rhythmic beat ebbed into the spirit of the crowd, causing them to still their tongues and turn to face the three beautiful women who were about to dance.
Alethea closed her eyes and let the seductive charm of the music sink into her skin, without realizing it, her hips began to sway and one hand thrust upward while the other twisted itself in the air above her head. Tentatively, one foot peeked out from beneath her red silk dress revealing a slit all the way up to her hip. The other leg snaked forward as she began to twist and turn to the beat.
She opened her eyes and saw the eyes of every man in the room on her, but none of them mattered. The only pair of eyes she sought were the eyes of the one she was supposed to be ignoring. She returned his gazed boldly, fearlessly, she dipped and swayed to the music. She knew that the women behind her had faded from sight that only she remained, the red of her gown catching the light from the torches and falling from her like silk fire. Her hair lightly grazed her skin as she continued to move and twist like she was possessed by the music.
Suddenly, the crowd faded away. They all began blurs in the torch light and the only person she danced for was the God of War who couldn't tear his eyes away from her as she silently beckoned him with each movement. She imagined it was his touch she felt instead of the silk of the dress that covered her skin and her thoughts came through she spun and turned as the song ended and she was left standing before a speechless crowd.
For a second there was nothing. Then the applause broke, it was loud and boisterous. Men cheered her, calling her name and praises as she smiled and bowed before returning to her place with Arion.
"Didn't I tell you? She absolutely steals the show, doesn't she?" Arion was shouting to anyone that would listen.
Alethea purposely didn't meet Ares's searing gaze as she walked around the cheering audience. Arion jumped down from the place of honor and took her hand.
Turning before the guests of the party, he waved them silent. "As you all know, I'm a sucker for a challenge. I've faced down barbarians, demons, warlords and corrupt kings. I have a reputation for dealing with such riff raff, but right now, I'm about to face another challenge. Men, as you know, tonight was a big night for me. And there's only one thing that could make me happier."
He turned to Alethea who stood smiling at him as he spoke. Without preamble, he dropped to one knee. Alethea's breath caught in her throat.
"Alethea, with Aphrodite's blessing, will you marry me?"
x.X.x.
Alethea walked in the darkness blindly, without knowing her way. She tried to still the racing of her heart but it wouldn't be stopped. She glanced down at her hand. The silver ring glinted in the moonlight.
She was to marry Arion. She didn't remember saying yes, but she must have because the ring was on her finger. She didn't remember when the fight broke out between the two generals who wished to be the first to congratulate Arion and she didn't remember slipping through the crowd, ignoring the scowl of a very pissed off God of War.
"Well, you can't marry him."
It was the last voice she needed to hear. She didn't turn around or even slow her pace.
"Watch me."
She may be confused about the whole ordeal but there was no need to let him know that. She could pretend to be the lovesick girl; she'd been the playing the part for hours now. It hadn't changed how she felt, even though she thought it might when she turned down Aphrodite's offer to make her fall in love with Arion. Alethea had thought that maybe if she pretended that it would be all right, that it would be all right, but it had only served to complicate things further.
"Tell me, if you're so excited about it, why are you stumbling out here in the dark?" Ares's voice was taunting, and Alethea needed anything but that right now.
"I needed air," she answered without looking at him. She wasn't looking at anything, which is why she collided with his chest.
"Sure you did," he shrugged, not believing her. "You don't love him."
"Yes, I do."
"No, you don't. If you loved him, you wouldn't have had to have Aphrodite charm your sight," he answered.
She hadn't, but the fact that he'd actually figured out what could possibly be the reason for her sudden infatuation with Arion made her begrudgingly admit that the God of War was no idiot.
"So what if I did? All's well that ends well. I'll marry Arion, you'll retire, he'll become God of War and I'll be his queen or something like that."
Ares grabbed her arm as she started to turn. "Stop it. Stop this game. You don't love him, you're not going to marry him and the only queen you'll ever be is mine."
He jerked her back against him and crushed her mouth beneath his in a vicious kiss. In spite of herself, Alethea kissed him back and then fought with every bit of her strength to pull away from him.
"That proves it," he said as she jerked out of his grasp and started walking toward party. "You can't kiss me like that or dance for me like that--"
"I danced for Arion," she whirled around. "I did it because he asked it of me."
"You did it because you knew it would get me all riled up. You liked doing that to me, you know I want you and you delight in finding ways to torment me."
"Yes, that's it. It's not like you hide in the shadows and wait for a moment to jump out and try to seduce me away from your son. I am promised to him, Ares. I have given my word to him and I'll be damned before I break it. And for your information, Aphrodite offered to charm my vision, but I said no. That was a mistake. One that I will fix tomorrow morning."
"Okay, you want to go to Aphrodite so that she can make your relationship with Arion all roses and sunshine? Go ahead, but think about this before you do, what if there's a reason that you're unhappy with him? What if it's because you're not meant to be with him?"
"Are you implying that I'm meant to be with you? Gods and mortals were not meant to fall in love, Ares. It just doesn't work that way. Gods lack the heart to make it work and mortals lack the ability to endure it. Haven't you learned that by now?"
Ares flinched.
"If it's a jealousy game between you and Arion, that's one thing but speaking to me of love is something completely different. Arion was right. Gods aren't capable of love," Alethea said, shaking her head.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of," Ares said in a cold voice, and then he was gone, leaving Alethea in the dark.
VII.
"So you like the ring?" Arion was like a child as he watched Alethea brush out her hair in the mirror.
The party was long over and many people were either passed out from drink or sleeping from fatigue. Alethea had returned to the tent and waited for Arion who appeared drunk, happy and tired.
"Very much," she smiled, turning to face him. "We will be happy, won't we?"
"Of course, we'll be happy," he said, coming over to wrap his arms around her. He looked at their reflection for a long moment before standing up. "There's something else I want to give you. Something that's very special to me."
"Arion, you don't have to give me anything," Alethea said turning back to brush her hair. "You are far too good to me now."
He was bent over a trunk in the corner of the room, rummaging through his belongings. When he stood up he carried a bit of black linen. He carried it gently, as if he were afraid it would break. He sat it down in the middle of Alethea's lap. She put the brush down and turned to look at him.
"What is it?"
"Open it," he nodded encouragingly.
Alethea unwrapped the cloth slowly and revealed a steel disk with razor sharp edges and a bronze carving in the middle. It came apart she realized into two pieces. She had never seen anything so fine or so deadly in her life.
"What is it?" she asked against, touching the bronze in the middle. It was warm to the touch, as if alive, she realized.
"I don't know the proper name for it," Arion admitted. "It was the only thing of my mother's I ever had."
Alethea looked at Arion and felt her eyes well up with tears. "Thank you."
"I never knew her," Arion said, turning away from her. "No one ever spoke of her, but I imagine that if she were alive and met you, she would love you as much as I do."
Alethea lifted the disk and felt the weight in her hands. She could feel the power radiating off of it.
"Do you believe in people meant to be together?" Alethea whispered, still in awe looking up at Arion.
He was saved from reply when Playthus burst into the room.
"Arion, you're needed," he said briskly. "Your foreign generals are about to be slaughtered."
Arion looked at Alethea who nodded. He was on his feet and out the door in seconds. Playthus remained.
"We don't have much time," he said to Alethea as he stuck his head out of the door. Simon appeared with a blonde woman in a cape.
"What's this?" Alethea asked, still holding the disk. "Playthus? Simon? What's going on?"
"Alethea, we don't have much time," he repeated. "Get your cloak and follow me. It's not safe to talk here."
Sensing the urgency in his voice, Alethea pulled on a red velvet cloak around her shoulders and followed the men outside. Playthus took her hand and led her through the village and to the forest beyond its borders.
"Okay, this is far enough, what's going on?" Alethea demanded, looking at the three of them.
The blonde woman pulled off the cloak, and her face struck Alethea as being familiar. The blue green eyes, the short shorn blonde hair. She knew the woman but didn't know where from, until the girl tripped over a root and nearly fell on her face. She was the priestess from the temple who had broken the vase.
"Playthus?" Alethea said again, causing him to look at her carefully.
"Alethea, there's something you should know," he started slowly. Then he looked over at the girl. "Tell her."
The girl looked between them. "Aw, I don't know. I told you, can't you tell her? I mean, she has a reputation, what if she gets mad? Then what? What if she's the type that kills the messenger?"
"She won't kill you, will you, Alethea?"
Alethea looked between them all very confused. "I don't plan on killing anyone. Now, what is going on?"
"Alethea, this is Daphne. She's a priestess at the temple of Aphrodite," Simon said nodding between the women. "I happened to be around the temple, and found her sneaking out to try and find you. Her story is interesting and I think you should hear it."
"Then by all means tell me the story," Alethea nearly roared. "Arion, will be looking for me--"
"Okay, okay, just spit it out all ready," Playthus ordered the girl.
"Well, I was doing my duties as head priestess at the temple," the girl emphasized every word as if it were important. "When all of a sudden I hear yelling coming from one of the main chambers. Who should I see but the God of War and the Goddess herself, yelling at each other about something Aphrodite did, but that's not the good part. The best part is that it seems that our very own Alethea--the new fiancée of Arion himself--"
Alethea felt the presence of the assassin before she knew he was behind her. Without thinking, she whirled around and threw the disk that she had unconsciously carried from the tent. It whizzed through the air and struck the assassin with such force that he flew backwards out of the clearing. Then just as easily as it flew from her, the disk flew back to her waiting hand.
"--is the reincarnation of Xena, Warrior Princess."
x.X.x.
Alethea didn't even hear Daphne finish her sentence. The memories flooded back as only they could. She could feel everything about her past life come back to her. The feel of the sword in her hands, the leather strips on her legs, the heavy breastplate on her chest. The smells of the wilderness and forests graced her nostrils as the did the scent of blood and the battlefield. She could hear the sounds of laughter--two voices: hers and another--Gabrielle's?
"Even in death, I'll never leave you."
"You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
The chakram--that was the name of the disk--she knew it without a doubt and knew the way it fit her hand so well--was dropped to the ground as she closed her eyes.
From the distance she could hear someone calling, "Alethea!" yet at the same time, she could hear someone else calling "Xena!"
She was riding through the fields, still shunned and ostracized. Then she was looking into Gabrielle's eyes and finding all the love and acceptance she needed. She was laughing, fishing, looking up at the stars. A cold crept over her, now she was fighting on a field far away--her dreams--these were her dreams!
Without a word, she left the clearing at the three faces of concern. She found her way to the river, though she wasn't sure how she made it there. She sat down on a log by the flow and just stared at the black water. So many memories, yet they weren't unfamiliar. She'd been dreaming these memories all of her life.
She didn't look up when Playthus sat down next to her on the log.
"What she said is true, isn't it? You're the reincarnation of Xena," he said matter-of-factly.
Alethea didn't say anything, she couldn't make her mouth work with all the things going on inside her head. She could remember holding Solan, watching Borias die, and knowing that she would have to change her life. She remember Caesar and Britannia and Hope and Dahak. She remembered the hate and the love that forgave her. Eve and Eli--she knew those names and had faces to match them. She remember dying and coming back to life and then dying again in the land of Jappa--and Gabrielle? What had happened to Gabrielle?
"Your brother told me about your dreams--it all makes sense now, doesn't it? Why you could always fight well, why you were unafraid of anything. You've got generations of warrior princess to live up to. You're the reincarnation of Xena," Playthus repeated.
Alethea turned to look at him, and she felt for the first time as if she really saw him. She knew his eyes and his voice, but for the first time, she saw something more.
"Is this even possible?" Alethea asked softly.
"It would explain why Ares has been hot on your trail," Playthus nodded. "And why you're not afraid of war or when you kill a man, you don't think twice about it."
"But why me? I don't want this, Playthus," her eyes sought his. "I didn't ask to be her. I didn't ask to leave the farm and find myself here being tugged between the God of War and his son. What am I supposed to do now? Find some leather and start riding around the country side righting wrongs? That's not me. I'm not crusader for right, I don't have a bloody past that I'm trying to atone for. And what's worse, the one person I would to turn to, isn't here."
"Gabrielle?" Playthus asked.
Alethea nodded. "You can't tell me that accident-waiting to happen is supposed to be my soul mate and help me be strong during times of crisis."
"Daphne? She's supposed to be Gabrielle?"
"If we're going by appearances," Alethea sighed. "I don't think I can do this, Playthus. I don't think I can be Xena and myself."
"Alethea, you can do anything," Playthus said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I've known that since the first time I saw you. You're strong enough to be ten Xenas."
She turned her tearstained face to his. "Really?"
"Yes," Playthus wiped her tears away. "And I may not look like Gabrielle but I'll always be at your side."
Alethea curled further into his warmth. "Thank you."
Playthus dipped his head further and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Alethea felt the pressure of his lips and drew back to look into his eyes. Playthus's mouth was scant inches from hers. Their lips were almost touching.
"Alethea! We have to go, NOW!" Simon called from the clearing, causing Alethea and Playthus to break apart.
On the way back to the inn, Alethea tried not to think of anything that had just happened--her memories or the fact that she had almost kissed Playthus, but at that moment, she had felt closer to him than any other person in her whole life. She had soaked his strength up like a sponge and knew what she must do. She only asked for the courage to do it.