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Dionysos
The Wanderer, who called himself Dion, woke with the sun, which he usually did – when he didn't have a hangover that was. And these, he had to admit, had been quite a few ocer the years before he learned to deal with the power of wine. Yesterday he had only drunk two or three cups, and then he had slept soundly, so now he felt rested and strengthened.
The Lady Ariadne was still asleep, auburn curls of hair covering her sweet face, and her breast was heaving gently. She had a pretty nose covered in freckles, little cherry lips and behind those lids sparkling emerald eyes were hidden. Still that was not what had attracted Dion last night. He was quite used to attractive girls. No, it was Ariadne's wits and zest that had fascinated him. She had gusto and humour, and Dion almost felt sorry for this Theseus for letting such a lady slip through his fingers.
" His loss my luck", Dion mumbled to himself and rose. He took off his tunic and after a moment's hesitation he removed his pants too. Ariadne would see him naked sooner or later anyway, he reckoned. Then he ran out into the breakers for a refreshing morning bath.
Ariadne was awake when he came ashore, and she blushed slightly and turned away when he didn't do anything to cover his privates.
" Slept well?" Dion asked her.
" Not so sure. It was cold and the ground was hard. I've never slept outdoors in my entire life. "
" It's never too late to start" Dion said and squatted next to her, starting to dress.
" How odd", Ariadne said, looking at him trough the corner of her eyes.
" What?"
" You're dry! A moment ago you were glistening with sea-water and now you're all dry. "
" Nothing odd with that, I don't like getting dressed when I'm wet."
" But how did you…?"
" You're hungry?"
" More curious about…" Ariadne started, but once again her stomach betrayed her. Dion opened up his sack again and offered her bread and cheese and some fruit she had never seen before, which tasted like stored sunlight.
" Oranges", Dion answered her question. "They grove far away from here, but I'm thinking of planting some at home. My father says that they can thrive here as well."
" Your father? He's in gardening?" Ariadne asked, suddenly remembering that Dion had promised to tell about himself today.
" No, he's a… well, an executive. My aunt Dee is the gardener of the family. She has these wonderful gardens which she runs together with her daughter who works part-time… Oh – there's our ride!" Dion interrupted himself.
Ariadne followed her companion's looks – and almost dropped her cheek on the ground. By the shore laid the most magnificent ship she had ever seen. It was way larger and more elegant than Theseus' trireme, or for that matter any of the vessels she had seen in the harbour of Knossos. That in spite of Crete being one of the world's most central trading places.
" That's the Crane", Dion answered her unuttered question.
" It's yours?"
" No, it belongs to one of my uncles, I'm only renting it for a while. To get myself across the sea to Anatolia. "
" Anatolia?"
" Have a place there. Come!"
" But…"
" You'd rather stay here? On this miserable shore? Well don't expect anyone else to come and rescue you", Dion smiled mockingly. "A shipwrecked seldom gets a second chance. "
Ariadne stood up obediently, one glance behind, but she had even fewer belongings now than she had carried when she left Crete. In fact the only things she owned were the clothes on her body and the sandals she carried in one hand while following Dion over the shore and up a gangplank to the wonderful ship.
A tall, very handsome man with tanned skin and a row of snow-white teeth saluted Dion when entering the ship.
" My Lord, the captain's cabin has been prepared for you and the Lady. The maidens are preparing her a bath and there are new clothes for her waiting just as commanded. You wish to take the steering wheel today or do you have other plans?"
" I need to talk to this Lady", Dion replied. "You take the wheel, Yisao! We will have lunch at noon, and have my writing tools brought me. And a pair of binoculars."
There were so many questions buzzing in the head of Ariadne when she followed Dion to the Captain's cabin, that she didn't know where to start asking. Steering wheel? Bino – whatsitsname? Dion had commanded? How? Instead of asking she looked back one more time at the island of Naxos. This was the final goodbye to Theseus, she knew it! If he changed his mind and came back, she would be gone. Gone with this mysterious Dion and his magic ship to this place Anatolia, which she knew nothing about.
The ship named The Crane anchored up fast, and soon they were at sea, riding a pleasant breeze eastbound. The waves were glittering in the soft morning sun, the gulls were dancing around the ship and Ariadne even thought she saw dolphins for a short moment. The bringers of luck to sea-farers. And oddly enough she didn't feel sea-sick at all.
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Dion had escorted Ariadne to the Captain's Cabin and there he left her in the skilled hands of a trio of sweet girls about her own age, who had taken care of her bathing. They were all very beautiful, each in her own way, from the buxom Mirba with almost tar-black skin and funny curly hair decorated with pearls and clam-shells, over the dark-haired, slim and olive skinned Lori with her solemn face and crimson lips to the blond Vida with round, sea-blue eyes filled with laughter and an agile athlete's body.
First Ariadne had felt humble in their presence, she could hardly believe that these godlike beings would accept to function as her maidens, if only for the slightest while, but the trio had welcomed her with open arms, helped her with washing her hair and back. After the bath Mirba had given her a wonderful massage while Lori had taken care of her manicure and Vida had threatened her feet.
All the time they had tricked Ariadne into talking, into telling them her story, so when she was done and set out to meet Dion again, she weren't any wiser than when she had entered the cabin. Except for the fact that Dion seemed to keep a complete spa on board his ship. Or his wealthy uncle's ship, whoever he now was.
Dion met her with open arms and a shining smile:
" My sweet Ariadne, you look if possibly even more beautiful than before! Come here!"
He had given her a strong hug and she had felt really strange in his presence. Not uncomfortable but… There had been something else. Something with his spicy and vanilla-like smell and the strong charisma radiating from his lithe body. For the first time Ariadne really looked at Dion. Took in his long, dark hair that flew in the wind and brushed at his high cheek bones, well-chiselled nose and chin and full lips. And those dark eyes that seemed to be drinking in her presence as well as everything around them, not missing a thing. In them she saw intelligence, kindness, humor and curiosity. And a lust for life equalling nothing she had beheld before. And something hard to name avoke somewhere inside her...
He had taken her chin in his hand, bowing down, wanting to steal a kiss. But Ariadne had hesitated:
" Dion! I'm really grateful to you for receiving me as a guest on board here, it's a magnificent ship and your maids were wonderful to me, but I have questions to ask. I think you owe me…"
" Explanations. I know. Come, let's sit down in the shadow at the portside deck. You will get all your explanations honey. "
¤¤¤
" My name is really Dionysos", her host had begun. "I'm one of the gods, although I haven't really found my area of godhood yet. I'm good at arranging parties, and I'm good at getting people to open up and talk to me. But sometimes my parties tend to get a bit wild and those talking to me seem to confess a bit too much and end up in tears and depression. "
" Oh…" was the only thing Ariadne could utter.
" My father, Zeus, says I have to learn. To practise things. To live around mortals to learn to work with them. Every god or goddess who wants to be something more than a generic clerk at Olympos has to do that. And since I don't intend to sit and rotten at that mountaintop all my immortal life, I'm down here learning."
" But Olympos… The home of the gods… I thought that place was wonderful."
" It sure is. In moderate doses. See, I'm too much of an adventurer to enjoy it behind a desk."
Ariadne bit her lips when the words of Dionysos began to sink inside of her. A god! She had met a god! A god who had taken her with him and almost tried to kiss her. That was – nearly scary. What did happen to those ladies who dated gods? Ariadne had vague memories of stories about girlfriends to Apollo who had ended up as trees. That was nothing she wanted. Not at all!
" So now what? she asked her rescuer. You're taking me to Anatolia? What for? To become your mistress?"
" I'm not sure."
" What do you mean? You tried to kiss me down at the main deck, have you changed your mind? Are you too going to sail away from me?"
" Ari, we sure need to work on your self-confidence! I'll not sail away from you! I'm taking you to Anatolia, my Earthly home, and there I intend to spend time with you, get to know you well. I think you can teach me a lot about human nature. And if that is your desire I'll install you in a villa and make sure your every need is taken care of wherever I'm around or gone. "
" But what can I possibly teach – a god?"
" The mortal ways. Of thinking, reasoning, feeling, loving… And perhaps I could use you as proof too. "
" Proof? For what."
" I actually think that mortals and gods are more alike each other than most of my kind like to think. After all, we come from the same Gaia. We're the same species. "
" But you are – immortal… Doesn't that…?"
" My mother was mortal. She – she died when I was born. Birthing a god was too distressing for her body. Too much energies involved. My father felt so guilty about it, he felt that he had killed her, so he granted me something special in return. Something I might collect one day…" Dionysos lost himself in thoughts and Ariadne looked into his kind, dark eyes. He looked almost sad and she felt like comforting him. Before she knew it she had taken his hand, caressing it gently.
" I wish I had known her", he whispered. "Dad said she was so gentle."
" But your dad – Lord Zeus… He's married. To Hera of the Golden Throne. With all due respect, why did he sleep around?"
" He wanted to get away from his responsibilities for a while. His work is demanding. Then I guess he and Hera… Working together – seeing each other 24/7 – sometimes you just need a break."
" 24/7! That's sailors slang. I didn't know gods used that kind of language."
" I pick up a lot. And wait till you hear my uncle Poseidon swear. If I should run this ship on ground, which Faithes forbid, then you would hear him curse so the earth shakes. My half-brother, Hephaestus of the Great Forge, he can be really foul-mouthed too when one of his inventions does not work the way he wants it to. Don't be scared when you meet him, he's actually one of the nicest persons there is."
" You want me to meet – Hephaestus? The great Blacksmith. "
" Sure, you'll get to meet them all. All of my crazy family. In time. "
Ariadne blushed. She could hardly believe her ears. She was to meet the gods! She was actually sitting next to a god, riding his strange boat. Or perhaps this was a dream too. Perhaps she was actually still on board the ship of Theseus, dreaming all this.
No! She could tell a dream from reality. And that was not about pinching her arm, that was about – well, knowing. She knew she was sitting next to this handsome Dionysos, holding his hand. And that she was quite pleased with it.
" Now, can I have that kiss? Or does my Lady have more questions?"
" I think they can wait, Ariadne mumbled, suddenly so aware of his masculine presence."
