Part 7:
Gaul:
The walls flickered eerily from the torch light inside the temple. A woman, dressed in a white robe, approached the altar and gazed at the many offerings left for Teutales. The priestess nodded once in approval and turned around when she heard the footsteps of someone entering the main area of the temple. A dark eyebrow rose in silent query as a man, also dressed in a white robe, approached her.
"All is in readiness," the man said, bowing slightly.
"Good. He is willing, then?" the woman asked softly.
"Yes, my lady. He came here of his own free will."
The priestess nodded. "Bring him here, then."
The acolyte bowed a second time and left the altar room. He returned a few minutes later with several people following him. As the others gathered around in a circle, a very handsome young man wearing a white loincloth approached the priestess, his eyes filled with fire.
The priestess looked at the young man for a long time, her dark brown eyes expressionless as she stared at him. Finally, she motioned to a couple of acolytes and they led the young man to a long stone table and had him lie down on it. A slow, steady chant arose in the temple - a prayer to the god they worshipped.
The priestess approached the stone table and slowly removed a long dagger from the folds of her robe. The young man's eyes were serene as he stared up at the blade and the elaborately jeweled hilt in the woman's hand. His lips spread across in a soft smile as he closed his eyes just as the dagger arched upward and the priestess swiftly plunged it into his heart, the blood from the wound spurting onto her pristine white robe.
Teutales lifted his head and smiled. He turned to Brigandu and said quietly, "It has begun."
Brigandu nodded. "I know, my son." She turned to gaze out the window and silently sighed. "I know."
Mount Olympus:
Zeus entered the Great Hall and sighed when he saw that Hera was still standing inside the room in the same position that she had been standing in when everyone else had left. He approached her slowly, walking around so that he faced her. He shook his head when he saw the expression on her face. "Hera... I know that..." he began slowly.
"I don't wish to talk about this now, Zeus!" Hera hissed. "You're right: Hercules will be needed for this," she admitted grudgingly, as if someone was pressing a sword against the base of her spine and forcing her to speak. "And that is the last I will say upon the subject."
Zeus stared at Hera for a long time before he nodded. "Very well," he said finally. "I..." he stopped whatever he was going to say next, his eyebrows rising.
Hera's ice-blue eyes widened momentarily. "I felt it too," she murmured before Zeus could say anything.
Husband and wife stared at each other for a few moments, then Zeus nodded and sighed. Without a word, the two left the Hall.
Aphrodite appeared before Hephaestus, who was working at his forge in a shower of pink and gold sparkles. He glanced up and his hammer stopped in mid-swing when he saw the expression on her lovely face. "Well, how did it go?" he asked softly, putting the hammer aside. His eyebrow rose as he gathered her into his arms. "Not too well, I gather, by the look on your face."
The Goddess let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh, Hephie! Those two like need to be totally dope-slapped..." she rolled her eyes. "But, they surprised me. They've actually agreed to work together." She chuckled sadly. "At least I'll have Curly to help run interference when it gets too grody!"
Hephaestus laughed softly at that. "We all have our jobs to do," he said, kissing her gently. He turned his head towards the direction of his forge and continued, "Speaking of jobs..."
"I know," Aphrodite murmured. "I'll let you get back to yours, sweet cheeks." She withdrew from his arms and put her hands on her shapely hips. She rewarded him with a beautiful smile, which he returned, and she disappeared in a spray of golden sparkles, leaving behind the scent of roses.
The smile slowly left Hephaestus' lips and he turned back to his forge to continue his work.
