Authors Notes:

Hey everyone first let me say thank you so much for your patience and understanding on the delay. My beautiful, wonderful, magnificent beta worked her butt off to get these chapters edited and back to me so I could get them out to you as fast as we could. Hopefully I didn't lose a bunch of ya to the delay.

Okay now about this chapter, I am using Roman Gods and Goddesses in this chapter. Just so that you have a quick reference in case you are unfamiliar with them. Zeus (Ruler of all the Gods) in Greek mythology is Jupiter in Roman Mythology; Aphrodite (Goddess of love) is Venus in Roman myths, Athena (Goddess of wisdom, learning, arts, sciences, medicine, dying, trade, and war. She actually looks over a bit of everything, and she is a major player in this story.) She is also known as Minerva. Ares (God of war) is known as Mars. The last God I mention in this chapter is Vulcan, that is what he is most commonly referred too even when people are speaking of the Greeks Myths, but really in Greek Myths he is called Hephaestus, Vulcan is the Roman persona. He is the lord of the forge and fire. I don't really want to give ya'll much more detail then that when it comes to the Gods. I have all kinds back round on each but I am not sure if it is going to be relevant to the story so I won't bore you with those details. I will be using more Gods and Goddesses in future chapters but I will give ya'll the run down on them in the Authors notes. I really hope ya'll take the time to read them because sometimes I actually put important info in them. Hehehe.

As always I want to give all of you a ton of love for taking the time to read and review my work. It means a ton to me and truly encourages me to keep going. So please people remember to hit the little green button and tell me what you think, be it good, bad, or indifferent. I know I don't always respond to you guys, because if I did I would be spending more time writing responses then writing the stories I create, but I try and take the time to answer those of you who are confused or have something negative to say. I will always try and explained myself if there is something you are bothered by. I am more than happy to give my reasoning for doing things in the story, as long as I don't give away and future plot.

One last thing, I am in the final stages of my website going up. Catie, my beautiful editor, is working on my past work so that it is all polished and shiny, my sister is helping me with the music factor, even though a ton of you have helped with that as well, I do still have to get some pictures together for the site, but that isn't as important as the rest. I will let you guys know so you can go and check it out. I am excited to have all of you come and tell me what you think.

Okay so I lied there is one more thing, can I just say I am super flattered that ya'll like my sex scenes. I actually find it extremely humors that ya'll enjoy them so much. Ya'll should ask Catie, I HATE writing them. She is always great about listening to me whine and complain about having to get through each scene. I actually struggle writing them, it takes me days to write just a few pages of sex. Every writer has their strengths and weaknesses and I know that I have a much easier time working with the action scenes then the sex scenes. If I could write my stories without them I would. I just feel like they are necessary because I know I am always bothered when someone pretends like sex just doesn't occur or leads all the way up to it and then does the cutaway to the fireplace crap. Hehe. So yeah, thanks ya'll for loving them; it makes me feel better about struggling through them.

Much love from the west coast,

Lilli

Chapter 14:

(Godric's P.O.V.)

I run my fingers through Sookie's hair and allow myself to drift back. Back to that time when I was still human, back to the time when my world was changed forever, back to the only time in my long life where I was ever truly innocent. It is amazing how quickly things can change; my life was turned upside down with the simple ringing of a bell.

I take a deep breath and begin my tale. "I was a man then, by today's standards I would be nothing more than a boy still trying to find his way, but by my twentieth turn of the seasons I was very much a man. I had a nice home, a wife who had blessed me with two beautiful children, and a fairly profitable business selling and trading fresh olives and various other vegetables. My father was the leader of our little town, and he trained me to take his place for when the time finally came that he would leave this world and move on to the next. We lived a fairly quiet life. We were far enough away from Rome that we were not pulled into any of the skirmishes that the foolish politicians undertook. We had raiders from time to time, but they were few and far between and nothing that my little town could not handle.

"The day that my life changed for me, the day that I was truly born into my destiny is one I will never forget. I was in the field, playing with my girls; I did not have much to do that day, and my easy lifestyle allowed me to be more active in my children's lives, much more than most parents of that time. I was very blessed. They were very little, maybe four and five at the time. It is hard for me to remember some of the exact details, but I remember their laughter. It would echo off the olive trees and wrap itself around me in a shroud of love and comfort.

"We were chasing each other through the trees, without a care in the world, when the sound rang out and shattered my world forever. I had heard it many times before, and it was never a good thing, but never had I heard it with such disastrous consequences. I will never forget the unearthly ringing of the warning bell from that day.

"Like many villages of that era we had large gates that surrounded our village, and scattered here and there were watchtowers that would warn us if trouble approached. Most of the time it was just starving raiders from the east who were just trying to feed their families; we hardly ever had much more than a small dust up, and it was never anything we could not handle. The raiders always did damage of course, and sometimes lives were lost. We depended on our crops to sustain ourselves, just as much as these raiders depended on the things they took away from us, stupidity and desperation often lead to an untimely end.

"This time though, this time it was different, although I didn't know it yet. 'Raina, Lillith, come here!' I yelled at my girls, their little cherub faces showed their hurt that I would raise my voice to them, but I needed to get them to safety. There was no real way of knowing how much danger we were in or how soon it would be upon us. I quickly rushed my girls into the house and found my wife, Sabean, waiting for me anxiously at the doorway.

"'What is it Godric?' She asked me, worrying at her bottom lip, just like she always did whenever she was overly anxious. Sabean and I had known each other for as long as I had memories. She was born and raised in the village to one of the more predominate families and after she was born, my father arranged my marriage to her. I was not more the three at the time of her birth, but from the day she was born we were inseparable.

"We were the best of friends; I think that is the best way to describe it. We did everything together; we went swimming, and fishing, and got into all kinds of mischief. I still remember the day when I turned 15 and my father told me that I was to marry her. I was outraged. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with her, she was very pretty and extremely smart, but I felt like I should have the power to choose my own fate. My father just laughed at me and said, 'Someday Godric, you will be a man and you will walk your own path, but never be foolish enough to think that you can make your own fate. Fate chooses you Godric, your string has been measured and the outcome is set. Yes, there will be ultimate decisions that will lead you one way or another, to either tragedy or happiness, but your path is still set. You must try and accept this, and live the best that you can.'

"I was so angry at him that I did not speak to him for months after mine and Sabean's wedding had passed. I was young and foolish and I wish that I had not wasted that time now, but he was right. I accepted my lot; I married Sabean and had children with her. I did what was expected of me. We of course grew very fond of each other, but I am still unsure if it was true love. I loved her in my own way I suppose, but she too had a duty to perform and never once batted an eye at doing it.

"Because of all of this, I knew my wife very well, and I knew that she was more than just nervous, she was scared. I took her into my arms and kissed her forehead, trying to comfort her the best I could. 'I do not know what is going on, but I have to go Sabean. I have to go meet with my father and the other men so that we can organize and prepare for whatever is to come. Bolt the door behind me and only open it for villagers after the fighting is over. Understand?'

"She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. I had never seen her behave in such a manner before. She did not cry on our wedding day, she did not cry when our girls were born, she had never cried before any of the other raids, she didn't even cry when she slipped on some rocks by the water when we children and busted her knee open so badly the healers thought she would lose the limb. She was brave, always so brave. In so many ways, I wish that last encounter had occurred differently. I wish I would have stayed with her. She begged, and she pleaded for me not to go. I didn't listen. I had an obligation to protect all of my village, not just my wife and my children, but all of the wives and all of the children were my responsibility.

"I was angry at her sudden show of weakness, especially in a time where she could not be weak. She needed to be strong for herself, for our girls. I lifted her up off of the floor and shook her and raised my voice in anger at her. I had never done such a thing and I could see the fear on her face at my own out of character behavior. 'Get a hold of yourself woman!' I bellowed at her, shaking her roughly again. 'You need to be strong for our children, protect our girls, all will be well. But I will not put up with this sudden insipid behavior of yours.' I dropped her and turned to my girls. I kissed them both softly, and whispered my love and devotion to them, telling them I would be back soon.

"I turned and walked away, just as I reached the door I heard my wife whisper 'I love you Godric.' I was still so angry with her, that I didn't stop. I should have stopped. Because her words were out of character for her it only fueled my anger further; we had never said those words to each other. I left angry and never told her that I too cared for her, I should have.

"I tried to shake off my wife's dark cloud as I rushed through the town and into the main hall. It was a large room and served as our gathering point for any event. Weddings, funerals, coming of age ceremonies, all were conducted in this structure. It had stood as the center of our town since my great-great-great-grandfather had come to this region with his family to settle down.

"The large doors stood open and I could see men rushing to and fro, like busy little bees. Everyone was coming here to be told what was expected of them by my father, and then rushing off to do whatever it was that needed to be done. I push through the crowd and find my way to my father's side, expecting him to send me off just like the rest, but he didn't even look at me when I stepped beside him. I shadowed his every movement. I waited through his every command to every other man in the village, and never once did he look up at me.

"The other men of the town noticed my father's odd behavior as well. They all shot me sidelong glances; I could see the questions on their faces. I was finding myself becoming more and more frustrated by the moment. First my wife, and now my father. I was at a loss as to how I would handle the situation. When the last man had come and gone my father finally looked at me. He had a sad smile on his face; thinking back on it, I think he knew what was going to happen. 'Sit down son,'

"'Father we do not have time for this, there is danger approaching and we need to be out there preparing for battle.' I was so appalled at the time that he wanted to take the time to sit down to talk, when there were things that needed doing. He only smiled at me and patted my shoulder and led me over to one of the large tables that sat off to the side of the room.

"'Indulge an old man for a few moments,' he laughed, but it was not the sound of merriment that I was used to. No, it was the sound of the heavy weight of time settling onto his shoulders. I had chills from that laughter; I had never heard any of the elders laugh in such a way. My father's burden was palpable, and it visibly hunched his shoulders trying to drag him down. Funny how I had never noticed before, but I have often found over the years that we are often blind to that which we do not wish to see. And I never wanted to see my father in such a helpless manner.

"'Godric, there are many things I wish to tell you, but I fear that our time is short. There are things about your mother and your life that I have never revealed to you because a deal was struck and a promise was made. I wish that I would have had the courage to speak to you about these things before today, but I did not. That is one thing you must always remember son, try and live each day to its fullest and make sure you never have any regrets. You cannot go back and change the past son, so make damn sure that you make the most of the present.

"'Father you speak as if I will never see you again after today, it is just a raid. I have been in many battles; this is not my first time. I am not a child for you to fret and worry over. First Sabean and now you, have you all lost your minds? There will be plenty of time to tell me whatever you wish after the battle.

"'Just remember son, you are special and well… I love you very much.' I was floored, twice in one day I had heard the profession of someone else's affection towards me and I was so off kilter that I didn't know how to respond to him. 'But you are right we must get to the battle.' He stood and took a few steps towards the door and then stopped midstride, he turned back to me and chuckled lightly. 'I must be getting old, boy go and fetch my sword from the cache in the back, I forgot to grab it.'

"I should have known something was going on. As if the profession of love wasn't enough, my father never forgot a thing, EVER! I didn't think anything of it though; I simply turned on my boot heel and started towards our weapons storage. I heard a soft 'I am truly sorry son,' before I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head and then the world went dark.

"I am unsure of how long I was unconscious for, but when I awoke I was in a dark, cool room. I knew from the feel of the floor and the coolness, yet dryness of the air that I must be in the root cellar of the meeting hall. I was angry, beyond angry, that my father would hit me over the head and knock me out and stash me away like some small child. I plotted and schemed for ways to strike back at him, as I felt my way across the floor. I finally found the ladder that led up and out of the cellar and pushed the heavy hatch open.

"The second my head emerged from that hole, a scream of pain escaped from me. It was so wild, so sorrowful, so foreign, that for a long time I did not recognize it as my own. I remember that I slipped on the rung of ladder because my body shook so badly. I hit my chin on the edge of the entrance and barely caught myself before I fell back into the root cellar. I still have a scar from it.

"I managed to pull myself out of the hole and look around at the devastation that surrounded me. My entire village was gone. Nothing remained but blackened earth, rubble and ashes. A few fires still burned here and there, but they were very small. I knew that I must have been asleep down in that hole for a very long time, with everything being burnt to the ground like this.

"I pounded the earth and screamed about the unfairness of it all. Why had my father done such a thing? I could have helped, I should have helped, I could have saved them, or died by their side trying. I was angry about everything; I didn't even know how I managed to survive such a horrible incident. But somehow I did survive; the hatch to the root cellar didn't even have a single scorch mark on it.

"A suddenly painful thought flashed through my head as I stared down at the incredibly unmarred hatch of the cellar, and I jumped up, took off, and ran. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me, faster than I had ever gone before in my life and skidded to a stop in front of the ash and soot that remained of my home. I screamed for my wife, for my children, but they didn't answer. I must have poured over every inch of the blackened earth, looking for any sign that my wife and children were still alive, that somehow they managed to escape whatever occurred here. I found nothing. The fire was just too great, if they were in here it would have burnt even their bones to ash, and I wept for the loss of everything I had ever known.

"I slowly made my way through the village, flitting from one home to the next, searching in vain over and over again to find any survivors. The hot earth burned my hands, my face, my lungs, but I didn't care. I just wanted to find someone, anyone, who could tell me what occurred here. There was no one. I finally came to edge of my village and found the first proof that at least some of my people were murdered. The raiders, whoever they were, had dug a large hole and thrown, what I could only assume were bodies, into it. They set them ablaze just like everything else in my town. The only reason I even knew that people had been thrown into that gaping back hole was that there were drag marks all around it, mixed in with dried blood and various weapons and clothing. They were sprinkled all around the devils pit like macabre decorations.

"I was truly at a loss as to what to do, where to go, how to proceed from this awful tragedy. I look up and I almost laughed. On the hill, just outside of my village stood one building, the temple of all Gods and Goddesses. I found it so funny that these murderous animals could kill innocent women and children and yet leave the temple completely unscathed. I suppose though, that if I put myself in their shoes I would probably feel the same. I mean, you have to know that you are already damned to eternity to burn in Hades fiery pit, why anger the Gods and Goddesses further by torching their sacred temple?

"I trudged my way up the hill. I had never been big on prayer, in fact I don't think I had ever stepped foot in a temple my whole life, but I had nothing left to lose and much to gain should the Gods and Goddesses choose to hear my pleas. I slowly pushed open the heavy doors and was amazed by the pristine inside. If I closed my eyes, and pretended really hard, I could almost ignore the utter devastation that lay at the bottom of the hill.

"My eyes zeroed in on the immense form of the almighty Jupiter, if anyone could help me, guide me, tell me where to go from here it would be him. I stepped into the temple, but each step towards the almighty became heavier and heavier, my emotions were dragging me down further and further. I was almost to him when I collapse from weariness. My knees hit first, and I winced internally waiting for the smack of my face meeting cold hard marble, but the pain never came. Instead I was wrapped up into to warm arms; they enfolded around and pulled me closer to a very soft, very feminine body. The feel of this woman's arms wrapped around, the feeling of comfort and love and trust that I had flowing though me, the sheltered feeling of home, ripped out the last of my self control.

"I started to cry, and not those manly silent tears that men do when they allow themselves such emotions. No, this was a heart wrenching sob, which shook every inch of my being. 'Sshh son, sshh. I know, I know, everything will be all right, I promise. I am sorry, I am so, so sorry.' Her musical voice began to work its magic on me, soothing my soul and healing some of my pain, but I was surprised to her own pain in her words. She was truly remorseful for what I had endured, and yet I was confused because I thought that no one had survived the onslaught.

"I gently pull myself away enough to look up and I gasp audibly and stumble backwards. 'You're… you're… you are the Goddess Minerva,' I say, stumbling over my words and shock. My mind reeled with so many things, only one of which was the fact that the Goddess had just spent the better part of an hour comforting me, and cried her own tears at my pain. There was no mistaking that it was her. To me she had always been the most, beautiful, the most cunning, the most beloved Goddess, or God for that matter, in creation. I had always felt a special affinity to her, and loved her more than any other. I was always drawn to her, but was so afraid to even step foot inside of a temple to pray to her. I never understood why, I still don't.

"She smiled a small smile, one I had given my own children many times, that look of utter love and devotion that you give when you are indulging them in their silly and irrational musings. 'Minerva, Athena, I have many names, as do the other Gods. We are all the same. Humans just like to make us into their own entity so that they feel like they own us. The funny thing is none of humanity has gotten it right yet. I find that so often humans only see what they choose to see.'

"My body trembled from head to foot, I was scared and confused and unable to get my mind around the idea that I was sitting here speaking with a God. Her face softened slightly and she said, 'Sshh child, it is all right. You should not be startled by my being here. Did you not come here to seek guidance?'

"'Well yes I did, but I was not expecting for a God to come down and answer my prayers, prayers by the way that I hadn't even made yet.'

"'Do you really think it matters that your prayers have yet to leave your lips? I know your heart son, and it is screaming for the loss that you have endured. You need guidance, I can only start you on the path, the rest will be up to you.' She took me by the hand and pulled me to her, holding me and rocking me gently. Once again the feeling of utter comfort and contentment passed through me, it was as if I always belonged there, in her arms. 'There is greatness in you Godric, you are meant to do wonderful things. Your journey will be long though, longer then you can imagine, but I guarantee that you will find great happiness along the way.'

"'How could you possibly know these things? Nothing is definite.' Minerva gave me a withering look. One that said clearly that she was not amused with my questioning.

"'I see all, every outcome of every decision that man will make throughout time and space. I am infinite. Your father was a wise man when he told you that there is only major points along the way in which fate can be turned. Your fate is set son, there is only one point where you will have to choose, but the rewards if you make the correct decision are beyond words.'

"'What are the rewards?'

"She laughed at me. I was angry that she laughed at me, and then she saw my anger and she laughed some more. 'Do you skip to the end of the story before it has even begun? I have for you a gift,'

"'What… what is it?'

"'This is one of those moments child where your life has a pivotal turning point. You can either choose to accept my gift or ignore it; both have good and bad outcomes. Although I have a feeling that you will take the road less traveled. Your whole life has been building for this moment son, you have greatness in you and it can only be fulfilled to its fullest if you accept my blessings.'

"'Are you even going to tell me what this blessing, this gift is?'

"'Always so inquisitive Godric,' she sighed heavily. 'My gift is a cup, but not just any cup, this cup will…' but what she was going to say was cut off by the sound of trumpets echoing through the air and then out of nowhere I was graced by the presence of another God, well, more accurately, another Goddess. There standing in the doorway of the temple was the personification of love. The woman, well Goddess, who was the most beautiful in the whole world.

"'Great, just great, this is all I need right now. As if my life isn't fucked up enough already. This has to be some sort of cosmic joke right?' Venus, the Greeks called her Aphrodite, stood there and stared at me in utter shock. I would imagine that I am the first man that didn't fall to her feet groveling. Venus may be beautiful, and the embodiment of love, but she was also vengeful, and wrathful, her jealousy knew no bounds, and was full of spite and malice to all she felt scorned her in any way. It was probably not the smartest thing in the world to mock her, but I had never liked her. I had heard many tales of her meddlesome ways over the years and none of the stories were pleasant. If she was here it would be nothing but trouble.

"After a long time she turned her attention from me to Minerva. 'Stop what you are doing Minerva, the boy has yet to prove himself. He has not earned that cup.'

"'WHO ARE YOU TO ORDER ANYTHING OF ME!' Minerva screamed, and the ground shook beneath my feet.

"Venus looked well and truly scared, and she should be; Minerva was not one to be messed with. She was many things, but one of them was the female personification of war. Mars, or Ares, had his place but so did Minerva. She guided men to battle just as often as Mars did. I really should have been more afraid of the tussle that was bound to occur between these two Goddesses, but really I was excited to see it. With everything that had happened, I was enjoying the distraction.

"'That boy does not deserve that cup! I have plans for it; I have my own champion that I wish to give it too.'

"Minerva laughed at her, holding her belly and giggling like a little girl. 'Ohhh, poor Venus. The cup was never meant for you. It was forged for him by Vulcan's own hands. Even if I were to give it to you, so that you can give it to whatever silly little flavor of the month you have for yourself, it will work for none but this boy. In anyone else's hands it is nothing more than a useless pile of gold and jewels, a very pretty one mind you, but nothing that will do anyone else any good. You don't even really know what it does, you are just determined to spite me because you THINK you can.'

"'Why will it work for no one else?' Venus said and pouted, actually fucking pouted. She crossed her arms over her ample chest, and stomped one of her delicate feet and huffed loudly. She was like a large child throwing a tantrum because she was not getting her way.

"'Because that is the way it must be so that selfish little children like you don't get any ideas about stealing it from him, that's why.'

"'What makes him so special? He is nothing, he is no one, a farmer from the middle of nowhere. He has done nothing, he should prove himself.'

"'Venus can you really tell me that you can't figure out what is special about the boy? Are you that dense?' Venus looked from Minerva to me and then back again. She stepped away from the doorway, approaching me for the first time since her grand entrance; she slowly walked a circle around me, inspecting me as if I was a horse. If she opened my mouth and looked over my teeth I would hit her, Goddess or no Goddess, woman or no woman; I was not some farm animal.

"She stopped off to my side, looking at my profile, and I crossed my arms over my chest and tucked my fingers underneath my biceps. I was getting more and more aggravated and I was afraid that I would slap Aphrodite just because she was getting under my skin. Again, not the smartest thought in the world, but my nerves were shot. 'NO!' she gasped suddenly. 'It can't be. You mean to tell me that…'

"Minerva strode across the room and slapped her face effectively stopping whatever it was that she was about to say. 'Enough! Yes it is true and that is the end of that!'

"'But… but… it's not fair!'

"'Life never is girl.'

"'He should still have to prove himself, regardless of who he is. He should still have to prove himself worthy of a gift from the Gods.'

"Minerva rubbed her eyes; she looked so weary at the moment. In a hushed tone she said, 'If I agree to let you test him I have conditions.' Venus opened her moth to protest but Minerva waved her off, and with a flick of the wrist her big old gapping mouth snapped shut. 'One, you will never speak of what you have discovered today to anyone ever. If you even attempt to say anything your immortality will be stripped from you and you will be cast out with no memory of your former self. I warn you Venus, it will not be all fun and roses if you are cast out. I will personally ensure that your beauty will be stripped from you and that your remaining days will be miserable and terrible. The only, ONLY exception to this is if I personally grant you permission and am present. Do you understand?'

"She simply nodded her head in agreement; she looked well and truly frightened. 'Good. Second after he passes his tests, and he will pass I assure you, you will leave him alone. His road is going to be hard enough as it is without you interfering. He has what he needs, to find those that need to be found, and he will not need your help. Again, the only exception is if HE seeks you out, or I give you permission. Agreed?'

"'Agreed. Is that all?'

"'Yes,' Minerva sighed in resignation.

"'Good because I know exactly what your first quest should be. You dear boy are going to the mountain home of Vulcan.'

"'First quest,' I said and at the same time Minerva said, 'No you can't send him there, please you can't Venus.' Venus threw her head back and laughed, it was musical and light but it was villainous and venomous; it most definitely was not a good laugh."