Chapter 15:
(Godric's P.O.V.)
"So wait," Sookie says to me impatiently.
"Yes little one?" I ask as I try with all my might not to let my annoyance at her interruption leak into my voice.
"Let me get this straight, your wife was freaking out that your village was about to be attacked, your father was acting really odd telling you there were secrets about yourself that he never told you, he then knocked you out for your own 'good'," she said with those stupid little air quotations that humans do when they are expressing sarcasm. I have never understood why they do it, but they always do. I bite my tongue to resist the urge to snap at her for her cynicism, sarcasm, whatever you would call it. I really did not think now was the time for interruptions or her sarcasm at a situation that cannot be changed. I honestly didn't see the point it all of this.
"So then…" she says clearly unaware of my inner musings and annoyance at her, "you wake up and your entire village has burnt to the ground, everything gone, finito, nothing but ashes, yet somehow you miraculously survive. In your understandable grief you make your way to the only surviving building which just so happens to be a temple and you are comforted by the Goddess Athena… I mean Minerva… whatever and she tells you that you have a great destiny and a magical chalice all the while calling you son and my child. Did you not find anything weird about this situation?"
"Well… uh…" I stumble over my words because I had never really thought about it before. "To be honest I have never thought on it that heavily. Yes I have thought about that day, and tried to understand the tragedy of it all. Everything that came after seemed to be of much more importance in the grand scheme of things. Well, even that is not entirely accurate. My trials were just something that I endured and got through. I suppose I have only ever thought of the cup in the aspect of what will it bring me and when will the promises made to me come to fruition. Why do you pose these questions Sookie? Are you seeing something that has managed to elude me, and not just me, but Eric as well?" I think I say the last with a tad more bitterness and harsh tone than intended.
She sits up and looks down at me, one eyebrow raised and her head cocks to the side slightly. "Are you implying that I could not possibly see something that you could not?"
Eric reaches over and runs his hand down her thigh, obviously trying to sooth her. She turns to him slightly and crosses her arms over her chest, clearly waiting for one of us to say something. "Lover, it is just that, well, Godric and I have gone over this story many, many times and have pondered it all over and over again. For the both of us it has been a very long time constantly examining and reexamining what the cup could mean. I suppose that what Godric is trying to say is…"
"I know very well what he is trying to say ERIC!" she says raising her voice. "Apparently you are saying it as well and I think you are both a couple of idiots to not see what I see. You are both implying that I am too stupid to have any real insight into the situation when I don't even have the full story yet, but I know I am right."
"So enlighten us little one, regale us with what you have managed to figure out in a few short hours what I have not managed to figure out in over two-thousand years."
"No," she says and lies back down. I watch as she snuggles her adorable little ass back into Eric as if she hasn't even said a word.
"No?" I think my mouth is hanging open in shock.
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
"No, a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request. No, used to emphasize or introduce a negative statement. No, not in any degree or manner; not at all." She raises an eyebrow at me daring me to say something, anything.
I narrow my eyes at her. "I know the definition of the word. I meant why are you saying no, why will you not enlighten us with your wisdom?" I may be putting a tad more sarcasm and snide infliction into my words then I intended, with just a dash of outrage and anger, but really, NO? How could she even dare to say such a thing?
"No, I am too stupid to understand, so just finish your story Godric and if I feel like enlightening you later I will."
"This is childish Sookie, tell me!"
"No, are you going to tell me what happened next or not?"
"I could simply refuse until you tell me what you are thinking."
"Well then you're going to be waiting an awfully long time there buddy."
"Buddy? BUDDY? Are you kidding me? You know I can simply refuse to tell you anything until you deem me worthy of your own little musings."
Sookie jumps up and off the bed in a flash. "See! That right there," she says and points at me, "is why I am not telling you shit. I don't really give a fuck about this stupid story, you arrogant, pigheaded, asshole!" She storms away angrily, every step sounds like thunder through the room, as she rushes through the bathroom door and slams it shut behind her.
I look over at Eric, confused about what just happened. I arch my eyebrow at him and he smiles at me lightly. "I think," he says clearly amused with himself and the situation, "that you just pissed off our little beloved for the first time. I think that you just screwed up royally."
"But, I didn't do anything," I whine, and then cringe at the childishness of my own voice.
"You were more than a little condescending to our Sookie." Eric's smug expression has taken a firm root upon his face and I just want to slap it off.
"The look is not appreciated Eric. I did nothing to her. She has no right to be angry and how is it that suddenly I am the asshole? You are the one that infuriates her all the time. I am the reasonable one who keeps you both in line. How is it that suddenly we have switched places?"
"Well, you did kind of belittle her; you can be very condescending at times Godric. I remember being in her shoes when we were first bonded. It was not always an easy thing at times. You are very… opinionated. If you feel that your idea is right, that is the end of the discussion, you are unwilling to listen and even hear anyone else out once you have made up your mind about something. In certain situations it is a great asset, but also one of your greatest weaknesses. You also blind yourself to a lot of angles that you would never have considered because of this. Sometimes there are much simpler solutions that you just are incapable of seeing. You always get us from point a to point b Godric, but often your line is not so straight getting there. It took me hundreds of years before you would even consider anything I said as a viable option, let alone hear me out."
"Of course, because I am older and have been through more and know more than you could. You did not have the necessary experience to input anything into any decision."
"Sookie is right, you are an asshole. I love you Godric, but how arrogant can you be to assume that no one could possibly have any valuable input on any given situation if they are not as old as dirt. Sookie most likely has seen something that is plain as day to her, something that you and I have both obviously missed, but you are unwilling to even listen to her without being an egotistical manic and extremely condescending and dismissive as well. She often has insight that most others do not because of her gift, a subtle turn of phrase will mean something entirely different to her then it would to you or me. Why would you think she would want to tell you anything after you dismiss her so harshly? If I treated her in such a manner what would you say?"
It takes everything I have within me not to hang my head in shame. I have just been chided by MY child, my bonded, and beloved Viking, and he is absolutely correct. If the roles were reversed I would have scolded him harshly. Of course I am not about to tell him this, although the arrogant look on his face tells me plainly that I do not have to. I rise from the bed and walk across the room and tap lightly on the bathroom door.
"Go away," Sookie says, her muffled voice coming so quietly through the door even I can barely hear her. I listen closely and I can just make out her silent sobs.
I sigh a very unnecessary sigh. "Please beloved, open the door."
"Why should I? You are just going to ridicule me and not listen to a word I have to say. If you think so little of me why should I even bother? I thought you were the reasonable one, I thought I could count on you, but obviously I was wrong."
A sharp pain shoots through my chest at her stinging words; I hurt her, and that was never my intention. "I am sorry Sookie, please open the door."
"No." I hear her voice, just on the other side of the door; she must have come closer to it. I can hear her body lean against the door now and slowly slide down, so that she is just on the other side of this flimsy piece of wood. Just one small insignificant barrier between her and I, but it might as well be a ocean with the feelings that are going on. I have no one but myself to blame for her need to feel like she had to be separated from me, from us.
I turn my back to the door and slide down it myself, and bury my face in my hands. "I am sorry Sookie, I did not mean to be such a… such a…"
"I think cocksucker is the word you're looking for," she says loudly through the door and I try to not snort at her snotty quip, but somehow fall short.
"Not the word I would have chosen but adequate. Will you please come out so that I can apologize to you properly and listen to your insight? Please little one, I did not mean to be so arrogant. Eric is right, this is how I always behave, I have had many experiences in my long life and that often blinds me to the fact that others may have more insight into things than me."
Suddenly without warning the door flings open. It catches me off guard and I fall backwards onto the cool tile flooring of the bathroom. The only good thing about being blindsided and hitting my head is that it left me staring up at my angel. "Funny how Eric is the one who manages to be the level headed one in the relationship all of the sudden. With as much as he irritates the hell out of me, you would think he would have been the one pissing me off beyond belief, with you fixing the rift he caused."
I hear Eric snicker quietly from the bed and I watch as Sookie whips her head upwards and looks at him. "Hey, you are not any more innocent than he is buster. I am not happy with you either. You both practically called me stupid and I am not, and I repeat, NOT happy about it. You may have talked some sense into Godric, but that doesn't excuse the fact that you brushed me off as well. You weren't as annoying about it, but you still did it." Eric's shoulders slump slightly, I want to scream HA at him because now he is the one being scolded, by a twenty something human girl I might add, and it doesn't really feel all that good.
I rise up from the floor and pull Sookie into my arms. She resists slightly but does allow me to complete the motion, although you could bounce quarters off of her with her being as stiff as she is. I kiss her forehead and say, "I am sorry Sookie, really and truly. I will try and be more open. You must try and be patient and understanding with me though, I have never had to stop and listen to anyone else's opinion. I have always just known the course that needs to be taken and done what has needed to be done. It is not going to be easy for me."
I feel a wetness spread on my shirt and hear Sookie sniffling softly. "I think this might just be too much. It is hard enough making things work in a normal human couple, then you add to that that you are not human, and then throw in another person, it just seems like it is going to be too much. This is the second argument in less than three hours and if this is what we are going to be doing all the time, how are we ever going to work?"
I stroke her back soothingly and try and find the words that will comfort her, assure her that this is right. "Sookie," I sigh, "little one, I am not saying that we will never disagree on things, it would be a lie and completely unrealistic for me to say that to you. However, I know we, the three of us, belong together. We will face challenges learning how to make it work, especially in the beginning, but it will work and we will be happy."
She looks up at me, her huge blue eyes watery and unsure. "How can you be so certain?"
I smile at her, and try to put as much love and care behind my smile as I can. "Come back to bed with me little one and I will tell you the rest of the story, and then you will understand how I am so sure that we will work. The three of us are meant to be."
She nods at me wearily and I lead her back to the bed, and I scoop her up and softly lay her back down next to Eric. He pulls her into his chest and softly runs his hand down her side, over her shoulder, down her arm, tickling across her ribs, and squeezes her hip lightly. Sookie sighs and snuggles backwards into him further. This action gives me hope that perhaps things will not be as difficult during our adjustment to this new relationship. Twice now we have been able to sooth our hurt feelings fairly quickly. We didn't just give up and walk away; one of us took up the gauntlet and fixed it. It is a very good sign, I smile to myself and climb next to her, lean forward and kiss her soft lips chastely.
"I love you little one, never doubt that," I say.
"Oh I don't," she snorts, "because if I did you would have gotten a frying pan upside your head for treating me like you did."
I can't help but to laugh loudly as a vivid image of Sookie heaving a large iron skillet like a blade and whacking me in the head flits through my inner imagination. Sookie smiles at my laughter and Eric joins in with his own soft chuckle. No doubt he has a similar image dancing through his brain as I do. Our little Sookie, the hellcat, the firecracker, the fierce warrior with a heart of gold, by the Goddess, what a woman. I think in the future I will just have to remember to keep her away from the kitchen when I piss her off.
"Now," I clear my throat reading myself to jump back into the story, "where was I?"
"Venus just told you what your first quest was going to be," Sookie says softly.
"Oh yes Venus." I roll my eyes. "She was a handful to say the least. I was beyond astonished at the fact that I was not only going to have to do a quest, for a cup that was already mine and would only work for me, according to Minerva anyway, but I was going to have to do several. Apparently though Minerva was far more concerned with the fact that Venus was sending me to Vulcan's mountain home.
"'You cannot send him there Venus, please don't do this,' she said, begging with the Goddess to spare me some fate that was still very much a mystery to me.
"'But I can and I will,' Venus says in her singsong voice, dancing slightly in place clearly amused with herself and her own cleverness. 'He agreed to prove his worth and I have the right to set the task. He IS going to see Vulcan.'
"'But…' Minerva says, allowing her words to trail off in a feeble attempt to block me from whatever mischief the arrogant Venus was up to.
"'Enough of this,' I said loudly to both of them and they turned their heads towards me. Minerva, poor beautiful Minerva looked heartbroken, rainbow tears slid down her face. I am not just speaking metaphorically by the way; literally each tear looked like a rainbow was trapped inside. I never did find out whether it was just her tears or if it was all Gods and Goddesses in general, I would imagine that mortals do not see them cry very often, if ever. I had this overwhelming urge to go to her and wrap her in my arms and provide her with all the comfort and love I had within me. I smiled at her softly trying to convey my sorrow for her misery. 'I will be alright,' I almost whisper to her and she simply nods in agreement.
"I turn to Venus, and look her up and down, somehow she had just become even more ugly to me. I truly did not understand how any man, woman, or child could find her beautiful, this smug vindictive thing. Oh how I loathed her, how dare she make the beauty that is Minerva cry those beautiful and yet awful tears. 'Enough of the games Venus tell me what I need to do and where I need to go, so that I can be on my way. I have enough of your insipid games and behavior.'
"'Oh but the games are only beginning young one.' She laughs and claps her hands together, bouncing up and down slightly with her own glee. I suppose it was supposed to be a beautiful laugh, full of promises of sex and love, but it left me feeling cold. I wave my hand at her, trying to encourage her to get on with it and she pouts slightly at me. 'Aww, in such a hurry, do you treat all women this way when you deal with them?'
"'No,' I said as I smugly crossing my arms across my chest. 'Just the annoying ones who insist on wasting my time.'
"'How dare you!' she said, her power flowing around her in a vivid red aura, her long golden locks whipping backwards away from her and floating behind her on the waves of her own power. I stood my ground, unimpressed by her little show.
"'You can't hurt me Venus, you gave your oath. Now, tell me what I need to know so that I can be on my way.' That of course took the wind out of her sails and her power died suddenly; her arms relaxing at her side and her hair fell limply behind her. I could still feel her power ready to lash out at me at the first opportunity, but it was slowly ebbing out of the room.
"'Travel North until you reach the Northern most mountain in Italy. There, amongst the rolling hills in the shadow of Mount Amiata, you will find the entrance to Vulcan's forge.'
"'Wait, wait, wait. I am no fool Venus, everyone knows that Vulcan's forage lies within the heart of Vesuvius. I will not have you sending me running around the country on a fool's errand.'
"Minerva turns to me. 'I assure Godric, Vulcan's forge does lie within the heart of Amiata. Would you hide your most sacred place somewhere that everyone knows about? I think not. He moves about from mountain range to mountain range, his forage always going with him, but he hardly ever takes up residence in Vesuvius anymore. Too many mortals come looking for him there, seeking his favor and getting themselves killed if they manage to gain entrance.'
"I nod to Minerva in understanding; it makes sense that he would be able to transport from one range to another and also stay away from the one mountain that everyone knows has been his lair. If they all go looking there they would never think to search the others. Brilliant.
"Venus taps her foot lightly and huffs loudly. 'Can I go on please?' I wave my hand in acquiesce to signal that she may proceed.
"'Thank you!' she huffs loudly. 'As I was saying, travel north for a fortnight and you will find the lair of Vulcan, once you gain entrance you must traverse the winding maze into the heart of Vulcan's forage. Once there you must retrieve a blade, a beautiful danger, with a serpent entwined around its handle and its face pointed towards the sun. He keeps it hidden, in a metal box, somewhere deep within the forge. It is his most precious possession. Retrieve the blade and bring it back here to prove that your quest is successful. You have, shall we say, one turn of the moon to complete your journey and return. Oh, and you can have no divine intervention within the maze to guide you. Agreed?'
"'Agreed.' I was full of doubt; this task that Venus had set for me was going to be extremely difficult. Just the traveling time was going to be hard. To get as far as I had to and back in only one month's time was going to be almost impossible, I would have to walk almost non-stop to be able to make it all the way there and back in that time frame. Not to mention the challenges I would face once I managed to reach Vulcan's fiery forge.
"I knew though that I really didn't have anything to lose. I had nothing left, my wife was gone, my kids were gone, my entire village was gone; I had nothing. There was no point in my lingering in this sad decimated place and pining away for my life to be different. The Goddesses were giving me a new path to walk, a purpose that would get me through this time of grieving. I was not going to turn this opportunity away, no matter how impossible the task seemed.
"I turned and started towards the doorway of the temple ready and almost eager to start my journey, just as I reached the huge marble doors Minerva called out to me. 'Wait, Godric. I have for you a gift to aid you on your quest.'
"'NO!' Venus screamed at her. 'You can give him nothing; he does this on his own.'
"Minerva spun on her heel and came dangerously close to Venus, and I could see Venus's body tremble in fear so clearly that it looked like her entire body was blurring around the edges from it. 'In any hero's quest, the hero is given three gifts to aid them on their way. It is the way it is done, since you choose to not aid him I will. Are you going to try and stop me?' A soft yellow glow emanated from Minerva, slowly filling up the room with the eerie light, I felt as if I was swimming through the light, it was thick and heavy on my body and I thought for sure that I would drown in her power.
"'N… n… no, I will not stop you.' Venus said. I watched as she visibly pushed her fear away and locked it down within herself. 'You can give him your gifts Minerva, but you cannot help him after he leaves here. You cannot aid him through the country side, you cannot warn Vulcan, and you cannot aid him through the maze that leads within the forge. He must do it on his own.'
"'Do you really think I would help him cheat? He is worthy of this cup, the only reason I am consenting to this foolishness is so that you will leave him be.' Her power suddenly was sucked out of the room and I was left feeling empty from its departure. She turned to me a small smile on her face, and walked me out into the cool air of twilight. She whistled into the fading light and out of thin air a magnificent beast appeared.
"Beast is not really the right word for him, and he was most definitely a him that was painfully clear, but he was like nothing I had ever seen before. A horse stood before me, but he was no normal steed. He was three times the size of any horse I had ever seen before. His coat was the color of soft spring leaves, that seemed to shine with some unseen light, but the light came from within, not just glinting on his coat like any normal horse. His mane and tail was black as midnight, black as pitch, blacker then the foulest witch. It moved in constant ripple reminding me of black flowing waves of cold fire that whipped about him, moving in the ebb and flow of his own power. His were silver like the moonlight on clear winter nights and they too glowed from within bathing me in their ethereal glow, washing over me in a steady thrumming pulse like beats of a drum.
"'Areion this is Godric, Godric this is Areion.' I was more than a little confused at the odd introduction that the Goddess gave, surly you did not introduce a beast to its master in such a way. Areion's head swiveled towards me, I could see intelligence behind those eyes, looking me over, seeing if I was worthy. I shook my head slightly, surely a horse, regardless of its size and magnificence is still a horse.
"I stuck my hand out and shushed quietly as I approached him. 'It's all right I won't harm you, we are going to be good friends, you and I.'
"A loud thundering boom of laughter erupted into the fading light. The horse, Areion, threw his head backwards, his mouth open, his teeth glinting in orange and red light, sending rainbow prisms dancing across my skin. I stumbled backwards as I realized that laughter, that merry wonderful laughter was coming from the throat of the horse in front of me. 'Where did you find him milady?' he said and turned slightly to see Minerva. I watched him stomp those impossibly large hoofs into the soft landscape, tearing it into a gaping wound in the hill.
"'He meant no insult Areion. How is he supposed to know that you are more than just a simple beast of burden?'
"The horse, whinnied and snorted; it was a very derisive, condescending sound that escaped his muzzle. 'By opening his eyes and looking, I would think.'
"Minerva smiled at him. 'Yes you are beautiful, but beauty does not dictate intelligence.' She turned slightly, looking over her shoulder back towards the temple; I followed her line of sight and saw Venus, in all her glowing glory, standing in the doorway with a scowl on her face so fierce you would think it would melt the skin of the other Goddess away.
"Apparently Areion had followed her glance because he giggled, well as close to a giggle as a horse can come; it was more like a whickering whinny, and he said, in that deep musical voice, 'Too true milady, too true. Now, how may I serve you this day?'
"Minerva turned back to him and tilted her head slightly. 'I need you to aid this boy on his quest, he needs to travel to Mount Amiata and be back here within one turning of the moon.'
"Areion narrowed his sliver eyes at Minerva, examining her closely. 'You are sending the boy to Vulcan?'
"She shook her head lightly. 'No, Venus is sending the boy to Vulcan, I am giving him his hero's gifts to aid him on his way.' She leaned closer to him, brushing that flaming black mane away from his eyes and ear, and lowered her voice whispering to him, 'He will never make it to Vulcan's mountain and back on foot in the time period Venus has set, she wishes to stop the boy from receiving his birthright. I will not allow that to happen. I cannot help him or you during the quest, but I will do everything in my power to ensure that he is successful.'
"Areion looked at me and then back to Minerva, and then back to me and back to her. I watched as realization passed through his eyes and a almost gasp hissed out of his mouth. 'This is the boy who is to receive the chalice.' She simply nods in agreement, a solemn look on her face. 'Minerva, surely he cannot go to see Vulcan, he will know, he will figure it out.'
"'Of course he will, but he is smart, there are rules, you know the boy's destiny, none of us can interfere. Your vow is that you will not reveal what you know to this boy.'
"'I swear, but what if Vulcan decides to harm the boy in his rage once he figures it out?'
"'He wouldn't do that,' she said, she sounded so unsure of herself, almost trying to persuade herself that her words were true. She shook her sudden melancholy and doubting mood off and said roughly, in a clear tone of command, 'Just get him there and back in one lunar cycle, help keep him safe. Don't stop unless it is absolutely necessary, he can learn to sleep sitting up.' She turned to me and places a hand on my shoulder gently. 'Take this,' she said and handed me a leather pouch.
"'What is it?'
"'Inside you will find a water skin that never runs dry and bread and salted meat that never diminish in size. It will get you through the next moon. I want you to have this as well, just in case,' she said as she pulled out the most beautiful piece of craftsmanship I had ever seen. It was a full length broad sword; it gleamed in the fading orange light, giving it the appearance of it being made of living flame. The handle was a beautiful bronze that matched that dancing glittering light perfectly. I had never seen it's equal and still haven't to this day. 'This sword will keep you safe, you are strong Godric, you have been well trained in the ways of the warrior, you are brave beyond your own knowledge, you can do this, have faith my boy.' She patted my shoulder lightly and looked deep into my eyes, and I could see that there was more that she wished to say, but somehow, this Goddess was at a loss for words.
"'Thank you,'
"She nodded at me and shoved me in the direction of Areion. 'Go,' she said, her voice firm and yet, I could see tears lurking just behind her eyes. I jumped up and settled myself onto Areion's broad back, twining locks of that black flame that made up his mane through my fingers. I turned back, to say something, anything, I knew that I needed to express something but was unsure of what was needing to be said. 'Go!' she said and slapped Areion's rump harshly. He reared back, throwing his front hooves into the air, whinnied, and took off into the night.
"I was on my way to the mighty forage of Vulcan, to retrieve a dagger for a pretentious Goddess. I knew though that this was only the beginning, my destiny lay out before me in a bright shining road and I knew I would need much more than a pretty horse, a fancy water bottle, a mighty blade, and luck on my side.
"I was pulled from my thoughts as the dark night started to wrap around us and Areion finally spoke. 'By all the Gods did she really have to slap me so hard? I was going.' He snorted in irritation and I could not help but to laugh a loud warm sound, it was so odd to me because I would have sworn I would never have thought I could laugh again, but here I was laughing at a pretentious, know it all, glorified horse. My laughter bounced back to me off the trees and filled me with great warmth.
"'No my friend, I doubt that she had to slap you quite so hard. You want me to kiss it better for you?' I chuckle at him and he bucks his hind legs in response to my comment.
"'Watch it boy, I can still buck you off. Minerva said I had to get you there and back in one lunar cycle, I do not recall anything about you being in one piece as part of the bargain.' All I could do is laugh again.
"'Indeed great and might Areion, indeed.' He snorted in response and we fell into a comfortable silence. I was thankful to have such a fine traveling companion in this beast. He may have been just a horse, but he had a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue. Suddenly the prospect of facing the unknown mystery that is the mighty Vulcan was not nearly so scary to me. I would be all right; somehow everything was going to be all right.
"A wicked thought flashed through my head and I just couldn't help myself. 'You know what Areion?'
"'What is that young Godric?'
"'For a mighty hell beast you sure do have such a silky soft coat. So pretty and shiny you must really intimidate all the other hell beasts. I would wager a pretty penny that they all shake in their boots when you pass by.'
"I snickered and he bucked his hind legs again in protest to my teasing remarks, but I could hear him choke down his own amusement. 'Watch it young one, watch it.' A few moments later I heard him murmur beneath his breath, 'Hell beast indeed, bah.'