Chapter 15: Goddesses on the Move

After traveling for about an hour, Joxer and Lila agreed to take a short rest by the side of the road. They found a tree that they could sit in the shade of and pulled out a waterskin. The day was turning out to be hotter than expected, making the walk less than pleasant. Joxer pulled a map out from the folds in his armor and clothing. He traced a finger along the path they were taking.

"We've only just set out, Joxer. Do you need to check the map already?" Lila asked.

"Just making sure we're on the right path. I think we're making good time. We should have no problem being in Olynthus but tonight to find a room. We should be in Potadeia by tomorrow evening."

"Fantastic," Lila mumbled, still bitter that she was forced to leave.

"I don't think that will be happening," a voice said from the tree line of the forest that ran along one side of the road.

Joxer quickly drew his sword and stood protectively in front of Lila as he watched Athena's favorite warrior, Ilainus, and three of her female soldiers emerge from the woods.

"Stay back," Joxer warned with feigned courage. "I am Joxer the Mighty -"

"I know who you are, both of you. That's why I'm here," Ilainus cut him off. "Athena has a special purpose for you."

"Athena?!" Lila gasped. "That's not good…"

Joxer let out his attempt at a battle cry and charged straight at Ilainus. The silver-clad soldier to her left, leapt in front of Ilainus, delivered a perfected round-house kick, and knocked the sword from Joxer's hand.

"My sword!" Joxer stopped and gasped in astonishment.

"It would be best for you both to just comply so that no one gets unnecessarily hurt," Ilainus picked up Joxer's sword from the ground and motioned for the three warriors to attend to Joxer and Lila. They drew their own swords, in reply and surrounded the two friends. Both recognized that they were outnumbered and out-skilled.

"I think we should just do what they ask," Lila whispered to Joxer.

"A wise girl," Ilainus commented. "Let's go." She took the lead position. One of the other warriors pushed Joxer forward. Being at a loss for what else to do, Joxer and Lila followed the commands and allowed themselves to be herded by Athena's troops toward her nearby temple.

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Gabrielle found Cyrene taking inventory in the kitchen after she left Xena and Ares alone. Gabrielle shared the news of the missing Hind's Blood and both women shared a moment of remorse over this. Eventually, Gabrielle left to return to the weapon's dealer she had seen in town a few days before. She needed something to occupy her thoughts and at least this helped her feel productive.

Cyrene used this opportunity to sneak out herself. She didn't want to alert anyone to her leaving or have to explain where she was going, so she opened the backdoor to make sure no one was around. Finding the that backyard was deserted and seeing that she would have a clear path to the road which would take her to the far east side of town, she quickly hurried out, shawl wrapped around her head and shoulders.

The temple that Cyrene sought wasn't far. Still in the town limits of Amphipolis but just out of the highly populated areas, it was set against a pleasant backdrop of foliage. She hurried up the stone path to the slate steps that would take her to the front door. She had been determined her whole walk to get here as soon as possible. Standing before the massive gray doors now, an all-seeing eye encircled by two peacock feathers carved into them, she started to lose her resolve. For several long moments, she stood at the top of the stairs and contemplated if this was the best course of action. Her thoughts around this had warred against each other in her mind all morning. Finally, she settled back on her decision that for the life of her daughter and granddaughter, anything was worth a shot. She steeled her back, standing straighter, and removed the shawl from her head. With a firm hand, she pushed the temple door open and stepped inside.

An older woman, likely the high priestess of this temple, was taking inventory of the offerings presented on the altar. As Cyrene entered, she looked up and smiled.

"Hello, hello!" the priestess greeted. "Have you come to make an offering to the Queen Goddess?"

"I actually came to request an audience," Hera started.

"Oh… that doesn't really happen," the priestess replied. "If you make an offering though and send a prayer, I'm sure that our goddess will answer your prayer." The smile never left her face.

"It's more of a immediate and personal matter than that…" Cyrene started to explain.

"I'm sorry, but I can't just request The Queen of the Gods to make an appearance every time a worshipper needs a favor."

Cyrene sighed, "Look, here's my offering." She reached around her neck and unclasped the necklace that was hanging there. Before placing it on the altar, she sadly looked at the silver pendant with a blue stone, wishing she didn't have to part with it. This was more important than her family heirloom she told herself. "Now I need to speak with Hera."

"As I said," her tone became harsher but she didn't lose her smile. "You are welcome to say a prayer and hope that the Goddess answers it."

"This is just not going to work," Cyrene muttered. She looked up toward the ceiling and started yelling. "Hera! Hera! I need to speak to you!"

"Please, stop yelling!" the priestess begged.

Cyrene ignored her and continued. "You have come to my home unannounced. I'm announcing myself now. We need to talk!"

"You cannot just demand this of our Queen!" the priestess continued to plead.

To the priestess' surprise, the room was filled with a violet light and Hera appeared on the small throne dedicated to her in the temple. Hera glared down at the two mortals before her. Cyrene stood tall in front of the altar, meeting Hera's gaze. The priestess stumbled and she fell to her knees, head bowed, in front of the goddess.

"My… my Queen," the priestess fumbled with her words. "Your presence is appreciated -"

"You are excused," Hera said to the priestess without looking directly at her. Instead, she was studying Cyrene.

"Whatever you need from me, I will would be glad to serve you," the priestess replied without moving.

Hera realized this moral would need direct instructions rather than be able to figure out something on her own. Hera glanced around the temple quickly then her eyes landed on the offerings of grain and flour.

"Take those," she gestured to the offerings that drew her attention, "and find the families in the most need in the village. Divide the offerings between them. Tell them that it is a gift from the Queen of Olympus." That should keep her out of the way for a significant time, Hera thought to herself.

The priestess seemed surprised by the command but quickly rose to her feet, took the bags from the altar and carried them out the door. She looked back once over her should as discretely as she could to catch a full glimpse of the goddess. It did not go unnoticed but Hera chose not to acknowledge it just the same. Once they were alone, Hera addressed Cyrene.

"To what do I owe the intrusion?" she asked in an even, neutral tone.

"You know why I'm here," Cyrene replied. She spoke to the Queen of the Gods as she would speak to any other shop keeper in town, as an equal. Hera noted this to herself, but didn't speak on in it.

"Have I not helped you and your daughter enough?" Hera asked.

"I'm not here about me and my daughter."

Hera raised an eyebrow, which was the only indication of her surprise. "Then why are you here?"

"I'm here about our granddaughter." Cyrene let the statement hang between them as Hera contemplated her response. She wasn't sure how the woman knew the truth, but that hardly mattered. She could deny her knowledge on the situation. She could deny caring about it. However, she had already revealed some of her feelings simply by coming to Xena at Cyrene's tavern. So, she moved forward without avoidance.

"I have already done what I can for our granddaughter. The rest is up to Xena and Ares."

"You've hardly done enough," Cyrene shot back.

"How dare you speak to me that way!" Hera's voice rose.

Cyrene took two steps toward the throne, showing Hera that she would not be frightened into backing down. "How dare you sit up there and act as if this is right; as if none of this affects you! I am preparing my home, my tavern, and all those that I love the most to battle all of Olympus in an attempt to save our granddaughter. Yet you, in all your power and glory, bring one cryptic message and feel that you've done your part?"

"I have done my part. I will not get myself more involved in this," Hera retorted.

"It's your granddaughter! You are involved! It's your husband who is attempting to murder her for gods' sake!"

"The intimacies between Zeus and myself are none of your concern."

"They are when they stand in the way of my grandchild's safety," Cyrene's eyes blazed with anger.

Hera wanted to smite the woman where she stood. However, that would only make matters worse and she knew that. Besides, she had to give this mortal woman credit for her boldness to confront one of the highest deities on Olympus in this way. She reigned in the anger she had initially felt and instead recognized the mother protecting her young. Hera's voice returned to a normal volume but had a firmness behind it when she spoke again.

"I have done what I will for our grandchild. Now you must decide what you will do. Whatever you decide, you have my blessing."

"Your blessing? I didn't come here for your blessing -" Cyrene attempted to argue more but Hera cut her off.

"I do hope for the best outcome for all of you… and our granddaughter." Hera didn't linger to hear Cyrene's response. A purple glowed emanated from her, and she was gone.

"What a Bacchae," Cyrene said to herself as she looked at the empty throne. She knew when she was being dismissed though. She turned on her heal and headed home, fuming with anger and disappointment.

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Hephaestus walked into their shared large bedroom on Olympus. It was difficult for them to agree on a décor, therefore much of the room was a simple white and silver with some gold accents. Aphrodite was seated on their large canopy bed, sheer curtains pulled back. The bed was neatly made and she was sitting atop of the large white down comforter, carefully painting her nails a vibrant shade of pink.

"What have you been up to?" Hephaestus asked, a bit of an accusatory tone to his voice.

Aphrodite startled. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Athena made a visit to the forge today."

Aphrodite shivered at the mention of her husband's workspace; it was not her preferred hang-out. She didn't respond to his statement otherwise though.

"Would you like to take a guess what about?" Hephaestus attempted to get Aphrodite to admit to him what she had been up to.

"Weapons, I would assume," Aphrodite continued to paint her nails.

"Wrong. Try again."

"Oh, I don't know. I don't like guessing games. Just tell me what's going on." Aphrodite finished her last nail and placed the bottle on a bedside table.

"She seems to think that you've been aiding Xena… and that Ares has too," he studied her physical response to this, noting how her shoulders tensed and her eyes widened before she answered.

"What? She knows?" Aphrodite asked.

"She knows? You mean that it's true?" Hephaestus knew that his wife was fond of both the Warrior Princess and this particular brother. He didn't really think that she was an accomplice to them in something this big, though.

"Well… yeah… but not a lot."

"What's not a lot?"

"Well… I just put a remembering spell on each of them so that they would recover the memories that Zeus and Athena erased from them. Then I told Ares about the plot I overheard Zeus and Athena come up with. Then he made me tell Xena so we did that together. Then I gave them all their memories back… and I also told them about the real prophecy… That's all though!" Aphrodite summarized but her recollection only stirred more questions for Hephaestus. He started with the one that seemed the most important though.

"Real prophecy? So… there is a fake prophecy?"

"Oh yeah. The one in that meeting Zeus called was made up to cover up the truth… that Ares is the father of Xena's baby. They didn't want Ares to know because they thought he would be too protective of Xena and they were afraid we wouldn't all support their cause if we knew the child of the prophecy was a half-blood."

"Does the real prophecy change the situation?" Hephaestus tried making sense of everything Aphrodite was saying.

"Not really. There's still mention of the end of Olympus and all that. It's just that it specifically mentions Xena and Ares' child."

"Then… why get involved like this if it still foretells the end of Olympus?"

"Because it's the right thing to do!" Aphrodite said in an exasperated way.

"I don't know… Athena and Zeus are pretty convinced that this could be a dangerous situation if we don't do something about it now."

"They always think they know best! That doesn't mean anything!"

"Aphrodite… the prophecy is pretty clear," Hephaestus attempted to make her see reason.

"Is it though?" Aphrodite was becoming more passionate as she spoke. "The end of Olympus as we know it could mean a lot of things."

"Isn't that just splitting hairs?"

"Since when are prophecies ever clear?" Aphrodite rolled her eyes.

"I think… you need to stop aiding them for now. Do what you're told for once." Hephaestus regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.

"Do what I'm told? Who do you think you are?" Aphrodite was on her feet, eye ablaze with anger. "I don't give a centaur's behind what I'm told! I know that this is the right thing to do! And Hera isn't convinced that killing an innocent child is the best course either." She thought the last point would aid her argument.

"Hera? Who cares?" Hephaestus shot back. "She's likely only disagreeing because it's coming from Zeus. You know they can never agree on anything."

"I don't think so. From what I've seen, she really disapproves of this whole thing."

"From what you've seen… that's a good point! How do you know all of this anyway?" he narrowed his eyes as he questioned her.

"Oh, come on! You know I like to be informed about what's going on," Aphrodite waved her hand at him and returned to sit on the bed in a dismissive way.

"That's the point, Aphrodite! This isn't our business! You're always spying, always snooping! You're going to get yourself into trouble. Athena already warned me about consequences if you don't stop this nonsense now and stop aiding them."

Aphrodite looked up quickly at him, the anger evident in her face. Suddenly she no longer feared Zeus and Athena and what they could do to her. She felt emboldened now that her actions were out in the open. "I will do no such thing," she told him confidently. "Do what you want, but I know this is the right thing to do and I stand by my decision to help Xena and Ares and their child."

"Aphrodite, be reasonable -" he started to plead.

"I am, Hephaestus!" she shouted back. After a moment of silence in which they both stared at each other, she added, "What if it were our child?"

Hephaestus was at a loss for how to respond. He never considered that this could have been about any of them. He shifted his eyes away to avoid the intensity of her glare. He rarely saw her this angry.

Before he had time to decide what to say to his wife next, he heard Athena beckoning to him from the grand halls. He knew what this was about and he felt a sudden uneasiness come over him. Until now, he never even thought to question Athena or Zeus about this. So much information had been presented in such a short time, though, and he was already at the end of the road. He had to make a decision. He decided to protect his home and his way of life, and even if his wife didn't approve, he thought he was protecting her too.

"I have to go," he muttered, and was gone.

Aphrodite grabbed a pillow, covered her face, and screamed into it. The frustration she felt with her husband was the highest it had ever been. She should have told him about this sooner. She should have been working to convince him of her side. She was afraid of getting caught in her actions though. Besides, she never thought that he would actually stand with Athena. Even if he didn't aid Xena, she assumed he would remain neutral and removed from the situation as he usually did. Him choosing a different path, that was in direct conflict with hers left her feeling uneasy about them. Her marriage was not her top concern right now, and it didn't appear to be Hephaestus' either. She hoped they could repair the strain between them later. Regardless of what Hephaestus did, this didn't sway her resolve. She was more committed than ever to help Xena and Ares. Now that she knew her involvement was common knowledge, she no longer felt the need to hide her alliance. Now, she felt the need to check in with Xena and Ares to see where she could be of the most help.

She disappeared and reappeared in her throne room, standing before her viewing mirror. She willed an image of each of the mortals in Xena's entourage to come to her. Xena and Ares were in Xena's room, discussing the lost Hind's Blood. This wasn't good. Gabrielle and Amarice were at a weapons stand. That seemed productive. Hercules and Iolas were gathering rocks and bricks, likely to build a defensive wall. Autolycus was in a local tavern, assuming the role of gathering information of anything out of the normal from local villagers, but truthfully flirting with the barmaid. Cyrene was on the steps of Hera's temple; that was peculiar. Joxer and Lila were on the road out of Amphipolis, surrounded but Athena's warriors. That certainly was not good at all.

She felt conflicted. She wanted to go to Xena and Ares right way. She also wanted to gather information from Athena's meeting to bring back to them about a likely attack plan forming. How could she be in two places at once though? Then she thought of Cupid and his urging her to get involved. Now it was his turn. She would ask him spy on the meeting in the grand hall and then she would report her information to Xena and Ares. For the first time, she didn't feel anxious about her decision to get involved. She knew she was doing the right thing now.

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Aphrodite left Cupid's private chambers, comforted to know that he was willing to help by playing spy on Olympus. Although he was her son, he was often forgotten amongst the higher gods. His presence there, if discovered, likely wouldn't draw any attention. They would assume that he wasn't interested, choosing not to get involved in Olympus drama as usual. For once, his aloofness was a blessing to her.

Her next course of action was to gather information. She considered that with Athena busy, she could drop into the temple Joxer and Lila were being kept at without being noticed. This way she could get some intel on the situation to bring back to Xena with her. Ares would be so surprised she thought of this. She was starting to enjoy her role as a spy and as she threw herself into it more, she realized she was thinking more strategically.

She didn't materialize in the temple as she didn't want to alarm the warriors that anything suspicious was going on. There were four total. Two stood outside the temple, guarding the doors to make sure no one attempted to come in. They were armed and on high alert. Inside, she recognized Ilainus right away as Athena's favorite. She walked about the temple, monitoring for any disturbances. Lila and Joxer sat on the floor against a far wall. Their wrists were bound in front of them and the final warrior stood guard by them. A quick scan of the temple revealed just one other person present; the high priestess of the temple. She appeared at a loss of what to do with herself now that her temple had been turned into a prison. She attempted to make use of this time to tidy up in several backrooms. She stole glances at the situation playing out in the temple several times though and didn't appear to approve of it.

Aphrodite was just about to leave, when instinct told her to get a better look at the altar. That's when she noticed the glowing beams of Athena's manifested powers surrounding the small platform. Surely, this was not meant for the average offering. She moved towards it to get a closer look. A necklace with a ruby pendant sat on the platform. It looked familiar to her. It didn't take her long to recall seeing Xena wearing it recently. It all came together in her mind then. This was the Hind's Blood that Xena and Ares were talking about. It was stolen… but Athena, and placed here. She wasn't sure why Athena would choose to keep it here instead of on Olympus, but here it was never-the-less. She considered taking it now. With a snap of her fingers, the whole necklace could dematerialize at once and appear in her own hand, without having to pass through the beams and risk damage to herself or the necklace. She tried it once, but nothing happened. Aphrodite circled the altar, puzzled. She tried again, and again nothing happened. It seemed that Athena had placed her personal protection around the whole system that wouldn't allow another god's powers to penetrate it. This could prove to be harder than she thought. It was definitely time to get back to Cyrene's and alert the team to what she had discovered.