My Immortal XX
Ares had insisted on Xena wearing only the finest silk for their wedding day, so he sent Aphrodite to Persia to buy the fabric for her gown. Xena gasped when Aphrodite laid the material out in front of her. Its sheen was so perfect that it almost looked like fresh milk laying across the bed in the master suite of the island estate.
"It's beautiful Aphrodite, just beautiful," Xena hugged the goddess. She couldn't believe that in less than five days, she'd be Ares' bride.
"Ares also insisted that the belt be dyed deep purple. Here's the veil," she handed Xena the sheer fabric. "Your bouquet will match the ensemble, white roses accented with purple irises. Do you want me to have your shoes dyed purple as well?" Aphrodite still had so much to do, she couldn't imagine adding another task to the list, but for Xena, she'd fit it in.
"What do you think?" Xena asked Astra, who was admiring the luxurious silk.
"Yes, that way they'll match you belt and bouquet. And is she wearing amethyst jewelry?" Astra asked the goddess.
"Most of her jewelry will be diamonds, actually. But I think I can find a nice amethyst piece to throw in the mix. Good idea," Aphrodite smiled even though her to-do list kept growing. "Well, I am off, toodles."
"Thank you for everything, Dite. I would've been lost without you." Xena smiled.
"Duh, warrior babe, but it's okay, I've got your back." Aphrodite waved her fingers and disappeared.
"I'll never get used to that," Astra shook her head.
"Sure you will," Xena grinned. "So you're gonna turn this into a dress?"
"Yep, now stand still while I get your measurements." She ran a tape across Xena's center.
"You know, I owe you an apology for the other day," Xena said awkwardly.
"No, it's okay, I'm just glad that Ares didn't kill me."
"It wasn't your fault, he knows that."
Astra indicated that Xena should turn around. "Still, some men wouldn't care, whose fault it was."
"That's true enough. Most would have just wanted to join!"
Both women chuckled which eased some of the tension in the room.
"Can I ask you something, though?" Astra's voice was almost a whisper, as if she was afraid to pose the question.
"Sure," Xena answered.
"If you have a man like him, I mean a god like him, why would you want to fool around with me? Or anyone for that matter, I mean look at him, he's gorgeous and he's so crazy about you."
"Hmm, Ares and I have a complicated history. I didn't trust him for a very long time. And now that all of this is happening, it feels sort of like a whirlwind. And to be perfectly honest, I don't really feel like I deserve this kind of happiness." Xena didn't know why she was revealing her innermost thoughts to the girl but it felt good to have someone to talk to, so she went with it.
"Life can change in an instant," Astra turned Xena back around and indicated she should lift her arms so she could get her bust measurement. "I think we should take happiness where we can get it."
"Wise words, I'll try to remember them."
"Okay, you're all finished. Now, I have to get to work on this dress!" Astra gathered up the material and headed for her workroom.
Xena plopped down on the bed and looked out the window to the unending span of ocean. She wished Ares was here, she wondered when he would return. Suddenly, she wished she hadn't sent him away but he'd neglected his duties as God of War while they'd dealt with the Olympian council. So, she had insisted that he check on things in Sparta and the Macedonian campaign, at the very least. He had argued with her at first. He hadn't felt comfortable leaving her, knowing that Enyo was out to get her. When Xena promised that she would stay at the island retreat where Enyo had no jurisdiction and minimal powers, he relaxed and agreed to get some work done.
Still, Xena wished she'd spent one more day with him before Eve and Gabrielle were set to arrive tomorrow. She supposed she could always ask Aphrodite to wait another day to bring her family to the island.
Xena could hear clanging dishes as Bilka ambled down the hallway toward the master suite.
The smell of fish stew wafted through the doorway before Bilka's full frame came over the threshold.
Bilka sat the tray down on the table in the suite's dining area. "How you feeling, ma'am?"
"Couldn't feel better. I could've come down and got that, you didn't have to bring it up, Bilka." She knew the old cook's back bothered her sometimes.
"Oh, Old Bilka's alright. Don't you worry about be any. Besides, since we came here, the arthritis don't bother me much. This place has done wonders for my old bones."
"Glad to hear it."
"Will you and the master be living here or on high?"
"Probably, a little of both, why do you ask?"
"Well, I hope you at least let me babysit those little monsters you're carrying." Bilka poured a glass of water-down wine for Xena.
"Oh, I am sure you'll have your hands full of 'em." Xena grabbed a glass from the bar and poured Bilka a glass of wine.
"What are you doing?" Bilka asked.
"Bilka, you are my friend, not my servant. I want you to know that I see you as my equat."
"I appreciate that, I do. But, ma'am. . .Xena. . . I work for you, and soon you will be a goddess. Ares pays me a good wage. It's my job to wait on you."
"Well, whatever he's paying you, it isn't enough."
"You might be surprised."
"Then don't you want to take that money and travel, see the world, buy you some nice things?"
"Xena, Hargel is a simple man. He likes simple things. How do you think he'd like me if I went around all decked out in baubles? Besides, I never cared for such frivolities anyway. And as far as travelling goes, never cared for the seas and the highways ain't safe for a fair maiden like myself," Bilkel cackled.
Xena couldn't help but laugh at the old woman's joke.
"So, have you given any thought to what you want for your last meal?" Bilka asked.
"What, what are you talking about?"
"Well, when you become like him, I am assuming that you'll lose your appetite for human food. He can barely stomach the thought of it. "
"Huh, I hadn't really considered that. I suppose I live on nectar and ambrosia, won't I?"
"That's about right. I mean he's known to eat some fruits, grapes and olives mostly but only in small portions." Bilka drank her wine and picked at the grapes that made up the centerpiece of the table.
"I'll think about it and let you know. Do you think my other desires will change?"
"Hard to say. Are you scared?" Xena thought it was so refreshing that Bilka understood her so well. Most people saw Xena as fearless. Few were as insightful as her old friend.
"Terrified." It felt good to be open and honest. "I don't know what changes that becoming a goddess might invoke in me. But mostly, I am afraid of which impulses being a goddess might magnify."
"You're afraid of the power?"
"Yes, afraid of how my baser self will respond to having that kind of power." Xena moved from the table and walked over to the window. The sun shimmered on the blue Mediterranean. A trireme approached the island.
"You'll be fine, you've got him to guide you."
"That's another thing that frightens me. You remember what we were like, before.'
"I do," Bilka came up and stood next to Xena. "But it's different now."
"Yes, it is." Xena agreed.
"Love changes everything."
"Yes, yes it does." Xena drank the last of her wine and hugged the old cook.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
It took a lot of persuading but Ares finally convinced the Spartan Council that they should allow the helots to name a representative to serve on the council. He explained that it the slave population felt that they had some way to redress their grievances, then they may be less inclined to revolt. The vote had resulted in a narrow victory for Ares' proposal, 8-6 with one abstaining vote. Still, Ares left the Spartans with a good feeling in his heart. He couldn't wait to tell Xena how things worked out. He was tempted to run to the estate and spend the rest of the day with her but her really needed to check on Darian, and make a quick trip to Gaul. Plus, he had a little surprise for the Warrior Princess, if he could get his cousin to cooperate.
The Macedonian campaign was a complete and utter mess. He stood on a hill watching Darian and Gargon's forces tear each other apart. There was a time that such a skirmish would have been his favorite way to spend an afternoon, now it just bored him. He decided not to intervene. He'd let them duke it out and whoever emerged victorious would be his leader in Macedonia. He was tired of bailing out Xena wannabes.
The Romans were in full control in Gaul. He probably could have skipped out on this little side trip altogether but he needed to show his face every now and again to keep the Romans worshipping him.
"General Aurelius, troops look fresh and sharp. You've done a fine job." Ares praised as he materialized in front of the Roman leader.
"Lord Mars," the general saluted the god by tapping his closed fist to his chest. "We were just dedicating an altar to you for our recent victory."
"You have my favor general. What is your next move?"
"Britannia."
"And a fine move it is. I'll leave you to it, then."
"Thank you, my Lord," the commander turned back to his troops as Ares disappeared into the aether.
When Ares reemerged from the timeless, formless void, he stood at the gates to Hades domain.
"Your business?" The guard at the door asked.
"I wish an audience with Persephone." Ares crossed his arms trying to intimidate the guard.
"Give me a minute," the guard was clearly unimpressed with the war god who had no powers in Hades' kingdom.
When he returned, the guard didn't say a word to Ares he simply gestured the the god could enter the main hall.
Persephone sat on Hades' former dais. "How can I help you, Cousin?"
"First of all, let me thank you for what you said at council."
"Thanks are not necessary, I only spoke the truth." She continued to peruse some scrolls that were draped across her lap.
"Well, I see that you are busy, so I won't waste your time with small talk."
"I appreciate that, Ares. I am currently busy sorting through that little mess you have going on up in Macedonia."
Ares blushed. Maybe he should go back and get it under control. "I can maybe help with that. But first, I need you to hear me out."
"Go ahead," Persephone put the scrolls aside.
"I want to bring Xena's mother to our wedding."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Look, she doesn't even have to go to Earth. It'll be a straight from the Elysian Fields to Olympus kind of trip."
"How about I just agree to let her view the wedding from Elysium?" Persephone compromised.
"If that's the best you can do, I'll take it. But, I really wanted Xena to have her mother by her side. They loved each other very much and they never really got a proper goodbye."
"Fine, I'll have her there a couple hours before the wedding but it's straight back to Elysium after the wedding."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, now clean up your mess in Macedonia."
"It's not exactly my mess."
"Isn't it? They are your generals."
"Fair enough." Ares disappeared into the aether.