My Immortal XXIII
Xena stood nervously with her attendants outside of the Main Hall. It was impossible to believe that all of this was really happening. Ares, her groom, awaited on the other side of that large ornate door. Within minutes she would be Mrs. God of War.
Cyrene reached up and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "Ah, Xena you just look so beautiful. I am so thankful I could be here for this day. Tell Ares that he will never know what this meant for me."
"I love you Mother. I miss you everyday."
"Don't you worry about me, The Elysian Fields really is paradise, Xena. A beautiful, endless day and I get to spend all the time I want with Lyceus and my beautiful grandson."
"Solan?"
"Yes, he visits often. He's happy, Xena. And spirited, just like you."
Xena choked back tears and nodded wordlessly.
"I am holding up the ceremony, I am afraid. I need to go take my seat." Cyrene hugged and kissed her daughter again before heading into the Main Hall to take her seat.
After Xena wiped away the rebellious tear that had managed to break free from her eye, Aphrodite gave her masterpiece a last look. The dress was tailored perfectly, the knotted sash-belt dyed a deep purple. Her hair flowed over her smooth shoulders and the diamonds sparkled along her collarbone. She was breathtaking. Ares was going to be beside himself, the goddess thought. Aphrodite curled one strand of raven hair inward then hugged Xena. "After today, you will be my sister! I couldn't be happier for you and Ares. I love you, Xena."
"I love you too, Aphrodite."
"I love you all," Aphrodite beamed and pulled Gabrielle and Eve into a group hug with herself and Xena.
When they broke away, Gabrielle pulled Xena to the side. "Are you sure about this? About him? Is this really what you want?"
"Gabrielle, yes. I know that a lot of terrible things have happened between us. I know that he's committed despicable acts, but so have I. No one's hands are perfectly clean. But he's trying. Every day, he's trying. Didn't you ever wonder why I couldn't ever completely break away from him? Why he was always lurking around? Why I let him? It's because deep down, I wanted him there. I wanted his nearness anyway I could get it, even if that meant a good fight."
"I see, so what was I? A diversion?"
"Please don't do this right now. You know I love you. I wasn't using you. You are my truth, Gabrielle. You kept the light in me going when I would have let it burn out. You are the candle in my soul. He is the flame in my heart."
Gabrielle swallowed and looked to the ground. "I want you to be happy, Xena. If he makes you happy. . ." she shook her head unable to finish. "Okay, let's just do this." The bard steeled herself to get through the next few hours.
"Mother," Eve called. "I can't believe you are going to be a goddess. It goes against everything I have learned about the end of the pantheon and the reign of the one god but you are my mother and I love you. I also know that this is not something you do lightly. I wish you all the joy in the world and on Olympus."
"Thank you Eve," Xena clasped her daughter's hand.
"Are you sure you won't let Hermes walk you down the aisle?" Eve asked.
"I'm not a wilting flower. I can manage a short walk. And, I don't need anyone giving me away. I am my own person. I am not anyone's to give away! He's always treated me as his equal, I don't know why that should change today."
Eve was going to argue that it was tradition but she bit her tongue. Her mother could be as stubborn as a minotaur.
When the music started, Xena straightened her back, held her head high, ready to meet her husband face to face.
AXAXAXAXAXAXA
Ares stood at the altar just below the Three Fates anticipating the arrival of his bride. He could see his reflection in the golden urn that held their first sip of wine as husband and wife. He didn't look as ridiculous as he'd feared he would. His strong, muscled chest, glistened magnificently. The purple skirt dyed to match Xena's wedding belt fit snug at the brown leather waistband. The dyed leather strips that made up the skirt fell to the tops of his toned thighs. His sword was sheathed at his side.
When the organ emitted it's first note, Ares' eyes turned to the double doors that concealed his beloved. He watched as the doors opened to reveal Eve walking down the aisle in a floor-length purple gown. Gabrielle followed, her eyes held an unnecessary warning. Ares would never hurt Xena again. Aphrodite followed on the bard's heels and fell into line next to the other attendants. The music grew louder, a signal that the bride should now enter. Ares's anxious eyes were glued to the entrance. His heart beat quickened when she walked into the doorway in all her glory. She landed her sky blue eyes on him and as she walked toward him it was as if they were the only two people that existed in all of the universe. When she reached the altar, he took her hand and helped her onto the platform. He couldn't help but steal a quick kiss on the back of her hand.
The Fates, talking in turn, made all the necessary announcements regarding the sanctity of the marriage and reminding both parties that it was an unseverable union. When the Crone finished the last of the speech, she turned to Ares. "Ares, God of War do you take Xena, the Warrior Princess as your forever bride?"
"Yes, I Ares, God of War take Xena, the Warrior Princess as my forever bride. I promise to love her and cherish her for all eternity."
The Crone turned to Xena. "Xena: Warrior Princess do you take Ares, the God of War to be your forever husband?"
Xena looked into Ares' warm eyes. Everything she wanted swam in them. All the years of longing and denying had come to an end. He was here and he was going to be hers.
"Not so fast," Apollo burst into the Main Hall.
There was an audible gasp as everyone in the room turned to see Apollo with three minor gods holding chains of Hephaestian metal.
"Apollo, what is the meaning of this?" Hestia demanded as she jumped from her seat.
"Ares, God of War. I hereby charge you with Deicide." Apollo announced.
Ripples of whispers vibrated throughout the chamber.
"Don't be ridiculous,' Aphrodite exclaimed, "you're just trying to ruin my perfect wedding, I mean their wedding."
"Ares won't deny it." Apollo motioned for the three gods to chain him.
"Now wait a minute!" Xena jumped in front of Ares. She wasn't yet a goddess, the enchanted metal held no danger for her.
"Ares, what is he talking about?" Demeter queried.
"He killed Enyo, slaughtered her in cold blood." Apollo charged.
"You weren't there, you don't even know what you are talking about," Xena spat, her eyes burning the sun god.
The gossipping got louder as people looked around the room noticing Enyo's absence for the first time. No one had really expected her to come to Ares' wedding with another woman but they hadn't expected to learn that she'd been killed.
"Ares, is their truth to this?" The Crone asked.
"He's twisting the truth but yes, Enyo is dead." Ares turned to the Fates and confirmed.
"At your hand?" The Mother clarified.
"No, I killed her," Xena lied. "She made the mistake of attacking me in the land of the Phoenicians where she had limited powers."
"Xena, don't. I won't let you do this." Ares turned to the audience of gods, demigods and the few mortals, "It's true I killed her. I killed her in defense of Xena. She had thrown Xena off a cliff. I managed to get there in time to save Xena but in anger I killed her as she fled. I killed her because I knew that nothing would stop her from coming after Xena again. She was hell bent on seeing that this day never happened."
"Ares you know that to kill in defense of another is not a justifiable deicide. If you'd been trying to save yourself that is one thing but you killed in defense of a mortal, that's inexcusable. Chain him," The Crone ordered.
"What? No!" Xena screamed. "You can't do this."
"Xena, you've asked to become one of us. If you truly want to be a goddess then you must abide by our laws." The Mother stated.
"I don't want to be a goddess for being a goddess' sake. I want to be his bride. Can we at least finish the wedding?"
"I am afraid not," the Maiden answered. "Ares will remain prisoner until his trial is finished. If he is acquitted then we can resume with your nuptials."
"And if he's found guilty?" Xena dared to ask.
Ares turned to Xena. She wanted to rip the collar that they clamped around his neck off. "Xena, if I'm found guilty, there's only one punishment for deicide."
"Death!" She heard voices echoing the sentence throughout the hall.