My Immortal XXVII
The feeling of being immortal was exhilarating. She tried hard to focus, to find her way through the aether. She'd traveled with Ares this way, dozens of times, but had never navigated it herself. She pictured him in her mind. An image arose, fuzzy at first, but then growing clearer and clearer as she reached for him. He was chained in his cell, she moved toward the image. She stopped and looked at him. Xena wondered how many times, he'd done the same to her. She was poised at the precipice between the hidden spaces of the ethereal world and the profane world. She knew instinctively that all she had to do was reach out into that world and the bubble would burst.
She started to touch him but was distracted by the twins. The sweet ambrosia had made its way into their bloodstreams, Their awareness surprised her. She could feel them now, one boy, one girl. Felt their unconditional love. She touched her belly, soothing them, letting them know that their new reality was nothing to fear. As they settled back down into their warm, dark, cocoons, Xena turned her attention back to their father.
Ares looked up at where he knew she would be. She was still invisible but he could feel her. She'd done it! Gabrielle had convinced her to eat the ambrosia. Ares smiled his devilish smile. He wasn't sure if she was having trouble moving in and out of the aether or if she was just messing with him, the way he'd tormented her all those years. When he felt her move around him, he knew she was enjoying her newly acquired abilities.
"I know you're here, Xena. Show yourself," he uttered the line he'd heard her say to him so many times.
"Oh, I don't know, I'm kinda enjoying this. Feels funny doesn't it. Knowing someone is lurking around you but being unable to see them."
"Not really, Xena. I'm used to things not appearing what they seem. I am a god, after all."
She moved in behind him and placed her invisible hand flat on his abdomen. He felt the heat radiating from her hand, felt her power coursing through him. HIs manhood flared to life. His knees actually went weak. Was this the effect he'd had on her all those years? Gods, what sweet torment. He could feel her breath on his neck, although he still couldn't see her.
"Xena. . ." he panted.
"Yes, Ares?"
"What are you doing?"
"Letting you experience me, the way I've experienced you. Mind-blowing isn't it?"
"It's pretty amazing. Seductive. I can feel your power, even though I can't feel mine because of these fucking chains."
"I'm sorry I waited."
"Me too," he turned to where he knew her lips were and puckered to kiss her.
He felt her lips close over his and opened his eyes. He could see her now. Her own blue eyes bored into this loving chestnut ones. Xena deepened the kiss and wrapped him up in her. She longed to free him from the chains and rip him out of there but she'd promised Gabrielle that they would try the peaceful way first. Still, Xena knew that if the verdict went against them, that she would whisk Ares out of the courtroom before Apollo could lay hands on him.
"Hey, how'd you get in there?" Gronk yelled from the other side of the cage. He reached clumsily for the keys.
"What, hey?!" Dandelus jumped from his stool, equally as shocked at Xena's presence. Before Gronk could get the key in the lock, Xena walked right through the bars and had his neck in her vice grip.
"You had your fun with me the other day. My turn." Xena sneered as she backed the fat guard into the wall. She used her powers to halt Dandelus in his attempt to free his comrade.
Ares roared in laughter as he enjoyed the show.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
The council chamber had been converted into a makeshift courtroom for Ares' trial. The Three Fates took up their seats in the judges' box. The front row had been divided in two. Apollo and his allies were acting as prosecutors and sat on the right side of the room, leaving the left side to Ares and Gabrielle. Xena, Aphrodite, and Cupid moved in behind the bard and the God of War and sat down.
When everyone had filed in and taken their seats, Atropos, the Crone stood. A hush fell over the room as she cleared her throat. "We have been asked to convene this meeting in order to determine if Ares, the God of War, should be put to death for the murder of his fellow goddess, Enyo. It has been brought to the attention of the Pantheon that Ares, killed her in the land of the Phoenicians, a kill which Ares contends was not in self-defense but rather in defense of Xena, his betrothed, a mortal. Ares will you and your counsel please rise?"
Ares wished he had remembered to ask Gabrielle to bring him more suitable clothing. He felt ridiculous facing the court in the purple skirt. Sitting behind him, Xena reached out with her powers and placed a comforting hand on his lower back. It warmed his heart and calmed his breathing.
"Ares do you understand the charges as they have been here presented? And are you aware that the penalty for deicide is immediate death?" Atropos asked.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ares could see Apollo's ear to ear grin. His brother had already counted this a victory.
"I do understand the charges and am fully aware of the penalty."
"Good," Lachesis, the Mother, answered, then asked, "Before we proceed with the trial is there anyone who can show just cause as to why these proceedings should not take place?"
Gabrielle silently raised her right hand.
Clotho, the maiden, acknowledged the bard's right to speak. "Go ahead."
"Although my client does not deny that he is responsible for the death of Enyo, I ask that the charges be dropped on the basis of self-defense."
Whispers echoed throughout the chamber. Apollo eyed the blonde suspiciously, then looked at Xena. Something was different, he couldn't put his finger on it. She always had a confident, cocky air about her. It was one of the things that made him hate her and desire her at the same time. But she carried no fear. She didn't intend to see Ares die today. No, the bitch had a plan. Suddenly, his ear to ear grin was replaced by a worried grimace.
"But Ares has already divulged the details of the kill, he himself, said that it was in defense of Xena and the children rather than of his own person," Atropos was not about to sit all day and waste time reiterating what everyone already knew.
"Can you give me the legal Olympic definition of person?" Gabrielle challenged.
"What are you getting at?" Atropos asked.
"I just want to make sure we are clear on the definitions we are using in this case."
"Don't trifle with the court, my dear. Our time is not to be wasted," Lachesis warned.
"Look, it's not like I am asking you to tell what the definition of is, is. I simply want to know how is personhood defined in Olympic law?"
"Per Olympic law, personhood would be anything related to Ares' physical presence or his godhood."
"I thought as much. In that case, I ask for the charges to be dismissed based on self-defense."
"Explain yourself." Clotho ordered.
"Okay, I was reading through Athena's law books. I came across a listing of all of Aphrodite's titles. In addition to being the Greek goddess of Love, she is also the Roman goddess Venus, In Cyprus she's known as Cypris, in Cythera she's. . ."
"We'll be here all day if you go through all her incarnations."
"My point exactly. She doesn't really do all these jobs. some of those posts are taken up by her daughters. In fact, in some areas she's equated with her own mother, Dione. But my point is, is that she would be able to defend any of them to the death based on the fact that they are representations of her goddesshood, correct?" Gabrielle asked for clarification.
The Three Fates looked at each other, turned away from the crowd and conferred. When they returned, Lachesis delivered the answer, "Yes, hypothetically, if Aphrodite killed in defense of
Dione it would be allowed under her right to defend her goddesshood."
"But we still don't understand what this has to do with Ares and Enyo," Clotho added.
"Well, I will explain that now. Ares has previously stated that he killed to protect Xena, a mortal, and his unborn children who were at the time demi-gods."
"At the time?" Atropos asked.
"Xena has since eaten ambrosia and although she hasn't been bestowed a goddesshood, yet, she is an immortal, making the children immortal as well. Even before Enyo threatened them, Ares had intended to make the children full-gods. Xena had planned to marry him and everyone, including Enyo knew that the children would be granted godhoods. So, when Enyo tried to kill them, she in essence was trying to commit deicide, herself."
"Yes, and if Xena or the fetuses had killed her," Lachesis had to pause as the crowd rumbled with laughter at the absurd thought that a fetus could kill, "then it would have been self-defense. But Ares ended her life, not Xena, not the twins."
"But, Ares defended his godhood in saving the children. He saved his son, who he intended and still intends to name as his Roman successor. When the child is born, he will become Mars. And, the daughter will carry on Athena's legacy and be known as Minerva. Thus, in saving the children from Enyo, he defended War which is well within his rights of self-defense."
"You're not buying any of this, are you?" Apollo raged. "This is something they've cooked up after the fact. Ares would have never given up Rome! It's his greatest joy!"
"Wrong, brother! This is my greatest joy." Ares pulled Xena closer to his side.
Apollo charged at Ares, Xena was quicker than anyone expected. She sent a bolt of lightening coursing at Apollo that shot him across the room and into a tall marbled column. Undeterred the sun god jumped up and sent his own balls of energy flying through the air.
"Enough!" Atropos screamed.
Xena complied but Apollo kept up the assault. Xena had to sidestep out of the way of one of his energy bolts.
"Apollo, I am warning you!" Lachesis bellowed. "You will be held in contempt."
"Contempt," he yelled, "I hold you all in contempt!"
"Chain him, chain him, until he cools off!" Clotho ordered.
Cupid and Hermes happily fulfilled the request. They dragged him from the scene.
When calm had been restored, the Fates huddled again. Gabrielle anxiously awaited their response.
Finally, they turned. Clotho began, "Although we don't appreciate you partaking of the ambrosia yourself Xena, we do recognize that you will likely be granted a full goddesshood."
Xena smiled wryly.
Lachesis continued, "Ares do you truly intend to name the child Mars and bestow upon him your position as the Roman God of War?"
"I do," Ares answered even though he could see it rankled Xena's feathers to know that her son would be a Roman god.
"Then we agree with Gabrielle's assessment of self-defense. You are free to go."
Gabrielle happily removed the chains that bound Ares and Xena grabbed him into her arms. She hugged and kissed him and realized that she didn't want to wait another minute to be his wife. Too many things kept going wrong.
"Wait, wait everyone," she called. She looked at Ares and smiled. With the snap of her fingers, he was in his traditional leather outfit and she was wearing her dress with full battle armor. She took his hand and pulled him to the petitioner's platform that sat just below the judges' box. "Fates, since we are here, you are here, and we have all of these witnesses, will you marry us? Right here, right now?"
"Ares you do consent?" Lachesis asked.
"Yes, of course," he didn't hesitate a second.
"Very well," Clotho responded. "Xena, do you take Ares, the God of War to be your wedded husband?"
"I do," Xena blurted.
"Ares, do you accept Xena as your goddess for now and forever?"
"I do," Ares beamed.
The Fates spoke in unison, "Then by the power invested in us by Heaven and Earth, we now pronounce you god and goddess, husband and wife, for eternity. You may seal your vows with a kiss."
Ares scooped Xena up in his arms, kissed her fully on the mouth and the two disappeared from the council chamber.