EPILOGUE
On the shores of Mexica three months later
Chantico sat back on her throne trying to ignore the feeling in her stomach as her two month old child kicked again. She felt like she wanted to throw up, she lay back in her chair watching as one of her priests laid a goblet of blood next to her throne. He smiled tapping his staff. "How are you feeling today great fire goddess?" Chantico rolled her good eye why oh why was it that pregnancy among the gods of Mexica was similar to that of mortals among in the more human gods? She looked at the blood next to her she really didn't feel like drinking it she gave him a half hearted smile. "I feel like I want to throw up but other than that I'm fine."
The priestess opposite smiled. "Your child will be seen as a great symbol to our people as the union between your city and Xochiquetzal's." Chantico looked at her for a long moment. "Could you pass me that bowl?" She watched as the priest handed it to her. She looked at it. "I think I'm going to throw up." She leaned forward feeling the wave of sickness which almost caused her to loose her breakfast before looking up. "Tell me is pregnancy in humans as bad as this?" She wanted to say more only the feeling of Xochiquetzal's child kicking in side her stopped her. Why the hell did she think this would ever be easy, to start with?
Oh yes drop your powers and let your lover take you, that part was wonderful but the sickness she was suffering now was awful. She couldn't leave her own city she felt weak half the time and she had trouble keeping blood down. She put her hand on her swollen stomach taking in a deep breath no she was doing this because she loved Xochiquetzal and she wanted her child. In side her womb was their child and she couldn't wait to bring it in to the world, Xochiquetzal has made her pregnant and she was wanted to go through with this despite all the pain and illness. She tossed the bowl to one side watching as it clattered against the table she just wanted her lover right now that was why she was feeling more rotten than usual.
Her people on the other hand were loving every moment of this she could see it in their faces. It was because it gave them a chance to dote over her every need. To them this was the best news ever a godly child they didn't care one bit that it was Xochiquetzal's in fact they just loved that all the more as it now meant that she was the first god to ever to bear the fertility's goddess's child. To them that was a miracle considering that the gods who had had been Xochiquetzal's partners in the past had never successfully archived gaining a child through her. Although this was somewhat vice versa as she was the one who had gotten pregnant but that didn't matter to them it was no different than if it had been the other way around.
None of this mattered to her though she just wanted to bear her lovers child and a part of her was grateful that they had been successful though it hadn't been easy it have taken more than three attempts. After the third she'd started to have doubts which had hurt because she really wanted to have this child with her lover. A part of her had thought that like many off the other gods she might not be susceptible to Xochiquetzal's power when her own was dropped completely. Xochiquetzal had just smiled at her and told her to stop doubting because the gods before her hadn't been successful because she hadn't allowed it to be so.
Her first marriage had separated because she had differences with Tlaloc the rain god and did not want to join him the clouds as a half ascended soul. The two other gods after that had short lived affairs which had ended well, some time after this they had met and become lovers. Then Tezcatlipoca had taken her away and she had denied him everything including his attempts to force her to bear his child. She closed her eyes Xochiquetzal was still having problems with talking about that but she was sure that in time she would. Wounds like that needed time to heal and she didn't expect it to happen over night. The priestess turned smiling at her. "I am sorry to say that your pregnancy is much like ours great goddess."
Chantico felt a relaxed smile form on her face. "Well then you will both have to teach me how you cope with it, maybe I can get some ideas for dealing with my sickness." The priest lowered his head. "It would be honour fire goddess." Chantico lay back in her red and yellow crystal throne only to watch as multicoloured light showered the air as her lover marked her arrival. Xochiquetzal turned moving in front of the throne breathing in heavily. "I am sorry that I am late my brother needed me to finalize the scrolls which he's going to give Huitzilopochtli today." Chantico eyed the priest and priestess who were looking at each other. "You can go now thank you for bringing me my breakfast." The priest lowered his head along with the priestess. "It is an honour to serve you Chantico."
Chantico watched as they left only to look up sharply as her lover put her hands on her throne leaning forward. She looked up meeting the playful violet gaze. "I am just glad that you are here." Xochiquetzal moved her hands downward putting them on the other woman's swelling stomach. "How is our little one doing?" Chantico lowered her gaze. "Very playful today I can feel the kicking." Xochiquetzal smiled looking up enjoying every moment. "Seems like our little one is feisty… just like her mother." Chantico raised an eyebrow. "No I think that part come from you." She didn't get a chance to say anything else as the other woman's lips met her own.
Xochiquetzal pulled away then sat herself on the other woman's knees ignoring her surprise as she put one leg over her throne while picking up the goblet of blood with her other hand. "You should be drinking this you need your strength." Chantico groaned. "I don't feel well today, I want to be sick half the time." Xochiquetzal looked up her face turning serious. "I know this is hard on you, I know the baby is growing slightly faster than a mortal child would and it's making you ill. You are just going to have to wait a few months from now our child will be born." Chantico breathed in deeply. "I know that I just feel bad that I'm not fit to travel and that you have to visit me every day and stay with me every night I know you have your own city to take care off."
Xochiquetzal laughed slightly running her finger down the long scar on the other woman's face. "You shouldn't worry my brother can run my city and his two others with his hands tied behind his back. He understands that I need to spend time with you to take care of you and our child." She breathed in leaning against the other woman's chest. "Besides I'm not leaving you to do this all on your own you have enough to deal with as it is and I know that you need me to be here." Chantico breathed in deeply putting her arm around the other woman. "I do need you here I miss you when you're not around." Xochiquetzal eased up the goblet. "Thank you, now please drink this you need your strength and it's good for our child." Chantico rolled her eyes there was no getting out this today was there? She'd have to drink her breakfast regardless of her how ill she felt.
She took the goblet drinking it down slowly she breathed in watching as her lover took the empty cup from her hand. Xochiquetzal placed the cup down. "Feel better?" Chantico breathed in deeply. "Not really, but I know that I need blood." Xochiquetzal eased out her hand running it along her fingers. "Maybe we can work out a way to make blood more palatable for you." Chantico shook her head. "Watered down blood does not taste that good." Xochiquetzal shifted in her lap. "Have you thought about mixing it with human drink like alcohol? I know human food isn't something we gods really bother with but maybe it may be worth trying. I mean our child might need it and that might be why you feel so ill."
Chantico smiled slightly. "I'll give it a go, as you say it may help." She breathed in deeply lying back on her throne closing both eyes slightly. "I am so glad that you're here with me now, you don't know how happy it makes me." Xochiquetzal sat up she leaned forward giving the taller woman a gentle kiss. "I'll always be here there is no place I'd rather be than with you." She put both arms around her lover's neck. "I think we had to go through all that pain, I think we needed it so we could be stronger for each other and our child." Chantico looked up slightly. "Yes I think in that you are right, but I admit at the time I would not have seen it that way." Xochiquetzal leaned forward meeting her good eye. "I wouldn't ether." She smiled meeting the other woman's lips again enjoying the moment.
8
Huitzilopochtli looked down at his city watching as his people moved bellow amerced in their lives. He felt a smile creep over his lips as he looked at the rebuilt main street and the newly built road. All the damage that had been caused had long been cleaned up but that was due to the help off the other gods. He breathed in deeply he couldn't have built up his new kingdom with out them, that was all so clear now he needed the other gods as much as they needed him. Unlike his father he had no intention of running his kingdom single handed he had seen by his example that it just didn't work and in his fathers case it had led to his tyrant behaviour which he refused to repeat.
No he needed the other gods with out them he didn't see things in the right perspective. Through his eyes the kingdom of Mexica could be seen as fine through theirs there could be serious issues which he couldn't see from his place on the throne. He was already seeing the flaws in his fathers rule, as the fool had never dealt with the smaller issues. These were the issue which if left grew and grew until they could no longer be contained and erupted causing anything from war to famine to break out. At worst another god could loose it and try to force his hand because no one was listening to him or her and dealing with their problem. He had been one of those causalities as had both of his creator god brothers.
Not dealing with those issues, be it being treated fairly or taught how to do things right was all part of the problem. He had taken a lot of time at late to teach Tezcatlipoca how to run his kingdom under this new rule. It was obvious that his older brother had been left out of so much in his young life that he knew so little and not even the basics of what mortals wanted or how to treat them. A part of him was starting to see just why his older brother had been so evil and done such vile things. He had been so ignored by his father that he just knew nothing. He had never had the education that he and Quetzalcoatl had, had about what was right or wrong or even how to deal with issues about food storage for mortals.
Surprisingly though he wanted to learn and he could see in his eyes that he was being honest about it though he still had to wear the collar, but it was obvious that he was improving a little by day. He'd even given him scrolls to read which his father had read to him and it surprised him that he had wanted to read them. He knew what he was going through he had been where his brother was right now. It took a lot of time and effort to guild yourself away from evil behaviour. It was a slow painful road, it could really have its ups and downs and a part of him was just glad that he could be there to help guild his older brother through it.
He didn't believe now that he had been born evil because he had seen small sparks of nice behaviour, behaviour which it seemed that others had over looked or ignored. If he had small sparks then it didn't it stand to reason that these sparks could become a good and disciplined fire? He wanted to prove his father wrong about his brother now and show him that his brother was capable of being more than he'd believed him to be. With Quetzalcoatl out of the picture it made this much easier and now he found himself spending more time with his older brother. Even if it was just talking then it was enough. His older brother liked that some one would give him the time and talk to him because his childhood had been so empty and he come to think that it was just like that and that other gods didn't speak to each other.
He did not condone any of his behaviour or his past actions but despite these actions, he would put in the time with his older brother for how ever long was needed. He knew that he was loyal and he truly believed that one day he may be able to free him from his collar once he had become noble once more. His thoughts were cut off as there was blast of light behind him which sent multicoloured flowers all around. He turned meeting Xochipilli's violet gaze he felt a smile form on his lips. "Good afternoon friend." Xochipilli stepped forward so he by his side he looked up at the sun which was high in the sky. "Thank you."
He looked down pulling up the scroll which was in his hand. "I brought you the scroll you wanted it outlines some off the issues which the other gods are having." He watched as the taller man took the scroll from his hand. "I apologise that my sister couldn't be here, she's very busy with Chantico in her own city at present." Huitzilopochtli raised his eyebrow as he unrolled the scroll. "Has the baby still not been born?" Xochipilli shook his head. "Not yet her pregnancy is turning out to be similar to any normal mortals. Although it is growing much faster than a human child it seems that it will still be a few months before it's finally born."
He shook his head. "I believe this is due the fact that the conception was done in the same way as it was for a mortal women. Chantico had to drop all her powers so it would work and I know for a fact that it didn't work the first time around. They had to try more than once but it was successful in the end." Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "The fact that your sister has that kind of power is something in its self her power breaks the conventional rules of the lesser gods, on so many levels. The lesser fertility gods can do no more than help a pregnancy along were as she can make one happen even in another goddess."
He read the scroll before looking up. "I never realised that she was that strong." Xochipilli shrugged his shoulders. "Nether did I but then that is my sister, she is forever surprising me. When she became Chantico's lover I was surprised but over time I began to see why she likes her so much. For all her temper and rudeness Chantico always has her heart in the right place and despite that they've been apart nothing has changed that. In fact they are so much more stable as a couple than before." Huitzilopochtli eyed him. "Is that your opinion as her brother or as the god of love?" Xochipilli put his hands behind his back. "Something of both, which leads to you, how are things going for you, have you found any one special?" Huitzilopochtli sighed aloud he didn't like this question but he knew that Xochipilli only ever asked him because it was in his nature.
In the time that had passed he had come to learn that Xochipilli did ask these personal questions but never to be rude but to help and guild him he saw it as part of their friendship. He never forced love or his views on to him or tried to push women under his nose no he was much deeper than that, something which he'd never realized because he had never gotten to know him well enough until now. He was very deep and complex he questioned what he wanted in his relationships and how he wanted them be. He always spoke respectful of his past two loves and never pushed any blame on him in any way shape or form. He asked him about what he saw in both of them and how happy they'd made him. He looked at the other god for a longer moment. "No I have found no one."
Xochipilli lowered his gaze. "I know that you miss her, I saw that you cleaned up and kept her old clothing and displayed it once again in your throne room." Huitzilopochtli looked down he knew that today's conversation was about Gabrielle rather than his first love. "Yes I do miss her I will miss her until the end off time. I kept her clothes not because I want to remember what was bad but to remember the good time we had even if it was short." Xochipilli smiled slightly. "You had a good time together even if it was short and you did the right thing you should be so proud. Your willingness to learn love will forever set you apart from the other war gods." He raised his hands. "I am sure that one day you will find someone special once more and this time it will different they will be yours because they love you as much as you love them."
Huitzilopochtli shook his head. "I have my doubts that, that will happen." Xochipilli looked up meeting his golden gaze. "I think it will and it will be when you least expect it and it may be someone you never realized you was there." Huitzilopochtli rolled the scroll up. "Is that your opinion or a well know fact?" Xochipilli laughed slightly. "It's just something I know from experience I have had many mortal lovers in my long life. I loved them all equally I remember their faces and their names and I was there when they passed on." He adjusted his white jaguar skin. "I asked them if they wanted immortality but they all said no and I was fair to their wishes, maybe one day one will choose a different path and stay with me."
He eyed the other god. "Maybe one will stay with you forever or maybe you will find a goddess who makes your heart burn with joy." Huitzilopochtli put a hand on his shoulder. "I don't believe there will be but thank you for your kind words." Xochipilli raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't sell your self short I think there must be someone out there who will love you as much as you love them." Huitzilopochtli eyed the scroll it was time to change the subject. "How is building going with both my parents, it says here that there have been complications." Xochipilli rolled his eyes. "It's more the complication that they don't agree on anything and will argue over all manner of things. The builders are having trouble building their combined city because they won't make final decision on the design."
Huitzilopochtli breathed out deeply. "Leave that with me I'll deal with it personally, since so far they have ignored you, your sister and Chantico who have all tried to fix this issue with out success." He eyed the scroll again. "Another invading army tried to invade our shores, I assume their all dead?" Xochipilli nodded. "Their dead Tezcatlipoca armies did a fine job of making sure no one succeeded, as ever he is proving his loyalty to you." Huitzilopochtli eyed the scroll again. "Who was it who invaded was it the Roman's again?" Xochipilli shook his head. "No it was the Persians obviously they felt the need to try these lands since their attempts on the Greece have failed."
He sighed aloud. "Apparently the lesser war god Verethragna sent them here, he was foolish enough to have his banner flying and those who were forced to give information before being sacrificed said that he had sent the army personally." Huitzilopochtli narrowed his gaze. "Pray I never find their lesser war god, because I will kill him if he tries again to force his hand on to the kingdom of Mexica again." Xochipilli put his hands behind his back. "Then we should have Chantico throw a ball of flames at Verethragna main temple as punishment for his actions. It is very obvious that some of the lesser gods feel that with the change of king, Mexica has become weak. They need to be shown different only unlike Quetzalcoatl the punishment should not be against the cities mortals but the god who forces his hand." Huitzilopochtli nodded calmly. "I agree have Chantico throw a fireball on his main temple with her aim it should be a perfect hit even from our shores, I'm sure she'll enjoy that as I have heard that she has no patience for those who attack us." Xochipilli looked up slightly. "No she doesn't, I will have that done for you by tomorrow."
Huitzilopochtli looked at the last two lines. "The Greek gods have agreed to the alliance it took them long enough to decide." Xochipilli shrugged his shoulders. "Their memories of Quetzalcoatl are very bad they needed time to get to know you. Your impression must have been good on your last visit as I don't think they would have sighed otherwise." Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "Zeus there king was much more thoughtful then most god kings I have come across I was impressed by him. He carers more for his kingdom than most, but he won't work among his mortals openly everyday like we do." Xochipilli adjusted his gauntlets. "Not every god has the patience of you or I but I am sure that, that is something which we can teach the gods we choose as allies."
Huitzilopochtli eyed the last line turning to him as the confusion hit home. "You wrote festival of joy here what does it mean?" Xochipilli felt a smile creep across his face. "I am having a celebration in my city one which celebrates love. I know that you do not visit Tezcatlipoca today to teach him about ruling so I wondered if you'd like to come." Huitzilopochtli tensed slightly. "I don't think a festival celebrating love is where I belong since I am a god of war." Xochipilli felt his smile widen. "Oh I disagree you are a god of war who knows what love is and has felt it, you symbolize something special and that it why you should join me." Huitzilopochtli looked up sharply. "I am not sure about that."
Xochipilli stepped forward. "Some times you have to take risks and try things even if you feel that you don't belong, because you might find that you do belong." He folded his arms. "Plus as my friend I would be rather offended if you didn't come as I took part in your celebration after you became king." Huitzilopochtli rolled his eyes. "Fine I will join you it is not like I ever find myself saying no to you." Xochipilli laughed inwardly as he eyed the taller man. "No you don't but I feel that it because you value my friendship that you give things a go. As the god who has spent the most time by your side since your rule I feel it has been my duty to guide you and teach you just as I have been guided by you since you became king."
He patted the taller man arm. "Mexica needs you as king and you can not rule with out your closest friends we are here to help and guide you." He turned looking out over his friend's city. "We need you just as much as you need us if we are to bring Mexica in to a new age of glory." Huitzilopochtli didn't think as he grabbed the smaller man by his shoulder pulling him towards him. "In that you are right." Xochipilli winced a little feeling the other man grip lessen this was his just the war gods way of bonding he come to realize this lately. Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen. "Now how about you and I drink to that notion, it is early and I am sure you are thirsty are you not because I have blood in my keep that needs to be drunk?" Xochipilli nodded meeting his golden gaze. "I am thirsty please lead the way."
End of part 131
End Of Book Two
I really wanted to thank everyone who has read and reviewed and given feedback about this story through out its long life. This was originally meant to be sixty chapters long but ended up being so much larger. It has been a joy to write about ancient Mexica and its gods as well as its great cities.
This is the second book of the three the third and final story of the trilogy will be started sometime in the future. I have a classic short Xena mini fiction which will go up in the mean time as all the ideas for the final story are not quite finalized yet and I need more time to think them though.
