Part 2: Chapter 11

Dionysus

Out of all the places I could have chosen to go, I chose the most unlikely place I thought I would ever find myself coming back to.

It was not my revelry site, or Mount Olympus.

Instead, I found myself on the beach of Naxos, at the very place where I had met my wife for the first time seven years ago.

Apollo's sun had long set, and Artemis' moon was high up in the dark night sky, shining a radiant and luminous silver-white glow even through the thickness of the cold and dark clouds. The calm feeling of the moonlight shining upon me complimented the chill I felt from the autumn air. The area was silent, save for the cold night breeze in the air and the sounds of ice cold waves crashing upon the powdery white sand. I was thankful for the calm and peacefulness of the quietness of the beach right now, for it gave me the calm and peacefulness I wanted to sorrow to myself in.

I sat down at the beach, where the water of the ocean would reach its end on land, gazing out at the inky black ocean that glittered and sparkled on the surface of its waters from the silver moonlight. Where I sat, I was wrapped up completely in thick coats of pelt and fur to keep myself warm. But I found the action to be completely pointless, for I still felt a chill come from within me from my pained heart.

To my pained heart, I was hugging Corona above my heart, underneath the wraps I had donned. The silver-gold metal of the crown and its diamond stones were as cold as ice to my fingertips, freezing me where my skin touched it.

But I did not care.

The coldness of Corona could not compare to the coldness of my heart.

Ariadne

I found myself in a place where there was nothing but shadowy darkness. I did not seem to be in some sort of room, and I began to doubt if I was even still in the Underworld. From what it looks like, I seemed to be in some sort of abyss of nothingness.

It was so dark that I could not see my own hand even in front of my own face, and that made me frightened. What sort of place was so very dark that one could barely make out anything in it? This place – wherever it was – had nothing humane about it, and it held that strange aura of otherworldly characteristics.

But all of a sudden, three flashes of white light appeared right before my very eyes. It was so sudden and unexpected that I was greatly taken aback. I think I must have screamed in shock, although I was not entirely sure if I had even made a noise, as I instinctively covered my eyes with my hands, attempting to block out the blaring lights from my eyes to prevent hurting them from the sensitivity to the new brightness out of this heavy darkness.

After a while of calming myself down and bracing myself for what was going to happen to me at that very moment, I slowly but hesitantly pulled my hands away from eyes, allowing them to slowly get used to the three forms of light right in front of me.

When my vision finally adjusted, I realized then that the three forms of light were not mere creatures of etherealness, but it actually had the forms of three men.

Out of the three men, there were two that I did not seem to know who they were, although I had a nagging feeling that I had seen the man standing on my left before, from a very long time ago in my previous life, but I cannot seem to fully recall who he was.

However, it was the man in the middle that completely caught my attentions. Seeing the familiar face of the man made me freeze in my place, if I had not done so yet. A wave of shock and surprise washed over me, combined with the feeling of fear and bitterness at the memory of the very last time I had seen him.

And the time when I had last seen him was in the throne room of the palace of Crete, at the very moment where he announced in a dangerous mixture of rage and fury that he had stripped my titles as the Princess of Crete and the guardian of the Labyrinth, disowned me as his daughter, and sentenced me to be executed for crimes of treason.

Memories came rushing back to me then, but they were nothing but bad, painful and sad memories.

Had my heart still continued to beat, I was sure that it would react very violently towards this situation. But through my sudden mess of emotions, I managed to say one word; a word I had not said in a very long time.

"Father?"

Dionysus

"Why her?..." I questioned to myself in a murmur to no one in particular, my voice heavy with confusion and sorrow. "Why her?..."

This was not the first time I had asked that question to myself and to nothing. That question – that damned question – plagued me since I had returned to my revelry site from the ill-fated duel in front of the gates of Argos. I know that my mind should have been filled with thoughts of what Theseus would have done next, and what the Olympians would think of it. But I found that I could think of nothing but Ariadne.

"Why her?..." I asked again to the cold night air, my eyes trailing upwards to look up at the faint image of the moon that was being blocked by clouds. The only answer I got was a cold wind that was breezing around me, ruffling my mess of hair wildly.

"Why her?..." I questioned as the tears started to fall, my heart aching in the pain.

Ariadne

It had been such a very long time since I had last seen him in my previous life, and I realized then that he now looked slightly more different than when I had last saw him.

Last time, before the whole Labyrinth fiasco had started, he was a man who radiated power and authority, but was still kind and friendly to his subjects, the citizens of Crete. It was seen easily on his face that, although he was King, one would still be able to approach him and have a friendly conversation with him, be it that they kept in mind that he was their ruler and they show him the respect.

However, now he was far from that sort of person with that sort of friendly and approachable look. Though he still looked to be the man with power and authority, there was also a daunting look that showed that he was someone to be feared. It was terrifying, for I have never once seen him look to be so fearsome, except that last time I saw him.

His intimidating gaze of his hard and dark eyes seemed to bore right into my soul – literally – and it caused me to feel a tremble of fright to run through my lifeless body. His eyes were calculating and judgmental, looking at me as though he was studying a person guilty of a crime.

Was this what became of him during the last seven years?

At that moment, I wondered if that was even truly my father I was looking at.

Dionysus

After what seemed to be long time, I finally got up from sitting on the sand and started to walk along the ocean, the winds continuing to breeze past me in their icy coldness. I could hear the soft pressing of the sand under the soles of my boots; the only sounds made by me in the quietness of this moment.

As I walked and caressed the metal of Corona with the pads of my thumbs, many memories came flashing to my mind. Being that I was in the very place where my memories had taken place, there was no doubt that I was actually thinking about the very first time I had met Ariadne.

I recalled everything so very clearly that it was like as though I was reliving those moments all over again.

I remembered seeing Ariadne for the very first time, hiding in the forest when I heard her voice of distress. I remembered how awestruck I was when I saw, for the very first time, her beauty. I remembered how she had never left my mind after I had seen her, and how I was so ridden with the desire to get to know her. I remembered when I had first met her in the dead of night, giving half-answers to her questions. I remembered how she had been so afraid and wary of me at first, before she gradually warmed up to me. I remembered the times I spent with her where she had taken refuge in Artemis' grove, giving her the company she craved for and the protection I had promised to myself I would give her. I remembered the day she had been attacked by the satyr, and how I saved her despite the fact that it had ultimately revealed my true identity of a god to her.

Finally, I came to the most fondest of my memories. Memories of her accepting my true identity despite being angered about being lied to in the first place, and without using me for her own advantage. Memories of her joining my revelry in an attempt to stay bonded to me. Memories of her dancing gracefully around fires and among the thiasus with wildcats at her feet, as she became deep in the ecstasy that only wine could provide. Memories of us falling in love with one another, which led to our first night of passion. Memories of her accepting my marriage proposal, which had been the most happiest night of my life. Memories of her aborning my twelve sons, all whom I loved as much as her. Memories of our happy marriage, our love for each other growing with each passing day.

So many fond memories, and all centering her.

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful and lovely and happy they were, in the end all of those thoughts were still just memories; moments of the past that could never again be relived or recreated.

As my mind became too engrossed in the memories, the first bits of snow of winter started to fall from the night sky.

Perseus

"You are bothered by something," Andromeda pointed out in a soft, concerned voice as her hands came to rest on my tensed shoulders. "What is it?"

I was pulled out my thoughts then, only now realizing that I was staring at an empty corner of our bedchambers where I sat on the edge of our bed. I had no idea how long I have been in that state, though I guessed that it must have been long.

Slim fingers grasped my chin and turned my head so that I was looking at my wife, who was sitting behind on me on our shared bed. Her blue eyes gazed at me in concern, which also etched her beautiful features.

"Is it about today?" she inquired gently, running her fingers down to my chest in a soothing gesture. Silently, I nodded in answer. "Perseus, there is no need to mull over it any longer," she said to me in reassurance. "You have won. The people of Argos will be safe once again, all thanks to you."

With a sigh, I replied, "But still, I feel remorseful for what I had done to him. Andromeda, you should have seen what his wife had done."

Andromeda looked at me in confusion at my words, wondering what on earth I was talking about. But I continued on, still deep in thought of the horrible memory of what happened just this very morning.

"She had sacrificed herself for him. She had intervened to save him, and had taken the blow of my attack. She was a mortal, unlike him, and she was vulnerable, but yet she would sacrifice herself for him."

Ariadne's sacrifice had indeed been the act of a devoted wife who would go against all odds to make sure that her husband was safe. Furthermore, she had done so for a god; despite the fact that she was of a far lower status than him, she had still saved him regardless. Such loyalty and devotion was so rare to see these days, and only those virtuous would have been able to have such traits.

Guilt set into me when I said in realization, "I had taken the life of someone who deserved every right to live. I know that I would have done so for the sake of my people, but I realize now that Dionysus – although he had harmed them with his curse – had never actually killed any of them. But I had. I was the first among the both of us to take a life, and I feel ashamed."

My hands found that of my wife's as I began to think of how pained and anguished Dionysus had looked when I destroyed his wife before his very eyes. I was then plagued with a thought of how I knew I would have been like him, had it been Andromeda in Ariadne's place.

"Ashamed…" I murmured to myself, feeling absolutely guilty as the haunting image of Dionysus' pain at the loss of his wife replayed in my mind. "So very ashamed…"

Dionysus

After so long of wandering the beach of Naxos, feeling little bits of snow pouring softly and lightly onto me, revisiting places where the most fondest of my memories were made and thinking back to how life had been like before she graced her presence into it, I finally returned to my people back in our camp.

It might seem strange that there was no revelry tonight. I would have expected loud noises and music and drunken laughter and singing to be heard, while everyone moves in the high of the ecstasy with the feeling of delirious joy from the sweet, intoxicating wine they would drink with so much gusto. I would have expected the whole place to be so full of energy that even the air was coated with it.

But when I walked into the camp, stilled swathed in my coat of pelt and furs and Corona still in my hands, I was met with complete silence. This was a first in the history of my revelry; we had been a noisy bunch for so long that silence felt like strangeness to us.

My followers were all outside in the feasting grounds, but they were not feasting. Instead, they were just gathered there, watching me in eerie silence. They cleared a path for me to walk through, and I myself remained mum as I walked past them.

I was led to the dais of my throne, where I climbed upon and took my seat. Seated, my focus was not on my followers standing on the ground, despite the fact that a layer of snow was already slowly building up, but by the crown in my hands. My fingers were still caressing the smooth metal and feeling the smooth cut of the eight diamond stones, thinking to myself of how the crown looked when it adorned my beloved wife's head of pale blonde hair.

It was the sudden appearance of a tray which held a single chalice of wine that pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked to the side to a satyr who was kneeling beside my throne, his head hung as his hands held up the tray.

"My lord," he began in a grim murmur. "All of us mourn the loss of our queen greatly. We shed tears for her and feel pain at her passing. We swear to you that we will gain our revenge upon the damned Perseus one day to avenge her death."

A heavy sigh passed through my lips when I shook my head in disagreement. "No," I told him. "We will not fight for revenge. It would not have been what she wanted. And there is no point when I know that there is a risk that I would lose the lives of some – or worse, all – of you. Leave it be, for my queen has passed, and there is nothing we can do to get her back."

The last part was what stung me the most that I wanted to break down and cry once again. I wanted to weep my heart out at the thought that there was indeed no way for Ariadne to be with me once again, and that she would never stand by my side any longer. The thought of being all alone without her made me quipped with fear and pain.

Absentmindedly, I took the chalice of wine that was being offered and downed it all in one go, relishing in its refreshing coldness despite the chilly air of winter around me. When the chalice had been emptied, I asked for another. The satyr rushed off immediately to refill, and I knew that he would do so again when I asked him for more wine as the night wore on.

With the pain I felt inside, this was not a moment I would like to spend sober.

Ariadne

My mind became filled with questions at the moment.

What was going on here? Why was my father among these men in this dark shadowy abyss that was absolutely empty and full of nothing? Why was he not speaking to me? Surely it was not because he did not remember me, because I saw a look in his hardened gaze that he knew exactly who I was to him. But yet, he did not acknowledge me, seeming to be treating me as someone he had never met before in his life.

But the most important question now was; why was my father in the Underworld?

However, that seemed to be a silly question, for I already knew the only reason he would be in the Underworld. It was the same reason for me at this very moment.

But that still did not explain the biggest question that confused me.

What was my father doing here?

From the very first second the three flashes of bright light appeared before my very eyes, I had never once spoken a word; not even sure if I could even speak. The three men standing right in front of me, looking stoic as they were, too did not say anything. They only kept silent as their gazes were fixed on me, all of their eyes searching and looking so very deep in thought.

All of a sudden, the three of them suddenly disappeared. There had been no indication on their exit; the light that surrounded all three of them suddenly disappeared like a candle flame being extinguished from a sudden gust of breeze. Immediately, I was plunged back into the darkness of the shadowy abyss.

Fear was about to set into me, when I felt like I was suddenly being pulled out of the abyss all so suddenly. I think I screamed then, but I could not be too sure. I could feel myself screaming, but I did not know if any sound was heard or not.

Upon impulse, I placed my hands over my eyes firmly, not wanting to see what was about to happen to me. And even if I did want to, I knew that it could be nothing but trouble. I could not feel any solid ground between my feet, and there was an eerie silence all over me In my non-beating heart, I prayed to the gods, the high heavens, and all the power that the universe possessed, that I will not be put into danger the minute this frightening experience was over.

For some reason, it was as though my prayers had truly been answered, regardless of whether I was dead or not. This was because I finally felt solid ground underneath me as I was brought by some strange force into a kneeling position.

I did not know where I was, because I still had my hands covering my eyes. But I knew that even if I did not, I was sure to not know where I was regardless. The only thing that I knew very clearly was that I was kneeling atop a soft ground, what could only be carpeting, and that I seemed to be back in some vast but enclosed room, only slightly more different than what I had first felt about at the banks of the river Styx.

But before I could even make a guess as to where I was, a deep, baritone voice sounded from high above me.

"Arise."

Upon hearing that voice, I tilted my head up, immediately making eye contact with two people seated upon thrones.

Author's Note:

Ariadne's confused as to why she saw her father and finally meets the two people I talked about in the last chapter (and had lied that they would make their first appearance here... well, technically they did... but no mention of them... DAMN IT, MUSE!)

Dionysus is mourning and is complete pain, and it looks like he's going to drink some wine for that. But would this lead to another problem?

And it looks like Perseus himself is wallowing in guilt. Oooh, wonder what's he going to do?

See you on Friday!

Muse of Fanfiction