Part 3: Chapter 4

Dionysus

The cold of the silver-gold metal of Corona bit into my fingers and the eight diamonds reflected off the moonlight in sparkles. For a long time as I stood on the edge of a random high cliff, I only focused all my attentions on the wedding crown as the thought of what I had planned to do come into fruition in my mind.

To travel to the Underworld and stand before Hades to appeal to him for the release of my bride would have been one of the most craziest and absurd things that most would have thought me to do. Many would proclaim that I may have gone completely mad, or am just too desperate that I would try to do something stupid.

Then again, I had done more madder and stupider things in my life, but I doubt this could be considered one of them.

And no matter what happened, I was determined to get her back, or fail trying.

But just in case I did fail…

Without a moment's hesitation and with all the might of my hands, I threw Corona away from me heavenwards, sending it flying into the air. However, it did not fall to the ground once it was out of my grasp. Instead, it kept on flying further and further out, disappearing more and more from my sight in the darkness of the night. It kept on going heavenwards, higher and higher and higher…

Until it was no longer a crown, but a formation of eight stars in a circle in the night sky. The new constellation of stars that had once been the wedding crown of Ariadne shone brighter than the other multitude of stars, for it was newly-birthed. I could almost feel its shine on my face as I continued to admire Corona in its new home in the heavenly stars of the night, where anyone who would look up at this moment could see its grace.

But this was not something I had done for no reason. This was what I wanted to dedicate specially to Ariadne, to remind myself in no matter what situation of the beauty and happiness that she had brought into my life.

So even if I failed in bringing her back, I would have Corona to look to if I was alone.

XXX

I had just descended the cliff, after taking a good long while of imprinting the image of Corona as a constellation in my thoughts, when a realization occurred.

I realized now that I did not actually know where to begin to look for a way into the Underworld.

I was not chthonic; a term used to refer to deities who had ventured into the Underworld once or many times before. Therefore, I did not have the special ability of chthonic gods to locate a crevice in the Earth that radiated the aura of the Underworld, thus signifying an entrance to the realm below.

At that moment, I felt that all hope seemed lost. What was I to do if I did not even know how to start? The thought of being unable to reach Ariadne made me quiver in fear and anxiety; even more so than the thought of descending into the Underworld itself.

I had been so caught up in the feeling of loss that I had unconsciously whispered pleadingly into the cold and silent forest air, "If anyone who can help can hear me, I beg of you to answer."

Of course, I had not even expected an answer. However, it came anyway.

"And answer I shall."

In a flurry change of moments, I immediately looked upwards and saw Hermes floating above me. My half-brother then floated down until the soles of his winged sandals were touching the soft snowy sand, until he was standing right in front of me. In the light of Artemis' moon, I could see that Hermes still looked the same, even if it had been three months, during the last few days of autumn, since I had last seen him

"Hermes. It has been so very long. Thank Mount Olympus that it is you," I murmured in a great undisguised relief, feeling the urge to kneel down and kiss his feet in graciousness.

Hermes came forward and wrapped an arm around my frame, pulling me into a brotherly one-armed hug. Usually, I would have responded in the same way, always taking the friendly and welcoming approach. But now, I was just so thankful and glad to see him again after so long that I did not hesitate to wrap both my arms around his body, giving him a full embrace.

When we pulled away, he kept his hand on my shoulder as a gesture of comfort. With a small smile, he explained, "I have come here to help you, my brother. I have learned of what Artemis had done, and now I wish to give you aid."

"Thank you," I replied even more gratefully when I heard that. "Thank you so very much. I am forever in your debt."

Hermes only smiled and patted my shoulder once before taking a step back and giving his hand out to me. I looked at him in confusion, wondering what he was doing.

"Come," he told me. "I shall take you to the Underworld myself. You would be able to get there more easily."

I was entirely surprised by these turn of events, for I had clearly not expected Hermes, of all people, to want to help me. "How did you know?" I questioned him, for I was sure that the only ones who knew about my planned journey to the Underworld were myself, Artemis, and no one else.

"Lord Zeus discovered what Artemis had made you plan to do," he explained to me in admittance. "I was in presence when he called her before him to explain her deeds. But I was not there when he had agreed to it."

"What?!" I exclaimed in shock when I caught on to the last part. "He agreed to it? Are you saying he actually allowed me to descend into the Underworld?"

Hermes nodded his head in confirmation, which only increased my confusion tenfold. But before I could question Hermes on what reasons Zeus had given to explain why he would allow me to do something I clearly expected he would disapprove of, he told me, "I do not know why it is so. The only one who does other than Zeus himself is Artemis, who had been with him when he stated his agreement, and who had sworn to not reveal the exchange that had gone on between her and him. However, you should be glad that Zeus had decided to give you way and not make things difficult for you by refusing."

"Then what about you?" I questioned, my head still full of confusion. "Why would you wish to help me?"

Hermes sighed in response and a slight shake of his head, but there was a small smile on his lips when he told me, "I have heard first-hand from Artemis of your reasons for wanting to descend into Hades. To hear of your strong love and devotion towards Ariadne had admittedly warmed my heart that I had felt inclined to want to help you, my brother in need. And a deed such as yours that is so noble deserves all the help that it could get."

With that, he once again gave me an opened hand, and asked, "So, Dionysus? Will you wish to begin?"

Nothing could describe the utmost surprise I was feeling right now, and at that moment everything began to feel a bit more easier than it had just a few minutes ago. Now, I could envision a clearer path to the Underworld; with chthonic Hermes as my guide, I would be able to get to the realm below in just a blink of an eye, with no fear for obstacles.

However, the thought of getting there the easy way somehow made me feel cheap and pathetic. I felt that since my journey to the Underworld was to be mine and mine alone, I should learn to know to get there the harder way, for I felt that I might achieve a better understanding that way. Furthermore, Hermes had no intended part in my plan, and I would not want to burden him by asking him for favours that I need not have.

So with that thought in mind, I calmly pushed his hand aside and shook my head slightly in polite refusal. "I thank you for your kindness, dear brother. But I simply cannot accept it," I told him calmly and graciously.

"What?" Hermes questioned, entirely taken aback and confused. "Why ever not?"

With a sigh, I told him, "I do not wish to burden you with my problems, Hermes. This is the punishment that I alone must face, for it is the result of my irrational actions. I hope that this sole journey of mine would be my one-way path to repentance, and I strive to achieve that on my own. I shall bear with this, regardless of the consequences that come along with it."

Hermes did not immediately say anything in reply, only looking at me with a gobsmacked expression, his eyes searching mine as though to be sure that I was not either mad or joking. But after a while of silence and finally coming to the conclusion that I was still sane and serious, his lips melted into another smile, and he nodded his head in acceptance.

"I understand, Dionysus. Indeed, your nobility is something to be admired and envied after, and your courage and determination to go against all odds has me give my utmost respect to you," he marvelled in solemn pride. His hand then placed itself on my shoulder once again to give me a gentle squeeze, as he said, "So, I wish you nothing but the best of luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour."

I smiled back to him, internally feeling absolutely thankful and gracious for having a brother like him. As I did, my eyes travelled upwards, and instantly my sights came upon eight-starred Corona, just as I hoped with all of my heart that good may come out of all of this.

But before he let me go, Hermes added thoughtfully, "But if there is ever anything that you need – anything at all – do not hesitate to ask me of it."

But of course, there was no way I would not not take advantage of this.

"Well, you may do so by telling me where I can locate a way into the Underworld…"

XXX

I found it to be such a cruel joke that I had come back to the one place I had wished to avoid for the rest of my eternal life.

Argos.

XXX

"You are jesting with me, Hermes," I muttered in hard disapproval when Hermes answered my question. "Now is not the time for joking."

Hermes shook his head frantically. "I swear upon Styx that I am not jesting with you, Dionysus!" he proclaimed with urgency. "From where you are standing at right now at this very minute, the closest place that holds a secret portal to the Underworld is at the Argolid in the coast of the Gulf of Argos, located in a region of springs called Lerna."

Still, I groaned in disbelief. "Anywhere but Argos, please!" I whined and complained. "You know damn well my history with that place, and you should know damn well that I have no intention to return to the place where all of this mess started." Still feeling irked at the thought of setting foot back in Argos, I admitted fearfully, "I am afraid that if I were to step foot back there, I would be so consumed with the thought of what had happened. I do not wish to relieve those painful moments, Hermes. You should understand."

When I turned my back on him as I fidgeted to keep calm my thoughts, I heard Hermes sigh sympathetically, "I understand why you would not wish to go back to Argos, for the memory of what had happened there is still fresh and painful to your mind and heart. However, it is either you take a closest route, or spend a long while locating the next one, delaying your time. Besides, there is no more bad blood between you and Perseus anymore. Do you not know that he has allowed your rituals and practices to take place in Argos once again, as a gift of apology?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, I know of that," I told him, remembering the time oh so very long ago when I heard in my head his words of guilt, regret and apology resonating from a temple of mine in Argos. "But while I have allowed him my forgiveness, I am still uncertain of going back because of that one reason."

"It is your choice, Dionysus," Hermes told me in finality. "I will not force you to do it if you do not wish to do so, but please do think it over. If you manage to overcome the pain that still lingers in your heart, it may be able to give you the strength you need."

When I turned around to face him, I saw that he was already gone. His aura lingered in the air for a little while more, until it had disappeared completely into the biting cold and silent still air.

So with that moment, I decided that there really was no other choice.

XXX

After wandering around the area for what might be an hour or so, keeping in mind the location of 'the Argolid in the coast of the Gulf of Argos', I was finally able to find Lerna.

What Hermes had said was right, it was indeed a place with a multitude of springs. Nestled in this isolated part of the Gulf, there were springs all over the place, all which were bubbling actively, giving off a comforting warmth that coated the cold winter air heavily. In the darkness of the night, the bubbling spring waters sparkled in the luminescent light of the moon, painting the waters in silver and white.

But as I admired the beauty of this solitary place, I began to wonder where exactly I was to begin with. Hermes had only told me that the portal to the Underworld was located in Lerna, but he did not specify where exactly.

Damn it… I thought to myself in dismay. This could take a long time…

But just as I was going through my options, a voice sounded from behind me.

"Who goes there?"

In surprise, I turned around immediately, and instantly saw where the voice was coming from.

Approaching me was an old mortal man, who had a greyish-white mustachio and long beard, a slight hunched back, wrinkles and other age lines that marked his face, and his bones showing through his sagging leathery skin to the point that it looked like he was nearly a skeleton. The old man was hobbling towards me with the help of a long shepherd staff in his bony hands.

When I had turned to face him, the man's eyes widened instantly in awe and disbelief. He halted his difficult steps and just stood still as he continued to stare at me.

"I am… no one," I told him promptly, suddenly uncomfortable with his sudden presence.

Still stuck in his flabbergasted state, he exclaimed, "Do not fool me. I know very well that you are a god, for no one else could possess such utmost beauty that you have. And the light of the moon shines and radiates all around you, indicating the aura of divinity of which you have."

Slowly, he went down on his wobbly, knobby knees and planted his hands on the snowy ground, leaning forward in a somewhat prostration position. "Who are you, o' divine one, so that I may greet you proper."

For a moment there, I hesitated telling the old man my name, for I did not want to be unnecessarily be acquainted with someone so trivial. Furthermore, I had not the time to make friends with him for I still wished to find the portal to the Underworld as soon and as fast as possible.

But still, to be rude to this man who had done me no wrong, and had even wanted to pay greetings to me properly, seemed awful, so I sighed and just simply replied, "I am Dionysus."

The old man gasped then, and exclaimed, "Dionysus! The one who engaged the King of Argos in battle those three months ago?"

"Do not speak of that!" I snarled in anger that suddenly erupted within me.

The old man jumped in my sudden outburst and began quivering immensely. As I felt myself slowly relax, I saw in his eyes the fear that I had ignited within him, and immediately felt guilt for acting out of composure.

"Apologies…" I murmured, coming forward to give him a hand.

The old man took it with a nod of thanks, and I held him steady as he came to a stand on his aged legs. As he let go and steadied himself while grasping his shepherd staff, he bowed his head and said, "No, no. Forgive me. I would not have asked if I had known it would offend you."

"You are forgiven. What is your name?"

"Prosymnus," the man answered. "I am a shepherd around these parts, although I see myself as more of its caretaker since I am the only one that dares to come here."

That last bit made me very curious. "Why is that?" I asked. "Is there something wrong with this place?"

The old man, Prosymnus, took a thoughtful look around the area as he told me, "Nearby Lerna is the Alkyonian Lake, which used to be the lake that was guarded by the ferocious water monster, the Hydra. Up until it was slain by the hero Heracles a few years back, the Hydra protected the lake, for there is a portal to the Underworld deep within its murky depths."

"What?" I exclaimed, my attentions perking up suddenly. "A portal to the Underworld, you say?"

Prosymnus nodded. "Why, my lord? Is that the reason why you are here in Lerna?"

Subconsciously, I nodded my head in response, before I could tell myself that it was a bad idea to do so. But then again, it really did not seem so much of a bad idea at all. I mean, this old man already knew I was a god, so what was the worst that could happen if he knew I was finding a portal to the Underworld?

"Indeed, it is. Can you take me there, to the Alkyonian Lake?"

Without hesitation, Prosymnus nodded his head in agreement and turned around to walk back the way he came from. In the silence and darkness of the night, I followed right behind him quietly, my heart racing at the thought that I was about to be one step closer to the Underworld.

Up a hill and through a thicket of trees later, I found myself facing a large lake that was located at the base of some small mountains. The area was so well-secluded that one could almost feel the eeriness of it all, down to the question of what lied deep within the dark waters of the lake. Despite the fact that it was winter, the lake was not frozen, and the inky black waters that looked like a piece of midnight looked so sinister that it was just the perfect place to hold a way to the Underworld.

My attentions on the lake were suddenly pulled away when Prosymnus called out for me. I turned to his voice and saw that he was pushing a small row boat onto the dark waters.

"Come, my lord," he beckoned. "I will ferry you to the middle of the waters. The Alkyonian Lake is bottomless, its depths reaching parts unknown. Hazardous it is for people to swim in it; even when the ferocious Hydra had finally been slain and it no longer swims here, many still do not want to risk being in the waters that they know is cursed with an entrance to the Land of the Dead"

I moved ahead and got onto the boat without question. Prosymnus got in after me, and he grabbed hold of an oar to row the boat further into the lake. All the while, both of us were quiet, only the sounds of the water and the melancholic howls of wolves resonating through the cold winter air.

Suddenly, Prosymnus stopped rowing, and he announced, "My lord, we are finally at the middle of the lake. Deep below the boat lies the portal to the Underworld. Despite my words of the lake being hazardous to swim in, there is no other way for you to reach it but to swim to the bottom yourself."

"I understand," I told him as my eyes studied the dark, pitch black waters. I redirected my sight to look at the old man, and I leaned forward to hold his wrinkly bony hands in mine. "I thank you very much, helpful Prosymnus. Is there any way I can repay you for your kindness?"

Strangely, Prosymnus was suddenly so very quiet, his eyes focused only on our intertwined hands. I kept quiet as well because I thought that he was thinking over his options. But when it was taking a bit too long, I was about to ask him what was wrong. However, he started to speak at the exact same time.

"It has been a long time since I have felt the body of another on mine. I am no longer as young as I was before, when I was still able to get anyone to indulge with in the pleasures of the bed. I would do anything to feel the joys of the flesh once more with none other than you, for you are more beautiful than any that I have seen in my life."

When he had stated his want, I could only stare at him in shock. "Are you saying that…" I could not bring my mouth to finish speaking.

Prosymnus did not say anything, only caressing the back of my hands with his wrinkly bony thumbs.

I did not know what to say. Indeed I would do anything to repay this mortal for his help, but to allow him to have his way with me in bed? The whole point of this journey was to attempt to reclaim my one true love from the Underworld, to have my beloved wife once more at my side. But would I be able to allow myself to make love with this man in exchange? I had vowed to myself to be faithful to only Ariadne, and the thought of being bedded by him made my vow annulled.

However, in the end, I knew that I could not get myself to refuse this man, for I am a god of my word and will keep my word once it was made. I could only hope that my time in the Underworld would go well, or this would be something I would definitely regret for all eternity.

Silently, I pulled my hands away from Prosymnus' and stood up on the bed. Keeping my gaze focused entirely on the dark waters below, I proclaimed after a short exhale of breath, "Very well, Prosymnus. You will get your wish. I will find you once I have returned from the Underworld. This, I swear."

And then, without another word and another glance to the mortal, I leapt off the boat and into the waters, immediately getting engulfed in an array of blackness and coldness.

Author's Note:

Oooh! Looks like Dionysus' journey to the Underworld has started! What will await him in the realm below?

By the way, the old man Prosymnus truly was truly involved in helping Dionysus find his way to the Alkyonian Lake, and had indeed request that he have sex with Dionysus in return. Dionysus agreed to it, but it does not really mean it would be fulfilled...

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you guys that I had been so bored with myself that I played around with the pictures on my profile a bit. You know the pictures that I imagined the gods to look like? Yeah, that one. So anyway, I have made changes to some and added many others.

Those I have made changes to are;

1. Demeter (Looking slightly more sexier now)

2. Hades (Looking as hot and sexy as ever! :P)

3. Aphrodite (More sexier!)

4. Athena (More dangerous and 'Battle Goddess' looking!)

5. Artemis (A look I am finally satisfied with! I was not really satisfied with the old one because the model didn't look like a virgin goddess...)

6. Dionysus (Went with a more rugged look!)

Those I have added are:

1. Thanatos (Exactly like him)

2. Hecate (Sexy and witchy!)

3. Leto (I suggest you compare this picture with new 'Artemis' pic)

4. Orion (As I have said before; I imagine Liam Hemsworth, though more Gale Hawthorne from The Hunger Games movie)

5. Ariadne (For the sake of this fanfic!)

6. Semele (Also for the sake of this fanfic!)

7. Psyche (Because a lot of people has been asking me to do a real ErosxPsyche story)

Please do check them out and give moe your opinions on them! I would really like to know!

Thanks for reading! See you on Friday!

Muse of Fanfiction