Part 3: Chapter 10

Ariadne

I could not feel myself afterwards, only the constant shifting of everything all around me. But I do know that the feeling of my father's comforting arms was no longer holding me in an embrace, and I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks at that thought that finally, we were separated for good by the powers of Death and the machinations of the Fates.

But just then, I could feel everything around me starting to take place, as well as the feeling of two familiar strong and loving arms being wrapped around me gently, holding my frame to his toned and warm chest.

I opened my eyes slowly and immediately saw Dionysus looking at me with concern clear in his hazel eyes. Beside him, Semele too was watching me worriedly, most probably wondering what had gone on that had made me cry.

A quick look-around made me realize that all of us were in Hades' throne room; the very throne room where I had encountered the King and Queen for the first time. By 'all of us', I meant me, Dionysus and Semele, with Hades and Persephone, along with a young blonde, green-eyed god – who I did not know whom, as I had never met him before – standing aside quietly, watching me like the others were.

I looked around at the faces of everyone, but I said nothing. Instead, I quietly hugged back my husband and buried my face in the curve of his neck, breathing in his divine aromatic scent and relishing in the softness of his velvet skin.

We stayed that way for a little while longer, not being disturbed by anyone by quite an amount of time. Dionysus too did not ask me of what had gone on, instead respectfully keeping quiet and holding me as I want him to hold me. I was thankful for his understanding at the moment, and made a promise to myself to actually tell him of what had gone on during my last encounter with my father.

It was then Persephone came up to us, her beautiful soft and warm smile still on her lips. She looked at the both of us when we pulled away, and informed us in her melodic voice, "It is time for you to go now."

Dionysus

We followed Hades and Persephone to the river Styx; Ariadne being held to me by my arm wrapped around her frame and my mother who was on my other side with her hand clutching mine. Hermes had been quietly following us from behind, until he increased his pace to be walking alongside my wife.

"I do not think I have introduced myself to you," Hermes informed her with a charming smile. "I am Hermes, Dionysus' half-brother and friend. 'Tis an honour for me to finally meet you, Ariadne. I have heard of so many good things."

Ariadne responded with a kind smile of her own. "'Tis an honour for me to meet you as well, great Lord Hermes."

Hermes gave a slight wave of dismissal and exclaimed in a friendly manner, "Come now! No need for any formalities between us! You are the wife of my younger half-brother for seven years, which would make you my half-sister by your marriage. I consider you family now, Ariadne! You can refer to me as your brother if you would like to!"

When Ariadne smiled and thanked Hermes for his kind words, I smiled at how quickly my wife had been able to easily get along with my favourite half-sibling and my best friend. By the looks of it, it was already apparent that a bond between them was already taking place. I wondered if she would be able to be close to all my half-siblings in this sort of manner, other than Artemis who she was already very close to.

After a while, we reached the main doors of the palace. With a short wave of his hand, the doors opened accordingly upon Hades' silent command. The King and Queen then continued on outside, with the rest of us following right behind them.

The sight of the river Styx was as dull and dreary and incredibly mystifying as the first time I saw it when I had first gotten here a long while ago, and it seemed that my actions were not the only one. At both my sides, both Ariadne and Semele took in the sight of the river with wide eyes and gobsmacked expressions.

"How long have I not seen this great river of the Underworld?" I heard my mother murmur to herself in disbelief. "Far too long, I know…"

Subconsciously, I squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner when I heard the tone of melancholy in her voice. She turned to look at me deep in the eyes, and I smiled in return. Slowly, a gentle smile played on her own pair of lips.

I turned my head to the other side when I felt Ariadne turning her body towards me and giving me a small hug. Her head leaning against my shoulder, she quietly told me, "I am just glad that my time in the Underworld had been good while it lasted. But I can truly say how excited and joyful I feel that I am able to return to the world above to be with you, my love."

I smiled at her sweet and loving words, feeling my heart grow light with happiness. I pressed my cheek against the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her hair that still smelled sweet and divine. I sighed in content as her scent overpowered my senses, starting to make me feel slightly drunk.

But then my eyes darted towards the river Styx, and I could feel them widen to twice its size when I caught sight of something I had never expected to see at all.

Approaching the banks of the river was the ferry of the ferryman Charon. I could see many souls on board it, making their way to the land where they would then be led to their judgement. I could see that all of the souls were one of the same; pale, plain, lifeless and, most especially, dead. There was not even a hint of life in their features, all who looked nothing but absolutely grim and solemn.

But it was one soul that caught my complete attention. It was a soul of that of an old man who, at this point of his life, already looked like a living skeleton, since I could see most of his bones showing through his sagging old skin. He was hunching greatly, his long white beard and mustachio hanging from his face. Creased by many wrinkles that came with age, his face showed just how miserable he was at the thought that he was in the Underworld.

I was overcome with shock, considering the fact that I was now looking at the soul of the old man that I had just encountered right before I arrived in the Underworld.

"Prosymnus…"

He did not meet my eyes, too preoccupied in his own thoughts to even bother looking around the great dark chthonic Underworld around him. However, I was glad that he did not meet my eyes, for I do think that it would only increase the feeling of absolute guilt and sympathy that was starting to blossom within me.

Guilt and sympathy for what, exactly?

Of course, I remembered the deal I had made with him before I dove into the dark cold waters of the Alkyonian Lake; he showed me the lake that held the secret portal to the Underworld, in exchange that I offer him my body for him to pleasure himself in the joys of the flesh. I could not deny that I had been half-hearted and hesitant to accept his proposal, considering the fact that I considered myself monogamous now and that I was intentional to only be faithful to only my wife. But I was a god of my word, and I did indeed wanted to show him my thanks for helping me. What other way than to allow him anything he desired? Unfortunately, that happened to be me.

But with him now gone, I was free of the promise I made to him. I would not give him my body, since he was now dead and would not be able to partake in the pleasures of sex anymore. Thus, I would be able to keep to my vow and stay faithful to Ariadne.

However, the thought of just forgetting about the promise made me uneasy. Like I had said, I was a god of my word, and I would honour anyone who was able to earn my good graces in anything they did. To simply forget about honouring him – he who had helped me in a time of most desperate need – was not something nice to think and feel about, and it made me pitiful that I would not be able to honour him, no matter how much the proposal had been disturbing to me.

And because of that, I made a silent vow to myself that I would still honour him when I had ascended back to the Aboveworld. It may not be in the way he had intentionally wished for, but it would still be a great honour as it would be a sign of my good graces.

This, I promise to you, Prosymnus… May you rest in peace…

I finally tore my sights away from the old man and broke out of my deep thoughts when I felt a nudge from Ariadne. I snapped out of my state of still silence and immediately looked at Hermes, who was already standing at the edge of the banks.

With a smile, Hermes informed me as he raised an inviting hand to us, "It is time for us to go. So, if you will, Dionysus."

I nodded my head in confirmation. But of course, I would not simply leave without a few final words with my uncle and my half-sister, who were the two who had made this opportunity possible.

I released my hold on my mother and my wife and made my way to Hades and Persephone, who were quietly standing aside and watching us. Hades held my gaze, even when I stopped and knelt onto the ground in front of him. With a bow of my head, I said firmly in gratitude, "I thank you and your Queen, Lord Hades. If it had not been for your fairness and good graciousness, all of this would not be able to happen. Forever I will be in your debt, for it is all I can offer to you for allowing this to happen."

Hades did not say anything, but he did give me a slight smile – which seemed slightly strange for me to witness, considering the fact that I have rarely ever seen Hades actually smile, especially one so genuine – and a nod of his head. But it was Persephone who spoke, telling me in her sweet voice, "We are just happy to see that you are able to reunite with both your wife and your mother, Dionysus. I can now only give you my good wishes that your life will be nothing but happy and joyful with the both of them."

"It will be," I told her in certainty, smiling at the thought of having them in my life from now on.

But then, Hades added in, with a frown that had replaced the small smile, "But of course, I can honestly tell you that I do not wish to see you here in the Underworld for businesses such as these again. It is so very rarely that I will allow this to happen, but I most certaintly and absolutely do not have any intentions to make it common."

Rising to my height once again, I nodded my head in understanding. "Of course, Lord Hades. And I apologize sincerely for all the trouble I had put you through. But once again, thank you for graciousness for allowing me this benefit of a doubt."

Hades dismissively nodded his head. "Very well, then. I accept your apology, nephew. And I will be honest in telling you that I had allowed you this blessing for your devotion to your wife was indeed very admirable. It is rare that I see any god who would be so willing to go through risks to be reunited with his wife."

And at that point, he turned his head to look at Persephone, and his expression softened immediately. As Persephone smiled and kept contact with his eyes, he murmured lowly, "Any sort of love and devotion deserves a blessing…"

Hades then sighed and looked away from Persephone and back to me. With a gesture of his head to the waiting Hermes, he said, "Now go. Return to the world above to continue your life, with your wife and mother. Farewell, nephew, until the next time we meet."

"Farewell, Dionysus," Persephone bade me goodbye with a soft smile gracing her lips. "I will hope to see you again very soon."

I bowed to Hades and Persephone deeply and gave another few words of gracious thanks before I made my way back to Ariadne and Semele. Taking each of their hands in mine, I took them with me to Hermes.

When he was sure that we were ready, he offered his hand again to me and informed knowingly, "Our way to the Mount Olympus will be very quick, but may cause some difficulties for Ariadne and Semele, for they are mortal and would not be used to the speed I travel at. So, I suggest that they hold on tight."

Immediately, my arm wrapped around my mother's frame and held her firmly to me while Ariadne wrapped both her arms around me in the same sort of firmness. With the both of them now secured to me, I then took hold of Hermes' hand, and nodded to him to signify that we were ready.

He nodded back with a smile and turned around. With the flutter of the wings on his headband and his pair of sandals, he took one step off the banks, and was finally making his way out of the Underworld at top speed in just a few seconds.

Ariadne

What Hermes said was true; a mortal would not be used to the speed he travelled at. He was faster than any of the fastest creatures of Earth, seeming like he moved at the speed of light and sound mixed together.

Instead of the light breeze I was hoping for, which would have been my first breath of fresh air when I had completely gotten out of the Underworld, I felt myself being bared against strong gusts of wind as we were taking flight. The air was biting cold and chilled me to the very marrows of my bones, and I was almost shivering like crazy if it were not for Dionysus' comforting warmth.

I knew that we were still in flight when it had been so long since I felt solid ground below the soles of my feet, and the fact that I could even hear birds flying around us gave me another indication that we were at a great height in the sky. The sudden disturbing thought of falling scared me, and all I could do was hold on to my husband even tighter and bury my face in the curve of his neck, the thought that he was near me the only comfort I could get right now.

Just then, all of a sudden, I heard Hermes yell out, "Open these gates!" Right afterwards, the sound of heavy metal being dragged radiated through the air loudly, and the young god flew in the direction of the sound.

Slowly, I felt all of us being lowered, but I could not be sure until solid ground had finally touched the soles of my feet. There were no longer any sounds of gushing cold wind or birds in flight. But still, I kept frozen with my arms still wrapped around Dionysus and my face hidden in the curve of his neck, waiting for the shivers that washed over my body slowly fade away.

But just then, I heard Dionysus whisper into my ear, "Welcome to Olympus, dear wife."

Hearing that, my eyes flew open almost instinctively, and I absolutely could not believe the sight before me.

In front of me was the most biggest, beautiful and majestic palace I had ever set my sights on. Shaped out of smooth and pristine white marble with pillars, steps and some towers plated in shining gold and silver metals, the palace was an absolute breath-taking work of architecture. But it was not entirely made out of stone and expensive metals. Surrounding the grand palace were rich greenery of all sorts of nature, ranging from tall healthy trees and shrubs and bushes that were decorated with the most colourful and sweet-smelling flowers in bloom, despite the cold atmosphere.

I doubted that anyone other than a god could build a great house that was so grand and magnificent. In fact, it was a great house that could never exist on the mortal lands; nothing as beautiful as this could ever be found in the mortals land. This was truly a home fit for only the great gods and goddesses of this world.

Suddenly, I heard the sounds of the tall golden doors of the palace open, followed by a very familiar voice of a woman calling out my name in a tone of clear happiness.

"Ariadne! Ariadne!"

I gasped and immediately turned my head in the direction of the voice, and my eyes finally caught sight of Artemis running down the steps and towards me, her arms outstretched, a beautiful big smile on her rosy lips, and her midnight blue eyes twinkling as she looked at me. She continued to call out my name with each step she took running to me.

At the sight of my friend and sister, I could feel my heart soar intensely, and I immediately bolted in her direction. I called out her name like how she called out mine, feeling as much happiness as she was at this moment. I could feel fresh new tears welling up in my eyes and streaming down my face; tears of joy.

Luckily, after only a few short seconds, I met her halfway, and our arms immediately wrapped around each other's frames in a loving embrace.

"Dear sister, you are alive!" Artemis gasped in an exhale of heavy breath as she hugged me tightly. "Thank Mount Olympus!"

"Artemis… My dear friend… I have missed you so much…" I cried quietly, inhaling shaky deep breaths as I pressed my face against her waves of thick and luscious dark blackish-brown hair.

"And I missed you too," she replied, and I could detect the smile in her voice when she said that.

When she pulled me away, but held me gently at her arms' length, it was then I realized that we were now not alone.

Now, many others were emerging out of the grand and great palace, all coming in large groups and masses down the steps and onto the front courtyard that we were standing at. Seeing so many gods and goddesses around me at one time was absolutely breath-taking and exhilarating, and I even began to wonder to myself if this was real life. All of them were absolutely heart-stopping beautiful; such beauty could not possibly exist in so many numbers.

As I took in the sight of the many of them approaching, with many others gathering around us, it was then I realized that all of them had their eyes, attentions and focus locked on me. All of them were watching and looking at me quietly, communicating only through mumbled and hushed tones, from which I could hear traces of the words 'Ariadne', 'Underworld', 'appealed', 'Hades', 'mortal girl', 'Dionysus', 'bride' and 'goddess'.

It would be a lie to say that I did not feel frightened by all this sort of attention that I was receiving. The stares – curious, awed and scrutinising – of the deities were heavy upon me, and I felt so very naked by how they looked at me so intently. I could feel myself become frozen and stiff, afraid to move even. It also made me feel self-conscious, because all of them were so divinely beautiful whereas I was a mere average mortal. Feeling insecure, I hastily wiped away the tears from my eyes and erased away the tear streaks that had stained my cheeks.

But just then, the crowd that surrounded the front of me suddenly parted, making way for the one lone god that was now walking on the created path towards me. When I first set my eyes on the god, my mind immediately told me that he was a powerful being, as shown by the strong and confident strides he took and the expression of power on his facial features. And speaking of his facial features, he was absolutely and majestically beautiful; with silvery-blonde hair that fell to his shoulders and a bearded chin and mustachio, and storm grey eyes that further enhanced his image of strength and power.

Following behind the god was a small contingent of seven other deities – four gods and three goddesses – who I suspected were seven of the Twelve Olympians. All of them walked at a brisk pace, following the lead of the great god. Like the huge crowd around us, these seven too looked at me with scrutinising gazes, which only made the situation feel slightly more worse for me.

Beside him, there was a very beautiful woman with the most luscious wavy hair of red and mahogany shades and the most beautiful eyes that were the colour of ripe amber-gold honey. However, despite how beautiful she looked, there was a sort of snide look in her features and her honey eyes were so very hardened. She walked a few steps behind the god with the same sort of stride of power, her head held high in pride and her movement elegant and graceful.

However, she stopped suddenly when she caught sight of us.

Or more specifically, when she caught sight of Semele.

Immediately, her honey eyes hardened more, becoming clear with a look of disbelief, dismay, rage and anger piled up together. Her lips pursed tightly and her fists clenched and trembled fervently. A frown started creasing her pale beautiful face, and her venomous expression deepened ever so much. As I looked at her, I could almost feel the aura of hate that radiated from her.

At first I wondered why, until I heard Semele uttered something that had added fuel to the fire of anger in the goddess. The name she said made me realize that the angered goddess was none other than Hera, the very goddess who had sent her to her early demise out of revenge.

The name that Semele had said could only belong to the great god standing in front of me.

"Zeus."

Immediately, I gasped in shock, now becoming fully aware of the true identity of the god in front of me. At that moment, I could not believe that I was standing face-to-face and looking at the great and all-powerful King of the Gods, the God of the Skies.

Furthermore, I could not believe that I was standing in front of and facing the father of my husband; my father by marriage.

Zeus focused all his attentions on Semele, not paying even a single bit of attention to Hera, who was now retreating with quickened and hurried steps back into the palace. I did not see her reaction after her forming look of detest and venom, but I guess that she could no longer take the sight of her husband's former lover standing there, looking very much alive despite having died so many long years ago.

She was probably angered over the fact that her plan, although successful in the beginning, had ultimately failed. Her action of running away from the scene was a sign of one thing; she had lost, and she could not bear that humiliating thought.

There was no change to Zeus' expression, but he simply held Semele's gaze in a gentle manner and replied, in a slightly melancholic manner, "Semele."

The silent interaction between Zeus and Semele lasted for a few seconds longer, with neither of them saying anything. But then again, if anyone were in Zeus' position at this moment of seeing his former lover who had been dead for quite a few decades – or centuries? – already, one would not know what words to say either.

The silence was finally broken when Dionysus walked ahead of me and Semele and stood facing right before his father, standing tall with confidence in his position. He gave a bow of respect and announced loudly, "My lord father. Let me make known to you my wife and the Queen of my revelries and rituals, Ariadne."

Instinctively, I stepped forward to stand by my husband's side and promptly bowed in respect as well. Keeping my head facing down, I said aloud, "Great Zeus of the Skies and of the Gods. It is an honour for me to stand before you at this very moment. May your power reign supreme over all."

The feeling of a strong hand gently being placed atop my head soon after. I then heard him say in a baritone voice that had possibly sounded like music of the heavens, "I welcome you to Mount Olympus, Ariadne of Crete. Behold the mountain that will now be your home, for you will drink the sacred ambrosia of the gods and become one of us, and you will hold the honorary title of consort of Dionysus."

When his hand had been released off the top of my hand, I straightened up and gave my best smile to him, pleased to see that he was already smiling right back at me.

Zeus then shifted his gaze back to Semele, who was still staring at him with hints of disturbance and uncertainty. Not making a move to approach her and still remaining where he was, Zeus said to her, "And I too welcome you to your new home on Mount Olympus, Semele of Thebes. You too shall be made a goddess, and be given the honorary title of being the divine mother of Dionysus."

After that, he turned to look behind him and gestured with a firm nod of his head. On cue, a young goddess – who could have looked to be my age, give or take a year or so – with curly golden brown hair and sweet-looking caramel eyes stepped forward away and out of the crowd. In her hands, she held up a silver flat disc which held two golden chalices that seemed to radiate a soft glow in the gentle light.

Holding the disc high above her head, the young goddess bowed to Zeus and held it out to him. Zeus then took the golden chalices in his hands and gave it to Dionysus with a nod of affirmation.

Dionysus nodded back, before turning and gesturing me and Semele to stand close to each other. When we did so, he offered us each of the two golden chalices. Semele took one with thanks and I took the other one in curiosity. Looking inside, I saw that the chalice was filled with some sort of rosy red liquid that had such an aromatic and deliciously sweet scent that made me sigh in unexpected pleasure when I inhaled it in. I swear I could have fainted from the absolutely divinity of the perfume of this drink.

"This is the sacred ambrosia," Zeus explained as he came forward to us. "The drink created out of the essence of the universe only for us gods and goddesses; those who are born with pure divine ichor flowing through their veins. However, the both of you have been granted this rare opportunity for I have decreed that you will be made divine into goddesses. No longer will you be mortal. Soon, you shall be divine powers and eternal life. Soon, the both of you shall be immortal."

The thought of gaining immortality and becoming a goddess infiltrated my mind once again, and I could feel the excitement and anxiety in me growing at the thought that the opportunity was now right in the palm of my hands. To be honest, I have had no hesitations about this decision. I have long left my mortal life behind, and was ready to get another chance to start a new life as a goddess. Furthermore, the fact that I would have both Dionysus and Semele in my new life made the decision even more worthy.

Cradling the golden chalice with both my hands, I gazed at it intently, prepping myself up for the final moment. I knew what would come when the time finally arrived; I would be saying goodbye to the human in me, and bracing myself to be graced into divinity. However, I was not sad, because I know that all the beautiful memories I had as a mortal would still be there in my thoughts for me to cherish.

I cast a quick glance to Semele, who was looking at me with excitement twinkling in her bright hazel eyes. She beamed, as though to tell me through her eyes that she cannot wait for the new life that was waiting ahead of her. I smiled back to her happily, wanting to tell her that I too was feeling the same.

My eyes then shifted to Dionysus, and my loving husband was already gazing at me with an encouraging smile. From the loving and joyful look in his own hazel brown eyes, I knew that he too was exhilarated by the thought that he had been able to come this far, and that Semele and I becoming immortality would ensure that we would always be there with him. I guess that was what he, Semele and I would all want.

The three of us would be together forever on and on after this moment.

And just that thought alone was enough to make me finally bring the chalice to my lips and drink the ambrosia, feeling the powers of the smooth and sweet red liquid course through my entire body.

All of a sudden, my heart started beating once again.

That fateful day had been an extravagant event with the arrival of two new goddesses; Ariadne, the Goddess of Labyrinths, and Semele (who was also renamed as Thyone, but she insisted on keeping her real name), the Goddess of Dionysiac Frenzies.

The initiation of divinehood for both the consort and the mother of Dionysus respectively had been a grand affair; one that could almost equate to the revelries presided over by Dionysus, although it was far less destructive than a Bacchic frenzy. In the grand hall of the palace, there was delicious food, fine wine and beautiful music all around, in honour of the new addition to the deities.

On that celebration, both Ariadne and Semele – who were both radiatingly beautiful from the golden ichor that now flowed within their veins – danced to their hearts' content, basking in the bright and warm aura of Dionysus' joy. The two who had been mortal and who he had successfully taken back from the Underworld were very well-known among Olympus, and were treated with utmost respect and admiration.

And life continued on after that, but it was different now for Dionysus, for he now had both his wife and his mother to be permanent graces of his life.

Life could not have been more happier for Dionysus since that day.

Author's Note:

Once again, I am SO very sorry for not keeping to my promise and updating when I had promised! Real life and school are getting on to me, and I can't deny the fact that final year exams are coming and I would have to study super hard in order to graduate!

But alas, we have come to the last chapter! Eveyrone is happy (maybe except Hera) that everything had gone well! Ariadne and Semle are immortal and granted a home in Mount Olympus, and Ariadne and Dionysus are finally reunited for real! :D

But stay tuned for the epilogue which is DEFINITELY coming out tomorrow, and it is tomorrow when I will announce my next big project (which is by far the one I am MOST excited for, although some of you might find it silly!) So I do hope you will come back tomorrow for the final author's note!

See you then!

Muse of Fanfiction