Title: An Olympian Wedding
Author: Balebold
Email: balebold@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13?
Fandom: X:WP/H:TLJ
Paring: Cupid/Strife, Ares/Joxer, Eris/?, Auto/OFC
Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me (except my original
characters). The Greek Gods belong to everyone or themselves or
something and X:WP & H:THJ belong to their creators in TV land.
Summery: Autolycus attends a wedding on Olympus. In the process he
finds love and learns who Strife's father is.
Status: Complete
Series: There is a prequel to this story, possibly others.
Archive: If you want it, take it; just let me know, please.
Author's Notes: In this story Eris is neither a bad mother nor a
bitch to her family. If you don't like my characterization
(which I openly admit isn't my strong suit) don't read the
story!
Any similarity between this and any other author's work is
completely accidental. If you feel I stole your idea or concept of
something, all I can do is apologize and say imitation is the purest
form of flattery. Thanks go to Angel Ser-Desa for Betaing.
Dad dropped me in the great hall of the Halls of War on Olympus then
went off to collect more non-Godly guests for the wedding. I looked
around at the flowers and ribbons hanging on the walls. Looks like
Aunt Dite has gotten in here. I wonder what she did to get Ares and
Joxer to let her decorate like this. I started to a door that would
lead me farther into the temple, hoping to find Strife, but almost
ran into Iolaus coming out of it. At first, I was shocked to see
him but that was overcome by my sincere happiness that he was
apparently standing in front of me. Last time I saw Herc and Xena a
few months ago they had told me he died.
"Hey, Iolaus! I heard that Hades finally decided to keep
you!" I said, shaking his hand in a friendly squeeze.
"Hey Auto, here for the wedding?" He grinned, returning my
shake with a tight grip.
"Yeah, I've watched Bliss a couple of times, and you know
they are my cousins. I'm Standing for Strife. So, Dite break
you out to see it?"
"Something like that."
"Well, I for one am looking forward to seeing the whole family
again, especially a certain smokin' Goddess of Discord, if you
get me." I wiggled my eyebrows a bit. He frowned.
"Yeah, listen, they kinda sent me on an errand, so I better get
going or a certain pissed off Goddess of Discord will be looking for
me. I'll see you later, okay?" He turned to go, then paused
and looked back. "And Auto? Do me a favor and stay away from my
wife. I would hate to have to draw and quarter you." Iolaus
told me with a gleam in his eye that reminded me just a bit too much
of Strife for comfort. I blinked as I watched Iolaus walk the rest
of the distance to a door on the opposite side of the hall. I
wonder if he's been talking intimidation lessons from Strife. And
sincewhen is Iolaus married? Is that why he's up here instead of
down in Uncle Hades' Realm? I resolved to ask Joxer or Realm as
soon as I found one of them. I continued through the door,
immediately picking up sounds from down the hall, coming from the
wing Strife's room is in. As I walked along the commotion grew
louder. After turning a corner and going through a set of double
doors, I could make out individual voices.
"Your father's title is going to ruin the flow of the ceremony!"
"Realm, would you take Aphrodite out of here please?"
"Come on, Aunt Dite, I'm sure Cupid is looking for you about now."
"Hon, I think the gold looks better."
"Al, Ma, we alreadah decided on tha black and dark blue."
"But the gold really brings out your eyes."
"Brings out tha what in ma eyes? They're black!"
"I can change that!"
"Ah, Unc'! Help!"
"Eris, calm down."
"Calm down? Calm down!?! My son is leaving me Ares!"
"Eris, he's just moving across the lawn. It will be okay."
"Ares, why don't you take her to the Assembly Hall? Strife and I
will be right there."
I reached the open door to Strife's suite in time to see a trail
of gold and blue sparks fade. Strife stood in the center of the
room in front of a floating full-length mirror. Joxer stood behind
him, smoothing the shoulder of Strife's dark blue silk shirt,
which was tucked into tight black leather pants that shined just
enough to make them look that much more attractive (Not that I was
attracted). Joxer turned around and picked a small box up off a
table.
"Here Strife, your uncle and I got this for you, but I didn't
want to it give to you with your mother around in case it sent her
off again." Joxer told him, handing him the box which now had a
neat dark blue bow tied round it.
"Thanks, Jox." Strife said, turning around and taking the
box. He undid the ribbon and took the top off. His face held awe
as Strife pulled out a sliver chain with a pendent hanging on it.
"It's our seals, merged. Just like yours an Unc's."
He said softly. Joxer nodded.
"It's hephaestian silver. We made two, one for each of you." Joxer
told him. Strife pulled Joxer in a hug.
"Thank ya, Uncl' Joxer. This means a lot ta me." Strife
put the chain around his neck and adjusted the pendent so it fell
correctly in the center of his chest.
"I'm glad. And if you have any sense at all, I know your
not trying to figure out how to get a closer look, Auto."
"Who, me?" I said with my best innocent voice, forgetting
all about wanting to ask about Iolaus and coming fully into the
room. "I may be the King of Thieves, but I'm not stupid."
"You could have fooled me with some of the stunts you've pull."
Joxer replied. I could feel color creep up my face.
"Ah, yeah. Man, Strife, you look fantastic. Cupid won't
know what hit him."
"I damn well bettah look fantastic!"
"So, you ready to get this show on the road?"
"Not so fast, Auto. You are not Standing up with my favorite
nephew on his wedding day wearing that. Jayce would kill me if I let
you."
"What? These are my best leather pants."
"Uh huh." Joxer waved his hand and the raggedy brown was replaced
with soft black suede and a linen shirt, a lighter shade of blue
then Strife's. "Okay then, ready Strife?"
"As I'll evah be. Let's go." But before they could flash out
someone else flashed in. Jett and Jayce now stood next to Joxer,
both wearing the exact same thing he was. If they mingled, I will
never be able to tell them apart.
"We thought you were still here, are you coming or not?" Jayce
asked them. "Cupid's waiting." At least I though it was Jayce.
"We were just leavin'." Strife answered.
"Wait, I have something for you, first." Jett told him, reaching
down into his boot and pulling out a dagger. Yep, that was Jett.
He handed it to Strife grip first. "Can't go unarmed, even on your
wedding day."
"Thanks, Uncl' Jett." He said examining the blade.
Strife put the dagger in his boot, then reached behind him, pulling
out another dagger. "But I wasn' planning to." Strife replaced the
dagger where it had come from.
"That's my nephew," Jett said, smiling fondly. I was a
bit confused. Jett and Jayce weren't Strife's uncles, were they? He
called Joxer uncle but Joxer was married to Ares, so was technically
his uncle. It must just be an endearment, but in my experience, my
Olympian relatives didn't really use endearments lightly. Jayce
could be Strife's father. Strife hadn't called him `Uncle Jayce'
like he did Joxer and Jett. I have tried every trick in the book
and some then some to find out who Strife's dad is, but never have.
I thought of the possibility that Jayce was indeed Strife's father
and decided against it. Eris would have eaten Jayce alive.
"'Kay, let's go." Strife said, and they flashed over to the
Assembly Hall, Joxer making sure I got pulled along too. We
appeared in the brightly lit hall full of people. Guests were
arranged in chairs along either side of a center aisle leading up to
the dais were Zeus and Hera sat. Jett and Jayce both squeezed
Strife's hand before finding seats near where their father,
Hades, sat. Seeing us now in the back corner of the room, Ares came
over from the other back corner where he had been waiting with
Cupid, who was dressed identically to Strife, right down to the
pendent. Behind Cupid stood Aunt Dite, for once tastefully dressed,
and Realm, who looked down right hot.
"Ready?" Ares asked as he got near.
"And willin'. Where's Ma? Did ya get her calmed down?"
"Iolaus did, here they come." Ares made room as Eris and
Iolaus approached us. She went right up to Strife and hugged him.
"I'm proud of you, we both are." She told him. Iolaus nodded his
agreement.
"Okay, ready to start?"
"Yes, alreadah!"
"I'll see you after the ceremony, Strife." Joxer then went off to
find his seat in the front where Hephaestus and Bliss sat. The
empty seats around them were for Cupid's and Strife's parents
after they finished their part of the ceremony.
"Okay, we'll take Cupid first then you come with Strife." Ares told
Eris and Iolaus.
"We know, Ares, you've told us about a hundred times." Iolaus
replied. Ares nodded and singled the music to start. All the
guests got quite and stood, looking to the back of the hall, where
on either side of the aisle the wedding party was lining up. Ares
and Aphrodite flanked Cupid, linking arms with him to lead him up
the aisle, followed by Realm, to where Hera now stood. They
approached and stopped.
"Who gives this God in marriage?" She asked in a voice pitched to
carry through out the hall but not be overly loud.
"His mother and I do." Ares replied. Hera nodded and they moved to
take their seats. Cupid and Realm moved off to the side as Eris and
Iolaus lead Strife up the aisle in a similar fashion to how Ares and
Aphrodite had Cupid, with me following.
"Who gives this God in marriage?" Hera asked again.
"His mother and I do." Iolaus replied. Again Hera nodded then Eris
and Iolaus took their seats as every one else in the hall did also.
I was very curious as to why Iolaus was participating. Strife could
have asked, sure, but then wouldn't he be Standing Witness, not
filling in for Strife's seemingly non-existent father? What if
Iolaus and Eris got married? That would explain his threat and why
he's here, but I never heard anything about a wedding and Dad
usually gives me all the dirt.
"Are there any objections to this match?" Hear asked those
assembled. When no one spoke, she continued.
"Do you Cupid God of Love, Son of Ares God of War and Aphrodite
Goddess of Love, take this God as your spouse forever more?"
"I do." Cupid said, smiling at Strife.
"Do you Strife God of Mischief, Son of Iolaus God of the Hunt and
Magical Creatures and Eris Goddess of Discord, take this God as your
spouse forever more?" I nearly cried out when Hera listed Strife's
father. But that's impossible! Iolaus is younger then I am! Isn't
he? Oh man, I better pay attention. Gods knows who will be after me
if I botch Strife and Cupids wedding. And that's the main problem
it will be the Gods.
"You bet'cha" Strife replied, receiving a small laugh from
everyone. Hera smiled.
"Who Stands Witness for Cupid?"
"I, Realm Goddess of Female Warriors, Daughter of Ares God of War
and Joxer God of Deception and Strategy, Stand Witness for Cupid."
"Do you swear in front of this assembly that Cupid is here of his
own free will and mind?"
"I swear it."
"Who Stands Witness for Strife?"
"I, Autolycus, Son of Hermes God of Thieves and Merchants, Stand
Witness for Strife."
"Do you swear in front of this assembly that Strife is here of
his own free will and mind?"
"I swear it."
"Hold out your arms." She told Cupid and Strife and they held out
the arm closest to the other, letting them touch.
"Witnesses, place your hand on their shoulders please." Hera
said to Realm and me. Realm stood behind and to the right of Cupid
as I stood behind and left of Strife. Her left hand rose to his
right shoulder, as my right hand rested on Strife's left shoulder.
I'm not sure of the specifics, but this formation is important to
the bonding ceremony Hera was performing. A wide dark blue ribbon
with silver strands running through it materialized in her hands.
She laced the ribbon around their out stretched arms then tied the
ends in an intricate bow. She raised her hands, palms flat and
facing down, over their tied arms.
"I Hera, Queen of the Greek Gods, Goddess of Marriage and
Childbirth, now proclaim that Cupid and Strife are forever joined in
the bonds of marriage." I could feel the pull of energy as the
ribbon glowed and disappeared. Two identical silver rings appeared
in the same fashion on their left ring fingers. We all put our arms
down. Hera addressed the rest of the assembly.
"May I present, Cupid and Strife, Joined in Marriage!" She told
everyone. They turned to the crowd, clasped hands and kissed to the
cheers of everyone in the Hall. They broke apart then marched down
the aisle, arm in arm. I offered Realm my arm and we followed them
to the back of the hall with Ares and Aphrodite, Eris and Iolaus
bringing up the rear. The newlyweds and parents made a line to
receive well wishers. Realm hugged her brother and cousin tightly
and I did the same (well, Cupid's my cousin, not my brother but
you get the idea), then we flanked them to make sure the line moved
smoothly and guests knew where the reception was. First through the
line came Joxer, Jett and Jayce. After congratulations was said,
Joxer moved to stand behind Ares as Jett and Jayce left for the
great hall in the temple of war to make sure all was ready for the
reception. Next came Hades, his wife Persephone, and Hecate who was
holding a little girl.
"You better take care of my grandson." Hades told Cupid.
"I will Uncle Hades, trust me, I will." Cupid answered with a smile
for Strife.
"Daddy!" Squealed the little girl in Hecate's arms and Iolaus took
her so Hecate could hug Cupid and Strife. She squeezed them hard.
"Mom, let the boys breath!" Iolaus told her.
"Sorry, Son." She replied releasing them, "I'm just a happy
grandmother." She then said a blessing that I didn't quite follow.
Realm whispered in my ear that it was a witch blessing. Hecate took
the little girl back in her arms and gave her to Strife.
"Marrie' now, Stife?" She asked him.
"Yup, I'm married, now, Lanalaus. You got anotah brothah." He told
her, gesturing to Cupid. Lanalaus, that's Eris's little daughter.
Dad told me about her. Why did she call Iolaus daddy? And Iolaus
called Hecate mom. Man, this is making my head hurt!
"Cupie brotah, now? But you move!" she accused. "Mak Mama sad.
Mak me sad."
"Ah, don't be, Little Sis, ya can com' visit anytime ya want!" That
seemed to pacify her and she didn't fuss when he handed her back
to Hecate, who promptly left for the reception. More family
filtered through the receiving line including Heph and Bliss, Zeus
and Hera, Dad and a bunch more I don't want to list. When the hall
was thinning out Realm took me over to the reception. Round tables
with cloths covering them and chairs now filled the hall. There was
another long table with chairs facing the round ones, Realm told me
that's where the wedding party will sit. There was a large space
in between the long table and the round ones for dancing. Music was
playing from somewhere and the guests were gathered in small clumps
around the room. I spotted Jett and Jayce talking with Hades.
Jayce was now holding Lanalaus. I went over to them and Realm
followed. After seeing Realm, Lanalaus wiggled, stretching out her
arms. Realm took her.
"I'm hurt. Don't you like me anymore, Lana?" Jayce sked her.
Lanalaus giggled.
"Lik u fine, Unc Jase."
"She's just tired of the heavy scent you wear. Isn't that right,
Sweetie?" She nodded as Jett tickled her. "What'd you do, Jay,
bathe in it?" He asked Jayce, who looked offended. Uncle Jayce?
Jett tickling a little girl and calling her Sweetie? All that stuff
with Iolaus? What is going on?! Lanalaus is about four and Iolaus
did disappeared for a while almost five years ago. Is it possible
Eris and Iolaus got married and that Lanalaus is his daughter? But
then why would he call Hecate mom?
"Hey Realm?" I said. She looked up from cooing at the girl in her
arms.
"Yes?"
"Can I talk to you a minute? Over there?" I gestured away
from the group we were standing with.
"Sure. You want to visit with Grandpa?" She asked Lanalaus, who
vigorously nodded. Realm passed her to Hades, who got a huge grin
on his face. Man, seeing Uncle Hades smile like that is just a tad
disturbing. Realm took my arm again and I lead her far enough away
from them that they shouldn't be able to hear us.
"I seem to be confused about some thing. Um, why is Iolaus here?"
"Oh," She got this surprised looked that quickly turned to
concern. "No one told you!" Now she seemed like she was
trying not to laugh. "Strife is going to crack up when he learns
about this.
He must be getting a nice buzz from the energy."
"Thanks. This is why I asked you instead of someone else. I
figured you were the least likely to laugh at me, but I guess I was
wrong." I started to stalk away, but she stopped me with a hand
on my arm. Guilt tripping people is just way too much fun.
"I wasn't laughing at you, just at the situation." She was still
trying not to laugh. "It really is very amusing." And she
lost it. Maybe the guilt trip didn't work as well as I had
thought. I would have just walked away, but she still had me in her
tight grip. This reminded me that she may be a girl (no woman, a
fact that I was very aware), but she was still a war god. I started
to tap my foot to show my impatience.
"Okay, I'm alright now." She said, wiping tears from her eyes. She
looked at me, "See, Iolaus" She started but a bright flash
interrupted as the newlyweds, Ares, Dite, Eris, Iolaus, Joxer, Heph,
Bliss and any straggling guest appeared. Everyone clapped loudly
until Ares held up his hand.
"Let the feast begin." He boomed. Food and drink appeared on all
the tables and Realm took my hand and led me up to where Cupid and
Strife were just sitting down. She took me to my place between
Strife and Eris, then bent to whisper in his ear before taking her
chair next to Cupid. Strife started to chuckle as Realm smiled
apologetically at me. Hades brought Lanalaus up to sit between Eris
and Iolaus. Next to Realm sat Bliss, Ares, and Joxer then Dite and
Heph.
"What?" Cupid asked his now fully laughing husband. Strife
recovered enough to whisper in his ear. By the look on his face I
know he was trying to hold it but was soon cracking up too.
"What's going on?" Ares asked his daughter who couldn't resist
rejoining the laughter. I sipped my wine, dreading what was
happening around me as everyone started to crack up except Bliss and
Lanalaus. Don't get me wrong, I've been laughed at before (once),
just not by so many people (who were all gods), and that I am
related to.
"Oh, calm down, Auto. If your family can't laugh at you, who can?"
Realm told me. It didn't help. Manly because I didn't know why
they were laughing.
"I knew it! I knew you were laughing at me!" I accused her.
"Come on." Realm finally took pity on me and waved me from the
table. "What would you like to know?"
"Why is Iolaus participating in this wedding as if he is Strife's
father? And what in Tartarus is so funny?"
"He's acting as Strife's father because, he is Strife's father.
It's funny because we all assumed someone else had told you."
I didn't hear the second part though because my jaw was on the floor.
"Come again?"
"I though Dad had told you, Dad though Cupid did, Cupid though Pop
had, Pop though Aunt Dite did, Dite though Strife had told you,"
She explained, deliberately misunderstanding me, and I waved my hand
to stop her.
"No, no not that. Back up to the other thing."
"Iolaus is Strife's father?"
"Yeah that. How is that possible?! Are Iolaus and Eris really
married?"
"Yes, they had their 500th anniversary a few years ago."
"What? How? I though Iolaus was mortal."
"He was, when you met him. He's been in the field for the last 35
years. Just got back a few months ago."
"In the field?"
"Yes. I know your dad told you that every few centuries each god
is born as a mortal to learn about them, yada, yada, yada."
"Yeah, he just didn't refer to it like that. What's Iolaus god of?"
"Weren't you listening during the ceremony?"
"No, I was a bit distracted." I told her looking down at her
dress, grinning. It was creamy dark blue silk with bell sleeves and
a brown leather corset (the color of her eyes) that showed plenty of
cleavage and highlighted her long, smooth legs. A nice rose shade
colored her cheeks under my gaze.
"Well, you should try paying more attention in the future." Her
chocolate brown eyes sparkled at me as she played with a strand of
her long, golden brown hair. She's flirting with me! Maybe I
will get lucky tonight after all. "Uncle Io is God of the Hunt,
Magical Creatures, Cures, Hexes, and Jinxes."
"His mother is Hecate?" She nodded. "And his father?"
"Grandpa Hades. Iolaus is my dad's, Jett's and Jayce's older
brother." Well, this explained everything, then. Except how he
ended up traveling with Hercules. She grabbed my hand again.
"Dinner is getting cold." We went back and sat down at the table.
"Okay, Auto?" Strife asked me as I sat down.
"Yeah, but I still say it wasn't that funny." I told him, filling
my plate with roasted rabbit, boar and veggies.
"Like Tartarus it wasn'. I got a majah power buzz from ya."
"That doesn't make it funny." I replied, but I was
grinning around a mouth full of rabbit. The incident was soon
forgotten as I joined the conversation at the table. When everyone
had eaten their fill and the feasting was winding down, the music
started again and the newlyweds got up to have their first dance as
a couple. Joxer and Ares followed them out along with Dite and Heph
and Eris and Iolaus. More couples drifted to the floor to join in.
I got up from my chair and approached Realm, who was still sitting,
sipping her wine.
"Realm, would you like to dance?"
"Sure." She took the hand I held out for her and got up.
Instead of a normal Greek wedding dance, everyone had stayed in
pairs, holding each other, and swayed to the music in some way.
Some were so close you couldn't slide a sheet of parchment
between them and stayed in roughly the same spot, just moving their
hips (Cupid and Strife, Eris and Iolaus to name a few). While
others were a foot or more apart, just so they could put their arms
around each other as they moved around the floor. Realm and I met
some in the middle of the two types of dancers and I lead her
around. I got so lost in our movements and her eyes that I didn't
notice the song change. I looked around at the others dancers and
noticed that Eris was now dancing with Ares, as Joxer danced with
Dite. Heph was sitting back at the long table, entertaining Bliss
and Lanalaus. Iolaus was now dancing with Xena. Wait, Xena?! She
was here? Dancing with Iolaus? Okay, more things need explaining.
When the song ended, Iolaus and Xena went to the large table to talk
with Heph and the kids.
"I'm going to go talk with Iolaus." I told Realm, releasing her.
"Okay," she gave my arm a squeeze. I left her to join Iolaus and
Xena at the table. As I approached Xena, holding Bliss, turned to
look at me and smiled.
"Hello Auto. It was a lovely ceremony, wasn't it?"
"Nicest I've ever witnessed. How are you Xena?"
"I'm good. It's nice to have a day off from the world once in a
while."
"And Hercules and Gabrielle?"
"Same old, same old. Probably both pouting that I'm up here and
their not. But Herc didn't want to come because of Strife and
Ares and you know Gabrielle." Xena shook her head and I nodded.
"And how is Bliss on this fine day?"
"Happy!" he squealed as little boys do, "I gots anut'er Daddy
today!" Iolaus turned around then, having finished what ever he was
discussing with Heph.
"Enjoying yourself, Auto?" He asked me.
"Yes I am. It's a nice reception."
He nodded.
"Hey, Bliss, how about your first dancing lesson?"
"Yeah! That be great, Aunt Zeenah" He squealed again and Xena
carried him off.
"Daddy?" Said a soft voice. Iolaus turned to the girl sitting on
the table behind him and picked her up.
"What is it, Cupcake?"
"Ah `ad a vis'on, Daddy."
"Oh, yeah? What of?"
"E'lm, standing en font of Gran, like Stife an Cupie did." She told
him, big eyes shining. "E'lm not move like Stife?"
"No, Realm isn't moving like Strife." He told the girl, smoothing
her hair. He looked up at me.
"Auto, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Lanaluas. Lana, this is
your cousin, Autolycus."
Her golden curls bounced as she turned those large blue eyes at me
and seemed to study my face. She looked as much like Iolaus as
Strife did Eris. I held out my hand to her.
"How do you do?" I asked. She looked back at Iolaus, who nodded,
then put her small hand next to mine. I shook it gently.
"Hallo." Was all she said before burying her face in Iolaus's
shirt. Eris came up and took her.
"Hello, Auto. Thank you for Standing up with Strife." She said
stiffly, and walked off. As she did I could hear Lanalaus tell her
mother about her vision. My eyes wondered to the dance floor and I
saw Realm turning circles with Asclepius. She was laughing at
something he had said. I felt a pang of jealousy but quickly
squashed it; she wasn't mine to feel jealous over. Iolaus
noticed where I was looking and grinned.
"Pretty, isn't she?"
"Beautiful" I answered, absentmindedly. He chuckled. I looked back
at him.
"So," I started conversationally, "You're a god."
"Yeah."
"Married to Eris."
"Yup."
"Father of her children."
"That would be me."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"What was I suppose to say? `Herc's right Auto, you shouldn't have
stolen that. Oh and by the way, I'm not suppose to tell anyone
this, but I'm a god and you've been trying to get it on with my
wife'?"
I blanched at his words.
"Um, yeah. I can see how that wouldn't have helped. How'd you end
up traveling with Herc anyway?"
"You mean how'd I ended up being the best friend of my brother-in-
law's mortal enemy, or so Herc would have you believe?" He stated
frankly. I was somewhat surprised at this. He's always been
so...mild. But then again, that was before he got his godhood
back.
"Circumstances, mainly. Though, I wouldn't have ended up friends
with him if it were really against my character to be. Herc's a
nice guy, but he really needs an attitude adjustment. He and Ares
would probably get along fine if he would drop the whole `I'm
daddy's favorite: na nana na na. Oh, and the gods are evil' crap."
He explained. I was sensing some hostility from him. I couldn't
tell exactly who it was for but I'm thankful it wasn't directed at
me.
"I take it he doesn't know about you." I said tentatively. He
nodded.
"What's Lanalaus goddess of?" I asked, trying to break the tension
that had formed around us. He got this `proud papa' look on his
face.
"Prophecy," he smiled. I raised an eyebrow.
"Apollo?"
"No, she takes after my mother. She's also Goddess of Magical
Places. She's in the House of Magic." He explained. I nodded.
Realm and Eris (without Lanalaus) turned up at our sides. Eris had
an anxious look on her face.
"They're about to leave." Realm said, referring to Cupid and
Strife. I took her arm once more as Eris and Iolaus grasped hands,
lacing their fingers together. As if sensing her anxiety (which he
probably did, after all, Realm said they've been married for 500
years), Iolaus brought their clasped hands to his lips and kissed
the back of her hand. She looked at him in appreciation,
apprehension ebbing somewhat. Cupid and Strife were in the center
of the room, with a circle of guest around them. Cupid was holding
his son and Strife had a tearful Lanalaus in his arms. We made our
way through the crowd to them, stopping next to where Ares and Joxer
stood. Aunt Dite was next to Cupid, ready to take Bliss.
"You be a good little godling for Grandma and Grandpa Heph, okay
Bliss." Cupid was saying. Bliss nodded. "We'll be back in a
week. I'll miss you, Little Guy." Bliss hugged him.
"Bye, Daddy!"
"Say good bye to Strife, too."
"Bye, Daddy Stwife!" said the little god to a chorus of `aww, how
cute's from the people gathered. Strife looked up from whispering
to his sister.
"See ya, Bliss." Strife then went back to concentrating on getting
Lana calm. Eris came up and took her.
"Mama, why Stife leave?" she choked out.
"To celebrate with Cupid, Honey." Eris told her.
"He'll be back in
a week."
"Ah whol week!"
"I'll com play with ya's soon as I get back, Lana."
"Pomis?
"Promise. Give me kiss g'bye?" He asked. Lana nodded and leaned
over to him, planting a kiss on his cheek in a way that I just bet
he taught her. Eris handed Lana to Iolaus and flung her arms around
Strife's neck, squeezing tight (which was quite a feat, considering
how much taller Strife is then Eris).
"Luv ya, too, Ma." I heard Strife just barely wheeze out.
Iolaus rubbed her back with his free hand as she pulled way.
"Don't get into any trouble you can't weasel out of." Iolaus told
him.
"I won't, Pop." Strife answered before looking at Cupid. Bliss was
in Dite's arms. Cupid reached over, taking Strife's hand in his.
Realm stepped forward to hug them both.
"Have fun."
"We will." Cupid told her, then raised his voice so the rest of the
people could hear. "Thank you for coming to our wedding. Enjoy
the rest of the party!" With a bright flash and multi colored
sparks they were gone.
"Where are they going?" I asked Realm. She took my hand and
led me back through the mass that was slowly dissipating.
"Some hide away place Strife discovered. Would you like to dance
some more?" She asked. I agreed, and took her for another spin
around the floor. She then showed me this dance from the future
called the Tango. We ended back at the table, laughing into our
wine. By this time the party was winding down. Most of the guests
had left, Eris and Iolaus had been among the first to disappear.
Dite and Heph had just left with Bliss, and Ares told Joxer to leave
the mess until morning before they too went to their private rooms.
Realm stood up next to me, taking my hand.
"Come on." In a flash we stood in a smaller sitting room, decorated
in purples, golds and blacks.
"Where are we?"
"My rooms." She answered with a smile. She leaned up and kissed me
full on the lips. Still holding my hand, she showed me to her
bedroom.
Oh yeah, I was getting lucky tonight.
I woke to the sun shining through lacy curtains. I was spooned to
Realm's back, holding her tight. Usually I shift so much in my
sleep that I don't hang on to my partner that long. She shifted,
so I let go, yawning and stretching.
"Hmm. Morning." She said, kissing me. Realm yawned wide,
stretching out her arms and wings. Wings?
"You have wings." I said, sleep still clogging my brain. She
nodded.
"All of Ares's line do." She said. They were golden brown (like
her hair), with a few chocolate colored (like her eyes) feathers
mixed in. Seeing her stretch them like this with the sun light
streaming down around her took my breath away, she is so beautiful.
"I've never noticed them before."
She got this little triumphant smile on her face.
"I keep them furrowed against my back most of the time. They
change color and blend into my back, kinda like camouflage, so you
can't see them unless you're looking for them. I think it's for
protection on the battlefield, and against or for mortals."
"What do you mean, protection for mortals?"
"I know you don't really count as a mortal, because of who your dad
is, but the first time you saw Cupid with his wings extended, what
did you think? And feel?"
"To be honest? I was a bit in awe, and a little scared."
"Now magnify that for what a normal mortal would feel."
"I see what you mean."
"I work with my followers a lot, I don't want to frighten them. At
least, not as much as some gods do. I'm hungry, come on."
She got up, dressing both of us, and left the room. I followed to a
dinning room where Ares, Joxer and Xena sat, talking amiably over
breakfast.
"Good morning." She said cheerily before kissing both her
fathers on the cheek.
"How'd you sleep?" Joxer asked her as she sat down next
to him. I took the chair on her other side. Ares eyed me like he
was trying to decide exactly how to gut me and Xena had his annoying
little knowing smile on her face.
"Wonderfully." She said, smiling at me. We ate in silence
for a moment before Realm started a conversation, purposefully
including me as did Xena and Joxer, and Ares acted like he was still
trying to
decide if he liked me or not. Iolaus and Eris appeared from the
hall Realm and I had come from. Walking between them and holding
their hands was Lanalaus.
"Good morning," Iolaus said in general as they lifted her
into a chair and Eris proceeded to pile fruit and bread on her
plate. The little girl frowned but picked up a slice of melon and
started to eat it. Conversation picked up again but Eris stayed
quite. I knew from previous visits to my Olympian relatives that
she was not a morning person. When breakfast was finished, Ares
declared that it was time for them to get to work and stalked off.
Eris kissed Iolaus and Lanalaus then followed him.
"I'll see you guys later." Joxer told Xena and me then followed
them out.
"It was nice seeing you, Auto." Iolaus said after watching Eris
walk down the hall. We grasped hand to shake good-bye. "You too,
Xena."
"You're going to stay with Grammy Hecate today." Iolaus then told
Lana, picking her up. She waved to us form his arms as they
disappeared in a shower of dark red sparks.
"I'll take you guys back to Greece." Realm told Xena and me. The
next thing I knew we were in a little town not far from where Dad
had picked me up yesterday. Was that just yesterday? Seems like
longer.
"Thanks, Realm." Xena told her before walking off.
"Bye Sis!" Realm called after her. She turned to me.
"Sorry Pop was such a grump this morning." She said,
referring to Ares.
"No problem. I'm just glad he didn't decide to blast me." I said.
She giggled.
"Well I hope you can come visit again some time." She kissed me,
long and slow. It wasn't a good-bye kiss. It was a see you later
kiss. She was gone before I opened my eyes. This had definitely
been a good weekend.
The End