0 comments/  3779 views/  7 favorites

The Balance Ch. 01-05

By: Glaze72



Chapter 1

Ariana watched her son as they gathered fruit in the warm autumn sun. Summer was ending, but the Deity had seen fit to bless them with a last spell of fine weather before the inevitable chill set in. 

Abiron was a fine looking lad, she had to admit. No, not a lad, anymore, or not for long. He was of medium height, medium weight, but he was lithe and strong, the flush of adolescence gradually giving way to a man's dignity. The Deity would let her know when the time had come, but she could sense in her bones that it was nigh. 

She shifted in her gown, the fine cotton sliding sensuously across her skin. She was tall for a woman, and the years of labor at the temple had clad her bones with a strength that was not readily apparent at first glance. Her dark hair spilled long down her shoulders, accenting the rich black of her eyes. Soon, she thought. Soon, the waiting will be over. She shifted again, heat coiling within her, as she gazed hungrily at her son.

Abiron was unaware of his mother's gaze. He was just past nineteen years of age, but all that he knew was his place in the temple. Almost since the day he had been born, Ariana had been the only other person in his world. With her guidance, he learned how to crawl, to walk, to bathe, to dress. With her help, he learned how to cultivate the fruit in the garden and to tend the sheep and cattle in the pastures. With her, he performed the sacred rites of the temple. He knew that she was his mother, but he was all but unaware that there were other people in the world. 

"Enough, my son," Ariana laughed. "We have more the enough for the time being, and we must leave some fruit for the birds of the air and the creatures of the ground. We would be poor stewards indeed if we kept it all for ourselves."

"Yes, my mother-priestess," Abiron replied. "I know that what we have taken will suffice for our needs, but I do not like the thought of wasting the apples and pears."

"Oh, my son," said Ariana, "What we do not use will be consumed by others, do not doubt. If a bird does not gobble what we have left on the trees, the small animals of the forest or the pasture will eat what falls to the ground."

"Yes, mother," Abiron said. He lifted two sacks of fruit, and his mother a third and together they walked through the orchard to the temple. Beautiful it was, a rectangle of pure white marble, with high walls and columns framing the rooms within. They brought the baskets to the cold cellar near the kitchen and there deposited the fruit.

"Another days' work done, my son," sighed Ariana. "Whose turn is it to make dinner?"

"Mine, Mother," said Abiron. "If it please you, I am sure there will be time to bathe before the evening meal is ready. Come to the dining room in an hour, and I will have something ready for us."

Such a good boy, thought Ariana, walking through the temple to her private rooms. But how not, with the blood that is in his veins? And who raised him, after all?

Ariana reached her private rooms, and divested herself of her clothing, what little there was of it. A short, simple gown, belted at the waist, reaching to her knees, suitable for outdoor work, and the small-clothes beneath. Heating water for a bath takes time, but after filling the bathing pool from the well outside, she sent a quick prayer to the Deity. A corresponding warmth in her mind told her that it had been answered and that she would not have to heat buckets of water over the fire to enjoy a hot bath. 

As she waited for the water to heat, she looked at her herself in the bronze mirror on the wall. Her eyes were dark and serene, with the calmness that proximity to the Deity brought. Her black hair, undimmed by gray, fell in waves past her shoulders, reaching nearly to the small of her back. Her skin was dark, tanned by exposure to the sun, but her legs and arms were well-muscled and shapely. Her stomach showed little signs of bearing a child. Her hands reached up to cup her breasts, which were large and firm, with only a trace of sag to show that a baby had suckled on them. 

Oh, my husband, why did you have to leave me so soon?she thought. We didn't have enough time together, and I have been so lonely without you. Her hands lightly stroked her breasts, and a shudder of wanting passed through her as her nipples tightened. The heat in her thighs expanded, and it was all she could do to keep from bringing herself to release as she stood before the mirror.

No, she said to herself. Control. I must have control. I am no use to the Deity if I am mindless with desire. She closed her eyes and took a long, calming breath, then went to the pool to bathe.

In the kitchen, Abiron was preparing the evening meal. He thought on what his mother would like to eat. Something cool, he thought. The day was warm, and even though she bathes now, it would bring her little pleasure to have a hot or spicy meal. With that in mind, he cut and arranged a selection of fruit, bread, and cheeses, with thin slices of cold beef to go along. He drew a pitcher of cool milk from the cold-room and set it all in the dining area. 

The thought of his mother bathing disturbed him for some reason. In the past year, he had been experiencing new desires that he did not understand and could not control. Even now, his phallus throbbed within his loose breeches. He imagined her body, tan and wet, rising from the bathing pool, and had to turn his mind away. Breathing deeply, he said a calming cantrip to the Deity. Maybe he should talk about this to his mother. She was the high priestess of the Deity. She would know what to do. 

The meal was enjoyed by them both. After a hard days labor, it was pleasant to relax in their cool dining area, lit by small lamps in their niches, recline on their couches, and partake of the fruits of their labor. Ariana ate heartily, and Abiron was pleased that he had chosen their meal well. 

"So, mother," said Abiron, "What tasks do we have to perform tomorrow?"

Ariana glanced out the window, the wooden shutters tied back to let the cool breeze into the house. Clouds could be seen drifting in from the west. "I think that we will be getting rain tonight, and probably tomorrow," she replied, "I believe that tomorrow will be a day for staying indoors and sorting the fall tribute that we received from the king last week."

Abiron made a face. "More wine."

Ariana smiled. "You may find that you develop a taste for it one day, my son."

"I doubt it. To me it all tastes like grape juice gone bad."

Ariana's smile grew wider. He is his father's son. If he takes after him, he will prefer a draft of ale to a glass of wine. Balance. It is all part of the balance.

Abiron sighed, rose, and stretched. "Well, I'm for bed. I will see you tomorrow morning. May the Deity grant you gentle dreams, mother."

"And you, my son."

The next day was rainy, as Ariana had foretold. After caring for the few beasts that were in their paddocks at this time of the year, Ariana and Abiron spent the rest of the day taking stock of the king's generosity and putting it into the storage rooms for use later in the year. 

"By the Deity!" Abiron groaned, "The fisherman of the north coast must have had a tremendous catch this year. There must be a full 20 barrels of herring here, and twice that of cod."

"Indeed," A frown marred Ariana's beautiful features. "We are not like the Christian monks, to live on salt fish, hard bread and prayer. There is no way we could consume so much ourselves, even if we wanted to. We will take the surplus and deliver it to the village. I think that half the herring and three-quarters of the cod can be spared."

"Are you sure, mother?" Abiron asked, "I like cod."

"A boy with strong appetites. Very well. We will send only half the cod. And I will send a note to the king"

Chapter 2

That night, the visitations came, the ones Ariana had been praying to occur for the past year and more. 

The first came to Abiron, as he lay in his bed in the room that had been his own since he had moved out of his mother's, nearly fourteen years before. He dreamed, or thought that he dreamed. In his dream or near-dream, he woke and saw a beautiful young maiden standing before him. He could give no name to the fabric that she was clad in, but it clung to her curves and it shone with its own light, so it both lit and shadowed the glories of her body. Her hair was as dark as that of his mother, but the serene light that was in his mother's eyes faded before the holy radiance that shone from the eyes of this being. His body burned to see her, but there was something in her stance that kept her apart.

"Who...who are you?" he stammered.

The maiden sighed. "They always ask that. It is so tedious. Just once, I wish that I didn't have to explain the whole thing. Why do mortals make things more complicated than they need to be?" She sighed again. "Don't you recognize me, Abiron? You've worshiped me your entire life. Who am I?"

"You...are the Deity?"

"Yes, I am the Deity. One of the aspects of the Deity. We have many, you know. It was thought that for this particular talk, the aspect of the Maiden would be best. We usually choose an aspect that is of the opposite sex. It seems to make things easier. We are not perceived as a threat. And for this particular talk, the Maiden was the obvious choice. The Mother, the Crone, and the Lass were all unsuitable, in their various ways."

"And what are the male aspects of the Deity...of yourself?"

"To women, to those like your mother-priestess, I can come as the Lad, the Youth, the Father, and the Graybeard. It was as the Youth that I came to your mother, nearly twenty years ago. Tell me, Abiron, what has your mother told you of the history of this land and of this temple?"

Abiron sat back in his bed, gradually relaxing. At least part of his body did. The presence of the beautiful creature in front of him inflamed his groin, but he did not dare adjust his body to a more comfortable position in front of the Deity. Something in her eyes told him that she sensed his distress, and was ever so slightly amused by it. As he leaned back against the carved headboard, she sat as well, folding her legs beneath her, though there was nothing for her to sit on. He swallowed against the dryness in his throat. This was a passing strange night, indeed!

"I know what I have been taught, my lady Goddess," he started, "Long ago, this land was torn by war and strife. Lord against lord, brother against brother, and there was no peace anywhere. Roads were unsafe, people starved, and lawless brigands held those under them in terror."

"No time for worship, either," stated the Maiden, "When a woman's efforts are insufficient to keep her children safe and her man fed, she will not have time to go to temple. In those days the only prayers that I heard were those of terror and pain. A man coughing out his life around an arrow in his belly may pray for the agony to end, but I have never found that sort of worship pleasing. Unlike some of my fellow Gods, I do not enjoy pain for its own sake."

"Fellow Gods?"gasped Abiron, "But thou are the only true Deity!"

"Look who knows so much," snapped the Maiden, "Seventeen years old, with a belly full of bread and cheese, and you know all the ways of this world and of all the others?" Her look gentled. "No, Abiron, I am a God, and the Deity for this land at this time, but there were others before, there will be others after, and there are others now. But we are getting ahead of our tale. Continue with the story of our land."

"Our histories tell us of a young woman named Ariadne. She had been a novice in one of your temples, only fifteen years of age. But the temple had been raided and pillaged, the priests and priestesses had been driven off, or had run away, or had died, and there was no one else to tend the temple but her. In worship and in despair she prayed, prayed for three days, until her knees were raw and her voice was hoarse. And at sunset on the third day, You appeared to her. If the stories are true, it was as a strong young man clad in armor."

"Yes. My 'Warrior' aspect. It is how the Father incarnates when He is angry or protective. I was rather sorry about the delay. But performing true miracles demands that the supplicant show true devotion. Ariadne had that and more. And I had not meant for this land to get into such a state. My other aspects and Myself were rather...preoccupied...at the time. I did apologize later."

"You apologized?" asked Abiron in surprise.

"Abiron, if every revelation makes you faint, we will never get through this. Of course I apologized," the Maiden said, "Just as worshipers have a duty to their god, so does the god have a duty to Her followers. Who would believe in a god that they could not see?"

"The Christian father who was here last spring said that faith without proof was stronger than faith with it."

"Piffle," snorted the Maiden. "I know that god. He is just lazy. He took on a people thousands of years ago, beat them until they could barely stand on their own, and then told them to wait until he came back. If you were in a position where faith alone could save you, Abiron, in whom would your faith be stronger? The god whom you had never seen, or the god that you had? The Deity who had assisted you in lighting a fire when it was cold, or the god who let you freeze in the dark?" She smiled a tiny smile. "If he doesn't get off his tail, he might find that I have been poaching some of his followers.

"Enough of this. We are treading close to theology, and it is not healthy for mortals to examine the origins of the gods too closely. It makes them odd, for some reason. Continue."

"You appeared to the priestess Ariadne. She besought you to end the war. With your guidance, she went to the first king of the line of Askelos, and revealed to him the wisdom that would allow him to unite the country."

"True enough, as far as it goes. Askelos was one of the petty princelings scattered across the countryside hereabouts. He was better behaved than most, and mostly he just wanted to be left alone with his vineyards and his sheep." Her look grew pensive. "I really do think that most of the greatest things are accomplished by those who simply want to be left alone to enjoy themselves, and know that they have work to do before they can do it.

"Anyway, it is fairly easy to win a war when you have the Deity literally at your side. Askelos was never caught by surprise in battle, always had superior knowledge of the forces against him, and took advantage of an amazing streak of 'lucky' accidents. Inside of a year and a half he was king and Ariadne was his closest adviser.

"I rather liked that time. There is no fun at all in allowing the good to suffer, but punishing the truly wicked? That is the sort of thing that I can get behind," For a moment her eyes blazed, "Betimes worship requires blood, and the blood of the unjust is far more satisfying that the blood of innocents."

Abiron shivered. The moment had again brought home to him the realization that the being sitting before him was indeed the Deity, with a might that could char him to ash if it chose.

"Askelos was a decent enough king," she continued. "He was strong enough to leash his hounds, and smart enough not to starve them. So what happened next, my protege'?"

"Well," said Abiron, dithering for a second, "Not much that I can recall. Eventually the temple was rebuilt, and Ariadne came back here as High Priestess. It was decreed that her line would hold the title of High Priestess or High Priest as long as it continued, which it has to this day. King Askelos had to fight some minor wars to show our neighbors that we were not weak, but we have had peace, for the most part, since his reign began. His descendents have carried on his work, and we are now a prosperous country."

"Askelos eventually fought his wars. That was the problem, and why Ariadne came back to the temple rather than staying as an adviser. She was a sweet and lovely girl and hated war. She begged for My aid to end the chaos and the fighting. She accepted that battles would have to be fought to unite and to secure the country. But she thought that once that had been done the fighting would end forever. She never reconciled herself to the fact that people cannot always live together in peace and harmony, and that to have peace, strength at times must be shown If she had her way, land would have been sacrificed to secure peace, and war would have ensued as our neighbors realized that we were weak. I was not about to waste the death of thousands with the death of tens of thousands. Rather than stay, she abandoned that world and returned to this one.

"But her line had to continue." the Deity sighed and her look grew pensive. "I wish you could have met her, Abiron. Her faith and her heart was so pure, her love so strong, that to see her worship was like gazing into the sun. You have no idea what that means to a God. We live by faith, and die from its lack. To have one of her purity was tremendously important to Us. So We made sure that her line went on."

"I don't see how that would be a problem. The priests and priestesses of the Deity are not held by vows of chastity. The High Priestess would be able to marry, or not, as she chose, and any man would have been proud to be brought to her bed."

The Maiden sighed, "True enough. And here we get to the crux of why I am here this night. Gods think in terms of generations, Abiron. Faith is our wellspring and our curse. Any man who Ariadne brought to her bed would be worthy, indeed. But what of her child? And the child of that child? To allow a faith so pure to expire forever from the world could not be borne. We have seen it happen. A faith changes. The teaching of a god are twisted by their mortal followers. And what once was pure becomes polluted and foul." Her face saddened. "We may be gods, but We can still die. We took steps to ensure that We continued and this land remained safe."

"How?"

The Maiden smiled. "One night, I came to Ariadne's bed. I did not use any of the aspects that she had seen Me in previously." Her smile grew. "Oh, she had seen them all, and delighted in each. The merry children, the Youth and Maiden, the protective parents, and the wise oldsters. No, I came to her that night in a different form, that of the Lover." She laughed aloud. "Oh, if you could have seen her face! Afterward, she told me that the name of that aspect should be the Bull. I have used that one several times since."

Abiron was stunned and shaking. He thought he knew where this was leading. The Deity as one of his ancestors! He could scarcely comprehend it. "What is the name the female side of this aspect, my Lady?"

The Deity smiled and her voice deepened, "The boy grows bold."

There was no real change to her that Abiron could see, but suddenly, everything had shifted. The gown that had kept the Deity pure and apart now seemed a confining garment, one that should be removed. An ever so slight change to her posture, and her body seemed to invite him to draw closer. Her breathing had deepened slightly, and her breasts rose and fell, inviting his look, daring him to touch. Fire burned within his groin, and he could sense an answering fire within her core. A fine sheen of sweat appeared on her collarbone, and he knew how exquisite the taste would be as he moved within her. Her legs unfolded, opening wide...

"No. This is not for you, Abiron. Not until your time here is done, and you are brought home to Us at last. The way is often hard, but the reward for those who remain true is great," A moment later, She was the Maiden again. "When the mood takes me, I am known as the Wanton. The young woman who wants a man. The mother who desires another child. The lady who seduces her man anew, for the sheer joy and pleasure that it brings her. That is who I am. But not tonight, not for you."


The Balance Ch. 01-05



"I came to your many-times ancestress, and I lay with her, to the great pleasure of us both. She took my seed within her, and in time...Actually, it took many times, but I think that neither of us had cause to regret it," She flipped her hand, "Ariadne bore a son. He was a fine boy, after the manner of your people. We loved him dearly. And when the time came and he was of age, he went to his mother, and she took his seed within her, and bore him a daughter. And so it has continued through the generations. One generation sires the next. The faith remains pure. The balance is maintained. The Deity endures. And the land is kept safe."

Abiron gaped like a landed fish. What he had thought mere moments before was the greatest secret that he had ever been told now seemed laughably small. His mother...his mother...his father!

Unable to sit, he rose from the bed and walked blindly to the wall and back.

"My father..." it came out hoarse and strained.

"Your father was also your mother's father." Her look was gentle.

"But, my Lady, that is not possible! Any farmer worth his plow knows that you do not inbreed livestock! The children would be sickly and malformed. How can such a thing be?"

"It can be because We have willed it to be. Look at your body. Is it not finely made? Examine your mind. Does it have any faults? You know it does not. Your body will serve you well as long as that of any other mortal. Longer, perhaps."

His hands were shaking, "But the previous High Priest...my father...died young."

Her face grew sadder. "Yes, he did. But that was not of Our doing. He slipped on ice at the Winter Rite at some cesspool village and fell down a flight of stairs and broke his neck. He was less than forty and you were little more than a year out of the womb." She shuddered and suddenly seemed afraid. "Your line has never come so close to failing before. It terrified Us. That is why you have so seldom been permitted to go out into the world. If a similar accident had befallen you..." She trailed off.

"But I think that you are speaking of this only to hide your real fear, are you not? You are worried about what is to come next."

Abiron sat on the floor. "You want me to sire a child on my mother."

"No, you want to sire a child on your mother. Do not forget that I am the Deity, Abiron. I know what you are thinking. Since the moment I told you of your lineage you knew what you would be asked to do. Your mind is a turmoil of fear and desire. But desire is winning," A look of pity crossed her face. "Oh, child, I know that it is not easy. Nothing worth anything in this world is. But you will be happy. Very happy, if I am any judge."

"How...how was it for my mother?"

The Maiden shrugged, "Both easier and more difficult, I think. You must remember, child, that it is different for a woman. It is her body that is being invaded, after all. But she had been prepared. Not overtly, of course, but there are various ways to let someone know what is in store. I hope that your mother remembers them when the time comes for your children. To do this the way we have this evening is no blessing."

"Truly it is not," Abiron stood and squared his shoulders. "I suppose there is no time like the present." He walked towards the door.

The Maiden's laughter rang out free and clear, "Beautiful boy, you are braver and more foolish than I could imagine. A few moments ago you were lamenting your fate, and now you are preparing to charge off like a soldier into battle. Sit down and be quiet for a moment, will you?"

Sheepishly Abiron sat in a chair. 

"One does not go to the High Priestess of the Deity in her own temple like a stallion to a mare which is in season," the Maiden said. "Listen well, child. What you and her will do is blessed and holy, and the first time the most sacred rite of all. It will require preparation, just as the Autumn Feast or the Rite of Spring. Do you understand?"

He nodded.

"Very well. I will go to your mother next, to let her know that the time has come for her to bear your child. Tomorrow will spent in preparation and contemplation. Tomorrow night you will go to her, and the balance will be maintained."

"And after I have done my duty? What then?" Abiron's voice was ever so slightly bitter. 

The Maiden smiled, like a wise mother at a child throwing a tantrum. "'After you have done your duty?' You will do it again, and again, and again. Your duty does not end with one night in Ariana's arms, my son. It does not end when you have got her with child. It does not end when that child is born. It does not end when the time has come for you to sire a son on your daughter," Her eyes became steel and her words thunderclaps. "Your duty does not end until you are dead. You are a priest of the Deity. Your duty is to your family, your land and to Me. You did not choose this fate, but no one does, not even the gods," Her voice softened slightly, "Do not take it so ill, young one. There is a reason. The balance must be maintained. And I think you will say, at the last, that We did not serve you so badly," She rose and walked to his seat. "May My blessing be upon you and this union. Sleep, my child. You have no reason to fear."

She led him back to his bed. He let her pull the bedclothes up over his body. She bent over him and he felt her lips against his brow. For a moment, he felt all of her aspects at once. It was the sweet kiss of a little girl and the virginal kiss of a maiden; he felt the sultry heat of the wanton's touch, and the soothing caress of a mother's love. He even felt the tenderness of a grandmother for her many-times grandchild.

Then she was gone.

Chapter 3

The Deity next appeared to Ariana. As in the visitation to Abiron, she thought she was dreaming. Unlike Abiron, she knew what was happening and what it meant.

"Hello, Ariana."

"Good evening, my Lord"

"Well, aren't we formal tonight? Do you know why I am here?"

Ariana sat up in her bed. It was bigger than that of her son, in keeping with her dignity and her position. She looked at the Deity. For her, he had manifested as the Father. He appeared to be a man of about Ariana's age, clad in a simple white tunic and trousers. His hair was gold-shot bronze and his eyes a calm gray. He looked like a man who could repair a wagon, harvest a crop, and roof a house, all the while feeding six children and planting the seventh in his wife's belly.

"I...I hope I know, my Lord." To the Deity's surprise, her voice quavered and broke, and tears ran down her face.

"Ariana darling! What is wrong?" The Deity hurried across the room and took her into his arms as she sobbed. 

"I am so sorry, my Lord. So sorry. But you look so much like my lord Aethon..."

"Oh, my dear Ariana. I apologize. This is the last thing I wanted to do," When the Deity turned back to Ariana, he had changed. The hair was darker, the face leaner, the eyes a dark blue. "Better?"

"Yes, my Lord, very much," Ariana blotted her eyes on the bedclothes and faced her Lord again.

"Well, let's start again. Do you know why I am here?"

"I do, my Lord. It is time to take my child as my lover and bear him our child." She paused for a moment. "How did he take the news, my Lord? How is he?"

"Right now? By turns, he is terrified, ecstatic, panic-stricken, and horny as hell," the Deity laughed. "It was a good thing that I appeared to him as the Maiden. If I had chosen the Wanton or the Mother, he would have fainted from lust or embarrassment. Oh, you should have seen him, Ariana. He was so frightened he was shaking like a man with a fever, and so ready to jump into your bed that I had to make him sit down."

"I would have welcomed him in my bed then. I would welcome him now. I will certainly welcome him tomorrow."

"Oh, Ariana. Our blood ran true in you. There is so much of the Wanton in you that no one can question that you came from the seed of a god. Even I can feel it, and it takes much to tempt the Deity."

"I am ever at my Lord's command." Ariana's voice had grown husky, and the bedclothes slid from one shoulder, revealing her breast. The nipple was standing high and taut and the skin surrounding it was flushed. "Perhaps the Deity would like to bless our union further?"

"No, Ariana. The last thing your son needs is for him to come to you with the scent of a god's lovemaking still on your body. He is a gentle one, your son. To give him such a kick to his pride would do so much damage that I fear he may not recover. I know the heat that burns within you, my child. For over sixteen years you have held yourself apart and celibate, when your every instinct, indeed, your very nature, drives you towards the opposite extreme. 

"I beg you, go gently with Abiron, at least in the beginning. He is young, and frightened. Losing one's virginity is no less fearful an experience for a man than it is for a woman. In your case," He smiled, "I doubt that you were frightened at all. There is little of the Bull in him at the moment. But if you treat him well, he will be a prodigious lover for you. One man cannot empty your well, as your bounty is without measure. But give him time to grow in confidence before you put horns on his head. A man must have pride in himself. Without it, he is a fragile and brittle thing, ready to shatter at the first blow."

"I will, my Lord," Ariana shifted into a less provocative position. "Tell me, what news of the outside world? How go things with the king?"

"Well enough," the Father answered, "The realm is at peace, for the time being at least. The crops were good this year, although I may have had something to do with that. My only worry is these Christians, as they call themselves. I know their God, and he is a jealous and unpleasant sort. I've had my run-ins with him in the past. Their numbers are few at present, but he is not the sort to let go of a thing once he has it. If one of his priests should gain the ear of King Benedictos, I would fear for our land, and for your line."

"The Christian father who was here several months ago did not seem of that type. I thought him a well-meaning and pleasant fellow."

"And he was, or I would not have allowed him within five leagues of these walls. One man cannot be judged as representative of an entire faith. Ariadne's grace does not mean that all of my followers are saintly. Father Markos is a good man, but he has colleagues who would raze this temple to the ground if it meant gaining power here on earth. Why should they fear for their bodies? They have been promised eternal life by their God." The Father snorted, "Eternal life! I hope they find something to do with it. With the rules their God has set, they are likely to grow very bored with eternity very quickly. I prefer eternal love. And I don't promise. I deliver."

"Their God promises eternal love, as well," Ariana said.

"Does he? Think again, Ariana. He promises a lot, but this is the God who wiped out a city of thousands because not enough people followed his rules, then turned a woman to salt when she turned to watch her home go up in flames. This God told a man to sacrifice his son to prove his faith. What he demands is devotion, sacrifice, and obedience, with a fair amount of blood thrown in for good measure. But does he return that with love? Look through their holy books, if you can stomach them. You find precious little that shows his love for his people. What you will find is his anger at those who oppose or disobey him," He shook his head. "Enough of this. I should be old enough to keep some upstart god from getting on my nerves. I have warned the priests and priestesses at court to keep an eye on any Christians who may show up. If it happens and they think there may be any danger, you will be warned."

"Yes, my Lord. Is it Your will that if such a danger arises I confront it?"

"Absolutely. A small fire may be put out. A large one may burn a house down. I would prefer to not have to rebuild this house. I have done so once already. It is tiresome."

"Does my Lord have any other duties for me?"

"Only the one that I laid upon you at the moment of your birth, Ariana. Be well, be happy, and may your union bring you joy." He stooped beside her bed and kissed her mouth. For an instant, the chaste kiss of the Father turned into the searing heat of the Lover, but then he stepped away again. "Good night, my priestess."

"My Lord!" Ariana suddenly sat upright again, "Did you tell him...you didn't tell him...does he...does he know about the wedding?"

"Ariana, if I wanted to kill him, I would have done it cleanly. He knows what he needs to know. He'll find out the rest tomorrow."

Chapter 4

Abiron woke just after dawn. A lifetime of routine ensured that he was awake soon after cockcrow every day. He staggered to the window and untied the shutters. A sky of deep blue welcomed him. A cool and bracing breeze swept down from the north. Abiron smiled to himself. The weather had turned. In a month it would be cold and in two months it would be horrible, but he had always enjoyed the first cold snap of the fall. In a week, perhaps two, the leaves would change and there would be a riot of color in the hills to the east of the temple. Perhaps his mother and he could go riding there soon. She always enjoyed the beauty of the hills in autumn.

Then memory hit him like a hammer, his knees buckled, and he nearly fell to the floor.

The dream!

Could it be true? Could it be not true? He had never had a visitation from the Deity before, so he could not judge whether it had been a true seeing or a manifestation brought on by an excess of apples at his meal the night before.

Stay calm, he thought. Don't rush into anything. Maintain your balance. Remembering the Deity's words in his vision last night, he had to fight down an urge to giggle hysterically. He dressed carefully, fighting to remain calm despite the churning in his stomach. 

In the kitchen he found his mother already there. Of course, he prepared the meal last night, so it was her turn this morning. 

"Good morning, my mother-priestess," he said.

"Good morning, my son," answered Ariana with a smile. She set hot bread, cool preserves, a pat of butter, and a pot of tea on the table. "Did you pass a pleasant night?"

"Yes," said Abiron. Out with it, you coward! "I had an odd...I had a very odd dream."

Ariana's smile grew deeper. "I know."

"Is it...Is it true?"

"Yes, my son, it is true."

Abiron slumped in his chair and covered his eyes with his hands. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know how." Abiron removed his hands from his face and stared at her. "It is true. At first you were too young. How could a child understand? And how would I tell you? Remember, Abiron, I was not terribly older than you are now, and alone, with no one to advise me. And then later, when you were no longer a boy but not yet a man...it seemed dangerous to me. To give that knowledge to you, without knowing whether you were wise enough to handle it? It seemed best to me to trust to the Deity. She knows when the junior party is old enough to deal with the knowledge."

"And how old were you?"

"Not yet sixteen," Her eyes were open and frank. "And if I had my way, I would not have had to wait that long. Your father was a very well-made man, Abiron. I had wanted him since I was old enough to know what it was that I wanted." Her voice sank to a sad whisper. "We were so happy. All of us. He, myself, my mother-priestess. I had never known I could be so happy. Then my mother Persephone died. It was a sickness of the lungs and there was no cure. Then you were born, and you were a joy to me. And then your father died, and I do not know how I survived the grief. If you had not been there, I think I would have willingly joined them."

"Your mother. Persephone. Did you not ask the Deity for aid?"

"The Deity answers all of our prayers, Abiron. Sometimes the answer is 'no'."

"Mother, how did...how does..." Abiron sighed and threw up his hands, "How does it all work? How did your father sire you on your mother, who was also his mother? How did he sire me on you without his mother, who was also your mother, going mad with rage? If he was as well-made as you imply, she could not have welcomed the sight of him in your bed. This is not the way the world works!"

"You are right, my son. This is not the way the world works. This is the way the gods work, and we are tools in their hands. I have served the Deity well and faithfully all my life, and I am not going to question her will now. But, you ask, how does it work?" Her smile grew mischievous, and Abiron could see the shadow of the Wanton in her eyes, and could feel his body beginning to respond to her. "Abiron, love shared is love doubled. The truest measure of love is when someone else's happiness is essential to your own. I loved my parents, and wanted them to be happy. My parents loved me, and wanted me to be happy. And they loved, truly loved, each other. When your father took me to his bed, I had never been so happy. And because I was happy, so was he. And because we were both happy, so was my mother. Do not think," she continued, "That just because I had been brought to his bed I had replaced my mother. She was just as lusty at sixty years as she was at twenty, and my father would never have thrown her over. Not even for me. Especially not for me."

Abiron stared at her. Despite his shock, he knew that she had told him the truth. Her sincerity shone through her like light through clean air. He picked up a piece of bread, buttered it, and spread it with warm strawberry preserves. Taking a bite, he chewed thoroughly, and took a sip of his now lukewarm tea. "So...what now?"

Ariana laughed merrily. "Oh, Abiron. The Deity is right. Despite all that you have been told, you still expect me to attack you right here at the breakfast table, before you have eaten or shaved. Not that the idea does not have its own degree of charm," she continued, "But at least give me credit for some measure of self-control.

"So. We are priestess and priest, and we have our duties. So we will eat our breakfast, and then we will say the morning rites. Then we will do what needs doing in the temple and on the grounds. The afternoon will be spent in quiet contemplation. This evening there will be a ceremony and a meal...and then...and then," she said, her voice gone deep with need, "Then you will come to my bed, and I will be there to welcome you."

The routine of the day did something to calm Abiron's nerves. It was almost a relief to let the body do things it had done a thousand times before, ignoring that fact that very soon it would be doing something that it had never done before. So he washed the dishes with his mother (who would soon be his lover). Then he fed the chickens and the goats while his mother (who would soon be his lover) did the same with the pig and the cow. Then the morning rites were performed and the temple cleaned with his mother (who would soon be his lover). He mucked out the stalls of the three horses in the barn and lay down fresh straw while his mother (who would soon be his lover) left on private business of her own.

Finishing the job, he returned to the well, drew a bucket of water, and was washing his hands when Ariana returned. "Done at last?"

"You know what the philosopher said, Mother. 'You can throw out nature with a pitchfork, but it will come back all the same'."

Ariana laughed, "Very true! Well, let's hope that nature won't return until tomorrow morning, at least." She took his hand and led him back into the temple. "I have already spent my time in contemplation. I think that you would like some time alone, as well?"

Abiron nodded as they reached the door of the worship area. Ariana reached up and laid her hand on his cheek. "We will dine together at the twelfth hour. When you have finished your contemplation, go to your room and put on the clothes you will find there. I will see you next when we dine. Be well, my son." She turned and walked quickly away, her sandals sending back faint echoes.




The Balance Ch. 01-05



Abiron walked into the worship area of the temple. He had liked it, even as a child. The lines were clean and pure, with no unnecessary adornment. Those who came here knew who they worshiped, and did not need to be reminded.

He looked around. Some changes had been made from the morning. Flowers in vases lined the aisle. There weren't many this time of year, but he smiled as he saw Autumn's Rose and Evening Lily. Their yellow and white blooms were lovely. 

Appropriate for tonight.

His belly clenched again at the thought. He had grown up with animals, knew what took place between male and female. But the idea still froze him with terror, mixed disturbingly with desire.

He knelt before the small altar that was all he and his mother had ever needed. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his mind. Sweet Deity, help me, he prayed. What do I do? How do I do it? What if...what if I can't do it? What if I fail?

"Relax."

Abiron's head spun around. Standing next to him as he knelt was a child, perhaps six years old. She wore a pink dress and there were white ribbons in her hair. Her hair was dark, and she seemed to be holding a rag dolly.

He opened his mouth, "Uh..."

"First rule: You don't get to ask who I am."

His eyes narrowed, "Deity?"

"Very good. You win a prize." The girl hugged him around the neck and kissed his cheek. Her hands were rather sticky, he noticed.

"Why this form?"

"Because I want you to relax, and everybody loves little girls. Everyone worth loving, at least. I know that you are nervous about tonight, but if you think too much more about it, you are going to explode," she glanced at his groin. "I am not sure which bit will explode, either."

Abiron sputtered, but could not find anything worthwhile to say. Not that it would have mattered, for the Lass went on as if he hadn't spoken at all, "You need to relax, Abiron. This has come as a shock, I know. But you can't build it up to be bigger than it is. You are more scared than a novice priest performing his first rite. It is very simple and very easy."

"Easy? You think this is easy? I am being asked...No, I am being commanded, by a divine being, no less, commanded to take my mother as my lover and to impregnate her. To sire my child on her. And what does the divine being say? She, incarnating as a six year-old..."

"Seven."

"Incarnating as a seven year-old, my apologies, my Lady, with a rag dolly no less, she says that this is going to be easy!"

"Second rule: No panicking," the Deity sighed and looked at him. "Abiron, it is easy. Loving someone is always easy. You did it as a child when your mother held you close. Your mother loved you before you were born. You love me when you say the rites and you love this land when you look at it every morning. Your capacity for love is endless. What you are going to do this night is only another aspect of that love you hold for your mother, just as this physical form is another aspect of the love I bear for everyone in this land," Her nose wrinkled. "Even the stinky ones. If some people see their Deity as a seven year-old girl with a rag dolly and sticky hands and grubby knees and a silly dress and ribbons in her hair, that is fine, because they are still loving Me. Gods need to be loved."

"And so does my mother."

The Lass smiled. "Well done. Your mother is an extraordinary woman, Abiron. Someday I think you will realize just how extraordinary. She needs physical love as much as a tree needs sunlight, and she has kept herself chaste and celibate for sixteen years, making do with the kisses of a small child and the hugs of an adolescent. She knew that to seek out gratification for her own sake would endanger you, since she would have to bring a stranger here or risk taking you out into the world. She did neither. And kept you safe. But now the time has come, the dam is breaking, and her needs will not be given second priority any more."

"But..."

"But what? I will only allow one 'but' tonight."

"But I don't know what to do!!"

The Deity smiled, "Abiron, your mother-priestess taught you long division in less than a week. She is a good teacher. You are an excellent student. And this is much easier than long division. More fun, though."

She vanished.

Chapter 5

Following his contemplation period, which to his mind had consisted less of contemplation and more of haranguing by a small girl, Abiron went back to his room. It was nearly the eleventh hour and it was time for him to make ready. 

Funny, he thought after bathing, I don't recall wearing these before. 

He hadn't. The clothes that were laying out for him were exquisite, expensive stuff that he had never seen before. The trousers were made of golden calfskin, pleasantly soft on his legs, framing the muscles of his calves and thighs, belted with black leather. There was a soft undertunic of white linen, over which went a jacket of red velvet, open at the chest. Soft boots made of black leather completed the outfit. 

He dressed and admired himself in the mirror. If you are going to bed a High Priestess, you might as well look the part.

Ariana was waiting for him in the dining room. The table was laid and the food was ready.

"Mother!" he said, "Don't tell me that you have been cooking all this time!"

"Indeed I have not, my son. This is a gift of the Deity. It seems that He does not think that I am capable of cooking this evening. My thoughts may have been occupied with something else and would have ruined the meal."

Abiron laughed, "Well, I thank Her for it," he sat down across from his mother. After the blessing, they both ate with a will. Abiron was surprised. He had thought that the turmoil in his stomach would have ruined his appetite, but a state of calm had descended on him since his last conversation with the Deity. There was hot ham, cold greens, a dish of potatoes garnished with onions, sweet peas with garlic, and a desert of grapes and strawberries. They both ate heartily, washing down the excellent food with cold, clear water from the well.

"No wine, mother?" he teased.

"You don't like it, as you have told me often enough, and I am not going to go into this night with a fuzzy head. This is one of the happiest nights of my life, and I will not have the memory muddled by an excess of wine."

Abiron looked at her. She did look happy, as joyful as he had ever seen her, her eyes sparkling with it and her red lips curled in a smile that was just short of an un-priestess-like grin. She was wearing a dress that matched his clothing. On first glance, it seemed severely white, but then the eye was drawn to hints of red at the bodice, golden piping at the hem and on the sleeves, and black fabric that emphasized the smallness of her waist.

"The clothes? Were those a gift of the Deity as well?"

"Indeed. Even if I were able to make clothes so fine, there was no way to know when this day would come and what size you would be." She ran a finger down his sleeve. "This suits you most well, my dear."

"Thank you mother. You look splendid as well."

The meal drew to a close. Abiron popped a last grape into his mouth and sighed. "I don't look forward to cleaning up."

Ariana looked scandalized. "There will be no cleaning up tonight!"

"And are we supposed to leave this until tomorrow morning? Who taught me that every task should be done right away, so our free time would not be ruined by nagging thoughts of jobs left undone?"

"I did, and don't forget it. But the Deity has given us license to leave these tasks undone tonight. He will take care of all. The time has come, my son. Let us go to the temple."

It is time. It is time. It is time. Ariana chanted joyfully in her head as they walked to the temple. Her unshod feet whispered on the stone, the sound matching Abiron's slow, firm footfalls. The heat of his fingers, enlaced with hers, stirred her to a fever pitch. No more celibacy. No more waking up in a cold bed. Oh, dear Deity, let me make it through the next few moments, and I will be grateful to you forever. 

The bodice was almost uncomfortable on her breasts. The fit was right, but she could feel them swelling slightly as the spirit of the Wanton rose up inside her. Fortunately it has been cut low, so that as they swelled they had room to grow. She had not been able to bear the thought of putting on her small-clothes at all. Her bare thighs rubbed together, setting up a delicious friction within her core. She could see Abiron glancing down at her. With a tiny smile, she raised her head slightly and arched her back, giving him a better look at her cleavage. 

"What is the rite, mother-priestess?" he asked.

"A moment, my son. All will be clear in a moment." And after that, a lifetime of pleasure to make up for an eternity of torment.

They entered the worship area. Hand in hand, they walked down the aisle. There was someone standing at the altar.

"Hello, my dears." To Abiron's eyes, the Deity manifested as an old woman in a white robe. Her hair was long and white, and her face was lined with happiness. To Ariana, the Graybeard appeared, with twinkling eyes and hands that existed to give out sweets and coins to good little girls.

"Are you ready, children?"

"Yes."

"Err..yes."

"Ariana, daughter of Persephone and Aethon, do you take Abiron, son of your loins and of your father Aethon, to be your husband, and to love him as long as you shall live?"

"WHAT?!?!"

"I do."

"Abiron, son of Ariana and Aethon, do you take your mother, Ariana, daughter of Persephone and Aethon, to be your wife, and to love her as long as you shall live?"

"WHAT!?!WAIT! What is going on?!"

The Deity smiled at Ariana, "I knew this would be tricky," He addressed Abiron. "You are going to marry her, son. Just as she married her father and mother in a ceremony in this temple nineteen years ago."

"Wait. You married them both?"

"Of course, Abiron. That is how it works," said Ariana, "That is how the balance is maintained. Marriage puts all partners on an equal footing."

"So let's get on with it, My back is starting to hurt," said the Deity. "Abiron, son of Ariana and Aethon, do you take your mother Ariana to be your wife, and to love her as long as you shall live?" She leaned a bit closer to him, "You're going to do it, son. Might as well say 'I do' now."

Abiron blinked. He took a deep breath, then half-released it, just as if he was on the archery range. He looked at his mother, with love and desire mingled in her eyes. He looked at the Deity, looking at him with love and pride. He swallowed though his dry throat.

"I do."

The Deity smiled, "Well done. Abiron and Ariana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May your union be joyous and fruitful. Ariana, you may kiss the groom."

Ariana's eyes smoldered as she looked at her son, now her husband. She took a half step towards him. She raised her hands and placed them on his cheeks. Her body seemed to flow up to his. She raised her head, pulled his down, and kissed him gently on the mouth. A soft moan escaped her and her mouth opened, her tongue licking his lips.

"Enough for now, Ariana," The Deity's voice was gentle. "We have one thing left to do."

"Forgive me, my Lord,"she said. "I almost forgot."

"Understandable. Abiron, do you have the necklace that you were given when you were made my priest?"

"Of course, my Lady."

"Take it off, please, and give it to me."

Confused by the request, Abiron did as the Deity asked. His mother's kiss had set him on fire. She had kissed him with her tongue! What else was in store for him this night?

"And here it is back again, my lad. Put it on, will you?"

With shaking hands, he re-did the clasp and looked down at the necklace. It was not the silver necklace of a priest of the Deity. It was the gold necklace of a High Priest!

"Ariana and Abiron, you are now High Priestess and High Priest. All of my followers throughout this land can be called upon to give you aid, should you require it. May you lead them wisely and well." The Deity threw a wink at Abiron. "Balance, you know."