~ These Dreams ~
by Dark Passion
Disclaimer/Prologue: See Part 1.
Contact me at darkpassion@msn.com.
Part 2
The sun had begun to paint Aurora's portrait in hues of reds, pinks, and oranges just beyond the lagoon. Drowsily Kiera reaches for her love only to find her gone and the place where she had once lain cold.
Gods, I hate when she does this, Kiera growled under her breath.
Kiera remembered a time when Mariah would hold her as she slept waiting patiently for her to wake. On numerous occasions Mariah would sensually wake her with sweet kisses on her lips or breasts. But over the last number of moons Kiera found herself waking up alone more and more frequently and she hated it.
Maybe now that she has revealed her dream to me......maybe everything will change. Maybe it will be as it was. Kiera thought, but knew in her heart of hearts that nothing would ever be the same.
Kiera sat up pouting, sleepy eyes searching for her love. It was obvious that Mariah had been up for some time since the horses were grazing nearby. Their belongings that had been left in the clearing last night were now neatly stacked by a small hastily built fire pit. On a spit over the low fire a freshly dressed rabbit cooked slowly. She wrapped the blanket more tightly around her chasing the chill of the morning away since the fire was closer to the lagoon then to where she was lying.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she once again set about scanning the horizon. Silhouetted against the rising sun she could see Mariah, staff in hand, her morning ritual well under way. Her long dark tresses lay flat against her head evidence that somewhere between moving the camp site and hunting Mariah had gone for a swim.
This was no surprise to Kiera. There was something about these crystalline waters that called to Mariah whenever she was being tortured by her past. Many times they had come to this hidden glade where this magical lagoon resided. Mariah would swim and float in these waters for seemingly endless hours while Kiera sat on the banks and watched. Once these healing waters had saturated her spirit, she would rise from the surf as Aphrodite had so many eons before wearing nothing but a loin cloth.
Kiera would be rendered breathless by Mariah's stunning physical beauty each time she emerged from the pool. The very sight of the water sliding off that long, lean body made Kiera insane with desire. Yet even though it took Kiera Herculean effort of self control not to run into her lover's arms, she dared not approach her lover during these times. Mariah was in another place, a place where Kiera knew she couldn't follow. So she learned to be satisfied with the fact that only her eyes would be permitted to caress this comely woman.
From the water's edge Mariah emerged, her dark nipples hard and erect, her tantalizing breasts swaying with the cadence of each foot fall. From here she would climb up the cliff face to a high stone outcropping above the lagoon. Atop this shelf the brooding woman would sit upon this rocky overhang where her naked body would be dried by the warm rays of Apollo's sunny chariot. Here she would meditate, silently communing with the healing spirits of this sacred pool.
Kiera knew they had traveled far out of their way in their travels to Gabrielle's Amazon village in order to get to this mystical glade, but she would have gone to the ends of the earth if it would help Mariah. But now that this peaceful place of soothing sounds and gently lapping waters was being put to the ultimate test it was failing miserably. To Kiera's regret and surprise it was obvious the enchantment of this place was not stronger than the curse of the nightmare.
Drawing her knees to her chest, light orbs once again following the dark form that moved against the brightening horizon. Kiera smiled appreciating each smooth line of Mariah's well-muscled body. The only thing spoiling the perfection of this moment was the blood soaked bandage on her arm.
She sat quietly following Mariah's movements. Mariah was graceful, elegant, and strong. Her steps, her movements were fluid, as the tall woman flowed easily from one stance to the next. Still gazing at her breathtaking silhouette she noted this daily drill, a mixture of lunges, jabs and sweeps, always seemed to her to be more in the way of a dance than an exercise of war and weaponry. The staff or sword, whichever she decided to use at the moment, always became an extension of her body. The swaying of her body in sync with the motion of her weapons was not only mesmerizing but totally erotic. Mariah could move this way for hours to music only she could hear.
Dreamily she remembered the first time she had secretly viewed this private performance. Remembering back to the first night the two had made love. Just the recollection of Mariah's half naked body glistening in the candlelight sent shivers up Kiera's spine. How she longed, then as now, to be the staff she used, to have those strong hands manipulate her body the way they caressed the smooth wooden staff.
From behind closed lids Kiera once again experienced for the first time Mariah's embrace. Kiera felt anew Mariah's strong arms snake around her body leading her in a dance to the rhythm of the music that floated up from the village. Soon their dance became a dance of passion and love. Once again she was drawn in by the scents and sounds of that magical night.
Dance, from that very first night, would always be their declaration of love. Dance as private to them as their lovemaking. Their dancing was erotic, sensual, and a total expression of their love, but most of all an esoteric gift for the Gods and Muses alone.
That was the special night when the rhyme Eros posed came to pass.
"Deep in a dark and sultry night,
Hidden in shadow far from sight.
Loves eyes caught by vision fair,
As soft strains of music fill the air.
Haunting apparition with little to hide,
Will flood desire deep inside.
Flames ignited deep within,
Fueled by luminescent skin.
Burning fires that will not dismiss,
Until eased by loves first kiss."
But this new riddle was something totally different. These words vexed her for they did not foretell joy as with that wonderful night so long ago. No, this poem boded evil. It was an ill omen that needed to be heeded, but how could she do that unless she could decipher the message that was hidden in these inscrutable lines. Each word, each syllable, was another part to this dastardly puzzle. No matter how she tried she could not get any of the pieces to fit. Eyebrows knitting together she ran the strains of the oracle's refrain through her troubled thoughts.
Solve the riddle of this rhyme
To do this you have little time.
One full of anger brings great hate,
Separation of thread with a twisting of Fate.
Secrets whispered no longer concealed,
True identities now revealed.
Those long silent make their claim,
Under bondage two are chained
Through jealously, anger has gone wild,
Due to the impending birth of a child
Deception blinds these true friends,
As lives come to an untimely end.
Yet all these shadows can be undone
When sweet memories are found
From these chains they can break free
By remembering their true destiny.
Separation of threads, our threads? Separation of thread with a twisting of Fate
Separation of a thread? Separation of her golden and Mariah's silver thread from Fate's loom? Kiera considered these words carefully. These few syllables conveyed doom for both of them. Any tampering with the loom would mean unspeakable tragedy for Mariah and herself, but who would have that kind of power?
Shaking her head slowly she chuckled at her own foolishness for going to Delphi at all. When Mariah's dreams showed no signs of abating, Kiera had gone to Delphi to get some answers. She came back with only more unanswered questions such as: What child? Who brings the hate? According to Mariah's dream Xena will die, but it said 'lives come to and untimely end', that indicates more than one. Who else will die? Somehow, the poem, the dream, and the scroll from Gabrielle imploring them to visit, it's all connected but how?
Mariah's right, that Pythia is a cryptic bitch and no help what so ever.
Light eyes flitting closed as she sat quietly clutching the blanket more tightly around her shoulders remembering the last time she and Mariah had talked about Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi. She traveled back to the night when Xena first confided her vision to Mariah and herself.
In her mind's eye they were once again all sitting around a warm fire, Gabrielle was sleeping peacefully nearby. Xena sat shoulders slumped while she solemnly relayed all the details of her vision. Kiera had never seen the warrior so lost, so defeated. She was desperate to save her bard even if she couldn't save herself. They both listened quietly to Xena while silently trying to figure out how to help their friend.
.
Later that night when both Xena and Gabrielle were fast asleep in each other's arms, Kiera lay upon her warrior's chest. Quietly they discussed what could be done to change this destiny, if it was destiny at all.
"It could just be a bad dream. You know Morpheus still holds a grudge against Xena, because she beat him at his own game in his own house. On top of that she saved Gab from his clutches," Kiera commented while she listened to Mariah's steady heartbeat.
"Yes, you could be right. Morpheus resents her for sure. But then you can't throw a stone without hitting someone who has or feels they have a score to settle with Xena," Mariah agreed as she absently stroked Kiera's hair.
"We could travel to Delphi to find out if this was a mere dream or a destiny." Kiera thought out loud.
"Aah, Kiera, I would rather be trampled by a herd of Centaurs," Mariah whined. "Pythia can be such a cryptic bitch. Why don't I just go and kick the shit out of Morpheus and call it good."
Kiera laughed at her pouting warrior. "And exactly what would that solve?"
"Nothing, but it would make me feel better."
"We could always go see the 'Mothers'," Kiera teased.
"Damn, Kiera, I would rather go see the cryptic bitch than go to Olympus to see Mom," Mariah growled. "Let's leave for Delphi in the morning."
"Really?" Kiera cried as she turned over to lie fully upon Mariah.
Mariah sighed then kissed Kiera on the nose. "Yes, it's the lesser of all the evils."
Looking at it now, Pythia would probably have been no help even if they had gotten to Delphi before the crucifixion.
What Kiera didn't know at the time of this discussion was that Mariah had gone to Xena secretly and vowed to save her and Gabrielle from their deaths at Roman hands. She had promised she would use all her powers to be sure that Xenia's vision never became reality. But what Mariah didn't know is that their fates were already sealed and the events contained in the vision could not be changed.
"Mother, I promised Xena I would prevent this at all costs."
"Mariah, my daughter, you should not make promises you can not keep," Artemis said gently to her agitated daughter.
Those words echoed in the marble halls of Olympus while a daughter paced to and fro in front of a mother who reclined on a satin covered couch while she stood with Athena close by. Now those words echoed in Kiera's mind. She raised her hands to her ears trying to quell the resounding of those syllables once and for all.
"That's where all this started," she growled through a tight jaw
That has to be the beginning of the entire plight. The dreams, the changes in their relationship, everything. Did she make other promises of which I have no knowledge? Or did this foolish vow open some sort of door giving leave for these grave troubles to relentlessly pursue us like a pack of rabid jackals?
Kiera let a tear slip down her cheek, pure frustration seizing her soul. For in that very moment she hated Xena and Gabrielle. These women that she had come to love as sisters she now began to loath. She was convinced that whatever hex had befallen her and her lover was directly connected to Xena and Gabrielle and Mariah's misguided vow.
She tightly closed her grey eyes trying to stop the tears that were just beginning to flow unabated. She cursed the name of Artemis believing that if the Goddess Mother had never implored them to watch over her chosen the two would have never become involved with the Warrior Princess or the Little Queen. And if the four had never crossed paths, Kiera was sure they wouldn't be having the problems they were now.
But the biggest issues for Kiera, even beyond her growing distaste for the Goddesses of Olympus, or her simmering anger for Xena and Gabrielle, was that Mariah seemed to be slipping away from her.
Mariah, because of that damnable dream, spent less and less time in their marital bed. Sleep fled her lover night after night. No matter how Kiera implored her to stay and draw strength or comfort from her, Mariah fled their bed with a kiss on the cheek while mumbling feeble assurances that she would be fine and return shortly.
But Mariah once gone would not return. It wouldn't be long after Mariah disappeared from their room that she would hear the haunting strains of Mariah's kithara. When Kiera would hear those melodic strains she knew that Mariah was trying desperately to chase her demons away. Mariah could charm birds from the trees with her music. She would stroke the strings mesmerizing magicians, oracles, and Cyclopes yet her mystical music couldn't tame the darkness of her own soul.
Finding no solace in her music she would drink. Mariah would drown herself with the finest wines from Bacchus' vineyards until unconsciousness overcame her ravaged mind. Drunkenness afforded Mariah the only haven she could find from her nightly torture. Kiera blinked her eyes open as she laid her chin on her bent knees defeated, knowing full well that the power of these dreams had thwarted them at every turn.
We are being conquered….crushed by whom and why? What is the iniquity we are paying for? What insult has fallen from our lips that the powers are now taking vengeance upon us?
******
Mariah looked up from her activity to see Kiera was awake. She stood motionless noticing the far away look in Kiera's eyes.
What was she thinking of and why was it making her look so haunted? I shouldn't have told her about the dream.
Mariah watched her for another moment before strolling over to bid her lover good morning.
"Good morning." The taller woman knelt on the ground and kissed Kiera's face that still rested on her bent knees. Kiera reached her arms around Mariah's neck returning her kiss with one filled with blazing fire. Mariah was taken aback. She felt Kiera's knees part and her body being pulled up till she lay fully upon her more petite lover. As their kiss deepened she felt Kiera's tongue teasing her own. Mariah could feel her own desire surging through her body trying to take possession of her.
"Wait, stop…" Mariah said breathlessly. Releasing Kiera's grasp from her tunic, Mariah knelt up from her prone position. With some effort she regained her feet and stood over her beauty, a smile curling around the edges of her lips.
"Why?" Kiera cooed reaching for Mariah's hand.
"My love, I refuse to make love to you in front of an audience."
"What???" Kiera laughed drawing her knees back to her chest.
"My dear, we are very close to the Amazon lands, they're most certainly watching us." Leaning down she kissed Kiera on her rosy cheek. "Our lovemaking is not a spectator sport."
"My love, the beautiful pool calls us. The cool waters will conceal our passion," Kiera cooed seductively reaching for Mariah.
Mariah leaned down and kissed Kiera's her sun streaked auburn hair. "Then we would be performing for the nymphs as well as the gods of these waters."
"My love, we have not been together for a long time. Am I no longer pleasing to you? Is there another who you burn for?" Kiera pouted with a catch in her voice.
Mariah watched the light leave Kiera's eyes. She cursed herself for removing that twinkle from Kiera's eyes by rejecting her advances once again. She adored Kiera and wanted her so much that at times her body ached, but something was holding her back. She wanted Kiera, needed her. She needed to reconnect with Kiera on a physical level. So what was holding her back, she couldn't say.
They had always been very affectionate with one another, making love whenever and where ever the mood struck them. Always stroking, caressing, and kissing each other, but those loving moments were going the way of finding being in bed with Kiera at the dawning of the day.
She knew that she was hurting Kiera by refusing her charms, but these dreams were sucking the life, not to mention any passion she had in reserve. She knew she was leaving Kiera wanting, unsure of herself, and doubting the strength of their bond. Well it was about time to think of the most important person in her life.
"Star, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You are the most desirable woman on earth or Olympus, outshining fair Helen by far."
"Don't let Aphrodite hear you." Kiera smiled wanly before continuing her thought. "Then why, why won't you make love to me? I can not remember the last time we made love."
"My Star, as I said before, I will not be watched and give the Amazons a free show."
"But…." Kiera started, but Mariah interrupted. "My love, we have tarried in this place too long. For this I take fault." Mariah reached out her hand to draw Kiera to her feet. "Come, my love, Gabrielle awaits our arrival." Mariah began trying to lighten Kiera's sullen mood.
"If you're so concerned with the Little Queen why don't we just ride the winds? We could be there in moments," Kiera asked petulantly. She sat farther back putting more distance between Mariah and herself. Kiera, crossing her arms in an agitated demeanor turned her face away from Mariah.
Mariah was confused by the vehemence of Kiera's last statement. "What are you referring to, my dear?"
Kiera just waved her hand angrily dismissing the question unanswered.
Mariah paused to quell her own rising anger. "First, we only have a few more days to travel. Second, I will not be reckless with our powers. If we are seen just appearing it could be ruinous for everyone. It would send ripples to Olympus, Zeus would be displeased. As it is, He finds quarrel with me which is why whenever I use my powers He makes me bleed. Punishment for the crimes of my past."
"Hasn't Artemis petitioned Zeus for mercy on your behalf? Your past was molded by others. Bacchus cursed you with the thirst for human blood and death. All of your actions were on Ares behest. Ares the grand puppeteer," Kiera sneered the name of the God of War.
"She has and she will again. Though, as you say, I was a pawn in a greater plan the truth of the matter is if the darkness wasn't already within me none of this would have ever happened. If I hadn't been so greedy for power, Ares could have never attached the strings to me. Strings that turned to chains that I will bare forev--." her words trailed off when she saw a tear drop from auburn lashes and slowly slide down her cheek. Kneeling back next to Kiera she took her in her arms. "My love, I'm sorry. I have again caused you great pain without intention."
Kiera looked into Mariah's face her own tears obstructing her view of concern in her partner's eyes.
"Star, do not hide your pain from me? I beg of you open your heart to me that I may heal your wounds. There have been unspoken words between us, emotions left unexpressed. Your soul is so heavy, your heart bleeds, and I know I am the cause. Please let me right what I have wronged? I've seen a faraway look in your eyes too many times, you seem to go to a place where I can not follow and that frightens me," Mariah pleaded.
Kiera held her tightly burying her head in the lover's shoulder. "My love, someone has cast a shadow of gloom upon us. A curse has been placed upon us. Unknown forces are conspiring to rip us apart. Please don't say I'm being silly. I feel like our threads are being separated by the Fates and the tapestry of our life is changing forever."
Holding her tighter Mariah tried to ebb the flow of her own fears and answered, "You know our threads can not be separated without one or both of us losing their lives. Not even the Fates have that power."
"There are many ways to lose one's life without dying. Mariah, something insidious is happening, can't you feel it?"
Mariah felt as if she couldn't breathe her heart was so heavy. Yes, she could feel it, but could not understand what was happening to them. "Star, we are soul mates, no matter what the Fates try we will always find each other. Remember there is nothing stronger than love, nothing more powerful than my love for you," Mariah said. Mariah's brown eyes gazed deeply into Kiera's gray pleading eyes. "We have heeded all that Zeus has commanded. We have obeyed all that our Goddess Mothers have requested of us, including watching over their anointed. We are the children of the virgin Goddesses and they would allow no harm to befall us."
"What if they have been deceived? You know their brothers and sisters live to play out their little intrigues on one another. Always trying to exact revenge for some supposed insult or trying to claim more power or someone's heart. "
"Kiera, I can't argue anything you have said, but if we're part of some type of drama the biggest question is why? I mean, who did what to whom in order to get us pulled into this mire?" Mariah asked.
Kiera shrugged before her thoughts fell from her lips. "It obviously has something to do with Xena and Gabriel."
Mariah noticed the contempt in Kiera's voice once again with the mention of the Little Queen. "What are you saying?"
"Mariah, if we hadn't been involved with them we wouldn't be where we are now. Every trouble we're having can be connected to the two of them." Kiera turned her face away feeling the tears beginning to slip from her eyes.
"Kiera, I don't believe that for a moment," Mariah responded.
"What else could it be?" Kiera pleaded not only to Mariah, but any God that could hear her. "It all started with that damn vow you made to Xena."
Mariah was stunned as if someone had slapped her across the face. "So the fault is mine alone? It is I who have disturbed the celestial waters so deeply with my impulsive vow that now we are going to drown in the waters of retribution?"
Kiera shook her head. "No, my love," she groaned in frustration. "I'm so angry and frustrated I could scream. I just want someone to blame. Anyone to blame."
Mariah understood what Kiera was feeling. She wanted to strike out at whatever force was mortally wounding them. She gathered her more securely in her arms and let the woman she loved cry out her frustrations while beating her strong back with balled fists.
Exhausted Kiera's body became limp in Mariah's arms. Mariah mumbled words of love and comfort while stroking her lover's hair.
"Mariah, we're being pulled apart," Kiera sobbed.
"We are soul mates, my love, our threads are intertwined, tangled, twisted, and could never be separated. We are one thread on the loom not two. Neither life, time, distance, nor death can ever separate us." Even as she uttered these words of comfort for Kiera she found that she, herself, was unsure of the reality of her own confession.
We are being separated, but how and why? My love, I will protect you, I will make all this right. I vow this to you, my love, Mariah thought.
"There was great disappointment in Athena when we pledged our love. Athena as well as Artemis saw their plans for us disappearing as the morning fog with the sun high in the sky. Remember, just a few winters ago, how they tried to manipulate us so that we would go back to the destinies they had chosen for us?" Kiera said.
"You know that they have put all that behind them, Zeus himself made sure that the last time they tried to interfere was the last time they would interfere," Mariah said. Grieved by the soulful look that inhabited Kiera's eyes Mariah continued, her alto tones soft and low, "Star, we are children of Olympus. While your mother imparted wisdom to you while you stood at her knee I was learning to fly through the treetops. I remember learning to hunt with my mother Artemis as a child before the darkness came into my life." The dark, warm eyes became clouded over as she thought of how her life had changed. "I turned my back on Olympus in my own quest for ultimate power."
"That was someone else's quest and you know it," Kiera interjected as she began to gently rub Mariah's back.
"Yes, it was, but I succumbed to the temptation," she commented through gritted teeth. "Then I became a monster literally. I fear that I will travel that road again."
"My love, you have fought that darkness and have overcome it, you will never go back to those dark days again."
"Only because of you. Star, you're the light that pierced through my darkness. I was blind for so long and you made me see that not only was there beauty in this world, but love as well. Love was not just some dream that would fade and disappear with the morning light. Kiera, I love you, I want you and I need you. You are my soul, my light, and my heart."
Kiera's response was to cling to Mariah and begin to sob again. Concern reflecting in deep brown eyes, she held her lover until the sobbing subsided. Still holding Kiera, Mariah's dark eyebrows knitted together. She could feel her partner's pain, but there was something more, something carefully hidden in the deepest chambers of her soul. "There is something you are not telling me."
She took a deep breath to steady her voice. "No."
Mariah frowned; knowing the answer she was being given was untrue. Kiera slowly drew back from the embrace, and sat looking down at shaking hands. Mariah took those shaking hands into her own a wave of compassion replacing the faint stirrings of anger and frustration that were building within her.
Kiera looked up and bathed in the warmth of the dark brown orbs. She knew that Mariah knew there was something more, but she couldn't tell her anything about the oracle or the riddle. Mariah, my love, I hope you will forgive me this one deception. I am trying to protect you, protect us.
Seeing Kiera begin to relax Mariah smiled slightly and kissed Kiera's flushed cheek. She could taste the salt of the tears that were still sliding down her face. She followed the wet trail to her lips then finally kissed those soft lips. Mariah felt a spark within her begin to grow into a flame, and she deepened the soft kiss.
Kiera entwined her hands in the black tresses bringing Mariah's lips to hers again. She could feel her desire rise as Mariah's tongue found its way into the hot moistness of her mouth. She could hear Mariah's breathing come quicker as she laid Kiera softly upon the ground. Kiera wrapped her arms more tightly around her lover basking in the passion that she had missed for so long.
Mariah began to kiss down the side of her long throat to the gentle slope of Kiera's breast. Kiera gasped as Mariah teased her taught nibbles through the fabric of her tunic. She could feel Mariah unlacing her tunic when she commented softly, afraid if she spoke too loud it would break the spell, "What about the Amazons?'
Pulling back to see those disarming gray eyes, Mariah smiled brightly. "Let them throw dinars."
To be continued part 3.