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ARIADNE HADN’T EVER really liked Phaedra before, but was quickly changing her mind. Her sister had managed to force her way onto the Athenian ship by sheer ego and ambition.
“If there’s going to be a queen of Athens, it’s going to be me.” Phaedra sneered at her, tossing her silky hair over her shoulder.
Ariadne quietly found a corner of the ship by the dozing tributes. She hunkered down by a coil of rope, hoping she was out of sight of Theseus.
Phaedra moved up to the prince, cutting him the rest of the way out of Ariadne’s line of sight. “Oh, Theseus, you’re so brave!” She plastered herself against his torso, shooting a dirty look over her shoulder. When she didn’t see anyone, she buried her face in the bloody, dirty chest of a flattered looking Theseus.
Mentally wishing them the best, Ariadne tried to sleep.
* * *
THEY docked on an island in the middle of the night, tucking the ship into a hidden cove to hide from their pursuers. Dawn broke, pale light washing the long beach in pastels and soft edges.
Ariadne disembarked onto the island to avoid being alone with Theseus, despite his apparent distraction with her sister. She helped gather fresh water with the sailors and ate breakfast with the tired men.
The wine was terrible but their food was more than passable. She certainly wasn’t a master of making delicious wine, so tried not to judge them for the terrible tasting wine. It was better than what she had made and offered to Dionysus, after all.
* * *
ARIADNE woke up with a hammer pounding the inside of her head, ears ringing with a sound she couldn’t place. She sat upright and almost fell over, ground lurching under her.
Something was bothering her. What was it?
It was too quiet. The sailors were loud, boisterous even when exhausted and talking excitedly about their brave, heroic Prince. No one was on the beach. Ariadne turned her head slowly, vision swimming. There was no boat, or ship either. The sea stretched in front of the beach, empty but for a distant storm on the water.
It took several minutes for Ariadne to understand what had happened. They dumped her. They left her on the beach. She leaned back on the fishy smelling sand, closing her eyes against the brightness of the sun.
It was probably for the best, she told herself. Better than marrying Theseus and his octopus hands. She fell back asleep, sun baking heat into her like a blanket.
* * *
ARIADNE dreamed of her lover. Lost lover now, she supposed. Not like Dionysus was going to hunt down a singular mortal two night stand, and finding gods was like finding a diamond on a beach. Possibly harder.
But she dreamed of him. The way he cradled her head in his lap and brushed gentle hands over her face. He picked her up and carried her close to his chest for a long time, wind whipping her face that she couldn’t quite feel. It felt like they were going up, higher and higher into the sky.
Maybe she would meet Icarus, she thought, then recalled he had fallen to his death and felt herself falling.
* * *
ARIADNE woke with a start, sitting up before her mind was fully awake, the sensation of falling still tingling her nerves.
“Whoa there, you’re safe now.” A dark man with an infinitely gentle demeanor got up from his desk, setting down his papers. He is dressed like a wealthy doctor, subtle but fine linens over broad shoulders.
She glanced around the room. There was only a bed. The desk had vanished. The window showed only open cloudless sky despite it being rainy season soon. “Where am I?”
“You’re on Olympus.” He told her, pulling up a chair next to her bed that hadn’t existed prior to that moment.
Ariadne eyed him cautiously. “I’m listening.”
“You believe me. Good.” The doctor looked relieved. “That will make things easier.” Ariadne didn’t tell him this place was so obviously other it was either a dwelling of the gods or the dead. “Right. You were brought here with an... shall we say advanced case of poisoning. Possibly accidental.” He added in a hopeful tone. His face fell at her pained expression.
“Right, well, I cured the poisoning. You’ll be fine.” He finished deliberately cheerful, teeth almost bared.
Ariadne went for the basics. “Why am I on Olympus?”
He stared at her. She stared back. He coughed, breaking eye contact. “Your lover?” He offered gingerly, then nodded firmly. “Yes, you can ask your lover that.”
Ariadne dearly hoped he meant Dionysus. If he meant the King of the gods she was jumping out of that window, painful stop or not. That fool was known to vaporize lovers on accident. Case in point, Dionysus’s mother.
“When?” Ariadne prodded.
“You don’t have any further questions?” He sounded plaintive.
He had saved her life, she could be courteous even if she was desperately wondering what was going on. “What’s your name?”
The god of doctors tells her his name. “Asclepius.”
“Thank you.” She told him. “I appreciate not being dead. Or in horrible pain.” Asclepius practically glowed at the minimal praise. Emboldened, she went further. “Speaking of lovers, do you have anything to prevent pregnancy?”
He blinked, reached into his robe and pulled out a bundle of tiny pills and handed it to her. “This is the mix for immortal couple’s contraceptives. Massive overkill for a mortal of course, but given you’re involved with a fertility deity it might be better to be safe than sorry. Side effects are permanent infertility after more than a month of use.” Asclepius informs her, tone brisk and professional. “Take one by mouth per day. You can chew, swallow or let it dissolve in your mouth, it won’t effect how it works.”
“Permanent infertility.” Ariadne repeated. He nodded. She smiled, and tucked the bag into her dress pocket. “Awesome.”
“I’m always happy to prevent unwanted children.” Asclepius told her with a proud smile.
A man walked into the room and it was to her relief, actually Dionysus. “You’re awake!” He said as he flung himself on her, arms around her neck.
She hugged him back, breathing in the scent of flowers and the faint tang of wine. They both stayed like that for a long while, reveling in the warmth and presence of each other. Asclepius coughed awkwardly and leaves the room, door closing with a quiet click.
“You found me,” Ariadne breathed into his neck. “I didn’t think...” She rested her face into the curve of his shoulder.
Dionysus pulled back to look at her. “You didn’t think what?” He asked, eyes green and faintly luminescent.
“I didn’t think you would even look.” She admitted to him, amazed that he had. “I’m aware that I’m certainly only one of many lovers for you. I know we had fun-” She gave him a curious look, “I can’t imagine it was enough to stand out in any way for you.”
Dionysus gave her a quirk of the lips that might’ve been a smile. “True. But you are my lover.” The wine god said possessively, settling in on top of her heavily. “Mine. Not some upstart little demigod’s wife.” he added, eyes narrowed in such a way to leave them looking sharp. The winged eyeliner certainly added to the impression.
“My sister is the one you need to thank then. She was all over Theseus.” Ariadne grinned.
Dionysus winced. “Your sister is the one that drugged the wine.”
“Then the poisoning was definitely an accident. Phaedra is quite good at manipulating men, but not measuring and numbers by a long shot.” Ariadne told him with a snort.
“A little bit is good and a lot is better?” Dionysus guessed and shook his head at her agreement.
“Listen, Ariadne. Mortals aren’t allowed on Olympus.”
* * *