Disclaimer: The
Xenaverse is owned by Renaissance/Universal, created by Rob Tapert.
No profit is being made from this writing. It is written for the enjoyment of those who
wish to share it.
Summary: Hades
comforts Celesta
Rating PG
~~~~~~~~~
DEATH'S EMBRACE
Celesta sighed inwardly as
she looked st the dying little boy wrapped in cloth, barely having the energy
to lie down.
"NO!" his mother screamed. "You cannot take him!"
"Please
Jordana must come with me."
"Who are you to decide?!"
Celesta felt for the little
boy's parents. "It is his
time," she said, her voice soft.
"I must, I'm sorry."
"What would you know of sorrow?" asked the boy's
father. "You're a God."
"I feel sorrow every time I must take a mortal to the
Underworld. I understand your pain and
your fears."
"Please
you can't take my only son
"
"I'm sorry, but I must.
There's nothing I can do to prevent it, not even as a God."
The mother hurled an earth
coloured oil burner at Celesta. The burner
bounced off her, hit the floor and smashed.
The Spirit of Death closed
her eyes. "I'm so sorry, but I
must take him."
The only one who hasn't said
a thing was the little dying boy.
"You have no heart," the mother accused.
The Goddess was hurt deeply,
but said nothing.
"Mother
please
" the boy started to say. "Let me go
"
"No, please don't take my baby!"
Celesta looked sympathetic as
the little boy's body went limp.
"Get out!" the mother screamed at Celesta. "Get out!"
The father held his wife,
giving Celesta a dirty look.
"I promise you, Jordana will be safe in the Elysian
Fields." Celesta's voice was drowned out by the mortal's sobs.
The Goddess floated out of
the house, holding her candle, burning the only light this moonless night.
"Celesta?"
Death's spirit looked down to
see the glowing form of Jordana, the little boy.
"Don't feel bad," he said. "They don't understand, but they will someday."
Celesta smiled warmly. "Thank you,"
And she guided him to the
Elysian Fields.
* *
*
Hades sat in his castle. One of the few times he'd had to himself in
even he didn't know how long. Then his
brow furrowed when he sensed an immense sadness. He looked up and realised it
was coming from the Elysian Fields and became very puzzled indeed. Concerned, he stood and felt he had to deal
with this himself. Who could be feeling
sad in the Elysian Fields of all places?
In the Land of Bliss and Paradise?
Had something gone wrong?
"Incoming!" Charon barked. "A lot of 'em! Ares
has started another war and a plague has broken out in Amphipolis."
"Deal with it," Hades ordered. "I've got something on my mind."
"Yes, Boss," Charon grumbled.
Somehow The Lord of the
Underworld knew his peace wouldn't last.
Hades sensed the despair growing
as he came closer. He sensed it came
from a woman and he wanted nothing more than to help her. The God of the Underworld entered the
Elysian Fields, and the more the pain deepened. Hades relaxed his body and mind.
His troubles would have to wait.
The Lord of the Underworld approached the weeping woman, her delicate
white dress sprawled out upon the soft grass.
He sat down beside her and took her hand.
"What's the matter?" he asked gently.
She turned her head toward
him.
"Celesta ..." he said with surprise.
Hades forgot his troubles
when he saw the tears streaming down his sister's face.
"I'm sorry, Hades, I know I've a lot of work to do and I
"
"You can do it a little later," Hades said. "What's wrong?" he asked,
genuinely concerned.
Celesta sighed, and wiped her
tears away, though more came.
"What's the matter?" Hades prompted gently, placing his
hand on her shoulder.
Celesta leant against her
brother's strong chest.
Patiently, Hades waited for
her answer, breathing the fresh Elysian Fields' air. He'd never seen Celesta like this before and was very
concerned. He could feel her pain, the
bond between them was very strong, stronger than it was with his other brothers
and sisters. Whatever he was doing, he
was sure he was doing it right. He
sensed Celesta's pain and sadness had eased considerably.
Celesta took a deep breath
and told Hades what had happened with Jordana's parents. Hades became angry, but Celesta calmed him.
"It's not an isolated incident," she said. "It was the final straw, that's
all."
"Celesta, you never told me."
"I didn't want to trouble you."
"You wouldn't have troubled me. You know you can talk to me."
Celesta sighed. "I know. I've been guiding mortals to the Underworld for three thousand
years. You would think I'd be used to
it by now."
"It isn't an easy thing to get used to, My Dear Sister. I have had to endure the mortal's fear and
hatred for centuries also. I don't
think it's something anyone ever gets used to."
"You never let on that it upsets you."
"That's because I'm an expert at hiding my feelings,"
Hades said with a smile.
"You could have talked to me about it," Celesta
said. "I guess we've both been
feeling the same way. Will it get any easier?"
"Sorry, but I doubt it," Hades said. "But the bright side is in the end the
mortals understand that death isn't the end all of everything, rather a new
beginning, the next step upon their sacred journey."
Celesta smiled and dried her
last tears.
"Come on," Hades said standing, gently pulling Celesta
up with him.
The Sovereign of the
Underworld took his beloved sister back to his castle to a table filled with
all sorts of scrumptious and exotic foods.
The Spirit of Death smiled.
"Help yourself," Hades offered.
Celesta picked up a slice of
yellow star fruit and began to nibble.
Next she ate some red crystal pomegranate seeds, followed by some
exquisite milk chocolate.
Hades took her hand. "Feeling better?"
Celesta smiled. "You
always know how to make me feel better."
And she placed her arms
around him, an embrace which the Lord of the Dead returned with all his heart
and soul.
*