The princess of Ares

8

The muse woke up in huge, strong arms.

She fidgeted, she did not usually wake up with someone else, she almost always sneaked into the shadows of the night after being between the sheets of a lover. Fairies used to not sleep near anyone. More than anything for fear of being caught, although it was customary for her, she was already trapped.

The god woke up when he felt the woman try to walk away.

-Stay still, muse. - I whisper still sleepy.

And as if the muse had attended to his order, she remained static. The god knew it was not because he obeyed him, but because he had finally realized what was happening. After a couple of seconds the muse jumped out of bed, the god looked at her and got up too.

-Bring breakfast. - He was released when he saw that the woman did not know what to do. The muse nodded and ran out of there.

After a few minutes, she returned with a couple of fauns behind her. This brought fruit, bread, cheese, meat, and wine. She looked calmer. 

The fauns put down their food and gave the muse a compassionate look. Ares glared at them.

The muse prepared the table before the gaze of the god. When he was done at last he looked up.

-Sit down- he ordered when he saw her standing waiting for him to let her go.

The muse reluctantly sat across from him and the god handed her a glass of wine and a plate.

The muse with no other choice began to eat.

-Tell me muse ... Tell me about your past. - talking about her life with the Fae always made her smile and reassured her.

Daría looked at him reluctantly, she didn't want to speak, she didn't want to be near him, she simply wanted to run out of the temple of the god of war and never return. He would not betray his people for a ... barbarian.

-I'm ... a Fae, it's all ... - she let out proudly. Determined to treat him like any other god.

-It can't be everything if you miss the forest so much, there must be more.

The muse nodded, remembering the forest, her beloved land, and her loved ones. How he missed the woods, Eldrick, his mother, his jaguars ... the healer Moh. The truth was that she didn't have many friends among the Fae, but the ones she did have were highly appreciated by her. Surely they would think that she was already dead.

-I am the first muse among the Fae. - She released without realizing it.

The god looked at her and raised his eyebrows. He realized his pain, this time there was no melancholy like the other times he had told her about his past, this time there was pain and anger.

-Really? - I encourage her to continue.

-The union of a fairy and a god. It should never have happened and will never happen again. I am a disgrace. - She released sour.

The god frowned. Dishonor? Did she believe that about herself? His hands clenched at the thought of who would have made him believe that.

-The fairies disown us huh. - I try to divert the topic. She wasn't looking at him, she was looking at the wine glass in front of her sadly.

-Yes. I ... shouldn't be here. - Ares knew that the muse was about to break, he moved a little closer to her, ready to hug her if from one moment to the next the fairy began to cry.

-What are you talking about? - I didn't know if he meant, on Olympus or, here, with him.

The muse looked at him and denied. His gaze hardened again.

-When I was born, my mother protected me against everything, she was her little and fragile bastard. As I am half Olympian, they thought I would be weaker and would not let me do the things that other kids did. It wasn't long before I found out what I was, I am. My mother almost died of rage. A muse, a bloody muse.

Ares stuffed some meat into his mouth and forced himself to chew and swallow it.

-What happened?

-Well, in the end ... I accept it. He had no choice, inspiring mortals is what makes me happy. It is what I am. Although he tried, by all means, to get rid of me ... as if it were ... some disease.

-You got lucky. At least in the end ... he understood that this is who you are.

-Yes, my mother is ... a queen- She smiled at her joke and a silver glow illuminated her with a flash.

-Why the glitter? I mean ... you just shine ... sometimes. - Ares released.

-Oh well, it's just ... being half Olympian ... I'm not strong enough to shine all the time. The others always shine, I only when my feelings are strong enough.

The muse drank her wine. He poured himself another glass and drank it too, relaxing enough to continue telling about his life with the Fae.

-How did you arrive with the mortals? - asked the god.

He had already finished the fruit and it was the second bottle of wine he had opened.

-Suddenly ... I need more. I used to observe them and that was enough to give them my inspiration, but one day ... I decided that ... I wanted one, just one to inspire him day and night.

Ares smirked. I imagine that this must be very intimate, the muse and her mortal. Day, night, creating unbreakable bonds, thinking like yourself.

-And...? Who did you choose?

-It was ... it was a girl, a Greek girl.

The fury disappeared. A girl, a woman. Not Achilles as he supposed at first. The god saw the fear in the muse's gaze. He realized that his red aura had been flashing as he imagined her so intimately with the warrior.

-And good? - I try to pretend that nothing happened.

-I should go now ...

-You will leave when I send it. - He released louder than he intended.

The muse got up and poured more wine, drank it in one gulp, and repeated the process.

-How long will you keep me here? I need to inspire. I haven't done it for two nights.

Ares got up too. Was that why you were eager to go? He didn't want Apollo, he wanted to inspire mortals. He felt a warm feeling expand in his chest. After all, last night she had kissed him, kissed him with passion and anxiety. Maybe he just needed time to collect his thoughts. And actually, he was in the same condition.

-Well, I will take you to the temple of Apollo, you will inspire and we will return ... 

-No, he's not here now, I can't inspire without him.

-Why not? - The fury returned. 

Why would he need Apollo? He was just their ... leader, like him before his army, if he was missing his warriors might as well fight without him. Why did the muses need Apollo? Why did she need it?

As if she had read his thoughts the muse replied.

-It is the energy of Apollo that helps me to my inspiration reach mortals. The god frowned again.

-We'll go at night then.

The muse hugged herself. And the god felt uncomfortable. Why didn't he want to be near him?

-Tell me more about the Fae.

-Why do you want to know about them? - Suddenly the muse widened her eyes. - Are you planning to start a war against them?

The god frowned.

-No, no, you just ... you seem happy when you talk about them.

-And why are you interested in my happiness?

The god turned. For that question, he had no answer. He just knew that being by his side felt like ... like the start of a battle. It was like rolling down a fairly steep hill, her heart racing and then stopping for a long time. 

It was... annoying, it was an annoyance that he didn't want to stop feeling.