Chapter Seven

If loving you is wrong I don't wanna be right
If being right means being without you
I'd rather live a wrong doing life
(If Lovin’ You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right
Rod Stewart

New Olympus

Ares had been traipsing about the mountainside for almost two weeks looking for a suitable cave to call home for Callestah, the baby and him but having no luck.  This planet, as inviting as it was, just did not suit him.  There weren’t enough big game animals here and the indigenous population was nothing more than a bunch of inbred hicks who thought the fact they’d invented a garbage can was a fantastic leap forward. Weak minded and easily manipulated not exactly the type of worshippers or even humans that he tended to fancy. Certainly not one of them was Warrior material.

 Ares was starting to be sorry that he’d left the island and Earth but would always be glad that Callestah was with him and at his side. She’d been his joy since she took over the body of the clone and became his Wife.  Ares never thought he could be happy with one woman and indeed marrying her had been a spontaneous offer on his part but his big heart almost exploded with elation when she said yes.  Now every night things were as they should have been but never were. She lay in his bed making love to him and sharing her inner thoughts and secrets with him and he with her.  A relationship this close and intimate was something he’d never known and now he wondered how he’d gotten by without it.

“Ares? My Husband?”

Behind him he heard Callestah’s voice. “What are you doing up here? You’re supposed to be resting back at the cabin. You were ill last night I heard you.” He turned around to see her standing there to his eyes she looked a little pale in the fading sunlight.

“I missed you.  It is getting late; will you not come back with me?”  The Lady Callestah held out her small hand to take his very large one. “It’s lonely without you.”

“But the fire is warm and the bed is soft.” He reminded her.  Using his magick it only took him a few hours to assemble the cabin from the materials nearby. Though it was sturdy and warm Ares only considered it to be temporary shelter for the two of them.  Still it was cozy and warmer than being out here in the late day chill she should be there and not here where it was chilly.  “There is plenty of food. Go back and I will join you soon.”

“Why is to important we live in a cave? The home you built is very nice….”

Ares let out a hearty laugh. “Nice? Yes but it is too small and too Spartan for our needs.”

“You promised once the baby comes we will move back to the village…to where everyone is,” she tried to stop from raising her voice but well, he did promise. If he were scouting a cave then he was going to renege. “I want to live in a house like our cabin. I want our child to grow up in a home and not a dark dank cave. Please, Ares. Don’t keep us sequestered this way.”

“What is wrong with you tonight?” He asked with concern. “Where does all of this come from? Callestah, go back and I will be along when I am done. Do this for me you know I worry about you and our baby.”  His big hand gently covered her stomach.  “Rest my Wife there is no need for you to be out here.”

“I think you wander these hills because you miss her.” Callestah said uneasily.  “You want me to go away so that you can pine for her in peace. Do you? Is this what you want? Are you sorry you did not stay with her?”

“No. Some times perhaps I worry about her after all she too carries my child.” Ares admitted knowing it would be of no use to lie to her. “But this does not mean I love you less or that I’m trying to get away from you.” Now he took her hands in his own and brushed his lips over them her little hands were freezing. “You’re cold please go back to the cabin and the fire.”

Callestah ventured out upon an ever thinning branch.  “You know, my Lord, we’ve only Aphrodite’s word that Calla’s baby is yours.” She countered with shining eyes.  “I hate to point out the obvious, Ares, but Calla did have relations with four men in less than a day’s time and you were only one of them. Do not set your hope on this.”

Her words struck him as odd, why would she say Calla had been with four men in less than 24 hours? Surely it was she, Callestah, in his bed that night on the island making love on the beach with the bonfire burning. Certainly the woman had not been Calla, why would she do such a thing? It made no sense not given how much Calla loved Daniel Jackson.  “Why would I set my hope upon a woman and a child that I may never see again?”

At his words she let out an audible sigh. May never, yes that was what he said. He said that he MAY never see not that he WOULD never see them again. “Because, if nothing else, with her child and mine it gives you twice the leverage and twice what’d you’d hoped for even if the distance between them the children is wide.”

Ares stood there thoughtfully gazing down on her and his narrowing upon her upturned yielding face until without warning he smile. “You know me so well yet you still love me?”

“With all my heart and all of your faults.” She returned.  “I know you so please stop trying to fool me.”

Anyone else and he would have lost his temper to be sure but not with her even if she weren’t pregnant. “I shall remember that. You really don’t want to be alone, do you? Why? What is wrong, Callestah? Tell me. These doubts which plague you, tell me, how can I allay them and set your mind to rest?” Ares coaxed but she just shook her head and gave him that pretty little pout of hers until…  “All right, I give. I will come back with you but tomorrow I am getting up early to scout us a new home, agreed?”

Callestah’s sad face lit up with a big warm smile. “Agreed.” She stood up on her tiptoes but had to wait until he bent so that she could kiss him. “I have made for us a fine meal, my Lord.” She looped her arm through him and together they made their way back down the steep hillside. “And then when you are full and happy we can make love until dawn.”

“I knew there was a reason I married you.” Ares huffed proudly and swept her off her feet into his arms to carry her home.

“I thought it was because you love me.” Callestah said coyly.

“Yes that too.” Ares returned with a grin and bent his dark head to kiss her chilly pale lips.  Pulling away from her he shook his head. “You should not be out here it’s too cold. Promise me you will stay inside the cabin now when the sun goes down.”  The planet they were now calling home seemed to be entering its winter cycle the days were shortening rapidly and the temperature dropping with each passing day.  “I want you well and hale.”  So small was she and so big was he that Ares had no problem carrying her in the crook of one arm and now he did just that so that he could caress her small stomach with other hand as he carried her toward home.  “What will I do if something happens to you?”

“What is going to happen to me, my Lord? Nothing.” She reminded him but cuddled against his warmth just the same.  It was nice to be treated like a Goddess. Daniel was very good to Calla but well he could never do this, could he?  “The house my Lord? You did say we would return to the village and be with the others.”

Ares balked at first but knew she required an answer.  “A new cave will be our second home.” He offered. “We are going to have many children and you will need a familiar place to nest when you are pregnant.”

“But not our only home, please, I don’t wish to be so far away from the others all the time.”

“Why? Got those beautiful eyes of yours on Zeus? Or Poseidon perhaps?” He joked. “You know Zeus is very happy with Callisto but I suppose my Uncle could use a good loosening up.”  Lady Callisto had been waiting for them here when they arrived then again she’d been living here on this planet for a long time with Zeus. One night last week, Callestah told Ares all about her adventure with Daniel Jackson in coming to this planet to recover Ares’ Crown and Scepter.  When she spoke of Daniel there was respect and admiration in her voice but it was absent Love and Ares was very glad not to hear it.

Callestah let out a laugh and slapped his arm good-naturedly. “I only have eyes for you, my Lord.”

“It’s not your eyes I’m worried about.” He said with a hearty laugh. “You do know that I love you, don’t you?”

“And I you, my Lord. Only you.” Callestah kissed his fuzzy cheek.

The hillside behind them now the comfortable cabin Ares built came into view along with the smoke rising happily from the chimney stack.  Once inside, just as she’d promise, the warm inviting aroma of bubbling beef stew came to him.  “Did you make bread with that?”

“You know I did.” She teased. “Come, sit and I will serve you.” Callestah pulled out the rugged chair at the head of the rustic table but Ares did not sit. Instead he reached into the fire and took the cook-pot off the hook so that she did not have to lift the heavy item. Ares settled it in the middle of the table. “I could have gotten that.” She chided.

“I am stronger.”

“I am not helpless.” She returned and then suddenly let out a short series of sneezes.

“See? I told you it was too cold out there for you. Let me dote on you, woman, don’t argue with me.” Ares returned and pulled out the chair next to his so that she could sit with him.

“It’s just a little cold.” Callestah protested and took the seat Ares offered her. Their new home was small but cozy it had all of the necessary amenities for an Olympian to live a comfortable life though one day soon he would build for her a palace befitting an Olympian Queen. The thought made her smile.

“You lived with her too long in the Mortal world,” Ares said suddenly and took his own seat. “Olympians do not get colds.” He reminded her. “After our meal I want you to rest.” Bringing the spoon to his firm full lips he took in a big hot mouthful of the stew. “Most delicious.” Ares complimented taking another spoonful.  “Thank you.”

Did he say thank you? “You’re very welcome. It’s still early,” Callestah sighed, “I thought we might take a walk to the cliff and watch the sun go down.”

The spoon almost to his lips again suddenly froze in place as he shook his big dark head and let out a heavier sigh. “What am I to do with you? I said you’re to rest.” Now the spoon finished its journey.

“And I said I wish to watch the sunset with you.” She countered.  “Then we will both get into the bed.” No longer countering but now inviting.

The cliff wasn’t far and he could carry her if he wanted, she did seem to like that anyway. If he brought a blanket then she wouldn’t be terribly cold and they could watch the sun go down. “Afterward, promise, you will get into the bed.”

“If you promise the same.” Callestah said and batted her eyelashes at him. “Please, my Lord?”

Now that sigh became a grunt. “How can I say no?” Ares picked up her small hand and kissed it.  “But not long, agreed?”

“Yes, my Lord agreed.  Have you heard from Daniel today?”

“No.” He grunted dismayed that the Stargate had not opened in several days though he tried not to concern himself with the problems of the Mortals back on Earth.  Still, it was hard not to since Calla may well be pregnant with his child.  “Are you ready to go and look at that sunset, my love?”  Ares stood up not wanting to discuss Jackson or Calla any more today.  Holding his arm out to her Callestah took it and rose from the table to grab a nearby basket as they headed out the door. She handed it to him to carry. “What is this?” Ares asked.

“There’s a lovely field of flowers on the way to the Cliffside, I thought I would pick some and put them in that basket.” She explained sweetly.

“I see and you thought I would carry it for you.”

“If you don’t mind.” She cooed at him with a smile as she slipped a cloak about her shoulders and they left the cabin.

“For you? Anything.” Ares said as they walked arm-in-arm around the cabin and toward the Cliffside where they would rest a while and watch the sun go down.  On the way she picked flowers and he held the basket until it was full and she was contented with her new treasure trove of floral delights.   Sitting in the tall grass with one around her slender shoulders and the other hand resting on her belly Ares pulled her in close and listened to the strangest sound as he watched the colors of dusk ignite the coming night sky.  The steady bump-thump-bump he heard was the beating of his own massive heart.  Now it beat with a purpose that was no longer to War but to protect and to give to the woman at his side and the baby within her.  The God of War had a new lease on life and he wasn’t about to trade it for anyone or anything.

They sat side by side wrapped up in each others and bodies until well after the sun went down and the stars began to sparkle in the black sky.  Before the day cooled off completely and gave over to night she looked up at him with wanton eyes and they made love among the tall grass and flowers.

End Of True Colors: Ares & Callestah A Love Story
By Moon Mistress
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Faded Rose