The Icing on the Cake

Thank you, my dear friend, for another wonderful birthday story - Kendaa

From the Annals of Bastet

The dark God of War glowered at his brother sitting across the table. Apollo smiled back, smug in the realization that he was the favored one and his warlike sibling was the outcast. Even now after all the Ares had done to prove himself, nothing changed.

Hera sat up on the throne at the head of the Olympian table, gazing from god to god and scheming. Ares could see it in her eyes. The wheels of cunning turned, they never ceased. Beside her was the King of the Heavens, the lightening thrower himself, Zeus. It was a source of unending amazement to Ares that this old man still held such power over him. He cringed at the thought of the things that he had done to gain Zeus' favor and the destruction that he had wrought when that favor didn't come. Even now, Ares could feel his face flush at the memories of his embarrassing actions and yet, he still had the desire to get his father's attention.

The War God was deep in thought when he heard his name. He looked up to find Athena standing by his chair, nudging him.

"Will you be at the hunt today?" she said, her eyes flashing with excitement. "We're going to stalk one of Hades' beasts in the mists of upper Tartarus. Darling Apollo is even going to grace us with his magnificent presence." The goddess knew this would raise the competitive hackles on her brother.

Ares smiled and began to agree; then a feeling came over him that he was forgetting something. He stopped before the words came to his lips and he laughed under his breath. "Thank you but no, you all will have to do without me." He thought he saw relief in some of the faces at the table as he turned down the offer, but Athena pouted.

"What could be more important than a day of filial bonding?" she asked. She ran her fingers through his black hair. The motion was so uncharacteristic that Ares frowned and others around the table began to whisper.

The War God looked up at her, pulling away. He was beginning to feel that she was toying with him. He stood up suddenly, making others at the table jump. Athena stepped aside.

Ares walked past her, leaning close as he did. "You're the Goddess of Wisdom, it's not wise to provoke me," he said quietly. He made his way out past the diners as they twittered and laughed.

Zeus looked up from his meal and the beautiful young Hebe who was serving him another cup of wine. "Where are you going, Ares?" he said. "Stay with the group. I want all the Olympians here tonight."

The War God stopped at the door and turned around. 'Is it so difficult to call me your son?' was his first thought but he locked his jaws in tense patience. This would only provoke a diatribe on the great pressures of being the King of the Gods and the many wounds that Ares had heaped upon the honor of Olympus. Ares could play out the whole scenario in his head now without assistance. He had finally learned not to pout and rant like a child. Perhaps this was maturity. He looked up at his father, taking a deep breath and straightening his shoulders.

"Sire," he said calmly, "I have an errand to run. I'll return shortly."

Zeus looked pleased. He had gotten his way. Ares turned and left knowing that he would not return and that he would not be missed.

The great throne room of the Fortress of War was lit only by the light of the moon through the sky window and the flames of the braziers that burned at the foot of the dais to the throne. On the backless throne, the God of War sat in silence now. He felt humiliated. Despite this he began to laugh at himself and the complex intrigues of the so-called gods. He thought the events of the evening and played out scenes of retribution, flight, and submission in his mind then he heard a noise in the back of the room and his mind cleared. He focused on his environment. He put his god senses aside and practiced the animal skills of the predator within him.

A tall man emerged from the shadows. Ares smiled. "Skulking about again?" he asked.

Agony, known once as the Sovereign, smiled back. "I've raped all your women and killed all your warriors. There's nothing left for me here, my work is done," he said, approaching the throne with arms outstretched to emphasize his point.

Ares snorted, laughing. "Is that supposed to be your idea of humor?"

Agony frowned and sat down on the stairs of the dais, stretching out and resting on one elbow. "It used to be my idea of reality. I must have been a shit load of fun to have around."

Ares took a deep breath and looked around the room. "I have the strangest feeling that I am forgetting something important." His jaw tensed in thought. He sent out his god senses throughout the world of mortal men. Wars were being fought, brave men died as well as cowards. Lands changed hands by the swords of conquerors. Armies were on the march. The feeling should have been exhilarating but it wasn't what he was looking for. Something else troubled him. He looked down at Agony, looking up at him now.

Agony raised his eyebrows in question. "What?"

"I'm missing something," Ares replied.

"It's not about war?" Agony asked.

"No, I don't think so," the War God replied.

"Then it must be about love," Agony answered.

Ares stared down at the man; his face dawning an expression of surprise. "Kendaa! It's her birthday!" he gasped. His form vanished in a flash of light.

Agony laughed under his breath as he looked around, alone now. "Even I know that," he said quietly. "Some chosen one you are."

"Now, the signal is when Lessa comes in. She's going to come in ahead of them and then Kendaa will be on her way. Calico is going to bring her in," Lyrical said to the others. Young faces smiled up at her. All the younger Amazons had planned the surprise birthday party for their Champion and teacher. The plans had been going on for weeks. It was a relief from the drills and patrols.

Many of the troopers were away right now on mission up in the North and the sister soldiers who were in residence were aware that the Nation was poorly guarded at this time. Forum members had taken this opportunity to use the younger Amazons, some not more than ten, to fill out their numbers. It was a good chance to teach them outside the battlefield. Many generations of Amazons had learned their trade under the harsh tutelage of war itself.

Lyrical had been asked to do all the cooking. She had been helping the girls to plan the menu and learn to save what food had to be kept for the banquet. This was a good lesson in discipline. It was winter and the harvest this year had been poor so all the women were conserving. The stores had to last until the spring. Even so, Lyrical had managed to prepare a feast of delights. The girls giggled with excitement as they put the finishing touches on the decorations they had made in the mess hall. Dried flowers and leaves had been fashioned into garlands. The youngsters had made clever use of the armaments to decorate. Shields had been painted with bright colors; staves had been propped up and draped with bolts of cloth. It was a mixture of the artful and the absurd as Lyrical looked around.

She went to the kitchen and got the last of the feast. This afternoon, she had spent three hours baking a cake and making icing for it. She brought out the cake and laid it in the middle of the table among the other confections. She frowned, a little sad. She had wanted to make it a bit more garnished. Lessa walked through the mess hall doors.

The girls giggle and began to hide. Lyrical picked up the cake quickly and went back to the kitchen to hide. She could hear a silence and then "surprise" in the other room as the Amazon Champion was greeted. Lyrical smiled as she heard laughter and clapping. Parties brought out the best in the Amazons. She looked back at the cake on the kitchen table.

"You need something," she said quietly to the dessert. "You need something to dress you up."

Suddenly a flash illuminated the room. There towering over her and the cake before her was the great God of War standing on the table, straddling the little dessert.

"Well, I was thinking more along the lines of candy or flowers," Lyrical said staring up at the dark lord.

Ares smiled. "She doesn't go in much for candy or flowers," he replied, crossing his arms for emphasis as he looked down.

"Well, now it really looks very plain and small," she replied, thinking of the confections that must be available in the halls of Olympus.

Ares jumped down from the table to stand next to the Amazon and her creation. He swept one finger across the icing at the bottom of the plate and licked it off, smiling. "It's perfect."

He swept past her into the mess hall. As he entered the room, young women gasped and giggled, whispering and blushing at the entrance of the God of War. Kendaa turned and looked at her Chosen as he strode up to her.

"Happy birthday, my love," he said as he kissed her gently.