Title: Forgiveness
Author: A. Welshman
Rating: R (for theme, language, child abuse, implied child rape)
Fandom: Xena/Hercules
Category: WIP, Angst, Slash
Paring: H/I (implied, but not main), A/J (pre-slash)
Feedback: on list or at [email protected]
Archiving: list archives, or ask at [email protected]
Notes: sequel to "Joxer Loves"
Summary: Ares learns a lesson about one of his followers.
Author Notes: '' - thoughts [] - memories & visions
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: As much as I wish these'uns were mine, they're not. They belong to their respective creators and productions companies. I'm just borrowing.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Notes
~~Part 1~~

"No."

"Hades, you *will* give him to me!"

"No."

"He's mine! I will destroy you if you don't give him to me!"

"No."

"You can't keep me from one of my followers, Hades! Give him to me *NOW*!"

"No, Ares. He's one of my subjects now, not yours, and I specifically granted him my protection. Go away. You are never going to *see*, much less *speak* with Joxer."

"This isn't over, Hades!"

"It never is with you, Ares. Now go."

FLASH

******

**Three days ago**

FLASH

The two women, one dark and one light, stop in the dirt path as a cloud of pink and red sparkles heralds the appearance of a goddess before them.

"Hey you two, where's my Joxie? I need to have him do a little favor for me."

Glancing at each other, the larger, dark-haired woman replies "We haven't seen him since we were in Ithaca a few weeks ago with Hercules and Iolaus. Maybe he's with them, Aphrodite."

"Hmph! Well, if you run across him before I do, tell him to send a prayer my way. I really do need him soon."

FLASH

Staring at the fading sparkles that marked where the goddess had stood, the blonde woman confusedly asks "Um, Xena? I thought that the Gods could find anyone they wanted to find instantly. Why is she *looking* for him?"

"I don't know, Gabby. That's how I thought it worked, but maybe Ares was lying to me about that, too. I wonder if Joxer will be able to do what Aphrodite wants?" replies the warrior in a mildly worried tone.

Now becoming angry, the bard begins to rant in a screeching voice. "Are you kidding? It's *Joxer*! Of course he'll screw up whatever it is. *I* just hope that whatever she wants with him doesn't rebound on *us*! Tartarus, he's not even *here* and he's managed to get us mixed up with the gods again! If we find him, I'll pray to Aphrodite *myself*, and I hope that she *keeps* him!"

******

FLASH

"Hey Herc, hey Studmuffin. Are you two hiding my Joxie anywhere around here?"

With a small (and surprisingly feminine) "eep!" the larger of the two men scrambles out of their shared bed and tries to pull on some pants. The smaller man just scoots up against the wall and shakes his head at his lover.

"Y'know, Hercules, it's not like this is the first time she's ever seen naked men, and it's not like you've never been naked in front of a woman before. Calm down and get back in bed."

Hearing this, the buxom goddess squeals and bounces before the men's quickly glazing eyes. "Ooh, I always KNEW you were a good match for Herkie! Lemme know when you two wanna get hitched and I'll get you something nice, 'kay Curly?"

Laughing, Iolaus gets out of bed naked and walks over to hug the taller man. "Will do, Aphrodite. And now that I have your blessing, maybe I can get him to finally commit!"

Blushing furiously, Hercules, only half-dressed, hides his naked, laughing lover behind him and challenges the goddess. "What do you want, Aphrodite? I don't like being woken up in the middle of the night!"

Eyes scanning the room, and becoming peeved at what she's *not* seeing, Aphrodite replies "First of all, I'm a goddess while you're a demi-god. Don't take that tone with me unless you wanna hurt badly and for a long time. Second of all, it's an hour past dawn. You two must've been doing some rather strenuous... work if you hadn't already noticed what time it is. Thirdly, I already told you what I want. I want you to tell me where my Joxie is. I need him to do something for me and Xena said that he was with you."

Peeking over Hercules' shoulder, Iolaus says "Sorry, 'Dite. We haven't seen Joxer since we last saw Xena and Gabby in Ithaca. We thought he was still traveling with them. Why haven't you gone straight to him?"

"Well, Tartarus! I can't go straight to him because I can't *find* him! It's like someone's blocking him or he's not in Greece or something!" replied the now pissed off goddess. "If you find him before I do, tell him to give me a quick prayer. Thanks, Curly."

FLASH

******

FLASH

Appearing in a cloud of now mostly red sparkles, Aphrodite stamps around the main audience room of her Olympian Temple before calling out.

"CUPID!"

FLASH

White feathers twinkle away as the youthful God of Love appears before his mother.

"Yes, mom?"

Still pacing back and forth, Aphrodite says "I went to ask Joxie for a favor, and I can't *find* him! And none of the Freaky Foursome have seen him in *weeks*! The last place they saw him was Ithaca, but I don't want to just demand that the city hand him over since I need him to be low profile for my little job!"

Somewhat bemused at the sight of his mother getting this worked up over a *mortal*, Cupid replies, "Have you asked this mortal's patron god or goddess? If he's hidden under divine protection, that would explain why you can't find him."

"He's dedicated to Ares, and you *know* that your father doesn't pay attention to his worshipers unless they're warlords or assassins or mercenary leaders!" snaps the irate love goddess. "Maybe he claimed sanctuary in one of Ares' protected temples. One of them *is* in Ithaca, but I don't think that Ares' priests would let him stay."

FLASH

'Hmm, where have I heard that name before? Joxie, Joxie... it's just so *familiar*. I think I need to investigate this myself."

FLASH

As the divine presences fade, the temple seems to dim and grow cold, as if the ever-present light was slowly dying.

~~Part 2~~

**A few hours later**

"...please."

"What?"

"Please, Hades. I *must* talk with him."

(sigh) "I'm sorry, Ares. The answer is still 'no'. In my divine capacity, I promised to protect him from those who had hurt him. You are definitely in that catego-"

"I KNOW THAT! WHY DO YOU THINK I'M HERE?!"

"..."

"...I'm sorry, Hades. It's just that I *have* to talk with him. Just once. And if you refuse me access to him forever from then on, I won't fight it. But please, *please* let me speak with him."

"Tell me why. Why do you need to talk with Joxer? Why should I believe you? Why should I let you see him? Why, Ares?"

******

**Two days ago**

FLASH

"MOM!"

The blond God of Love stands in his mother's private workroom, trembling and worried, his wings half-extended and nervously flapping.

"MOM! Where are you?!"

"I'm right here, honey," replies Aphrodite in a weary, tired tone. "What's the matter?"

"I thought that name you told me, Joxie, sounded familiar, so I looked through my 'Important Love Matches' list and my 'Puppy Love' list and *all* my love lists, and I couldn't find him, which is weird since *everyone's* on at least *one* of my lists unless they never fall in love, and that's really rare, and I still couldn't figure out how I knew his name, and I remembered that his name is really Joxer, so I went to the Halls of Time and looked at his past and saw his mother and his grandmother and oh *Zeus*, how could I not know it, he's my *grandson* and now I'm really worried 'cause if you can't find him and I can't find him, and I *tried*, and we're *related* to him, then there must be something really, really wrong, and I'm going out of my mind with worry! Please, Ma, please tell me you found him!" babbles Cupid in a rapid-fire stream, as he paces back and forth in front of his mother before grabbing her arms as he finishes.

Hearing his only semi-coherent ramble, and realizing the import of his revelations, Aphrodite sags into her son's grip as she starts crying. "Oh no. Oh Zeus, no. I know where he is, my son. Asphodel."

As Cupid gasps in stunned horror, Aphrodite continues, "I went to Ares' protected temple in Ithaca yesterday, and found a beggar outside who told me that he had heard that 'Lord Ares' had personally killed some 'insolent worshipper' a few weeks ago. I captured one of the temple custodians and forced him to tell me what really happened. And it was true." Her voice breaking with sorrow and grief, she whispers "Your father killed Joxer, my Studmuffin, my Joxie. He killed your grandson, my great-grandson, *his* great-grandson! They didn't even burn his body as a loyal follower of Ares! They just threw it into a mass grave with beggars, paupers and thieves!"

As her anger rises, Aphrodite's eyes begin to flash, and Cupid is reminded that his mother is indeed a daughter of Cronos and goddess of one of the fundamental drives of the universe. He leads her to a nearby couch and seats her, then decides to stand back a little as the anger and rage roll off the incarnation of love.

"So what now, Mom? I want to see him, but I don't know if Hades would let me, plus I don't know if the best time to meet your family is after you've died."

Not really listening to her son, Aphrodite suddenly straightens and becomes very still as she looks through Cupid. In a frighteningly quiet and level voice, she says, "He did kill one of my favorites, didn't he. And that *particular* mortal happened to be a descendant of his, one of his kin. I think that it's time that Ares learned a little lesson. Yes, it's high time. Excuse me, Cupid."

With that, Aphrodite brushes aside her son and strides out of her workroom into the Temple of Love's main audience chamber. With her son trailing behind her, she opens the main temple doors. Standing within the doorway, Aphrodite calls out in a weirdly echoing voice.

"Alecto! Megaera! Tisiphone! O Erinyes, daughters of the blood of Uranus! I, Aphrodite, daughter of the blood of Cronos call you that you may work your vengeance on one who has wronged me! One who has wronged my kin! One who has taken a kinsman's life!"

Stepping back from the open doors, Aphrodite joins the gaping and fearful Cupid as three winged women fly into view and hover outside the temple. They carry scourges and flails, with nails as sharp as claws and dripping blood. They have empty sockets instead of eyes, and their wings are scaled and patterned in disturbing designs.

The middle one, whose wild hair is as black as night, faces Aphrodite as speaks in a voice that hints at ceaseless madness. "O daughter of Cronos, why have we three been called?"

The left one, whose tangled nest of hair is the color of clotting blood, speaks in a voice of rage and terror. "O Goddess of Lasting Love, whose sins shall we three call to account?"

The right one, whose hair whips around her head in a cloud the color of rotting cream speaks in a voice of implacable hatred. "O beautiful one, what vengeance would you have we three wreak?"

With bowed head, Aphrodite replies, "Ares, my lover, has killed the grandson of our son. Ares, the God of War, has refused to honor a true worshiper as a warrior. Ares, son of my brother Zeus, has committed sins both mortal and divine against his blood. I ask that fitting vengeance be wrought."

As Aphrodite finishes her accusation, the three Furies intone in a single voice. "So accused, so judged, so found guilty! Ares shall be tormented until he has received forgiveness from the wronged, from the never-living god, and from himself!"

As they finish, the three speed towards the mortal realm in a heartbeat, leaving in their wake a clinging sense of terror, rage, hatred and madness.

~~Part 3~~

"The Furies have cursed me."

"...Well, I assume that this has something to do with Joxer, Ares. You wouldn't be this desperate unless he could help remove the curse, but I still don't see why I should care."

"He's Cupid's grandson, Hades. Nobody knew until Cupid did some research after Joxer di- after I killed Joxer. Aphrodite was so mad that I killed one of her favorite mortals, who turned out to be a blood relative, that she sent the Eumenides after me."

"I still don't care, Ares. You haven't told me *why* I should let you see Joxer."

"Part of the terms I must fulfill to remove the curse is to receive Joxer's forgiveness for my treatment of him. But after a day of this curse, I don't know if he'll give it to me. Or if I deserve it if he does."

**One day ago**

Dawn is fast approaching, and Ares is beginning a war.

He strides through a military camp, walking towards a large tent where this army's general is going over early reports about his opponent's placements. Normally, Ares would just flash into the command tent, but he wanted to invisibly review the readiness of the army before today's battle. Grudgingly satisfied by the *barely* acceptable state of the army, he continues on his way.

Becoming visible just as he reaches the tent, Ares ignores the guards on duty as he opens the entry flap. He's about to step inside when one of the guardsmen suddenly places his sword across Ares' throat. Surprised by the man's colossal stupidity, Ares pauses long enough to hear the man begin to speak. "Nobody goes inside without permis-"

A fireball consumes the man, leaving a smoldering streak of greasy ashes. Ares pushes inside the tent as the remaining guard falls to his knees and vomits from the sight of the incineration of his shield-mate.

Leaving the retching man outside, Ares enters the tent, where all eyes are turned towards him. A well-muscled, gray-haired man in a brass breastplate is sitting next to a paper-strewn table, while a smaller, wiry man in light leather armor holds down the corner of a map.

"Lord Ares!" exclaims the older man as he gets up from the table and moves around it to join the scout in genuflection before the god. "We are greatly honored by your presence. How may we serve you, my Lord?"

"However I command you, General Marius," Ares says. "The Thracians have formed a weak alliance with local bandits and are currently sneaking small squads around your defenses. They plan to attack your supply train this evening while you're distracted by a false frontal attack. When you receive word that the frontal attack has begun, only send about a third of your forces. That will be enough. Send everyone else to defend the supply train. Take no prisoners from the ones attacking the train. I want the Thracians to be unsure about their skirmishers. After you've done that, advance to the valley three miles to the southeast. It's the most defensible place nearby. And kill your scout here; he should have brought you news about the bandit alliance by now, if nothing else."

Looking up from the floor in shock at the last sentence, the scout is stunned long enough for the general to grab a dagger of the table and stab it through the man's neck, severing most of the arteries. As the lifeblood pumps out onto the dirt floor of the tent, Ares' eyes briefly glow in pleasure at Marius' immediate, unthinking obedience. 'I need to see about putting him on the throne somewhere near the northern borders. Maybe Larisa or Gyrton; both have fairly weak rulers, and I want another city dedicated to me up ther-'

Ares' musings on his plans for the general are cut short as Eos' gentle fingers breach the night, preparing the world for the daily passage of Helios, charioteer of Apollo. For today, Eos heralds not just the coming of the day, but also the coming of the Erinyes. They sweep down from Olympus, tearing through the flimsy tent, and carry Ares off into the sky.

Ares tries to tear himself free from their fearsome grip, but in unsuccessful before he is dropped onto the stony plain now below him. Before he has even finished standing, Ares bellows, "What is the meaning of this?! Where have you taken me?"

In a unified, horribly screeching voice the three faces of vengeance scream at Ares as they fly in quick circles around him. "You have sinned, o Ares, and now you are to be punished. We will come for you wherever you are three times every day until you have received forgiveness. Once from the mortal dead, once from the godhood ignored, and once from the godhood defiled."

As they pronounce their judgment, the Furies circle closer and faster until they form a seemingly solid ring around Ares, their scaly wings painfully slicing into him. With each slice, Ares experiences horrific pain. With each wound, Ares is able to more clearly see a scene from another's life, and more clearly feel rising terror and violation, mixed with a sickly sense of adoration and love. Finally Ares is completely unaware of the outside world as he directly experiences part of someone else's life.

[The pain and heat is unimaginable, worse than anything he has felt before. He was crying before, but now he wails. The sound emerging from his throat is inhuman and full of terror.

"Shut up, you stupid little brat!" a woman hisses as she slaps him across the face. Ares was so distracted by the pain that he hadn't noticed her. She appears to be in her late twenties, with a thick mass of brown hair and a vicious snarl twisting her face. Ares tries to form a fireball to blast her, but instead stops crying and begin to sniffle while she continues.

"The only reason you weren't left for the wolves is because of me! You can by the Gods act grateful!" With that, the tall woman yanks Ares from the ground and flings him into a small, dark closet before slamming the door and latching it shut.

Unable to stop himself, Ares continues to whimper and rock back and forth as he cradles the burnt hand. 'Oh gods! She stuck it into a pot of boiling water! But why the hell does it hurt so much?!' As if on cue, Ares overhears someone talking. No, not talking, *thinking*!

'myfault,mamaloveme,myfault,mamaloveme,myfault,mamaloveme' over and over and over.

'Tartarus! I'm inside someone else's head and powerless!' realizes Ares. 'But still, what did this... kid do to deserve that?'

Searching through the child's short memory, Ares finds that the three year old was being punished for peeing the bed while he slept. 'Fuck! The kid's only three! Of course he still pisses his bed occasionally! As soon as I get my powers back, I'm going to find this kid's parents and teach them a *lesson*. Hurting the God of War, even if you don't know it, is a bad, *bad* idea. ...Well, at least it's only throbbing now. I wonder how long I'll-']

[He's sore all over and can feel a few individual bruises on his back. Ares is lying on a small pallet, and finds himself once again a powerless, silent passenger inside someone else's thoughts. He hears heavy steps coming down a nearby hallway, and his body tenses and curls towards the wall. The door into the small room smashes open as the feeble candlelight of the hallway illuminates the silhouette of a large man.

The bulky man tromps over to the pallet as he works as the laces on his breeches. "On your belly, slut. The bitch that whelped you is upset that I dedicated you to Ares, so you get to take her place."

Finished with his breeches, the man spits onto his cock as he lowers himself onto Ares' back. "I don't know why I even bothered. It's not as if you'll be anything more than a camp whore anyway. You should be glad that I'm training you so good."

Surprised at the careless hatred the man is showing towards his victim, Ares is stunned by the feelings of helplessness and twisted love that rise within his host's mind as he hears a child's voice say, "I am, father."]

Vision after vision pass through Ares as he falls to the ground and writhes in torment. He doesn't know how this mortal was able to endure such lifelong torture from family, supposed friends and complete strangers. It seems like Joxer (Ares had picked up his host's name somewhere along the way) has been humiliated and abused by every being except the gods. Ares is about to pass out from what he has already experienced when a *familiar* scene appears before him.

[Joxer walks into the black stone edifice and Ares gives an internal start as he recognizes his temple in Ithaca. It looks different to a mortal's sight, but that may be due to his host's increasingly defective eyes.

There is a black and red clad novitiate lighting candles along the wall as dusk dims the light streaming though the temple doors. Joxer quietly walks up to the black altar standing below the effigy of Ares and places some food and flowers on the altar. A sickly-looking rabbit haunch lies next to a small piece of hard bread, both framed by some small, weedy purple flowers.

Ares feels Joxer kneel before his offering and hears him pray, both audibly and mentally. "Lord Ares, my God, please accept this humble offering and let me become worthy of your service."

Ares is touched by the heartfelt worship, adoration and gentle love that he feels behind the prayer, and is therefore startled when a brief, bright cloud of blood-red sparks surrounds his effigy to reveal... *himself*!

Ares suddenly remembers the incident, and collapses into himself as he finally understands the reason for his punishment. For the first time since this began, Ares doesn't try to withdraw from the physical pain and mental anguish radiating from his host as he relives Joxer's death, from the other side.

As he feels Joxer slide into unconsciousness and death, Ares is ashamed by the continuous feelings of love he feels directed towards the other him.]


~~Part 4~~
"What is the curse, Ares?"
"I directly experience the worst, most tortuous, most painful parts of his life. The Eumenides have come for me five times now: dawn, midday, and dusk every day. It's been slightly different each time; new snippets of horror appear or I notice new details, but it always ends with my killing him."
"Then it sounds as if you are being punished appropriately and completely in style for the Eumenides."
"You don't understand! The pain, as bad as it is, isn't the worst part! He loves them! Everyone who tortured him, everyone who hit him or beat him or raped him! Everyone who screamed at him or belittled him! He *loved* them! And even *I* could tell that it was foul and twisted. His capacity for love is endless, but he didn't seem to understand that what was happening to him wasn't love. It wasn't even *like*; at best he was tolerated. At this point, I just want-"
"...You want what, Ares? Tell me honestly."
"...I want to know that he's okay. That he's honestly, truly loved. I want to get rid of the curse, of course, but if breaking it would mean that he was hurt again, I won't do it, Hades."
"...Very well. I will allow you to speak with Joxer, Ares, but there is something you must know first. Follow me and I will lead you to Joxer and Joxie."
"Who's Joxie?"
"He is a significant part of what you need to know."
******
The two gods walk through the Elysian Fields, approaching a small, secluded glade. Just before they pass through the first line of trees, Hades stops and turns to Ares, saying, "...and that is how Joxie is involved in this mess of yours. Based on what you have told me about the wording of the curse and on what Hecate has determined about him, I suspect that you will also need to receive forgiveness from Joxie. Wait here while I inform them of your visit."
Leaving Ares behind, Hades walks into the protected clearing. The scene he finds does not surprise him, and is why he entered before Ares. Sitting beside a small stream with their feet dangling in it are the mortal shade, Joxer, the sleepy-looking child, Joxie, and Hades' son, the dead god Strife. Joxer is babbling about some inconsequential topic to Strife, who inserts the occasional sardonic comment as they both pick morsels out of the pile of fruits, nuts, and berries lying between them. Joxie sits between Joxer's legs paying scant attention to the conversation of the adults while watching the stream, enraptured by the small fish swimming in it.
Hades clears his throat to announce his presence. Strife and Joxer look over at the dark god, and Strife calls out, "Hey, Pops! Jox heah was tellin' me 'bout some ah tha shit that Xeen an' Tha Bitch That Tried Ta Sing got inta when none ah us were payin' attention. Wanna join?"
Hades gives his son a small smile as he offers him a hand up from the bank. "While it would be enjoyable, I must decline, my son. Joxer and Joxie have a guest, and I believe they would appreciate some privacy."
Now turning and offering a hand to Joxer, Hades continues, "My nephew Ares has come to discuss something with you, Joxer, but you need not speak with him if you wish. Nor need you continue any discussion you do not wish to. I will honor and enforce your wishes in this matter."
Upon hearing Hades' words, Strife gapes in shock at his father. It was unheard of for a god, much less the Ruler of the Underworld, to offer such a promise to any mortal, alive or dead. Joxer, unaware of the shocked look upon his friend behind him, bows as well as he can while carrying a small child, and thanks Hades. "Thank you for your offer, Lord Hades. If Lord Ares wants to see me, I won't stop him."
Hades nods, and motions to Strife. "Please go and bring forth your uncle, my son. He currently waits beyond the tree-line." Turning to Joxer, Hades continues, "If you wish him to leave, Joxer, call my name and I will appear." With that, Hades fades away amidst a cloud of black and gold sparkles, only to reappear unseen behind to tree-line. No matter what may have been said, Hades doesn't fully trust his nephew and wants to remain close, just in case.
Strife reappears, leading Ares through the trees, and gestures towards Joxer and Joxie. "Be careful, Unc. I don't know what shit you're up ta, but Pops really likes both ah them. So do I. 'Tween us, we can make your life... diffahcult."
Snorting a bitter laugh, Ares replies, "It's too late for that, Strife, but I appreciate the sentiment. I'm glad to see that you're not any less violent or bloodthirsty for being dead."
Strife smirks and watches as his uncle walks towards the mortal shade and his charge. Shaking his head slightly, he then returns through the trees to stand beside his father. "Why're ya lettin' him do this, Pops? He's tha one that killed Joxer in tha first place!"
"I know, my son, but Ares actually seems regretful over his actions and I think that he honestly wants to make reparations. Also, I believe that he might be able to put Joxie in his proper office. If that occurs, Joxer will necessarily have to follow, and I believe that both will be happier, *truly* happy."
Absently fiddling with the earrings on one ear, Strife scowls at his uncle's receding back. "If ya say so, Pops, but I still want ta keep an eye on 'em."
****
Joxer holds the suddenly squirmy child in a loose grip on his lap as he watches his former patron god approach. He still loves Ares, of course, but the feeling is muted, as are all mortal emotions in the Underworld. Ares seems... off, though, and this kindles some worry for the god's well-being in Joxer's mind.
Joxer clambers to his feet, keeping the wriggling boy held against his chest, then bows as Ares comes within speaking range. "Hail, Lord Ares. What is your pleasure?"
Ares comes to a stop and regards the duo before him for a moment. "I merely wish to speak with you, Joxer. Both of you, actually, if Joxie will speak with me. But please, sit and relax. I require no titles at this time and in this place."
At the mention of his name, the child stills and cranes his head to get a good look at the dark god. His gaze is steady and discomfiting to the god, and Ares shivers as Hades' words return to him.
["Hecate believes that Joxie is the divine portion of Joxer's birthright, passed down from Cupid. When his life became increasingly brutal at such a very young age, Joxer somehow segregated it from the rest of his mind as protection for it. As the years passed and the segregation became stronger, his small divine essence became a separate personality, although a dormant one. This would normally not have affected his post-mortem soul, but because the division was mainly along the mortal/divine boundaries, his soul actually split upon death. The split resulted in Joxer, the mortal man he was before, and Joxie, the divine child who is not but could have been a god. Hecate further believes that removing them from each other's presence would be a monstrously bad idea, possibly resulting in the destruction of their conjoined soul."]
"Do you know who Joxie is, Joxer?"
As Joxer opens his mouth to reply, Joxie suddenly speaks. The high timbre of his voice is at startling odds with the serious tone and content of his speech. "I know who and what I am, Ares. I know what should and should not have been. I know why you are here, and I know that I bear no love for you, God of War. Joxer may grant your request out of his love for you, but I will not."
Stunned by this, the first he has heard Joxie speak, it takes Joxer a moment to realize what was said. Turning a confused face to the equally stunned god, Joxer asks, "What does he mean, Lord Ares? What have you come to ask me?"
Sighing, for this was *not* how he had intended to broach the subject, Ares replies, "I wanted to beg your forgiveness, Joxer. I did not know of Joxie until I arrived here and Hades told me, but I want to beg his forgiveness as well."
"Forgiveness? For what?"
"For the way I hurt and killed you, and for the dishonorable manner in which I had your corpse treated."
"I don't understand, Lord Ares. You didn't hurt me; you loved me. I cannot forgive you for loving me."
Once again, Joxie speaks, now with a bitter smile sitting strangely upon his child's lips. "And that, Ares, is why you will not be released from your just curse. Joxer cannot recognize why you desire forgiveness, and so cannot grant truly it. I believe that while contrite, you have not earned my forgiveness."
"And what need I do in order to earn your forgiveness, child," states Ares in a gravelly voice that hints at his rising anger and frustration.
"Bring us back, of course."

**Author's Mythology Notes**
The Erinyes ("The Furious Ones" or Furies) were born of the blood spilled upon the earth when Cronos castrated and killed his father Uranus. Although they punished all sins in later Greek/Roman mythology, originally they only punished sins against the gods, including matricide, patricide, and generally killing family members. They were often referred to as the Eumenides ("The Kindly Ones") so as not to attract their unwelcome attention. Aphrodite was born of the blood spilled upon the sea when Zeus castrated and killed his father Cronos. This *technically* makes her sister to Zeus, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, et al, although she is generally treated as a daughter of Zeus.