Chapter 9

Octavius shifted his weight from one leg to another as he looked down at Emilia. She crooked a finger at him and started towards an alternate entrance. The main entrance was covered with flowers of different colors but this one was without the decorations and no one used it but a priest who stood there with his hand tucked into the folds of his cloak. On his forehead, he had a black dye dot at the center.

Emilia approached him and whispered. He shook his head looking from her hooded figure to Octavius and tilted his head indicating they should follow him. He led them to an alcove where a tray with two jars of honey and baked pastries covered with crumbs of sugar laid for everyone knew Psagon, the Intavia god of love had a sweet tooth.

"My lady, you requested for these," the priest said. He picked the tray and handed it to Emilia, reached over to Octavius with outstretched hands, took his hands in his, and led it to the tray in Emilia's. "Lovers who seek favor from Psagon have to present their sacrifices together for only then will the god be compelled to accept their offerings." He stepped back and bowed low "You may both go in for the temple must be empty now. May Psagon the god of love answer your prayers."

Emilia patted his hand. She and Octavius moved to the now empty temple where the statue of the handsome, lean-muscled god who had naught but a loincloth hanging loose around his hips, In his hand was a fresh sprig that held one single bud of a flower. At his feet lay flowers and jars of honey left behind by those who had come to seek his favor.

Emilia and Octavius walked to the statue and knelt before him. From behind them, they heard the priest close the doors to the temple to give them privacy. Emilia lit the lamps at either side of the god and placed their offering in-between his feet. She touched the cold feet of the statue and indicated that Octavius do the same for this was the only way they could bring the presence of the god before them. The cold feet of the statue started to get warm underneath their fingers, the sandaled toes moved as they came to live. Emilia and Octavius moved back and watched as the cold stone statue took on a smooth creamy color that started at the legs up to his chiseled handsome face. Psagon's blue eyes came alive, his full bow-shaped lips twitched at the sight before him for there was nothing he loved more than the presence of young lovers willing to do anything to save their love. The hand holding the sprig came to rest on his naked torso and he folded his beautifully shaped legs under him.

"Mortals, what can I do for you?"

Emilia dropped her cowl "Psagon, god of love we seek your favor for our love is being threatened. I Princess Emilia have been promised to Helos, my father's commander's son but my heart lies here with my love, Octavius of Camelorn"

Psagon turned his attention to Octavius. "Lower your cowl," he commanded. Octavius complied. Psagon smiled. He appreciated beauty as much as he appreciated love and the prince of Camelorn was beautiful in every sense of the word. His beauty rivaled those of the gods. "Octavius of Camelorn," he said slowly wishing he could ask him to take off his cloak so he could see the rest of him.

"Do you love Emilia of Intavia?"

"Yes, I do my lord," Octavius replied.

'Emilia, do you love Octavius of Camelorn?"

"Yes, my lord"

Psagon sighed for he could see the sincerity in their eyes. What a shame they were so true to each other. He looked at Octavius again and slowly appreciated his beauty that was so uncharacteristic of a mere mortal, how he would have loved to have a taste of a body he knew would be just as perfect as the prince's face. His eyes turned an ethereal blue as he stretched out his hands towards them, "Then I bless you both with happiness and love forever. Your love will remain for as long you both remain loyal to each other and with my authority no one will ever come between you both"

His palms glowed and on them appeared intrinsic designs that merged when he brought them both together. He withdrew his hands with a satisfied smile. The fact that their feelings for each other had merged perfectly proved just how much in love they were. Satisfied with his work, Psagon moved back and returned to how he was, his hand moving up with the sprig in place.

Emilia turned to look at Octavius who was smiling down at her. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her soundly on her lips. Emilia kissed him back with all the love she had for him and hung on to him. Octavius clung to her and rubbed her back with affection, he broke the kiss and moved his lips to her cheek.

"I love you so very much, Emilia."

"I love you too."

He stepped back and smiled at her again. "When do we see the god of fates?"

"We should go tomorrow. Fates will be able to change our parents' hearts and make them accept our marriage, for now, Ilena will find a place you can stay while I head back to the palace before my parent notice my absence."

Octavius nodded. He pulled her close and placed a kiss on her forehead before pulling her up with him. Ilena appeared from the alcove with a faint smile on her face, she nodded at Emilia before gesturing to Octavius to come with her. While Emilia headed in the direction of the closed temple door Octavius and Ilena moved to the alcove where she led him to the street in the opposite direction Emilia had gone. She led him to the edge of the village where a lone cottage sat.

"This cottage belonged to my grandmother, it belongs to me now, and you can have it for tonight," Ilena said.

Octavius reached for her hand "Thank you very much Ilena, your kindness will never be forgotten"

Ilena bowed "My lord, call me a fool but I have always had a soft place for young lovers and happiness is to see my lady happy with the one she loves."

He pressed her hand "All the same Ilena, none of this would have been possible without you. When Emilia moves to Camelorn I want you to come with her."

Ilena smiled "Yes my lord. You must sleep now, though for tomorrow is another day. She withdrew her hand "May the gods be with you."

Octavius waited until she had gone before opening the door to the cottage which was empty besides a wooden table and chair and a small bed that could hardly contain his tall frame. He undressed and soon found himself too tired to move, he had ridden too hard on his way to Intavia, he slipped in between the covers and soon dozed off.

There was a soft knock on the door that woke Octavius up from his deep slumber. He opened his eyes and noticed the soft morning light seeping in through the crack in the single window in the room. He had slept so deep he lost track of time. The knock came a little harder this time completely wiping the sleep off his eyes. He sat up, noticed his state of undress, and pulled his clothes closer so he could dress up.

"My lord? The princess has sent me to bring you to the temple of the god of fate."

It was Ilena.

Octavius belted his tunic around his waist and draped his cloak over his shoulders. "I will be right with you, Ilena."

He opened the door and found her standing in her cloak.

"My lord, the priest sent word to the princess last night asking that she come this coming because the temple might become too busy by noon."

"No problem with that," Octavius replied. It was a good inconvenience since it meant he could go back early to his kingdom. He joined Ilena outside the door and she led him back to the street they had passed the previous day. Since it was morning it wasn't as busy but the early mothers and fishermen were already moving around with laundries and fish hooks, baskets and nets respectively and they barely spared a glance for Ilena and Octavius.

They went back to the temple arena and passed by the temple of the god of love and headed for another that was even more elaborate with gold and precious stones lining the steps that led to the entrance. The whole place was empty besides the small cloaked figure of Emilia and an even smaller man dressed in priestly attire. Octavius climbed the steps and joined Emilia and the priest as they walked into an interior covered in gold from floor to bottom for Fate the god of fates was vain and loved gold.

The priest lit six Sheer wood sticks and handed three to both Emilia and Octavius.

"My lady knows how to invoke the presence of Fate," the priest murmured before leaving them in the empty temple.

Emilia took Octavius by the hand and led him to an altar that held only the figurehead of the god of fate. Even in stone, his eyes were cold and his jaw was set. Emilia approached the altar taking Octavius' sticks and sticking them with hers in a gold pot filled with white sand. As the sticks burned into the sand Emilia chanted in her ancient tongue and as she did the smell of burning wood changed to the aroma of fresh oranges, tangy and sweet.

A mist appeared before them forming a shapeless body but the very distinct head of Fate who stared at them with cold pale eyes.

"Mortal"

Emilia bowed. "We…"

"I know what you seek. What you both seek is dangerous yet possible and it will cost you"

Octavius bowed "I am willing to bear the cost"

Fate waved him off nonchalantly "You say that when you haven't even heard what it is I want," he paused to let that sink in. "Are you willing to give up this child of yours for your union?"

Stunned Octavius brought his head up sharply "My lord?"

Fate stared back through bored, hooded eyes.

"Yes!" Emilia choked out. She looked to Octavius whose mouth hung wide open "We will have other children"

But Octavius could see the tears in her eyes that mirrored the ones he couldn't bear to shed at the god's demand. Emilia stared at him imploringly, they had their love bond already by Psagon and this was the next step for them to live in peace with each other.

"Is there something else we can do?"

Fate frowned "Don't irritate me, mortal. I have better things to do than this"

"Octavius," Emilia's voice was a whisper "We will have more children. We barely know this one I carry but believe me once we get married I will give you as many children as you want."

In a daze, he nodded. Fate smiled and was gone in a puff of smoke. Emilia touched her belly that didn't feel any different yet she knew the deed was done for Fate never wasted a chance at his desires. She stood up and walked up to Octavius drawing him up to stand before her. He held her face in his large hands and pulled her against his chest.

"If this is the extent you will go to show how much you love me I promise to make it up to you for the rest of my life," he choked on his tears.

Emilia sniffed and stepped back "Go home now, Octavius, before your father misses your presence. In a few days he will accept our union"