DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer.

The Priestess
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Then.

Aphrodite came to her temple to check out the offerings. She shook her head when she saw what people had brought her.

"Every day the same crap," she said. "Ugh, fish. Someone has to be really crazy if he thinks I'll do him a favor for bring…"

She stopped when she heard a movement. She listened and quickly located the source. She walked around then altar and stopped, surprised, when she saw a little girl hiding in the corner, scared. She stared at her for a few moments and then smiled.

"Hello," she said as she kneeled. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," she added when the girl wanted to back off. She smiled when she saw the girl quickly hide a couple of apples which slipped out of her skirt when she moved. "I see you made yourself comfortable. Don't worry, I won't punish you for stealing my offerings, at least they'll do some good. Are you hungry?"

The girl was surprised, but she nodded.

"Would you like to eat?"

The girl didn't move, not sure what the correct response would be. Aphrodite smiled and reached out toward the girl, but the girl tried to back off.

"Are you alone?" Aphrodite asked.

The girl nodded.

"And where are your parents?"

The girl's face became sad and Aphrodite understood the message.

"Would you like to stay here?" she asked.

The girl stared at her, surprised, and Aphrodite smiled.

"Come," she said and offered the girl her hand.

The girl hesitated for a few moments and then slowly accepted. Aphrodite helped her up and took a good look at her.

"Hmm, you look like shit," she said and waved her hand. "Now that's much better," she declared when the dirt disappeared.

The girl looked at herself, surprised, and then at Aphrodite.

"By the way," Aphrodite said, "I am Aphrodite."

The girl's eyes became wide.

"And what's your name?" Aphrodite asked.

The girl hesitated for a few moments.

"Callisto," she finally said.

Aphrodite raised her eyebrows.

"I wouldn't quite agree with that. You may be the most beautiful among the mortals, but I'm the most beautiful of all." She gave Callisto a once over. "Well, you really are beautiful, I have to admit. So, how about getting you fed first and then we'll see about where you'll stay. Is something wrong?" she asked when she saw a dark shadow cross Callisto's face.

Callisto didn't respond and Aphrodite had to think about what might have caused the shadow.

"I get it," she finally said, "you're afraid of losing me like you lost your parents."

Callisto looked down and Aphrodite could see that bad memories came back. She hugged her.

"Don't worry, you won't lose me, I'm a goddess," Aphrodite said and caressed Callisto.

She felt her stiffen a bit and she just held her and caressed her from time to time.

Ten years later.

Callisto woke up in tears. She pulled her legs together and hugged them. The thing that she had feared most had finally happened again. Well, almost. Although it was hard to believe, the fact was that Aphrodite was in serious danger and might even die. The thought of losing another person she cared about made Callisto sick, she didn't want to go through all that again.

She sat still for a while, crying, and then got up and prepared to leave the temple. She was determined that she won't let Hera hurt Aphrodite. At least this time she could do something about it.

She had been traveling undisturbed for a couple of days when suddenly a group of local thugs surrounded her. She gulped, scarred, and looked around.

"Well, well, what have we here," the leader of the thugs said.

"I am the priestess of the goddess Aphrodite and I carry an important message for her."

"Oh, really? And what is that message?"

"It is not for you."

"Well, you certainly look good enough for us, doesn't she?"

Other thugs agreed and started to close in on Callisto.

"I warn you, Aphrodite will punish you if you hurt me."

"Oh, I'm so scared," the leader said and pretended to be scared.

Other thugs laughed and Callisto tried to run away, but two of the thugs caught her.

"Now, now, you're not afraid of us, are you?"

"Let me go," Callisto demanded.

"Sorry, can't do that. Okay, boys, lay her down."

The thugs obeyed. Callisto kicked around, but the thugs were stronger.

Suddenly a war cry pierced the air and the thugs stopped, surprised. They looked around and saw two women charging them.

As soon as the thugs let go of her, Callisto curled up like a fetus, scared.

"Stay down," a woman's voice said.

Callisto looked and saw a strawberry blond woman with a staff who immediately returned to hitting the thugs. The fight was short and the thugs quickly retreated.

"Are you okay?" another woman asked.

Callisto looked and frowned when she saw the woman. She lay still for a moment and then screamed as the memories came back. She backed off and when she was a few meters away, she got up and ran away.

"Wait!" Gabrielle called after her and wanted to follow her, but Xena stopped her.

They stared after the fleeing woman, Xena not feeling too good.

Callisto ran for a while and when she turned and saw the she was not being followed, she stopped. She was breathless and she sat in the grass beside the road. Bad memories came back and she cried, hugging her legs.

Several days later, just after she had eaten her lunch, she was attacked by a group of bandits.

"Hello, little one."

"What do you want?" Callisto demanded and gulped, scared.

"You and your money."

"I am the priestess of the goddess Aphrodite, don't you dare hurting me."

"Oh, and what is she going to do, make me fall in love with you?"

The bandits laughed.

"No, she's going to send for me," a man said.

The bandits turned, surprised.

"And who are you?" their leader asked.

"I am Hercules, Aphrodite's brother."

"Get him!"

"They never learn," Iolaus managed to say before he had to deflect a blow from a bandit.

The bandits' enthusiasm for fighting was quickly dispersed under Hercules' and Iolaus' steady stream of blows and they retreated.

"Are you okay?" Iolaus asked Callisto when the bandits were gone.

"Yes," Callisto said and turned to Hercules. "You are Hercules?"

"Yes."

"I was looking for you. Aphrodite needs help."

Hercules was surprised.

"Aphrodite?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't she come herself?"

"She can't. Hera trapped her in Hephaestus' chair and took away her girdle and with it her godhood. It is a trap to kill you."

"How do you know?"

"Aphrodite told me in a dream."

"Oh."

"At least we know who stole the chair," Iolaus said.

"If we would only know where to look."

"Aphrodite said some mountain beginning with e."

"E?" Hercules thought. "I know exactly where she is and it won't be easy to get out once we're in. Come, let's go."

In the evening, they stopped and made a camp. Hercules and Iolaus were discussing their options and Callisto quietly ate her fish, deep in her thoughts.

"You're worried about her," Hercules said.

Callisto jerked and looked at him.

"Yes," she admitted.

Hercules was surprised.

"I've know Aphrodite for quite some time and I've never been worried about her nor has anyone else."

Callisto didn't respond.

"Don't worry," Hercules said, "we'll save her."

Callisto looked at him appreciatively and returned to her thoughts. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear footsteps approaching.

"Good evening. Mind if we join you?"

"Of course not," Iolaus said. "We have some fish left."

Callisto turned around and frowned. She stared at the newcomers for a moment and then backed off and hid after Hercules.

Hercules and Iolaus looked at her, surprised.

"Hey, it's okay," Hercules said softly, "it's only Xena."

Callisto gave him a startled look.

"You know her?"

"Sure I do, she's my friend."

Callisto was confused.

"Your friend?"

"Yes."

"But she's a warlord."

"She was."

"Was?"

"Yes, she has changed."

Callisto was confused.

"Why don't you seat between Iolaus and me?" Hercules suggested and moved.

Callisto sat, her eyes never leaving Xena.

Xena and Gabrielle also sat and observed the strange young woman.

"You're just the two people we were hoping to meet," Iolaus broke the silence.

"Why?" Gabrielle asked and started to help herself to the food.

"It seems that Hera is scheming to kill Hercules again."

"Oh? What is it this time?"

"She stole Hephaestus' chair and trapped Aphrodite in it. Then she took away her girdle, making her mortal."

"You're kidding, right?"

"No."

"This chair, is it the one that even Zeus couldn't free himself from?"

"Yes."

"But why Aphrodite?"

"Because she's Hercules' sister," Xena said.

"Oh."

"Oh, yes," Hercules said, "Xena, Gabrielle, this is Callisto, Aphrodite's priestess. Callisto, these are Xena and Gabrielle."

"Hello," Gabrielle said cheerfully, but Callisto didn't respond.

Xena didn't say anything.

"Mmm, not bad, Iolaus, you're getting the hang of it," Gabrielle complimented the food.

"I'd say it was about time," Iolaus said and smiled.

"So, have you any idea where we might find Aphrodite?"

"Oh, yes."

"We'll talk about it tomorrow," Hercules said.

"Okay," Gabrielle said and concentrated on the food.

The next morning the four friends woke up. They went to fresh themselves and when they got back, Callisto was still sleeping.

"Shall I wake her up?" Gabrielle asked.

"No, let her sleep," Xena said. "She hasn't slept most of the night."

Gabrielle was confused.

"Why not?"

"She was watching me. She was afraid I might hurt her."

"Oh."

Others were quietly discussing the plan to rescue Aphrodite when Callisto finally woke up with a scream.

"Are you okay?" Gabrielle asked.

Callisto nodded.

"Why don't you go fresh yourself and we'll get your breakfast ready."

Callisto quietly got up and left.

After Callisto ate her breakfast, the five broke camp and moved on. The day passed peacefully and in the evening they made a camp again and decided to put up guards in case some of Hera's soldiers happened to come by. Xena took the first watch. She waited for a while and then went to Callisto, who was sitting by the small pond, staring at the water.

When Callisto heard footsteps, she turned and frowned when she saw Xena right behind her. She started to back off and Xena stopped.

"I won't hurt you," Xena said, "I just want to talk to you."

Callisto gulped, scared, and stopped.

"Am I responsible for the death of your family?" Xena asked.

Callisto was surprised. She nodded and Xena sighed.

"I'm sorry," she said.

Callisto stared at her, surprised to hear the Warrior Princess apologize.

"I'm not proud of what I did, but I'm trying to make sure something like that doesn't happen to someone else."

Callisto didn't respond. Xena stared at her for a couple of moments and then left.

Callisto was completely confused. She had hated Xena and she wanted to make her suffer, but then she met Aphrodite and she became her family. Now she was gone and Xena was helping rescue her. The demon that took away her future so long ago was now helping her recover it. She sat by the pond for a while longer and then returned to the camp.

In the morning, Callisto woke up with the rest.

"Good morning," Hercules greeted her with a smile.

Callisto smiled back, but her smile quickly vanished when she saw Xena. She stared at her for a few moments and realized that she wasn't feeling so uncomfortable anymore. She flashed a brief smile at the Warrior Princess and went to fresh herself.

After the breakfast, they moved on and they reached their destination by noon.

"This place is crawling with Hera' soldiers," Xena said when they entered the tunnel that led to the main cave.

"How do you know?" Callisto asked.

"I can feel them."

"Oh."

"Good thing we have a secret weapon," Iolaus said.

"What do you mean?" Callisto asked.

"Hephaestus."

"Hephaestus?"

Iolaus smiled.

"You'll see."

They made a colon, Hercules and Iolaus first, Callisto in the middle and Gabrielle and Xena in the back. Hercules safely led them through the maze of tunnels.

"They're behind us," Xena suddenly announced.

Nobody responded, only Hercules quickened the pace.

They soon reached the cave where Aphrodite was and Hercules stopped and turned to the rest.

"There are two more tunnels leading into the cave. Iolaus and Xena will each cover one, you, Gabrielle, will cover this one. Callisto, stay with her."

Hercules, Iolaus and Xena moved and Gabrielle turned around to protect their backs.

"Hercules!" Aphrodite called, happy to see him. "It was about time. Being a mortal sure has its disadvantages."

"You don't say," Iolaus said as he went past the chair to one of the other two tunnels.

"Get me out of this," Aphrodite demanded.

"Just a…"

"They're coming!" Gabrielle announced. She turned to Callisto. "Stay near the wall."

Callisto nodded and stepped to the wall.

While Xena, Iolaus and Gabrielle fought Hera's soldiers, Hercules concentrated.

"What are you doing?" Aphrodite asked. "Get me out of here."

Hercules ignored her and kept concentrating. A few moments later Hephaestus came.

"Hercules. What… Aphrodite? What is going on here?"

"Just get me out of here," Aphrodite said.

Hephaestus waved his hand and the cuffs opened.

"It was about time," Aphrodite said and got up.

"How about getting us out of here!" Iolaus called.

Hephaestus looked around and waved his hand.

They reappeared at the base of the mountain. Callisto immediately ran to Aphrodite and they hugged. Hercules was surprised to see how glad Aphrodite was to see Callisto.

"Thank you, Hercules," Aphrodite said and then turned to Hephaestus. "And thank you too, Hephi."

"No problem," Hephaestus said, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "If you'll excuse me, I'm right in a middle of an important experiment."

He waved his hand and he and his chair disappeared.

"I suggest we get away from here," Xena said, looking up the mountain. "I have a feeling that Hera's soldiers will follow us."

"Yes," Hercules agreed. "Let's go."

"Any ideas on how we get back your girdle?" Iolaus asked the goddess as they started to walk.

"We go to daddy's temple and I'll talk to him."

"That simple, ha?"

"Of course."

"You want to ride?" Xena asked Aphrodite when she saw that she kept tripping.

Aphrodite looked at Argo.

"On that? I don't think so. Besides, I've been sitting for almost a week."

Xena shrugged.

"Suit yourself."

Aphrodite looked at the road which they had to travel and then back at Argo.

"On the other hand, riding isn't such a bad idea."

Xena looked at her, her eyebrows high, and stopped Argo.

"Come," she said and whispered something in Argo's ear.

Aphrodite mounted the mare and Xena led her. Callisto walked on the other side of the mare.

"Oh, yes," Aphrodite suddenly realized, "I'm hungry. No, actually, I'm starving. Hera forgot that mortals need food."

Xena rummaged through her saddlebag and took out some bread and some cheese.

"Here," she said, offering the food to the goddess.

"You expect me to eat that?" Aphrodite asked with disbelief.

"It's the only thing we have right now. You'll have to wait for a proper meal until we reach a village or make a camp."

Aphrodite stared at the food, not particularly eager to eat it, but she was starving and she took it.

They traveled for the whole day, not passing any village on their way, and in the evening they made a camp. Xena and Iolaus went hunting, Hercules got the firewood and built up the fire and Gabrielle prepared the pottery.

Aphrodite had noticed that Callisto was distracted and deep in her thoughts. She had let left her alone during the day, but now she decided that it was time to clear things up. She sat next to Callisto and took her hand. Callisto looked at her and Aphrodite could see that she was sad and afraid.

"Everything is okay, Callisto," she said softly and smiled.

Callisto bit her teeth and looked away. Aphrodite gently caressed her

"I told you that you won't lose me," Aphrodite gently continued. "I know you are scared, but trust me, Hera wouldn't dare to kill me, so don't worry if Hera is more stupid that I think she is and tries to do this again. I will be fine."

Callisto looked back and Aphrodite caressed her again.

"I was worried," Callisto said, on the verge of crying.

Aphrodite smiled.

"No one has ever been worried about me, except you, the only person I don't want to worry."

Callisto hugged Aphrodite and Aphrodite hugged her back and caressed her.

"It's okay, sweetie," Aphrodite whispered in Callisto's ear.

"I love you," Callisto said, sobbing.

"I love you too, sweetie."

When they stopped hugging, Aphrodite wiped Callisto's tears and caressed her.

When Gabrielle was finished preparing the pottery, she sat down and observed Aphrodite and Callisto. She was confused, the conversation between Aphrodite and Callisto didn't look like a goddess-priestess conversation, it was more gentle, more like… She searched for the right description.

It was like a mother-daughter conversation she suddenly realized. She was confused. She knew that Aphrodite was pretty vain and she didn't exactly struck her as the motherly type.

Finally they stopped talking and hugged. Callisto then looked at Gabrielle and Gabrielle smiled encouragingly. Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then got up and approached her. She hesitated for a moment and then sat near Gabrielle.

"Tell me about Xena," she said after a short pause.

Gabrielle was surprised. She thought.

When Hercules saw that his sister was alone, he went to her.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Like shit."

Hercules laughed.

"I've been tied up in a chair for almost a week, stripped of my powers, I had nothing to eat and had to ride a horse, what did you think I felt like?"

"Sorry."

"I'm just glad Callisto's okay."

Hercules glanced at the priestess.

"You're pretty fond of her."

"Of course, she's my daughter."

"What?"

Hercules was astonished.

"Well, not exactly," Aphrodite amended smilingly. "I found her in my temple when she was little and I took care of her. She has the title of a priestess, but if she ever chooses some other line of work, she has my full support."

Hercules stared at his sister, amazed. He thought he knew her so well, but this was one side of her that he had never seen before.

"You keep surprising me, Aphrodite," he said proudly.

"Thank you," Aphrodite beamed.

They traveled for a few more days and Xena let Aphrodite ride Argo and Aphrodite tried not to complain too much. They finally reached Zeus' temple and Aphrodite made the offering. A few moments later Zeus appeared in a flash.

"Aphrodite? What… Hercules? What is going on here?"

"Daddy, that no good wife of yours trapped me in Hephaestus' chair and took away my girdle. I was forced to sit in near darkness for almost a week and smell those soldiers of hers. Not to mention that they didn't give me any food. I want my girdle back and I want it now. And I also want you to punish Hera for stripping me of my godhood and using me as a bait to kill Hercules," Aphrodite quickly complained.

Zeus stared at her, surprised.

"What?" he finally asked. "She did all that?"

"Yes," Hercules said.

"I'll talk to her. I'm slowly getting tired of this."

"Ugh, when I get my hands on her," Aphrodite said, clenching her fingers.

"Calm down, Aphrodite," Hercules said and put his arm around his sister.

"Hurry up, daddy, being a mortal is so… so annoying."

"Don't worry, Aphrodite."

"Oh, before you go, do you think you could transport us back to my temple?"

"Of course."

Zeus waved his hand and they disappeared. Then he himself disappeared.

Back in Aphrodite's temple, Aphrodite looked around.

"I see everything is still standing. I need to take a bath." She turned to Callisto. "Callisto, why don't you make them feel like at home."

"Yes, Aphrodite." She turned to the four friends. "Come."

The End