By Lessa
This story contains scenes of an adult nature, including sex between a man and a woman. If you are under 18 or if this is illegal where you live, please go somewhere else.
This story is not intended to violate any copyrights held by MCA, Universal Studios, Renaissance Pictures or any other entity involved in the making of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys or Xena: Warrior Princess.
"I dare you."
Hephaestus appeared behind the little girl and stared at her thoughtfully.
She tossed back her blond curls and stomped her foot impatiently. "Come on, I dare you." She suddenly sagged and sat down on a bench in his broken-down temple. "None of the boys in the village can turn down a dare." She sighed and put her head in her hands, crushing her cheeks in her palms.
He laughed as he saw the pitiful pout forming on her lips. She and Aphrodite ought to get together. He was having fun watching her, but she'd interrupted him during one of his many busy days. He didn't have time for this, as much as he was enjoying it.
"Dare me what?" He showed himself to the girl and had to bit his lip to keep from grinning as he watched her bound up from her seated position and try to smooth her hair and dirty tunic. She was a cute one, that was certain.
"Um, er, well, I wanted to talk to you. You're Heph... Heph... Hephtus, right?" She ran the toe of her boot left and right and wouldn't look up at him. A light blush colored her cheeks.
Zeus, he wished he had more time. He loved the little mortals, but the other gods kept him busy with urgent projects. This little one looked as if she could keep him amused for days. He'd have to make sure he came back to play with her and her friends. He needed to take a break from his work.
He crouched down to her level and raised her chin to face him directly. "Yes, I'm Hephaestus, and I'd love to talk to you, but I have work I need to do. How about I come back later and talk, okay?"
Her eyes moistened with tears, but she blinked them back. She hesitantly reached out and traced his scar. "'Kay, when? Hey, how'd you do this?"
Jumping from topic to topic, he'd have to work to have a conversation with her and keep up with her thoughts. "Tell you what. I'll find you when I have time to talk. What's your name?" The question about his scar he avoided. What child wanted to know that another child had been thrown out of his home by his mother?
"Charis. Don't take too long, 'kay? I like to talk." She'd started to pout again. He'd have to tell 'Dite to look in on this one too. She'd love it.
"Charis, I promise I'll be quick." Hephaestus vanished reluctantly. She was a born charmer.
He returned when he could, but it was a few months later. Charis chastised him for taking so long. He accepted it with a grin. They walked hand-in-hand through the forest and she chattered away about her friends, her family, and the animals she'd seen. He felt himself relax for the first time since he'd last seen her. She was such a sweet child.
Hephaestus spent as much time as he could spare with the imp. He was introduced to everyone she knew and had to persuade her mother not to punish Charis for summoning him. He was relieved to be out of the heat of the forge, and this was the best excuse he'd had in an aeon.
He discovered that Charis was a daughter of one of the Amazons while her father lived in a village close by. He'd have to talk to Artemis about letting men live with her followers, but he doubted he'd get very far. The virgin huntress wasn't very sympathetic to the physical needs of men and women.
The Amazons benefited from his association with Charis. He brought them better weaponry and thought up a spiked glove they could all use for climbing trees in the forest. He was often found in the center of the Amazon village surrounded by all the young ones. They loved his voice and his talent in telling them stories; even the littlest one could understand them.
Charis pouted from time to time about 'sharing' her new friend, but he'd just ruffle her hair and kiss her cheek. That normally soothed her hurt feelings and set her to beaming again. The adults would ask his advice about weapons-work and about forging. He was even given a formal gilt invitation from the Queen herself to visit at any time, and he had free rein in the entire village.
He got busy with assignments again, and had to forego the pleasure of visiting Charis and the Amazons for a time. When he next visited he found that several years had passed. The adults recognized him, but some of the children had forgotten him. Charis was starting to become a young woman and totally ignored him on his visit. He supposed she was trying to 'punish' him for his long absence. He brought a few gifts, but had to cut his visit short when he heard Ares yelling his name. Zeus knew the god of war never took a break, which meant his own breaks were few and far between. He tried to say goodbye to Charis before he left, but she'd turned her back on him. He sighed. What had happened to the lovely child who'd talk to him for hours?
Hephaestus looked up from his forge in surprise. He glimpsed a woman trying to sneak in to the inner chambers. He put down the sword he was making for Ares and appeared in front of her. It was dangerous for mortals to come here. His forge was full of sharp weapons and things that could injure the unknowing or unwise. The heat alone usually discouraged visitors. "Who are you and what do you want here?"
"Oh, Hephaestus, I'm heart-broken." She placed one hand on her chest in disappointment. "Don't you know me? I came to find you, since you never seek me out anymore. I can't really say I blame you. I was such a bitch the last time I saw you." The woman tossed back her golden-brown hair in a familiar gesture. That combined with the pout on her face and her words left him speechless for a moment.
"Charis?" At her delighted giggle he limped around her. Surely this couldn't be the same girl he'd met in his temple. Well, maybe it could. Ares had kept him busy supplying army after army. The days and weeks had blurred together, as had the years, apparently.
"Hephaestus, it's been so long since I've seen you. I missed you." She blushed and looked at her feet, one of which was tracing a pattern in the sand.
He laughed out loud. It was definitely Charis, the little imp had grown into the beauty he'd glimpsed on his first meeting with her. "My dear Charis, I've missed you too. How is your family? How are the rest of your sisters?" He tried to think of the best place to talk with her. Weapons be damned, he hadn't seen his friend in years.
They lounged on his bed, his bedroom was the only place that was presentable for a guest. He wasn't very happy about bringing her in there, but the only other choice was the forge itself, and even he had to watch his step in there. He listened to Charis chatter away and felt himself relax.
The next thing he knew was a heaviness on his chest. He turned his head to find Charis lying next to him with her head on his shoulder and chest. They'd talked for hours until they'd fallen asleep. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so comfortable around a mortal before. He ruffled her hair and kissed her cheek to wake her up.
Charis grumbled and shifted closer to him. Hephaestus couldn't breathe for a moment. How strange. She was causing him to feel again, something he thought was long dead. He had to remember that she was a child, though as she snuggled against him in her sleep her woman's body denied that sentiment.
He was forced to wait until she woke before he could leave. He didn't want to disturb her sleep, even though he could have just de-materialized from under her. He liked the feeling of her next to him, his lovers had been few and far between, and none had ever spent the night with him. He valued her friendship, he'd had few of those too.
He ignored the work piled up in his forge. He'd have to send her away soon, his responsibilities weren't something he could forget about for long. He liked Charis, but no other god or man could do what he did. He was the Armorer of the gods, the god of the forge, and gods and mortals alike counted on him to perform his talent and his duty. He wished he had time to visit the Amazons.
He pushed back Charis' hair. She was lovely, like spun glass, though as an Amazon she had to be strong as tempered steel. "Charis?" She had to wake up. He wasn't looking forward to the sadness in her eyes when he asked her to leave.
"Is it time to wake up already? We were just getting started, I've missed you Hephaestus." Charis pushed herself off the god and stretched lazily. She grinned at him, already in a good mood.
Hephaestus hated to disappoint her, but he had to send her away, and very soon. "Charis, I'm glad you came to visit me, but I have to get back to work." He grimaced at the look on her face. He'd never seen her so disappointed.
"But, I just got here. You can't take any time off for good behavior?" Her memory hadn't failed her. He was more attractive than any of the men she'd met over the years and was still as attentive as ever. It had taken her a week to find Mt. Etna, but was worth every second she'd spent trudging thought the jungles and the forests.
"I've spent more time with you since I first saw you in my temple than I've ever taken off before. If I could talk with you longer I'd do so." He saw the tears start to wander their way down her face, and impulsively kissed them away.
Charis started at his touch then returned the favor, kissing both the scared side of his face and then the other side for good measure. She knew it would be a long time before she saw him again. He needed a keeper; if she thought she could stand the isolation she'd volunteer for the position. She pulled away then ducked in for a quick kiss on his lips. Such a sweet man, god, whatever, deserved all the kindness she could give him.
She decided she'd probably not have this chance to spend time with him again. She inserted her hands into his leather vest and warmed herself in the heat of his body. When he hesitated, she grew more bold. Soon he was responding to her as she'd dreamed. She took advantage of his confusion to disrobe both of them, and proceeded to kiss him senseless.
Hephaestus took control of their love-making, making sure to touch every part of her body with his. He didn't have to time to do this, but his desire for her had grown with every unconscious reaction of her body to his. He rolled over so that she was on top and laughed as he watched her toss her hair. His Charis, such a free spirit!
Charis refused to let him take control again and tortured him with her slow movements upon his manhood before taking him into her body. She wanted to remember this time with him; she didn't know when she'd see him again. She savored the feel of his lips on her breasts and his hands on her body. It was with great reluctance that she surrendered to the glorious feeling he'd aroused in her. As she felt his body shudder under her she tried not to smirk. She'd done that to him.
She slowly kissed him goodbye and got dressed. This would be one thing she'd not soon forget.
Hephaestus watched her leave, his heart heavy for once in his life. If only he had someone he could trust in the forge he'd be able to spend more time with her. He resolved to find an apprentice as soon as he could spare the time to look for one. Charis deserved more than what he'd given her so far.
Hephaestus appeared in the center of the Amazon camp. There were fewer familiar faces, which he'd expected. He looked for the Queen's home, and carefully knocked on the door. He could be civilized after all. He was saddened to learn that the Queen he remembered had been killed in battle, probably by a weapon he'd made for one of Ares' armies. The new Queen directed him to Charis' quarters after greeting him warmly, she'd been one of the children he'd told stories to, and she still remembered him.
Charis was overjoyed that he'd come to visit her. They talked for hours; the Queen had given her special permission to stay in the camp today. He noticed a few laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, but she was still the sprite he remembered. He'd heard her mention her sorrow at the death of her fiancée, so he resolved to ask Aphrodite to find her a suitable mate. It was the least he could do. He hated to tear himself away from her, but she had duties as did he.
Aphrodite was happy to be asked to make a match between Charis and a man in the neighboring village. Charis moved to be with him, and Hephaestus'd been told that they were very much in love. His heart ached for a moment at the news, but he was happy for her.
He took the time to stop in for a visit one day. He was greeted warmly by Charis and her husband, Denius. He was introduced to their children and he told them the same stories he'd once told Charis and the Amazons. Before he left to go back to work, he made sure to leave one of his metal-crafted animals on the mantel for them as a remembrance.
He was there soon after he heard the news that Denius was killed in battle defending his home. He rushed to console Charis and her children. He found them not in the village, but in the Amazon camp; Charis had gone back to her roots.
Charis turned to him for comfort while her children were being taught the ways of the Amazons, and Hephaestus obliged her. He indulged himself in the sweet smell of her, in her still lovely body and spirit. He was more careful with her than with any other lover he'd had, because he didn't dare hurt her in any way. She responded to him with all the fervor of her younger self.
He missed being with her when her oldest boy married and moved from the Amazon village. He wasn't there to share her sorrow when her youngest daughter died in childbirth. He only returned when he was told that she was on her deathbed. Damn his work, and damn the other gods for giving it to him; for once he'd put her first.
Charis greeted him with joy, as she always had. He played with her grey hair and kissed her forehead. The Amazons had heard of him, but couldn't believe that he'd known Charis most of her life. He carried her out to the square in the sunlight where she listened to his stories as he spoke to the children. She made him promise to visit the village once a year, on this day, her birthday.
She'd loved him as long as she'd known him, and so had the other children he'd spoken with over the years. She'd never heard any of them say a bad word against this god as they had to all the others gods and goddesses. She did so loved watching him with the children. He had a gift for relating to them. This was the least she could do for her fellow Amazons; they'd grow up knowing him as she'd done.
Charis went to sleep in the sun, listening to that beloved voice. She went to join her husband Denius and their daughter in the Underworld. Hephaestus had been a friend to her all her life, and he'd be a friend to her sisters for all time. No one could take away the feelings she felt for him, the kindest and loneliest of the gods. She'd done the right thing by calling him to her all those years ago.
Hephaestus was grief-stricken when he noticed that her sleep was the sleep of the dead. He carried out his promise to her and visited the Amazon children once a year to celebrate her birthday. He'd always remember that sweet little voice echoing in his temple. "I dare you." That was one dare he'd never regret answering.