Dianas Verderben 2
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Diana's Mirror free porn video
From the still glassy lake that sleeps
Beneath Aricia's trees-
Those trees in whose dim shadow
The ghastly priest doth reign,
The priest who slew the slayer,
And shall himself be slain;
LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME
By Thomas Babbington Macaulay
Antonius watched, bleary eyed from his nightly vigil, as the sun rose
over the lake called 'Diana's Mirror.' It still stirred him, after all
these years, to look down from the grove to the lake nestled in a green
hollow of the Alban hills. For the last few years the view had been
marred by the two pleasure boats, huge and gaudy, constructed for the
Emperor on the lake.
Antonius, king of the Nemi, Priest of Diana, protector of the Golden
Bough, had found disfavor with the Emperor, Caligula. Antonius' position
couldn't protect him, there seemed to be no protection from Caligula.
Antonius had achieved his position by stealing the Golden Bough and
defeating the previous priest in mortal combat - as had the priest he
had slain had done, and the priest before, and the priest before, from
the time before history had been recorded. It was the way of the Goddess
to demand this sacrifice. But Antonius did not want to die.
With the morning came relative safety, when Diana's acolytes filled the
grove. The Goddess guarded her women carefully, and the grove resonated
with her power during the hours of daylight.
Antonius stretched his still powerful body, his rugged face broke into a
yawn, and he ran his fingers through his grizzled hair. Suddenly he
could feel her presence.
"Goddess," He said, without looking around.
She stepped up beside him. Her strong, beautiful face was highlighted by
the rising sun. She stared into it fearlessly. He looked at her
sidelong, thinking how stern she seemed. Her dogs, brutal beasts, moved
noiselessly through the grasses and arrayed themselves around her.
"Antonius," she said.
"A beautiful morning," Antonius observed.
She turned her crystalline blue eyes on him, "Speak your mind, Antonius.
I am here at your bidding."
Antonius averted his gaze, staring at the Emperor's boats instead. "You
know I am out of favor with Caligula."
She nodded, "He thinks you are too old."
"He thinks I have stood in his way," Antonius said simply. "I have stood
in his way doing your work."
"My work." she said thoughtfully.
"I am the guardian of the grove. To have allowed him to carry his
drunken debauch into its precincts would have defiled it."
"My work," she said again. "Are you sure you know my will?"
"What he attempted was obviously impious."
"Answer my question," she replied. "Are you sure you know my will?"
Antonius reflected. "No Goddess. I have felt far from you for many
years."
She nodded.
"You know the emperor wishes to kill me."
She nodded.
"I am not prepared to die."
"No," She said, patting the head of one of her dogs. "No, you aren't."
"Should I be?" he asked. Diana said nothing.
"He has hired a ruffian, a street brawler," Antonius continued. "I do
not know that I can defeat him." Silence still.
"Goddess, I am your priest. Can you not protect me?"
"You are my priest," she agreed. "And I cannot protect you. I am the
protectress of women."
"Then to whom should I should I pray for protection?"
"You are my priest, you are sacred to me. You will pray to no one else."
She turned to go, and then paused. "Perhaps what you need is not
protection."
He knew he needed sleep. The coming night would be long and perilous.
But he felt a restlessness, and walked instead. At the edge of the
grove, where the woods grew thick, he saw a shadow. As he approached it,
Virbius stepped forward.
"Old friend," the forest god said.
"It has been long, Virbius. Did you come to say good-bye?"
"Your time in this life may be short," Virbius replied. "But I have
faith that we will meet again. Walk with me."
They walked, arm in arm, deeper into the woods. "Perhaps there is hope?
Maybe, like you, I will be resurrected?" Antonius asked with a wry
smile.
Virbius caught his look and laughed softly, "Asclepius will not make
that mistake again. It was so long ago that I was Hippolytus, beloved by
Aphrodite. I scorned her, to remain true to our Goddess - chaste and
true. And when Aphrodite achieved my death, Diana forced Asclepius to
bring me back. She will not ask that for you. She would not have another
Virbius - 'twice a man.'"
"Yet I have been true," Antonius said, "and chaste."
"You have been a good priest to her - and a good friend to me. I will
miss you."
"Have you heard about the new challenger?"
"I have heard."
"He is a slave, a street brawler, bought by Caligula to kill me."
"You were a slave."
"Yes," Antonius said with some heat. "But I was a gladiator! And I chose
to serve her! What kind of priest would this new one be?"
Virbius stopped at the edge of clearing and sat upon a fallen tree, but
not before blessing it, mouthing words that Antonius could not
understand.
"Sit, my brother," Virbius said.
Antonius sat on the tree.
"I have seen many, many priests, and many started seemingly ill-favored.
But regardless of the path they took, they all ended up faithful
servants of our Goddess."
They sat in silence. The sun was moving up in the sky, making the air
warm. Antonius started to feel sleep overtake him.
"You are tired Antonius," Virbius said. "You labored long last night,
and for countless nights before. Somnos calls - take the sleep you
deserve, I will wake you when it's time to return. But think about one
thing, why do you cling so desperately to that which all mortals must
lose?"
Antonius nodded drowsily, and lay in the long grass. In his dreams he
relived his triumph over the previous priest. They both had fought well,
and long, deep into the night. Antonius saw the old priest's face as he
died on his sword. He remembered now the look of triumph on that
wrinkled face. He marveled again at that. Antonius had triumphed! Why
would the old man look that way?
"Priest of Diana, King of Nemi, the time has come," he heard a voice
say. He woke to a lowering sun and Virbius standing over him.
"Priest, you must find the path back," Virbius said in a commanding
voice, drawing his powers around him. As Virbius turned away, Antonius
realized that he had no idea where he was, or which way led back to the
grove. Panic arose in him.
"Wait, Virbius, wait! Which way?"
Virbius stopped. Without turning he said in his god voice, "You must
find the path." Then he turned back, dropping his powers, "Think most
carefully about the path. I worry for you."
And Virbius was gone. "If you worry for me, why do you leave me?"
Antonius demanded of the empty air. How could this happen? How could his
friend abandon him? He stumbled towards the woods, searching desperately
for where they had entered the clearing hours ago. He thought he could
make it out, the grass seemed crushed here. He felt tears of frustration
run down his face. If he didn't make it back to the grove by nightfall,
the golden bough would be stolen! Then the challenge could be made, and
he would die at the sword of the Emperor's henchman. He had to get back
- he had to guard the golden bough! It was his duty.
Antonius stopped short. "It is my duty," he said aloud, in a wondering
voice. "My duty to my Goddess." He fell to his knees and lowered his
head to the earth. Diana's question - Are you sure you know my will? He
had not known her will for a long time. Years before, a sickness had
almost carried him off, and when he recovered, he began to fear the
realm where the sun never shined, under the reign of the stern god
Pluto. And with the fear came his distance from his Goddess, from his
duty. He would die - if not tonight, then some other night. It was the
way of his Goddess, and his death would be in her service. "Yes my
friend," He said. "I will think most carefully about the path."
When Antonius looked up, he could see the grove clearly through the
trees, where all had been darkness before. He smiled - a sad smile, but
a smile still, and walked back into the grove.
As darkness fell he could see a collection of men with torches moving up
from the shore. As they approached, he could hear their raucous laughter
and made out the high pitched cackle of the emperor.
"Priest," Caligula said, entering the grove. "We have come for the
golden bough! Seize him!" he told his guards.
Antonius was prepared to fight as many of them as he would send, but
some of Caligula's guards had made their way into the grove behind him,
and as he pulled his sword they grabbed him, pinning his arms behind
him.
Caligula walked over and pulled the bough from its tree. "I really don't
see what the fuss is about," he sneered, examining it in the firelight.
"It really is quite a ratty thing, really." He wrinkled his nose and
sneezed. "And dusty! Well, here, Turnus," he said, handing it to the
slave who he had hired to kill Antonius. "Take it, and run him through
with your sword. Finally, I will be free from this turbulent priest!"
Turnus took the branch, "No, your majesty, I will not do it like this."
"What?!" Caligula turned white in the firelight. "Who are you to deny
me?"
Turnus fell to his knees in front of Caligula. "Emperor, I can defeat
him in combat. Surely that would be better, and more entertaining?"
The emperor considered. "This is not a propitious start, Turnus. If you
turn out to be a problem I will have you dealt with as I have dealt with
Antonius - do not forget that! But, as you say, a fight would be more
entertaining. Release him!" He waved at his guards.
Antonius felt his arms released, and he drew his sword. Perhaps there
was more to this Turnus than he had thought? Maybe he would serve her
well. But first, as the outgoing priest, he had a lesson to teach his
replacement. He might as well learn now that it was not an easy burden.
Turnus approached, with a graceless, shambling gate. He held his sword
wrong, too high, expecting the strike but not prepared to make the blow.
Antonius came low, and sent his blade across Turnus' cheek as he dropped
his guard. He could see the blood lust enter Turnus' eyes, and thought,
well, there may be a chance for me after all.
He expected Turnus to come in fast and clumsy, now that he was angry.
Antonius was vaguely aware of the taunting, jeering crowd, and could see
that it affected Turnus. But Turnus backed off and shook his head, and
came back, carefully this time.
Antonius' next feint was blocked, but Turnus' blade was back to protect
his face before he could strike. Turnus was fast, as fast as Antonius in
his prime, perhaps faster - and he wasn't the fool that Antonius hoped.
Very well, Antonius thought, I taught young gladiators before I came
here - as my last service to my Goddess, I will teach this one to fight,
too.
So the lessons began. Antonius would try one combination after another.
Always, it was only Turnus' speed that saved him the first time. The
second time he tried the same combination, Turnus seemed to recognize it
a little, and responded more tactically. By the third time, Turnus had
it well enough to try it against Antonius. Then Antonius showed him the
proper response.
For hours the lesson went on. Caligula, who had been a soldier of sorts
before his ultimate degradation, was fascinated, and called for a chair
and refreshment. He laughed and applauded each new move, each new
reposte, as his courtiers grew tired around him.
But Turnus was 30 years younger than Antonius, and Antonius sword was
becoming lead in his arms. Finally, a move that Antonius had taught
Turnus came through his guard, and he felt the sword bite deep into his
chest.
Turnus seemed shocked, and he pulled his sword back as Antonius fell.
Blood blossomed from the wound in Antonius' chest, soaking his robe.
Turnus dropped his blade, looking down at the dying Antonius. Caligula
was up from his seat and at Antonius side. "Priest, you have amused me.
I could almost forgive you - almost."
Antonius could feel the life flowing out of him like water over a broken
dam. "Turnus," he said. Turnus stooped to listen. "Serve her well!"
Turnus looked puzzled, and disturbed. Antonius smiled, and heard a voice
inside his head say "It is done."
Antonius awoke to a room full of sunlight. It certainly wasn't Hades,
but how had he survived? Diana was standing there, looking down on him,
a look of compassion in her eyes.
"Antonia," She said. "You have served me well. I had hoped you would."
"Goddess, I," Antonius said, then heard his voice in his ears. It was a
sweet, melodious voice, not the gravel he had been used to hearing.
"You have been reborn," Dianna said. "But not resurrected. You were not
destined to be twice a man, but once a man, and once a woman."
"I'm a woman?" Antonia asked.
"You are in the house of the Acolytes." Diana said simply.
"I..." Antonia started. "I don't understand."
"My priests, when they die in my service, are reborn."
"As women?"
"Throughout your life you have been precious to me. Yet there was
nothing I could do, but ask for your unquestioning duty, your selfless
service. Now I can give to you, I give you my protection. You will be my
acolyte."
"Goddess, I am honored, and joyful, and..."
"And," she said. "I have one more thing you must do before you can join
me here."
"I will do anything for you."
"It is, by far, the most difficult thing I have ever asked of you," she
began. "But to understand the request, you must understand the cycle,
how one priest replaces another."
"By combat," Antonia replied, "by killing the previous priest. I have
known this for a long time."
"Silence!" she commanded; then her face softened again. "You have been
my priest, you have served me well, and you will continue to serve me.
But the prattling of mortals grows tiresome sometimes. Please wait for
me to explain."
She had never said please to him before.
"Each priest, if he is ready, will be reborn. Every priest, until you,
has been ready. You had strayed from me, become fearful of your service.
But, in the same way that I could not protect you from your foes, I
could not protect you from yourself. I could only wait for you to
realize what was happening. I could only wait for you to come back to
me."
"The passage of time has no meaning to the gods. I could wait for as
long as it took. But mortal time, and mortal affairs, overtook us. You
asked me if it was my will that you prevent the emperor from desecrating
my grove, and you assumed you knew the answer. But what you didn't know
was how important you were, how much I needed you to stay until you came
back to my service."
"You may wonder how you, as the guardian of my grove, could be more
important than the grove. And the answer is: you are also the guardian
of the line of priests who guard the grove. Each priest before you has
died in my service, each priest has been reborn, and each priest has
given birth to another priest."
She paused, "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Antonia thought about it. She wasn't sure that she understood all the
consequences, but there was one question she had. "What if I hadn't
returned to you?"
"It will happen one day," Dianna said. "A priest will die unready, and
will not be reborn, and will not give birth. Then that part of me that
is worshipped here will pass from this earth. I am immortal, of course.
But there are many immortals who have passed beyond the caring of
mortals. They exist like trees turned into stone, living forever, but no
sap of life within them. My life's blood comes from you," she touched
his cheek, "and all the ones who came before."
Her touch was electric. It resonated through Antonia like divine music.
"So," Antonia said finally, "my most difficult service is to bear you a
new priest?"
"No," Dianna said. "It is to give him up. All my priests are slaves,
deserted or torn from their mothers when they are very young. It will
happen to you, it is fated, the weird sisters will have it no other
way."
Antonia considered this, not understanding the difficulty. He had given
his life willingly in devotion to the Goddess - how could giving up a
child for her service be so much more difficult? "So what will happen
now?" Antonia asked.
"You will enter the emperor's household as a servant. You are young and
beautiful, and will find favor with him. He will take you, as he takes a
piece of fruit from a dish, when he is ready - and you will bear him a
child."
"And then?"
"Thankfully, I am not the fates - I neither spin nor measure nor cut the
threads of mortal life. I can see some of what will happen, but as
through a glass, darkly. I know what you must do next. I do not know all
of what the weird sisters will spin."
Antonia entered the emperor's service. And during one of countless
drunken bacchanals, he noticed her pouring wine. He called her over, and
took her there, in front of all the guests. It was a small favor that
most were too drunk to pay attention. It was painful, too, since Antonia
had never been with a man.
Over the course of the next few months it became obvious that she was
pregnant. Since it was suspected that the emperor was the father, she
was treated with a short measure of deference, and allowed to give birth
to the child.
When the midwife placed the mewling child on her chest, Antonia felt
something shift inside her, as if someone had given her a gift of
immense importance, and immense peril. As the days passed, and her
attachment to her child grew, she fought against it, knowing that she
would lose him. But years passed, and Antonia gave her son a name,
Hippolytus, after her friend. Her service with the emperor was not so
onerous, and no one raped her again. She was mother of the emperor's
child, and the emperor himself had no interest. Hippolytus grew up
strong and smart, learning to speak early and very affectionate to his
mother. Antonia began to forget what the Goddess had told her.
On the day the emperor was murdered by his soldiers, members of his
guard chose his successor, his addled uncle Claudius. Claudius bore no
ill-will to her or her child (he knew nothing about them) but the guards
were jealous of the succession. Three year old Hippolytus was ripped
from her arms and taken away.
She knew that he would ultimately survive, would become the next priest,
but in her mother's heart she felt only grief and loss. She fell to the
floor, weeping inconsolably. She stayed there, sobbing, until darkness
fell. Then Antonia took advantage of the turmoil to escape from the
imperial household in Rome and return to Dianna's grove. She was
accepted as an acolyte.
In the early mornings she would sometimes see Dianna at the edge of the
grove. She would point her out to her companions, but no one seemed to
see her but Antonia.
Turnus did serve well, and never seemed to swerve from the path. Antonia
laughed to herself, sometimes, seeing him practice in the grove,
practice the moves that she had taught him so many years before. Several
times she saw them both, the Goddess and the priest, talking, her grim
hounds surrounding her.
She almost didn't recognize Hippolytus when he first arrived. He was
three when he had seen him last, and now he was grown, tall and
straight, with the emperor's strong features, and the muscular frame of
Antonius.
The acolytes whispered of his story. He was a slave, raised to be a
gladiator, who had been called to Dianna's service. Antonia left the
acolytes' quarters, late at night, to witness the combat. She saw
Hippolytus stride into combat, looking disdainfully at the priest. And
she saw his look change, as the priest taught him to respect the lessons
of age. But Hippolytus was young and strong, and his training for the
coliseum served him well. The priest tired, and fell to his sword.
The years passed for Antonia. She watched her son grow in Dianna's
service, and she felt pride well up within her when she saw them
together, at the edge of the grove, talking as a priest and his Goddess
talk.
Over the course of time Antonia became Dianna's priestess, head of the
acolytes. She fulfilled her duties with joy.
One day, while walking in the grove, she saw a figure in the shadows at
the edge of the wood. She felt her heart beat fast, it couldn't be! But
as she approached Virbius stepped towards her, holding open his arms.
She ran to him and embraced him.
"My old friend," Virbius said. "I had hoped I would see you again."
"Virbius," she said. "I owe you more than I can say."
"It is I who owe you." He replied. "When gods aren't worshipped, they
continue in some fashion. I'm not sure what happens to demi-gods like
me." He smiled and laughed.
"My son," she said. "You have spoken with him?"
"Yes," he said.
"And?"
"And," Virbius said, "he is a good priest. You should be proud of him."
"And She is pleased?"
"I sense that she is."
Antonia paused, "Is he happy?"
Virbius laughed. "Yes, I know you are his mother, and you will never
stop worrying about him, but you have nothing to worry about."
Antonia smiled. They walked for a little way into the woods, arm in arm.
"I have never spoken to Her since my return," she said finally.
"No, it's not Her way." He said and stopped, turning towards her. "But
know this, you are never out of her heart, or mine."
"And," Antonia said, "she is never out of my heart, nor are you."
Antonia was grateful that she did not survive to see her son replaced in
his office. She died quietly in her cell, with the acolytes gathered
around her, and Dianna in her heart.
Lesley
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