Fall of Apollo part seven

Apollo groaned awake, the bright sunlight filtering through the window. He turned away so he didn’t see it, feeling like he went a few rounds with Ares.

Suddenly the door opened and Kassandra walked in, bringing a hand to his forehead. He weakly slapped it away with a whine.

She chuckled softly. “Guess you’re feeling better.”

“If by better you mean got into a fight with Ares and lost? Then yes.”

“Well the fact you’re able to hold a conversation is good. And your fever is completely gone.”

“Then why do I still feel like this?” He asked weakly.

“Cause your body just went through a lot to try to keep you alive. Those aches and pains should go away in about a day or two with some food and movement. Now let’s get you up and get that blood circulating.” She started urging him up.

He grumbled but complied, knowing exactly how important that is. He stood and felt achy but not weak, not like before.

He ended up walking well on his own, following her to the kitchen where Georgio and Maria were eating their breakfast.

Maria smiled brightly, getting out of her chair and running over, hugging him tightly. “You’re ok! I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too..” He said confused, the time of him being sick was a huge blur, images and voices blended together into one big mess.

Kasandra cleared it up, seeing his confusion. “We had to bar her from seeing you for fear she could become sick again. And you were in no state for visitors.”

Apollo frowned. “How bad was I? I can barely remember anything.”

Kasandra looked away. “We’re surprised you’re not dead, if that’s any indication. Only by the luck of Hermes are you alive.”

Apollo stayed quiet and hugged Maria back. He went to the table and ate but he wished he knew what went on when he was so out of it, especially if Hermes got involved.

The rest of the day went by, slowly feeling better with each easy task Maria gave him and food she made him eat, making sure he got the nutrients he needed after barely being able to keep down bread for a week.

By the time night came, he waited until the family went to sleep before heading down to the cellar. He walked down the stairs and already saw Dionysus waiting casually and drinking from his goblet.

Apollo made an amused noise. “Just waiting for me or did you know I’d come visit?”

Dionysus shrugged with a smile. “A bit of both, glad to see you’re doing well.”

“They said I almost died. Is that true?” Apollo asked.

He saw Dionysus go from smiling to softly serious, a frown on his face. “You did. It was only by the grace of your sister and son that you even stayed alive during its duration. I got Hermes to help, he’s not a healer but he can bring an awful amount of luck to those who need it.”

“Explains why she said but he luck of Hermes I’m alive. Thank you, for your help. I’d shake your hand but..”  knowing it was no use, he couldn’t physically touch the deities, his hand just going through any of them.

Dionysus chuckled. “It’s no problem but you should really thank your sister and son, they’re the reason you’re even still standing, they kept you out of the fates hands and oh boy, they were not happy.”

Apollo swallowed, not sure if he wanted the question on his mind answered. “What would have happened if I died?”

Dionysus just shrugged again. “No ones sure. I went to Zeus about the issue and he said you will be Hades problem. He refused to attempt to fix or even acknowledge it.”

Apollo glared at the ground. “The fucking bastard.”

Dionysus chuckled. “Exactly what your son said. He’s truly his fathers son.”

Apollo let out a sigh. “Sorry you had to go through all that trouble. Where is my sister? And son?”

“Getting some much needed and much deserved rest. They watched over you for nearly an entire week, keeping you from passing and out of the fates hands. They promise to come visit when they’ve properly rested. You should be resting too.”

Apollo gave a nod in agreement. “I know, I just wanted to come talk to you, I don’t remember anything, it’s all a blur of images and voices.”

Dionysus took a drink from his goblet before speaking. “Well you talked, now go sleep.”

Apollo huffed. “I’m going, I’m going.” He started walking, starting to go up the stairs. “You're as bad as Hades, I Thought you were supposed to be the fun one.” Apollo teased.

Dionysus chuckled, watching him. “I am, I’m only this stern with those I care about.”

“Oh well I’m honored.” Apollo said with a small bit of sarcasm. Dionysus gave a more serious look. Apollo huffed, walking up the stairs faster. “I’m going, don’t give me any nightmares please.”

He said, voice drifting away as he made his way out of the cellar, on his way to his room to get some proper sleep.

The next day, with more energy now that he’s gotten sleep, he did all he could to help around the vineyard to make up for lost time.

And they had a lot to do, next month would be time for one of Dionysus biggest festivals and that means lots and lots of wine. And lots and lots of wine that needs bottled.

He’s not sure how long he was in the cellar, bottling wine, Kassansra bringing more bottles when he runs out and he was concerned, the bottles were taking over nearly the entire floor. “This will probably use up all your wine reserves.”

She smiled. “That’s the idea. The festival of Dionysus is good in that sense, gives us a chance to have a break from the wine making, it uses the final harvest and allows us to give the wine barrels a good clean.”

Apollo gave a nod to her story. “Makes more sense. I’ve known of his festivals, I’ve never seen one.”

Kassandra smiled as she grabbed a few filled bottles to put into her basket to take up stairs with her. “You should go. I went to a few in my youth, they’re the best or worst time you’ll ever have.”

Apolo chuckled weakly. “I don’t know, I barely know what they do there, just that it’s a lot of debauchery.”

“Well that’s not All that’s there, there’s also the theater and music and signing, no one will force you into anything you don’t want to do. They even have plain grape juice and drinks for people who do not wish to drink alcohol. You should go, have fun. Your only human for the year, might as well have a good time.”

Dionysus was watching and listening in, Apollo saw him at the corner of his eyes. Dionysus walked closer, his form going through the many, many wine bottles.  “You know I’m just going to say the same.”

Apollo gave him an exaporated look before sighing and agreeing, reluctantly with her. “I guess I could go check it out for a bit.”

“And have some wine?” The wine god urged with a smile.

“And have a glass of wine.”  He said bluntly and dry.

Both Ksasnraa and Dionysus cheered in union. Kassandra smiled, standing with the basket of filled wine bottles to transport upstairs. “You’ll have a wonderful time my lord.”

Apollo gave her a look, getting an empty wine bottle to fill. “You’ve seen me vomit my guts out, I think we’re way past formality. I’ve told you, Just Apollo is fine.” He finished with a smile.

Kassdrna just smiled and took the bottles upstairs. Dionysus took this time to properly talk to the sun god, info dumping about all the best wines the festivals have and which he should avoid.

Apollo just let him talk, letting his gentle baritone fill the silence of the wine cellar as he filled bottle after bottle.

Apollo chuckled after a while. “You’re telling me this as if I’ll actually be knowledgeable enough to know what the fuck I’m drinking; I just taste wine. Plus, it’s just one drink. I’m not planning on staying the entire night.”

“That’s what they all say, then come sunrise the healers have to help those who overindulged from just one drink. And then they go back and do it again the next night!” He said with a chuckle.

Apollo rolled his eyes, moving the filled wine bottle to get a new empty one. “That’s just crazy; why go back and do it all again when you know you’re gonna be in the same position as last time?”

“Because it’s fun! You have to learn to let go and live life to the fullest!” He said cheerily, summoning his goblet of wine and drinking.

Apollo huffed, shaking his head looking away as he got a new bottle, placing the filled one down. “You say live life to the fullest, I say you should take care of your liver.”

Dionysus just laughed, with a huge grin on his face and a sheen of wine trailing down his chin.

December

With all the wine delivered to the sanctuary and temple of Dionysus in Athens, Apollo was borderline abandoned to the festival by Kasandra and Georgio, promising to come for him in the morning.

The festival has barely started, people still getting their shops set up, actors still practicing lines and rehearsal, it was early.

Dionysus appeared next to him, dressed differently than usual.

This time he showed off his horns that were normally hidden away, he adorned himself with a deep purple toga with a pleat of leopard hanging off his exposed shoulder with a few grape vines around his neck like a necklace with a golden goblet in one hand filled up to the brim.

Apollo looked him over. “You look different.” He said simply with a smile.

Dionysus smiled, bringing a hand to his shoulder. Apollo surprised when he felt skin on skin.

“Thank you my friend, now let me show you around-“

“You can touch me?” Apollo asked in shock.

Dionysus smiled, giving a nod. “Yeah. This is the one time of year I have enough energy to visit in this form. It’s why many of the others can’t do this, the energy it requires would put them to sleep for weeks. because of the large amount of devotion here for me, if allows me to visit in this form. But when it’s done, I am sleeping for days. And not just from the hangovers.”

Apollo nodded, looking thoughtful. “So if Artemis Or Asclepius had a festival like they, I might be able to touch them?”

“Yes but I wouldn't count on that; they’re healers, if they had festivals they would be vastly different from mine. I can’t say with any certainty it would generate enough energy for them to have a corporeal form.”

“What about Zeus? Isn’t he always down here with mortal lovers?” Apollo asked, arms crossed.

Dionysus just waved his hand, waving the thought away. “Zeus is his own, he is king of the gods, next to you he’s the most worshiped of all of us. He has more than enough devotion and energy to be among humans. And you do too.”

Apollo gave him a look. “Obviously I knew I could, that’s how I got Asclepius. I just wish they could as well, I just want to be able to hug them.”

Dionysus brought an arm around his shoulders. “And you will, but now let me show you around before it really gets going.”

Apollo was dragged around by the wine god and was surprised to see so much serious theater, Dionysus explaining all of it.

Apollo watched the actors rehearse,surprise on his face. “So when they do the plays, they’re not drunk or high? Really? I thought that was your entire festival.”

Dionysus gave him a look. “Indulgence is not the entire festival, I take theater very seriously, drinking and substance use while performing or rehearsing is forbidden among my devoted.”

Apollo smiled. “Wow, I didn’t  expect that.”

“Just because I’m a god of wine and ecstasy doesn’t mean I don’t encourage moderation. I want people to drink and be high to have a good time, not to escape their problems.

“And all the sex?” Apollo asked curiously as the wine god  was walking away from him, to go further up to his temple.

Dionysus turned with a smile and swung his arms out. “I am a god of fertility Apollo! Now come! Let me show you the temple!”