Okay, well this is the last of my edited chapters. After NaNoWriMo 2007 is finished I'm hoping to continue with the editing/writing of this novel...because at the end of NaNoWriMo 2006 I deleted everything after this chapter because I didn't like it at all. I know where this story is going and am even starting a sequel so we'll see what happens.

Thanks to my reviewers for sticking with me on this story. If you have read and not reviewed I would love to hear from you. I do return all reviews even though it sometimes takes me a while.

Well, I guess that's all from me for now. Enjoy!

Chapter XV: The Temple

“This place is insane,” said Jesse as they walked away from Avalon. After everything they had been through the past few days, he now believed in Mythology and Fantasy but some of the creatures he had encountered were strange and…there was no other word for it than insane.

Lexa looked at him and smiled for a moment. “No, I think that’s just you.” The rest of the group laughed at Lexa’s statement.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Jesse responded. But it was evident that he found it humorous as well because a smile had broken out on his face.

The mood of the group had changed drastically in the past few days. In the beginning none of them had liked Jesse or Hector. Then, everyone was looking for Hector because he was in danger…a danger he couldn’t run from, which actually revealed a side of Hector the others hadn’t been able to see. Now, even Jesse was starting to become less of an obnoxious jerk and more of a friend.

Lexa looked over at Darrion, noticing that he was constantly looking around and he didn’t join in on their conversations. She realized then that she hadn’t introduced him to the others. “Hey guys, stop for a minute.” The others looked at her strangely but stopped. “Darrion,” she said, “these are my friends Rommie, Zahira, Sukari, and Jesse.” Each waved at Darrion as Lexa said their name. “We have to protect Darrion until his coronation.”

“When is his coronation?” Rommie asked.

“We don’t know for sure. It all depends on when the King dies. He’s ill now so it could be any day.”

“Do you think that’s why we’re here?” Zahira inquired.

“It could be,” Lexa answered. She looked over at Darrion, noticing how his dark brown pants showed off his legs; they were toned and Lexa could imagine how helpful they were when he was fighting off people who wanted him dead. Her gaze traveled up to the tight cream colored shirt he was wearing, completely avoiding the area between his pants and shirt. There was something about him that was different; she could sense it even if she didn’t know what it was. Whatever it was, it was attractive.

“Why am I thinking these things?” she asked herself, knowing that she shouldn’t be thinking like that. After all, he was a Prince and she was no one; she wasn’t even from the same world as he was. Even if they did live in the same world, nothing could happen between them.

Darrion looked over at Lexa, noticing that her gaze was fixed upon him. “Is everything all right?” he asked, looking right into her green-brown eyes.

She looked up at him. “Yeah, why wouldn’t everything be alright?”

“You just seemed to be a little lost in thought.” He looked away from her, trying not to get lost in her never-ending eyes. She was attractive, that he could see, but he couldn't be doing anything with someone who was to guard him; it was against the rules. He still couldn’t believe that he was being protected by a group of people his own age instead of by a trained army. Didn’t Rhiannon realize that he needed protection, the kind that he could actually rely on? Certainly this group of foreign young adults couldn't do anything if an assassin were to attack.

Then again, they had proved useful in recovering the Talismans. Maybe they could be of use to him if an attack came. He could only trust Rhiannon's judgment and hope for the best.

Lexa turned away from Darrion and continued walking down the path, all the while wondering why she was thinking the crazy thoughts she was thinking. Were the dreams of Darrion supposed to warn her that she would be attracted to him? Or was she supposed to be with him? Things were just so confusing. "I wish I knew what was supposed to happen." She knew what the Norns had told her and she hoped to prevent it though now she understood that maybe it had to happen.

Lexa glanced over towards Sukari and sighed. All of their relationships would be tested on the journey and Lexa could only hope that they would all flourish.

Sukari caught Lexa's gaze and looked over at her friend. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, of course I am. You should know better Sukari; I'm always alright."

Sukari looked doubtful. "No, you're always fantastic. I know you well enough to know that when you don't say that you're fantastic, that something's wrong. So why don't you just tell me and get it off your chest."

"I can't tell you; I'm sorry. I can't risk anything happening to you guys."

Before Sukari could say anything else, they all saw a large village just ahead of them. The many thatched roofs peaked from between a few small hills. The group, with the exception of Lexa and Darrion, started to head for the village. "Guys wait," Lexa called. Rommie, Zahira, Sukari, and Jesse turned around to look at Lexa. "We don't even know if we have to go through the village. Is there anything there that we need?" she asked looking over at Darrion.

"The temple is there. I believe that it would be beneficial to visit the temple before continuing."

"What's so special about the temple?" Jesse asked, doubting there would be anything interesting about a temple.

"It is the Temple of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. I remember my parents used to travel to her temple often to determine if their appropriate course of action was war or alternate methods such as marriage arrangements."

"Wait a minute," Jesse responded. "Goddess of Love? How is a Goddess of Love supposed to know when it is better to go to war or not?"

Lexa looked over at Darrion. "Do you want to answer that or should I?" she asked. He gestured for her to continue and Lexa turned to look at Jesse. Around him she always felt like a teacher with a student that refused to do the homework, at least when it came to Mythology. "While Aphrodite may be the Goddess of Love, she knows a lot about war because of her...escapades with Ares, God of War. Also, many fights are over the love of a woman."

"Everyone always uses the phrase 'All is fair in love and war,'" Zahira stated. "There are obvious similarities between love and war, so it's natural for them to go hand-in-hand." She looked at the others, noting their wearied expressions. They had only been there for a few days though it felt like much longer; it was obvious that they needed a break from all of the crazy creatures they had encountered. "I think we should go to the Temple of Aphrodite. Since reading up on her, I've wondered what she would be like."

The others looked at her and Lexa gave a small smile. "That sounds like a good idea," Rommie answered.

Lexa looked at the others, who were beginning to show their approval of the decision, then she said, "Let's go." The group began to walk at a hurried pace towards the village. Lexa took it all in as they entered the boundaries of the village. She could tell that something was going on there. As soon as they entered, the villagers froze and backed away, hiding anywhere they could. A few stood in shocked silence, unable to move due to their fear.

"What's going on?" Sukari asked, looking at the frightened faces of the women and children. The men were trying to put on brave faces but all of them were failing miserably. She knew that they couldn't look that horrifying to where they would scare off everyone. Then again, maybe they had never seen a group like this before.

Darrion looked around as if trying to determine why the villagers were acting the way that they were. "Since hearing of my father's illness, bandits and worse have been traveling around robbing and pillaging everywhere they could. They figured that they could get away with it and they are right. Judging by the appearance of everyone here, they must assume that we are a group of bandits."

"Couldn't you calm their fears by telling them who you are?" Zahira asked.

"No," Lexa answered. "We don't know if everyone here is loyal to the King. For all we know, there could be assassins located within the village."

"Let's just go to the Temple of Aphrodite, do what we came here to do, and leave," Jesse responded uncomfortably. The others agreed and the group walked towards the center of the village, where a large gray marble temple had been erected. The temple was complete with marble pillars. Around the outside entrances were vases of large white, pink, and red flowers in full bloom.

Inside the temple was filled with the most luxurious items, chairs, decorative vases, a fountain, and a large pile of shells, coins, and pearls, offerings to Aphrodite; it was obvious that the village worked hard to maintain the temple and keep thieves out, though they seemed to not care as much for the rest of their possessions. "Wow," Zahira murmured gazing around at everything. At the far end of the temple was a lounge, one of the most elegant ones she had ever seen. "This place is amazing."

"Thank you," a melodious female's voice stated from behind a large vase of flowers.

"Who's there?" Zahira looked over towards where the voice had come from. She wondered if they had encountered someone that was a friend or a foe.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" the voice taunted. The group heard a soft laugh moments later; the woman was trying to provoke them. Lexa had pulled an arrow from her quiver and placed her arrow on the bowstring, ready for an attack if it came. Rommie's hand was on his sword's hilt in case he needed to draw it and use it.

"Show yourself!" Darrion demanded. He took a few steps towards the vase of flowers the woman was hiding behind. Lexa walked up behind him and grabbed his arm to hold him back. She didn't want him to get any closer until they knew who they were dealing with.

"Or what Darrion? You should know better than to demand things from me." The voice echoed through the temple, most likely showing that the woman was large.

Lexa looked over at Darrion. "How does she know your name? Who is this woman? Do you know her?" Lexa stopped. "Why are you asking all of these questions? Stop now; you're starting to sound jealous." She felt as if she could smack herself; she barely knew Darrion. Why was he affecting her the way he was?

Darrion just smiled. "I should have recognized your voice immediately. I meant no disrespect, Aphrodite. If you would please come out, I have some...friends I would like you to meet."