Author's note: Straying a little from the theme of the collection on this one, I guess, since have a girl thrown into the mix. Xerxes is "Xerxes the Wise", the mythical king of the known world from "Descendants of Kings", and Medela and Rakshi make an appearance in that book too. Those three go way back. (And no, she is not slutty. Just snuggly. I don't think Rakshi even really knows what the word means when he lectures her on her lack of "modesty".)

~*~*~

Join us? The wind carried the question like a soft whisper. A familiar, comforting voice, despite being such a new addition to his life.

'Not today,' Rakshi thought and broke the simple spell with a dismissive gesture. Let the youngsters exhaust themselves together.

It had been...years? since Medela had brought Xerxes, a mere child back then, to the garden surrounding the Fountain of Life. It was difficult to tell sometimes. Day and night were just a matter of his whims in this construct given to him by the gods, and djinns didn't age like their younger siblings.

Xerxes had grown, though, and despite the kind of wisdom rare in one of his species and unbefitting one of his meager years, he was still a young man. With Medela's shapely body and complete lack of modesty, the atmosphere had become awkward quickly.

Rakshi chuckled to himself. Not that he had understood it at first. Xerxes had tried to avoid physical contact or looking at her too long all of a sudden. But, well, avoiding physical contact with the djinn of water who loved hugging everyone was nearly impossible.

He had addressed the matter during a meal, one of the rare times when the three of them were all together - either him or Xerxes tended to be at the Fountain watching what happened in the world or learning from the wisdom of the gods or Medela was outside seeing the world for herself.

Xerxes was again looking everywhere else except Medela. And it was starting to annoy her, since she was trying to tell him what she had seen during her latest foray. Not that he couldn't have seen the same places and events in the Fountain. She just wanted to talk with someone. She always did.

"Xer-xes!" she stressed both syllables as she leaned over the table - more like crawled on the table - to get closer to him.

Rakshi calmly moved the dishes out of the way.

"What?" He instantly looked away again as he was met with a good view of her bosom.

"Modesty, woman...You're scaring him again."

"I am not scary!"

"I am not too certain of that."

"It's fine. It's nothing," Xerxes assured them. "But...I would appreciate it if you wore a little more clothes..."

"Why?" Rakshi asked. Medela had always worn skimpy clothing. That simply was the way things were.

Now Xerxes's ears turned red. A phenomenon he had not noticed before in their human friend. He had seen it in the visions, though.

"Djinns can't have children," he stated as he picked another handful of fresh dates from one of the plates. "But if your interests lie solely in the pleasure, go ahead."

Xerxes abruptly stood up and almost ran out of the room.

"Now you scared him!" Medela accused him.

Rakshi sighed. "Fine, fine, I'll go after him."

"Rakshi...Did you mean it? That it's all right if..."

"You know me, don't you?" He stood up. "I still can't fathom what the gods were thinking when you were born."

She squealed in delight and bounced to hug him.

"That's enough. I did not plan to carry you all the way."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek before letting go. "You are planning to watch, though?"

"Perhaps," he replied completely neutrally.

Finding Xerxes was child's play. Rakshi always knew what happened in the garden. After all, he was the guardian of the Fountain.

The human dropped to hands and knees as he saw him and brought his forehead to the ground. "I'm sorry."

"For...?" Rakshi queried as he sat down next to him.

"She is your wife. I shouldn't..."

"She is my companion." He guided Xerxes to also sit up.

"...Isn't that the same thing?"

"She is not my property."

"Of course not. But..."

"It is strange to see you this flustered."

Xerxes averted his eyes again. "I'm sorry."

Rakshi remained quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, "If you wish to enjoy her company in a more intimate manner, I don't mind. I love her very much, but she has always been more passionate than I have interest for."

"I couldn't...I'd feel like a thief."

"She is not my property," the djinn repeated. "And I am fond of you both."

"Aww! Come on, kiss him already!" Medela dropped on Xerxes's back practically out of nowhere. She was really fast in flight when she wanted to be.

Rakshi chuckled. She was an impatient one too. Then he leaned forward and briefly kissed the human on the lips.

Medela hugged Xerxes tighter and rubbed her cheek against the back of his head. She seemed very happy.

Rakshi floated back to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Xerxes asked, confusion written all over his face.

"To the Fountain."

"Have fun!" Medela called after him as he walked away, still hanging on to Xerxes.

"Heh. You too."

Everything had settled back to comfortable routine soon enough. He had come to love both Medela and Xerxes equally much. Although admittedly he might have favored the human a bit more physically. Xerxes had the kind of patience to go along with what he was more comfortable with. Nonetheless, the small, daily shows of affection - the lingering touches, the brief kisses - became regular occurrence among the three of them.

But the visions at the Fountain had involved the human more and more lately. And always there was this strange symbol emanating power. Authority. Rulership.

Just what kind of destiny would tear Xerxes away from them and back to his own world? Unfortunately future was not something he could see. Only these frustratingly vague hints.

He only wanted to protect them both. To remain in this garden forever.

And he knew that he could not. The gods had already made their decision.