Anaera and Orpheus had not had a good time. The shopping trip had started out well enough. The bakeries they had visited in the afternoon had been particularly rewarding. Orpheus had really like Lord Bravery’s Bakeshop, where they’d each had a muffin, or a scone. Later that night, they had gone to a club. Anaera supposed now that she shouldn’t have let Orphy talk her into changing clothes. She would have been fine in the purple dress, but he had insisted that the little black dress was far more appropriate. She didn’t like being groped by strangers – not in the least. The fight hadn’t made the club owner too happy, and the police were only too happy to arrest her. Consequently, she had spent some time in jail. Nobody noticed the mouse in her hair, so she was at least able to enjoy company beyond her cellmates. Anaera and her Guardian had kept conversation at the empathic level, not wanting to be subjected to psychological evaluation. Her bond with Orpheus wasn’t strong enough for true telepathic speech, but they could understand each other well enough through images and unsubtle emotions. It wasn’t good enough for telling jokes, but it was more than either of them had had at other times. And now they were out, and free to talk as much as they wished.

“I think we could both use a nice hot bath right now,” Orpheus commented from her hair.

“I don’t know. I don’t feel like going inside right now. It would be great if we could find some hot springs. For now, though, I feel like climbing a tree.”

“Fine by me, we could both use some exercise as well as a bath, and we might as well exercise first.”

They made their way to a tree-filled park. Anaera made sure no one was watching, and then Orpheus changed into human form. They did some warm up stretches and exercises and then the two set to climbing the tallest tree in the park. When they got as high as they could, without risking branches breaking beneath them, they began training. Other people might think training in a tree was silly, but Anaera had always preferred it. Trees always felt like home and being in a tree felt more private than any other place in the world. It was good for increasing agility and training on dangerous ground ensured that you’d know where you were putting your feet in a fight. Orpheus seemed to concur, and it was a very good training session.

Otaku and Guardian had done their cool down stretches in the tree as well, and were now lounging on the branches, sipping Perrier and chatting.

“I’ve been so selfish, Orphy,” Anaera said, “You’ve been able to talk for a good time now, and I haven’t bothered to get to know you – not really.”

“Well, we have been busy. And you were very tired when we were in Hades.”

“I can make excuses well enough for myself, thank you! So, let talk.”

“What would you like to know? Hmmm? What? Can’t think of where to start? Well, then. Here goes.”

Anaera settled herself into a more comfortable position to listen, as Orpheus began his narrative.

“I’m you’re Guardian, I’m a mouse, and I’m gay!”

“Hey! I already knew all that!”

“So, you do know something about me, after all! Let’s try some more info! My favorite color is purple and I’m very partial to pastries.”

“I know that too! C’mon and be serious. I’m sure you know all about me.”

“Well, yes. It’s my job, you know!”

“And we are good friends.”

Orpheus’s face finally got serious. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Best friends,” he agreed. “That’s why I know that if I tell you the whole story, you’ll share all the pain. You’ve got enough of your own.”

“If you don’t share it with me, then who? And I want to share it. You’re the truest friend I have, and the only person I can trust completely.” Anaera reached over and tweaked his nose, continuing, “Even if you did omit to tell me you could talk for so many years.”

Orpheus laughed, “Well, that’s part of the story, too. And it’s a very long story, soooo…” Orpheus reached into Anaera’s Hammerspace and pulled out a couple of big bean bags. He braced them against the trunk on two very thick branches. “Get comfortable. And please, for my sake, no matter how many questions you may have, let me get through the entire story.”

They both settled down, and Orpheus told his tale:

“Though I have been a Guardian a long time – longer than many – I have not always been a Guardian. While you were still living in childhood, I was a nymph named Eurydice. I had a different body – my own body. And I had someone I loved very much. Orpheus was the son of a Muse and his physical beauty was only excelled by the beauty of his voice. We had only been married a short time, and then I died. I went to the Underworld and though I had rest and freedom from physical pain there, I did not have him. Death was the only thing that could part us, and it had succeeded. I could not even wait for my love, because he might not die. I did not even know if I should wish him to die! Did I want my beloved to live to know more? Or would he be worse for living without me? If only I could hear his voice! And then, I did. He had come for me! He had braved all the horrors the Underworld has for the living and now begged Lord Hades for the life of his Eurydice. You know the rest of that part of the tale, I know. I had no voice to keep him from turning on that last stair. I was not yet alive enough to stop him from killing me again. I met his eyes for the last time and felt both our hearts breaking. My spirit carried on a miserable existence. I could not see him, I could not touch him – I could only hear the dying echoes of his laments. From the realm of Hades, I could feel his spirit die slowly, while his body lived on. This time, it was I who went to see Hades and Persephone. I, the pitiful spirit of a long-dead nymph, pleaded with them to allow us to be together, but it was not to be, for my beloved had already failed. They offered me only forgetfulness, which I could not take. Many more decades passed in pain. Yet one day, much later in the flow of time, against all hope, I was told our wish could be granted. Hades would reunite me with my Orpheus, if I promised to always care for his daughter. Stunned by the thought of Hades having any child and overwhelmed by the thought of being together after so long, I accepted – without question. I learned my mistake later. We were together again, after a fashion, but beyond all hope of happiness. I had not realized in the Underworld, that I never truly heard Orpheus anymore, no longer truly felt his dying spirit, because it had died. I had been only been imagining it for the last few years, when in fact, all that was left of my beloved was his body – which I now inhabited. A body without a spirit and a spirit without a body: perfect for Hades. Confused, betrayed, lost beyond despair, I was in no fit state when I was sent to the Council. ‘I have been deceived,’ I moaned in my true love’s voice, but the Guardians said, ‘Your wish has been honored and you must honor your vow.’ ‘She always liked mice,’ Lady Persephone told the Council and I was taken away. The gods all had left, so I had no one to appeal to – I was bound to the non-life before me, and it would be a long one, since I was in Orpheus’s body. I have no idea what happened for a very long time. I was given the form of a small mouse and my body was trained. Later, I heard talk of a Silver Millenium and shattered – and a Golden Kingdom and collapse – and a whole lot about infinite evil. Then, I was told, ‘Your charge will need you.’ I was finally reached. They showed you to me. They showed me your heart: confused, betrayed, lost beyond despair. ‘She does need me,’ I told them, and I told myself, ‘I need her.’ I recognized the sister of my heart and my suffering, and so our bond began. I joined you in your long sleep and was with you when you awakened. I might have spoken then, but for the longest time I was unable to. No one knew how that kind of sleep worked, and thus had no idea of the side-effects to a Guardian. I was with you, though. Time had healed much, and for then, our bond was enough. When I was fully myself again, the kinder ones on the Council agreed with me that the rest could wait. For the time being, as long as you were safe, I could remain merely a very special mouse. They asked me what name I would go by, and I told them I would be ‘Orpheus,’ because that was the name you somehow knew to give me, and also that my beloved’s name would always be spoken.”

There were tears in both their eyes when the tale was finished. They forgot time and place and rose to share the comforting embrace of sisters. Unfortunately, they completely forgot they were in a tree. Fortunately, the earth was soft when they hit it. They were now laughing through their tears.

Anaera could only manage to say one thing, “Does this mean you’re not exactly gay?”