Joxer, Xena, and Gabrielle all belong to the world of Xena: Warrior Princess which in turn belongs to Renaissance Pictures. There is no intent to profit from the use of these characters, and only the greatest respect intended for both the characters and the actors who portrays them.
Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, and she is occasionally portrayed by an actress on the above show. Her appearance in this story is based on that depiction. XMP

Joxer Short

by Selkie

The temple of Aphrodite was silent. The midafternoon sun streamed in golden beams from the windows, gilding the marble columns and silken tapestries. A lone petitioner knelt before the altar.

The goddess looked down and smiled on her worshipper.

As the beam of golden sunlight kissed his cheek, he began to speak:

All my life, I've heard you call to me, whispering that I could be among the great ones, the mighty warriors of Greece. That true happiness would not be mine, until joined their ranks. All I really wanted was to be loved, and you murmured that millions would love me, to take up my sword and my armor and become your paladin.

So, I left my parents and family to become a hero- a warrior- Why did you do it? What was it, some spat with Ares? A bet with Hermes?. Make a laughing stock of one of the great warlord families? Or was it a punishment for the hubris of my father?? Why did you appear to me and tell me to lead a heroic life, and then offer me no support? "You could be a hero", and then you disappeared. I could have been happy, some obscure clerk, or functionary, with a wife, children, just a simple, contented nobody. I was good at being unnoticed, or seen as harmless. With my brothers it was small wonder! How else would I have survived for so long .

I thought you might have forgotten me, I had almost given up then you appeared to me personally, and gave me that bell, asked me for a favor. Oh, dear goddess, I thought, that you were at last fulfilling your promise, preparing me, in truth, for the role you chose for me. Once again I got the opportunity to be your jester --- your fool and do your bidding and carry out you plans- and for what? More humiliation! You proved you could help me be a hero --- but took it away again, when you were done toying with us petty mortals. When Cupid's son escaped and wrecked havoc- I had a few moments of happiness. I should have known better. When it was all over, you had to tell someone didn't you? Big laughs all around for our heroes. And to tell Xena of all people- the last thing I wanted was her pity- I know I am not much of a rival- but to have her feeling sorry for me. is even harder than her amused tolerance.

Are you deliberately humiliating me? It's bad enough I get flustered and clumsier than normal- I can't think around Gabrielle, and Hercules just intimidates the hell out of me. When will you help me- help me to find someone who will actually teach me to fight- or to accept me? Help me to become the hero I want to be, that I know I can be? Have I served you so poorly? Why do you hate me so? How much longer will you punish me?

The goddess looked down- all in good time... and smiled gently.

Receiving no response, the lonely man rose up from his knees, and left the temple, his head bowed in sorrow, in spite of the sunlight that gleamed off his armor. As he passed, the peasants toiling in the pouring rain, stared at him admiringly and murmured, Truly he is one blessed by the gods.

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