Legendary

We were given rooms close together in what looked like an official building. The rooms were light and airy; sparsely furnished, they were meant for active people who spent their time out and about rather than homebodies. Iris, who had been so interested in everything we'd seen, abruptly keeled over in a nap from exhaustion. I grinned and smoothed her hair back from her face before investigating the suite more thoroughly before refreshing myself and changing and sitting on the bed, opening a book. I was a couple of chapters in when there was a tap at the door and Diana slipped in, smiling when she saw Iris curled up.

"She hasn't sucked her thumb since she was three," I said ruefully, for that digit had found its way back into her mouth. "But it's been a day of adventures."

"She didn't seem unhappy," Diana said, a little worried.

"She's not," I hurried to assure her. "It's just that there's a whole lot of new and not much that's familiar. She'll want to explore--new places have never bothered her, although the big test of that will be school, I think--it's all the new people, and all grownups."

Diana smiled. "She is already popular. Everybody is talking about the lovely little girl and everybody wants to see her for themselves. But I have had a thought. Perhaps we could detail one of the Amazons to be her special friend and take her around sightseeing while we are in meetings."

"Throw in a horse and she won't want to come home," I said. I woke up Iris, who was bright-eyed and energetic again. Damn, I feel old sometimes. We collected Martha and Torunn, and went to a lovely courtyard shaded by trees and brightened with a bounty of flowers, some of which I didn't recognize.

"The white flower is ambrosia," Hessia, the oracle said. "The gods drink the nectar. Each flower provides only a tiny amount, so you'll see it everywhere on the islands." Iris promptly poked her finger in one and licked it. She made a face and Hessia laughed. "It doesn't taste like anything to me, but the gods love it. I don't know how it's harvested, though. The nectar never accumulates and the bees don't bother with it."

We were introduced to more Amazons, and Diana was immediately set up on by her close friends--Cydippe, who had been her aide before she left Themyscira, Hellene, a Senator and historian, Mala, a warrior, Euboea, a champion swimmer, and Kasia, another warrior. After the introductions were complete, we drifted in conversations with groups of Amazons who were curious about us. I found myself chatting with Io, Philippus, and Pallas about arms and armor, specifically, how we made it and I was invited to the smithy before my visit was over. It wasn't long before Diana brought Kasia over and she offered her service as a minder for Iris. Iris had gotten cautious with so many new grown-ups, but after five or so minutes talking, she accepted Kasia as her companion and they left to explore the city. The groups rotated after a bit and I compared treatment methods with Epione and a few of the other healers, then chatted with Oeone, a botanist, who indulged me with plant care tips. The volcanic soil on the islands was very fertile and there was no trouble with horticulture.

Then Diana brought me to her mother, who assessed me thoroughly with a glance. It was pretty intimidating, all in all. Diana explained my skills as a smith and fighter, and her expression lightened with interest. Just then, another woman approached, walking briskly, and made a cursory bow to the queen. She smiled broadly at Diana, who inhaled sharply. First she reported the results of a training session of the army--with live steel--and Hippoyta nodded with satisfaction. Then the new woman and Diana were hugging. "This is my aunt, General Antiope." Diana introduced me, wiping her eyes.

"When the halls of Hades emptied, I returned here," Antiope said, shrugging. "Many of our sisters were returned with me." She smiled at her niece and stroked her hair, much like I did with Iris. "This is the first opportunity I have had to see Diana."

"I've heard quite a bit about the underworld," I said. "My daughter was there, along with my husband."

Antiope cocked her head with interest and I indicated Martha. Diana brought her over. I knew that she recognized the general as her eyes widened and she looked between us rapidly. Huh. "I recognize you," Antiope said, smiling at her, and they clasped arms. "You were interviewing the inhabitants of Elysium for Lord Hades."

"Er... yes," Martha said. "Um, Mom... about Dad..."

"Who is your father?" Antiope asked.

"Damian Wayne," she said. Antiope's gaze sharpened.

"Black hair, blue eyes, beauty reflected inward as well as in his outer appearance?" she asked, and Martha nodded. The general looked at her closely. "I see the resemblance." Then she looked taken aback. "You were his lady wife, then."

"Yes, and I continue to be," I said, mystified. "We were remarried. How do you know him?"

"He spoke of you with great devotion," she said. "I heard of you when we were lovers."

Wow. Was not expecting that. I took a moment to think that through. It's one thing to know that Damian had relationships in the underworld and another to meet one. And, wow. Such an accomplished one at that. And she's a tall, beautiful blonde. I was the only brunette Damian had ever dated. Well, in life, anyway.

"Damian's always had good taste," I said after a brief period of reflection, in which the love I knew he had for me battled with insta-jealousy. Hippolyta's eyebrows shot skyward.

"Does it not bother you, that he was with other women?" she asked.

"Well, we were in different afterlives, and we couldn't be together, so no," I said, shrugging. "I was forbidden from contacting anyone I'd known during life. We talked it over when we were reunited and I knew. And I had a relationship of my own. These relationships are in the past and are precious memories. I've always wanted him to be happy."

"You are a most unusual woman," Antiope said.

"Damian works with my ex," I said matter-of-factly. "If he can manage that, I can certainly handle meeting you. Not going to lie, though, it's a little intimidating to meet you. Your reputation proceeds you."

Diana startled everyone by laughing. "Such modesty! Mother, I was going to tell you later when there was more time for talk. This one is one of Odin's chosen valkyries, an appointed leader."

"Oh, Odin," Antiope said, a little dismissively. I smiled. "I have heard of his Valhalla."

"It was a lot of work," I said reflectively. "There were daily scrimmages, combat with Frigga's domain, all in preparation for Ragnarok."

"What is Ragnarok?" Hippolyta asked.

"Well, it was supposed to be the end of the world, but we managed to prevent that," I said.

"It is why the gates of the underworld were opened," Martha said. "The dead rising was one of the signs."

"By all accounts it was a fierce battle," Diana told her mother and aunt. Others had drifted over as well. "Their afterlife was similar to the Spartan city-state, warriors all, and the valkyries an elite unit even among that company. They had feather capes that turned into wings, and they fought from the air as well as afoot and astride the winged horses. There are sagas about the battle in the realm of Asgard."

"Wings?" Antiope said alertly. "Real wings?"

"Yes, but the ability to manifest them vanished after the battle, with the death of Odin," Diana explained, hewing to the public story.

"What a sight that would be," Philippus said.

"Well, it's not something I usually do, but--" I stepped back and brought out the wings. There was utter silence.

"By the gods..." Antiope murmured.

"I understood that all your wings were gone," Hippolyta said to me, puzzled.

"The nature of my bond is different than the other valkyries," I said. "Their bond was only with Odin. Mine is through Odin, but to the World Tree. And since the Tree lives, so my wings are still with me. It's not something many know about."

"Men fear what they do not understand," Euboea sniffed. I smiled.

"It's not just the men," I said ruefully. "There are a lot of women who would throw stones as well."

"The world of man is a cruel place if they react like that to a gift from the gods like that," Hippolyta said. "Corruption and blasphemy."

"Not everybody has direct experience with a god," Martha shrugged. "And many are intolerant of any god but the one they worship. Everybody likes to think that theirs is the best."

"And you want to stay out in the world of men?" Io asked Diana in bewilderment.

"There are good things to balance the bad," she said. "And I represent a better way."

Amazons gathered around me, entranced by the wings, so I explained the coating on the feathers, which I hadn't removed after the events in Rome. They gently touched the feathers, and Aella, their falconer, asked questions.

"Perhaps I can give you a demonstration," I offered, and she grinned.

"Perhaps with arms?" Hellene asked hopefully. "It is an extraordinary opportunity, to meet a warrior from such a different tradition."

"Not today," Hippolyta chided gently. "After hospitality has been offered and business concluded, perhaps."

"It would be my pleasure," I said. And it would be. Not many can say they've had the privilege of fighting an Amazon, and fewer still can say they've done it on their homeland.

But first, there was a welcoming ceremony where Penelope chanted a history of the Amazons. It was absolutely fascinating. Olympian goddesses had created the Amazons; souls of women who had been killed by men were given new, stronger bodies by Artemis, created from clay and become flesh and blood, their memories gently altered. Aphrodite gave Hippolyta a magic girdle that made her invincible as long as she wore the belt. Athena gave them their immortality--as long as they can regularly drink from a spring on the island-- great physical strength, highly acute senses, beauty, wisdom, and love for their kind. They were tasked to teach the merits of virtue, love, and equality to the world of men. Demeter blessed them with eternal bountiful harvests, and Hestia granted them a home.

But Ares, by nature opposed to harmony and peace, goaded his half-brother Heracles into attacking the Amazons with a great host of Greek warriors, stole Hippolyta's girdle using deceit and trickery, and enslaved their sisterhood. Hippolyta had to ask their goddesses for deliverance more than once before the goddesses arranged their deliverance. Typical, I thought. Gods and their snits. Somehow--it wasn't stated just how--Hippolyta managed to steal back the girdle. The Amazons broke their chains, and returned to Themyscira, having commandeered Heracles' entire fleet.

Ha! One for the good guys. So to speak.

The terms of Aphrodite's help was that they remove themselves from the world of man, which was why their nation was so hard to find and protected by the magic mists. The goddess also decreed that those on the island continue to wear the metal bracelets that the Greeks had used to chain and control them.

Kind of a dick move, if you ask me. They were thick and heavy, and I wondered how you could wear them all the time without getting some kind of skin condition. The daily reminder of their degradation must have been difficult to bear, and probably still was sometimes. And also, how were they supposed to carry out their mission of teaching love, equality, and virtue to the wider world when they were confined to their islands? This conundrum was not explained.

They were given a new trust, keepers of the Doors of Doom, which imprison monsters beneath the islands. They built their cities and monuments, and perfected their skills in art and war. It was discovered later that Heracles had been imprisoned in a stone pillar behind the Doors of Doom, tormented by the monsters therein, as a punishment for his transgressions by the Olympian goddesses.

They Amazons lived in peace and prosperity for uncounted years, until the conflict of World War One brought the Germans to their shores in pursuit of a British pilot, and the first battle on Themyscira was fought. The Amazons were immortal against the ravages of time but could still be killed by weapons, and many perished, including General Antiope, but the Germans were driven away. The plane, flown by an American named Steve Trevor, crashed into the ocean to be rescued by Diana. This posed a problem, since the goddesses had forbidden men to set foot on the island.

They got around this by carrying him everywhere, not that he was allowed to really go anyplace, Io whispered to me.

Diana was allowed to leave the island with Trevor and thus promote equality, virtue, and love in the wider world. In wartime, this must have been a hard sell, but all the more necessary. It was during the crucible of this conflict that she became the hero known as Wonder Woman and came into her powers.

And so the Amazons persisted, minus their princess, until the gates to Hades' domain opened and the Amazons who had perished returned through the mists.

Following this recounting, Iris returned with Kassia, and Hippolyta granted us hospitality. Torunn presented the queen with an Asgardian shield, and I presented her with the sword I'd made, explaining the design and how I'd made it, and crediting Torunn for the scabbard. Following this, the feast. Delicious. After that, there was dancing and a more informal atmosphere. As predicted, the Amazons were enchanted by Iris. Diana might have been the last child on the island, but she was not the only one. Amazons had, very rarely, left the islands briefly for forays into the world of man and sometimes returned with either a little girl or arms--Hephastus took any infant boys in exchange for weapons or armor. But this had not happened for quite some time, and everyone wanted to play with my younger daughter. Martha and Torunn were surrounded by Amazons eager to hear more of their experiences and lives.

Diana unobtrusively separated me from the group and we retreated to Hippolyta's quarters with Antiope. The queen poured a light, delicious wine, and asked her daughter to tell her how her life had been since the last time she'd visited, filling in details for her aunt. I listened as she updated her mother, and I heard the full story of the founding of the Justice League, how Bruce had researched, tracked down, and recruited the other heroes and how others had come to them, recounted to the others who had not known the whole tale. "Aunt Antiope was lucky to meet Damian when she did," Diana said, shooting me a wicked look. "When he was first taken to his father, he was a different person." I grinned, having heard about this, but this necessitated an explanation of his mother, and the Amazons shook their heads, both in exasperation that Talia allowed herself to be commanded by a man and accept his perspective of her inferiority, and her actions in using her child to further her own goals.

"And how did you meet him, then?" Antiope asked in puzzlement. I explained how we'd been set up on a date and a little of our early, contentious relationship, our courtship, and marriage. Then they asked about my afterlife, which was much more exciting to them than a relationship in a world they didn't have much basis for understanding. The fuller account of Ragnarok was met with silence although it had been confirmed by Diana.

"I saw the documentary," she confessed, a little shamed, knowing how set against it I'd been.

I shrugged. "It's not illegal."

"I could understand why you fought so against it. It seemed almost profane to see it. It was not meant for my eyes." I smiled and patted her hand, and then she explained about meeting Daniel and how their relationship had developed.

"And this is why I asked to bring Alex and Martha with me on this voyage," Diana told her mother. "You cannot meet Daniel without leaving the island, and he cannot come here, but I can bring to you his grandmother, many times removed, whom he loves deeply, and her daughter, so that you can judge his family, at least."

Hippolyta was not best pleased to hear of her daughter's feelings for a man and her hope for a long term relationship, but she wanted her daughter's happiness. "How many generations removed?" she asked me.

"Sixteen, if you proceed with the understanding that the women in the family first gave birth around age thirty on average," I said. "I don't like to think of that because so many of my family were killed in the upset regarding the return and there are so many generations I won't meet, at least until the next resurrection. I adore Daniel, but no one needs to rely on my biased opinions; he has many good qualities that can be evaluated independently. For example, he set all of us returnees in the family up with money and jobs, a place to stay until we got our feet under us, without anyone asking. Our friends too, for that matter. And at each turn, he tried to structure new business opportunities to employ those without jobs and helped to make sure they were fed, clothed, and cared for, and all without the expectation of thanks. He's uncomfortable being thanked for doing what he feels is right. Those years before the Return were difficult ones for him; he had to lead the business, he took up his father's role as Batman when he was killed, his aunt died, and he was all alone. He's quite remarkable in his capacity to open his heart. He's very fond of animals, he's adopted several rescue horses and cats, and he's very protective of those who need help, not just his extended family."

"What does he want with Diana?" Antiope asked me.

"The same thing anybody wants," I shrugged. "Love and intimacy, the support you get from your beloved, the richness in life of that kind of tie, someone to grow old with. Well, Daniel will grow old, anyway."

"And children?" Hippolyta pressed.

"If they come, but no one is guaranteed them. There are therapies now that can be used for sex selection, so if Diana has children, they can assure that they are female if that's something that she chooses. I can assure you that Daniel will love Diana regardless of whether they have offspring. Those he loves he keeps close."

The two other women considered this, and they began asking more about my work, my appearances as Valkyrie, my views of women in contemporary outside society. "What did you think when Diana came to you to inform you of her liaison with your grandson?" Hippolyta asked.

"Well, I've been looking for someone for him for some time, I want him to be happy and cared for, but it never worked out. Obviously I didn't set my sights high enough," I said, smiling at Diana, who smiled back. "She's a person of enormous gifts and talents and is a tremendous catch, in our terminology." I had to explain what that meant. "She knows about his role in the Justice League, as well as his public identity as a leading citizen, and she knew him as a person before their love grew. She is respectful of him, which is important, but she cares about the man under all those identities. So I was very pleased that he'd managed to attract such a woman, but what was most important to me was what she saw in him, why she wanted to pursue this connection with my grandson, and we've spoken of this more than once. When I heard her reasons, there was no reason to be cautious. Daniel doesn't need my permission, he's a grown man who makes a grown man's decisions, but they do have my blessing."

"And what are those reasons, Diana?" her mother asked immediately.

"He knows me as Wonder Woman, but he doesn't expect perfection or miracles," she said quietly. "He knows my work as a historian and respects it. But more than that, he sees the woman I am and loves me, my faults and flaw along with my strengths and graces. He sees me, not the symbol. You don't know what it meant to him, your return and they way you embraced him as your own," she said to me quietly.

"What else would I have done?" I asked blankly. "He's my kid, even if I haven't known him for very long."

All three women smiled.

"And it isn't just Daniel I had to consider," Diana told her mother. "I also looked at his family since he revels in them. Alex and Damian are, I feel, the center of the family. Their parents and extended family are Returned as well, their children, but Daniel relates the most to them and his father. They are a strong and supportive family, and Alex and Damian go out of their way to care for Daniel. Love reciprocated on all sides. And, I felt, to be a part of that family... would be very special. I could be included in that. A real family, for the first time since I left home." Hippolyta's eyes grew bright.

"Well, then, daughter, it seems as though you have found yourself a worthy consort," she said, and stood, extending her arms. Diana went in for the prolonged hug, and I showed Antiope some pictures I'd printed out before coming.

"He doesn't resemble you or Damian," she said, sounding puzzled.

"There are so many generations between us that it's not unexpected," I said. "But his heart may be the best of us."

It took awhile to go through the pictures; I'd brought a lot of Daniel, of course, some of the family, and no few of the Justice League and the museum where Diana worked, so that her family could see some of the choices she'd made. Hippolyta and Diana joined us, and Diana expanded on the photographs with stories. I'd been there for some of them, and we laughed about Hawkman; she explained my running smack down on him and they smiled. She told the story about the miniseries that had been made about Damian and me and the family legend that had arisen we came back to give them hell. The two older Amazons didn't really approve of mass culture, especially when it was used to distort the truth, but they laughed all the same at my visit to my descendants. And Diana had brought some photographs of her own, including one from the security feed that showed Valkyrie in the raid to free my uncle, one at the Vatican in my new armor, and another, also at the Vatican, of me putting a tourniquet on that first frightened man. Antiope said that she looked forward to seeing me fly and fight, and with that, we left the pictures with them and we rejoined the party. Iris was asleep, her head on Martha's lap.

Melia, the Amazon's horse mistress, asked permission to take Iris and Martha riding the next day during the meeting, having heard how enthusiastic Iris was about horses. Martha had struck up friendships with some of the other Amazons, and their next day was planned out, exploring the island while Torunn and I sat in on the meeting Diana wanted to have with her mother and chief counselors, the other reason for the visit. It sounded a lot more fun than my day would be.

I found myself talking to Kasia. After some conversation, she said that she knew Diana's private purpose in bringing me along and asked if Diana was happy with Daniel.

"She seems to be," I said. "And he is certainly happy with her." She nodded.

"We have a courtship ritual here," she said after a bit of reflection. "I believe that Diana would value it if her partner made the effort." There was a silence. "Diana and I were a pair before she left for mans' world. It was not meant to be for us, but I still value her happiness."

"What should he do?"

"It begins with the presentation of a nectarine seed strung as a necklace, as a hoped-for bounty, and a bracelet of thorns bound with red, blue, and gold ribbons. The red signifies danger, the blue signals hope, and the gold is a request for Athena to bless the union. These tokens are displayed to the one being courted and placed on her person, to be worn until a union is agreed to or the courtship ends. Until that determination is made, the couple tests each other physically, emotionally, and mentally to ensure that they can endure life's trials together. The nature of the trials varies from couple to couple, based on their experiences and expectations. I could show you how they are made, and you could show her beloved. It doesn't take long to do." I smiled.

"Daniel would love to do that for her," I said, certain of his enthusiasm, and we agreed to meet in my room after the next day's activities.

The party was winding down, and Iris, awake again, chattered to me about what she'd seen as we returned to our room. She was invigorated by the nap, and finally I had to tell her I'd agreed to riding lessons for her the next day, but if she wanted to do that, she had to get a good night's sleep first. That did the trick, and I was finally able to go to sleep myself.