The Fates' Temple is a dark and dreary place. Their loom glows, providing them with the light needed to do their jobs. They spin, measure, and cut all lifelines, even those of the Gods. Often they are cursed with visions and if they so choose, they can pass them along to Gods and mortals alike. "Something evil this way comes," Clotho says to her sisters. "It spells the end of us all," Lachesis agrees. Atropos shakes her head, "No, there is one who can save us." The other two look at her and nod. "Yes," Clotho agrees, "But he can't do it alone." Lachesis nods and opens a portal to the dreams of their only hope.
Gabrielle glares at the back of her best friend's head, "Why do we always have to take a boat?" Xena chuckles dryly, "It's the only way back to Greece. Use the pressure points, we're close now." Gabrielle growls, sick, not just from the sea, but also the loss of her daughter. Her travels with Xena had gone from being a wonderful adventure with a great friend to being a torturous trial with the Warrior Princess. She had never understood the hatred people had shown towards her friend until now. Xena had hunted her and her child and thought nothing of it. She acted as if Hope had been an evil creature and not an innocent baby. Gabrielle would never forgive her. "There's the dock," Xena says, pointing ahead. Gabrielle smiles, then frowns, "Is that Argo?" She asks, pointing at the horse close to the shoreline. Xena nods and frowns. "Who is that with her?" Gabrielle questions, pointing at the hooded figure leading the horse. "Trouble," Xena answers. Not offering any further explanation, she dives off the boat and swims to shore. Gabrielle stares after her, shaking her head, fingers jabbing at her wrist.
Xena comes up on the shore and rushes to her horse, ringing water from her hair and flicking seaweed off her armor. After checking Argo over and finding no damage she turns to the hooded figure with a glare, "I should have trusted you. I admit it. Satisfied?" Ares removes his hood, "We have larger problems now. Your friend has betrayed you, the demon spawn lives." Xena growls, "How do you know?" Ares shakes his head, "Not here, too many prying eyes. Get rid of the blonde and meet me at my Temple in Amphipolis. We can talk there." She looks at him, distrust in her eyes, "Ares," she starts, but is cut off by him saying, "Xena, trust me this once. I need your help to save us all. My Temple in Amphipolis, be there and hurry." He disappears, waiting for no reply. Xena collects Argo's reigns and leads her to the docks, casting a glare over her shoulder.
Xena stares at her friend as she exits the boat on shaking legs. "Who was that with Argo?" Gabrielle asks. Xena takes the girl's arm and leads her away from the hustle of the busy port, "It was a messenger from Ephiny. Your tribe is having trouble with some nearby villagers. Your sisters need you." Xena mounts her horse and pulls Gabrielle up behind her, "If we hurry we can make it before midday tomorrow." Gabrielle wraps her arms around Xena's waist and nods against her back, "Hurry, Xena. If Ephiny sent someone for us, it must be serious." Xena nods and kicks Argo into a fast trot.
Ares paces his Temple in Amphipolis. Xena needed to hurry, there was much that needed to be done if they were going to save his family and mankind. The Fates had invaded his dreams, showing him terrible images of a future he could hardly believe. He had seen a child, with the presence of Dahok, releasing Callisto from the hardened lava and going after the children of the Centaur nation, killing Xena's son in the process. He had seen the husk of that same child help Callisto kill Strife and try to kill him. He saw Callisto die at Xena's hand, a dark Temple surrounding them. He had seen Xena dying at the hands of the Romans, crucified along with her friend. He had seen his whole family die, one by one, Olympus shaking with its loss. Somehow he was the key. His actions would save or doom them all.
It's slightly after midday when Xena and Gabrielle ride into the Amazon camp. Several women bow as they recognize their long absent Queen, Gabrielle. Xena helps Gabrielle dismount, then rides over to Ephiny. The Amazon Queen looks up, "Xena, we weren't expecting you. Is everything alright?" Xena shakes her head and dismounts, moving close to Ephiny, "Gabrielle has been through a lot and needs a chance to heal. I told her you needed help here. Ephiny, she needs to be needed right now. And she needs to be with her sister Amazons and away from me." Ephiny turns towards Gabrielle as she approaches, "My Queen, thank you for coming so quick. We are working on a peace treaty with the villagers nearby, we need someone to negotiate and I can think of no one better than you." Gabrielle nods, "Of course. Xena and I are more than happy to help." Ephiny turns a sharp glare to Xena, "This is Amazon business." Xena nods, "I understand." She turns to Gabrielle, "It's alright, Gabrielle. I'll go visit Mother and when you're done here you can meet me in Amphipolis." Gabrielle smiles, "Are you sure?" Xena smiles back, "Of course I'm sure. Your people need you, a peacemaker, not a warrior like me. If I stay, I'll just stir up trouble." Gabrielle nods, "Well, alright, if you're sure?" Xena nods and Gabrielle continues, "I'll meet you in Amphipolis then. Be safe Xena." Xena hugs her friend, "Don't worry about me. Good luck with those treaties." Xena releases her and mounts Argo. "Take care of her," she orders Ephiny, then rides away.
Xena rides towards her hometown hoping that the weather holds until she gets there. She keeps Argo at a steady pace, not wanting to tire the horse too quickly. As she rides she reflects on recent events. Because of her obsession with Caesar, Gabrielle had lost her blood innocence and given birth to a demon. She knew her friend didn't see the infant in the same light as her, but she never thought Gabrielle would betray her. Ares on the other hand had proven to be distrustful. He had lied and manipulated her several times over the past few years. But had she destroyed the Temple of Dahok when he had asked her to, none of this would have happened. It was the only reason she was trusting him now. She only hoped that he didn't betray her as he had done in the past.
Xena makes it to the outskirts of Amphipolis just as the rain starts. She rides through town towards her mother's tavern, scowling at the dampness of her leather and armor. Leaving Argo in the stables, she heads in to speak with her mother and grab a hot meal. The tavern is near empty and Xena spots Cyrene behind the bar cleaning mugs. "Mom," she greets. Cyrene rushes around the bar and wraps her in a tight hug, "Xena! I didn't know you were going to visit. Sit down and let me get you some food. Is Gabrielle with you?" She asks, glancing behind her. Xena shakes her head, "The Amazons needed her. I was in the area and wanted a safe place to stable Argo for a while." Cyrene nods and passes Xena a plate, "Is everything alright?" Xena nods, "Everything is fine. Argo just needs a chance to be off the road for a bit." Cyrene smiles, "I see. And what about you? Maybe you could stay for a while." Xena shakes her head, "I would love to Mom, but Hercules needs my help. I'm meeting him on the road outside of Amphipolis. Something is going on in Athens." Cyrene's smile grows, "Oh Hercules! Isn't that wonderful!" Xena grimaces, "Yes and I had better hurry if I'm going to meet him on time." Cyrene smiles, "Wouldn't want to keep him waiting," she says, hugging her daughter goodbye before returning to cleaning mugs behind the bar.
Xena heads towards Ares' Temple, eyes darting from side to side in caution, not wanting to be followed. Gabrielle was safe with the Amazons, Argo was with her mother and Cyrene thought she was helping Hercules in Athens. Everything was in place so that she could disappear for a while and help Ares destroy Hope and defeat Dahok. The Temple is isolated on the far side of town and sees very little foot traffic, save for the occasional priest or warlord. She enters and a wall sconce blazes to life. She heads deeper into the Temple and finds Ares sitting on his throne watching something in a small portal at his side. "Alright Ares, what's going on?" Ares' head jerks up, "Xena, it's about time. Here, watch." He spreads his hands and the portal grows larger. Xena approaches, "What am I watching?" She questions. "My dreams. The Fates sent me visions of the future," he answers. Xena watches quietly, horrified by the images she sees. When they start over she looks away to collect her thoughts, "Why would the Fates show you this?" Ares shakes his head, "The Fates work in mysterious ways. Obviously I can do something to prevent all this from happening, otherwise what's the point?" Xena nods, then thinks for a moment and asks, "Why are you showing me?" Ares stares at her, trying to read her expression, "You're the only one I trust," he admits. Xena nods and silently sits on the steps below Ares' throne as she considers her options.
Xena thinks for a while as Ares continues to watch the visions, hoping to find a way out of this. Finally Xena rises, "I'll help," she states. Ares nods, "Good. What's the plan?" He asks. Xena shakes her head, "I don't have one. Yet. Gabrielle saved Hope in Britannia, but the visions are in Greece and Rome. Can you locate Hope?" Ares shakes his head, "She's blocked from me. She frees Callisto though and we know where she is. If we watch the lava pit we should find Hope." Xena growls, but nods, "It's our best option. What did Callisto use to kill Strife?" Ares sighs, "A dagger coated in Hind's Blood. I don't know where she got it though. Hope must give it to her." Xena begins to pace, "That's not an option then. What about the Dagger of Helios?" Ares shakes his head, "Zeus has it locked away. No one can get to it." She looks at him, "What else can kill a God?" She asks. "The blood of a Golden Hind is our only option," he states. Xena shakes her head, "Then we're doomed. Damn Zeus and his paranoia." Ares thinks for a moment, then smiles, "I know where we can get Hind's Blood. Zeus opened a portal to another world and in that world there was a vial of Hind's Blood. It's trapped between our world and this other with Hercules' crazed double. If we can open the portal, we can take the vial from him. It won't be easy though. He wears it around his neck," Ares explains. "Can you open the portal?" Xena questions. He shakes his head, "Not alone. Zeus opened it to stop me and Hercules from killing each other. We would need something equally as powerful." Xena isn't able to come up with any ideas so she remains silent and begins to pace the Temple.
Ares glares at the pacing warrior woman. "Would you stop?" He asks, irritated, "You're driving me insane." Xena rolls her eyes, but sits on the altar steps and begins to clean her Chakram. "How did Zeus open the portal?" She asks. Ares answers, "Hercules and I were fighting, I was winning of course, so Zeus threw a lightning bolt to separate us. I guess it was a weak point between the worlds because a portal opened up." Xena nods, "Where?" "Corinth," he answers, "In front of my Temple." She nods again, stands, and places her Chakram on her hip, "In the morning we go to Corinth, maybe we'll see something there. I'm going to rest for a few hours." She begins to walk out of the Temple, but Ares stops her, "Wait. There are quarters in the back of the Temple. Stay here, we can leave when you wake." She nods and heads to the back of the Temple, Ares close behind her. She turns and raises a questioning eyebrow. "I need to rest and recharge, who knows when I'll have the chance to again," he explains, heading into a room. Xena watches him as he shuts the door, then goes into the room across from him.
Ares falls onto the bed, exhausted. He hasn't been able to rest sense the Fates sent him the visions. In fact he hasn't done much other than try to decipher them for days. Strife, Deimos, and Discord were handling things in his absence and it left him worried. Trying to shut everything out, he rolls over to get a good night's rest.
The Fates have other things in mind though. Ares suffers more visions of the future. He sees confusing images of far off places, Chin, Jappa, India, Sumeria, Eire. He sees Hercules' companion, Iolaus, die, then return to the land of the living to lead a cult. He sees a man in clothes from India dying at his own hand. He sees Xena heavy with child. He sees a Roman warrior woman fighting against him with amazing skill. He sees Xena dead in his arms, snow falling on them. He sees Gabrielle falling into a lava pit, beside another figure. He sees Aphrodite all in black. He sees himself holding a child. He watches as he and Xena fight side by side against Athena and a woman in silver armor. He sees the faces of other Gods that he is vaguely familiar with, Kal, Loki, Oden, Thor, Krishna, Indrajit, a few Druids, and possibly a few Sumerian Gods as well judging by the clothes. He wakes suddenly in a cold sweat. Giving up on rest, he returns to the main part of the Temple to start examining the new images with the old, hoping that something will make sense.
Xena rises early after a fitful nights rest. The room had been nice and the bed very comfortable, and it had been nice to remove the wet, stiff leather, but she had been unable to relax enough to fall into a deep sleep. Every noise had woken her. She heads to the main hall and sees Ares on his throne watching his portal again. "Learn anything?" She asks. He shakes his head, "The Fates sent more visions. Here, watch." Xena stands next to him staring over his shoulder. "I don't recognize those people," she says. "Most are other Gods, some I don't know. The man from India, the Roman woman, and the infant I'm not familiar with," he says. "I was pregnant," she states flatly. "You also die," he replies. She nods, "Yes, crucified by Roman hands. Once we stop Hope and Callisto I think it's time for me to put an end to Caesar," she says. He nods, distracted, "Yes, Caesar will pay, but for now we need to go to Corinth. Take my hand." He rises and holds his hand out and she grabs ahold. Her world goes black and the floor disappears as Ares speeds them through the ether.
Ares and Xena reappear in the back hall of his Temple in Corinth. Xena releases his hand quickly and begins to head outside. Ares follows, ignoring the bowing priests, then leads her to the spot where the portal had been. They examine the area but find nothing special about it. Ares tries to open the portal on his own but fails. "Any ideas?" He asks sarcastically. Xena shrugs, "Maybe Zeus would reopen it if you asked." Ares rolls his eyes, "Sure. I can see that conversation, "Hey dad, I really need you to open that portal so I can get some Hind's Blood. Betray you? No of course not, I need it to save the world. Oh Xena here? Oh, she's helping me." Yeah, he's so going to believe that." Xena growls in the back of her throat, "Hera then," she suggests. He shakes his head, "Do you want her to get wind of the Hind's Blood? She'll go after half the pantheon. Maybe I should talk to Aphrodite. Out of all my family she's the only one I'm on good terms with." Xena starts to pace, "You could just pick a fight with Hercules again." Ares starts to object then becomes thoughtful, "For a plan b it's not bad. Let's try Aphrodite first though." She nods, "I'm going to get some food, you find Aphrodite," she orders, walking away.
Olympus is far too bright and noisy when Ares arrives. Athena passes him yelling back at Hera, "This is why Zeus prefers mortals over you." Hera responds with a fire bolt that misses and destroys a nearby vase. Athena shakes her head and keeps walking. Hera growls and begins to follow Athena, then spots Ares, "Son, where have you been? Your father has had more dalliances with mortals." Ares shakes his head, "I've been busy. Where's Aphrodite?" Hera rolls her eyes, "Xena again?" She questions. Ares shakes his head, "One of Aphrodite's Temples is in my way. I want to know how big of a fit she'll throw if it gets damaged," he lies. Hera nods, "She's in her rooms." Ares nods and turns in the opposite direction.
Ares approaches Aphrodite's room cautiously. His sister often practices new love spells on the mortal servants. Seeing no one near and hearing nothing, he knocks on the door, "Hey Sis, you there?" The door opens and he sees Aphrodite lounging on a couch, "What's up Bro?" She asks, waving away a servant. Ares dismisses the mortals from the room. "I need a favor," he states. She raises an eyebrow, "Oh really. And what do I get out of it?" She questions. "I'll owe you," Ares states. Aphrodite is intrigued, Ares isn't known for owing favors, "Go on." He sits next to her, "I need you to help me open the portal to that other world. I think together we'll be strong enough," he explains. Aphrodite rises and begins to pace, "I don't know, Ares. I don't think that's such a good idea. There's Hind's Blood in that other world. If it ever got into the wrong hands it could lead to the deaths of us all." Ares grabs her arm, turning her to face him, "I won't let that happen Dite. Trust me." Aphrodite moves away, but nods, "You're my big brother, of course I'll trust you. Will you tell me why you want the portal opened?" He shakes his head, "It's personal." Aphrodite rolls her eyes, "Fine," she says, disappearing in a shower of pink sparkles. Ares soon follows her.
Xena's waiting on the steps of Ares' Temple when the two Gods appear. She rises and steps towards them. "Hey, Warrior Babe," Aphrodite says before turning to Ares, "So what do we do?" She questions. He points to the weak spot, "Focus your energy there," he says. He turns to Xena, "Stand back and be ready for anything." Xena nods and moves to stand behind the Gods, drawing her sword. Ares and Aphrodite stand side by side and focus all their energy on opening the portal. Soon the air begins to swirl, then everything breaks apart, revealing a tunnel between the worlds. It stays open just long enough for a Hercules look alike to tumble to the ground at their feet.
Ares and Aphrodite fall back a bit, breathing heavy. Xena steps forward, "Hercules?" She asks, eying the man on the ground, dressed in leather. The man struggles to stand and looks around, "This isn't my world." Xena nods and offers him a hand up, "It's alright Hercules." He turns to her, "I am The Sovereign. You should all worship me." Ares steps forward, putting himself between Xena and The Sovereign, "Back off mongrel." He grabs the necklace of Hind's Blood, then punches The Sovereign in the face. The Sovereign falls back then kicks out at Ares, "Give it back," he shouts. Ares faints left and counters with an open backhand that sends The Sovereign flying into a wall. He sags against the wall for a moment then rises, shaking his head. Before Ares can continue the fight, Xena steps in, "You and Aphrodite open the portal, let me worry about The Sovereign." Ares nods, "Don't get too close," he warns before returning to his sister. The Sovereign charges toward the Gods, but Xena gets in his way. He looks her over, "I could find uses for you," he sneers. She grimaces and aims a kick at his head. The Sovereign moves back, towards the portal that Ares and Aphrodite had managed to reopen. The portal begins to pull at him and he struggles against it, "No, I won't go back," he shouts. Xena smiles and charges him, back flipping away as she kicks him in the face. He loses his footing, sailing into the portal. The portal closes behind him and both Gods sag a little from the strain.
Aphrodite turns to Ares, "We did this so you could get the Hind's Blood. Ares, what are you planning?" Xena steps forward, "It's alright Aphrodite. It won't be used against the Olympians. We're going to destroy it so that there is no chance of it falling into the wrong hands." Ares nods his agreement, "After what almost happened to Dad, I felt it was for the best to neutralize it. I didn't want any of the other Gods to know. Someone might have gotten a stupid idea, after all, most of the family doesn't always fire on all cylinders." Aphrodite nods and smiles, "Secret's safe with me. But if you do something stupid with it, I won't protect you," she informs. He nods, "Of course. Thanks for helping Dite." She hugs him quickly, then says, "Later Bro," and disappears. Xena extends her hand towards Ares and he drops the necklace into her palm. She smiles, looking it over, then tucks it between her breasts, "For safe keeping," she explains when Ares raises an eyebrow. "What do we do now?" He asks. She shrugs, "We wait," she says, not liking the idea at all.
Ares and Xena return to Ares' Temple in Amphipolis. Ares sits on his throne above the altar and opens two portals. One portal is a view of the hardened lava pit that holds Callisto captive, the other is of the visions. Xena stands behind him, leaning over, studying the images. "Do you think that they are in order?" She asks. Ares thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, "I don't think so. If they are then you and Gabrielle die multiple times and that makes no sense." She shrugs, "I've died before. Maybe after the Romans nail me to the cross you come and remove me. That would account for the different images of my death." He shakes his head, "No. When the Romans nail you to the cross you aren't wearing armor, in the other vision, you have your armor on and I don't see any wounds from the crucifixion." She nods, "I guess I survive the Romans and you kill me then," she reasons. "Why would I kill you?" He questions. She shrugs, then returns to watching the images in silence. After a few minutes, Ares freezes the images on that of him holding the baby, "Do you think it's ours?" He asks. Xena stares at the image, "It's possible. Unless it's not the baby I was pregnant with." The images resume till they reach the one of Ares fighting the Roman woman. Xena points at the image, "Maybe you're fighting to free me from the Romans." Ares nods, "Could be, I don't recognize her. I have warriors in Rome and she's not one of them." Xena shrugs, "Maybe she's Athena's. You and I fight together against her. Maybe this woman follows her." Ares nods, "That makes sense. Do you recognize the man from India?" He asks, switching to the image of the man. Xena shakes her head. "What about the other Gods pictured? Do you have dealings with them?" She questions. He nods and moves to one of the images, "This is Kal, he's another War God. I've dealt with him in the past, but not recently. Do you think we need to go to these lands and enlist the help of their Gods in the fight against Dahok?" He asks, letting the images resume their normal flow. Xena shrugs, "Maybe. You should talk to Athena. Show her the girl, see if she recognizes her." Ares cocks an eyebrow, "We aren't on speaking terms," he responds, not meeting her eyes. Xena rolls her eyes, "I'm not surprised after your stunt with Agathon." Ares growls, "Agathon or not, Athena and I are never on speaking terms." Wanting to think, Xena rises and begins going through drills slowly, methodically, with her sword. Ares watches, entranced by her movements.
Hours later, Xena stops and turns to face Ares, "We're missing something, we must be. Let's go over what we know. Dahok is the one great evil and Gabrielle has betrayed me and possibly destroyed the world by saving Hope. You are sure that the child is Hope, right?" He nods. She continues, "Hope somehow knows about Callisto and frees her. Once Callisto is free she goes after the Centaurs and kills Solan, then goes after the Gods and kills Strife. I kill Callisto with her own dagger. Does she kill the other Gods or do I? Or is it someone else? Dahok maybe?" Ares shrugs, "I don't know. Aphrodite survives though, I saw her in black mourning clothes." She nods, "More than likely I go after the Gods then, anyone else would have killed her too. Obviously we're on the same side sense we fight against Athena together." Ares nods, "Maybe Dahok corrupts the Olympians, maybe even all the pantheons." She shrugs, "It's possible. Can you show us Hercules and Iolaus? We saw Iolaus die, be reborn, and lead a cult and those images came together and in that order. Just like the images of Hope releasing Callisto and then going after the Centaurs leading to my son's death. I think that is another sequence of events we need to look out for." Ares nods and opens a third portal, this one focused on Hercules and Iolaus, "That leaves us with you dying, Gabrielle's leap into the lava, the baby, and all the odd people we don't know." Xena nods, "I might be the one responsible for Gabrielle's death. I would be lost and hurting after the death of my son. Maybe that's when we..." She trails off and he shakes his head, looking offended, "I wouldn't take advantage of you like that. When you give yourself to me it will be your own choice." Xena scowls, "It's not something I will ever chose." Ares grunts and pulls up the images of a pregnant Xena and him holding a baby, "Visions from the Fates don't lie, Xena." She rolls her eyes, "We could be reading them wrong though. We need to talk to the Fates." Ares nods and extends a hand to her, "They won't give us a straight answer, but we can try." Xena takes his hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena stands still for several seconds, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness of the Fates' Temple. Spotting their loom, she walks towards it, but is pulled back by Ares, "No one approaches the Loom of Time without their permission," he explains, pointing at the three sisters. Xena nods and turns to Atropos, "May we approach?" She shakes her head and Clotho demands, "Ask your questions Ares, then be gone." He nods, "What do the visions mean?" Lachesis answers, "The world is ending." Clotho adds on, "Or is it?" Atropos chimes in, "There is one who can save us all, but he will need help from her." "Her?" Xena asks. Lachesis nods, "Yes, her." "Xena?" Ares asks. The three Fates smile in response. Ares sighs, "Are there more visions?" Clotho nods, "Many more, War God and for that we are sorry. Seeing them all at once would destroy you. We will show you what we can, when we can. Now go." Ares nods, "Thank you." He takes Xena's hand and they disappear.
Xena pulls away from Ares' grasp, agitated, "I had more questions," she snaps. Ares shrugs, "When the Fates tell you to leave, it's best not to argue with them." Xena growls low in her throat. Ares walks from the front of the Temple to the back and opens a door, "Rest and eat. Take a bath if you like. I'm going to bed to have more visions." Xena nods and follows him. As he grabs the door handle, she rests a hand on his arm, "When you have the visions, do you get any rest?" He shakes his head, "It's a good thing Gods don't need sleep." She looks concerned, "True, but you need down time to recharge. Between the visions, the portals, and transporting us both around, you're going to get drained." Ares laughs, "Don't worry about that. We have a long way to go before I'm drained." Xena nods, "I'll see you in the morning," she says before heading into a room. Ares smiles softly after her, then retires to his room.
Despite his assurances, Xena worries. Just sense the day before, she sees differences. It could be that he was just distracted, worried about Dahok, but she suspected that he was running low on energy. If they were going to defeat Dahok, she knew that Ares would need to be fully charged. Which meant she would have to convince him to shut everything down for a while, no visions, no portals, no transporting. Neither of them would be comfortable with that. Even now Xena didn't like not being able to keep an eye on the lava pit or Iolaus. She would have to come up with a plan to distract them both. But for now it was time to eat and rest in order to regain her own strength.
Ares lays down, not really wanting to sleep and have more of the horrible visions, but knowing that it is necessary. He hopes to get just a little rest before the visions begin. Though he had assured Xena that all was well, he is beginning to worry. The visions zapped his strength and the constant transporting and vision portals weren’t helping. Nor had opening the portal to the other world. Without a chance to recharge, he would soon falter under the strain of it all. As his head hits the pillow, he is pulled under, into the dark depths of the Fates' visions. The visions don't start bad this time, though, more dream-like than those before. He sees himself and Xena on a couch in this very Temple getting frisky with one another. But the dream ends there and the visions take on their usual darkness. A Shamaness from the north was attacking a pregnant Xena, trying to destroy their child. Hercules was stabbing Zeus with a strange weapon and Olympus was shaking with its loss. He places Xena in an ice coffin, with her sword and Chakram as a grave marker. His own mother, Hera, attacks him, saving Hercules. A horrible creature stabs Gabrielle, a Gabrielle that felt more like Dahok than the bard that traveled the world with Xena, then holds her as they both fall to the ground, dead. Xena points her Chakram at his throat. Then he is in the cold water pulling her lifeless corpse up with him. He can feel the cold, the burning in his lungs, the guilt, and the grief. He can hear himself, feel himself screaming over her body as he lays it on the frozen ground.
Xena wakes suddenly to the sound of ultimate suffering. She recognizes it from the day her younger brother had died, the day she had made that noise, the day it had all started. Pulling herself from the painful memories, she rushes from her room and across the hall to where the sound is coming from. When she enters, she sees Ares on the bed, sweating, screaming, and fighting to wake up. She rushes to him and shakes him hard, "Ares, wake up." Finally he springs awake, eyes wide, breathing heavy. He looks around, unsure of everything until his eyes land on her, "You're alive," he says, pulling her towards him and kissing her passionately.
Xena pulls away, startled and worried, "What did you see?" She asks, concern in her voice, hand going to her lips. Ares shakes his head, "You don't need to see these visions." She shakes her head, "That isn't how this works. Show me." He considers for a moment, then obliges, creating a portal and letting the new visions play out. When they get to the last one, Xena begins to shake from the cold and feel her lungs burn from lack of air. As Ares screams over her body, a single tear goes down her cheek as she too feels his loss. As the visions end, Ares closes the portal, not wanting to experience them again. He shakes his head and leans back on the headboard, closing his eyes, more exhausted than before. Xena stares at him, curiously, "You love me?" She asks quietly. He nods, not opening his eyes, "It appears so. The child is ours and Hera is an enemy, maybe Hercules too." Xena nods and leans next to him. He opens his eyes and gives her a questioning look. "Sleep, we'll worry about the rest in the morning. Hopefully the Fates don't show you anymore tonight. If they do, I'll be here to wake you." Ares looks confused, "You're going to sleep with me?" She nods and lays down, "How else will I know if the visions are back? I don't want to wait until you're screaming again." He nods and lays down next to her, "Thank you," he says quietly before drifting back to sleep.
Xena waits until she is sure that Ares is asleep, then rolls over to look at him. She had felt his pain and suffering over her death and it was affecting her just as it was him. It makes her think about her own feelings. She certainly doesn't want him dead and she is enjoying her time with him. Does she love him? Can she? Long ago, yes. Love, worship, trust. In the beginning that was all there. But that was before Caesar, before Alti and Borias, before being forced to run the gauntlet. It was before he had pretended to be her father, before sending her to Tartarus in Callisto's body, before the Furies. She doesn't know if she can forgive him all of that in order to love him. According to the visions, they were going to have a relationship of some sorts. Glancing at him, she smiles softly and brushes his hair out of his face before rolling away from him and drifting off to sleep.
Ares wakes and is convinced that he is having another vision. He is well rested and Xena is curled up in his arms. Her smell surrounds him. He feels her firm curves pressed against him. Wanting to enjoy this vision while it lasts, he holds her closer, letting his hand drift over her body through her thin shift. Knowing that the Fates would soon change the vision to something horrible, he lets his hand drift lower, over her exposed thigh, working his way back up. He only stops when her hand lands on top of his halting his progress and letting him know that she is awake. She rolls in his arms to face him with a questioning glare, "What are you doing Ares?" It dawns on him then, this isn't a vision. Xena is really there, in his arms, in his bed. And she doesn't have the happiest look on her face. "Thought it was a dream," he explains, "I didn't mean to wake you." She sits up, shifting away from him, "Anymore visions?" He shakes his head, "Assuming that this is real, then I am vision free." Xena nods, "Good. Rested?" He nods, "Yeah. Go change and eat. I'll meet you out front. We need to examine these new visions again." Xena nods and heads for the door, "Ares, skip that last one, we don't need to see that again," she says. He nods in agreement.
Xena eats and dresses quickly, then meets Ares in the front of the Temple. He looks up and motions for her to look at the center portal, "Is this Alti?" He asks, pointing at the image of the northern Shamaness. Xena nods, "Yes, and she's after our baby." "Why?" Ares questions. She shrugs, "She probably sees our child as a great source of power and that's all she's ever wanted. Or maybe she wants to use the child against me." Ares growls, "We'll add her to the list. Dahok, Caesar, then Alti." Xena nods, "We might be able to go after her before the rest, depending on when Hope frees Callisto." Ares stays quiet for a minute, "Our relationship seems to start here," he says. Xena glares, "Perhaps. Of course you were trying to start things earlier in the bedroom," she says lightly. He smirks back, "You were the one in my bed." She laughs lightly, then goes back to watching the visions. Ares pauses at the ice coffin, "Do you think this is after..." He trails off as Xena nods, then lets the visions resume. Xena stops him, "Go back to the ice coffin." He flips the images back, "What is it?" He asks. She points at the Chakram, "It's different." He stares at it curiously, "I've never seen anything like it," he admits. He studies it, "I know of two Chakrams, yours and the Chakram of Light. But it doesn't look like that either." Xena looks confused, "Chakram of Light?" She questions. He nods, "Yes. Long ago there were two Chakrams created. Dark and Light. They were the treasured possessions of the War God, Kal from Italia. I stole the Dark Chakram for you, but only the purest of souls can lift the Light Chakram. Any others will die horribly," he explains. Xena nods, "To have a protection spell that strong, the Chakram of Light must be very powerful." He nods, "It is rumored that it can kill a God. None have ever been able to wield it, so none know if it's true or not." Xena looks discouraged, "That doesn't help us. Who made the Chakrams? Maybe they make my new one." Ares shakes his head, "They appeared in Italia one day along with a scroll. No one knows where they came from." She scowls in response, "What did the scroll say?" She questions. Ares shrugs, "Not much. The Dark Chakram would make mortals fall before its power, but must be gifted by a God, for mortals would perish to remove it from the altar. The Chakram of Light would be its equal, but feared by the Gods, and only the purest soul could lift it, all others would perish. Separate they would be incredible, united they would rule the world," he says with an eye roll, "Not sure how much of it's true though." Xena sighs and shakes her head, deep in thought.
After watching the visions a while longer, Ares pauses on the image of Gabrielle and the creature, "What is it?" He questions pointing at the creature. Xena shrugs, "I've never seen anything like it. It's horrible." He nods, "It seems that everyone dies more than once. How is that possible?" Xena shakes her head, "I don't know." Ares pauses a moment, "Maybe that isn't Gabrielle. At least not your Gabrielle." She gives him a questioning look and he explains, "That Gabrielle doesn't feel right, she feels darker, almost like Hope. If I didn't know better I would say it is Hope." Xena thinks for a moment, then shakes her head, "Is that possible?" "Ares shrugs, "Maybe, I don't know what Dahok and his spawn are capable of." They remain quiet for a moment, then Xena declares, "We need to avoid the other Gods. What is it that Hercules uses to kill Zeus?" Ares shakes his head, "I don't know. I find it odd that Hercules and I are on the same side. We've never worked together before." She shrugs, "I've worked with him in the past. Maybe you two set aside your differences because of me," she says sarcastically. Ares laughs, "Not likely. Maybe Zeus was on our side and Hercules is against us." Xena shakes her head, "Hercules fights for the greater good and so do I. We would be on the same side." Ares turns to the images of Iolaus, "His best friend is leading a cult, it could be the cult of Dahok. Maybe Hercules is corrupted." Xena shakes her head, "I can't see that happening. Hercules isn't the type to fall for Dahok's schemes. Maybe we should talk to Hercules. See what he knows about Dahok." He scowls in response, "Not yet. Let's leave him out of it until we know more." She nods, "Fine. I need to think." That said, she grabs her sword and heads to the door. Ares follows, curious.
Xena steps out of the Temple, into the light and turns to face Ares, sword pointed forward, "Either join in or stay out of my way," she says evenly. Ares raises an eyebrow and draws his own sword, "This is how you think?" He asks, stabbing at her with a testing blow. Xena parries easily, "It gets my blood flowing." He smiles and strikes again, harder than before. She again easily parries and strikes back viciously, making contact with his sword. Ares pushes back, but she resists and their swords stay locked together. Xena kicks out and he moves back slightly. She unengages her sword and spins, raising her leg high for a kick to his head. He dodges to the side and swings to backhand her. She grabs his wrist before it can reach her and smiles before flipping him over. Rather than falling, Ares tumbles and lands back on his feet, now behind her. He wraps one arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him and holding his sword to her throat, "I win," he says. Xena growls and elbows him in the ribs causing him to lean forward enough that she escapes. Free from his grasp, she sweeps his legs out from under him and comes down on top of him holding her Chakram at his throat. She smirks, "I win," she says. Ares laughs softly, "I guess you do. Did you come up with an idea?" He asks. She nods, placing her Chakram on her belt and rising off of him. She extends a hand to him, "We're going back to Britannia. I want to examine the Temple and the Castle of the Knights of the Pierced Heart. I want to see if I missed anything." Ares nods, "Solid plan. You'll be recognized though. And if I take us, Dahok might sense me in his territory. It could give us away." Xena shrugs, "Dahok isn't strong enough to take physical form yet. And his followers should have all been destroyed." He nods and extends his hand, "Where would you like to start?" She thinks for a moment, "The Temple, at least what's left of it," she says, taking his hand.
Moments later they arrive at the top of a hill overlooking the ruins of Dahok's Temple. Xena quickly surveys the area, then starts walking in the direction of the ruins with Ares close behind her. "I missed the action," Ares starts, "How did you destroy it?" Xena shrugs, "Krafstar turned into some sort of demon creature called the Deliverer. We fought and I threw him into Dahok's flame in the center of the Temple. After that everything imploded and collapsed." Xena starts poking through the rubble, making her way to where the altar used to rest. Seeing that the altar site is covered in rubble, she begins to remove what she can. Ares approaches and rests a hand on her shoulder. "Allow me," he says, waving a hand over the rubble and making it shift out of the way. She nods in appreciation then examines what is left of the altar. Where a slab of rock used to rest there was now a gaping hole. She tosses a rock in and doesn't hear it hit bottom. She leans on the side, peering down the hole, then jerks back. "What is it?" He asks, stepping closer. "It's still hot," she explains, "Odd, but not helpful. Are you picking up anything? Does any of this remind you of the visions?" He shakes his head, "Nothing is familiar and I don't feel anything. Let's try the castle," he suggests, placing a hand on her shoulder before disappearing.
A horrible smell comes from the open doors of the castle. Xena grimaces, "I guess the Banshees returned and killed them all." Ares nods, "Banshees? We don't need them getting in our way." She agrees and begins working her way into the interior of the castle. She heads first to the stable. Ares pauses at the entrance, "There's a darkness here, so thick it's almost tangible." She nods, "This is where Hope was born," she explains. He nods, "This place is tainted by Dahok. We should destroy it when we leave." "Agreed," Xena says, heading into the sword room. She glances at the bodies, then begins to look around. Ares stares at the sword in the stone, then shakes his head and starts to examine the room. After several minutes, he halts, "Xena, there is nothing here. We're wasting our time. Let's destroy this place and go home." She nods and moves to his side. They appear outside the castle and Ares points at it, causing an explosion as they return to Greece.
Arriving at the Temple, Xena growls and sits on the altar steps rubbing her temples in frustration. Ares leans on a pillar watching her. She pauses and glances at him, then sighs, "Alright, let's try a different approach. Which lands and Gods were in the visions?" She asks. Ares thinks for a moment, "Greece and Rome of course. Kal from Italia. Oden, Loki, and Thor from the Norse lands, Krishna and Indrajit from India, Sumerian Gods and Celtic Gods or maybe they were Druids, not positive, I only recognized them by their clothes. And I saw Jappa and Chin, but none of their Gods. That's it." Xena thinks for a moment, "I've had dealings in Jappa, Chin, and the Norse lands. You've had dealings with Kal in Italia. What about the others?" He shakes his head, "I know the Norse Gods by reputation only, same goes for Sumeria and Eire. And I've never had dealings with Chin or Jappa. During your time in the Norse lands, Jappa and Chin, did anything happen that might have any bearing on what we're doing?" Xena considers for a moment, "I was conquering and killing throughout those lands. I manipulated Odin pretty bad, so if we need his help in the future, I doubt we'll get it. I can't think of anything else though. I was in Siberia too. I helped Alti kill a lot of Amazons. But again, I don't see how that has any baring." Ares nods, "I agree. Maybe we aren't supposed to do anything about the other lands and Gods. Maybe the Fates were just showing us how far reaching Dahok's hand would be." Xena shrugs, "It's possible." She glances at the sky which is turning dark, "It's been a long day. I'm going to eat and turn in for the night. I know you don't have to eat, but join me, if you'd like," she offers. Ares raises an eyebrow, then follows her inside, "Sounds nice," he says.
Inside the Temple, Ares takes the lead, opening a side door that leads to a room with a small table covered in food and wine. They each fill a plate and sit at the table eating in silence. Ares breaks the silence, "The Fates have shown us these visions for a reason. My guess is we are supposed to prevent the bad stuff from happening." Xena nods, "But without the full context how do we know what is bad?" He shrugs, "We don't. But some is obvious and preventable." Xena looks confused, "What are you getting at?" He glances away quickly before continuing, "Let's get Solan out of harm's way and warn the Centaurs." She inhales sharply, then sighs, "You're right. We know Hope and Callisto attack them and that the death of my son will lead me down a dark path. We need to prevent it. I don't know if the Centaurs will trust me." Ares shrugs, "Doesn't matter. Tell them what will happen then take Solan somewhere safe, maybe here with your mother, maybe off with his fathers' people. With him gone, Hope will have no reason to go after the Centaurs." Xena looks away and nods sadly, "I'll have to tell him the truth about who I am. It will hurt him." They remain silent, for a time. "Let's release and kill Callisto," Xena suggests, "Then Solan will be safe." Ares nods, "We can do that, but Callisto doesn't know about Solan, does she?" Xena shakes her head and Ares continues, "Then Hope must tell her. Which means that even if Callisto is dead, chances are Solan will die anyway. We have to hide him." She lets out a deep breath, "You're right, but not here. We'll take him to Corinth. Hercules' brother is King, he's a good man, he'll protect Solan." Ares nods, "Good idea. With your history with Corinth no one will suspect you'd hide your son there. We'll go in the morning. Go get some rest," he orders. Xena nods and rises, then looks at Ares expectantly, "You need rest too. The next few days won't be easy. You'll have to transport us through the ether many times. And the battle with Callisto won't be an easy one." Ares shakes his head, "I'm not in the mood for more visions right now. I'll be fine." Xena steps forward and grabs his shoulder, "You'll be exhausted. I'll wake you if the visions get bad again." He gives her a curious look, then nods and rises.
Xena walks into the room they had shared the night before and strips off her armor, weapons, and leather until only her shift remains. Ares watches from the doorway, curious. She looks at him and offers a small smile before crawling under the blankets. He approaches the bed, removing his vest and sword, then stops and stares down at her. She rolls to look up at him, "Are you just going to stand there all night?" She asks dryly. He smiles and shifts onto the bed, turning to face her, "Are you sure about this?" She nods and rolls away from him, "I'm a light sleeper. If you start to twitch from the visions, I'll wake up, trust me," she says. "That's not what I meant," Ares says quietly. Xena ignores him, pretending to be asleep. Getting no response, Ares sighs and turns away from her, trying to find rest.
Soon sleep overtakes Ares and the visions begin. He sees a huge coliseum in Rome. Xena fights for her life while Caesar watches from above. Then Crassus, an ally of Caesars', is beheaded in the same Coliseum on Caesar's own command. The vision changes to a scene deep in the forest, late at night, of Xena punching him in the face. It shifts again, this time daytime in a village, Xena holds a dagger to his throat. Changing again, he watches Roman soldiers destroying the Amazons. The scene tightens, showing a Roman general killing the Amazon Queen. Then it shows Pompeii, on horseback, leading Roman's against the Amazons. The scene shifts again to Caesar, Pompeii, and Xena all crossing blades in some sort of pit. Then it all changes again. This time, it's snowing, a cold snow that Ares can feel on his skin. Xena and Gabrielle are drug from a dungeon and laid on crosses. Ares tries to wake up, but can't. As the stakes are driven into Xena's flesh, he can feel it too. Horrible pain races through his body from his hands and ankles. Her body arches away from the cross, unconsciously trying to escape the pain, but it only makes the flesh tear more. When the crosses are hauled upright, he can feel the stakes tearing at his flesh. Seconds that feel like eons pass, then he feels the life drain from Xena.
Ares jerks awake and wildly looks around the room. His eyes fall first on her discarded armor and weapons, then on the woman herself. She is lying on her back, face turned away from him. He watches as her chest gently rises and falls in the rhythm of sleep. He sighs with relief. Carefully, he finds her hand and searches for the marks of the stakes. She groans quietly and pulls away from him, turning so her back is facing him. He sighs again and lays back down, carefully pulling her into his arms before returning to sleep.
Xena wakes before morning to the most amazing feeling. She's warm and held close in Ares' arms, protected from everything, his strong masculine smell fills her head and she smiles. In that moment she could almost forget all the dangers that awaited her with the dawn. She could almost forget the horrible things the Fates had shown them, the horrible agony in Ares' scream over her dead body. She could almost forget the pain he had caused her. Cautious not to wake him, she rolls to face him. She can feel his hot, even breath on her cheek, as he sleeps on. Lightly, she runs a finger down his jaw, tracing the line of stubble. He twitches in his sleep, then sighs and pulls her closer till their bodies are flush against each other. Xena smiles and rests her head under his chin, wrapping her arms around him before going back to sleep.
Light pours into the room, striking Ares in the face. He squints his eyes open and glares at the window. With a thought, the shade is pulled. Glancing down, he sees Xena still in his arms, now facing him with her arms and legs intertwined with his own. He sighs, wishing they could stay like this, wishing that she had chosen to sleep with him for him and not the horrible visions, wishing that she could be his, but ultimately knowing that he was not her choice and that once they had saved the world she would be gone. Xena awoke when he sighed, but chose to stay still, curious about what he would do. He holds her close, running a hand through her hair lightly, hoping she won't wake for a while yet. He lightly kisses the top of her head while his other hand strokes her back, making circular patterns against her skin. Xena shivers from the contact and moves away enough to look up at him, curiously. Seeing her bright blue eyes full of questions, Ares pulls away, untangling himself and sitting up on the bed. Xena rises and sits next to him, "Sleep well?" She asks to break the heavy silence. Ares shakes his head, remembering the feel of the stakes, the tearing of flesh. She frowns, "More visions?" He nods and creates a portal with the images playing.
Xena watches the images, a plan coming to mind, until the final vision starts. She gasps and shivers as the cold hits her skin. She screams out as the stakes pierce her skin. It's as if she is there. She can see, smell, feel everything that was happening to her in the vision. As it ends she blinks her eyes, trying to hide the tears. Her eyes land on Ares and she sees her pain reflected in his eyes. "I felt you die," he says quietly. She nods a little, trying to clear her head of the sights and feelings from the vision. Ares reaches out and takes her hands in his, again searching for the wounds from the crucifixion. Xena watches his hands examine hers and grips them tightly before releasing them and moving away. "We have work to do," she says, while getting dressed. Ares sighs, the moment lost and retrieves his sword and vest before following Xena from the room.
Xena enters the side room and begins to eat in silence. Ares follows, watching her silently. Xena glances at him, "It's time for us to talk to Hercules. I want him and Iolaus in Corinth to watch over Solan." Ares nods, "Of course. We should take your mother too, Callisto has gone after her in the past," he suggests. Xena nods, "Good idea. Where is Hercules?" Ares sighs and searches the ether for his half-brother, "He's visiting his mother." She nods, "Close to Corinth then. Good. Let's go." Ares looks unsure, "Baby brother isn't going to be helpful if I'm involved." She rolls her eyes, "You two will have to get along for a bit. I need him right now." Ares puts his hands up and backs away, "I'm willing to work with the mongrel, he's the one that will start the problems." Xena sighs, "Fine. Get me close and I'll walk the rest of the way. I'll talk to him and we'll meet you at your Temple in Corinth as soon as possible." Ares nods and takes her hand.
Ares and Xena appear on a hill overlooking a beautiful valley. Ares points west, "Alcmene lives there. Hurry," he says, giving her hand a tight squeeze before disappearing. Xena sighs and breaks into a quick run in the direction Ares had pointed. She wasn't sure how she would get Hercules on their side, but she knew that she needed him. She knew that he was the only person who could protect her family, not just because of his strength, but also because he was the only one she trusted enough to even ask.
Xena slows as she approaches the small cottage with its beautiful gardens. She smiles at the older woman bent in the dirt, tending her flowers. As if sensing her presence, the woman looks up and smiles, "Xena?" She asks, wiping her hands on her apron and rising to walk towards her. Xena smiles, "Alcmene. It's good to see you." Alcmene embraces her, "And you. I know you aren't here for a social call. You're here for Hercules, aren't you?" Xena nods, "Afraid so. Is he around?" Alcmene nods and leads her around back, "He's working on that wall again." Xena laughs, "Isn't he always?" Alcmene nods, laughing, "I'll fix food and drinks. Go talk with him. We'll eat when Jason and Iolaus get back from fishing." Xena nods her thanks to the woman and heads towards the back of the property where Hercules is building a stone wall.
Hearing movement, Hercules looks up and smiles, "Xena, what are you doing here?" He asks, reaching to hug her. She steps into his embrace, then pulls away and grimaces from the sweat, "I wish this were a social call, but I need your help." He leans against the wall, looking concerned, "What is it? Did something happen to Gabrielle?" He asks, glancing behind Xena. Xena shakes her head and leans next to him, "Gabrielle is fine. Have you heard of Dahok?" She asks. He nods, "He's an evil force that can't be let into this world. Rumor has it you defeated him in Britannia." Xena shakes her head, "I delayed him, but he isn't defeated." Hercules nods, "You want my help stopping Dahok?" He questions. She grimaces, "In a way, yes. I had a vision from the Fates that Dahok is going to go after my family. I want to bring them to Corinth and have you and Iolaus protect them until I've finished dealing with Dahok." He looks skeptical, "You've always believed that we make our own fate, why believe these visions?" Xena's expression becomes stony, "I went to the Fates. They agree that horrible things will befall my loved ones if I don't protect them. Please, Hercules, I need your help." He wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, "Of course, I'll help. Your family will be safe in Corinth, but maybe I should come with you. After all going against a God isn't an easy task." She shakes her head, "I have to do this alone. Besides, you are the only one I trust with my family." Hercules nods, running his hand up and down her back, "Alright, you win. I'll head to Corinth in the morning to talk with Iphicles. When should we expect you? And how many rooms will you need?" Xena smiles, "Thank you Hercules. I'll try to make it in time for lunch tomorrow. My mother will need her own room and my son and his guardian will need separate rooms as well." Hercules inhales sharply, "Son?" He questions. Xena looks down sadly, "Yes, my son, the son of Borias. He doesn't know that I'm his mother and it will stay that way. The Centaur Kaliapus has raised him as his own. He has made my son into a good man. They must be protected, Hercules. I don't know what I would become if any harm befell Solan." Hercules holds her close, "I'll keep your secret and protect your family as if they were my own. You have my word." Xena smiles up at him, "I knew I could count on you. Thank you," she says, giving him a tight hug.
Alcmene ventures outside and finds her son and Xena working silently building the wall. "Lunch," she shouts. Both turn and grin before setting down their tools and heading towards her. "There's a wash basin by the door," she instructs before walking inside and setting the table with five place settings. Xena clasps hands with Jason and Iolaus, then sits to enjoy the nice family meal. Soon they are finished and Xena rises from the table, "Thank you Alcmene, it was wonderful. I wish I could stay, but I have pressing matters to attend to." She then turns to Hercules, "I'll see you in Corinth tomorrow around midday." He nods, "Safe journey, Xena." She smiles tightly and nods, then leaves quickly, heading east.
Xena climbs the hill to the spot where Ares had left her and closes her eyes. "Ares," she calls, softly. He appears with a flash of light, "Xena," he acknowledges, "I thought we were meeting in Corinth." She shrugs, "I am meeting Hercules there tomorrow at midday with my mother, son, and Kaliapus in tow." Ares nods, "He agreed to help, then? It didn't take you long to convince him either. I'm surprised. Usually he's not very trusting when I'm involved." Xena shrugs, "I didn't mention you." He nods, "That explains it." She smiles, "Let's go back to Amphipolis for now. I need to talk to my mother. She'll have to find someone to watch the inn." Ares nods, "And we need to examine those new visions a little closer." Xena nods and reaches for his hand. In seconds they are travelling through the darkness of the ether.
Xena and Ares arrive in Ares' Temple in Amphipolis. He releases her hand and goes to sit on his throne, opening portals as he goes. The first is of the hardened lava pit, the second of Hercules and Iolaus heading towards Corinth, the third of Gabrielle speaking with an Amazon, the fourth is the visions playing on a loop, with the crucifixion and drowning being omitted. Xena follows after him, sitting on the arm of the throne to better view the images. "Focus on the Romans for a minute." Ares obliges, showing only the visions that include the Romans. "Stop," Xena orders. The images stop on the one of a Roman killing an Amazon. "That's Ephiny, the Amazon Queen, in Gabrielle's absence, and that is Brutus, Caesar's right hand," she says, pointing first at the Amazon, then the Roman. Ares nods, "I recognized Brutus, didn't know the woman though. Are you familiar with Crassus and Pompeii?" He asks, showing images of them. She nods, "I've had dealings with Crassus in the past, he has the loyalty of many soldiers. Pompeii I know by reputation only. Together, with Caesar, they form a triumvirate of power in Rome. They balance each other. But if one were to die, there would be a struggle as the other two tried to collect more power than each other. Different factions would arise. It might be enough to throw Rome into confusion. It might be enough to throw Rome into a state of war," she says, thinking aloud. Ares nods, "Yes, but what would happen if two of them were killed?" He asks, pointing first at Crassus being executed, then Pompeii as he fights Caesar and Xena. She closes her eyes and sighs deeply, "Whoever was left standing would declare himself Emperor of Rome and reunite the kingdom under his rule. He would be praised as a hero, a God among men. It would be impossible to turn Rome against him." Ares nods, "Which means we either need to destroy all three of them or find a way to get Rome to turn on their precious triumvirate." Xena nods, "The Romans won't easily turn and if we kill all three, Rome will fall into chaos. We need someone who can either win the people over or pick up the pieces when we're finished. Do you have anyone?" Ares shakes his head, "I have Roman followers, both royal and peasant, but I don't think any are capable of taking over, even with our help." Xena scowls, "We'll have to worry about that later. Right now I need to focus on my family. I'm going to Mother's," she says, heading towards the door. "Xena, wait, " he says. She stops and raises a questioning eyebrow. "Your mother won't react well to me and the only way to get her to Corinth tomorrow is with my help," he tells her. She growls low in her throat, "Well, maybe if you hadn't tried to get me to kill her, we wouldn't have to worry about it." When he starts to respond, she shakes her head and holds up her hand, "I'll deal with my mother," she says, leaving the Temple.
Xena enters Cyrene's tavern and sees a young girl working behind the counter. She approaches, glancing around quickly, scanning for her mother, "Where's Cyrene?" She asks the girl. The girl looks up, startled, then smiles, "You must be Xena. Cyrene talks about you all the time. It's her night off, she's upstairs in her rooms. I'm sure she would love to see you." Xena nods her thanks to the girl, then heads towards the steps which lead to the private living quarters. Reaching the top of the stairs, Xena feels around the doorframe looking for the hidden key. Finding it, she lets herself in, quietly closing the door behind her.
Xena approaches her mother's bedroom and knocks gently, "Mom, it's me, are you in?" There is rustling behind the door, then it opens, revealing Cyrene in a pale nightgown. "Xena?" She says tiredly. Xena nods and embraces her mother, "Sorry, it's so late, but this can't wait. We need to talk." Cyrene nods and leads Xena to sit at a small round table in the corner of the room. "What's wrong? I thought you were going to Athens." She asks. Xena takes her mother's hand, "I was on my way to Athens when the Fates sent me a vision of my family being tortured and killed. I stopped at the Temple of the Fates and they confirmed it, without intervention the people I care about will die." Xena pauses to let her mother take it in. Cyrene looks confused, "Xena, you told me that you believe that we all make our own destinies, that the Gods don't control us." Xena nods, "Mother, it was so real, so horrible. I spoke with Hercules and he agrees with me. You're going to Corinth to stay with Hercules at the Palace. His brother is King, you'll be safe and happy." Cyrene shakes her head, "What about my inn?" Xena rolls her eyes, "Your life is more important! Mother, please," she begs. Cyrene sighs, "If you think it's for the best, so be it. I'll have Marian watch the inn. I'll pack tonight. How are we traveling?" Xena sighs, "I called in an old debt, Ares will take us to Corinth." Her eyes go wide, "Ares!" Xena nods, "It's a onetime thing, no strings. He swore on his Godhood." Cyrene nods, "Alright, Xena, I hope you know what you're doing." Xena nods, "Me too. Look, Mom, there's one more thing. There will be a Centaur and a boy there too. The boy, Solan, is my son." Cyrene inhales sharply and Xena continues before she can interrupt, "He doesn't know I'm his mother and it needs to stay that way. If he knows I'm his mother, it will hurt him. And if people find out he's my son, he'll become a target for all those who hate me. I know it won't be easy, but please, Mother, don't tell him. Just help Hercules keep him safe. Please." Cyrene nods, looking upset, "Of course. Who's his father?" Xena answers, "Borias, a warlord I rode with till he betrayed me." Cyrene nods again, "And the Centaur?" She asks. "Kaliapus, Solan's stepfather. He's taken good care of my son. I won't see him hurt." Cyrene sighs, closing her eyes, "Alright. If I have questions about the boy, can I speak with Kaliapus?" Xena smiles and nods, "Of course. I would love for you to have a relationship with my son, a relationship that I can't have." Cyrene smiles softly, "Are you staying the night?" She asks. Xena shakes her head, "I have to meet up with Hercules and tell Kaliapus what's going on. Pack and rest. In the morning, collect Argo and meet me in front of Ares' Temple," she orders. Cyrene nods and hugs her daughter, "Be safe." Xena nods, hugging her mother back, before leaving.
Waiting for Xena's return, Ares sits on his throne studying the visions. Getting nowhere, he grows frustrated and decides to work on another problem. "Strife," he calls aloud. There's a flash of light, leaving the Godling in its wake. "What's up, Unc?" Strife asks. Ares rolls his eyes at the Godling's vocabulary, "You need to deliver a message for me. I need Kaliapus the Centaur and his son, Solan, to meet me at my Temple in Corinth tomorrow around midday. Do you understand?" Strife nods, "Sure, Unc. You want the four legged freak and his brat to go to your Temple in Corinth." Ares sighs, "Kaliapus has always been loyal to me, you will show him some respect. And the boy has a bright future in my service." Strife sighs, "Fine, I'll play nice with the mortal toys. Anything else, Unc?" He asks. Ares thinks for a moment, "I may live to regret giving you such a delicate errand, but I need you to deliver a message from Xena to her companion, Gabrielle, with the Amazons. You will need to disguise yourself. Is this something you can handle?" Strife smiles, "Xena's back? Awesome." Ares looks at him expectantly and Strife nods, "Oh yeah, disguise myself to take a message to Xena's Amazon girlfriend. What's the message?" He asks, making a scroll and quill appear in his hand. Ares rolls his eyes, then sighs, "Gabrielle, if I don't return to you by the time you're ready to leave your sisters, go to Corinth. I will meet you at the Palace of King Iphicles. If you can't find me, find Hercules, he'll explain. Don't rush to me, take your time, all is well. Always yours, Xena. Got it, Strife?" Strife nods and hands him the scroll. Ares looks it over and nods, "Good. Go, you're grating on my nerves," he orders. Strife takes the scroll back, nods, and disappears in a flash of light.
Xena returns to Ares' Temple, exhausted from the long day and knowing that she still has a lot to do. She heads to Ares' throne, expecting to find him studying the visions and is surprised to find the throne room empty. Furring her brow, she checks the side room, where they had eaten, then upon finding that empty as well, she heads to the room they had shared the night before. Opening the door, she also finds that room empty. "Ares," she calls, curious where he could be. "Back here," she hears him reply from the back of a long hallway. Xena walks down the hall and opens two double doors, entering a warm room, smelling of sweet oils. She finds Ares lounging in a large bathing area full of steaming water. She raises a questioning eyebrow at him. He smiles at her, "It's been a long couple of days. The visions are taxing, especially certain ones. I thought it would be nice to relax." Xena nods, "I see. Well, I'll leave you to it. We still have work to do tonight, don't take too long." She begins to leave the room, when Ares stops her, "Xena, we both need to relax. You experienced those visions the same way I did. Stay. We can work from here." Xena closes her eyes, back still facing him, then sighs and heads to the opposite side of the pool, stripping off her weapons and armor as she goes. Aware that his eyes are glued to her every move, she lets her shift fall from her shoulders, then wades into the sweet, warm water.
Xena looks up at Ares from across the pool, then wades a bit closer. "How'd it go with your mother?" Ares asks. Xena smiles, happy that he will indeed be willing to focus on the job at hand. "She will meet us in front of the Temple with Argo in the morning. She thinks I called in a favor with you and that it's a onetime thing. Don't expect her to be nice," she answers. He nods, "Of course." An awkward silence falls over them. Xena begins to make her way out of the pool, but stops when Ares' hand lands on her shoulder, "Stay, relax," he orders. She shakes her head, "I can't. I have to get to Kaliapus and Solan and I need to send Gabrielle a message. If she comes here and both me and Mom are missing, she'll worry." Ares smiles, "It's all taken care of," he says, resting his other hand on her shoulder as well and beginning to gently massage them. She sighs at the feeling, "How?" She asks. He explains, "Kaliapus has always been loyal to me. I sent a message asking him and Solan to come to my Temple in Corinth around midday tomorrow. And I sent a messenger to the Amazons with a scroll for Gabrielle telling her that all is well and to meet you in Corinth when she's ready. I signed your name." Xena nods, her eyes closed, relaxing into his touch, "How long has Kaliapus been loyal to you?" Ares pauses a moment, "Sense before you attacked Corinth. I have a small sect of Centaurs loyal to me, he happens to be one of them." She nods again, then stiffens slightly, "How long have you known about Solan?" Ares sighs deeply, "I've always known. You might have been able to hide your pregnancy from your men, but not from me. When Kaliapus brought his infant stepson, the son of Borias, to my Temple to be blessed, I figured it out. The boy has your aura and eyes." She relaxes again, leaning into his touch, "You knew and you never tried to use him against me. Thank you," she says quietly. Ares remains silent and continues to massage her shoulders, gradually adding more pressure, waiting for her to pull away from his touch.
Time passes slowly as Xena and Ares relax in the pool of warm water. Eventually Xena pulls away and settles next to Ares. "We should probably study the visions some more," she suggests. Ares sighs, frustrated, but nods and opens a portal showing the visions. He stops them at the image of Xena holding a dagger to his throat, "That," he says, pointing to the dagger, "Is the Dagger of Helios." Xena stares at it, "How?" She questions. He shrugs, "I have no clue. This town looks familiar," he says, restarting the visions, then stopping them on the one of him killing the man in clothes from India, "Look the same to you?" He asks, pointing at the background. Xena studies it and nods, "I think you're right. I guess we were on opposite sides still." He shrugs, "Or we were having a lover's quarrel." Xena laughs lightly, "With the two of us, that could actually be true. Seriously though, who do you think he is?" Ares shakes his head, "No clue, but he must be important for you to threaten my life." She nods, "Maybe he's the father of my child." Ares gives her an annoyed look, "Do you really think I would kill someone for getting you pregnant? Give me some credit." Xena shrugs then watches the visions in silence.
After watching the visions cycle a few more times, Ares closes the portal, "We're getting nowhere. Tomorrow will be a long, hard day, go get some rest," he orders. Xena nods, "And what are you going to do?" She questions. He shrugs, "Watch the visions, what else?" Xena shakes her head and grabs his hand, leading him from the pool, "We need more information. Which means we need more visions." Ares pulls away, shaking his head, "All that will do is confuse us more. I need to make sense of the ones the Fates have already sent me first." Xena wraps a towel around herself and starts to pick up her discarded clothes, "They're taking more out of you, aren't they?" Ares remains silent and she turns to glance at him, "Am I right?" She prompts. He nods, clothing himself in his regular garb with the wave of his hand. She nods in return, then puts her stuff down, holding onto her shift, "Can I leave these here?" She asks. He nods again with a curious look, "Xena," he starts. She shakes her head and takes his hand, leading him to their room.
Xena opens the door and lets the towel fall to the floor then slips on her shift. She smiles at Ares, "Come to bed. Time to take one for the team." He sighs deeply, "What else can possibly happen? What else can they show us?" She shrugs, "I don't know, but whatever it is, I'm here to help," she says, laying down. "This is a bad idea," he says, joining her. Xena smiles to herself, "I don't have bad ideas." Ares laughs lightly and pulls her into his arms. She stiffens against him, "Ares," she warns. He holds her tighter, "It helps. Isn't that why you're here?" She laughs and shakes her head, but doesn't try to move.
Ares fights the urge to rest, but Xena had been right when she asked if the visions were getting harder on him. It seemed that the more emotionally charged the visions were, the more drained he felt. Even just viewing them through the portals was draining him far more than they should. Soon his thoughts leave the visions and begin to turn to the woman in his arms. It was clear that they had a future together, just what that entailed he was unsure. Where they lovers? Enemies? Was the child his? If so, was it an accident or something they tried for? Neither he nor Xena would make a good parental figure and together the Gods only knew what kind of damage they would do to a child. Were things going to change so much that they would chose to bring a child into the world? With questions chasing their way through his head, he drifts off to sleep.
Xena fights her own exhaustion, wanting to remain awake in case Ares had more troubling visions like before. Her own crucifixion still rang through her limbs, making her flex her fingers and toes. What haunted her more, were his screams over her lifeless body as he pulled her from the frozen water. Screams like that were born from a deep love, a love that she didn't know he was capable of. She feels him fall asleep and carefully rolls in his arms to study his face. His muscles soon go from relaxed around her to tight and she knows that he's experiencing the Fates' visions. Not knowing how to help and not wanting to wake him yet, she holds him close and lightly draws circular designs on his back.
Ares tries to jerk away from the visions, but the Fates hold him tightly under their spell. First a double funeral pyre, with Xena and Gabrielle at the heads, the Amazon, Ephiny, singing above them. Xena radiates loss, pain, and anger. Gabrielle, loss, pain, and guilt. The next is another funeral pyre, but only Xena is shown, dressed in the robes of an Amazon Shamaness. She's screaming as it burns. Then he sees Callisto, hair cut short, all in white deflecting Xena's sword with nothing but a finger. With the next, Ares feels pain and a heavy weight. He looks down at himself and sees an arrow in his leg and the Chains of Hephaestus wrapped around him. Close by he sees Gabrielle and the Roman warrior woman, both bleeding, maybe not even alive. The sound of clashing swords echo around him. He looks up and notices that he's on Olympus and Xena is battling Athena on her own. He feels his own panic and watches as he pulls himself over to the woman and Gabrielle. He manages to shrug off the chains enough to free his hands and places one on each of the women. Glancing at Xena, he sees her failing against his sister. He feels the power leave his body as it travels into them, healing them both and leaving him mortal. Things change again and he's in an ice cave, placing Xena's body in the coffin, loss radiating through him, "You're with her now," he hears himself say, "I handled you all wrong. I know that. She knew what you needed, unconditional, and unselfish love, and I couldn't give that to you. But I appreciated you in ways she never could, your rage, your violence, your beauty. When you sacrificed yourself for others, you were hers. But when you kicked ass, you were mine. I love you, Xena." He watches as he kisses her gently and closes the coffin lid over her. He plants her sword in the frozen ground at her feet and places the Chakram around it, heart breaking with the loss of his Warrior Princess.
As the visions haunt Ares, Xena watches his face, not knowing what to do. They need the visions to make any progress but watching him suffer was torture for her. She watches emotions flicker across his face, first confusion, suffering, pain, then heart breaking loss. Knowing that the visions leave him drained, she shakes him gently, hoping to wake him, "Ares, wake up," she says quietly. He moans lightly and turns away from her. "Ares, wake up," she says, leaning over him, gently slapping his cheek. He begins to flinch more, but still doesn't wake. Slowly she leans closer to him, "Ares, come back to me," she says before kissing him gently. He jerks towards her and pulls her close, responding with a passion and desperation she hadn't been expecting. Slowly, she pulls away and his eyes open, confusion playing in his gaze.
Ares stares at Xena, not knowing if this was a vision or reality. The visions of late had been too real, too close to reality, too emotional. "Xena?" He asks, not really knowing the question. She smiles softly, "You're awake," she says, rolling off him and settling at his side. He nods and glances around the room assuring himself that this is reality. "They're so real now," he says quietly. Xena nods and rests her hand on top of his, "Show me," she orders gently. He nods and opens a portal. The visions begin to play, then flicker and fail. Ares stares at the empty space where the portal had been, then looks at Xena, "In the morning," he says quietly. She nods, concern in her gaze, "Were they bad?" She asks. He nods, remaining silent. He stares at her and runs the back of his hand down her cheek, "We can't let these things happen." She smiles and grabs his hand, "We won't," she says. He turns her hand over in his, tracing the area where the stakes had gone through her palm. She grips his hand tightly, then releases it. "Lay down," she orders. He nods and complies, exhausted and drained from the Fates' torture. Xena looks down at him and lays in his arms, resting her head on his chest, "Sleep now. We have a lot to do tomorrow." He wraps his arms around her and soon she feels him relax beneath her. After a few minutes of him remaining relaxed, she decides the visions won't restart and allows herself to sleep as well.
Ares awakes to a wonderful weight on his chest. He holds Xena close, pulling her on top of him fully, very carefully, not wanting her to wake and pull away from him. He strokes her back and enjoys the feeling of her. Soon his mind wanders back to the previous night. When he had woken to her kissing him, he had been sure that it couldn't be real. He knew now that in the future, they would be in love, or at least he was in love with her. And it was love, not passion, not the urge to own or control her, but love. The last vision told him that he had to change his ways. He had to give her selfless love, stop scheming and manipulating her to get his way. But wasn't that what he was doing now? Each vision took more strength from him and he was willingly sacrificing himself for her, for himself, his family, the world. For once he was on the right side, her side, maybe it was the change that needed to happen. Maybe it would prevent her death and the soul shattering heartbreak that followed it.
Xena wakes, laying on top of Ares and remains still. She would never admit it to him, but it wasn't a bad way to wake up. His scent surrounds her, his arms holding her close, making her think that everything would be alright. Logically, she knew not to get involved. Eventually he would turn her back into the Destroyer of Nations or his Warrior Queen. It wouldn't be his fault exactly, it was who he was. And he couldn't change that, could he? Held close in his arms, being his lifeline to reality, she almost believes that he could change. And though she doesn't want to, she hopes he would prove her wrong.
Ares holds Xena for a while, but knows that they have too much to do to spend the whole morning resting. He shakes her lightly, "Hey, wake up," he says gently. Xena pushes herself up a little, pretending to wake up, "Mornin'," she greets. He smiles at her, "How long have you been awake?" He asks. She laughs, "A few minutes," she admits. "Were you able to rest?" She asks. He nods, "Yeah." She smiles softly, "Good. I need you at full strength today." He smiles back, then sighs, "I guess you want to see the visions, huh?" She nods and rolls off him, resting next to him, "How bad are they?" She asks, wanting to be prepared. He doesn't respond at first, taking time to reflect on the visions, then answers, "They won't be easy. And they raise more questions than they answer." She nods, "Show me," she orders gently. He nods and opens a portal. The visions play flawlessly. When they start to repeat, he closes the portal and relaxes back against the headboard of the bed. Xena stares at him, confused by what she had seen. He nods in understanding, "Told you it was a bad idea," he says sarcastically.
Xena thinks for a moment, then starts to rationalize aloud, "The first funeral must have been the Centaur children. Hope must have killed Ephiny's son, Xenan. That would explain her singing and Gabrielle's guilt. At the second funeral pyre, I'm mourning in the garbs of a Shamaness. For me to do that, I would have to be very lost. It must be Solan. I can't think of anyone else whose death would affect me like that. I can't explain Callisto, but we'll be going after her soon, hopefully she won't matter anymore. I don't understand the next one though. Why are we on Olympus? Who is the Roman woman? And what did you do to her and Gabrielle?" Ares shrugs, "I have no clue why we're on Olympus, but the Roman is our daughter. She must have matured fast, some half Gods do, but she is our daughter." Xena questions him, "How do you know?" He shrugs again, "Easy, when I healed her and Gabrielle, I didn't have Athena's blessing which means, I had to give up my Godhood. I would only do that to save someone very important, thus our daughter." Xena nods slowly, "The last one," she starts. Ares interrupts her, "Needs no explanation. I've been wrong these past few years, I see that now. I also see that if we're going to prevent these visions, I have to change and you have to trust me. I'm willing to try, are you?" Xena remains silent, he was right, of course, they both had to agree to move on, to trust, and to be honest with each other. She nods slowly, "Alright, clean slate." Ares smiles and begins to respond, but is interrupted by Cyrene's voice, "Xena, are you in here?" Xena quickly gets off the bed and rushes to the door. "Wait," Ares orders, rising from the bed himself and waving a hand over them both, clothing them in their regular garb. She smiles at him in appreciation, then leaves the room, heading towards her mother's voice.
Xena walks to the front of the Temple and finds Cyrene snooping through offerings at the altar. "Mother," she greets. Cyrene turns sharply, "Xena, there you are. Argo's out front, we're ready when you are." Xena nods and closes her eyes, "Ares," she calls, trying to make her voice sound hard. Ares appears in a flash of light, "Xena," he acknowledges. "Our deal," she reminds him, "Take us to Corinth." He raises an eyebrow, "And what do I get in return?" He questions, playing off of her coldness. She scowls in response, "I helped you get your sword back from Sisyphus. You owe me. Take us and your debt to me is forgiven." He nods, "So be it." Xena smiles and leads her mom out of the Temple. She grabs Argo's reigns in one hand and Cyrene's hand in the other then turns to Ares, "We're ready," she tells him. He nods and places a hand on her shoulder. In seconds everything goes black as he speeds them through the ether.
Seconds pass and they arrive in front of Ares' Temple in Corinth. Xena shakes her head to clear it and turns to her mother, "Are you alright?" She asks. Cyrene looks at her shakily, "That is not a nice way to travel," she says. Xena nods, "I know, Mom. Look, we have a bit of time before we meet up with Hercules. Go find a place for us to grab a meal. I'll catch up in a minute." Cyrene nods and takes Argo's reigns, leading her further into the busy city. Xena smiles after her mother, then turns to Ares, "Thank you." He nods, "Of course. I'm going to study the visions for a while. When Kaliapus gets here, I'll explain what's going on and send him to the Palace." Xena smiles, "Thanks that will make things less complicated. Hercules will want me to stay the night, to rest before going against Dahok. I'll meet you back here in the morning." He nods, disappointed, but not surprised, "If you need me before then, just call," he tells her. She nods and walks down the path her mother had gone down moments before.
Ares stares after her, then disappears in a shower of light. Arriving inside the Temple, he approaches his altar and thumbs through the offerings, trying to distract himself not just from the visions, but also the thoughts they brought up. Grabbing a decorative dagger, he smiles, then places it in his boot. Seeing nothing else of immediate interest, he lounges on the throne and calls for Strife. The Godling arrives, "Hey, Unc," he greets. Ares rolls his eyes, "Don't talk like that. You're a God of Olympus, act like it." Strife nods, "Will do, Unc," he acknowledges. Ares sighs, giving up on the Godling, "Kaliapus and his son will be here this afternoon?" Strife nods, "Yeah and I delivered the scroll to Xena's girlfriend. You should have been there, Unc. All those scantily clad women, quite a feast for the imagination." Ares growls low in his throat, "A real God wouldn't need to imagine, Strife. How did you disguise yourself?" Strife smiles, not even noticing the previous insult, "You're gonna love this, Unc. You know that moron that follows Xena around? The one with the bad armor and pale skin?" Ares nods. Strife continues, "Yeah, I was him. Showed up, asked for Xena's sidekick, gabbed with the twit and gave her the scroll. Then I left quickly, claiming someone needed my help. She bought it, hook, line, and sinker. I am a genius." Ares laughs, "Debatable, but good job. You're not a total moron. I might actually be able to turn you into a real God one day. Now, pick something from the altar and leave," he orders. Strife smiles and cackles, "Really? One of your offerings? I don't know what to say. Ha! Discord will be so jealous. Thanks, Unc." Ares waves him towards the altar and rolls his eyes before opening a portal to view the visions on.
Xena walks down the roads of Corinth for a while before seeing Argo tethered outside of a small inn. She approaches the horse and strokes her mane, "Hey girl. Sorry I haven't been around. Things will be back to normal soon, I promise. And until then you'll be at the Palace and I'll make sure that they treat you like royalty. Sound good?" Argo throws her head up and nudges Xena's hand lightly. Xena smiles and rubs the horse's nose, then walks into the inn.
A sign on the wall catches Xena's eye. "No weapons," it reads. She sighs and places her sword and Chakram on a weapon rack near the door, then heads to the table her mother is sitting at. "Hey Mom," she greets, sitting down across from the woman. Cyrene smiles, "Xena. I was starting to worry. I ordered for you, I hope that's okay." Xena smiles, "Of course." Their food arrives soon and Xena attacks it. Cyrene raises an eyebrow, "Hungry?" Xena nods, "I've been busy. Eating wasn't very high on my list." Cyrene nods and slowly picks at her food. Xena takes notice, "Mother, what's wrong?" Cyrene sighs, "Xena, last time I saw you, you tried to kill me because of Ares, now you're calling in favors, what changed?" Xena pauses to get her story straight, "Nothing. This is more important than old grudges. The only way to get here in time was with the help of a God and the only God who owed me was Ares. I had no choice." Cyrene nods, but doesn't look satisfied. "Mother," Xena prompts. Cyrene sighs, "Oh, it's silly. And it won't matter or change things, but do you really believe that Ares is your father?" Xena laughs, a quick, short laugh, then shakes her head, "No, but it was a very convenient lie at the time." Cyrene still doesn't look convinced, "Why did he let you win, then? You are a great warrior, but he's a God. He could have smashed you like an insect." Xena nods, "Maybe he was tired of crazy Xena, maybe he was just bored and wanted it over, I don't really know," she admits. Cyrene laughs, "That makes sense, he was bored. I thought maybe he didn't want to hurt you, but boredom makes much more sense. Oh Xena, the crazy thoughts that go through a mother's head. I'm such a silly woman sometimes," she says, laughing lightly. Xena smiles, "You're just worried about me, there's nothing wrong with that." Cyrene smiles and they finish their meal in silence.
Xena approaches the Palace with her mother beside her and Argo slightly behind them. As they reach the Palace gates a guard steps in front of them, "State your business," he orders. Xena glares at the man, "I'm Xena. I'm here for Hercules." The man immediately backs down and opens the gate, "Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you. Please, let me take your horse to the stables. She'll be treated like a Queen, I swear," he gushes. Xena nods and hands over the reins. "Be good, girl," she instructs Argo before leading her mother up the steps to the Palace doors. She pushes them open and ushers her mother in. From a side room, Hercules pokes his head out and smiles, "Xena. And this can't be your mother, she's far too young." Cyrene smiles and blushes, "Oh what a charmer. I'm Cyrene. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hercules." Hercules smiles and shakes her hand gently, "Pleasure is all mine. Now, I'm sure you're exhausted from your journey. Queen Rena will take you to your room and show you around the Palace. During your stay here, don't hesitate to ask for anything. "Cyrene smiles and gives Xena's arm a tight squeeze before following the Queen.
Xena smiles after her mother, "Thank you Hercules, she'll be talking about this for years." He laughs lightly, "You must be exhausted too. It probably took all night and morning to get from Mother's to Amphipolis and then here to Corinth." Xena nods, "It was rough, but I'm alright. I want to speak with Kaliapus when he gets here, then I'll head out. Dahok must be stopped." Hercules nods, "Of course. Will you let me come with you? We have a better chance of defeating him together than you do on your own." Xena shakes her head, "I have to know that my family is safe. Surely you of all people understand that." He nods and pulls her into a tight embrace, "I understand. However, stay for dinner tonight and rest. Leave in the morning." Xena nods, not pulling away from him, "You win. I won't stay too long after dinner though. You are right, I need my rest." He nods, then furrows his brow, "Where is Gabrielle?" Xena smiles softly, "I left her with the Amazons. Ephiny and I made up a story about some treaties that only Gabrielle could handle. She's safe with her sisters." Hercules nods, "Good. I'll send a message to the Amazons, let them know that she should come here when she's done." Xena shakes her head, "That isn't necessary. I already sent her a message." He nods, pulling her closer, "You've thought of everything." She nods against his chest, "I try," she says. He uses his hand to gently raise her chin, "I wish you would let me help." She smiles at him, "You are, more than you know." He smiles and leans towards her. She pulls away, "I can't." He sighs, but nods, "Of course, you need to focus." She nods and moves out of his arms. An awkward silence falls over them for several minutes. Finally a servant enters the room, "Xena, he's here," the boy says. Xena smiles and heads to the door to meet Kaliapus and her son.
Xena smiles and waves from the Palace doors. Solan rushes up to her, "Xena, this is great! I've never seen the Palace before." Xena smiles, "Well, now you'll get to brag to everyone that you got to stay in the Palace." His smile widens, "Really? I get to stay here?" Hercules approaches, "Of course you do." Solan stares up in awe, "Are you really Hercules?" He questions. Hercules and Xena both smile. Hercules lays a hand on the boy's shoulder, "I sure hope so. Come on, let me show you around." Xena smiles and urges him on, "I'll catch up later," she promises. Solan smiles and follows Hercules into the Palace.
Kaliapus approaches at a cautious pace, "Xena," he greets. She smiles, "Thank you for coming." He nods, "Ares said it was important." Xena nods, "Dahok, the evil one is here, trying to enter this world. I must stop him, but I had to know that my family was safe first." Kaliapus nods, "You wanted to protect Solan," he states. She nods, "And you. You have cared for my son, raised him, and turned him into a good man. You are his family and thus mine as well." The Centaur looks shocked, "Are you going to tell him?" He questions. She shakes her head, "I have too many enemies. I would love to be a part of his life, but I would only bring him sorrow." He nods in response and heads into the Palace. Xena places a hand on his shoulder, "You should know, my mother is here too and she knows the truth. She will seek you out to learn more about Solan." Kaliapus nods again and pulls out of Xena's grasp, walking into the Palace.
Xena stares out over the city, watching the people go about their lives, none knowing how close they are to destruction. Staring at the women walking with their children in the marketplace, she becomes sad. Once that had been her and her own mother. She had hoped one day it would be her and her own child. If she was to have any hope of that, she had to defeat Dahok. Hearing the wail of a baby, her head shoots to the left and she watches a young mother console her screaming infant. The scene takes her mind back to the visions and her hand unconsciously goes to her flat stomach. She can see Ares first holding their daughter, then giving up his Godhood to save her. She smiles softly, then jumps when a hand lands on her shoulder. She turns, "Hercules. Sorry, I was just thinking." He nods, "Want to talk about it?" He asks, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. She shakes her head and shrugs out of his embrace, "I should check on Mother and Solan," she says, heading into the Palace. Hercules follows her and leads her up a flight of stairs, then points to the left, "Your mother is there, Solan is across from her, Kaliapus next to him, I'm next to your mother. Dinner will be in a few hours, Rena's had clothes brought for you and your family. The Queen dislikes leather and weapons at her dinner table." Xena smiles, "She's being very kind letting us stay here, I'll try not to upset her." Hercules nods and gives her shoulder a quick squeeze before going back down the steps.
Ares paces his Temple, a portal playing the visions one step ahead of him. He closes his eyes and runs a hand down his face. Deciding to look at things in a different way, he starts to group the visions together in a logical order, hoping to get a peek at the bigger picture. He starts with Xena being pregnant, then Alti attacking Xena to get to their baby, then the image of him holding their child, then him fighting their daughter. He pauses on that one, amazed that he hadn't noticed it before. The girl moved and fought like Xena. He was shocked that they originally thought that she was an enemy. Next he adds in him and Xena fighting against Athena, then him giving up his Godhood to save their daughter while Xena continues to fight Athena. The next set he sees is Xena's death. He starts with pulling her body from the water, then the scene of him holding her corpse and finally the ice cave. He repeats Xena's death, trying to memorize every detail, swearing that it will never come to be.
Xena knocks on her son's door, "Solan, it's Xena, can I come in?" She hears rushing behind the door, then it swings open, "Hi Xena," he says, full of excitement. She smiles and follows him into the room. They sit next to each other on the bed. "So what do you think of the Palace?" Xena asks. Solan smiles, "It's great and Hercules is really nice. I thought he would be intimidating, instead he's like you." Xena smiles, "He's a very good man and a good friend too." Solan nods, then looks curious, "Xena, why am I here? Kaliapus made me leave the room when he was speaking to Ares and he wouldn't answer any of my questions on the way here." She thinks for a moment, "Have you ever heard of Dahok?" Solan shakes his head. Xena explains, "He's a very powerful, very bad God. I have to stop him, but I'm worried that he'll come after my friends. Hercules agreed to help me keep my friends safe from Dahok so I can fight him without worrying. So Gabrielle is with her Amazon sisters and you, your father, and my mother are here with Hercules and his brother, King Iphicles." Solan smiles, "Kaliapus and I are that important to you?" She nods, "Of course. Your father, Borias, was a very good friend of mine. I don't ever want to see you, his son, hurt," she says giving his shoulder a light squeeze. He smiles and hugs her, "Thanks Xena, you're important to me too." Xena closes her eyes and embraces her son for a minute, then pulls back, "Alright, now onto business. There's going to be a very boring dinner tonight that we all have to attend. Will you tell Kaliapus about it? Ask him to help you get ready. The King and Queen are doing us a great kindness by having us all as guests, we need to show them our appreciation." Solan smiles and nods, "You can count on me," he says leaving the room.
Xena smiles at her son as he leaves the room, then goes across the hall and knocks on Cyrene's door, "Mom, it's me." Cyrene responds, "It's open, come on in." Xena walks into the room and stares in shock, "Mother, what are you doing?" She asks, staring at the mountain of clothes. Cyrene looks up from the clothes, a dress in her hand, "How many times will I ever have the excuse to dress up like royalty? I'm going to take advantage of it." Xena smiles and laughs lightly, "Alright, Mom. I'm going to need your help. Have you seen anything that would fit me?" She asks. Cyrene smiles and looks excited, "That pile over there," she says, pointing to a smaller mountain. Xena approaches the pile with a slight scowl. Cyrene takes notice, "I was so excited when I had you, finally I had a little girl to dress up and gossip with. Then you turned out to be worse than your brothers. Just this once, please Xena, be my little girl and play dress up with me and gossip with me, just this one time," she says, desperation in her tone. Xena sighs and starts to remove her armor, "Alright, you win. I'll play dress up and I'll try to gossip, no promises though." Cyrene smiles in triumph and hands Xena a dress, "Try this one," she orders. Xena sighs and removes her shift, making sure it covers the Hind's Blood pendant that she had been hiding in her armor, then slips on the dress. Cyrene shakes her head and points to another dress, "So, do you have a nice man in your life?" Xena laughs and tries the next dress, "I don't have time for a nice man, Mom." Cyrene thinks for a moment before pointing to another dress, "Well, what about Hercules? You two seem close." Xena thinks for a moment, "We've gone our separate ways. He's a very good friend, but the time for us has passed," she says, a little sad. Cyrene nods and rubs her back gently, "I just want to see you happy and safe. That's all any mother wants for her child," she says, giving Xena a quick hug. Xena hugs her mother in return, "I know, Mom. And I am happy. I have my friends and my family. What else can I ask for?" Cyrene smiles and points at another dress, "Did you love Solan's father before he betrayed you?" She questions. Xena sighs, "As much as I could at that time. I was so lost, it truly was the darkest point in my life, but when I look back on it, thoughts of Borias make me happy, so yes, I did love him, still do in a way." Cyrene looks up with a sweet, comforting smile, "That's beautiful Xena." Xena looks down at her current dress and wrinkles her nose, "Really? I feel like a piece of fruit." Cyrene sighs, "Not the dress, silly, it's hideous. I'm glad you've experienced love." Xena nods and removes the dress, "Love isn't the problem. I loved Lyceus and Toris and you. I love my son and Gabrielle. And there have been other men, some I might have loved under different circumstances," she explains, then quickly, before Cyrene can continue questioning her, she asks, "And what about you, Mom? I worry about you always being alone at the inn." Cyrene smiles and laughs, "My luck with men isn't very good. After your father and stepfather I think it's better for me to be alone. And I do have help now. I have two girls who help out and Toris stops by when he can." Xena nods, "I haven't seen Toris in a long time, how is he?" She asks. Cyrene smiles happily, "He's doing great. He met a nice woman, they're expecting their first child soon. They left Greece though. I think they went to Italia, she has family there." Xena smiles, "I'm going to be an aunt. When all this is over, you and I can go visit," she offers. Cyrene nods, "That would be nice, Xena. I like that dress, what do you think?" Xena glances down at the navy, skin tight dress and smiles, "It's good. Does that mean I'm done?" Cyrene laughs, "We're just beginning," she states evilly.
Ares grows tired of watching the visions. They were beginning to drain him. He checks on the lava pit and is pleased to find it undisturbed. He opens a portal to Gabrielle and finds her eating with her sisters. He checks on Hercules and Iolaus and finds them getting ready for some sort of dinner at the Palace. Solan and Kaliapus are doing the same. Curious, he opens a portal to Xena. When he does, her head shoots up and she starts to glance around the room. "Mom, go on ahead, I'll catch up in a few minutes," she says, still glancing around the room. Cyrene nods and leaves the room. Xena closes the door gently. "Ares," she calls quietly. He appears before her, "How do you do that?" He asks. She shrugs, "Why were you watching me?" He shrugs back, "I needed a break from the visions. I was checking up on everyone. You look nice." Xena smiles, "Mom's idea," she says, indicating her dress and hair with the wave of a hand. He nods, "It's missing something," he says. She gives him a questioning look and he pulls the dagger from his boot, "Give me your leg," he orders, kneeling in front of her. She places her foot on his leg, curious. He smiles and runs a hand up her leg to her thigh. She shivers lightly with the contact. He smiles and wraps a small belt around her thigh and attaches the sheathed dagger to it, then runs his hand back down her leg, "Perfect," he says quietly. She smiles and removes her leg, letting him stand. She walks around the room, "Can you see it?" She asks. He shakes his head. She smiles, "Thank you." He nods, then questions, "Where's the pendent?" Xena walks over to her stuff and pulls it out, then hands it to him, "Keep it safe, I can't wear it and I don't want to leave it here while I go to dinner." He nods and puts it in his vest. "Xena," he starts cautiously, "Can I give you one more thing for the dinner tonight?" She nods, curious, "Alright," she agrees. He moves behind her and puts his arms around her, raising them slowly to place a chain and pendent around her neck, then let's his hands fall back down, bringing them to rest on her hips. She reaches up to finger the pendent, then turns to look in the mirror. She smiles at the replica of her Chakram, studded with small blue stones, "It's gorgeous." He smiles, still holding her, "You're gorgeous, the necklace just adds an extra sparkle." She smiles and turns in his arms, "Thank you," she says, giving him a gentle kiss. He pulls her towards him, running his hands up and down her back, deepening the kiss. She runs her hands through his hair, holding him close and raises a leg to rest on his hip, pulling his lower body closer to hers. Before things go further, there's a knock at the door, "Xena, are you ready?" Hercules asks. Ares growls low in his throat as Xena pulls away. "Just a minute," she says to the closed door, then lowers her voice, "Go and keep the pendent safe," she says to Ares. He nods and disappears. She sighs and glances in the mirror. Her face is flushed and her lips are red and swollen from his kisses. Straightening her dress and hair, she shrugs, "Good as it's going to get," she mutters, then heads to the door.
Xena exits the room and smiles at Hercules. "What were you doing?" He asks, glancing in the room behind her. She smiles and pulls the door closed behind her, "Working out the kinks, that's all," she explains. He smiles softly, and fingers her necklace, "You look stunning." She smiles, "Thank you, Hercules. Come on, we're going to be late," she says, heading down the hall. Hercules follows her, then takes the lead, holding her hand gently. They enter the dining hall together, hand in hand, and all heads turn to stare. Hercules releases her hand and heads towards his brother. Cyrene rushes up to Xena and asks in a hushed voice, "Did something happen between you two?" Xena shakes her head, "Of course not, why?" Cyrene raises an eyebrow, "You look like a well-loved woman." Xena reaches a hand to her lips and is saved by Iphicles calling everyone to the table for dinner.
Dinner topics remain lighthearted and simple. Hercules shares a few stories from his adventures and Solan hangs on every word. Iolaus interrupts with a few jokes. Xena smiles from across the table. Solan glances at her and smiles, "Xena, where did you get the necklace? It looks just like your Chakram!" All eyes turn to look at the necklace. Xena reaches down and fiddles with the pendent, "It was a gift from an old friend. I thought it would look nice." Cyrene smiles, "Who?" She asks. Xena pauses, "No one you know, Mom," she answers. Hercules becomes interested, "You're dodging, Xena." She glares at him, "Drop it, Hercules," she warns. He puts up his hands in surrender and the conversation goes back to normal.
Soon, dinner is over and the plates are removed. Xena watches as Solan begins to nod off during one of Hercules' stories. His head shoots up, then starts to drupe again. She walks up and puts a hand on his shoulder, "Come on Solan, let's turn in for the night. Hercules can tell you more stories in the morning." He nods and gets up to follow her. She turns to Iphicles, "Thank you for everything. Dinner was wonderful." He nods at her and the Queen smiles, "Xena," she says, "It's too late for you to leave tonight. The room on the other side of Hercules' room is open. Stay the night and start fresh in the morning." Xena nods, "Thank you Queen Rena. I'll head out at first light." Hercules approaches her, "Can we talk before you leave in the morning?" He asks. She nods, "Of course. As long as you bring me breakfast." He laughs and nods, "It's a deal then." She smiles and places a hand on Solan's shoulder leading him up the stairs to his room.
Xena helps Solan remove and hang up his clothes, then leads him to the bed and tucks him in. He smiles up at her, "Goodnight, Xena," he says, eyes barely open. "Goodnight, Solan," she responds, stroking his cheek. She heads to the door and stops to glance back at her sleeping son. She smiles softly, wishing she had been there for him more. She leaves the room and quietly shuts the door. Going across the hall to her mother's room, she collects her things and goes to the empty room next to Hercules' room.
Ares paces his Temple, reflecting back on his earlier kiss with Xena and her response. Her enthusiasm had surprised him, she had melted into his touch, holding nothing back. He had forgotten what her true passion tasted like after all the years of them being enemies. It had been a long time sense they had allowed themselves to be truly open with one another. When she had given him a clean slate earlier, he hadn't expected anything like this to happen, at least not so soon. He needs to talk to her, to see if it just happened in the heat of the moment, an accident on her part.
Opening a portal, Ares sees Xena alone in a Palace bedroom, removing the dress from dinner. He watches her glance around the room. Then she smiles, "I know you're there," she says quietly. He appears next to her, "That truly is amazing," he says. She nods and motions to the dress, "Undo the laces for me," she orders. He approaches and carefully unlaces the back of the gown, leaving her back exposed to him. He runs a finger from the small of her back to the base of her neck and she shivers. She moves away and lets the dress fall to the floor. She retrieves it and puts it in the wardrobe, then removes a silk nightgown. She lays it on the bed and removes the dagger from her thigh, handing it back to Ares, "Thank you," she says. He pushes the dagger back towards her, "Keep it, you might need it." She smiles and sets it down with her sword and Chakram. She approaches the mirror and starts pulling out the pins that were holding her hair up. Ares comes up behind her and pushes her hands away. Carefully he removes all the pins, letting her hair flow down her back. She smiles and runs her hand through it. She grabs the gown from the bed and drapes it on. Ares' eyes follow the silky material as it falls down her body, then shoot back up to her face. She smiles and sits on the bed, "Have you figured out anything?" He shrugs, "Not really. I put some of the visions in order, but it hasn't helped," he says. "Can I see?" She asks. He nods and opens a small portal while sitting next to her. She watches the two sequences in silence, heart breaking at the pain Ares goes through. Seeing them in order was emotional torture. When they start to repeat she grabs his hand, "That's enough," she says, voice shaking. He nods and closes the portal, "Doesn't help much, does it?" She shakes her head, "At least we understand them and can eliminate them. We don't have to watch those anymore." Ares nods, stroking her hand, "I hadn't thought of it that way. Are there other's we can eliminate?" He asks, playing the other visions in the small portal. Xena watches for a moment, "The ones with the Romans can be eliminated, we know we have to eliminate the triumvirate and place someone else in charge, someone who can handle the power without becoming corrupted by it." Ares nods and removes those images from the cycle, leaving the one of Xena's crucifixion. Xena stretches, "What's the plan for tomorrow?" She asks, laying back on the bed and pulling a light sheet over her. Ares looks down at her, "Go after Callisto?" He suggests. Xena shakes her head, "I thought about that, but if we get to Callisto before Hope does, we will have no way of keeping tabs on when Hope arrives." Ares nods, "Good point. I want you to meet some of the Romans who follow me. I want your opinion on them. Maybe you can spot someone who can handle Rome and turn it into the Empire it should be." Xena nods, eyes barely open, "Sounds like a plan," she says sleepily. Ares smiles at her, "Goodnight, Xena," he says standing up. Her eyes shoot open quickly, "You're leaving?" She asks. He nods. "If you rest, the visions will start, you might not be able to wake up and stop them. You'll be exhausted tomorrow." He shrugs, "I'll deal with it." She stretches over the bed and grabs his arm, "Or you can stay and I'll wake you. At least then you'll be able to rest for a while," she suggests. He sighs and shakes his head, "It's not worth the possibility of dealing with Hercules or your mother. If either finds out I'm involved it could threaten the safety of your family. The only reason Hercules agreed to all this was because you didn't tell him I was involved." She nods and releases his arm, "You're right. I'll call for you in the morning." He nods, disappearing into the ether. Xena falls back on the bed and tries to get some sleep.
Ares returns to his Temple in Amphipolis and lays in the bed he and Xena had shared the night before. Inhaling her scent from the sheets, he relaxes into the bed and slowly falls asleep. The Fates show him no mercy, starting the visions immediately. He sees himself kneeling before an altar filled with fire. Then he's embracing Gabrielle, only not Gabrielle, there's a darkness in this Gabrielle that the bard doesn't possess. It's the same darkness from the child and the husk, it's Hope. Ares fights to wake up, not wanting to see more. The Fates hold him under, refusing to let him wake. Things go dark and he feels rain pouring on him. Xena's holding her sword and Chakram out between them. She's mad and worried. "I love you," he hears himself say. Disbelief plays in Xena's gaze, then everything changes again. He's inside a tavern of some type and his family is attacking Xena, who's fighting them off. He has his sword drawn, Xena throws her Chakram, knocking the sword away and slicing his arm. He feels the shock, the pain, the guilt. Then he's back outside, in a forest at night. Xena's in front of him and a man is creeping through the bushes, sword raised, trying to kill their baby. Xena throws her Chakram setting off a trap that holds their baby out of harm's way. Ares throws an energy bolt into the chest of the man just as their baby springs to safety. Xena gives him a shocked look. The Fates change things again. It's daylight and he's grabbing Xena's shoulders hard and yelling at her. In true Xena fashion, she doesn't react. Again Ares fights to wake up, but the Fates hold him under their spell and the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes and looks out her window. The sun isn't quite up yet, but she can't stay any longer. She spent the night in a fitful sleep, waking constantly. When she did sleep, she saw the visions playing over and over in her head. She didn't know how Ares was handling it. She feels exhausted. A knock at the door pulls her from her thoughts, "Xena, are you awake?" Hercules asks quietly. She sighs and opens the door, letting him in. "I brought breakfast," he says extending a tray filled with fruits and sweet breads. "Thanks," she says taking the tray and sitting on the bed. Hercules sits next to her, "Where are you going to start?" He asks. She munches on some bread and answers, "Britannia. Everything started there, so it's the most logical place to start." Hercules nods, "How will you kill him?" Xena shrugs, "I don't think he can be killed. Dahok is the dark force behind every evil deed. I think the best I can do is beat him back out of our world and destroy his spawn." He sighs, "Not exactly a happy ending, is it?" Xena shrugs, "If I can save everyone and prevent Dahok from becoming the supreme force in our world, then it's a happy enough ending." He smiles at her, "I really wish you would let me go with you. I don't like you going after Dahok alone," he says stroking her cheek. She smiles gently, "I need to do this alone, I can't risk any distractions, the stakes are far too high." He nods, "Alright, but promise me that you'll come to me for help if you get in over your head." She nods, "You win, but only if I'm in over my head." He smiles and leans towards her, capturing her lips in a light kiss. Gently, Xena pulls away, "This isn't the time for us. I'm sorry." He nods, disappointed, "We'll have our time when it's over," he says, running the backs of his fingers down her cheek. She nods, looking unsure, then asks, "Will you tell everyone goodbye for me?" He nods, "Are you heading out now?" She nods in response, "I have a long way to go. I need to get started," she says. He smiles and rises from the bed, pulling her up with him. "I at least want a proper goodbye," he says capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Xena tries to respond in kind, but has problems meeting his passion. He pulls away, "What's wrong?" He asks. She sighs, "I'm sorry, Hercules, I'm just distracted," she explains. He nods, looking disappointed and leaves the room.
Xena closes the door behind Hercules and begins to collect her belongings and change into her armor. She reflects on her time with Hercules. Years ago she had loved him, and truly she thought she still did. But when he touches her, it isn't his touch she wants and when he kisses her, it isn't his kiss she craves. Maybe it is a result of the visions and all the time she is spending around Ares. Maybe that is why she can't respond to Hercules' touch the way she wants to. The other option just isn't worth considering.
Xena quietly leaves the Palace, avoiding everyone. She walks into Ares' Temple and calls softly, "Ares." When he doesn't respond immediately, she starts to grow concerned. "Ares." She calls louder. Still getting no response, she kneels before the altar, placing her weapons on top. Taking the dagger he had given her the night before she slices her palm and lets the blood drip onto the altar, "Ares," she calls again. Still getting no response, she growls low in her throat and stands, collecting her weapons. She rolls her eyes, not happy with the next option. "Strife," she calls. The Godling appears before her, "Xena, so glad you're back. Things haven't been the same without you." She smiles sarcastically, "Strife take me to Ares' Temple in Amphipolis," she orders. He cackles in response, "And why should I?" He challenges. She grabs him by the back of the neck, "Because I asked nicely. Would you like me to try another way?" He tries to shrug out of her grasp, but fails. He gives in, going slack, "Alright Xena. I'll take you wherever you want to go." Xena smiles and releases him. He places a hand on her shoulder and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena steps away from Strife upon arriving in Amphipolis, "Leave," she orders. He huffs at her, "I'm a God, you can't order me around." She turns on him, "Do you really want to challenge me, Strife?" He backs down, "I have places to be, people to maim," he says, then disappears in a flash of light. Xena rolls her eyes and heads farther into the Temple, searching for Ares. The throne is empty, so are the baths. Going into their room, she sees him on the bed, thrashing, sweat dripping from him. "I knew this was a bad idea," she says, tossing her weapons aside and rushing to his side. Careful of his thrashing, she climbs onto the bed and straddles him, grabbing his wrists and holding them down. He moves against her, but there's no strength behind it. Leaning heavy on his wrists with one hand, she gently slaps his cheek, "Ares, wake up," she says forcefully. He turns from her, moaning softly. She grabs his chin and forces him to face her, then leans down and kisses him forcefully. As before, he responds quickly, flipping her over to lay on her, kissing her passionately. Relieved to have him awake, she responds for a minute, then pushes against him. At first he doesn't respond and continues to plunder her mouth. A few more forceful pushes and he pulls away, looking down at her in confusion, "Xena?" He asks, rising up on his arms, leaving his lower body pressed against hers. "Yeah, it's me," she answers. More confusion is evident on his face, "How?" She smiles, "I called for you. You didn't come. I was worried. I had Strife bring me here, it was the only place I could think of." He smiles and strokes her cheek, "You were worried?" He asks. She nods and remains silent. He shifts a little and she inhales softly, exhaling with a slight moan. Quickly Ares takes in his actual position and smiles. Xena raises her hips, trying to remove him and he closes his eyes briefly. "Move," she orders gently. He rolls over, holding her as he goes, and places her on top. She smiles and tries to dismount, but his hands hold her hips in place. She glares down at him, "Ares," she warns. He shakes his head and pulls her down on top of him, "Just for a minute," he whispers in her ear. She nods against his chest and lets him hold her.
Xena lets Ares hold her for a few moment before asking, "Did you have visions all night?" She feels him nod. "Were they bad?" She asks, drawing small circles on his chest with the tips of her fingers. "They've been worse, but they kept repeating and I couldn't pull myself out of them. It was horrible," he says, with a shiver. Xena shifts slightly and they both moan lightly. "Show me?" She asks, rolling off him and resting at his side, leaving a hand resting on his chest. He rolls to look at her and makes a small portal appear between them. The visions play and Xena glares up at Ares, then seeing his struggle with the portal, she softens her look and places a hand over his, blocking the portal. He looks up at her and shuts down the portal, trying to read her expression. She closes her eyes briefly, one hand still on his chest, the other in his hand, "Gabrielle?" She asks, glaring at him. He shakes his head in denial, "Hope," he corrects. She growls low in her throat, "Of course. And the altar of fire?" "Dahok," he confirms. "You betray us all," she accuses quietly. He nods, then shakes his head, "Not this time though. It will be different." Changing the subject, he says, "You were killing my family, came after me too." She nods, "How though?" He shrugs, "I have no idea." He thinks for a moment, "The man who came after our child looked like one of Apollo's. Maybe you coated your weapons in Hind's Blood to protect our child," he suggests. She shakes her head, "You would have died when my Chakram sliced your arm. We know you outlive me." He growls, "You're right," he admits. They sit in silence for a few minutes, both trying to make sense of the visions, both failing. "Can you show me the image of you shaking and yelling at me?" Xena asks. He shakes his head, "I've seen it hundreds of times, what are you thinking?" He asks. "What's in the background?" She questions. He sighs, "Crucified men and women. We must have been in Rome." She nods, "That's what I thought. Why would we be arguing over crucified people?" He shrugs, "Maybe we weren't. Maybe they were just there and we were fighting about something else," he suggests. She nods, then rises from the bed, "We have work to do," she says, offering him a hand up. He takes her hand and rises carefully, "We need a day off," he says quietly. She stares at him, a question in her gaze. He sighs and looks away, uncomfortable, then says, "Having the visions once a night is draining. I saw them hundreds of times last night. I barely had the strength to play them for you." She nods in understanding, "I thought as much. Still we can make plans, it's a beginning at least." He nods, then leads her to the bathes.
At first Xena thinks to object, then decides to go along with him and maybe find a way to distract him long enough for his powers to recharge. They enter the bathes and Xena turns to give Ares a seductive smile before slowly stripping off her armor and leather bodice and letting them fall to the floor. She turns her back to him, knowing that his eyes are glued to her, and pulls her shift off over her head. She hears his sharp inhale of breath and smiles to herself before gliding into the warm pool of water. She turns to face him, resting her arms and chin on the side of the pool, "Are you joining me?" She questions, staring up at him through her eyelashes. He drops his belt and sword with a clank of metal on marble, then shrugs out of his vest and leather pants. Watching for a reaction from Xena, he wades into the pool and lounges next to her. She turns in the water to face him, letting the water barely cover her breasts. "What do you think we should do?" She questions. A fire dances in his eyes, but quickly vanishes. He shakes his head, "Until Hope frees Callisto, there's not much we can do. We don't know where Hope is or how to get to Dahok." She nods, "Are the Olympians the only pantheon who have felt his return?" She questions. Ares shrugs, "How should I know? We don't really talk with the other pantheons unless we're waging war with them or against them." "Alright then," Xena says, "Tomorrow, let's go talk to Kal. We can see if he's heard of Dahok or felt his return. Maybe he and his pantheon could be allies in our war against Dahok and his spawn." Ares looks apprehensive, "Kal and I didn't leave off on the best of terms. He wasn't too happy with me when I stole the Dark Chakram for you. If he and his pantheon had been stronger, there would have been a war over it," he says. She shrugs, "Water under the bridge, there are more important things now than old grudges. We can at least try," she says. He nods in agreement and runs a finger down her cheek. She flinches away slightly and he sighs. She smiles softly at him, "Sorry," she says quietly.
Wanting a moment to think, Xena moves away and dives under the water, pushing her hair back as she resurfaces. She smiles at Ares and wades to the edge of the pool, resting her chin on the cool marble surface, "The bed at the Palace left me sore, help a bit?" She asks, jerking her head to urge him towards her. He smiles and wades to her, resting his hands on her shoulders, "Where?" He asks, quietly. She shrugs into his hands, "You'll find it," she says, closing her eyes. He rubs her shoulders for a few minutes and finding nothing tight he gradually moves lower, first rubbing the backs of her shoulder blades, then down her spine and finally reaching the small of her back. She jerks away slightly, "You found it," she informs him. He smiles and holds her above her hips, using his thumbs to massage the area. At first she tenses, whether from his touch or the tenderness of the area, he didn't know, but eventually she relaxes. After a few minutes, Xena lets her body go lax and a soft moan escapes her lips. Slowly, he massages his way up her back until he reaches her shoulders. Bringing his hands from the back of her shoulders to the front, he pulls her back against him, amazed when she doesn't fight back. Slowly, he wraps his arms around her, running his hands down her ribs. She shivers at the caress, then turns in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. He inhales sharply and gives her a wicked smile before claiming her mouth with his own.
Xena doesn't fight the kiss, but pulls him closer. She feels his heart racing and knows that hers matches its frantic beat. His arms cross around her back, forcing their chests together, making retreat impossible. Slowly, he moves from her mouth, down to her neck then back up to kiss her fully. She moans into his mouth. Taking that as a good sign, he lowers his hands to force her pelvis against him. She stiffens in his arms and pushes against his shoulders. "Ares, we can't," she says, starting to pull away. He moves his hands up her back, again pulling her towards him, trying to reclaim her mouth, "We won't," he whispers against her lips. He traces her lips with his tongue, urging her to open up to him. Slowly, she relaxes against him and wraps her arms around him, kissing him fully. Ares sighs at her response and races his hands up and down her back, enjoying the feel of her pressed against him. She smiles into his mouth, running her hands through his hair, pulling him closer to her. Xena pushes him back against the side of the pool, trapping him between her and the marble, never once breaking their kiss. She rubs herself against him, laughing evilly when he groans against her lips. Holding him close she runs her hands down his arms and over his chest, enjoying the flex of his muscles under her fingertips.
Slowly, Xena pushes away from Ares, leaving them both breathing heavy. He watches as a wall goes up between them and Xena returns to her normal warrior self. "We need to focus on the task at hand," she says. He nods and growls, frustrated, "Yes, the visions," he says, annoyed. She shakes her head, "No, Rome. You wanted me to meet a few of your men, remember? Do you think you have the strength to take us there?" His eyes flash in anger, "This," he yells, motioning to her and the bath, "Was nothing but a distraction? A way for my powers to recharge?" He questions. Xena looks away, "It started that way," she admits quietly. "But," he prompts, moving closer to her. She shrugs, meeting his eyes, "Maybe I enjoyed myself a bit." He smiles, "Maybe?" He questions, pulling her against him. She smiles and nods, "Yeah, maybe." He smiles and softly kisses her. She responds for a moment, then pulls away, "Come on, we have work to do." He nods and sighs, releasing her, "Yeah, Rome awaits," he says, disappointed. Xena nods and pulls herself out of the water, smiling to herself at Ares' sharp intake of breath. Slowly she rings her hair out and wraps a towel around her body before turning to face him, "Coming?" She asks. He nods and rises from the water, smiling when Xena looks him up and down, then clothes himself in his leathers. Xena smiles, "Handy talent," she jokes. He laughs, "So do you want to go as Xena Warrior Princess or sexy woman tag-a-long?" She thinks for a moment, "As myself they would either try to impress me or kill me to please Caesar. As a woman, they will just dismiss me, I'll be able to watch them, get a clear picture of their personality and capabilities." Ares nods, "Sexy tag-a-long it is then." He waves a hand over her and smiles widely, "You look absolutely stunning in Roman finery." Xena looks at herself in a mirror that runs along one of the walls, a red gown is draped over her, gold beads replace the straps and there is a deep plunge in the front and back. She raises an eyebrow, "I might be a little distracting." He shakes his head, "You're with me, they would expect nothing less." She nods, "Of course." Ares thinks for a moment, "I have a few men in mind. We need a way for you to signal me that you're ready to move onto the next." She smiles and approaches him slowly, then runs her hands under his vest and around his back, pulling him close, "Do I have your attention?" She asks. He nods, "Yeah, that will work," he says, holding her close for a moment. "Ready?" He asks. She nods and pulls out of his embrace.
Ares and Xena arrive in a Temple in Rome. Xena looks around, "Yours?" She questions. He nods, "Yes. The first man is a General, peasant by birth, but very capable. His name is Fillus, he happens to be here right now. Stay a step behind me and stay quiet," he orders. She nods, "I know how to act submissive." He laughs and leads the way to the front of the Temple.
Priestesses and men bow as Ares walks through the Temple with Xena following close behind him, trying to look demure. Ares doesn't spare them a glance, but approaches a man in heavy armor wearing a helmet with a large red feather in it. Xena quickly stares him up and down before she is noticed, trying to take stock of the man. She grimaces, already not impressed. "Fillus," Ares says. The man turns and takes a knee quickly, "Lord Ares," he greets, not looking up. "Rise and walk with us," Ares commands. The man gains footing quickly and places himself at Ares' left, not even acknowledging Xena. "What do you wish to discuss, Lord?" Fillus asks. Ares walks around the Temple, not bothering to look at the man, "I am concerned for Rome. Crassus is never around, Pompeii is green, and Caesar can't beat back a band of cult following Gauls. Without proper leadership, Rome will fall." The man remains silent for a moment, then speaks, "Lord, I do not know what you are asking of me," he admits. Xena rolls her eyes behind their backs and Ares sighs, "Had you been in Britannia with Caesar, what would you have done?" The man nods quickly, "I would have followed orders, My Lord," he responds. Growing tired of Fillus, Xena catches up with Ares and wraps her arms around him, under his vest, from behind. She rests her chin on his shoulder, "I'm tired of all this war talk," she whines, rubbing her body against his back. Ares smiles indulgently, "Fillus, return to your men," he orders. The man salutes smartly and walks away. Ares turns in Xena's arms, kissing her roughly and they both disappear.
Xena pulls away from Ares as they appear behind an army settlement. Ares glances down at her, "Too submissive?" He questions. She nods. He nods in return, then smiles, "You'll love this next one then. His name is Marc Anthony. He used to be Caesar's second in command but they had a falling out. He's been out of the country for quite some time now. He's battle hardened and smart. I once thought he could replace you." Xena raises an eyebrow, "What changed your mind?" She questions. He smiles and kisses her lightly, "You." He pulls away and leads her to the commander's tent. Entering quickly, Ares clears his throat, "Anthony, we need to talk." The man's head shoots up, "Ares," he acknowledges, then glances behind him, "And what have I done to earn such a lovely present, War God?" He asks, reaching for Xena. Ares steps between them, "She is none of your concern. I'm here about Rome." Anthony growls, "I haven't seen Rome in years. Caesar and his lap dogs keep me out in the wastelands so I can't get in the way of their precious triumvirate while they run Rome to the ground." Xena smiles and Anthony points at her, "See, even your woman agrees." Ares waves a hand in dismissal, "Ignore her. What do women know of the way the world works? Tell me Anthony, what would you do differently?" He questions. Anthony smiles, "Easy, I would unite the nation. Crassus has his followers, Pompeii has the armies and Caesar has the people, I want them all. I would destroy our enemies and bring all others under the firm boot heel of Rome. With your guidance of course." Xena, forgetting her place, buts in, "And the people?" She questions. Ares glares at her and Anthony smiles, "I like her. The people, pet, would be fine, free, and happy. Without the constant struggles between the members of the triumvirate, the money could go where it needs to go, to the children of Rome. I could improve schools, living environments, food collection and storage, maybe even lower the taxes." Xena smiles and grabs Ares arm, draping herself over him, "You promised me something fun," she pouts. He smiles indulgently, "That I did. Anthony, return to your men, you'll hear from me soon." Anthony smiles wickedly, "Maybe when you're done with this one, I could try her out for a spell." Ares glares and Xena steps forward, "You couldn't handle me," she says, then returns to Ares, kissing him passionately and wrapping her legs around his waist, ripping the sides of the dress in the process. Ares responds with like passion and they disappear.
Ares appears in his Temple in Amphipolis still locked in the embrace with Xena. He slams her back against the Temple wall, trapping her between it and his body. She groans into his mouth, pulling him closer with her legs. He thrusts against her, causing a groan to escape from them both. He pulls away for a moment, curious about her reaction and is surprised to find her cheeks flushed and her eyes clouded with passion. She pulls him back towards her for a slow kiss, then gently pushes at his shoulders, "Let me down," she says softly. He nods and moves away from the wall, holding her as she lets her legs hit the floor. She quickly gains her balance and attempts to straighten her dress and hair. Ares shakes his head and waves a hand over her, repairing the dress. She smiles, "That's a handy skill." He nods, "So what are you thinking?" He asks. "That I should be a bit more careful about how I get your attention," she says under her breath. Ares smiles and chuckles lightly, "And Anthony?" He asks. She nods slowly, deep in thought, "He's a Roman from the top of his head to the soles of his boots, but with some help he might be just what Rome needs." Ares nods, "I agree. He will need help though. What do you think of Brutus, Caesar's man? He's smart, loyal, and a decent man. He has tempered Caesar's actions many times over the last few years, maybe he would make a good second for Anthony as well." Xena shakes her head, "He's too loyal to Caesar, he would never betray him." Ares thinks for a moment, then laughs lightly, "I think I have someone. He's a royal, young and idealistic. Alone he would be crushed, but with Anthony, he might be able to change a nation." She's intrigued, "Who?" She asks. "Octavius, Julius' grandnephew and heir. He's nothing like his Uncle. He was schooled in the provinces, he's never seen war, he's pure and naive, but he would balance Anthony well," he explains. Xena nods, "Take me to him," she orders. He nods and takes her hand.
The villa Ares and Xena arrive at is an example of the best Rome has to offer. Xena scowls and curls her lip, but before she can say anything a young man exits the villa, yelling back through the door, "I'm going for a walk. I need to clear my head. I can't believe my own mother and Uncle believe that genocide is the answer to all our problems." The man slams the door and storms off into the gardens. Xena sends Ares a quizzical look and he nods, "That's our boy." They start down the path after the boy and find him tossing stones into a small stream. "Octavius," Ares calls. The boy turns and his eyes go wide, then he falls to his knees, bowing his head, "War God," he acknowledges. Ares rests a hand on his shoulder, "Rise, we need to discuss Rome's future." Octavius rises and glances behind Ares, offering Xena a shy smile. She smiles back. He looks at Ares and fidgets a little, "Rome will have no future if my Uncle and his Triumvirate aren't stopped. They will ruin her." Ares nods, "That's why I'm here. The time has come for the Triumvirate of Rome to be dismantled and new leadership appointed." Octavius responds quietly, "My Uncle and his dogs will not go down without a fight." Ares nods, "Yes, which is why you will need an ally. I have spoken with Marc Anthony, he's an amazing general, has many legions of men loyal to him, and like you, believes that Rome is destined for far greater things than the current status quo." Octavius looks startled, "Me? I have no experience, no power of my own. All I have is my name, my Uncle's name. What can I do?" Ares begins to respond but Xena places a hand on his arm and steps forward, "You have knowledge and an open heart. There is strength and goodness in you. With Anthony leading the men and you guiding him on the right path, Rome can be a great protector of her home and allies." Octavius stares at her, "Who are you to claim to know all of this? To know my heart?" He asks. She smiles, "My name is Xena and I'm a friend." His eyes light up, "Xena? Enemy of Rome?" He questions. She shakes her head, "My quarrel is with Caesar, not Rome," she corrects. Octavius nods, "I see," he says, then turns back to Ares, "Where do I start?" Ares thinks for a moment, "Travel to Thebes, I will have Anthony and his men meet you there. From Thebes, find Cleopatra, she is a good woman with a strong Navy. She will make a good ally against the Triumvirate." Octavius nods, then asks "Will they have to be killed? Julius, Pompeii, and Crassus?" Ares shrugs, "That is up to you and Anthony. I leave this in your capable hands, young Octavius, don't disappoint me." Octavius nods and stands taller, "Yes, War God, I understand and I will not fail you." Ares nods back and Xena squeezes the man's shoulder, then the two disappear.
Ares and Xena arrive back in his Temple at Amphipolis. Quickly, Ares opens a small portal to check on things. Xena stares over his shoulder as he starts with the undisturbed lava pit, then Gabrielle dancing in an Amazon ceremony, and last her son sleeping soundly and safely. She smiles at the image, "Thank you," she says quietly. "Of course," Ares responds, then orders, "Go eat. I'll send Strife to Anthony." She nods and walks to the side room, entering silently.
Ares lounges on his throne, the picture of strength and power. Though Xena's distractions earlier had left him feeling recharged, the activities of the day and the visions playing in the back of his mind, had him feeling drained. Taking a deep breath, he calls, "Strife." The Godling appears, "Hey, Unc," he greets, then looks around, "Where's Xena? I thought you two would be making up for lost time," he says, wiggling his eyebrows. Ares rolls his eyes and grabs the Godling by the throat, "Xena is none of your concern." Strife chokes, "I get it, let go," he whines. Ares releases him and he stumbles down the steps in front of the throne. "Gods," he mutters, "I thought getting laid would help your temper a bit, guess not." Ares rises from the throne and sends the Godling flying into the wall, "Strife," he yells, anger in his voice. Strife puts his hands up, "I'm silent from now on, Unc. Promise." Ares rolls his eyes, "I need you to go to Marc Anthony. You know him?" Strife nods, "The Roman, right?" Ares nods, "Yes. Tell him Octavius is meeting him in Thebes, together they are to ally themselves with Cleopatra against the Triumvirate. He is to listen to Octavius, the boy is smart and will win the people over to their cause." Strife cackles, "An all-out Roman war! This will be amazing. People will speak of this for eons to come. Both sides will be praying to you for power and strength. Oh Uncle, you are a genius." Ares nods, "Yes, now go." Strife cackles again and disappears. Ares sighs and rubs his temples in agitation.
Xena eats in peace, quietly listening to Ares and Strife. She hears Strife leave, then exits the room to find Ares and study the visions some more. She finds Ares on his throne, head in hands. Quietly, she approaches and sits on the arm of the throne. He looks up at her and smiles. She smiles back gently, "Show me the visions again," she orders. He nods and opens a small portal with the visions from the previous night playing. Xena watches them several times in silence before putting a hand over his, covering them. With a sigh, he closes the portal, "Learn anything?" He asks. She shrugs, "I don't know. We need more information. Why would you side with Dahok? And why would I be so surprised that you would protect our baby?" He shrugs in response, "We know the Gods are after our child, maybe you thought I would side with them." She nods, not convinced, "And Dahok?" She questions. He shakes his head, "I may be out for myself, but I would never betray my family like that, not to an outside God." She nods, then shakes her head in frustration, "None of this makes sense. We need more conversations with the visions. We need to know what is actually going on and being said instead of wildly guessing at it." Ares shrugs, "It would be helpful," he says halfheartedly. Xena stares at him, "When there is conversation, it drains you more, doesn't it?" She questions. He nods, "Thus far, yes, but if it would give us answers, I would endure it. Even drained like I am now, I'm more than a match for most other Gods." Xena raises a doubtful eyebrow. He gives in, "Alright, maybe not right now, but earlier, before Rome," he admits. She nods, then takes his hand and rises from her perch beside him, pulling him up as she goes, "I'm tired," she says quietly. Ares follows, both looking forward to and dreading the idea of going to bed.
Xena enters their bedroom with Ares following behind her. He closes the door and she turns to face him, "I can't sleep in this," she says, motioning to the Roman gown. He smiles and turns her around to face the mirror. Slowly, he removes one strap, then the other from her shoulders, then slides his hands down her body, the gown following them until it passes her hips and puddles on the floor. She shivers slightly and Ares smiles. He waves his hands down her body and a thin silk gown covers her. She smiles and leans back against him, "Thank you," she says. He nods, wrapping his arms around her, enjoying the peace. Slowly, she turns in his arms and runs her hands up his chest and down his arms, pushing the vest off and letting it fall to the floor. She glances up at him through her eyelashes and slowly lowers her hands to his waist. He inhales sharply and she smiles. Slowly she undoes the clasp on his belt and grabs the sword, setting it aside, before it can clank to the floor. She takes his hand and leads him to the bed, forcing him to lay down, then lays against him, cuddled in his arms. "If you need me, I'm right here," she says, holding his arm around her body. He pulls her closer, "I always need you," he says quietly before drifting off to sleep.
Ares fights the urge to sleep, but the Fates pull him under to torture him with their visions. He's beside Hope, "Slit their throats!" She yells. He's in front of the crosses, shaking Xena. She glares up at him, "The thought of being with you or of having your child, that sickens me." It changes again and Ares watches the man from India walk around a village, "We don't need a sacred dagger," he starts, "Love is the only weapon we need." Ares is in a forest, Xena in front of him. "Hope is pregnant with your child," she accuses. Iolaus, dressed in a black robe, a dark aura around him stands in front of Hercules, "All Dahok needed was a Warrior Heart. So when little Iolaus sacrificed himself for the fair maiden Nebula, Dahok had everything he needed." Ares jerks trying to wake up, but can't. He's in a Temple, Gabrielle is on the ground, Kal in front of her. Kal raises his sword, ready to strike her down. Xena steps in, grabs the Chakram of Light from its place on the altar and cuts through Kal's stomach. The God screams and disintegrates into dust at her feet. Callisto stands in front of Xena, laughing. "I never thought I'd feel so good again," she starts, "Seeing poor, dear Gabrielle sacrifice herself makes it all worthwhile. It finally gives me a reason for living and I have you to thank for it Xena." Xena turns, hurt and anger in her eyes and plunges a dagger into Callisto's gut, "No more living for you," she says hoarsely. Xena stands in front of him, Gabrielle next to her. "I felt nothing," she says. Hurt and betrayal rip through him. Xena stands in front of him. "Callisto is not a true God," he says, "She was mortal. She's got no control, no respect for any of us. All she can bring is destruction. And when she gets an army of worshippers, conquers the world, what then?" Xena scowls, "Then she's coming after you," she says harshly. Again, Ares tries to pull away, but the Fates keep him trapped and the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes as Ares' breathing becomes more labored. She waits a moment, then shakes him, "Ares," she calls. He doesn't respond to her, but starts to thrash, trying to wake himself. She crawls on top of him, using her body to make his be still, then traps his wrists above his head with one of her hands. He doesn't struggle against her, but begins to sweat. She leans down and whispers against his lips, "Wake up, love," then kisses him soundly. Unlike the previous times, he doesn't respond. She growls low in her throat and sits up, straddling his waist, "Fates," she yells, "Release him." Getting no response, she drapes her body over his and kisses him again, this time deeply. She waits a moment, letting her lips rest against his, feeling his ragged breath mix with hers.
Slowly, Ares' body relaxes beneath Xena and his breathing evens out. She smiles when his eyes open, then slams her mouth to his. Unsure of everything and shocked, at first Ares doesn't respond. When Xena doesn't pull away, he kisses her back, pulling her towards him. Suddenly she pulls away, straddling him and he sighs, disappointed. To his surprise, she lifts her gown over her head, then with a wicked smile returns to his mouth. His hands race over her body, enjoying the feel of her bare flesh. Xena shivers at the contact and rubs her breasts against his chest. He smiles into her mouth, then jumps when her hand finds its way beneath his leather pants and past his curls. He groans as she gently cups him and she smiles and laughs against his lips. Not knowing her stopping point, he cautiously runs a hand down the outside of her thigh, then back up the inside, pausing to give her a chance to back out. Rather than pull away from him, she thrusts herself towards him. Surprised, but more than willing, Ares gently explores her. She gasps and holds him tighter. He pushes his way deeper and she moans and rocks her hips against his hand. Slowly he begins to thrust his fingers in a sweet rhythm that she matches her strokes to. Soon, they are both sweating and breathing heavy.
Suddenly Xena pulls away and Ares groans in frustration. Quickly she pushes his leather pants down and impales herself on him, causing them both to gasp and groan at the same time. Ares freezes, shocked, and enjoys the feel of her around him. Xena smiles down at him and entwining her hands with his, she slowly starts to ride him. Ares moans, raising his hips to meet hers and Xena gasps, resisting the urge to quicken the pace. Slowly their breathing becomes labored and Xena falls forward against Ares. He holds her close and quickens the thrusts of his hips and she matches his pace. Ares can feel her tightening around him and knows he's just as close as she is. She screams his name and collapses against him, drenched in sweat and he feels her convulsing around him. Her release sets his own off and he groans her name deep in his throat. She smiles against his chest and he holds her close, making a light sheet appear over them. "I love you," she whispers, then sighs and falls asleep. Ares remains awake, shocked by her whispered words. Were they true? Or just spoken out of passion? Why had she let things go this far when she had stopped them earlier that same day? What had changed? Or had nothing changed and she was going to be upset and distant the next day? Quieting his mind, he holds her close and strokes her hair while falling asleep.
Xena wakes the next morning still held tight against Ares' chest. She smiles softly and tries to pull away from him, but he holds her tightly and not wanting to wake him yet, she doesn't struggle. She reflects on the night before and sighs. When he hadn't wakened at first, like usual, she feared that the Fates would keep him trapped or that maybe the visions had finally gotten to be too much for him. Sex hadn't exactly been her plan, but she also hadn't planned on the relief she felt when he finally woke. Tired of her own inner thoughts and curious about the visions, she once again tries to pull out of his embrace. She brings a hand up and gently runs it along his jaw. He flinches in his sleep and moves his hand to push hers away. Having one of his hands removed, she's able to push up off of his chest slightly. The cold air rushing over her breasts makes her inhale sharply and Ares opens an eye, looking around. She smiles at him, "Good morning," she says, leaning over him. He smiles, "Morning," he replies, trying to figure out what had been real and what hadn't from the night before. Seeing his confused look, Xena smiles softly and takes his hand in hers, then runs it over her bare thigh. He smiles, then knits his brows together, "Why?" He questions. "Does it matter?" She questions back. He nods, "To me, yes it does." She sighs and rolls off him, staring at the wall, "Last night you didn't wake up right away. I thought I'd lost you," she says quietly. "You were afraid?" He questions. She nods and remains silent.
Ares and Xena sit silently for a few seconds. Finally, Xena turns to face him, "Show me the visions?" She asks quietly. He stares at her, "They aren't easy to watch," he warns. She raises an eyebrow, "And they have been thus far?" She asks with a tight laugh. He shrugs and opens a portal in front of them. Xena leans forward, watching and listening to the visions. They finish and she turns a sad look to him, "Ares," she starts, but he shakes his head. The corners of her mouth turn up for a moment, then back down as she rests against the headboard. Ares smiles over at her and runs the back of his hand down her arm. She shivers and turns towards him, "This has to end." He sighs and removes his hand, rising from the bed and clothing himself quickly, "I'll leave you to get dressed," he says, motioning towards an upright closet in the corner. Xena gives him a confused look, "Were are you going?" She questions. "Throne room, meet me there when you're ready," he responds, grabbing the door handle and turning his back to her. She growls and hurls a dagger into the door, next to his hand. He turns and gives her a questioning look. She stands and glares at him, "Don't walk away from me," she says harshly. "Why not?" He questions, then continues, " You want this to end, I'm giving you what you want, no fight." She smiles and laughs, "The visions have to end," she corrects. He stares at her, "The visions?" He questions. She nods, growing a little confused. "Not us?" He asks. Realization dawns, "I chose to be with you last night and I won't regret that." He gives her an uncertain look, "You know what happens. I betray everyone by siding with Dahok and impregnating Hope. I sicken you." She shakes her head and slowly approaches him, "Ares, the woman in those visions isn't me, her thoughts aren't mine and his actions aren't yours. We've already changed all of that." Slowly she runs her hands under his vest and around his neck, pulling him towards her for a quick kiss. He responds, pulling her close.
Xena pulls away and walks towards the closet, pulling her clothes out and getting dressed. Ares watches, "Still want to talk to Kal?" He questions. She shrugs, "It's as good a plan as any. And we have to make sure the Chakram of Light hasn't been disturbed. We already have to worry about the Hind's Blood, we don't need another God killing weapon to keep track of." He nods, "That's for sure. You know the one thing I really don't understand, you were able to remove the Chakram of Light from the altar. That scroll says only a pure soul can remove it without dying. You don't exactly qualify." She shrugs, lacing up her boots, "Maybe I find redemption or maybe that scroll is full of lies," she suggests. He shrugs, "Others have tried to lift it, they all died. Kal's tried everything to get that Chakram. He's sent priests, women, children, monks, anyone he could think of, all died." "Children?" Xena questions, disgusted. Ares nods. She thinks a moment, "Infants?" She questions. Ares shakes his head, "An infant wouldn't be able to lift it." "But the woman carrying the unborn child, could," she suggests. Ares nods, "I suppose it's possible. The child's soul would be pure. That would mean that you were pregnant when you killed Kal." She nods, "We can't let Kal figure this out," she says, attaching her weapons. "Agreed," he says, handing her the dagger from the door. She sheaths it and slides it into her boot then searches his vest and retrieves the pendent full of Hind's Blood, tucking it between her breasts. He raises an eyebrow, "Don't you trust me?" He questions. She nods, "I do," she answers simply. "Then why take the pendent?" He asks. She smiles wickedly, "So you can retrieve it later," she teases. He smiles in return and shakes his head, laughing quietly, "Come on, you need food before we leave." She nods and follows him from their room.
After a quick meal, Ares leads Xena into the throne room and pauses, glaring at the figure on his throne. "Discord," he says. The Goddess pouts at him, "Ares, I've missed you. What has you so busy that you have no time for me?" Xena steps out from behind Ares, "Hello Discord," she greets. "Xena!" The Goddess screeches. Discord raises her sword and charges at Xena, but Ares steps in the way, "We don't have time for this, Discord." Xena pushes past him, sword and dagger drawn, "Oh, this won't take any time." She advances on the Goddess and strikes viciously with her sword. Discord parries and pushes against her, trying to kick the dagger from her hand. Xena shrinks back out of reach, then charges and flips over Discord landing a kick to the back of her head. Discord stumbles forward and looks to Ares for help. He smiles towards Xena and leans back on a nearby wall, watching the battle. Discord screeches and sends a fire bolt at Xena. Xena flips to the side and the bolt lands in the wall. Xena sends her Chakram flying at the Goddess. Discord deflects it with her sword and rushes at Xena. Xena catches her Chakram and meets Discords strikes with her sword. They parry for several minutes before Xena gains the upper hand and unarms the Goddess with a laugh. Xena smiles, "It's over Discord. Go away until you can actually challenge me," she says, walking back to Ares. Discord growls, "Ares, how can you let her do this to me?" She yells. Ares laughs in response, "You embarrass yourself Discord." The Goddess screeches and disappears. Xena smiles at Ares, "See that didn't take long at all," she says returning her weapons to their places. He smiles at her indulgently and shakes his head, "Ready to go?" He asks, extending a hand towards her. She nods, taking his hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena releases Ares' hand as they arrive in a dark Temple. Light shines in the center, illuminating an altar. She starts to approach, but Ares grabs her arm, "Don't touch it," he reminds her. She nods and jerks away from him, looking at the altar. One half is dark and has an empty spot where her Chakram used to rest. The other is light and holds an exact replica of her Chakram, the Chakram of Light. Ares stands next to her, "There it is," he says. She nods, "At least we know Kal hasn't found anyone who can retrieve it." He nods, "Kal isn't here, he must be in his Temple. Let's go," he says, grabbing her arm and disappearing.
Compared to the Chakram's Temple, Kal's Temple is very bright. Xena blinks her eyes. When she reopens them, a sword is pointed at her and Ares. Ares draws his sword and points it at Kal. "Ares," the God sneers, then looks past him, "And Ares' whore." Xena growls and draws her sword and Chakram, pointing them at the God. Kal glares at the weapon, "That should have been mine," he says, striking at her. Ares deflects the blow and easily disarms the God, catching his sword, before it hits the floor. "We're here to talk, Kal," he says, pointing both swords at him. Xena sheathes her weapons. Kal glowers at them, "Fine, talk," he says, reaching for his sword. Ares nods and hands Kal his weapon hilt first.
Kal leads them to a small sitting area and motions for them to have a seat. Ares sits with Xena beside him and Kal sits across from them. "What brings you to my domain, Ares?" He asks, coldly. "We have a problem, Kal. All on Olympus have felt the return of a dark presence. Dahok is trying to return to our world. Have you and your kin felt him?" Ares questions. Kal nods, "Yes. We heard about you destroying his Temple in Britannia. We thought that would be the end of him." Xena interrupts, "Actually I destroyed the Temple." Kal sneers at her, "I wasn't speaking to you, mortal." Ares growls low in his throat, "Show some respect Kal," he warns. Kal rolls his eyes and Ares continues, "Dahok hasn't been defeated and he threatens us all, God and mortal alike, across all the lands. Would you and your pantheon be willing to ally yourselves with us against him?" Kal gives a sharp, cruel laugh, "Willing? Of course. Able is another matter. Once you stole the Dark Chakram and we couldn't find a way to lay claim to the Light Chakram, we lost everything. Now, years later, few even know who we are. Our followers are few and far between and aging with each passing day. Because of you and her, we have lost everything," he shouts, standing and pointing first at Ares, then Xena. Ares rolls his eyes, "Don't blame me for your weakness. Long before I liberated the Dark Chakram, you were losing strength and power. Your followers left you because they sensed that their God wasn't strong enough nor worthy of their worship. If you are unable to help, we'll leave. There is too much that needs to be done to waste time with an incompetent, weak God," Ares says standing. Kal growls at him, "Leave then. There is nothing for you here," he shouts. Ares nods and places a hand on Xena's shoulder, both disappearing in a flash of light.
Arriving in Amphipolis Ares growls and sits on his throne, "That was a waste of time." Xena shrugs and leans next to him, "At least we know that Kal hasn't found a way to liberate the Light Chakram and we know that he won't be a threat to us." He glares at her, "Kal has never been a threat to me," he states. She shrugs, "Is Callisto still imprisoned?" She asks, changing the subject. He opens a portal and they watch a small girl approach the lava pit, playing with a ball. "That's Hope," Ares says, grabbing Xena's arm and disappearing.
Ares and Xena arrive in front of the lava pit with weapons drawn. The girl cowers and whimpers for a moment, "Don't hurt me, I was just playing." Xena sends Ares a questioning look and he gives a small shake of his head. "Don't play games, Hope, we know who you are," she says, removing the Hind's Blood pendent from her bodice and coating her sword with it before handing the pendent to Ares. Hope sneers at them, "You two won't be a threat to me and my father," she says, sending an energy blast at Xena, trying to disarm her. Xena holds her sword firmly and Ares grabs the girl with his powers, keeping her still. Hope fights against him, trying to free herself, then her attention turns to the lava pit. Ares shouts, "Xena, kill her before she frees Callisto." Xena approaches the girl and raises her sword over the child's head. The girl looks up at her with the eyes of Gabrielle, "Don't hurt me, Xena," she begs, tears going down her face. Xena falters for a moment, then brings her sword down, piercing the child in the heart, "I'm sorry, Gabrielle," she whispers quietly. Ares releases his hold on the girl and her corpse falls to the ground. He places a hand on Xena's shoulder and gives it a tight squeeze. She smiles sadly at him and reaches for the pendent. He hands it to her and she tucks it into her bodice again.
A noise by the lava pit gets Ares' attention. He turns to stare and finds Callisto materializing. He grabs Xena's arm, spinning her to face the pit and grabs the pendent from between her breasts, coating his sword, then putting the pendent in his vest. Callisto gives a little wave, "Why hello there, Xena." Xena points her sword at the woman, "Callisto," she acknowledges. Callisto turns to Ares, "And you. I see you've gotten what you always wanted, Ares." He gives her a sarcastic smile, not lowering his sword, "You're a newborn Goddess, Callisto, your powers are untested, you're no match for us. But with some training you could ally yourself with us to defeat a great evil that threatens us all," he offers. Callisto cackles, "No, I don't think so," she says, tossing a fire bolt at him and disappearing in a flash of fire. Both Ares and Xena lower their weapons. Xena turns to Ares, "Can you track her?" She asks. He nods, "We have more important things to deal with," he says, motioning towards Hope. Xena glances at the body, "What do we need to do?" Ares thinks for a moment, then says, "In the visions, she was a husk, which means someone burned her body at some point. That didn't stop her. We need to trap her body, her spirit, so she can't be reborn," he explains. "How?" Xena asks. He shrugs, "I think we should entomb her here, in the lava. It held Callisto, till Hope freed her, it should be enough to hold Hope's corpse so Dahok can't give her life again." She nods, "The lava is hardened," she states, looking down. He laughs, "And I'm a God," he reminds her, pointing at the hardened lava and making it flow again. Sheathing his sword, he picks up the lifeless body of Hope and drops it into the flowing lava, then points and hardens the lava.
Xena glances at Ares, "Where's Callisto?" Ares pauses for a moment, searching the ether for Callisto, "Cirra," he responds, "Or what's left of it." A guilty look travels over Xena's face, "We need to either trap her or kill her." He nods, "Yes, but it can wait. I'm not going to chase her all over Greece. She'll come to us eventually, she wants you." She shakes her head, "She wants me to suffer." Ares nods, "Yes, but your family is safe for now, when she can't find them, she'll come to us. And maybe as a Goddess, she'll have her uses as a pawn against Dahok." She gives him a questioning look, "How?" She questions. "Callisto can be destructive, we just need to point her in the right direction," Ares responds. Xena shakes her head, "It's not worth the risk. Callisto is a wild card, she can't be controlled." Ares sighs, "Fine, let's go to Cirra and stop her before she gains any more control over her powers." Xena shakes her head, "No, let her mourn for the night, in the home that I destroyed." He nods, "We'll go after her tomorrow then. With Callisto on the loose, we should stay away from Amphipolis, I don't want her tracking us there. I suggest we stay at the Halls of War, it's my domain, no one can enter without my permission." Xena looks uncertain, "It's close to Corinth," she says. Ares shrugs,
"Callisto thinks we're together, she won't think of Corinth. She'll just see the Halls of War with its closed doors," he assures her. She nods and extends her hand, grasping his.
Ares walks through the Dark Halls of War and sconce blazes to life. He leads Xena to the throne room. She follows, then pauses at a tapestry on the wall. She's quite a few years younger in the tapestry, smiling, bloody Chakram and sword in her hands. She turns to Ares with a questioning look. He shrugs, eyes following hers, "You're gorgeous," he comments. She purses her lips and shakes her head. Ares smiles, his back to her, then sits on the throne, opening a portal. "What are you doing?" Xena asks, sitting on the throne arm. He shrugs and makes the portal wider, "Checking on everything." Slowly the view goes from Gabrielle sleeping, to a very tired Solan hearing a story from Hercules, to Cyrene sleeping, then to Callisto screaming and crying in rage next to her family's graves. Xena puts a hand over the images, "Thanks, but that's enough." He nods and closes the portal. She moves away with a sad, distant look. "What's wrong?" Ares asks. She laughs bitterly, "I knew Hope had to die when we started this. I guess I was expecting some great battle with a God, not a child. And not a child that resembled my best friend so much." Ares approaches and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder, "It had to be done. By stopping her now, as a child, without full control over her powers, we prevented the deaths of many others." She nods, placing her hand over his, "I know, but she was my best friend's daughter. It makes me feel dirty inside." He wraps a gentle arm around her shoulders, pulling her back against him. She goes willingly, putting up no fight. "Let's get you fed," he suggests, trying to lead her towards the back of the Temple. She shakes her head, "I'm not hungry." He laughs, "Don't fight me." She nods a little and follows him.
Ares opens a door and leads her down a hall, stopping at a dark green door. It opens silently without a touch and a long table covered in food rests behind it. Xena enters and sits in a chair, still looking distant. Ares puts a plate in front of her, then sits across from her, giving her a disturbed look, "Are you still thinking about Hope?" He asks. She nods, "I didn't expect it to be so easy." He laughs, "Easy?" She gives him a questioning look. He continues, "Hope was stronger than I expected. All I could do was hold her down and she was beginning to break through my strength. Even while fighting against me, she was still able to free Callisto. Had her full attention been on me, I don't know if I could have held her," he admits. She looks down and begins to pick at the food on her plate. Ares remains silent, not sure what to do to lift her mood. After a few minutes she pushes away from the table and walks to look out a window. Ares follows and places his hands on her shoulders, gently rubbing them. She shrugs away from him, "Don't." He sighs and moves to stand next to her, "What should we do next?" He asks, trying to distract her. She looks thoughtful, "Show me the visions again. Actually just one, Iolaus talking to Hercules." Ares nods and plays the vision, "What are you thinking?" He asks. She stops him, "There. Who's Nebula?" He shrugs, "No clue, why?" "She's important," Xena responds, "Iolaus, or Dahok said that Iolaus sacrificed himself for her and it's one of the only names we have to go on." Ares shakes his head, "It doesn't matter. Iolaus is with Hercules in Corinth. He can't sacrifice himself for some woman with Little Brother standing guard. I'm more concerned about the man from India. He preaches like a prophet and knows about the Dagger of Helios." Xena nods, "Krafstar spouted lines like that when he was trying to gain Gabrielle's trust. He's another of Dahok's pawns. The Dagger concerns me though. Are you sure it's safe?" She questions. Ares nods, "Zeus banished it from this world, only he knows its safe house. We should go to India, find this pawn of Dahok's, stop him now." Xena raises her eyebrows, "We're going to search all of India for a man dressed in clothes from India, with nothing to go on but an image? No, that's a waste of time and energy." Growing frustrated, he growls, "Do you have a better idea?" She shakes her head, "Not yet," she admits, "We need a way to draw out Dahok. Which means that for now, at least, we need to let his pawns do his bidding." Ares growls again, "I don't like waiting." Xena nods, agreeing with him.
No plan in site, Xena turns from the window and draws her sword, looking at the dried blood covering it. Ares glances at it, then draws his own, "They're covered in Hind's Blood," he states. Xena grabs a rag from a side table and wipes her blade clean, then returns it to her sheath. She reaches for Ares' sword and he hands it to her. She wipes the deadly blood from it and returns it to him, then tosses the rag in the fire. "Thanks," he says, then hands her the half empty pendent, "We'll have to be careful, not much left." She nods. A few minutes of silence pass, then Xena heads for the door, "I'm turning in for the night. Coming?" She asks, extending a hand towards him. Ares shakes his head, "I'm fine. I'll study the visions, try to come up with a plan. Bedroom's at the end of the hall, on the right." She gives him a concerned glance, then shakes her head, "If that's what you feel is best," she says, turning from him, "I'll be in your room if you change your mind." She leaves the room without waiting for a reply.
Ares follows her with his eyes till she falls from sight, then returns to his throne. He lounges on the throne and opens a small portal, studying the visions. Growing frustrated quickly, he closes the portal and transports himself to Temple of The Fates. "Sisters, may I approach?" He asks. "You may, War God," Clotho answers. He nods in appreciation. Lachesis steps forward, "You are troubled, Ares," she states. He nods, "I don't understand the visions. I need more information." Atropos shakes her head, "What you are asking is dangerous, too dangerous." "Why?" He questions. Clotho steps toward him and responds, "The process of absorbing that much information will destroy you." "As in death?" He asks. Clotho nods sadly. He prepares to leave, but Atropos places a hand on his arm. Surprised by her touch, he turns, a question in his gaze. Lachesis answers for her sister, "Ask two questions. If we have the answers, they are yours, War God." Shocked, he thinks for a moment, knowing they never offer such favors. "The man from India," he says conjuring an image of him, "Tell me what you can, please," he requests. Clotho closes her eyes, "Eli, prophet, healer, practicer of the Way of Love, savior to many, but not the Gods. The religion of the One God. Twilight of the Gods. Angels and demons, heaven and hell," she rambles, then falls back, exhausted. He moves forward to catch her, but her sisters block him. "Your second question, Ares," Atropos prompts in a hard voice. Again, he pauses to think, images of Xena's death and their daughter haunting him. "Can I save Xena?" Lachesis closes her eyes, "Death follows the woman and so do you. There is death, there is life. Save her you must, her death is the beginning of a chain of events that we cannot recover from." Atropos interrupts, "The child," she says, breathing heavy, "She will destroy our world. The Bringer of Twilight." All three sisters fall back, exhausted. "Now," Clotho huffs, "Leave Ares." He nods, "Thank you, sisters," he says disappearing.
Disturbed by his talk with the Fates, Ares returns to the Halls of War and lounges on his throne, reflecting on the visions and the knowledge the Fates had gifted him. More worried than before his talk with the Fates, he walks down the hall towards his room. He opens the door and finds Xena asleep in his bed. Smiling, he enters and shuts the door quietly. He removes his sword and vest, then lays down on the bed, gathering Xena in his arms. She moans and her eyes flutter open, "You alright?" She asks quietly. He nods, "Shh, go back to sleep." She nods against his chest and sighs quietly, returning to sleep. He smiles, hoping the Fates would be too tired to torture him tonight, and settles in to rest.
Light pours through the window, hitting Ares in the face. He blinks an eye open and draws the blinds with a thought. He sighs and feels Xena shift against him and looks down to see her staring up at him. She smiles, "Sleep well?" She asks, moving out of his arms. He nods, "For the first time in a long time, yeah I did." She scrunches her brows, "I wonder why?" He sighs, "I went and talked to the Fates last night. They gave me some answers. They were exhausted when I left." "Answers?" She inquires. He nods, "I asked about the man from India and if I could save you," he explains, then opens a portal, "Here, listen to their responses." Silently they listen to the Fates' responses from the night before. "What's the Twilight of the Gods?" Xena asks when Ares closes the portal. "Long ago," he explains, "The Fates spoke of a time when mortals would no longer follow the Gods and we would cease to exist. They were very young when they foresaw it. It was their first vision of the future." She nods, "Do you think you can find this Eli?" Ares nods, "With a name? Sure. Did Krafstar ever mention the Way of Love to Gabrielle?" Xena shakes her head, "Not that I know of. Dahok must be trying something new sense his plan with Hope failed." He nods, then asks, "So should we go after Callisto or Eli first?" She leans back against the headboard, "What's Callisto doing?" She asks. He opens a portal and they watch Callisto throw a fireball at a small house on the edge of a town. She cackles as it burns to the ground and people run screaming. Xena quickly gets up, "We have to stop her. We can't let her hurt innocent people," she says, changing from a nightgown into her warrior clothes. Ares stands and collects his vest and sword. Xena smears Hind's Blood from the pendent onto her sword then hands it to Ares. He does likewise then sets it on a small table next to the bed, "I don't want to risk Callisto getting her hands on it," he explains. She nods in agreement then grabs his arm. Swords drawn, they disappear in a flash of light.
Terrified villagers run around screaming when Ares and Xena arrive. Xena whips around, searching for Callisto, "Where is she?" A blast of fire wizzes past her head and she turns sharply. "Callisto," she growls. Callisto smiles and draws her sword, pointing it at Xena, then raises a hand and sends another blast of fire at her. Ares intercepts the fire with a blast of his own. The two blasts sizzle for a moment, then go out. Callisto sneers, "Stay out of this Ares, this doesn't concern you." "Oh, but it does," he replies, advancing on her. Xena steps up beside him and quietly tells him, "Go left," then heads to the right. Callisto twirls her sword, "Oh Xena, this will be fun." Callisto jabs out with her sword and is blocked by Xena. Their swords locked together, Callisto forms a fire blast in her hand and prepares to throw it at Xena, but Ares grabs her wrist, forcing it back. The blast goes wild in the sky and she shrieks, unlocking her blade from Xena's and striking again. Xena unhooks her Chakram and parries with it, then strikes out with her sword. Callisto parries and flips backwards before Ares' sword can strike her. Ares and Xena stare at each other for a moment, eyes locked, then charge after Callisto. Xena sends her Chakram on a wild arc, hoping to distract Callisto. Watching the Chakram, Callisto doesn't see Ares come up behind her. She turns quickly, but his sword slices her arm. She turns again to parry Xena's blow but her arm falters and she drops her sword. Xena pulls back, watching the fear and confusion on Callisto's face. "I'm a God," Callisto screams, blood running from the slice on her arm. "Hind's Blood," Xena says. Callisto shrieks and struggles to breathe, "I will never stop hating you, Xena, do you hear me? Never! You killed my family! My soul! My reason to live and love! And I will spend eternity seeking revenge!" Xena closes her eyes and looks away, sadness covering her face. Ares gives a sad smile and goes to Xena's side, putting a hand on her shoulder. Together they watch Callisto draw her last breath and disintegrate into dust.
A scream interrupts Xena's silent reflection. She turns sharply and sees the village burning behind her. Quickly, she sheaths her sword and starts running towards the village. Ares stops her and points at the village, quickly extinguishing the flames. She smiles, "Thanks. Let's go help those people get things back in order." He smirks, "I'm the God of War." She shrugs and gives him a disappointed glare, before heading towards the village. Ares looks after her and snarls, then sheaths his sword and rolls his eyes, before following after her.
Kneeling over an old woman, Xena examines a cut on the woman's temple. She rips a section of the woman's skirt and blots at the cut, "Here, hold this to the cut, it will stop the bleeding," she says. A few houses down, a man coughs continuously and Xena runs to him, "The smoke?" She asks, searching for some water. He nods, gagging. A water skin is held out towards her. She grabs it and hands it to the man, then turns to whoever had helped. Seeing Ares next to her with an unamused sneer on his face, she smiles, "Thank you." He nods, "What else do you need? The sooner we help these people, the sooner we can leave." She smiles, "Can you repair the fire damage?" She asks. He sighs, "At one time you would have ordered this damage done, then laughed over it with me." He states, repairing a house on his left with the wave of a hand. "I've changed. At one time you wouldn't have bothered to help these people," she states with a small smile. He rolls his eyes and sneers, "I've changed." Her smile widens and she goes to help a woman gather her small children together.
Xena returns to Ares' side as he finishes repairing the last building. "Are you done yet?" He asks. She laughs lightly, "Not quite. The people will want to know who repaired their homes," she says, taking his arm and leading him towards the waiting villagers. He closes his eyes and sighs, following her. The people begin to clap as they approach and an old man steps apart from the group, obviously the leader. "Thank you, Xena," he says, then seeing her shocked expression, continues, "Yes, we know of you. Who was the woman?" Xena looks sad again, "Callisto, a newborn Goddess. Don't worry, she has been stopped, she won't hurt anyone ever again." The people begin to talk among themselves quietly. The leader turns to glance at Ares, "And who's your friend?" Xena smiles widely, "Ares, God of War," she says simply. The people gasp and begin to bow, but Xena stops them, "You have all been through enough, rise." Ares glares at her. The leader, his voice shaking a little, asks, "What can we do to show our appreciation?" Xena begins to object, then looking at Ares, shakes her head, "When you have the time and resources, build a Temple, dedicate it to Ares and remember that he is capable of more than just destruction." The leader nods, "It shall be done. Thank you again Xena and you Ares, God of War." The people begin to retreat to their homes and Xena turns to Ares, "Ready to go?" She asks. He grabs her hand, "Thank you, for that," he says motioning towards the people. She nods and they disappear.
The Halls of War are dark and empty compared to the brightness and commotion of the village. Xena draws her blade and cleans it of the Hind's Blood, then does the same to Ares' sword before throwing the rag into the fire of a nearby sconce. She looks down at her dirty arms and filthy armor, reeking of smoke. "I'm taking a bath," she states, walking to the back of the Temple. Ares smiles and follows her. Quickly Xena sheds her armor and leathers, lifts the shift over her head and sinks into the warm, fragrant water. "Take care of those," Xena says, motioning towards her dirty things. Ares nods and waves a hand over them, making them disappear, then makes his own clothes disappear before following Xena into the bathes. She smiles at him, "You're not dirty," she states. He shrugs and grabs a bottle of oil, "Lean back," he instructs. She leans back, wetting her hair. He smiles and pours the oil into his hands before running them through her hair. She sighs, "That smells nice," she comments. He gives a short laugh, "Sink down into the water more and lean your head back further." She obeys and he rinses the oil from her hair. Rising she gives a sad, small laugh, "I never thought Callisto would be gone. Some part of me always thought she would be there, tormenting me." He nods, leaning back against the wall of the bath, watching her run oil over her skin, "I know what you mean. She was easier to defeat than I expected." Silence envelopes them as Xena continues to bathe.
Xena smiles and lounges back, her head resting against the marble edge while she allows her body to flout in front of her. Ares stares openly at her, then wades towards her, "What's the plan?" He asks, leaning next to her. She opens an eye, "We go after Eli," she states. He nods, "It might take me awhile to find him." She sits up, pulling her body under her and resting next to Ares, "We might need to head towards Siberia soon, too." Ares gives her a questioning look, then nods, "Alti, right?" He guesses. She nods silently, looking sad. He continues to question her, "Do you know where to look?" Xena nods, "Alti would chose the place that would give her the most spiritual power. She'll have a fortress somewhere near the Siberian Amazon's land of the dead. I don't know if there will be guards or not." Ares nods, "That makes sense. You said she uses spiritual powers, how do we beat that?" Xena shrugs, "Alti is strong spiritually, but weak physically. If we can get past her powers, she should be easy to kill. After all, she is only mortal." Ares remains silent as Xena begins to scheme, "She won't expect you to be there, she won't know how to fight you. She'll focus on me, which means you'll be open to attack her. If we arrive too close to her fortress, she'll sense you and have a chance to find a way to fight against you. We'll have to travel at least two days by foot. You won't be able to use your powers for much." He nods, "What if we get a lead on Dahok? Or the Fates give us more pertinent information?" He asks. She shrugs, "We'll have to leave and hope our chance to surprise her isn't lost." He nods and pulls her back onto his lap, leaning her against his chest. She goes willingly, resting her head back against his shoulder.
Minutes pass as they sit in silence, neither wanting to move. Eventually Xena moves away and Ares sighs. She smiles at him and lifts herself from the water, then grabs a towel and wraps her hair in it, grabbing another for her body. Ares watches from the water, looking disappointed. She extends her hand to him, "Come on, I'm hungry and tired." He takes her hand and exits the water, his clothes materializing on his body. "Show off," she says with a laugh. He smiles, "It pays to be a God," he says with a small laugh. They walk to Ares' room and upon entering, a tray of meats, breads and cheeses appears on a small table in the corner, next to the fireplace. Xena smiles at the food and sits down placing meat and cheese on top of the bread and taking a bite. She raises an eyebrow at Ares and he hands her a glass of wine, keeping one for himself. She takes a lingering sip and smiles softly. He sits across from her watching her eat while enjoying his own glass of wine.
Xena finishes her meal and stands up letting both towels fall to the floor. She walks to a wardrobe in the corner of the room and opens it, looking for something to wear. Finding nothing suitable, she turns to Ares, "Clothes?" She questions. "You don't need them," he says with a smirk. She rolls her eyes, "Ares," she says with a warning tone. He removes his sword and vest, then lies on the bed, staring at her. She shrugs and lies next to him, "I'm tired." He sighs and a soft gown covers her body. She smiles, "Thank you," she says, rolling to stare at him, "Do you think there will be more visions tonight?" He scowls, "I'm sure there will be." A sad look covers her face, then she stretches against him, letting him pull her into his arms. Ares holds her tight against him, then pulls her over on top of him. "I'll wake you," she promises, stretching over his chest.
Ares falls asleep quickly and the visions start immediately. Ares is in the forest at night, talking with Xena, "Our child will be the first of what Dahok calls the six destroyers. Insidious creatures with no souls, who eat of the living and the righteous and lay waste to all Gods." He's in a dark Temple, Xena pointing a dagger at him, "You want a taste of Hind's Blood, huh?" The man from India, Eli, stands in his path, he reaches a hand out to move him and feels the power rushing through him. He backs off, staring the man up and down. Xena and Gabrielle lay dead on rock slabs. Eli sits above them, a hand on each of their heads. Power surges through him and with a gasp, both women open their eyes, alive and well. Ares stands in front of a very pregnant Xena, anger in his voice, "The decisions you make don't just affect you anymore Mom, they affect your child. And I would hate to have to kill you both." Eli stands in front of him, back turned, a comforting hand on Gabrielle's back. A crowd is below them. Ares spreads his arms, "Since the beginning of time, it's been warriors who shaped the world." Eli turns and stares at him, "That's about to change." Ares raises his sword, "I don't usually take matters into my own hands, but in your case, I'm gonna make an exception." With that Ares runs the man through and rather than fear or pain a look of conquest covers the man's face before he falls to the ground, dying in Gabrielle's arms. Ares stands behind Xena and whispers in her ear, "Give me a child." She shudders in response, closing her eyes briefly. Ares tries to jerk awake, but fails as usual. Trying to think of anything other than the visions, his mind brings up an image of Xena. The visions change, they stand in a forest at night, bodies pressed together, mouths locking and unlocking, he breaks away, burying his head in her cleavage and she arches against him, gasping with pleasure. Quickly, he returns to her mouth, running his hands over her body. Ares shudders from the vision and for once doesn't want to wake.
Xena feels Ares shudder and opens her eyes. Sweat already covers his body and he moans softly. His breathing is rapid. She closes her eyes in sadness, then feels his hardness pressing against her stomach. She raises an amused eyebrow and gently slaps at his cheek, "Ares, wake up now." He turns from her, but his grip on her body tightens and he starts to thrust against her. She groans and rubs herself against him, then stops and shakes her head. "Ares wake up," she says, trying to remove herself from his grasp. He holds her tight and his hands begin to race up and down her body, making her gown bunch against her skin. She growls, "Fates, enough is enough, release him. Let him have peace." His arms relax around her and his ragged breathing evens out. She smiles as his eyes flutter open, "Hi there," she says. "Hi," he says, shifting under her. He rubs against her and she moans. He pauses, "Were we doing something that I should know about?" He asks with a wicked grin. She shakes her head with a smirk, "I'm not sure you were having a vision." He reflects back on the visions and when considering the final one, a grin spreads across his face, "For once the Fates saw fit to show me something not horrible. I think it was the conception of our daughter." She nods, "That explains a few things," she says, moving her hips against him. Briefly he closes his eyes. "So," she starts, "What else was there?" He shrugs, "This and that." She glares at him and he smiles, shifting her off of him, "Want to see?" He asks. She nods and he opens a small portal between them. She watches the visions in silence, then finds herself gasping and moaning during the last one.
Ares smiles at Xena as he notices the lust in her eyes. "Some vision, huh?" He asks, running the back of his fingers down her arm. She shivers and nods, staring at the bedroom wall. He turns her to face him and gently captures her lips. She reacts passionately, pushing herself against him till he lays down and she crawls her way on top of him. Gently she grabs his bottom lip with her teeth and pulls on it. She smiles as he groans. He holds her hips against him and thrusts against her. She moans low in her throat. He lowers his head, attacking her breasts through the thin gown. She presses her breasts to his mouth and he laughs lightly. She rubs herself against him shamelessly and gasps, "Clothes." He closes his eyes and sighs, smiling. In seconds their clothes disappear and they both gasp as skin makes contact with skin. Xena smiles and lets out a feral growl as she rolls taking Ares with her. He smiles down at her and she raises her hips, locking her legs around him. He enters her quickly and she gasps, arching her back. He grabs her hips, raising them to meet his thrusts evenly. She gasps again, her breaths coming out unevenly, moans mixing with her exhales. They find a rhythm that leaves them both sweaty and close to the point of no return. Growing desperate for release, Xena grinds herself against him and he inhales sharply. She screams his name and he moans hers. He collapses against her, sweaty and satisfied. She moans and pushes against his shoulders. He sighs and rolls over, placing her on top. She smiles and rests her head on his chest. As the cool air caresses her skin she shivers and Ares pulls a sheet over her. "Sleep now, my Warrior Princess," he says, stroking her back. She nods against him, already close to falling into dreamland.
Ares sighs deeply, holding Xena close against him. He wasn't usually a reflective God, but this seemed like the time to try it out. In her warlord days, Xena had been amazing, both in combat and in bed. Now, with her so different, she was marvelous. She was open to him in a way she never had been before. And he was certainly open to her, the love he felt in the visions and his love for her now mixing into something all-consuming and all powerful. He wondered if it would last though. When the visions stopped, would she still want him? Or was this just a result of the strong emotions the visions brought on? He knew he would never be the same, but would she? Giving up the self-questioning, he sighs and holds her firmly against him, never wanting her to leave his arms.
Xena relaxes against Ares' chest, pretending to be asleep. The visions brought on strong emotions, stronger than she thought possible. Ares had always affected her, gotten under her skin, aroused her. That was nothing new. But that heavy feeling in her chest at the thought of him not being there, that was new for her. The tightness in her throat when she remembered that this would end when the visions did, that was new too. She knew he was reacting to what the Fates showed him and then acting on the emotions brought on by the visions. She was being foolish playing into those emotions, trusting him the way she was. But a part of her hoped against hope that when the visions ended, he would stay the same, stay this man, this God, that she found herself falling in love with. Growing sad and frustrated with her line of thought, she lets herself drift off to sleep held on top of Ares, safe in his arms.
Xena wakes before the dawn and tries to stretch, but can't move through Ares' tight embrace. She runs her hand up his ribs, letting her fingertips barely brush his skin. He shivers and flinches, then slowly opens his eyes. Xena shifts in his arms and he loosens his hold on her. She rolls off him and stretches like a cat before facing him. He smiles and brushes a strand of hair off of her cheek. "Can you show me the new visions again? We got a little distracted last night," she says with a small smile. He smirks in response and plays the visions in a small portal that flouts in front of them. The final vision starts to play and they turn to each other, eyes filled with lust. Xena lets out a ragged breath, "We need to focus," she reminds him. He nods, "I think the creature killing Gabrielle that we saw earlier, was my child, one of the six destroyers, killing Hope." Xena nods in return, "I agree. It also looks like Gabrielle fell for another cult. Did you see how she clung to Eli after you killed him?" Ares agrees, "For a cult leader, he has some strong powers. He brought you and Gabrielle back from the dead after the Romans crucified you," he says. "Maybe he doesn't follow Dahok. Why would Dahok want me and Gabrielle to live? Our deaths could only help him," Xena suggests. Ares scowls, "So, first we have Dahok, then another all-powerful God with no pantheon? No, that's too much of a coincidence." She agrees, "You're right. We have to stop Eli before Dahok makes him too strong for us to defeat." He continues her thought, "The power that man possesses in the visions is more than any single God on Olympus, myself included. It shouldn't be possible." A quizzical look covers Xena's face, "What if he is Dahok?" He shakes his head, "I kill him with my sword. Anyway, he didn't feel like a God." She shrugs, "Maybe Dahok possesses him like he does Iolaus," she suggests. Again he shakes his head, "He didn't feel like he was possessed. More like he was channeling someone else's powers. Either way we need to find him." She nods in agreement and rises from the bed. He stares at her openly and she raises an eyebrow at him. "Clothes," she says. He waves his hand and she's wearing her armor. Rising from the bed, his clothes appear with no effort.
Ares walks into the throne room with Xena behind him. "Look through those," he orders, pointing at the items on the altar. Xena raises an eyebrow, but obeys, looking for anything of value among the offerings. Ares smiles, watching her critical eye go over the offerings. Lounging on his throne, he assumes an uncaring, bored look, "Strife," he calls. She turns with an unamused look, then goes back to the offerings. Strife arrives with a cackle and a flash of light. "Hi, Unc," the Godling says. Ares growls, "Speak like a God," he orders. Strife nods, "Right-O, Unc." Ares sighs and Xena laughs lightly. Strife turns, "Oh, hi, Xena," he greets, sounding nervous. She raises an eyebrow and returns to the offerings on the altar. Strife looks back at Ares, "So, uh, what did you need, Unc?" Ares growls again and opens a small portal with the image of Eli showing, "You need to find this man. His name is Eli and I suspect he's in India. He is very dangerous and you should not go against him. Tell me when you find him, Xena and I will deal with him." Strife grumbles, "You and Xena? What about me? I can take care of him myself. After all I'm a God too." Xena buts into the conversation, "Gods don't whine," she says to Strife, then turns to Ares, "We don't need his help, we can find Eli without him." Ares shakes his head, "It will take too long, we have too many other things to deal with." She shrugs, "If you think he can handle it." Strife stands between them, "Don't talk about me like I'm not even here. Of course I can handle it, it's just one mortal man." Ares scowls at the Godling, "Don't underestimate him, Strife." Strife nods, "Right, Unc. Anything else?" Ares shakes his head, "No. Go now. Return when you find Eli." Strife gives a sharp nod and leaves with a flash of light.
The Godling gone, Xena approaches Ares' throne, a small dagger in hand, "Do we really need his help?" She questions, placing the dagger between her breasts. Ares glares at her cleavage and retrieves the dagger, looking it over, then places it back between her breasts, "If he goes after Eli, we will be free to go after Alti. I don't want her to have a chance to threaten our child's safety." She nods at first, then scowls, "Speaking of threats..." She trails off and Ares gets a guilty look, "I guess now we know why you threaten me with the Dagger of Helios." She shakes her head and smiles, "It doesn't matter, not really. The Fates said our daughter would cause the Twilight of the Gods, right?" He nods and she continues, "It makes sense that you would feel threatened and be a little short tempered." He gives her an annoyed glare, "You know, you do tend to press all my buttons. Maybe you pushed the wrong ones." She cocks an eyebrow and gives him a small smile, "Maybe." She's quiet for a moment, then asks, "Why would you ask me to give you child?" He shrugs, "I wouldn't force you." She shakes her head, "No, but we've already had sex. There's already that chance." He smirks, "I guess in that other time, we hadn't been having sex." She rolls her eyes, "Why ask though?" Growing frustrated he says, "I don't know. Maybe it was lame pillow talk." First she snarls, then laughs a little, "Yeah, maybe." He reaches for her, "You know what that means, right?" She shakes her head, going into his arms easily, "Tell me," she says. He smiles, "We chose to have a child together," he informs her. She smiles, "I guess so." Thinking on it, she gets a far off look, "Seems impossible," she says quietly. He nods, then gets a serious look, "So what do you say, give me a child?" She glares at him and he smiles widely, "That's ok, we're too busy for kids right now anyway." She laughs and shakes her head, "Can you imagine us raising a child?" Ares shakes his head and pulls up an image of their daughter fighting against him, "Looks like she turns out ok." Xena shrugs, "Until she dies," she states flatly. He growls and moves away from her, "Cynic." She rolls her eyes, then grabs his shoulder, turning him. He gives her a questioning look and she gives him a gentle kiss, "We'll save her," she says. He nods and sits on his throne, pulling her to sit next to him on the arm.
Ares opens a small portal and Xena peers down. Gabrielle, in full Amazon garb, sits around a small table with Ephiny and two men. A map and a scroll sit between them all. "The treaties are going well," Xena says. Ares sighs, "Such a shame." She elbows him and the image changes to one of Solan. He's wrestling with Hercules while Cyrene and Kaliapus laugh from the side. Xena stares longingly at her son and reaches out to touch her son's image. The image ripples and she pulls her hand away. "Solan," she says, barely above a whisper. Ares tightens the view, so the image focuses on only Solan, "He looks happy," he says quietly. She nods, staring at her son wistfully. "Will it ever be safe for him, for our daughter?" She questions quietly. He nods, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close, "We'll make it safe," he assures her. Pulling herself away from Ares and the image of her son, she nods, "Yes, we will." She thinks for a moment, "Alright, let's go after Alti. If Strife is finding Eli and we have no leads on Dahok, then we should go after Alti and get her out of the picture." He nods, "You said before that we would have to travel on foot for at least two days and I wouldn't be able to use my powers too much. How much is too much?" She thinks for a moment, then answers, "The portals should be alright. But transporting is out of the question." He questions, "What about materializing? Or will we have to carry everything with us?" She curls her lip, "We're going to need horses and supplies, we can't risk her sensing your powers." He nods, "We can visit one of my stables for the horses. What other supplies will we need?" He asks. She thinks for a moment, "Food, cooking supplies, maybe a few extra weapons, heavy parkas." She pauses for a moment, "Medical supplies might be good to have on hand too." He nods, "Does Alti have the ability to watch us? Do I need to act like a mortal?" Xena shrugs, "I don't know how her powers have grown over the years. I don't want to take any chances. Go get some supplies, I'll meet you in the stables." He nods and she leaves, heading towards the stable behind the Halls of War.
Ares watches Xena leave, then begins collecting things for their journey. Two large packs appear at his feet along with two sets of saddlebags. Calling a priest to his side, he points at the bags, "Fill these with winter gear, food, cooking supplies, and medical supplies. It needs to be enough for two people to travel in the cold on horseback for a few days. Leave room for some weapons. Clear?" The priest nods, "Yes, My Lord." Satisfied that the priest will take care of the packing, he leaves to follow after Xena.
Xena leaves the Halls of War and walks behind it heading towards the stables. Walking in, she smiles, inhaling the smell of horse and hay. Walking to the first stall she glances in and grimaces at the heavily pregnant mare. She strokes the horses muzzle, "Well, you won't be going anywhere for a while." The mare pushes against her hand and she smiles, moving onto the next stall. Walking along the row of stalls she approaches one where the horse inside is pawing at the ground. "Eager, aren't you?" She asks the young horse. He paws at the ground again and neighs, tossing his head. She smiles and opens the stall door, leading him out by the halter. While she saddles him up, he prances in place. She smiles, tightening the saddle and replacing the halter with a bridle. She turns to the entrance, leading the horse and finds Ares in the doorway, casually leaning against the door jam. "Find one?" He asks, approaching the horse. She nods, "He's not Argo, but he has spunk." Ares pats the horses flank, then heads towards a back stall, retrieving a large black stallion. Xena glances at the horse, "He wasn't here," she states. Ares shrugs in response, "He's wherever I want him to be." He places a hand on the horses shoulder and a saddle and bridle appear. "Let's go for a ride. Make sure these two can get along," he suggests. Xena nods and leads the way out of the stable.
Ares takes the lead, mounting his horse and motioning away from Corinth, "We can go this way, don't want to get too close to Corinth." Xena nods and mounts her horse, following him. They ride in silence, enjoying the fresh air and the momentary peace their ride offers them. Ares slows and waits for Xena to catch up. They continue side by side. "So what's your plan?" Ares asks. Xena shrugs, "Find Alti, kill Alti, come home, find Dahok, and kill Dahok. Sound good to you?" He laughs, "Want to look through my collections to find some new toys?" She smiles, "Oh yeah." He grins at her eagerness, "Will Alti be difficult?" He questions. She shrugs, "I don't know what sort of powers she has developed, but she has always been weak physically. She can't fight, not really. As long as we don't give her a chance to use her powers against us, she should be pretty easy to beat. Of course we have to find her first." He nods, "We'll be going through Amazon lands, will they be a problem?" She gives a short dark laugh in response, "Ten years ago I destroyed them. I doubt they'll be organized enough to cause a threat, not so soon anyway. And even if they do attack, we'll be more than a match for them." He nods and gives his horse a swift kick, urging it to pick up speed. Xena smiles and catches up with him.
The sky turns dark and Ares leads the way back to the stables and the Halls of War. Dismounting her horse, Xena leads the way into the stable and quickly begins to untack the animal. Ares enters behind her and a stable hand walks out of a small side room. "My Lord, I will care for your horses," the small man says extending his hand for the reigns. Ares nods and hands over the reins, motioning for Xena to do the same. She gives her horse a final pat on the nose, "Be good, boy," she says, following Ares from the stable. "Do you like him?" He asks, motioning back to the horse as they walk to the Temple. She nods, "He's strong and easy to control. He'll do well." He smiles, "He's yours." She smiles, "I already have a horse," she reminds him. He shrugs, "Now you have two." She smiles and changes the subject, "So, where do you keep the good weapons?" He laughs and places a hand on her shoulder. In seconds they are both gone in a splash of light and color.
Pulling Xena out of the ether after him, Ares motions towards their surroundings with a smile, "See anything you like?" Xena's eyes dart around the room, taking in the options. He smiles at her contained excitement as she browses the weapons. She lightly fingers a few swords, then pulls out her own blade. She stares at it, examining the blade and hilt, then sighs, "A little worse for the wear," she says, sadly. Ares wraps an arm around her and takes the sword, making it glow for a minute. He smiles and releases it, "Good as new." She smiles, "Thanks," she says, examining the blade again. She grabs a dagger from the wall and tucks it into her boot, then looks around some more. Ares grabs a few daggers for himself, then watches Xena, curiously. "What are you looking for?" He asks as she passes by some spears without a glance. "I need a new whip. Gabrielle traded mine months ago," she answers. He points to a far wall, "Over there," he directs, then asks, "What did she trade it for?" Xena smiles, having found a good, solid whip, "A frying pan," she answers. He stares at the back of her head, confused, then grabs a cross bow and a quiver of bolts. "Anything else you'd like?" He asks, motioning around the room. She gives the room another glance then shakes her head, "No, I think this will do." He nods and pulls her against him, disappearing.
Outside the Halls of War, thunder crashes as rain pelts the ground and wind whips through the air. Xena glares at the closed door. Ares smiles, "It will stop by morning and we can leave. The horses need a solid rest before we leave anyway. So do you." She turns her glare to him, "I'm fine." He sighs, "This isn't the time to be acting like a tough Warrior Princess." She smiles, "But I am a tough Warrior Princess." He smiles and shakes his head, reaching for her. She walks towards him and grabs his outstretched hand, "I would like to eat." He nods and leads her to the banquet hall. She walks along the table, filling a plate, then grabs a glass of wine and sits next to the fire. Ares grabs a glass and sits next to her. Sipping the wine he turns to her, "So, tonight you rest, then we leave in the morning?" He questions. She shakes her head, "No, we rest tonight, then we can leave in the morning." He glares at her, "I don't need to rest." She shrugs, "Yes, you do. We'll be traveling for a couple of days, who knows when or if either of us will get to rest again until we destroy Alti." Taking another sip of wine, he nods, "Have it your way," he says. Xena pushes her now empty plate away and finishes her wine.
Xena stands and makes her way out of the room, heading towards the bedroom. Ares follows with a dramatic sigh. Entering the room, his gaze follows Xena around the room. Slowly, she removes her weapons and armor setting them on a chair, then steps out of her leather tunic leaving her white shift on. He glares at the shift and it's replaced by a thin black nightgown. "Better," he states. She gives him a small smile and climbs under the blankets. He glares at the blankets then sheds his clothes and joins her in bed, pulling her into his arms. Turned away from him, she curls into his arms, pressing herself against him. He growls low in his throat and runs a hand over her. She starts to pull away but he holds her firmly. She shakes her head with a sigh, "Ares, rest." He gives an agitated sigh, "But I'm not tired." She gives a small, tight laugh, "Too bad." He sighs and relaxes against her, "Have it your way." She smiles and holds his hand against her chest, trying to relax enough to sleep.
Ares is soon sucked in by the Fates and their torturous visions. Hercules stands with a man from Sumeria, fire dancing around them. The man speaks, "The destruction you've seen across the land, is the direct fallout from a battle raging high above, between the Gods and My Master. You see when I lost my family, I did lose my faith. And in my deepest despair, I heard the voice of Dahok, a voice so pure, so true, I knew I had found salvation." Hercules' response is muffled to Ares, then the man continues, "He's the darkness that you hold closest to your heart. Without the nectar, the Gods won't be strong enough to prevent Dahok's arrival. All he needs is the sacrifice of a Warrior Heart." Ares strokes his daughter's cheek and she closes her eyes as he places a kiss on her forehead. Xena stands in the rain, dragging Gabrielle next to her and half carrying their daughter. She stops moving and says, "Neither of you is going to leave me. Gabrielle, you're the most pure thing in my life." Turning to their daughter she continues, "And you're my great hope. So I'm not gonna let either of you go!" Hercules stands before a pedestal with a ray of light beaming down on a large blue stone. Xena's sword goes through Athena's gut in a swift motion. "You healed them without my blessing. That's impossible," Athena says, shock and pain blending in her voice. Ares glances at her, "I gave up my immortality to save them." She chokes, "Why?" She asks on a gasp. He smirks sadly, "I'm sorry, but I've got a thing for her." Athena sinks to the ground, dead. Ares' thoughts turn to Xena in an attempt to direct the visions as he did before. It's night and Xena stands above him, naked and sweaty. Slowly he devours her as she gasps and writhes under his tongue.
Xena awakens to Ares nibbling on her neck and his hand creeping its way up her thigh. She sighs, "Ares, sleep." She pushes his hand away from her inner thigh. When it quickly returns and the nibbles don't cease, she pulls from his arms and rolls over to give him a dirty glare. Glaring at him, she notices that he's still held under the spell of the Fates' visions. The glare is replaced by a sad smile and she returns to his arms, facing him now. Resting a hand on his cheek, she kisses him lightly and sighs when he responds immediately. His hands race up her back, holding her close as he plunders her mouth. She moans and puts a leg over his hip, drawing him closer. She pulls away with a gasp and smiles at him, breathing heavy. His hands continue to race up and down her back. "Ares?" She asks, trying to get his attention. Getting no reaction, she growls low in her throat, "Fates! By the Gods, just leave him alone you little harpies." With a gasp, his eyes snap open. She smiles and runs a finger down his jaw, "Welcome back," she says. Eyes filled with lust, he pulls her closer for a passion filled kiss. Slowly, she pulls away, "They're getting worse," she says. He shrugs, "I'm learning to direct them. Not sure how much control I have though." She gives him a questioning look. Again, he shrugs, "I can't stop them, but if I think of you, they tend to take a much brighter turn." She smirks and quietly mutters, "That explains a few things." He gives her a questioning look and she shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. Do you want to show me the visions now?" He shakes his head, "Not really." She gives him a soft smile, "Let's get some rest then," she says, rolling over to face away from him. He stares at the back of her head for a moment, then gathers her into his arms, pushing her curves against him. He runs his hand from her hip to her inner thigh, but stops when she tenses. Moving his hand back to her hip, he places small kisses from her ear down to her shoulder. She shivers, then pulls away, "Stop," she says quietly. He pulls on her shoulder, forcing her onto her back, "What's wrong?" He asks, impatience evident in his voice. She shrugs and shakes her head, "Nothing. I'm just tired," she says, trying to roll back over. Keeping his hand on her shoulder to stop her from pulling away, he shakes his head, "No, something has changed. What happened while I was having the visions?" She sighs, this time rolling to face him, "I thought you were awake and you weren't." "So?" He questions. She growls and sits up, "Is this happening because we want it to or because of the visions?" He sits next to her and sighs, "I can't speak for you, but the visions aren't making me do anything, at least not when I'm awake." They sit in silence for a moment, then he gets up, his leather pants and vest appearing with a thought, "Go back to sleep," he says, leaving the room. She stares after him for a moment, then lies back down.
Ares storms into his throne room and collapses onto the throne with a growl. Xena was just reacting to the visions, he reflects. It shouldn't have been a surprise, not really. He had tortured her for the past couple of years, betrayed her, surely he didn't really expect her to give him a real fresh start, no matter what she said. "Clean slate," he growls, a nearby bust of himself exploding in shards of marble. Getting no satisfaction, he rises and begins to pace the Temple. Without the visions, where would they be? On opposite sides, sure, of course, no doubt about it. But these visions were their future, these things, their love, they were going to happen. Why couldn't it be real now? And sense they were changing everything now, would that future even happen? Was this the only time he would have with her?
Giving up on sleep, Xena rises from the bed and paces the room. Ares loves her, she reflects, and she had hurt him. He wouldn't admit it, but she had seen the pain in his eyes when she had turned from him, questioned him. She wanted to believe him, trust him, but when all this was over, would he still love her? Or would the cocky God of War return? Would she end up alone, picking up the pieces of her life while he went back to torturing her? The sound of busting marble stops her reflection. She grabs a robe from the upright chest and rushes from the room, towards the noise.
Ares stops pacing when Xena rushes into the room. Her robe hangs open, flowing behind her and a concerned look is in her eyes. "Sorry," he says, "Go back to bed, I didn't mean to wake you." She looks first at the shards of marble, then him. "Are you alright?" She asks, approaching him. He nods, "Perfect," he responds. Guilt flashes across her face for a split second, then a soft look replaces it, "I didn't mean to hurt you," she says quietly. He growls and walks away from her, collapsing onto his throne. She follows him slowly, "I had to know, Ares." He watches her slow approach, "Why?" He questions, "Why couldn't you just believe, just trust me?" She stops in front of him, a vulnerable look on her face, "I didn't want to get hurt." He stares at her, the anger draining from him, "What are you saying?" He asks, softly. She smiles and lets the robe fall to the ground before climbing onto his lap, straddling him, "I'm in love with you," she says, capturing his lips gently. He pulls back and stares into her eyes, "I love you," he says, then returns to her lips. She smiles against his lips and wraps her legs around the throne, pulling herself closer and grinding against him. He gives a low, feral growl, holding her hips against him and running a hand up her back, under the thin gown. One of her hands tangles in his hair, pulling him closer while the other tugs at his vest. He leans forward, shrugging his shoulders to help her remove the vest. It falls to the floor next to the throne with a clank. His hands race to her gown, pulling it up her body. She pulls away with a gasp and throws her arms up as he tears the gown off over her head. She returns to his mouth, pressing her breasts against his chest, gasping at the friction. Her hands travel down his chest till they reach his waist. She rips at the ties on the leather and struggles with the stiff material. Ares stands, holding her to him and she pushes the pants down with her legs. He collapses back into the throne and she smiles wickedly. Using the back of the throne for leverage she slides onto him with a moan and wrapping her legs around both him and the throne, she begins to ride him at a slow, torturous pace. His hands fly to her hips, forcing himself deeper into her. She gasps against his lips and throws her head back, panting. He attacks her breasts, moving from one peak to the other, then back again. One arm rises from her hips, up her back, holding her shoulder to keep her pulled close to him. Gradually her pace quickens and he thrusts against her, going deeper each time. Soon, she collapses against him, quivering in his arms and he lets himself find release in her softness.
Ares holds Xena against him as their breathing slowly returns to normal. Her forehead leans against the back of the throne and she stares at his shoulder. She places a light kiss there and pulls away from him, trying to rise. Sliding off his lap, her legs shake beneath her as she stands. Ares rises and offers a steadying hand, "Guess I'm that good, huh?" He says with a small laugh. She rolls her eyes, then finally gaining her balance, heads towards their bedroom, "Come on, tomorrow won't be easy," she says. He grabs her outstretched hand and, leaving their clothes flung around the throne, follows her.
Xena falls into the bed, dragging Ares with her. He lands on top of her, his weight on his hands. She smiles up at him and pulls him down for a passionate kiss. He brings his hips down to rest on top of her and groans when she wraps her legs around his. She shifts under him and feels his tip at her entrance. She moans and deepens their kiss. Ares feels the heat of her so very close and thrusts into her, hoping she won't pull away. She arches her back to take him in. Her legs rise, wrapping around him, urging him on. He thrusts harder into her and she screams out, pulling from his mouth and throwing her head back. He trails kisses down her neck to her breasts, then back up to nibble on her collarbone, never breaking stride. She gasps and finds release, screaming his name and sinking her teeth into his shoulder. Ares gives one final thrust before joining her and collapsing on top of her. She pulls from his shoulder and places a small kiss on the red spot her teeth had left. Holding him close, she sighs, "Good night." He places a kiss on her collarbone, then places his head above her shoulder, inhaling her hair, as sleep overcomes him.
Xena wakes with the dawn, a delicious weight on top of her. She leans forward and kisses Ares' shoulder and strokes his hair. Slowly, he wakes and she feels him harden inside her. He pushes himself up onto his hands and smiles down at her, "Mornin'," he says, pushing fully into her. She gasps, then smiles, "Mornin'," she responds. She pushes against his shoulders and tilts her hips to the side. He rolls, pulling her on top of him. She smiles down at him and gives him a quick kiss before rolling off of him. He growls and she laughs lightly, "We have a lot to do." He sighs, "I guess you're right. Want to see the visions from last night?" She nods and rises from the bed, stretching. He stares at her, lust in his eyes. She smirks and stares him up and down, her smirk growing to a full smile. He rises from the bed and approaches her slowly before pulling her into his arms. She goes willingly, rubbing herself against him, delighting in his moan. She grabs his hand and pulls from his arms, leading him from the room.
Xena enters the bathes and sinks into the warm waters, pulling Ares in behind her. She rests against the marble edge and stares at him, "Show me," she orders. He nods and sits next to her, a portal opening in front of them, the visions playing. Xena watches curiously, then gasps and shivers during the final vision, giving Ares a lust filled stare. He returns the stare and wades closer. She smiles and pulls him against her, capturing his lips with her own. He presses her against the marble side of the pool. She wraps her legs around his waist, pulling him flush against her, then pulls away from his lips. "We need to focus," she says, as he dips his head to her breasts. He gives a small laugh, "Oh, I am," he assures her, lifting her slightly so he can roll a nipple between his teeth. She moans and throws her head back, then stops, "No, no, on the visions," she reminds him. He nods a little, pushing her further out of the water, trailing kisses down her body, "I am," he says again. She starts to argue, but stops when he lifts her out of the water and pushes her legs apart to expose her to him. He starts nibbling at her knee and works his way up her inner thigh, laughing lightly as she shivers beneath him. She throws her head back and tangles a hand in his hair, the other resting behind her for support. He glances up at her before slowly running a finger over her. She moans deep in her throat. He replaces the finger with his tongue and she arches into his mouth. He laughs throatily and continues his slow exploration. She wraps her legs over his shoulders, digging her heals into his back. His light kisses and gentle nibbles drive her insane while his rough beard makes her tingle all the more. Feeling her tense around him, he pulls away and she lets out a strangled cry. He gives her a devilish grin, then pulls her back into the water, trailing light kisses up her body. She slides down his body, then guides him into her as she claims his mouth. He moans into her mouth as she envelops him. They remain still for a moment, then slowly, Ares begins to thrust into her. Frustrated from already being on the edge once, Xena takes charge, pushing him against the marble edge and mercilessly riding him. She pulls from his lips, breathing heavy and feels the tension rising. He feels her inner muscles tighten around him, then she's screaming her release and riding the waves of Eternity. Ares continues to thrust into her, then he too joins her in release.
Still breathing heavy, Xena glares at him, "Think we can focus now?" She asks, sarcastically. Ares nods, "Like I said, I was focusing," he says with a grin. She laughs and shakes her head, then slides off him. His gaze follows her as she dips her hair into the water. He approaches, oil in hand and runs it through her hair, then helps her rinse it out. "In the first part of the vision," she starts, "Who was that man?" Ares shakes his head, "I'm not sure, but he was Sumerian." She thinks for a moment, "And the nectar he spoke of?" He answers easily, "Nectar of the Gods, similar to Ambrosia." She nods, "And the stone Hercules grabs?" She asks, now rubbing the oil into her skin. Ares shrugs, "That I'm not sure about. I hate to say it, but I might need to ask Mom or Zeus. I get the feeling that the stone is important." Xena nods and gives him a small smile, "Our daughter looks amazing." He nods, "I want to know who hurt her like that. When I find out, they're dead," he says seriously. She nods and remains silent. A quizzical look covers her face, "Do you think the future is in motion? That the visions are in motion?" Ares shrugs, "I don't know. Why?" She pauses before answering, "If Gabrielle were responsible for the death of Solan, I would kill her. I have no doubt about that. But, she and I are still close. I was just thinking that by saving Solan, maybe we've already changed the future and the visions reflect that change." He nods, "That makes sense." She smiles, "We're already making a difference," she states. He smirks, "We've saved the irritating blonde, wonderful." She gives him an indulgent smile, then pulls herself from the bathes, "Come on, we need to get to Siberia." He exits the bath water, instantly dry and clothed in his leather. She raises an eyebrow and her leather and armor adorn her body with a wave of his hand.
Xena leaves the bathes with Ares following her. "I'm going to eat and get the rest of my things. Go ask Hera or Zeus about that stone and meet me in the stables. We'll leave as soon as you get back. I want Alti out of the way now," she says. Ares nods and squeezes her shoulder, "We'll stop her Xena, then we'll go to Sumeria and stop Dahok." She nods and he disappears. She enters the throne room and gathers her discarded robe and gown from the night before, then returns to their room. Placing the garments in the chest, she glances around the room. The Hind's Blood pendent rests on the small table next to the bed, she picks it up and places it along with her Chakram pendent in the chest as well. She grabs her sword, Chakram and other weapons, then leaves the room, heading toward the stables.
Ares appears on Olympus and glares at the too bright light. Finding no one in the main hall, he picks a hallway and begins to wander towards his mother's quarters. Artemis passes him and sneers, "Where have you been?" He rolls his eyes at her, "Busy, go away Artemis." She growls at him, but keeps moving passed him. Choosing another hallway, he enters his mother's wing. Gradually, the light of Olympus fades, replaced by a warmer, darker light. He approaches his mother's closed bedroom door and knocks once. "Come in, Ares," his mother responds. He enters, closing the door behind him, "Mom," he greets. "There you are, Ares. I was beginning to wonder," she says, running a finger down his jaw. He smiles at his mother, "I've been busy." She sighs, "Then this isn't a social call?" She questions. He shakes his head, "No. I have a question." She motions for him to continue. He shows her an image of the stone, omitting Hercules from the picture, "What's this?" Hera looks at the stone for a few minutes, then her eyes lighten, "Oh yes, I remember. It's called the Stone of Creation, one of the Titans' many treasures. Your father has it locked away in some Temple." "What does it do?" He asks. She shrugs, "I have no idea. Athena makes a hobby of studying that stuff, maybe you should ask her." Ares sneers, but nods, "Thanks, Mom." She prevents him from leaving by pulling him into her arms gently. He hugs his mother softly. "Ares, I don't know what you're working on, but be careful," she says. He nods against her shoulder, "I will, Mom, don't worry." He pulls from his mother's arms and exits the room.
Searching for his least favorite sibling, he heads towards the nearest library room. As luck would have it, Athena is sitting in a chair, studying a scroll. Her head shoots up as he closes the door. Her eyes go wide, "Ares, I didn't know you even knew about the libraries." He smirks at her, "I'm just full of surprises, aren't I, Sis?" She returns his smirk, "What do you want, Ares?" He approaches her and opens a small portal showing the stone, "Mom says this is the Stone of Creation, do you know anything about it?" Her eyes go bright, as they often do when someone seeks her knowledge, "It isn't a weapon, Ares," she informs him. He shrugs, "Doesn't answer my question." Surprised that he hadn't already left, she explains, "Long ago the Titans created the Stone of Creation as a means of harnessing a pure light. I'm not sure what their goal was." Ares nods, "Maybe it is a weapon then," he says quietly, then looks back at Athena, "Any clue where it is?" Athena shrugs, "Dad has it locked away in a Temple near the lava pit that holds Mneomoscene, the fire titan. Why?" She asks, growing concerned. He shakes his head, "Just an idea," he says. "Ares," she starts, "Is this something Zeus should know about?" He laughs, "No, but I'm sure you'll tell him anyway. After all, you are Daddy's Little Girl, aren't you?" She growls at him, then turns back to her scroll, "You should leave before you get a headache from all my knowledge." He shakes his head and leaves the golden library.
Ares leaves Olympus and appears in his stables behind the Halls of War. Xena stands between the stalls, holding both sets of reigns in her hands, the saddlebags full and flung over the horses backs, their packs resting at her feet. She smiles at him, "Took you long enough." He takes the reigns of his horse from her and picks up his bag, "Let's go." She puts a hand on his arm, "What's wrong?" She asks, catching his bad mood. He scowls, "I had to deal with Athena." Xena nods, "That explains it. Learn anything about the stone?" He nods, "It's called the Stone of Creation. The Titans created it to harness pure light." She thinks for a moment, "Dahok is the dark force behind every will, we'll need his opposite to defeat him that must be what the stone is for." Ares nods, "That's what I was thinking too. Do you still want to go after Alti? Or should we focus on Dahok?" He questions. She shakes her head, "Let's get rid of Alti," she says, her hand unconsciously going to her stomach. He nods, "Strife hasn't returned with word of Eli anyway. I think that man is the key to finding Dahok." She puts her hand in his, "Alti's stronghold will be close to the Amazon's land of the dead. Take us two days out from there." He nods and holds her hand tightly, waving his hand over himself, her, and both horses. They all disappear in a flash of light.
A cold wind rushes over Xena as she steps out of the ether. She digs through her pack and pulls out a thick parka. Putting it on, she glances at Ares, "Play along," she reminds him. He nods and pulls out his own parka, then points west, "The entrance to the Amazon land of the dead is that way." She nods and mounts her horse, "We'll ride till the sun starts to set, then make camp for the night." Ares mounts his horse and follows after her. Soon he catches up and rides next to her. They ride in silence for several hours, both keeping an eye on not just the terrain but also the surrounding woods. Around midday, Xena digs in her pack and pulls out a loaf of bread and some jerky. Keeping some for herself, she passes it to Ares. He stares at it, then over at her. "Just eat it," she says. He rolls his eyes, but eats the bread and jerky, making a few distasteful faces as he does. She smiles and laughs lightly, "Traveling food isn't exactly the best." He nods, "So I see. We can hunt tonight, cook up some rabbit or something," he suggests. She laughs, "Sorry, Gabrielle's the cook, not me. If I cook us rabbit," she pauses for dramatic effect, then continues, "It just might kill us." He laughs, "That's why you keep her around? It all makes sense now. I'll cook the rabbit, how hard can it be?" She raises an eyebrow, "Or we could just eat jerky, bread, cheese, and whatever fruit is in these packs." He scoffs at her, "You don't think I can do it?" She shrugs, "You can try." They smile at each other, then continue to ride in silence.
As the sun begins to set, casting a red glow over the world, Xena and Ares stop next to a small lake. They quickly remove their gear from their horses, then untack them. Xena gives her horse an affectionate pat on the nose, "Go on, boy. I'll see you in the morning." The horse takes off, Ares' horse close behind. "I'll set up camp, you go hunt those rabbits," she orders, laughter in her voice. He nods, grabbing the cross bow and quiver of bolts, "You'll see, we're having rabbit for dinner." He leaves the camp and Xena's eyes follow him. With a shake of her head, she collects firewood and digs a small pit, lighting the sticks and poking until it blazes steadily. She digs through their things and pulls out a frying pan and a few spices. Adding water to the pan, she slices up some potatoes and sets them to boiling. She pulls out a couple of bedrolls and heavy blankets and sets them next to the fire to warm. She takes their water skins to the lake and fills them, then sits down and begins to clean and polish her weapons while waiting for Ares.
Ares returns to camp with a rabbit in hand. Xena takes it from him and begins to skin it, "I have potatoes boiling, maybe they will be edible. Find a spit for your rabbit." Looking around the lake, he returns with a few sticks and sets up a spit to roast the rabbit on. Xena hands him the skinned animal and he glares at it and shakes his head before sliding it onto the spit. She tosses him some spices and he dumps them over the roasting animal. He glances in the frying pan, "Don't you need water for boiling potatoes?" He asks, turning the rabbit over. She growls and adds more water to the pan, using a stick to make the potatoes stop sticking to the bottom. He smirks at her, "How did you not starve on your own?" She growls again, "Bread, jerky, and cheese." He laughs, "Is any of this familiar to you?" He asks, motioning to the surrounding area. She nods, "Yeah, another day, maybe day and a half and we'll be there. We're in Amazon lands." He nods, spinning the rabbit again, then uses a stick to turn Xena's potatoes, "I know. I saw some of their old totems while we road. Nothing recent though." She nods, "Like I said, I destroyed the Amazons a long time ago. I doubt they've recovered." "Too bad I didn't get to see that, it must have been quite a battle," he says. She glares at him over the fire. He meets her eyes, "What? I'm the God of War, you can't hold it against me." She shakes her head, with a small smile. She grabs a couple of plates, "Rabbit done?" She asks. He nods and removes it from the fire, sliding it off the spit and removes the potatoes as well. Xena glances in the frying pan, then smiles. He watches her, "You can't take full credit for that," he says. She rolls her eyes, "Well fine, God of War, let's see if that rabbit is any good." She hands him a dagger and he begins to remove the meat from the bones, handing her a plate. She adds potatoes to it, then puts some on his plate too. She glares at the rabbit, before carefully taking a bite. She rolls her eyes and Ares laughs, "Told you so." They continue their meal in silence.
After dinner, Xena takes the dishes to the lake and washes them, then refills their water skins. She returns to camp and points at the bones from the rabbit, "Get rid of that somewhere away from camp. We don't want any nighttime visitors." He takes the scrap and disposes of it, then returns to camp. Xena removes her armor and weapons and hangs her parka on a tree branch, then falls into the bedroll, pulling the blanket up under her chin. Ares follows her lead and hangs his parka next to hers, then removes his vest and weapons, before crawling into the bedroll with her. She shivers and he gathers her into his arms, "Leave at first light?" He asks. She nods. He tries to get comfortable, but can't seem to. "Just hold still," Xena tells him. "Is the ground always this hard?" He asks, shifting again. She laughs, "Unless it's covered in mud, then you sink." He growls and she laughs again, "You'll get used to it." Behind her, he rolls his eyes, "I seriously doubt that." She rolls in his arms, now facing him, she smiles and gives him a light kiss, "Don't think about it." He smiles, "Are you offering to distract me?" She smiles and shakes her head, rolling back over and pressing herself against him, "Go to sleep," she says. He holds her firmly against him, inhaling her hair. She sighs in his arms.
The sun rises early, casting an eerie glow over the lake. A cold mist hangs in the air, making everything wet and miserable. Ares wakes and glares at the sky. Xena rolls and stretches against him. She rises from the bedroll and is chilled to the bone. Ares stands up and begins to roll the bedrolls and blankets. Xena gives a whistle and the horses come trotting into the camp. Quickly she puts her armor and weapons on, then begins to tack up her horse. Ares joins her, "This is tedious," he says, tossing the saddlebag over his horse. She smiles, "You get used to it." He shakes his head, "I don't want to get used to it. What's for breakfast?" He asks, mounting his horse. Xena mounts hers as well and throws an apple at him. He catches it, "And lunch?" She smiles, "Jerky and bread." He rolls his eyes, "Fine," he says. She smiles and starts to lead him away from the camp. He rides beside her in silence.
The sun is high in the sky when Xena hands Ares some bread and jerky. He eats the food and grimaces. "Can you mortals really survive on this?" He asks. She nods, "The poor aren't even lucky enough to have food like this." "Why not?" He questions, "Can't they just hunt?" She shakes her head, "Some don't have the skill, others work so hard to give their families something to eat and a roof to protect them, they don't have the energy to hunt as well." He nods and remains silent. She gives him a questioning look, "There were no visions last night, were there?" She asks. Ares shakes his head, "We're outside of Greece, outside of the Fates' reach. I'll be vision free until we return home," he explains. She nods and continues on in silence.
Xena stops while the sun is still high in the sky. Ares gives her a questioning look. "We're close now. I don't want to make camp any closer to Alti's stronghold and I don't want to fight her in the dark," she explains. He nods, "Makes sense. I'll set up camp tonight, you go fishing." She gives him a doubtful look, "Really? You think you can cook fish too?" He gives her a cocky smile, "Of course I can." She smiles and strips off her armor and leather, letting the parka fall as well. He stares at her, "What are you doing?" He questions. She smiles and shrugs, "Fishing," she answers. She struts out of camp and he smiles after her. He untacks the horses and sends them off to graze. He digs a pit and tosses some twigs into it, then starts a small fire. Digging through their packs, he pulls out what is left of the potatoes and slices them then starts them boiling as Xena did the night before. Going to the stream, he fills the water skins and looks for Xena, but doesn't spot her. Returning to camp, he lays the bedrolls and blankets out by the fire. Seeing nothing better to do, he goes through some basic sword drills.
Xena walks into camp with a couple of fish. She quietly lays them by the fire, then puts her parka on, watching Ares go through drills with his back to her. "Catch anything?" He asks, not turning around. "A couple," she answers. He turns, sheathing his sword, "Good." He heads to the fire and slides the fish onto a spit, slowly cooking them. Xena glares and he chuckles. "Any word from Strife?" She asks. He shakes his head, then opens a small portal, searching for Strife. Xena kneels next to him, watching the images dance in the portal. It finally settles on Strife sitting in a tavern, his back to the wall, watching the people come and go, a drink in his hand and a wench rubbing his shoulders. He growls and rolls his eyes, "That useless moron." Xena smiles and gives a light laugh, "At least it looks like he's in India." Ares shakes his head and changes the image. Gabrielle appears. She's riding a horse, travel bags on the horses back. Xena becomes interested, "Can you tell where she is?" He nods, "Road to Corinth. She's still a few days away." She nods, concerned. He places a hand on her shoulder, "Hercules will take care of her." She nods and the image changes to Solan. She smiles as her son and mother sit at a small table in a beautiful garden, eating and laughing. Her smile turns sad and wistful. He closes the portal, "Fish is done." She nods and holds out the plates. Ares fills both plates with food, then takes his from her, "What's your plan for Alti?" He asks. She takes a bite of fish, then answers, "Kill her." He gives her a pointed look, "Care to elaborate?" "Alti will focus on me. I'll keep her attention while you attack her. Hopefully she'll be so distracted by me, she won't even notice you until it's too late," she says. He nods, "I figured you would want to kill her yourself." She shrugs, "It doesn't matter. I just want her stopped before she has a chance to hurt our daughter." He nods and smiles, noting her protective and possessive tone. They finish their meal in silence, then quickly clean up the camp.
Xena glances at the sky. The sun is starting to set and soon the air will grow cold. She smiles at Ares, then drops her parka from her shoulders and grabs her sword. He raises an eyebrow, "Something wrong?" He asks. She shakes her head, "I'm stiff from riding all day. I need to loosen my muscles a little." He gives her a wicked smile and she shakes her head before turning her back on him and raising her sword. He quickly grabs his sword, then strikes at her. She spins around, deflecting his blow and kicking out at his gut. He catches her leg and pushes it away. She spins and lashes out with her sword, aiming at his head. He raises his sword, blocking her attack and forces her back with the strength of his parry. She runs at him, grabbing his shoulders and flipping over his head, bringing him with her. He lands on his back and Xena points her sword at his neck. He smiles and kicks her legs out from under her. She lands hard on her back, the wind knocked out of her. He rolls to land on top of her, pinning her in place and knocking the sword from her hands. He places his own blade over her neck and grins in triumph. She smiles at him, "Not bad," she compliments. He rolls off her and offers her a hand up. She grabs his hand and stands, collecting her sword.
Xena returns to camp with Ares close behind her. She grabs their packs and starts digging through them. Ares watches her, curious. When she tosses the bags to the ground, he raises an eyebrow. She gives a frustrated grimace, "This has to end tomorrow." He nods and gives her a reassuring smile, "It will. By this time tomorrow, we will be going home, victorious. Don't fret." She chuckles, "I'm not fretting, Ares. We are out of food." He shrugs, "Doesn't matter. I can cook, remember?" She shakes her head with a small laugh, "Fine then. In the morning, you're in charge of food. I'll pack and get the horses ready." He strides closer to her, "And what are we going to do until morning?" He asks, giving her a seductive smile. She returns his smile and easily struts into his arms. Looking up at him through her eyelashes, she responds, "Sleep." His smile turns into a disappointed frown. She chuckles and gives him a light kiss, "Big day tomorrow." She ducks out of his embrace and heads to the bedrolls, settling in for the night. Ares glares at her, then joins her, pulling her against him with a grumble. She laughs lightly against his chest, then relaxes and falls asleep.
Xena wakes alone, with the sun barely peeking through the trees. She glances around the camp and finds Ares by the fire, roasting something over a low fire. She grabs her parka and sits next to him, "How long have you been awake?" She asks, trying to recognize the meat over the fire. He glances at her, "Awhile. Without the visions playing constantly I don't really need the rest. Bags are packed, horses are ready," he says motioning towards a tree where the horses are tethered. She smiles, then returns to giving the meat a questionable look. "It's quail, I think," he informs her. She scrunches her brow, "You're not sure?" He shrugs, "It was a bird." She laughs, "Mystery meat, my favorite." They eat in silence, then Xena finishes cleaning up the camp and gathering her armor and weapons.
Xena and Ares ride through the forest until the sounds of animals disappear and the plant life begins to thin and look straggly. Xena halts her horse and dismounts, motioning for Ares to do the same. Quickly, she begins to untack her horse and he does the same, giving her a questioning look. "We're close," she starts, "I don't want the horses caught in the cross fire. We'll collect them and our things when it's over." He nods and sends his horse off, Xena's quickly following after. Xena grabs her bags and the saddle, moving them into the brush. Ares adds his to the pile, keeping the crossbow and quiver of bolts. Silently, they begin to traipse through the sparse underbrush, trying to stay covered and make as little noise as possible.
Xena points ahead, towards a hut at the base of a large mountain, "There she is," she says, an evil glare in her eyes. Ares smiles, then points to a figure at the side of the hut, "Is that her?" She shakes her head, "No, that's trouble. Let's get its attention." She draws her Chakram and sends it on a wild arc. It passes in front of the figure on horseback and its head turns towards them as the deadly weapon lands in Xena's hand. Xena stands tall with Ares beside her, both having their weapons drawn. It gallops towards them and as it does an image flashes through Xena's mind. Her Chakram is hurling towards her and she catches it, clutching it to her stomach. The force sends her flying back. Xena reacts to the image, being thrown back. Ares stares at her, "Xena?" He asks, rushing to her and helping her rise. She gasps and takes his hand, pulling into a standing position. She shakes her head and snarls, sending her Chakram at the creature. The Chakram hurls towards the creature, but another image enters Xena's mind. She's on a beach, on a cross and a hammer strikes her legs. Pulling from the image, Xena crumples to the ground. She gasps, grabbing at her legs, trying to get them back under her, "My legs." Ares glares at her legs, then the creature on horseback. Watching the arc of the Chakram, he raises his sword, sending it at the creature again. It passes the creature, then reflects back and strikes it on the back of the neck. A dark cloud races from its body, screaming and the creature falls from the horse. Xena gasps and rises, "Alti has some new tricks." Ares grabs her arm, "What did she do?" She closes her eyes, "It was like Caesar had broken my legs all over again. I was there, I saw it, I felt it," she says, racing her hands over her legs, checking their steadiness. Ares snarls and glares at the hut, "She will die," he states. Xena glances at him and sees the anger in his eyes. When she follows his gaze to the hut, her eyes go cold and focused, "Let's get this done," she says, heading towards the hut with a meaningful stride.
Alti exits her home with a cackle, "Xena," she rasps, not sparring Ares a glance. "Alti," Xena replies coldly. The Shamaness cackles, "You defeated my precious Berserker. I'll have to make a new one. Maybe I'll use you or your new toy," she says, glancing at Ares. His eyes flare, but a look from Xena tells him to remain calm. "That's a powerful ability you've cultivated," Xena compliments. Alti nods, "Yes, it is. And it's all thanks to you. If you hadn't helped me kill Cyane and collect her blood I would have never been able to learn this particular Spiritual ability. As you know, I've never been much for physical violence, but Spiritual...Ah yes, that I can do." Xena catches Ares eye real quick and motions for him to start moving around Alti to the opposite side. She smirks at Alti, "Enjoy it while you can. I'm going to stop you." Alti cackles, "Will you?" She asks, sending an image to Xena's mind. Xena falls to her knees, Ares angry above her. He grabs her hair, pulling her head back and his knee comes to her face. Xena pulls from the image, gasping, "Alti," she warns, advancing on the woman, sword drawn. Alti laughs, "Seems you and your lover have a checkered past, Xena. Let's see what the future holds, shall we?" Ice surrounds her and she slides on it, almost losing her footing. Ares advances on her. Xena shakes her head, pulling away from Alti's mind games and continues rushing at the Shamaness. Alti cackles, "Oh Xena, let's see what happens now." Ares punches her first in the face, then the gut. Xena stumbles in her advance and falls to the ground, glaring at Alti. The woman laughs throatily, "Seems you two aren't going to last, Xena. What a shame. But no surprise, given your history with men." Xena growls and shakes her head, trying to clear it. She catches Ares eye and encourages him to continue his slow, careful approach around Alti. Xena gives a war cry and rushes the woman. Just as she is within reach, Alti sends another image. Xena is on the edge of the ice, blood dripping down her chin, breathe coming in gasps from the punch to the ribs. Ares growls and punches again, sending her flying into the icy water. She struggles to surface, to find air, but gets trapped. Xena falls to the ground, her lips turning blue and her breath stopping. She fights under the ice, beating on it, trying to find oxygen. Slowly, the life drains from her and she stops. Xena collapses to the ground, body shaking in shock and cold. Ares stares in shock as Xena goes still, lifeless. Pain and anger cloud his mind. He rushes Alti as she stands over Xena, laughing, and grabs her by the shoulders, pulling her back against him and sliding his sword over her exposed neck. The Shamaness gurgles and blood spews from her neck and mouth. Finally, her eyes cloud over and the bleeding slows to a sluggish pace. Ares lets her fall, then falls to his knees beside Xena.
Xena feels the ice and water leave her lungs and gasps for air, flailing to sit up. Ares grabs her and pulls her to his chest, holding her tightly. She breathes hard against him, "Alti?" She gasps. He nods, "She's dead." He pushes her away for a second, "Are you alright?" He asks. She nods, not trying to leave his arms, "I'm fine, I think." He strokes her hair, feeling her breathing calm and seeing the color return to her flesh. "What did she show you?" He asks. She shakes her head slowly, "I know how I ended up in the ice." He closes his eyes, "Me?" He guesses. She nods, then pulls away and tries to stand. He helps her to her feet. "It won't happen," he assures her. She gives him a flashy smile, "I know." A curious look crosses her face, "I don't think I died." He raises an eyebrow and she continues, "When we were fighting, I wasn't worried. Which means either I was so sure of my victory that you winning never even entered my mind or I had a plan." He glares at her, "We've seen me pulling you from the icy waters. And we've seen your coffin in the ice cave," he reminds her. She shakes her head, "I can't explain it, but I wasn't dead, not really." He shrugs, "Good. I don't like the idea of killing you." She smiles at him, "Really?" She asks, sarcasm dripping from the one word. He smirks and pulls her against him roughly, "Yeah really," he says, claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Xena pulls from Ares' embrace and glances at the dead woman at her feet, "We need to put her to rest so her spirit will pass on. With her spiritual powers, she could still be a threat, even as a shade." Ares nods, "What do we need to do?" She thinks for a moment, "We need to wrap her and build an Amazon funeral pyre. Her body needs to be returned to nature so her spirit can be free. She'll pass to the Amazon land of the dead and enter Eternity." He snorts, "Seems like too nice of an ending for her." She smirks, "Cyane and the other Queens will make Eternity miserable for her." He smiles, "Good." With a snap of his fingers, Alti's wrapped body is atop a funeral pyre. He hands Xena a torch, "Care to do the honors?" She smiles, then approaches the pyre and walks around it, the torch lighting various points, "May you suffer for eternity" She turns from the fire, "Get our stuff and the horses. When this burns down, we'll collect her ashes and spread them here, in her home, then we can leave." He nods and walks off, whistling for the horses.
Xena watches the flames burn down, smoke billowing from the top of the pyre. Her mind travels to the past, to the damage she had done. She closes her eyes and brings up an image of Cyane, the greatest of the Amazon Queens. A woman that she had killed for Alti, one of many. "Cyane," she whispers, "I'm sorry. I hope with Alti's death you can pass on and find peace. I'm sending Alti to you. Make her suffer eternally." She pauses, then continues, "I swear, I'll do what I can to help the Amazons rebuild, to save your people, your dream, your legacy." She opens her eyes as the last of the flames die out and the smoke thickens in the air. A bird chirps in the near distance and she smiles, knowing that it will be the first of many to return to this desolate area. She smiles and in a whisper says, "To a strong Amazon Nation."
Xena's thoughts turn from her mistakes of the past to her present. She'd seen the look on Ares' face when he thought she had died. She'd seen his guilt too when she admitted that he had killed her. And she'd seen loss, and pain and love in his gaze and felt it in his hold when he pulled her into his arms. She knew she would have failed without him. Died, here in Siberia. Once, he wouldn't have cared and she never would have thought of him as her savior. Somewhere along the way things had changed for them. She no longer saw her life as a solitary mission of redemption, but as something more. She loved him and when this was over and they were done fighting Dahok and his minions, she would fight to save their relationship.
Ares watches from a distance. He had lost her, if only for a second. And no matter what she said, he knew that ultimately he would cause her death. He shakes his head, "No, not this time." Knowing the future put the power in his hands. He could prevent it, he would prevent it. He would save her, no matter what it meant. An image of their daughter comes to his mind and he smiles softly at the infant then banishes the thought. His love, his child, somehow they would lead to her death and that was something he wouldn't let happen. They would defeat Dahok, then he would let her go. It would destroy him, no doubt, but it was a sacrifice he had to make, to save her life.
Xena spreads Alti's ashes around her hut and the surrounding land, watching the earth they touch turn black and die. She shudders and wipes her hands together to get rid of the last remnants of Alti. She closes her eyes and sighs, then turns to find Ares. Seeing him standing back a ways, with the horses, she gives him a small smile, then jogs to join him. "It's done, then?" He asks, handing her the reigns to her horse. She rubs the horses nose and nods, "It's done." She reaches for his hand, "Take us home?" She asks. He takes her hand with a small smile and in seconds they are gone.
Xena sighs as she exits the ether and catches sight of Corinth in the distance. She follows Ares to the stable, leading her horse beside her. An eager stable hand approaches and she hands her horses' reigns over before grabbing her bags and following Ares to the Halls of War. He lounges on his throne and motions towards the altar. She rolls her eyes, but goes to the altar and begins to examine the offerings of swords and daggers. "Strife," Ares calls. The Godling appears, "Hey, Unc." He turns slightly, "Hi, Xena." She spares him a hard glance and he shrinks a little, then turns back to Ares. "I asked you to find Eli, not play in a tavern with ale and wenches," Ares shouts. He stammers over the reply, "I was working, Unc. I was undercover, I swear." Ares flings the Godling against the far wall, holding him off the floor. "Strife." He shouts. The Godling quivers, "I'll try harder, Unc. I swear it." Ares releases him and he crashes to the floor. "You had better," Ares warns. Strife nods and disappears, still cowering.
Xena approaches Ares, carrying a heavy sword. She hands it to him, "You should find out who left this." He examines the blade and gives it a twirl, then smiles, "This is one for the collection," he says, making it disappear. He glances at the altar, "Anything else of interest?" She shakes her head, "Not really. Just the basics. There are a couple of decent things, but nothing worth my time, or yours." He nods, "So, what's the plan?" He asks. She gives him a coy smile and begins to walk away.
Ares follows Xena to the bathes and lets out a low growl as she strips her armor and leather and sinks into the warm waters. "Join me?" She asks, motioning to the water. He turns from her, "I have work to do." She stares at the back of his head, "That wasn't a request, Ares," she says, rising from the waters and pulling herself onto the cool marble floor. She slowly approaches and slides his vest from his shoulders, tossing it aside. She reaches around him, pressing her breasts against his back and struggles with the belt. Finally she releases it and tosses it aside as well. She reaches for his leather pants and his hand lands on top of hers, stopping her progress. "Like I said, I have work," he says, moving out of her embrace and leaving her alone.
Xena stares after Ares as he leaves the bathes, both confused and hurt by his rejection. She returns to the bath and quickly rinses of the filth from the funeral pyre and their adventures through Siberia. Leaving her armor and leather on the floor of the bathing area, she exits and heads towards Ares' room. Once inside, she checks the Hind's Blood pendent and seeing it still in place, she opens the wardrobe, exposing a multitude of clothes. Pursing her lips in contemplation, she flips through the clothes. Selecting a green silk gown, she drapes it on, then grabs her Chakram necklace and puts it on. Quickly, she styles her hair and hides a few daggers, one down the back of the dress, another on her thigh and one between her breasts. Smiling, she exits the room, determined to get Ares' attention.
Ares stalks his throne room. Walking away had been the hardest thing in his immortal life. Having her not just willing, but actually seducing him, it had nearly undone him. But if he was going to save her from himself, that meant staying away. And in the long run, it would make their ultimate separation far easier to bare. He had the memories of their time together to draw on, no need to make their bond any deeper. Or Gods forbid create a child with her. That would seal her fate. He already knew that if she bore his child, he would never leave them, leave her. And leave her he must, for her own good, for her life.
Xena enters the throne room and watches Ares stalk for a moment, then lounges on his throne, waiting for him to notice her. He paces the Temple in frustration, then slams his hands down on the altar, making the weapons spill to the floor. Staring at the marble surface of the altar, he slams his hands down again and getting no satisfaction, repeats the action. Growling, he turns to his throne and stares at Xena sitting there, perched like a Queen before her subjects. The gown hugs her curves, hiding nothing from him. Her nipples stand erect begging for his attention and one of the straps has slipped from her shoulder. A small, expectant smile rests on her lips. He looks her over and passion burns in his gaze, then he turns from her. She shoots him a dirty look, then pushes up off the throne and struts to the altar. She lounges back on it, using her arms for support, and crosses her legs, letting the slit on the skirt ride up high. "Ares," she says. He turns to the altar, following her voice and inhales sharply. She raises an expectant eyebrow, "So, what are you working on?" He stares at her, confused, "What?" He asks, eyes following the path of flesh from her legs up to the slit that is far too high up her thighs. She purses her lips, "When you left me in the bathes, you said you had work to do. I thought maybe I could help." She leans farther back, uncrossing her legs and the slit rises higher. His eyes are glued to her legs and a hint of metal catches his eye, he glares at it, not hearing her reply at all. Slowly, he approaches her and runs his hand from her ankle to her thigh where a small dagger rests. She shivers under his touch and a powerful smile crosses her lips. He slowly removes the dagger, letting it lightly drag along her skin. She tenses and inhales sharply, then smiles, "How did that get there?" She asks, innocently. He lays the dagger next to her, shaking his head, "Xena, don't." She wraps her legs around his waist, quickly pulling him to her and glares at him, "What's wrong?" She asks harshly. He tries to pull away from her, but she digs her heals into the back of his knees and gives him a steely glare. He shakes his head, "It's nothing, just war stuff. I'm distracted, that's all." She raises an unbelieving eyebrow, then softens her glare, "The visions will restart tonight, won't they?" He shakes his head, "I don't need rest, I'm fine. I'm going to help Strife search for Eli, try to get a lead on Dahok." She nods, leaning towards him, "We should go after the stone, too. Did Athena know where to find it?" He nods, no longer trying to escape her, "Temple, not far from here actually. I don't know what kind of traps there will be." She nods and pulls him closer, bringing her lips to his ear, "There's more than one dagger," she whispers, then pulls away, leaning back on the altar again. He moans lightly and she grabs his hand, bringing it around her. He feels the hard dagger under the dress, resting against her spine. Slowly he removes it, setting it next to the first one. Stepping out of her embrace, he shakes his head, "Go rest. We'll get the stone in the morning," he says, turning away from her. She glares at him and grabs the daggers, throwing them at him. They imbed themselves in the wall on either side of his head. He turns surprised, "Yes?" He says, unsure. She glares, then rises from the altar and storms from the room, green dress flowing behind her.
Ares watches her go. She was mad, hurt, upset, because of him. But it was better than being dead. One day she would realize why he'd pulled away and it would ease the hurt. Until then, she certainly wasn't going to make it easy. Closing his eyes, he sees himself pulling her lifeless body from the water. He sees the ice coffin with her sword and Chakram as grave markers. He shakes his head, trying to rid himself of the images. They are replaced by images of her laying on the cross, nails in her ankles and hands. Shaking his head again, he thinks of their daughter. The only place she would ever exist would be in these visions. It saddened him, but not as much as the thought of killing Xena.
Xena storms into the bathes and rips the gown off over her head, tossing it to the corner, then begins to dress in her armor. Attaching her sword and Chakram, her hand flies to the pendent around her neck, then falls back to her side. With a small sigh, she leaves the bathes and returns to the throne room. Ares' head jerks towards her when she enters and he gives her a questioning look. "So, where is the Temple?" She asks. He vaguely points east, "Not far. Don't worry, we'll go tomorrow." She heads for the door, "Zeus' Temple, right?" He nods, rising from the throne, to block her, "We will go tomorrow," he repeats. She pushes at his shoulders, "I'll go now, it'll save us time." He refuses to budge, "There will be traps," he warns. She shrugs. "It's been a long day," he reminds her. She shrugs again and tries to move around him. He remains in her path and she gives him a stubborn glare, "Either get out of my way or tell me why you're being so distant. And don't try to feed me some lie about being distracted by war stuff." Not liking either option he gives her a cocky smile, "Distant? Me?" He laughs and pulls her into his arms, kissing her. When she doesn't react, he pulls back. She glares at him, then turns away, thinking. He remains between her and the door, watching her slowly pace in front of him. Finally, she stops and turns to him, a soft look on her face, "You're afraid," she accuses. He snarls and grabs her shoulders shaking her slightly, "I am Ares God of War, don't forget that." Rather than returning his anger, she gives him a small smile, "It's alright. I'm fine. We're changing the future, who knows if that will even happen." He sighs and releases her, "It's not a risk I'm willing to take," he says, walking away from her. She follows after him, "Don't I get a say?" He turns to her with no reply. She smirks, "Didn't think about that, huh? The future is in motion. And if I want to risk my life by being with you that is my choice." He shakes his head, "I won't let you." She laughs, "Let me?" She shouts. He thinks it over and laughs a little, "I'm only trying to protect you," he explains. She nods and wraps her arms around his neck, "I know and I love you for it. But I'm not willing to give up on us because you might hurt me." She gives him a light kiss and he doesn't pull away. He shakes his head slightly, "Guess I should know better by now." She smiles, "Yes, you should," she says with a laugh. Moving from his arms, she walks toward the door again, "Come on, let's get that stone." He nods and takes her hand, "Are you sure?" She nods, "I'm dressed, might as well get something done." He nods and they disappear.
Ares steps out of the ether with Xena beside him. A grand old Temple stands before them, surrounded by forest. The front steps are cracked and weeds are growing over them. Vines creep up the side of the building and wrap around it. "Looks abandoned," Xena says, carefully walking up the steps. Ares nods and grabs her hand before she can grab the door handle, "Traps," he reminds her. She nods and draws her sword, then carefully opens the door. It creaks on its hinges and only opens a little. She puts her blade through the crack first, then follows after it. Ares comes in behind her and creates a ball of light for them to see by. Xena's eyes dart around the room, then they land on the stone, illuminated by a blue light on the far side of the room. She smiles and points at it. Ares nods, "Stay behind me" he orders, moving in front of her. She rolls her eyes, but obeys until he stops moving forward. She stands next to him and stares down at the floor, only to discover that it ends at their toes. A wide crevice separates them from the stone which rests on a small island in the middle. Ares glances at her, "Zeus is blocking me. I can't get it," he tells her. She smirks, "Good thing I'm here." She takes several steps back, then rushes forward and flips over the crevice, landing on the small island. She grabs the stone and the floor beneath her starts to quake. As the island disintegrates under her feet, she flips away, landing slightly behind Ares. He glares at her and she smiles, then hands him the stone. The building begins to quake and crumble around them, huge chunks of ceiling collapsing and crashing to the Temple floor. Ares pulls her to him, shielding her with his body as they disappear.
Xena ducks out from under Ares as they reappear inside the Halls of War. She gives him a cocky smile, "That wasn't so bad," she says, her breathing slightly labored. He rolls his eyes, but smiles, "Could have been worse," he agrees. He returns the stone to her and she turns it over in her hands a few times. "Any clue how it works?" She asks. He shakes his head, "Didn't you read the directions?" She glares at him, "I was a little busy," she reminds him. He smiles and laughs. "You could ask Athena," she suggests. He curls his lip in disdain and she smirks. Rolling the stone in her hand, she walks toward the altar. "It harnesses a pure light, right?" She asks. He nods, "Supposedly." She holds it up to the light shining through a window and a blue beam shoots from the stone. She smiles, "I'm betting that stops Dahok in his tracks." He nods, approaching her, staying out of the beam, "It won't kill him," he says. She nods, "I know, but maybe it will stop him long enough that we can either trap him or banish him." He thinks for a moment, "That means he needs to take physical form." She nods, "Sumeria?" He shakes his head, "Not yet. Let's take care of Eli first." She nods, "Sounds like a plan." She removes the stone from the light, "I'll put this with the Hind's Blood," she tells him, leaving the throne room.
Xena walks into the bedroom and places the stone in the chest next to the Hind's Blood pendent. She strips off her armor and weapons and places them in there as well, then walks to the wardrobe. She hangs her leather and cloth tunics up, then pulls out a thin, short, black, silk gown. Draping it on, she walks from the room and enters the room with the green door. She grabs a plate and piles food on it, then snatches a goblet of wine before heading back to her room. She lounges back on the bed, plate beside her, goblet in hand, and begins to silently eat.
Ares lounges on his throne, silently searching the streets of India through a portal. The markets are busy with people rushing around, haggling over prices and filling baskets with food. Through the crowds he spots his nephew, Strife, trying to blend in and looking like a total fool in the process. "Useless twit," he mutters, watching people skirt around Strife, pulling their children closer as he approaches. He shakes his head and continues to search the streets and vendor stalls. Hours pass with no luck and he grows bored. Rising from the throne, he walks down the hall, searching for Xena.
Ares stands in the doorway of his bedroom and smiles, watching Xena twirl and strike out with her sword in a mesmerizing dance of skill. Sensing his presence behind her she turns sharply, pointing her blade at his throat with a smile, "Did you find Eli?" She asks. He pushes the blade away, but she quickly returns it, raising her eyebrows. He smirks and answers her with a frustrated growl, "No. I found Strife though." He gives his head a sad shake and she smiles, advancing on him, sword still held at his throat. He backs up a step and swats at the blade again. She swiftly moves it back only now, pointed at gut level. He smirks and walks towards her, the sword gliding harmlessly through him, "What are you doing?" He asks. She shrugs, removing the blade, "I'm bored." Stepping away from him, she returns her sword to the chest, then lounges on the bed. "I'm turning in for the night, what are your plans?" She asks. He shrugs, "War stuff, I guess. I've been so wrapped up and exhausted from the visions, I've been neglecting my duties." A disappointed look crosses her face, then she rises, "Want help?" He raises an eyebrow, "I thought you were turning in?" She shrugs, "I'm bored, not tired. Anyway helping you could be fun." He smirks, "For the past couple of years, you've been destroying my wars and now you want to help me plan them?" She shakes her head, "War is part of living, I know that. Without it, mankind won't advance. Maybe I can help you with wars and together we can find a way to avoid pulling innocents into the middle of them." He shrugs, "Interesting idea. And if innocents can't be avoided?" She smiles and begins to change back into her armor, "Then I'll have a head start on stopping you." He laughs and waves a hand over her, clothing her in her armor and weapons, "You don't need a head start." She smirks, "So, do you want my help?" He nods, taking her hand, "Alright, we can try doing this your way." She smiles, "Thank you." He nods in response and they disappear.
Ares pulls Xena out of the ether and keeps them invisible to the mortals around them. She glances around for a minute, "Athens?" She guesses. He nods, "Close to it. Agathon did quite a number on the Athenian army, this is my chance to get the upper hand over Athena." She nods, "How many men do you have?" He shrugs, "Five hundred or so." She nods, "The commander?" He answers, pointing at a man walking past them, "Grenick." "I haven't heard of him," she says, following him. Ares nods, "He's new." She nods and they enter the commander's tent. Moving to stand slightly behind Ares, she places a hand on his shoulder and he makes them visible. The commander first draws his sword, then seeing Ares falls to his knees, head bowed. Xena stares down at the man, "Why do they all do that?" She asks, annoyed. "They're supposed to," Ares answers. She makes an amused noise in the back of her throat, "I never did." He smiles at her, "You were special." Turning to the man, he commands, "Rise Grenick." The man finds his feet and sheathes his sword, "War God," he acknowledges, then gives Xena a questioning look. She gives him a cold smile, "Xena," she introduces moving around Ares to approach a map on a large table. The man stares in awe and salutes smartly. She rolls her eyes, then looks up at Ares, "Where are Athena's armies?" He approaches and points on the map, "The road to Athens." She scowls, "That's a busy road." Grenick cautiously buts in, "They are charging a toll, not many are willing to pay." She nods, turning her attention back to the map, "We're here, right?" She asks, pointing to a group of soldier figures on the west of Athens, about two days from the city. Grenick nods, "Yes, My Lady." She growls low in her throat, then glances at Ares, "Are you just wanting to hurt Athena or have a following here, a Temple?" He smirks, "The goal had been to hurt Athena, what are you thinking?" She shrugs, "Well, if you were to liberate the road from Athena's armies and reopen the road to Athens, then 'protect' the city from Athena, the people would be awfully grateful. If you make yourself look like their savor, they'll give you their loyalty." He smiles and leans over the map, examining things in a new light. Xena leans closer as well, moving the soldiers around to plan an attack that will leave the city not just unharmed but free from Athena's tolls. Grenick watches, stunned and honored to have so much interest taken in his little campaign.
Hours pass and Ares nods, pushing away from the table, "Looks good." Xena nods and stretches, "It should work as long as he can follow orders and stick to the plan," she says, eyeing Grenick. The man nods eagerly, "Don't worry about a thing. I won't fail," he assures them. Ares nods, "You better not. I don't accept failure." The man quakes, but nods, fear in his eyes. Xena smiles and turns to Ares, "Ready to go?" She asks. He nods and gives Grenick one last hard look, then disappears with Xena.
Xena steps away from Ares as they return to the Halls of War. He stares after her as she walks around the Temple, stretching her arms and legs after the hours of leaning over the map, "I wouldn't have come up with that without you," he admits. She smiles, "Of course not. You would have attacked, destroying not just Athena, but Athens in the process." He nods, not denying it, then pulls her close, "It's late." She nods, slowly pulling from his arms, "Yes, it is. I'm going to turn in." She begins to walk away from him, then turns, "Join me?" She asks, extending her hand. He takes it and nods, following her from the throne room.
Ares pauses at the doorway of the bedroom. She turns to look at him, a question in her gaze. "The visions," he reminds her, "They will restart tonight." She gives him a soft look, "And I'll be here to wake you," she reminds him. He smiles and waves his hands down her body, replacing her armor and weapons with the black gown from earlier that evening. She smiles and reaches up to remove her necklace, then sets it on the table beside the bed. She tugs at his vest and he shrugs out of it, then removes his sword belt. She smiles, turning her back to him, then drops the gown from her shoulders. He inhales sharply and she smiles, before lying in bed, curled on her side under the blankets. "That's torture," he comments, removing his leather pants and crawling into bed, pulling her against him. She laughs lightly, "You'll get used to it," she promises. He growls and rubs against her making her inhale with a gasp. She rolls in his arms and presses herself against him, capturing his lips for a passionate kiss. He runs his hands over her, holding her close against him. She pulls away, smiling, then rolls away from him, "Sleep," she reminds him. He growls and glares at the back of her head, then sighs, gathering her into his arms, "You will be the death of me," he says quietly. She laughs, grabbing his hand and holding it against her chest.
Ares feels Xena relax in his arms and soon joins her in sleep. He fights against the pull of the Fates, but fails in the end. Ares pulls Xena up from the ground, a red dress flows over her body. Holding her close, he begins to sing and dance a slow, sensual dance with her as an army watches them. Pulling from the vision, confused, Ares fights the hold that the Fates have on his mind. They snatch at him, pulling him back under their control. Xena stands in a hallway on Mount Olympus, the chains of Hephaestus wrapped around her shoulders, a cross bow in one hand, dragging Gabrielle across the floor and struggling under the weight of their daughter. Ares is in front of her lowering the crossbow she has pointed at him, "This is the second time sense you became Xena, Slayer of Gods, that we've faced off one on one and you haven't been able to pull the trigger." She pulls the trigger and the crossbow bolt goes through his leg. Things change and he's laying in a bed between Xena and Gabrielle. Both women wear very little. He turns around a few times and comes face to face with Xena. She jerks away, "I think a change of positions is in order," she says rolling away. He nods and curls against her back. She glances over her shoulder, "I meant we should both change positions." He nods, tired, "Alright." He lays on his back and Gabrielle flails in her sleep, slapping her hand over his face and another over his crotch. Xena turns, an offended look on her face and removes the girl's hand, then lays back down. "I'm in Tartarus," Ares says. The scene changes again and Xena stands on a beach. She draws her sword, thrusting it into the air, pointed at Athena, Hades, and Hephaestus who watch from above, "Each to their own," she shouts, "You to yours and me to mine." She spins the sword and brings it to plunge into her own gut. Ares stops her, appearing in front of her and grabbing the sword from her hands, flinging it away, "No, Xena, don't." He says, pulling her into his arms. She pushes away from him a bit and raises a small bottle to her lips, "Ares, you can't stop me this time." He shakes his head, "No." "It's over. It's over," she says drinking from it and pushing Ares away. He stares at her, shaking his head, "No." She begins to collapse and he pulls her toward him. She stares up at him, struggling to speak, to breathe, "Join your family. Tell them it's a package deal. They get me too." She dies in his arms, falling to the ground at his feet. Things change again, Xena stands against the Romans. Her Chakram comes flying at her. It strikes her in the middle of her back and she crumbles to the ground. The Chakram falls to the ground in two pieces. Ares stops fighting the Fates and lets the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes in Ares' arms, he is holding her tightly, his arms stiff, his breathing labored. She wiggles in his arms and eventually escapes his grasp. She rolls to face him and closes her eyes, "Fates," she says with a growl. She leans toward him, letting her lips brush against his, a feather light kiss, "Release him," she orders. Slowly, his breathing returns to normal and his eyes open, filled with pain. He looks at Xena and strokes her cheek, sadness in his gaze. She gives him a questioning look, "Are you alright?" She asks, raising her hand to take his. He shakes his head, remaining silent and gathers her into his arms, holding her close. She lays in his arms, confused and not knowing how to help, "Want to show me?" She asks, quietly. He shakes his head, the visions replaying through his mind again. She pushes him onto his back, then rests her head on his chest, "In the morning, then," she suggests. He shifts, nodding and pulls her to drape over his body. She goes willingly and returns to sleep on top of his chest. Ares lays awake, holding her for several hours before finally falling asleep again.
Xena wakes early in the morning, the sun just starting to peak through the window. She rests, draped over Ares and listens to his even breathing. He stirs beneath her and she pushes off his chest to smile down at him. As his eyes open, she sees that the sadness is still there. With a soft look, she places a light kiss on his lips, then rolls off of him. She sits next to him on the bed, pulling her legs under her. "Show me the visions?" She asks. He sits up and opens a small portal in front of them. The visions play and Xena watches. As they finish, she turns to Ares, "What in Tartarus is all that about?" She asks, confused. He shakes his head, "I don't know, but we're not sleeping in Greece anymore. At this point, I think the Fates are just trying to torture me." She shrugs, stroking his hair, "Maybe they aren't in full control over what they show you." He shrugs in return, "Maybe." They remain silent for a moment, then Xena starts to dissect the visions, "Our daughter and Gabrielle were hurt badly and you were still a God that means this vision happened right before I faced off with Athena and you gave up your immortality. And it tells us that I am the one responsible for the deaths of the Gods. But why? And why weren't we on the same side?" He shrugs and shakes his head, "You killed yourself in front of me," he says quietly, not looking at her. She shudders and nods, "Poison, but why? And who else died?" He shakes his head, no answers in site. She leans against him, silent, offering whatever comfort she can.
Gradually, Ares pulls away, an odd look on his face. Xena raises an eyebrow, "What's wrong?" She questions. He smiles slightly, an amused smile, "You will never guess who is in my Temple." She scrunches her brow, "Who?" He opens a small portal to his Temple in Corinth. Sitting before the altar, a small dagger in front of her as an offering, is Gabrielle, praying for Ares' presence. Xena stares at the image, then realization dawns, "She's looking for me." He nods, "She wants me to take her to you. What do you want?" She thinks for a moment, then shakes her head, "She won't stop, she won't give up. I should talk to her." She pauses, then continues, "Bring her here. But, uh, let me get decent first," she says, glancing at her exposed body. He smirks, then stands, his leather appearing with no effort, "I'll be back soon," he says, disappearing. She smiles at the spot where he stood, then gets up and begins getting dressed.
Ares appears in his Temple, lounging on the throne above the altar. Gabrielle glances up and a scared smile covers her face, "Um, this is for you," she says, handing him the dagger. With an amused smile, he takes the dagger, looks it over, and places it in his boot, "Thank you, Gabrielle," he says, turning from her. "Wait," she shouts. He turns and raises an eyebrow, "Yes?" He asks, mild agitation in his voice. She looks away, "I need a favor," she admits, quietly. He smiles, "And?" She fidgets for a moment, "Look, I know you have a thing for Xena and she's missing and I need to find her. Please, can you help me? I'll do whatever you want, I swear." He raises an eyebrow, "You haven't learned much from Xena, have you, little girl?" She gives him an offended glare and he laughs. "Rule number one, Gabrielle, never offer me whatever I want," he says. She grows concerned, "Well, um, within reason?" She amends, shakily. He laughs, truly amused and she scowls at him. "What makes you think Xena wants you around? She left you behind, after all," he says. She looks unsure, then pleading, "Please? She's my best friend. She needs my help, I just know it." He makes a rude noise in the back of his throat, but holds his hand out to her, "Take my hand," he commands. She glances down at his hand, hanging between them and shrinks back, "You'll take me to Xena?" She questions. He nods and takes a step toward her, "Take my hand," he repeats. Carefully, she steps forward and takes his hand, "Thank you," she says quietly, then tenses as they disappear.
Gabrielle screeches and plasters herself to Ares' arm as the world spins around her. Appearing in the Halls of War, he shakes his arm, trying to dislodge the girl. Eyes closed, she holds tighter. "Gabrielle, let go," Xena says, from somewhere behind her. Gabrielle's eyes open wide and she turns, releasing Ares and running to her friend, "I missed you, Xena." She quickly turns back around, "Thank you, Ares." He nods in response and Xena smiles at him, laughter in her gaze. Gabrielle looks around, confused, "Where are we?" Xena answers her, "The Halls of War." The girl's eyes light up, then she becomes confused again, "Why?" She asks, glancing at Ares. "Hercules said you were going back to Britannia to defeat Dahok," Gabrielle continues. Xena shrugs, "Plans changed." "Why are you here? With him?" Gabrielle asks, motioning towards Ares. Xena glances up at him, "We're going to the baths. I need to get Gabrielle caught up." He nods and disappears. Gabrielle stares at the space he had occupied, then at Xena, eyes full of questions. Xena smiles and motions for her friend to follow her.
Xena walks into the bathing area and begins to strip off her armor, casually dropping it on the floor, before climbing into the warm waters. Following her lead, Gabrielle begins to remove her clothes and wades into the bath, "Xena, what's going on?" Xena pauses, before answering, "Ares and I are going after Dahok." Gabrielle nods, unsure, "Hercules said you had a vision?" She questions. Xena shakes her head, "Ares had the visions. They're being sent by the Fates," she explains. Gabrielle's eyes are wide, "Visions? More than one?" She questions. Xena nods, looking sad and remains quiet. Sensing her friend's sadness, she reaches out and touches her shoulder, "Why didn't you tell me, Xena? I could have helped." Xena gives her a sad smile, "This isn't something for you." Gabrielle looks offended, "Xena! Dahok impregnated me! I killed because of him! Don't tell me this isn't my fight! Not after all we've been through," she shouts. Xena raises an eyebrow, "I know about Hope," she says quietly. All the fight leaves Gabrielle and fear fills her eyes, "How?" She asks, voice shaking. Xena shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. I stopped her." Gabrielle's eyes go dark, "You stopped her? From what? How?" She questions, tears in her eyes. Xena reaches for her friend, but Gabrielle pulls away. "She was her father's daughter," Xena explains, "She released Callisto from the lava, then I stopped her before she could hurt anyone." Tears fall into the water and Gabrielle looks up, "You- You killed her?" Xena nods sadly, "I'm sorry." Gabrielle starts to respond, then stops and takes a shaky breath. She turns her back on Xena as sobs rack her body, "She was my baby girl," she says between sobs. "She was a demon," Xena says, quietly. "She is my child," Gabrielle shouts, spinning to give Xena a harsh look, her hands splashing violently in the water. Xena gives her a shocked look, "She is not a child! She is a body, a vessel, an instrument for evil. That is all!" Gabrielle looks disgusted and shakes her head, "You are wrong!" She shouts, turning away from Xena. Xena stares at her back, then rises from the water, "I did what had to be done. Go back to the Amazons, Gabrielle. Or go to Corinth and help Hercules. Or go home to Potidaea." Gabrielle sits in the water, not moving. Xena glances back at her, then wraps herself in a towel and leaves.
Xena walks into Ares' room and grabs a simple black gown from the wardrobe. Dropping the towel, she drapes it on, then falls back onto the bed, rubbing her eyes. Why couldn't Gabrielle see the truth? She growls and tosses a pillow across the room with an agitated yell. Ares appears with raised eyebrows, glancing first at the pillow, then her, "You're upset," he states. "Frustrated," she corrects. He nods, "What happened?" She shrugs, "Gabrielle got upset when I told her about Hope." He nods, "Of course. To her Hope was just a baby. Did you expect her to be alright with the death of her daughter? She hasn't seen what we have." She glares at him, then smiles, "You're right." He gives her a shocked look and she shoots him an annoyed glare and starts to respond. He holds his hand up, "Wait, I'm trying to enjoy this." She throws a pillow at him and he dodges to the side. She shakes her head, smiling, then grows thoughtful. "Will you take Gabrielle to the Amazons? Or maybe back home?" He nods, "If that's what you want?" She nods in return, "It's for the best." He nods and disappears.
Ares arrives in the bathing area and is greeted by a scream. He stares down at Gabrielle, "Get dressed," he orders. Her eyes go large and round, "Um," she stammers. He stares at her expectantly and her eyes dart around the room, landing first on her discarded clothes, then back on him. "Could you turn around?" She asks, color coming to her cheeks. He rolls his eyes and sighs, turning around, shaking his head. She quickly rises from the water and rushes to her clothes, pulling them on over her wet skin. Drying her hair with a towel, she says, "I'm decent." He turns with another sigh, "Do you want to go to the Amazons or your family?" She gives him a confused look, then realization dawns, "Xena's sending me away?" He nods, "It's for the best." She thinks for a moment, "Xena said you had visions?" He nods and she continues, "Of Hope?" She asks. He nods again, "Among other things." She pauses, then asks, "Can you show me? Please? I just want to see my daughter." He inhales sharply, "I won't show you the visions, but I will show you the confrontation Xena and I had with her if you think you can handle it." She nods, desperate to see her child, "Please," she begs. He opens a portal and replays the events leading to Hope's death. Gabrielle lets out small, sad noises and looks away when Xena's sword pierces Hope. Sniffling, she nods, "Thank you. I'd like to talk to Xena before I leave." He nods towards the door, "Follow me," he says. She follows him from the bathing area and down a hall.
Xena looks up as the door opens. Gabrielle stands in the frame with Ares behind her. She wrinkles her brow. Gabrielle smiles softly, "I, uh, I just want to say good bye. Ares showed me the fight with Hope, I saw you struggle with it. Why did you struggle? And why did you do it?" Xena grimaces, "When I looked down at her, I saw you, I didn't want to hurt you, Gabrielle. But, if she had lived, others would have died, so many others." Xena shakes her head, looking away. Gabrielle approaches and lays a hand on her shoulder, "People we know? People we love?" Xena nods, sadly. Gabrielle sits on the bed, "Maybe what you did was for the greater good, but she was still my child. Did you ever stop and think that maybe we could have changed her, taught her to fight her dark side?" She doesn't pause long enough for Xena to answer, "No, you didn't. You just killed her without giving her a chance to change. If Hercules had thought that way, you would have never had a chance to redeem yourself." Xena doesn't respond, but looks past Gabrielle to Ares, "Take her home," she orders. He nods and approaches. Gabrielle ducks under his hand, "Not yet. I can't be around you right now, I don't know if I can ever look at you the same way. You murdered my daughter, there's no going back from that. I'll find you again when I can bare it. For now, I'll return to Corinth. Then I'll return to my sisters and take my place as Queen. Maybe I can help them find a way around the violence, the way I tried to help you." She rises from the bed and Ares approaches. She shakes her head, "I'll show myself out." She leaves the room and collecting her staff from the bathes, she leaves the Temple with tears in her eyes.
Xena stares after Gabrielle, hurt, angry, worried. Ares cautiously approaches and sits next to her, "You alright?" She shakes her head, "Not really." He nods and rises, heading towards the door, "I'll leave you alone." A startled noise escapes Xena's lips and he turns, eyebrow raised, "Would you prefer me to stay?" He asks, surprised. She smiles and nods, "I don't want to be alone with my thoughts right now. They aren't very constructive." He nods, "Strife hasn't found Eli yet, do you want to go to Sumeria and try to find Dahok without him?" He asks, trying to distract her. She shakes her head, "We need Eli, he'll lead us to Dahok, I just know it. Can we look in on Sumeria? Didn't the man in the vision mention something about the lands being destroyed?" Ares nods, "That's right," he says, opening a portal, viewing Sumeria. He glances across the lands, all healthy and prosperous, full of people going about their lives. He shrugs, "Looks fine to me." She nods, not impressed, then thinks for a moment, "Can you show me the latest visions again? I feel like we're missing something." He replays the visions, watching closely. As the Chakram breaks and falls to the ground, Xena points, "Is that possible? I've struck thousands of things far harder than my spine, it's never broken, cracked, dented, nothing." Ares shakes his head, "I can't explain it, the Chakram isn't of our world. All I know is what the scroll says," he admits. She growls lightly, then asks, "If it broke like that would it be possible to repair it? Reforge it?" He shrugs, "Let me see it," he orders. She nods and rises from the bed, collecting her Chakram and handing it to him. He rolls it over in his hands a few times, examining it, then shakes his head, "I don't know. Maybe if we put it back on the altar it would repair itself. Maybe we'd have to replace it with the Chakram of Light. Why? What are you thinking?" She shrugs, "Maybe when it's reforged, it's different. We saw a different Chakram in the visions. Maybe when this one breaks, we fix it and end up with something totally different." He nods, "It's possible. No clue how we would fix it though. Or why fixing it would make it so different." She shakes her head, then smiles a little, "Any idea why you, me and Gabrielle were half naked in bed together?" He laughs and gives her a wicked look, "I can think of one reason." She nudges him, laughing, "I don't think Gabrielle would be into that." He shrugs, "Maybe it was her way of saying thanks for saving her life." She scrunches her eyebrows, "How do you know it's after you saved her?" He laughs and brings up the image, "That," he says, pointing at the bed and surrounding room, "Is falling apart. As a God, I would never stay somewhere like that. But, if I were mortal, it's possible, unlikely, but possible." She laughs, then points at the still playing visions, "I didn't know you could sing." He grimaces, "Neither did I." She laughs, "Do you think this is really a vision or just some crazy dream?" He shakes his head, "Hate to say it, but it feels like a vision," he admits. She shakes her head, laughing, then places a hand over his, covering the visions, before they can take a darker turn.
Xena and Ares sit in silence, both reflecting on the visions and their next course of action. Xena rises from the bed, stretches and turns to Ares, "Maybe we should help Strife," she suggests. Ares growls, "The child is a moron." He rises and exits the room, motioning for Xena to follow him. She follows him to the throne room where he lounges on the throne. She sits on the arm, making it very clear that she isn't going to be pretending to go through the offerings at the altar. He smiles and wraps an arm around her waist, "Discord," he calls. She shoots him a look as the Goddess appears. "Ares," the Goddess purrs, then lets out a shriek when she sees Xena, "You again." Ares holds up a hand, "Don't start Discord. Strife is in India searching for this man," he says, showing an image of Eli, "I want you to join him. Bring the man, Eli, to me, unharmed. Is that clear?" Discord pouts, "Search and retrieve, isn't that a little beneath me? My talents are much better suited to...other activities," she says with a suggestive smile. He rolls his eyes, "Your talents aren't worth mentioning. Go to India, find Eli and bring him to me, unharmed. Clear?" Discord growls and stamps her foot, "Fine, so be it," she says disappearing. Xena gives Ares a doubting look, "Do you really think she can handle it?" He shrugs, "If she can't, there's no room for her in my service." She seems surprised, "That's harsh. Hasn't Discord always been loyal?" He laughs, "Loyal? No. She uses me to get what she wants. I let her because it's a nice...distraction." She raises a questioning eyebrow and he smirks, "Eternity gets dull." She smiles and shakes her head, "Gods," she says with a sigh. He smirks at her, then shrugs, "So, I think we should go to Sumeria, see if Dahok has a following there yet." Xena nods, "You're probably right. Do you know anyone there? Anyone we can talk to? Work with?" She questions. He shakes his head, "No, I've never dealt with their Gods, they're a quite bunch, keep to themselves." She scowls, "Alright, then we do this my way." He raises a questioning eyebrow. She explains, "We go there and mingle with the mortals, see if we can stir up some trouble." He nods, "Need to grab anything before we leave?" She shakes her head and places a hand over her Chakram, "I've got everything I need right here." She glances down at the silk gown, "Armor would probably be better," she admits. He smiles and waves a hand over her, replacing the gown with her armor, then places a hand over hers before disappearing.
Ares and Xena arrive in Sumeria in a small alley between two shops. Xena pokes her head out and glances around, then motions for Ares to follow her. They walk through the shopping center watching the people. Ares leans close to Xena's ear, "Think they would all freak out if I walked around showing them an image in the palm of my hand?" She laughs, "Probably. Are you thinking about the man from the visions?" He nods. She shakes her head, "Our best bet is to look around, try to spot him. And keep an eye open for anyone who doesn't fit in." He glances at her, "Other than us?" She glares at him and nods, "Yes, Ares, other than us." He laughs, then points at two men in robes that everyone else is avoiding, "What do you make of them?" She looks the two men up and down, then snatches a women's arm, "Who are they?" The woman follows Xena's finger, then looks away quickly, "They are the King's holy men, Miss." Xena nods and releases the woman's arm, stepping away. Xena turns to Ares and raises an eyebrow, "Let's go talk to them," she says, nodding towards them. He nods and they approach the men. The pair of holy men scowl at Xena, then turn to Ares, "You aren't from these lands are you?" One of them asks. Ares shakes his head, "Greece." The second man nods, "Long way from home." Ares nods and Xena buts in, "Have you heard of Dahok?" The men scowl and glare at her, "Control your woman," the first one says. Ares laughs and Xena growls, "I am no one's woman. Now, Dahok, have you heard of him?" They don't respond and begin to walk away. Xena widens her eyes and motions towards the men with the fling of her arm. Ares nods and catches up with the men, grabbing one by the shoulder, "Look, sorry about 'my women,' we aren't from here. We're searching for any knowledge you have on Dahok." The man turns with a grimace, "If you can control her, follow us. My King will have the knowledge you seek. He has just returned from battle with the pagans." Ares nods and grabs Xena's arm, "Be submissive. They're taking us to the King, he's been out fighting the pagans." She nods, "Pagans? Dahok's followers?" He shrugs, "Let's hope so." She nods and they follow the men towards a large building surrounded by a beautiful courtyard.
The holy men open the doors wide and Ares and Xena follow them inside. The Palace is dark, dreary and empty. Ares raises an eyebrow and glances around, "Must not be a very popular King." One of the men turn, anger in his eyes, "Our King is much loved by his people. He is in mourning." Xena's head snaps towards them, "Mourning? Who did he lose?" The man scowls and continues down the hall. She growls and smacks Ares' arm, then motions towards the men, eyes wide and angry. He sighs, "Who is he mourning?" The men continue down a hall, opening another set of doors, "His wife and children were murdered while our Lord battled the pagans. The cowards snuck through our streets and killed them in their beds." Finally, the men halt and lay their hands on one last set of doors, "Our King mourns behind these doors. We do not wish him to be upset further." The man pauses, then turns to Xena, "You will be quite and respectful or you will wait out here." She glares at the men then elbows a snickering Ares. He smiles and wraps an arm around her, "Think of it as a challenge." She sneers, then nods, "I won't upset the King, you have my word," she promises. Ares smiles and nods at the men, "She's good for it," he assures them. They cast a dark look at Xena, then swing the doors open.
A man sits on the throne wearing brown leather with gold embellishments and a gold helmet. His head rests in his hands and he doesn't move when the door closes. The two holy men approach quickly and kneel before the man. One of them speaks, "My Lord, we have visitors from Greece, they are seeking knowledge of Dahok." The man's head shoots up, "Dahok? The God the pagans followed?" Ares nods, "He started in Britannia. We heard a rumor that he was here and that Greece would be next. We're not going to let that happen. We're going to stop him. What can you tell us?" The man looks from Ares to Xena, "Introductions first. I'm King Gilgamesh. You are?" Ares pauses, debating whether to tell the truth or not, "I'm Ares, the Greek God of War, this is Xena, Warrior Princess." Xena smiles tightly. Gilgamesh nods, then glances at his holy men, "Leave us," he orders. They glance up quickly, "Lord?" He nods, "Go, they can't do anything to me that hasn't already been done." They nod, rise, and back out of the room, heads still bowed.
Gilgamesh rises from his throne and walks towards a small table, motioning for Ares and Xena to follow. He pours a goblet of wine and offers it to Xena. She smiles and accepts, "Thanks." Ares and Gilgamesh both take a glass, then the King leads them to a balcony. Xena looks over the fruitful land, "You have a beautiful country." He nods, "Yes." Ares glances at the landscape and shakes his head, "You said Dahok had an army?" Gilgamesh shakes his head, "Not at first. In the beginning there were just a few men, priests, not soldiers. They preached about peace and love and their one God. Many of my people were seduced by their words, their promises. They turned from Raa and our pantheon. They formed their own gatherings and took over Raa's Temples. My father asked me to put an end to it. I led my armies against them, but they were strong and they were clever. My people are good fighters, warriors through and through, and the priests used them to battle me. The battles were long lived, but eventually I won. I destroyed them all, not a one lived. I returned home with my surviving soldiers and ran to my bedroom, seeking the comfort of my wife. She was dead in my bed, blood soaked into the sheets. I screamed and ran to my children's rooms. They were dead in their beds as well, blood pooling on the floor beneath their beds. I saved my father's Temples, ridded our land of the infidels, and he repaid me by letting my family be killed in their beds, his own grandchildren." Xena scrunches her brow, "Who's your father?" She asks. He smiles at her, "Raa, King of the Gods." She nods, looking out the window. Ares nods, "So, Dahok used your own people against you? Smart move on his part. Did Dahok manifest? Or speak to anyone?" Gilgamesh shakes his head, "We never saw him, never heard him. His priests claimed they heard him, spoke with him, but no one else heard a thing." Xena turns back to him, "Is there anything else you can tell us? Anything at all?" He nods, "The call of Dahok is sweet. My people are strong in their faith. For them to turn, Dahok must have been very persuasive." She nods, "Thank you for your help. And I'm...I'm sorry for your loss. Don't lose your faith Gilgamesh." He smiles at her and takes her hand gently, "You remind me of my sister. She was lost to us many years ago." Xena nods, "Again, I'm sorry." He nods and begins to walk towards his throne. Ares calls out, "Gilgamesh, wait. Tell Raa and the rest of the pantheon to watch their backs. Failing to get a handhold in the mortal world, Dahok might attack them outright. And though he's just one being, he is powerful and he is not to be taken lightly," he warns. Gilgamesh lets out a harsh laugh, "And I care? Why? They betrayed me. Abandoned my family when they needed protection. They can all rot for all I care." Xena sighs, "Don't turn from them Gilgamesh. Without them, your lands, your people will suffer. And if Dahok attacks them, they will need you, need your people, need your faith." Gilgamesh nods, "I hear your words, Xena. But right now I can't listen to them. I will consider them when my grief isn't so strong." She nods and turns to Ares, "Can we find one of the Temple's Dahok took over?" He nods, "Let's ask the holy men," he says, leading her from the room.
Ares leads Xena from the room and finds the holy men directly outside of the door, patiently waiting. Ares turns to the men, "Take us to one of the Temples that Dahok took over. We want to examine it." They nod and begin to walk out of the Palace. "How long did it take for Dahok to grow a following here?" Xena asks. The men ignore her question. She growls, "Seriously? I think you can answer one little question I ask." One of the men turns to her, "We don't hear the questions of women," he says, then continues down the hall. She growls and motions to Ares. He nods, "How long did it take?" "One moon cycle," one of them answers. Xena's eyes go wide, "That's not long," she states quietly. Ares nods and continues following the men.
The holy men lead Ares and Xena onto the streets and the crowds part for them. The men motion to the left, "This way," one instructs. They travel for several minutes, then stop in front of a large, golden Temple. One of the men points, "This was Raa's Temple until the pagans invaded. We haven't been able to refurbish it yet." They stop at the steps, "We go no farther," one says. Ares nods, "I think we can find it from here." One of the men nods, "Would like us to wait for you?" He offers. Ares shakes his head, "No." They nod and back away, returning in the direction they had come from. Xena scowls at the men and Ares smirks at her, "Come on," he says, urging her towards the Temple.
Ares and Xena walk into the Temple and glance around. Blood covers everything and a few bodies in blue robes lay around the room. Xena curls her lip, "They just left them here." Ares nods, "What do you expect?" She shrugs, carefully moving around the Temple, walking to the altar in the center. The altar is intact with the body of a young girl laying on it, throat slit. She scowls, "Murderers." He approaches and glances down at the girl, "At least it's not the same as Britannia. We don't have another Hope to go after." She shrugs, "That we know of. Just because there's only a dead child on this altar, doesn't mean it's the same for the others." He nods, "True, but we can't check every Temple, every altar in Sumeria." She sighs, "I know. Do you think we've saved Sumeria? Saved Gilgamesh? He seemed like a good man, a good King." Ares shrugs, "Maybe. We warned him, that's all we can do. Should we go back to Greece? Or did you have something else in mind?" Xena shakes her head, "No, Greece, sounds good." He nods and takes her hand, disappearing.
Arriving in the Halls of War, Ares leaves Xena's side and approaches the altar. He fingers through the offerings and holds up a fish with a sneer, "I will never understand mortals." Xena glances at the fish and smiles, shaking her head. She approaches the altar and grabs a dagger, "More to your liking, I'm sure." He nods, "Much better." He takes the dagger from her and examines it carefully, "Shoddy, but better than a fish." She smiles, "How are Discord and Strife doing?" He scowls and opens a portal. Discord and Strife are standing in the middle of a busy market, screaming and throwing lightning bolts at each other. He sighs, "I should just kill those two and put them out of my misery." Xena smiles and grabs his arm, "Come on, let's go corral the children." He nods and they disappear.
Xena steps out of the ether and swings around, looking for Discord and Strife. Ares grabs her arm and pulls her behind him. A lightning bolt wizzes past her head. She spins around, moving from behind Ares and sends her Chakram flying. It soars between Discord and Strife, grabbing their attention before returning to Xena's hand. Both turn to stare at Xena, then grow concerned when they see Ares. Strife rushes to him, "Uncle, she started it," he says, pointing at Discord. Discord sneers, "And I plan to finish it," she says, lightning bolt forming in her hand. Ares growls and grabs both by the back of the neck, "Let's go home children." Xena smiles at the slack Gods, then grabs Ares' arm. They all disappear, leaving the stunned market goers starring at the empty spot.
Ares releases the two Gods, sending them sprawling on the floor. Discord scrambles to her feet, tugging at her clothes to straighten them. Strife remains on the floor, looking rejected. Xena smiles, standing next to Ares. Discord huffs, "You told me to go to India and find your man, that's what I was doing. Dumbass here was in my way," she says, pointing. Strife looks up, "But Uncle Ares told me to find the guy. It was my assignment," he whines. Ares glares at Discord, "I told you to join Strife in the search, not start a fight in front of the mortals. What confused you?" She looks at her feet, then pouts, "But Ares, I wanted to find him...for you." He sighs, "No, you were in a nasty mood and wanted to kick someone's ass because you got yours beaten by a mortal." Xena growls behind him, "Watch it or she won't be the only one." He smirks, then turns to Strife, "And you. What is your excuse?" Strife pops to his feet, "I thought she was encroaching. I didn't know she was following orders, I thought she was after the guy for herself." Ares turns back to Discord, "Did you tell him I sent you?" She curls her lip, "Must have slipped my mind." He growls and flings her across the room, "You are useless. Leave. And Discord, don't come back." Her eyes widen, "You're kicking me out?" He nods and she pouts, then disappears. He turns to Strife, "And you. What am I going to do with you? Not only did you give yourself away while fighting with Discord, but you let yourself be distracted from the mission." Strife looks frightened, "Give me another chance. Please Unc. I'll go in disguise and I won't get distracted. I swear," he begs. Ares nods, "You have one day. If you don't find him and I have to go to India and do this myself, you will suffer. Do you understand?" Strife nods, "I'll find him, I swear. Don't you worry about a thing." Strife disappears and Xena rests her hand on Ares' arm, "Why do you keep giving that boy chances?" He shrugs, "Between him, Deimos, and Discord, he's the only one I have any hope for. His heart's in the right place and he's loyal, he's just a moron." She smiles and nods, then yawns, "I'm going to bed. Coming?" He smiles and nods, following her down the hall.
Xena drops her armor on the floor and shrugs out of her leather tunic, letting it fall. She smiles and sits on the bed, back to Ares, "Laces?" He smiles and sits behind her, untying the laces and pushing the shift from her shoulders. She leans into his hands and he smiles, wrapping his arms around her and fondling her breasts while tracing her collarbone with his lips. She moans and turns in his arms, wiggling out of the shift and climbing onto his lap, wrapping her legs around him. He growls and captures her lips, racing his hands up and down her back. She pushes his vest off and rubs against him with a moan. He smiles against her lips and his leather pants disappear. She pulls away with a smile and a laugh, "That is a handy skill," she says, guiding him into her. Holding his shoulders, nails digging in, she rides him. He thrusts into her, holding her hips down. He growls against her lips and pushes against her, slamming her back onto the bed. She inhales sharply, holding him with her legs and grasping at his shoulders. She moans and brings a foot down to brace herself with, meeting his thrusts. He groans her name and quickens his pace, feeling her match his thrusts. She screams in release, then feels Ares join her. She relaxes beneath him, then pushes on his shoulders. He rolls, placing her on top of him, held close. She pillows her head on his chest, "I love you," she whispers. He smiles and kisses the top of her head, bringing a sheet over them, "I love you, too." She smiles against his chest and slowly drifts off to sleep. Ares struggles to remain awake, but ultimately fails.
The Fates pull Ares into their land of visions. Xena and Gabrielle stand next to a window, staring out. Gabrielle turns to Xena, "Ares...maybe he did...a God thing..." Xena turns, pointing a finger, agitated, "No." The scene changes, it's day time and Xena and Ares are in the woods. Ares speaks, "Hope is building an army of the ignorant. Incredible, are mortals so stupid as to believe Dahok will actually bring them peace? They all deserve what they get. I really don't know why you continue to protect them." Xena snaps, "Shut up, Ares. Hope must die." He nods, "Oh, my thoughts exactly, but my way. I got a lot of options, here. I can raise a combined army of all my warriors. Hope wants to fight? I'll be there-but on my terms. Not to press a point, but I could use an overall commander." A small blonde woman sits next to Gabrielle. She speaks, "We had heard about the mother of the Goddess, Hope. She's known as the betrayer, the one who selfishly killed her own daughter." Gabrielle looks stricken. A God from India, Indrajit, grips Gabrielle's neck and stares down at Eli, "I got her to cave with a simple illusion. Your disciple gave into the first temptation. Let's see how you do, Eli. You feel her pain, don't you? That's your curse. You feel everyone's pain. Eli, I could arrange it so you may never have to look on human suffering. I could surround you with joyous, happy people. Save yourself, and this girl. Join me," he says, motioning towards Gabrielle. Xena, Gabrielle, and the blonde are in a village. Men in black and red are grabbing people, capturing them. The blonde speaks, "It's happening all over the land, Xena, and you can't stop it!" Gabrielle shouts, "People are being taken as hostages?" The girl nods, "Well, that's why Hope's come back! One of her duties is to prepare the way! These people, and hundreds like them, are being chosen!" Xena sneers, "As blood sacrifices, all for the glory of Dahok." Ares sits on a throne, Xena in front of him. "I have been thinking about your heir. And who better than the one you trained?" He asks her. Eli and Gabrielle walk side by side, followed by others. Eli turns to Gabrielle, "It's hard, the Way of Love. It may not be right for you. But if you choose to follow it, you must do it with all your heart. You'll fail more than once. But don't give up hope. In the end, you'll redeem the world." Ares follows a heavily pregnant Xena and her son through Tartarus. Xena glares at him, "Look, your stalking me is not helping the trust factor any." He replies, "This is not your standard God obsession. Ok? I'm having urges that I'm not real proud of." She glares, "I'm not going to become your little Warrior Queen, Ares. Besides, you expect me to believe you'd protect a child the Fates say will destroy you?" He corrects her, "They say it'll destroy all Gods. Now, if I'm gonna be mortal, I could live out my life, with you." She turns a questioning look to him, "What are you talking about?" He sighs, looking flustered, "I have feelings for you. Ok? I care about you, damn it." She turns from him, storming off, "Aw, no, no." He interrupts, talking over her, "I see your face everywhere." She stops walking and turns to him, "Stop it! You stop it! You're so desperate, you're trying to convince me that you love me? Well, go on. Say it. Say you love me," she pauses, then continues, "The time for you and me has been and gone." He gives her an agitated look, "It was worth a shot anyway. I thought in your present condition you might be a little more gullible." She snarls at him, "I'm pregnant, not brain damaged." She storms away and Ares sighs, "I love you, Xena," he says once she is out of hearing range. Ares jerks in his sleep, trying to wake from the visions. As usual, he fails, the Fates' hold is too strong and the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes with a jerk. She glances down at Ares, sleeping beneath her and sighs. He's breathing heavy, sweating and turning his head from side to side. She shakes her head sadly and runs a finger down his jaw, tracing the stubble. She rests her hand there, against his cheek and places a soft kiss on his lips. She's surprised when he responds immediately, returning her kiss and wrapping his arms around her. She pulls away, rising off his chest and leaning over him. He smiles up at her, "Thanks." She nods, "Were they bad?" He shakes his head, "Not really, annoying and maybe for once, helpful." Her eyes light up, "Helpful?" He nods and opens a small portal, letting her watch the visions in silence. As they end, she nods, "Interesting. So, originally, Gabrielle killed Hope herself and Dahok found a way to bring her back. And then Hope was responsible for preparing the way for Dahok, gathering human sacrifices. Do you think we've stopped Hope? I know we killed her but is she truly trapped in the lava?" He shakes his head, "Honestly, I don't know. For now though, Hope is gone and Callisto is dead and Gilgamesh has stopped Dahok from gathering a following in Sumeria. All of that has to make a difference. And if we can stop Eli, maybe then we can prevent Dahok from entering our world." She nods, "I've been thinking about that. We know that the creature, Destroyer, kills Hope. Maybe Eli doesn't become a pawn of Dahok's until after that. Maybe that's why Strife is having such a hard time finding him. Maybe he doesn't even exist yet." Ares shrugs, "It's possible. But Dahok's creature isn't going to exist without my, uh, assistance and I'm not interested. It could force him to alter his plans." Xena nods, "There are other Gods capable of doing what Dahok needs. First though, he would have to find a way to bring Hope back. Unless he truly wants to start over." She pauses, thinking, then continues, "What if Eli is his start over, his replacement for Hope? Eli was able to channel powers to bring Gabrielle and me back from the dead. What if he were only able to do that because he were Dahok's offspring?" He nods, "Very possible. Which would mean that I have Strife searching for a man that may not exist yet. Even if he does, he could be nothing but a child. Maybe I should pull him back to Greece," he says, quietly. She shrugs, "Or station him there for a while. We know Eli eventually shows up in India," she suggests. He shakes his head, "We don't know how long this will take. I have responsibilities and with Discord being dismissed from my service, Strife is the only one I can depend on. Dahok and the visions are keeping us too busy." She scrunches her brow, "What about Deimos?" He shakes his head with a laugh, "I won't trust Deimos with a simple message, much less my followers or watching for Eli." Xena growls and shakes her head, rising from the bed and retrieving her armor. Ares watches her, then stands, clothes appearing with a thought. "Hungry?" He asks. She nods, straightening her armor and attaching her weapons. He nods and leads her from the room.
Xena sits by the fire, plate in hand with Ares across from her, silently thinking, staring into the flames. He shakes his head, "We need Dahok to manifest which means he needs the sacrifice of a Warrior Heart. It goes against everything we've been doing, but if it could ultimately save the world, we should do it." Xena raises an eyebrow in disbelief, "Just what are you getting it?" She asks, an edge to her voice. He looks away for a moment before meeting her gaze, "Let's find Dahok his sacrifice." Her eyes go wide, full of anger, "Ares!" He shrugs, "If we control how he enters our world and when, it gives us the power, control over the whole situation. We would be right there, ready for him. We could kill before he could even react." The anger leaves her eyes and she sighs, shaking her head, "It makes us no better than him." He shrugs, "It's our best move and it beats sitting on our hands until he makes a move." Xena starts to reply, then stops when Strife appears in the room, smiling, "I found him," he announces.
Ares turns to his nephew, something close to pride in his gaze, "Are you sure?" Strife nods, "No doubt about it, Unc." Ares nods, "Where? Show me." Strife opens a portal of Eli walking down a dirt path, pack in hand, "Road outside of Italia." "Italia?" Xena asks, confused. Strife nods, "I couldn't find him in India so I widened my search. Technically, the road will lead to India...eventually." She nods, impressed. Ares nods, "You surprise me, Strife. You thought for yourself and it paid off, well done." Strife beams with pride, "Thank you, Uncle Ares. Would you like me to destroy the man for you? Or capture him maybe?" Ares shakes his head, "No, not this one. I'll deal with him myself." Xena shoves him and he smirks, "I meant we. We'll deal with him." Strife's head falls, "Yes, Uncle," he says, kicking his toe at the marble. Xena points at him with a sympathetic smile. Ares rolls his eyes, "You did good Strife. As a reward, I'm putting you in charge of Greece and Rome, temporarily. I have business that might take me away for a while. Can you handle this responsibility?" Strife smiles and cackles, "Oh yes, Unc. I can handle it. I won't let you down. I swear. You won't regret this," he gushes. Ares nods and waves in dismissal, "Go on then, get to it." Strife nods and punches at the air, then disappears with a cackle. Ares stares after him, shaking his head, "He's an embarrassment to War Gods everywhere." Xena smiles, "He's a good kid." He nods, "Yeah, I just hope one day he can be a good God." She nods, "He will, with a lot of help. Once Dahok is defeated, I can help with him, if you want," she offers. He smiles and nods, "That would be nice." She shoots him a flashy smile.
Ares leads Xena to the throne room. He picks through the offerings, Xena watching. Finding nothing of interest he turns to her, "So, what's the plan?" She smiles, "Kill Eli?" He shakes his head, "We don't know what he can do yet. If he has any of Dahok's powers, we need to know before we go after him. We need to watch him and prepare ourselves." She nods, "Right, we need a strategy." He nods, "Exactly." He sits on his throne, Xena on the arm beside him and opens a portal to Eli. Silently they watch him travel down the lonely road. She stares at the portal, watching, then after a few moments lets out an agitated breath, "Seriously? This is Dahok's new pawn? He's a street magician, nothing more." Ares glances at her and shakes his head, "Something isn't right. I don't feel anything coming from him, no power, nothing. Maybe we're too early?" She shrugs in response, "Maybe we've altered things too much. Maybe Dahok changed his mind or maybe by stopping Hope and talking to Gilgamesh in Sumeria we've stopped Dahok, prevented him from moving forward." Ares gives her a doubting look, "Really? If anything he should be more pissed, I know I would be." She nods, "I don't get it though. In the visions Eli is powerful, you sense his power and here, now, he's..." She pauses, watching Eli drop his props, "Pathetic." Ares laughs, shaking his head, "Well, if Eli is Dahok's big plan, I think we have some room to breathe. Not much of a threat." Xena smiles and nods, "We'll keep an eye on him for now. I don't want to kill him if we don't have to." He nods, "Naturally. Can't kill him 'just in case.'" She raises an eyebrow at his sarcasm. He shrugs, "I remember a time when you would have." She scowls and shakes her head, "I'm not that person anymore." He nods, "I've noticed." She raises an eyebrow, "And?" She prompts. He smiles and pulls her close, "I might be convinced to like this Xena more." She smirks, easily falling into his arms, "Really? And how can I convince you?" He claims her mouth for a rough kiss then pulls away, "You'll find a way." She smiles and shakes her head, "I'm sure I will." He raises an eyebrow and she slides into his lap, blocking the portal.
Ares stares at her, snapping the portal closed, "You have my attention." She smirks, "Do I?" She asks, grinding against him. He inhales sharply, then nods, "For now." She smiles and continues to move her hips against him, "Convinced yet?" She asks, voice husky. He shakes his head, "Not even close." She purses her lips, then attacks his mouth, pulling him close and tangling her hands in his hair. His arms race around her, one at her waist, holding her hips against him, the other up her back. She pulls back breathing heavy, "Now?" She asks, breathless. His breathing matching hers, he shakes his head, "Not quite." She growls and he gives her a lusty look. Smirking she slides from his lap. He moves to follow, but she puts a hand on his chest, forcing him back into the throne, "Stay," she orders. He raises an eyebrow but relaxes back into the throne, eyes glued to her every move. She struts away from him, hips swaying and approaches the altar. Turning sharply, eyes locked on his, she removes her sword and Chakram, placing both on the altar, "An offering," she says. Fire burns in his eyes. She turns her back to him, smirking, then kneels and removes the daggers from her boots. One in each hand, she turns sharply and throws them at him. They pass on either side of him, imbedding in the wall behind the throne. She smirks, "A promise." He smiles and raises his eyebrows. She struts to him and places her hands on either side of the throne, leaning towards him, thrusting her breasts in his face. He glances down and sees the hint of metal from the hilt of her dagger. He smiles and removes the dagger, letting the tip drag against her skin. She shivers, "A surprise," she says, quickly moving away from him. He growls, twirling the dagger in his hand, before letting it fall to the floor beside the throne. She stands below the dais and unclasps her breastplate, letting it fall to the floor with a clank. He jerks, startled from the noise and she smiles. "A temptation." She reaches her left hand to her right arm and slides the armband down, letting it drop, then repeats the action on the other side. "A hint." She walks to him and raises her leg, placing her booted foot between his legs. He jerks back in the throne, smirking and shaking his head. She smiles and leans over the leg, letting her hair fall forward, blocking his view. As she stands upright, she slides her foot from the boot and tosses it over her shoulder, then repeats the actions with the other foot. He reaches for her and she swats his hand away, "Are you convinced yet?" He shakes his head, eyes full of lust, voice husky, "You're getting there." She raises an eyebrow, pursing her lips. She walks up to him, staying out of his reach and holds her wrists out to him. "A favor," she says, motioning to the gauntlets with a jerk of her head. He smiles and waves a hand over the gauntlets. They fall from her wrists and she kicks them aside. Spinning away from him and taking a few steps away, she pulls her hair over a shoulder and unlaces the back of her leather bodice. Laces dangling, she peals it from her body, letting it fall to the floor and puddle around her ankles. She steps out of it, kicking it aside and turns back to Ares, "A peak." He stares at her and begins to rise. She holds up her hand, eyes going harsh, "Sit." He snarls, but obeys. Facing him, she tosses her hair back and unlaces the back of the shift. She pauses and he raises an eyebrow. She smiles and lifts the shift up and over her head. He inhales sharply, exhaling on a growl. She smirks, "And finally...torture." He nods, "You've got that right," he says, again rising from the throne. Her eyes flash, "Are you convinced?" He smirks and shakes his head. She gives him a hard look, "Then sit down." He obeys, giving her a curious look.
Xena gives him a challenging look, then motions towards her nakedness, "Let's see what part of me you don't like so much." She struts to him, stopping directly in front of him. He reaches for her and she swats his hand away. She wiggles a finger in front of him, "Not yet." He relaxes back into the throne, adjusting in the chair. She smirks and runs her hands over his chest, pushing the vest from his shoulders and tossing it aside, then pulling away. She holds her hands in front of him, "Do you like these?" He reaches for her hands and brings one, then the other to his lips, "Very much." She smiles and takes his hand, running it up her arm, "And these?" Holding her arm and pulling her close, he nods. She jerks from his grasp and smiles when he lets out a frustrated noise. She brings her foot to his lap, letting it rest on top of his thigh. He inhales sharply, eyes traveling up her thigh with a hungry look. She grabs his hand, running it up her leg, "These?" "Very nice," he says, trailing kisses from her knee up her thigh. She spins from him, laughing to herself, delighted with her game. She turns back around and he gives her an annoyed glare. She runs her fingertips over her breasts, "These then? Maybe you don't like these." Using a finger he motions for her to approach. She obeys, stopping and standing between his knees. "Yes?" She prompts. Eyes on hers, he leans forward, tasting one peak, then the other. She moans and he smiles, returning to the first for a longer taste. Her head falls back, eyes closed and he chuckles, convinced the game is over. Her eyes snap open and she backs away from him, "Well?" She prompts, motioning to her breasts. He nods, breathing heavy, "Perfect." She beams at him, then pouts, "There must be something..." He shrugs, "Haven't found anything yet. What else ya got Warrior Princess?" She gives him an evil smile, accepting the challenge. Her hand flies to caress her lips, "Maybe these?" He stands and approaches, reaching for her. She steps back, shaking her head, "No hands." He cocks an eyebrow, but obeys, letting his arms fall to his sides. She smiles and walks up to him, leaning against him and letting him kiss her. He moans into her mouth, fighting the urge to grab her, to run his hands up her back, around her hips. She smiles against his lips and rests a leg around his hip, drawing him closer. He growls and grabs at her hips, pulling her against him, thrusting against her, showing her exactly what her little game was causing. With a gasp and a chuckle, she pulls away from him, momentarily fighting his wandering hands. She smirks and shakes her head, "No hands," she reminds him. He stares at her, annoyed, aroused, and a touch frustrated. "Convinced?" She asks innocently. He nods, "Perhaps." She doesn't respond, pretending to think and struts away from him. She leans against the wall of the Temple, "Well, there's only one other thing I can think of that you might not like..." He raises an eyebrow and her fingers feather their way down her body. He stares, mouth dry as her fingers dance between her thighs. Her head falls back against the wall, eyes closed as she touches herself with him watching and a moan escapes her. She hears him growl, then he's slamming against her, mouth pressed to hers as he lifts her and enters her in one swift move. She gasps, arching against him, "Oh by the Gods," she breathes. He chuckles, "Literally," and begins to move against her. She anchors her legs around his waist, hands clutching at his shoulders, "So, did I convince you?" She asks, clutching him with her inner muscles. He exhales harshly, "Oh yeah." She smiles in triumph, then moans, eyes closed, head falling back. He attacks her throat, then moves down to her breasts, lavishing one, then the other in attention. She arches towards him, heels digging into the backs of his thighs for leverage as she matches his rhythm. He groans against her throat, one hand on her hips, the other against the wall, above her head. He increases the speed and force of his thrusts and she gasps, nails digging into his shoulders. She screams in release, driven past the edge and he soon follows. She clings to him, breathing heavy and he leans his forehead next to hers on the wall.
There is a flash behind them and a startled scream, followed by, "Sorry, Unc, I'll turn around now." Xena scowls, "Strife." Ares shakes his head, "Not the worst thing he's walked in on," he says quietly. Her lip curls up, then she shakes her head, "Let me down." He nods and holds her hips, stepping away from the wall and letting her slide down him. Her feet touch ground and she shakes slightly. He smirks, leaving his hands on her hips. After a few seconds, she nods and brushes his hands away, "I'm fine," she assures him. He nods and waves a hand, clothing himself in his regular leather and Xena in a silk robe. She glances down at it and purses her lips. He smirks, "You went to so much trouble taking all that armor off, I couldn't bare putting it back on you." She smiles, then glances at the back of Strife's head, "We're decent," she announces. Strife slowly turns around, face red, "Uh, sorry. Should have knocked." Ares shakes his head, "Why are you back so soon? I asked you to keep an eye on Greece and Rome." Strife fidgets, "Well, I was here, in Greece and thought, 'Hey, self, check Corinth. It's always busy.' So, listening to myself, I went to Corinth. And boy was I surprised. Hercules was there, in your Temple, tossing things around and shouting for you." Strife pauses and Ares reflects back then shakes his head, "I was distracted, didn't notice. What did he want?" Strife answers, "He wanted you." Ares closes his eyes, searching for patience, "Yes, Strife. Usually if someone is in my Temple that means they're looking for me. Did he tell you anything?" Strife nods, looking nervous, "He said a few choice insults, then said he would find you himself. He's headed this way and he's mad. I wanted to warn you." Ares growls and Strife jumps back a few steps. Xena grabs Ares' arm, "Let me handle him." He shakes his head, "No, Little Brother is my problem. Anyways if he sees you here with me, he might not continue to protect your family," he says, stroking her cheek. She gives him a tight smile, "If he's coming here, then he already knows. Gabrielle probably told him. Let me deal with him. You'll just egg him on, probably on purpose too." He smirks, not denying it, then turns to Strife, "Alright, get going Strife. We'll handle Hercules." Strife nods, looking sad and turns from them. "Strife," Xena calls. He turns and she smiles, "Thank you." He smiles widely and nods, then disappears. Ares glares at her, "He's a War God, don't coddle him." She makes a face at him, "Maybe a little positive reinforcement will encourage better behavior from him," she suggests. He shakes his head, then shrugs and glances around the Temple, eyeing her scattered clothes. Xena follows his gaze with a smirk, "Clean up. I'm going to put on some clothes." He turns to her, "No armor?" She shakes her head, "It'll send the wrong message. This," she motions between them, "Isn't just business." He smiles, pulling her close, "What about Solan and your mother?" She pauses, thinking for a moment, "Hercules is a good man, he won't put my family in danger." He raises a doubting eyebrow, "You have too much faith in him." She shakes her head, then smiles, "Pick a color, not black, not red," she orders. He shrugs, "Blue, why?" She smirks and turns, strutting away, "Make sure there's blue options in the closet." He smiles after her and snaps his fingers, filling the closet and removing her clothes and weapons from where they had landed around the Temple.
Xena returns quickly wearing a blue dress and her Chakram necklace. Ares glances up from the portal he was watching and smiles, "You are breathtaking." She smiles and leans on the throne's arm, staring at the portal. "Eli?" She asks, motioning towards a dingy tavern room. He nods, "Yeah, somewhere between Italia and India. I don't recognize the land or people at all." Xena shrugs, "Has he done anything interesting?" He shakes his head, "Turned down a wench, would have been more interesting if he had said yes." She laughs, shaking her head, "Where's Hercules?" He sighs and changes the image on the portal. Hercules is in the forest, near the stables behind the Halls of War, his stride is long and sure and he's angry. Ares stares at his half-brother, shaking his head, "He thinks it's a spell or trick. He thinks I'm with Dahok." Xena growls, shaking her head, "Leave," she orders. He raises an eyebrow and glances at her, clearly saying, 'make me'. She shakes her head, "If you give him that cocky smile you're famous for, he's going to punch you. Then you'll punch back and we won't make any progress. Besides, he's my friend, I want it to stay that way. I already lost Gabrielle, I don't want to lose him too." He sighs and nods, "Fine. I need to check on Anthony anyway. But you call me if you need anything." She nods, smiling softly, "Promise." He rises and disappears, leaving Xena alone. She glances around the Temple, then sits in the throne to wait for Hercules.
Hercules storms through the doors of the Halls of War, sending them banging against the walls. "Ares," he shouts. Xena stares at him, "Hercules," she greets, rising from the throne. He stares her up and down, disbelief in his gaze, "You lied to me," he accuses. She shakes her head, "No, I'm going after Dahok. Ares is helping." He storms up to her, "I would have helped, I offered to help." She nods, giving him a soft look, "I know. But I need Ares." He scrunches his brow, shaking his head, "You don't need him." She sighs, "Maybe not, but I want him." He inhales sharply, then shakes his head, stroking her cheek, "He had one of the other Gods put a spell on you. I'll get it fixed." She growls and jerks away from him, "No, Hercules. It's not a spell. I," she pauses for a second, "I love him." His face falls, anger rising in his eyes, "How? Why? He doesn't return your feelings, he isn't capable. And obviously you don't trust him, otherwise he would be watching your family, not me." She shakes her head sadly, "We haven't stayed in one place long enough to watch my family. Hercules we've been chasing Dahok all over the known world, Sumeria, Britannia, Rome, India, Siberia, Italia, and all over Greece. How could we watch my family?" He shakes his head, "It's a trick. Maybe you've been travelling all over, but you weren't chasing Dahok. Ares is on his side." She stares at him in disbelief, "Please, tell me you don't really believe that? Dahok is seeking the destruction of all Gods, everywhere. Why would Ares side with him?" Hercules sighs, "It's what he does. Come on Xena, you know him as well as I do. Think about it." She nods, "I have. He wouldn't betray his family, not to an outside God." He growls, punching at a pillar. It shakes and he grabs her shoulders, "Listen to yourself. All he cares about is power." Her eyes go hard, "And me." He shakes her shoulders slightly, "You can't possibly know that." She shrugs from his grasp, shaking her head, "This is my decision Hercules, respect it." He growls, punching the pillar again, "He just wants you to lead his army," he says, grasping at straws. She chuckles and shakes her head, motioning at her dress, "I don't look like I'm leading an army. And if I am, where are they?" He growls, "Athens. Ares has an army in Athens." She nods, "Yes, freeing the town from Athena. She has the roads blocked by her army, she's charging tolls. Ares has his men fighting to free Athens." Hercules growls again, "Rome then. I hear he's gathering forces under Anthony." She nods again, "To eliminate Caesar and his triumvirate. They tax the people till there's nothing left. Anthony wants the money to go to the people. He's going to eliminate the corruption in Rome's hierarchy." He rolls his eyes, "And you really believe that?" She nods, "Yes, because I helped set it in motion, same with Athens." His eyes go wide, "See? He's gotten exactly what he's always wanted. You changed sides again, you joined him," he shouts, pointing towards the throne vaguely. She shakes her head, "No, Hercules. He joined me." His mouth opens and closes several times, then he sighs, head falling, "Is there anything I can say to change your mind?" She shakes her head, "No." He sighs. She shakes her head, "I'm not asking you to be his new best friend. Just respect my decision." He nods, the fight over.
Hercules glances around the Halls of War, "Where is he?" Xena shrugs, "I didn't want you two fighting." He nods, "Gabrielle said you two killed her daughter." Xena growls, "Dahok's daughter. She was trying to bring Dahok into the world. I had to stop her." Hercules nods, hands moving in a calming gesture, "I know. She's really hurt though. Iolaus is taking her back to her sister Amazons. Before she left, she told me the visions weren't yours, they were Ares' and there were more than one. Is it true?" She nods, sad, "Many more." He gives her a curious look, "You've seen them?" She nods again. He nods, "Can I? Maybe you two have missed something." She smiles, "You still want to help?" He nods, "Dahok has to be stopped. And I'm curious to see whose side Ares will end up on." She growls and gives him and exasperated look, "Hercules." He shakes his head, "I'm respecting your choice, I don't agree with it though. So, how 'bout it? Can I see them?" She shakes her head, "I don't think so. Some of them are...uh...personal." He raises an eyebrow, "Xena, if you aren't willing to show me, then you know something isn't right, that something doesn't add up." She shakes her head, "No, no, nothing like that. They're confusing and out of order, but they add up. They were for Ares and me, not anyone else." He stares at her, "Why?" She thinks back to the visions and smiles, "They jump from Dahok, to personal moments and back again without warning." "Personal?" He asks. She smirks, "In the future, Ares and I have a daughter. A few of the visions get very detailed on how that came to be." His mouth hangs open and he stares her up and down, eyes stopping on her midsection, "You're....?" He trails off. She shakes her head, "No." Ares appears behind her, "Not yet," he adds on. She turns to glare at him and he shrugs, "He's not seeing the visions, end of discussion." She smiles and turns back to Hercules, "Sorry." Hercules glares, first at Xena then Ares, "If I'm going to help, I need all the information." Ares shakes his head, "We've been doing just fine without you." Hercules begins to respond, but Xena holds up her hand and turns to Ares, "The first couple of sets weren't horrible. Show him those. They convinced me to help." He reflects back on the first two sets of visions, then nods, opening a portal for Hercules to watch. Hercules stares at the portal, then looks from Ares to Xena, "That's why you wanted me to keep Solan in Corinth?" She nods, "And it's why I wanted you to keep Iolaus with you too. As long as he stayed with you, we knew Dahok couldn't use him." Hercules nods, then asks, "Dahok uses Iolaus?" She nods and motions to Ares, "Show him the other one." He gives her an impatient look, but obeys, playing the vision of Iolaus as Dahok. Hercules watches, giving the portal a confused look. "What is it?" Xena asks, glancing at the portal. He shakes his head, "Nebula...I know her. She's a pirate. She has a good heart, but I wouldn't call her a fair maiden." Xena shrugs, "Doesn't matter. Get a message to her. Keep an eye on her. We've stopped Dahok at every turn thus far, but keeping her safe could make him alter his plans even more." Hercules nods, "I'll try. Where am I? It doesn't look like Greece," he says, motioning to the background in the vision. Xena and Ares both glance, neither having noticed before. Xena scrunches her brow, "I kind of reminds me of..." "Sumeria," Ares finishes for her, "Gilgamesh's palace." She nods, then glances up at Hercules, "Stay away from Sumeria. Dahok has already been there. King Gilgamesh fought him and won, but at great cost. He lost his family, they were murdered in their beds." Hercules shakes his head, "Poor man. No one should have to lose their family." Xena nods, sad. Hercules looks up from the portal and eyes Ares, "Xena, I would like to talk to my brother alone before I leave." She glances between the two, uneasy, then nods, "No fighting," she orders, stepping out from between them. They both nod. She begins to retreat down the hall, "I'm going to grab a bite to eat," she announces.
Both Ares and Hercules watch Xena leave, then turn to eye each other once she's out of sight. Hercules glares, "So, what's the game this time?" Ares rolls his eyes, shaking his head, "No game." Hercules stares in disbelief, "Come on Ares! You're going to destroy her and I'm going to have to pick up the pieces. Can't you just leave her in peace?" Ares laughs, shaking his head, "I tried to walk away, she wouldn't have it." Hercules growls, "Is it a spell?" Ares shakes his head, "No, she wouldn't truly be mine if I had a spell on her." Hercules nods, "Then what? She's in love with you. When you move onto the next conquest it will destroy her, not that you care." Ares closes his eyes, trying to control his temper, "Xena is not a conquest, she is the war, a war that can't be won or lost." Hercules blows out a breath, "If there is any decency in you, leave her now, before it's too late." Ares shakes his head, "I'm not leaving her," he pauses, then continues, "I love her." Hercules stares, disbelief in his gaze, then shakes his head, "Play your game. But if you hurt her, not even Zeus will be able to protect you from me." Ares nods, "I'm letting that slide because you care about her. Do not threaten me, little brother." Hercules blows out a breath, "I'm keeping an eye on you," he warns, turning to the entrance. Ares nods as Hercules leaves the Halls of War, then waves a hand over the doors, closing them behind his brother's back.
Ares heads to the back of the Temple, searching for Xena. Rather than finding her in the banquet hall, he finds her in his room, sitting on the bed, legs crossed under her and a map spread over the bed. He enters, staring down at the map, "Where did that come from?" She glances up, "Strife." He nods, "What are you doing?" He asks, eyes darting over the circles, scribbles and x's. She points, "The x's are places Dahok has been, the circles are us." He nods, then points at the scribbles, "These?" "The visions," she answers, "We still haven't tied it all together. Chin, Jappa, Eire, and the Norse lands don't fit with anything. As far as we know Dahok hasn't tried to invade those lands yet and neither of us has any dealings with them." He shrugs, then shakes his head, "I can't explain it. We could go there, check things out. Maybe we can learn something." She shrugs, "Maybe. I have ties in Chin, Lao Ma would welcome us, we could see if she knows anything." Ares stares at her, then shakes his head, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Word hasn't gotten to you yet?" She looks up at him and shakes her head, "About what?" He sighs, "Lao Ma is dead. Ming's boy had her put to death, stirred up a lot of trouble a couple of months ago." She gasps, eyes darting down. He squeezes her shoulder, "I'm sorry." She nods, swatting a tear from her cheek, "That's it then. We need to go to Chin. I need to avenge her, stop Ming Tien before he destroys Chin." Ares shakes his head, "You kill Ming Tien and who will lead Chin? The houses of Lao and Ming will be gone, that leaves, what? The marauders? Khan?" She shrugs, "Doesn't matter, I owe Lao Ma." He nods, "Alright, we'll go, if it's what you want." She nods, moving to the closet and pulling out her armor, letting the dress slip from her shoulders to puddle at her feet. He stares at her, "Now? You want to do this now?" She nods, lacing the tunic, "No time like the present." She glances at him, "I don't expect you to understand." He nods, brushing her hands aside and lacing the tunic, "She helped you when you needed it. And you weren't there when she needed you. You feel guilty." She nods and quietly says, "If I had stayed with her in Chin, everything would be different." He nods, letting her slip on the leather bodice then starts lacing it for her, "True. No Alti, no Solan, no Hercules, no Gabrielle, no us," he says the last quietly. She turns in his arms, "I made my choices, I don't regret them." He nods, then opens a portal, "Chin," he says. She watches as a man, an older version of the boy in her memory laughs and orders a peasants execution for stealing rice for his family. She nods, "He's a monster." She grabs her breastplate, fastening it on quickly then reaches for her weapons. "Xena, what's the plan?" Ares asks. She doesn't pause in attaching her weapons, "Take me to Chin, I'll deal with Ming Tien on my own." He shakes his head, "You're not an assassin." She glares at him, then sighs, "I've trained assassins and I have to do this." He nods, "Alright," he says, extending a hand to her. She takes his hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena glances around the dark, dingy room, "Where are we?" Ares releases her and points, "Dungeons are that way. Throne room is two levels above us. Ming's bedroom is just south of the Throne room." She nods, "Where's Ming?" Ares pauses, then answers, "Dining hall with his advisors." She nods, "Too many eyes. I'll wait till he's alone tonight." She turns to Ares, "Come back for me?" He nods, "Are you sure about this?" She nods with a sad look. He nods in return, pulls her close for a kiss, then disappears. Xena stares at the spot where he had stood, then begins to sneak down the hall.
Carefully, she makes her way to Ming's room, staying in the shadows, using the decorations as cover. She spots Ming's room and eyes the guard in front of the door. Grabbing a rock from the pot that is her current shelter, she tosses it at a window, hitting the latch and making it swing open. The guard's head shoots to the window and he raises his weapon, approaching it slowly. She waits for him to pass, then rushes to the door and quietly opens it, letting herself into the room. She glances around the room, searching for more guards. Finding it empty, she smiles and begins to examine the room, learning about her enemy by the things in the room. Opening a chest, she finds Lao Ma's book buried under some old cloaks. She pulls it out and runs a hand over the now scared cover. She opens her mentor's book and begins to read her delicate script. She smiles to herself and lost in the words, she doesn't notice how much time passes until there is a noise at the door. She ducks behind a curtain as the door swings open. "Leave me," Ming orders. The guard salutes and retreats from the room, closing the door. Xena kneels, placing the book on the floor and draws her Chakram, eyes following Ming around the room. Ming moves to a table and begins to remove his jewelry. She steps from behind the curtain and his head snaps up. Momentary confusion flitters across his face, then he smiles, "Xena." She nods, "Ming Tien." His eyes light up, "You've returned to Chin in her finest hour." She shakes her head, "Darkest hour," she corrects. He shrugs, "I don't see it that way. My father was a sentimental fool and Lao was controlled by his wife. But me, I am a leader, the leader this country so desperately needs." She shakes her head, "You are a murderer." He nods, "All great leaders are. You taught me that, Xena." She scowls, "It would have been better if you had learned nothing from that monster I used to be. You should have paid more attention to Lao Ma. She was a good woman." He laughs, "She was weak." Xena shakes her head, "She was the strongest woman I have ever met." He cackles, "Then what does that make me? I defeated her, killed her, executed her in front of the people myself." She shakes her head, sad, "She was your mother," she states quietly. He laughs, "I know. That's why I performed the execution. I knew she wouldn't use her powers to hurt her little boy." She shakes her head, sad. He laughs again, "You should be proud Xena. Look how strong you made me," he says, pointing to his chest in pride. She shakes her head again, "No, Ming Tien. I'm not proud. I'm disappointed. You had a chance to be a better man than your father and you ruined it. I'm here to stop you, to avenge Lao Ma." He cackles, motioning around the room, "Stop me? If you kill me, you will never make it out of here alive," he threatens. She raises her Chakram and sends it flying towards him, "That's a chance I'll have to take." His eyes go wide and he ducks the Chakram and turns to gloat at her. It ricochets off the back wall and returns to slice his throat. His eyes fill with shock as blood bubbles from his mouth. Xena grabs her Chakram as it passes her and wipes it on a curtain before returning it to her side. She collects Lao Ma's book and sits on the bed, holding it to her chest, "Ares," she says quietly. Ares appears, eyes going first to her, then the body on the floor. "It's done, then?" He asks. She nods, silent. He places an arm around her shoulders, urging her to her feet. She stands and leans against him, "Take me home," she says quietly. He nods, holding her around the waist and disappearing into the ether.
Ares arrives in his bedroom and releases Xena. She makes no move. He looks her up and down, "You alright?" She nods quickly, "Fine. I took care of Ming Tien." He nods, "What's that?" He asks, motioning to the book. She glances down at the book in her arms and smiles, "Lao Ma's book of wisdom. It was her life's work." He nods and reaches for it. She releases it and he sets it on the table in the corner, flipping through a few of the pages. He nods, "Smart woman." She smiles, reading over his shoulder, "Yes, she was," she says, voice cracking. He turns, closing the book and gives her a soft look. He pulls her into his arms and her tears spill over. He rubs her back and her armor melts away, replaced by a thin silk gown. She glances up and gives him a tight smile, "Thanks." He nods and wipes the tears from her cheek, then motions to the bed, "Come on, let's go to bed. Things will look better in the morning." She nods and follows him to the bed. He lays down, pulling her into his arms. She pushes off his chest, "The visions?" He shakes his head, "Let me worry about them. Just rest." She nods, laying her head on his chest. He wraps his arms around her and feels her go lax against him. He smiles and sighs, trying to fight the Fates and their hold.
Ares loses his battle with the Fates and the visions begin. Ares talks to Athena, "Have you considered that maybe this prophecy is fulfilling itself?! Think about it. What can Xena's baby do to us? Really? Yet the more we fight amongst ourselves about the future of this one tiny child, the more vulnerable we become." Xena kneels in a field of grass, a tree standing above her, "Eli, wherever you are, I know you can hear me. I'm having a little trouble understanding your message, Eli. I'm a warrior. I have a warrior's heart and yet, you told me to, to fight my enemies with compassion instead of the sword. Well, now I find I have to kill my own daughter, my own flesh and blood. Is this what you meant when you said I must love my enemy? Show me another way." She pauses, "Where's your infinite love?" Ares and Xena stand in a forest at night. Ares says, "There is no going back, Eve has seen to that. I have a short span of time, and then," he pauses and snaps his fingers, "I'm gone." Xena gives him a sarcastic smile, "Well, you'll forgive me if I don't wear mourning." He grabs her hands, folding them in his, "The question is do you forgive me? I wanna be with you, Xena and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen, prove myself, to make you trust me." Ares stands between a scantily clad Xena and Gabrielle, both stroking his chest while a crowd watches. Dead bodies in white robes litter a forest floor. A boy lays in a puddle of his own blood, "It's from outside this world. A thing of evil. An incarnate darkness." Ares and Gabrielle sit in a dark house in front of a fire. Gabrielle says, "Ares, when you gave up your immortality to save me and Eve, that was, that was quite a sacrifice. Thank you." Ares turns to her, "If Eve had died, and Xena lost her power to kill Gods, then Athena would have killed Xena, so I was saving Eve to save Xena. You were an afterthought." Ares jerks, trying to wake and slowly opens his eyes, pulling from the visions. He inhales deeply and pulls Xena closer. She moans in her sleep and he smiles, stroking her back and slowly falling back to sleep.
Xena wakes with light poring through the window. She glares at it and pushes up, staring down at Ares. She scrunches her brow, glancing back at the window, then him sleeping peacefully. She leans forward and brushes her lips across his, then lays back down, crawling over him to lay with her back blocking the window. His eyes shoot open and he rolls to face her. A guilty look covers her face, "I didn't mean to wake you," she says quietly. He shakes his head, "It's fine. You alright?" She shrugs, "I will be." He nods. She gives him a curious look, "No visions?" He shakes his head, "I still had them. They weren't as powerful as previous ones. I woke and they stopped. I think the Fates are backing off. Maybe they're running out of things to show me." She shakes her head, "Don't say that. They'll take it as a challenge." He laughs, "You're probably right." He pauses reflecting back on the visions, "We should go to Eire, talk to the Druids." She scrunches her brow, "Why? What did you see?" He opens a portal and she watches the visions, leaning forward when the dead bodies are shown. Ares pauses the visions on the scene of the boy, "He's a druid, Mabon I think, not sure though. I don't usually deal with them." She nods and the visions begin again. They begin to repeat and Ares closes the portal. She smiles at him, "We name her Eve." He nods, "And somehow she gives you the power to kill Gods." She nods, then scrunches her brows, "Do you think it has something to do with the Light Chakram? I was able to remove it from the altar." He nods, "They're related, I'm sure of it." She nods, reflecting back on the visions, then shakes her head, "Let me eat, then we can go to Eire." He nods, rising from the bed and pulling her up behind him. Both are clothed immediately. She smiles in thanks and they leave the room, heading towards the dining hall.
Xena enters and fills a plate, then sits next to the fire. Ares follows sitting across from her. He watches her eat, "I don't have connections in Eire. We'll have to do things your way." She smiles around a bite a food and nods. Swallowing she responds, "Or you could show off and get their attention." He stares at her, "Show off? Me? Never." She smirks and shakes her head, chuckling. He watches her, "I could deal with it on my own, you know? You could stay here, rest for a bit," he suggests. She gives him a doubting look, "I'm fine." He raises an eyebrow and she scowls, "Seriously, I'm alright. I did what I had to do and I'm fine with it." He nods, "I never said you weren't. I just thought you might need a day to rest, after all you are mortal." Her jaw falls open, then snaps shut, "Are you afraid that I won't be able to keep up?" He rolls his eyes, "No, just thought I'd offer. So where do you want to arrive? Town? Shoreline? Forest?" She shakes her head, allowing him to change the topic, "I don't know. I guess a village, maybe they would be able to direct us to the Druids. What do you know of the Druids?" He shakes his head, "Not much. They're mortal unlike Gods and they live in and worship nature and represent certain qualities, peace, justice, wisdom. Eire has their own pantheon as well, but I haven't seen their Gods, just the Druids." She nods, "Do they have a War God? Someone who would be interested in helping us?" He shrugs, "Badb and I have never worked together, we've never spoken. I've never gotten involved in the affairs of Eire, Gaul is as far as I usually go." She nods, "I skipped Eire too. It was too similar to Greece, nothing but land and ocean. I didn't see any need to waste my time conquering them when they had nothing of value to offer. And Chin seemed so much more interesting." He nodded, "Maybe it's a good thing. We'll be strangers there, no grudges. Maybe they'll be more prone to help us." She nods and sets her empty plate on a side table, "Let's go." He nods and grabs her hand, disappearing into the ether.
Ares and Xena step out of the ether near a small fishing village on the coast. Several fishermen and young children stop what they are doing to stare. "Show off," Xena accuses quietly. Ares smirks, "Hey, a little respect can go a long way." A man approaches, arm extended in greeting, "I'm Bronagh." Xena takes his arm, "Xena," she jerks her head towards Ares, "Ares, God of War. We're from Greece." Bronagh stares in awe, then shakes his head, "Badb will not appreciate you trespassing, War God." Ares shrugs, "I'm not here for her. We're looking for a dark God, not of this world, Dahok." Bronagh shakes his head, "The only dark God we have here his Kernunnos and his bitch Morrigan." Xena gives him a concerned look, "What are they doing?" Bronagh starts to reply but Ares interrupts, "We're not here to get involved in their problems. We need to stop Dahok," he reminds her. She nods, "Yes, but if we can help, we should." He scowls, then motion for Bronagh to continue. He smiles sadly, "Morrigan is hunting the Druids for Kernunnos. If she finds them and kills them it will be the end of Eire." Ares gives the man a doubting look. Xena looks interested, "We heard that Dahok was after the Druids as well. Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but they're just mortals. Why are they so important to Eire?" Bronagh nods, "You are right, they are mortal like myself or any other man. They have trained their whole lives for their rolls and have been gifted with a keen understanding of the world and its inner workings. Each druid represents something, knowledge, justice, faith, if they were to die, we would lose that spirit with them unless someone else accepts that responsibility." Ares roll his eyes, "That's insane. Why would your Gods trust a mere mortal with something so important?" Barongh looks up at the sky, "It is the will of the Great One, the one above the Gods. It's not their place or ours to question His will." Ares shakes his head, "What a backwards country." He turns to Xena, "Let's find the Druids and see what they know about Dahok. The sooner we deal with them, the sooner we can go home." She gives him an annoyed look, "Morrigan's goal is the same as Dahok's. We should stop her." He scowls, "You're not going to take no for an answer are you?" She flashes him a smile and shakes her head, "No." He closes his eyes and shakes his head, then waves his hand in the direction of the village, "Alright, take us to Morrigan." Bronagh nods, "We appreciate your help, please, come, stay in my home. Morrigan attacks on a regular basis, searching for the Druids." He leads them to the village. Ares and Xena follow close behind.
As they enter the village, many turn to stare, murmuring about the new comers. By the time they have reached Bronagh's home, a trail of villagers are following them. Xena spins and stares at the people. There is fear in their eyes and hope. "We'll do what we can to help, to save the Druids. But we need their help too. Please, if any of you know how to contact the Druids, do so now," she says, before walking into the small house. Ares follows her inside, ducking under the low doorframe. Bronagh motions to the fire and a small woman with dark hair, "This is Kara, my wife. The Druid of Wisdom, Mabon, he looks in on this village often. If any of the townsfolk see him, they will bring him to us." Xena nods, glancing around the small, cramped house, "Kara, your house is lovely." The woman smiles nervously, then eyes Ares. Xena elbows him and he jerks, "Yeah, real nice." He turns to Bronagh, "What can you tell us about Morrigan?" Kara inhales sharply, then turns back to the fire, stirring something over the low flame. Bronagh rubs her back, then motions to the table, "Please sit," he directs. Once Xena and Ares have sat, he begins to answer the question, "Morrigan is a half God, daughter of Badb and consort to Kernunnos. She has powers and abilities far beyond that of a mortal. She is an amazing warrior, worthy of her mother's blood." Xena nods, "You mentioned powers, abilities, what did you mean?" He stares at his hands, shaking his head, "She can lift a grown man from his feet, send him flying like he was a sack of flour. And her speed, it's astonishing. It's impossible to keep your eyes on her. One second she's on one side of the village, the next she is behind you." Xena scrunches her brow and turns to Ares, "Transporting?" He shake his head, "No half-blood has control over the ether, it's unheard of." Bronagh buts in, "The earth in her path is disturbed, trampled." Ares nods, "I haven't seen a half blood with extreme speed, but strength isn't uncommon. Does she have other abilities? Can she make things manifest? Or levitate objects? Does she have the gift of fire? Lightening? Ice? Control over the elements?" Bronagh shakes his head, eyes going wide, "Is that possible?" Ares nods, "Possible? Yes. Common? No." Xena asks, "Does she have an army?" Bronagh shakes his head, "She has no need for one. She fights like a fiend, like she is possessed." Ares raises an eyebrow and Xena nudges him. He turns to her with a smile, but before he can respond, there is a knock on the door.
Kara leaves the fire and opens the door, letting an older man enter. Bronagh smiles at the man, "Conner, what brings you here?" The man shakes Bronagh's hand, then turns to Xena and Ares, "A Druid, Mabon, is here. He wishes to speak with you, but not here. He wishes for you to meet him in the forest. He says it is safer there." Xena nods and rises, heading towards the door. Ares follows her and turns to Conner, "Take us to him." Conner nods and opens the door. Xena turns back briefly, "Thank you Bronagh. When we're done with Mabon, we'll return to help with Morrigan," she promises. Bronagh nods, arm around his wife's waist, "May the Spirit go with you." She nods and she and Ares follow Conner.
Conner leads them deep into the forest, then turns back in the direction they had come from, "Mabon knows you are here, he will come to you." Xena nods and he leaves. Ares glances around, eyebrow raised, "Creepy." She smirks and nods, then turns sharply, sword drawn. Ares turns and stares at the boy from his visions, "Mabon?" The boy nods and Xena sheaths her sword. She stares him up and down. He returns her stare, "You are surprised." She shakes her head and he nods, "You have already seen me, why be surprised?" Ares steps forward, between them, "How do you know what we've seen?" Mabon stares up at him, "My future is no secret to me. I know my fate and yours and that of the whole world." Ares shakes his head, "The future is in constant motion." Mabon shrugs, "Maybe, War God. Or maybe not. Maybe all you have done, suffered, endured will be for nothing." Xena snarls, "Then what's the point?" Mabon turns to her, "The journey." Xena groans shaking her head. He smiles, "Thus far hasn't this journey been better than the one you witnessed in the visions?" Ares nods, turning to Xena, "The munchkin has a point." She shakes her head, then turns back to Mabon, "How can we stop Dahok?" Mabon closes his eyes, brows knitting together, then he opens them, shaking his head, "The path is clouded, murky. You have meddled in the affairs of many lands. Eire will not be one of them. Eire needs another hero, one with the blood of a God in his veins, but the heart of a mortal. He will balance the cruelty in Morrigan and bring unity to our lands. And we will heal his soul." He closes his eyes again, then opens them and turns to Ares, "You should leave now. You should let events unfold as they were meant to." Ares growls, "I don't like how things unfold." Mabon shakes his head and turns to Xena, "By siding with him now, you are preventing things from unfolding in the way that they must unfold." He pauses staring at her midsection, "You will doom us all." Xena shakes her head, "We're saving the world from Dahok and his evil." Mabon shakes his head, sorrow in his eyes, "You are doing much more than that." He pauses, then with a final sad shake of his head, orders, "Leave, Eire needs another." Xena scowls and turns to Ares, offering him her hand. He nods and takes it, disappearing with her into the ether.
Xena pulls from Ares and turns sharply, slamming her hand down on the altar, "Self-righteous brat," she yells. Ares raises an eyebrow and glances at the spilled weapons, "Feel better?" She snarls and turns to him, anger in her eyes. He stares at her expectantly and she sighs, shaking her head, "He should have let us help. If not with Morrigan then at least with Dahok. They will die." Ares nods, "They will and he knows it. Look, if you want to protect them, save them, we have to stop Dahok." She nods, going into his arms, silently. He strokes her back, "We'll find a way." She nods against his chest and pushes away, "I don't know what to do. We have no leads, other than Eli and he's turning into a dead end." He nods, "I know. I'm frustrated too. I thought Eire would have the answers." He opens a portal, the visions from the night before playing in his hands. Xena scowls when they finish, slamming her hand over his. He raises an eyebrow. She gives him an apologetic smile, "We're going around in circles, chasing something that isn't there." He nods reopening the portal and bringing up the image of Xena praying, "You're praying to Eli, to Dahok. You're going after our daughter. Something horrible must have happened." She nods, staring at the image, "I don't know what could have led me to that. I would never hurt my own child. And I would never side with Dahok and his minion." He nods, snapping the portal closed, "Maybe you didn't know Eli followed Dahok." She shrugs, "Maybe. Still doesn't explain why I'm going after Eve." He shrugs, then smirks, "Maybe she inherited some of my…nastier qualities." She eyes him, "Uh huh. So, she takes after you and I decide it's easier to kill her than to help her overcome her darker side? Makes perfect sense." He holds his hands up, "Just a suggestion." She rolls her eyes, shaking her head and scowling. She moves away from him, heading farther into the Temple. He follows her to his room and watches her sit at the table and silently start to flip through Lao Ma's book. He watches for a moment, then lays a hand on her shoulder. She glances up, giving him a questioning look. "I'm going to check on some Temples, make sure Strife hasn't screwed anything up. Will you be alright on your own?" He asks. She nods, turning back to the book. He stares at the back of her head, concerned, then leaves in a flash of light.
Xena turns to stare at the spot where Ares had stood and smiles a little. She closes the book and rises from the table, going to the closet. She removes her armor and replaces her leather with a red dress made of silk that drapes over her body. She lounges back on the bed, "Strife," she calls. The Godling appears and gives her a nervous smile, "Xena," he greets. She smiles, "Working?" He nods slowly, "Just like Unc said," he replies, glancing around the room. "He isn't here," she informs him, "You can relax." Strife's shoulders visibly loosen. "Why'd you call for me?" He asks. She shrugs, "I need to talk to Hera." Strife's eyes go wide, "Hera? Why?" He squeaks. She raises an eyebrow, "My business." Strife fidgets, "Can't Unc take you to her?" She shakes her head, "I didn't ask him, I asked you." He fidgets some more, "But Hera hates me," he whines. She scowls, "Strife," she says, in a harsh tone. He jumps, then nods, "Alright, alright. No need to get testy. Does Uncle Ares know about this?" She shakes her head, "Like I said, this is my business." Strife nods nervously and extends a hand to her, "Promise to be careful? Hera doesn't like mortals and Ares will skin me if you get hurt." She scowls, taking his hand, "I can take care of myself." He nods and they disappear.
Xena pulls from Strife's grip and glances around Olympus. He points left, "First door. I'll wait here." She nods and follows his directions, stopping and knocking on the first door. The door opens and Xena walks inside, turning sharply when the door closes behind her. "Xena," Hera greets, stepping into the light from an open window. "Hera," Xena returns, eyeing the Goddess. Hera scowls, "I should have known you were involved. Only you could distract my son for this long." Xena smiles softly, "I do seem to have a gift." Hera nods, "And what have you been doing to occupy him? As if I need to ask." She rakes a distasteful glare over Xena. Xena smirks, "We're hunting Dahok." Hera pauses, "His idea or yours?" Xena shrugs, "His, mine, ours. Dahok must be defeated and together, Ares and I are unstoppable." Hera nods, looking at Xena a little softer, "I see. And have you made progress?" Xena shrugs, "Some, but that isn't why I'm here." Hera shrugs, "I thought as much. So if not business and certainly not pleasure, then what is the nature of your visit?" Xena's hand shoots to her stomach, "Personal." Hera stares at her hand, eyes going cold, "What have you done?" Xena scowls, "Nothing the Fates didn't foresee." Hera's head shoots up, "The Fates? What do they have to do with this?" Xena shakes her head, "They don't matter. I need to know if my suspicions are correct." Hera snarls then motions to a chaise, "Lay down, mortal," she sneers. Xena gives her a dark look, then obeys. Hera places a hand over her stomach and closes her eyes. She pulls away, her eyes snapping open and gives Xena a threatening look, "You're as bad as that slut, Alcmene." Xena exhales sharply, hand returning to her stomach as she sits up. She takes a few breaths, then turns to Hera, "I love him." Hera inhales and stares at her, questions playing in her gaze. Her look grows hard, "You won't take him from me." Xena gives her a surprised look, "Take him from you? You're his mother, I have no desire to take him from you." Hera scowls, "Then what? Are you asking my permission?" She asks, with a laugh. Xena smiles, "Little late for that. No, I'm asking you to be a part of your grandchild's life." Hera scowls, "Granddaughter," she says quietly. Xena smiles softly, "I don't want you to hunt my child the way you have hunted Hercules." Hera's eyes go hard, then soften, "I know my son has feelings for you, has had them for years. When you left his service, I hoped that would be the end of it. Instead he became obsessed with you. If I turn from you and this…child, I will lose him and he is the only child that I can truly claim as mine. I love my son and would give the world for him. So, I will attempt to play nice with you," she pauses, then quickly adds, "So long as you give me the same courtesy." Xena nods and extends her hand, "You have my word." Hera stares at her hand, then clasps it gently before awkwardly pulling Xena into her arms. Xena returns the embrace, eyes wide, then pulls away. Hera purses her lips, "Congratulations, I suppose." Xena smiles, then knits her brows together, "What exactly should I be expecting?" She asks. Hera shrugs, "You've born a child before. The pregnancy and birth should be much the same. The child might develop faster, but thus far I see no evidence of it. How did you know? It's far too early." Xena shakes her head, "Just a feeling. Will Ares be able to sense the child? The way you did?" Hera nods, "Eventually, yes. But for now, unless he's looking, he won't notice. After all, he might be a God, but he's still a man, oblivious to everything," she says with a small laugh. Xena laughs quietly, then heads to the door. Hera grabs her arm, "If you leave him now, after this, it will destroy him. And then…You'll have me to answer to." Xena nods and shrugs out of her grasp, "I'm not going anywhere, not this time." Hera nods and allows her to leave.
Xena exits Hera's room and heads back to Strife. She finds him pacing the hall. Seeing her, his eyes light up and he rushes to her, running his hands over her and turning her around, "Oh by the Gods, you're alright!" Xena shrugs away from him, "Yes, I'm fine. Take me back to the Halls of War now." Strife looks passed her, eyes darting down the hall. Xena growls and he jerks back towards her, laying a hand on her shoulder and disappearing. He releases her and she glances around the bedroom with a smile. She turns back to Strife, "This stays between you and me, understand?" He fidgets, "I won't lie to Uncle Ares." She growls, grabbing a dagger from the wall and bringing it to his neck, "Between us, clear?" He holds his hands up and nods, "Crystal." She nods and moves the dagger, "Good," she says with a smile. He sighs and makes no move to leave. Xena points towards the door, "Go." He shrugs, looking nervous, "Can I at least know what's going on? I promise not to tell another soul." Xena shakes her head, "My business. Don't worry about it. Now leave, I'm going to change and if you see me naked Ares might hurt you." Strife's eyes go wide and he disappears.
Xena smiles and shakes her head. She places the dagger back on the wall and grabs Lao Ma's book from the table. She runs her hands over the cover, then pulls it close to her chest. "Rest in peace, my friend," she says quietly. She walks to the chest next to the wardrobe and opens it. Carefully she removes everything, then lays the book in the bottom, dragging a blanket from the bed and wrapping it over the book. With a sad smile, she returns her armor and the weapons to the chest, then sets the Hind's Blood pendent on top. Holding her Chakram necklace, she lets the lid fall closed. She places the necklace on the table next to the bed. Turning to the wardrobe she lets the dress fall from her shoulders. She hangs it up then grabs a silk robe and drapes it on. She glances around the room, then leaves, going to the banquet hall. She fills a plate, grabs a couple of goblets and a bottle of wine. With a smile she heads towards the baths.
Xena enters the baths and sets the plate and goblets next to the edge, then pours the wine. She inhales the dark sweet liquid with closed eyes, then sets the bottle aside. She allows the robe to fall from her shoulders and glides into the water. She adjusts herself, lounging against the edge, arms spread on the cool marble floor. "Ares," she calls. She waits a few seconds, then calls again. He arrives, "Xena, look, I'm a little…" He trails off and she smiles, "Busy?" She asks, pushing herself out of the water. His mouth goes dry and he shakes his head, "Not anymore." She smiles, sinking back into the water, "Good," she says, motioning for him to join her. He shakes his head and joins her in the water, leather melting away. She smiles and hands him a goblet. He takes it and raises an eyebrow, "Alright, so…What's going on?" She shrugs and sips from her glass before snatching at the food. He eyes her, "When I left you seemed upset." She holds up a finger, "Distracted," she corrects. He nods, "Alright, distracted, then. Everything better now?" She nods, "Much better," she says, moving the plate away from the edge and swimming into his arms, goblet still in hand. He holds her and moans when she wraps her legs around him. She smiles, setting her goblet down behind him and kissing him passionately. His goblet lands in the water as his arms fly around her, pulling her closer, running up and down her back. She smiles and he pulls away, head dipping to attack her breasts. She inhales sharply, arching against him, then shakes her head and pushes against his shoulder. He pulls from her breasts and kisses her. She returns the kiss, then again pushes against his shoulder. He pulls away with a confused look, "What? Not interested?" He asks, thrusting against her. She closes her eyes and moans, then shakes her head, "In a minute. First we need to get a few things straight." He sighs and releases her, "Go ahead," he says, looking frustrated. She smirks and returns to his arms, "So, we're going to have a child." He nods, "Yeah, I think we figured that out a while ago," he says impatiently. She runs her hands over his chest, "And things won't change. You know that right? I'm still going to fight, I'm not going to change who I am. I won't expect you to protect me, to fight my battles for me." He nods, eyes darting to her breasts, "Yup, gotcha," he says, clearly distracted. She sinks farther into the water and his eyes shoot to hers. "Ares," she starts. He sighs and runs a hand down her cheek, "I get it, you're a warrior, nothing's going to change that. And I'm the God of War, do you really think I would want you to stop fighting?" She smiles and shakes her head, "Men tend to go stupid in the head when their women are with child." He smirks, "I'm a God, we're different." She smiles, rubbing against him, "Don't feel too different to me." He growls, hands going to her hips, but she jerks from his hands and places a hand on his chest, "I'm serious about this." He nods and kisses her gently, "I know. Look, we'll talk about it later, when the time comes. No need to get worked up over it now. It's not like you're pregnant," he says with a laugh. She inhales sharply and his eyes snap to hers, "Are you?" She smiles weakly and leads his hand to her stomach, "Surprise." He stares at her, mouth hanging open, then lifts her from the water, placing her on the marble floor. She growls from the cold surface, "Ares." He holds up a finger for silence and places his hand over her stomach, eyes closing in concentration.
Ares' eyes snap open and Xena slides back into the water giving him a dirty look. He stares at her, silent. She shifts under his gaze, "Well?" "How?" He asks quietly. She laughs, pulling herself into his arms and wrapping her legs around him, "Isn't that obvious?" He smiles, then goes stiff in her arms, "The visions though. This isn't how it happens." She shrugs, "We changed things…again." He nods, then grows concerned, "The prophecy…the other Gods. This isn't good," he says, pulling away from her. She inhales sharply, "Excuse me?" He turns back to her, the concerned look growing, "They'll come after you, after her. Our focus needs to change. Forget Dahok, we need to protect you from my family." She growls, "I told you nothing was changing," she says, fists slamming into the water. He snarls, "That was before…" He starts, arms swinging wide. "That was five minutes ago," she snaps. He begins to respond, then stops, mouth opening and closing a few times. She smiles and motions for him to come near. He obeys, pulling her against him with a sigh. She tangles her hands behind his head, wrapping her legs around him, "Be happy," she says against his lips. He smiles, kissing her gently, arms sliding around her. She moans into his mouth, one hand wrapping in his hair, the other traveling down his chest, between their bodies. He pauses, pulling from her with a questioning look, "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She growls, "Oh by the Gods. This is what I was talking about. Even Gods go stupid in the head…." She trails off seeing his unamused look. She closes her eyes and sighs, "It's fine. You can't do anything you haven't already done." She returns to his lips, "Kiss me," she orders when he doesn't immediately respond. Gently, carefully, he kisses her. She growls into his mouth and rubs against him, hand once more traveling lower. He moans when she wraps her hand around him. She smiles, guiding him into her. He growls into her mouth and she chuckles, moving against him. She pulls from his lips, head hanging back, breathing heavy. He stares at her throat, eyes full of passion and attacks the skin, nipping and kissing the tender flesh. She moans, hands running through his hair, holding him close as she rides him. Close to the edge she gasps and grinds against him, inhaling sharply and exhaling with small groans. He snatches at her lips, catching them with his own, swallowing the sweet noises escaping her. Feeling her tighten around him and grow tense in his arms he thrusts against her harder. She inhales sharply, matching his motions, then screams in his arms. He joins her in release, eyes closed, peace surrounding them for the moment.
Xena lifts her head, smiling softly, "See? No damage done," she says, sarcasm dripping from the words. Ares gives her an annoyed look, then shakes his head and changes the subject, "I'm worried about my family. When word gets to them, they'll come after you, after our daughter. We need to find a way to stop them." She shakes her head, "We need to focus on Dahok first. If we don't stop him no one, anywhere will be safe, including our child." He growls and snaps a portal open. Eli walks down an empty, dusty road, "Fine then, let's kill him and get it over with. No Eli, no Dahok, no threat. Then we can focus on bigger issues." She shakes her head, impatience showing, "He isn't a threat yet. If we kill him before Dahok claims him, we risk Dahok choosing another. If we don't stop Dahok himself, we'll end up chasing random people all over the known world for the rest of our days and the visions will never end. That isn't the life I want for myself or our daughter." He nods, "Alright then, what do you suggest? I'm done sitting around waiting for the Fates to show us an answer they obviously don't have, it's time for action." She shifts from his arms and leans against the side of the pool, hand resting on her stomach, thinking. Finally she nods, "You're right, it is time for action. Dahok hasn't made a move here in Greece yet and he hadn't been to Eire either. But Sumeria took quite a beating and so did Britannia. We should go to one of those places, places he had a following, call him out and defeat him there." He gives her a questioning look, "Call him out? How? I really doubt we can just say, ‘Hey Dahok, we're ready to kill you now, come on out,' and he'll just pop up ready for us to run him through." She gives him an annoyed look, "We'll give him what he needs, a sacrifice," she says in a quiet voice. He gives her a surprised look, "I thought you didn't like that idea, it would make us too much like Dahok?" She shakes her head sadly, "I don't see another way, do you?" He thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, "No, I don't." He pauses, then continues, "This all started in Britannia, that's where we should end it." Xena nods, not happy, but resigned, "Alright. When? And who do we sacrifice?" He shrugs, "The sooner the better. After all, you're not going to get less pregnant the longer we wait." She nods again, "Tomorrow then. Still, who do we sacrifice? How do we make that choice?" She questions. He shrugs, "Does it matter? We need a Warrior Heart, I have access to plenty of warriors." She scowls, "You would sacrifice one of your warriors to Dahok?" He nods, "If it meant stopping him, then yes." He pauses for a moment, "What about using Eli? Dahok uses him in the visions, why don't we use him?" She glances at the portal still open in Ares' hand and gives him a doubting look, "I don't think he qualifies as a Warrior Heart." They watch as Eli trips and stumbles on the path. Ares shakes his head, "But Dahok found him worthy. I think it's worth a shot. And if it doesn't work, what have we lost?" She scowls, "We would have killed an innocent man," she shouts. He raises an eyebrow, "Yes, but innocent for how long?" She shakes her head, looking away, then slowly nods, "We'll give it a try. If it doesn't work, we use me. I'll be the sacrifice and when Dahok materializes, you kill him. At least then, the rest of the world will be safe." He grabs her arms and shakes his head, "Not an option." She gives him a soft look, "I don't see another way." He shrugs, pulling her into his arms, "We'll figure it out. But self-sacrifice isn't the answer. And if I think for one minute that you're going to attempt to harm yourself, I won't hesitate to leave you here and take care of things myself." She stiffens in his arms, then nods, "You're right. If sacrificing Eli to his master doesn't work, then we'll regroup here, go back to the drawing board." He nods, rising from the water and leading Xena from the baths, "Go rest for few hours. I need to return to Anthony for a bit, then I'll join you." She shrugs from his arms, wrapping her robe around herself, "I could go with," she offers. He shakes his head, "You need rest," he says, then points towards her midsection, "For the baby." She rolls her eyes, then nods, "Fine. Don't take too long, okay?" He nods and disappears.
Xena enters her room and collapses onto the bed. She tosses the robe towards the wardrobe, then burrows under the blankets. Tossing a few times she lets out an agitated breath. She rises and grabs a thin gown from the closet and drapes it on. Glancing around, she leaves the room and goes down the hall to the banquet hall. She collects a plate of food and sits in front of the fire, silently eating. Food gone and growing bored, she calls, "Strife." He appears in a flash of light and glances around nervously. "Just me," she says. He relaxes a degree, "You need something?" She nods, "Ares is dealing with Anthony, I want to join him." Strife looks around, nervous, "What does Ares think?" She shrugs, "Just take me there." Strife plants his feet, "No, I don't take orders from you." She raises an eyebrow, "Yes you do." He takes a step back and shakes his head, "I only answer to Ares." She growls, "Fine, what are you working on?" She questions. He doesn't answer right away and Xena raises an eyebrow giving him a hostile look. He takes another step back, "Overseeing offerings in Athens. The road is clear, people are offering their thanks to Lord Ares." She nods, then scowls, "Sounds boring." He looks offended, "It's important." She shrugs, "Take me to Eli then." He shakes his head, "Ares said he would deal with Eli, I'm not supposed to get involved. My job was to find him, that's it." He looks past her and his eyes darken and widen in fear. He stammers, "I wasn't doing anything, I swear." Xena follows his gaze and finds Ares standing in the doorway with a disappointed look. She gives him a small smile, "I called for him." Ares nods, "I know." He turns to Strife, "Leave. And Strife, I'm glad you know where your loyalties lie." Strife nods and disappears. Xena turns to Ares, "I was bored." He nods, "You were supposed to be resting." She shrugs, "How's Anthony?" He shakes his head and retreats from the room, "Fine. He and Octavius are on a boat to Egypt. It will take quite a bit of time for them to get there." She follows him into their room, "Do they have a plan?" He nods, "The beginnings of one. With Cleopatra's navy and backing they will have enough men to threaten Rome. With my backing and some extra men they should be able to eliminate the triumvirate with very little collateral damage. It all comes down to negotiation and patience." She nods, "More waiting." He nods, "Yeah, more waiting." He leads her to the bed and pushes on her shoulder, urging her to rest. She nods and lays down. He strips off the leather and joins her, pulling her into his arms. She relaxes in his arms and is soon asleep.
Ares slips into dreamland and at first there are no visions, then the Fates interrupt his peaceful slumber. He stands in a building with villagers all around and Xena and Gabrielle standing in front of him. Xena's heavily pregnant and looking annoyed. He smirks at her, "You, on the other hand, have been keeping yourself busy. I wish I'd known you were lookin' for a father." She glares at him, "I'm not." He raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Well, somebody clearly got the job." She smirks, "Yeah, Gabrielle," she says, jerking her head at her companion. Eli stands in front of Xena, a white light spread behind him, "Thank you Xena, for keeping my cause alive." The vision pauses and stutters, then Xena has a shocked look on her face, "It was you along? You gave me this child?" Again the vision pauses and stutters then Eli responds, "Love is the way." Xena stands in front of him in his Temple in Amphipolis. She gives him a look, "Olympus is doomed. Zeus is dead. And whatever happens here, their reign is over. Look, you want immortality? A child is immortality, a legacy, a lineage. You help me save my daughter and you will be her father. Through her, we can live forever." There is a brief clip of them standing in a dark Temple, facing the three Fates, Xena wearing a white dress and carrying flowers. It changes and they are standing on a tree branch watching armies approach. Ares speaks, "I'm more than willing to fight beside you, be a father to Eve, and to a child, of our own." Xena glares, "That's your game. Now that you feel you're checking out, you want a child to carry on your line." He shrugs, "I know it's not real immortality, but it's better than nothing. Besides mortals do it all the time. Why not me?" She snaps, "Because you're a conniving bastard! That's why not you." He responds, "Only because you never believe me when I'm trying to be sincere." "Sincere?" She questions, disbelieving. "I'm trying, OK?" He responds, then continues, "Every God on Mount Olympus is targeting you. Even now, three Temple armies are closing in. Now, all I'm asking, is your word we will be together, have a child, and I'll make all this go away. I swear." Ares jerks in his sleep and wakes. He glances at Xena, sleeping in his arms and rests a hand over her stomach, returning to sleep.
Ares wakes to the sun beating down on his back. With an agitated sigh the blinds snap closed over the window. Xena shifts in his arms, rolling to face him. She brushes her lips against his, "Mornin'." He deepens the kiss for a moment, then retreats. He gives her a dark look, "There were more visions last night." She sighs, saddened, "Were they bad?" He shrugs, "The child isn't mine, it's Eli's, Dahok's." She curls her lip up and retreats from his arms, sitting up, "What?" She asks, disgust in her voice. He sits next to her and opens a portal, "See for yourself." The visions begin to play and as they do Xena's face darkens. They begin to repeat and she waves her hand, scowling, "This makes no sense." He shrugs, closing the portal, "If the child was supposed to be Eli's, then we really have changed things, probably for the better." She nods, then shakes her head, "Mabon said we had doomed us all. I'm assuming that has something to do with my pregnancy." He nods, "I guess Mabon sides with Eli. Maybe he doesn't know Eli is Dahok's pawn." She gives him a doubting look, "That little brat knew I was pregnant and he knows the future, I'm sure he knows Eli works for Dahok." He throws his hands up in frustration, "Yeah, well, I don't have any other answers." She thinks for a moment, "The Knights of the Pierced Heart spoke of a child of the dark and a child of the light. Both would come into this world in a similar way. We know Hope was the child of darkness, evil. What if I was supposed to carry the child of light?" He nods, "It's possible. But still, the child would be a pawn of Dahok, capable of bringing him into this world." She nods, "I can't explain it. It doesn't matter now anyway. This child is yours and Eli will be dead by the end of the day, hopefully Dahok with him." Ares nods, "You still think this is the best approach?" She shrugs, "Not really, but I can't come up with another option and I won't have my child growing up in constant fear." He nods, "Alright, let's get going then. No time like the present." She nods and rolls from the bed, tossing the silk gown towards a chair in the corner. He stares up at her, "Or it could wait a few minutes," he says, giving her a hungry look. She smirks and shakes her head, then goes to the chest and begins pulling on her leather. He sighs and stands, leather appearing with a thought, then reaches into the chest and pulls out the Hind's Blood and the Stone of Creation. They both eye the items for a minute, then he tucks them into his vest.
Xena enters the banquet hall and begins to fill a plate. She sits in front of the fire and Ares sits next to her watching. She gives him a curious look, "There was a scene of us facing the Fates. There weren't any words or anything, but it looked important." Ares nods and brings up the visions in a portal, pausing it on the one she spoke of. He smirks, "That is a marriage ceremony, in front of the Fates. It's eternal and unbreakable." She nods, "I thought as much. It's…Interesting," she finishes quietly. He stares at her, eyebrow raised, "Interesting? I was thinking it was a good idea." She pauses, food midway to her mouth, then gives him a small smile before continuing her meal. He watches her, unsure, and shifts uncomfortably, "It would set a good example for the baby. And prove to Hercules and Gabrielle that we are serious. And it would give you and the baby some measure of protection from my family." She nods, still smiling a little and eating her meal, silently. He stares at her, "Say something," he orders. She purses her lips, "Are you asking or justifying? Because it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself." He smirks at her, "If I were asking?" She shrugs, "I don't play with what ifs. Ask and find out." He looks her over, searching for a clue to her answer. She purses her lips giving him a daring look. He smirks and pushes the plate from her hands, sliding from his chair to his knees in front of her and taking both her hands in his own, "Marry me?" He asks. She smiles and slides to kneel in front of him, nodding her head and biting her lips together. He smiles and claims her lips in a passionate kiss. She responds, then pulls back, "After we defeat Dahok." He nods, "Of course. Although the battle would be easier and less risky if you were already a Goddess." She pauses, inhaling sharply, "Goddess?" She questions, returning to her chair and grabbing her plate. He nods, "Yeah. You make that sort of bond, commitment to a God and there are perks. The bond is eternal which means you will need to be eternal, immortal." She begins to look nervous, "I've never wanted to be a Goddess, we've been through this before, more than once." He scowls, returning to his chair, eyeing her, "Just what did you think I was asking for? I want you to be with me forever, not just the few years that mortals live for." She nods, "I know, but I have friends, family. What about Mother and Solan? Gabrielle?" He places a hand over her stomach, "What about our daughter? Should she have to lose her mother when there is another way? And think of all the good you could do as the Goddess of War. Look at what you've done with Athens and Rome. Think of how much you could help with Strife and maybe with your help Deimos can be a God that I don't try to hide in a closet. And you could protect the people you love." She inhales sharply and sits silently, thinking and eating. He opens a portal of the visions. Xena is dragging a bleeding Gabrielle and has Eve hanging on her for support, "This wouldn't happen." He changes it to one of Xena resting in the ice coffin, "And neither would this." He changes it again to the one of Xena in the robes of a Shamaness, screaming over a funeral pyre, "Or this. You would have the power to stop it all." Xena watches the images, then nods slowly, "Not now though. I don't want to go into battle with powers I can't control. And I want a chance to talk to my family first." He nods, "But you are saying yes? To the whole thing?" She nods, flashing a bright smile, "I'm saying yes. I'm yours for eternity." He sighs, releasing a breath he'd been holding for a few minutes, then curls his lip, "I'll have to break the news to Mom and Zeus." She chuckles, "Should be an interesting conversation. But when they hear that we've defeated Dahok, together, they should take the news of our marriage pretty well." He shrugs, "Zeus will, I'm not sure about Mom. She might view you as a threat. I'm all she has, Zeus has seen to that." Xena smiles, thinking back to her conversation with Hera, "Give her some credit. I'm not stealing you away from her. I'm giving her a daughter and a granddaughter. And who knows? Maybe more." He gives her a hungry look, "More, huh?" She shrugs, "Eventually." He smirks, then points at her plate, "Hurry up, we have an evil God to stop." She nods and returns to her meal.
Meal finished, Xena rises and turns to Ares, "Alright, let's go." He shakes his head, "Not quite yet." He turns from her, "Strife, meet us in the weapon's locker." He turns back to Xena and extends a hand, "Come on, let's pick out some new toys. The death of the Great Ultimate Evil deserves a special weapon." She fingers her Chakram, then takes his hand. They appear in the weapon's hall and Strife takes a step back. "Uncle, Xena," he greets, nodding to each. Ares releases Xena and she begins to pick through the weapons, drawing a few to examine their blades and give them an experimental twirl. Ares watches her, then turns to Strife, "We're going after Eli and Dahok. I want you to stay here and take care of things. We shouldn't be long, but you have to keep an eye on Athens. Athena might try to rise against us in my absence." Strife nods, "Right, Unc. Got it. Don't worry about a thing." Xena passes them and Ares grabs her arm, forcing her to his side. She glares at him. He turns back to Strife, "From now on, her orders are to be treated as if they came from me, understood?" Strife nods. Ares glances at Xena, a question in his gaze, then his eyes dart to Strife. She rolls her eyes, but nods, "If he can keep his mouth shut," she says. Ares nods and turns back to Strife, "Can you?" Strife nods, eager to learn the secret. Ares gives him a warning look, "I'm serious, Strife." Strife nods again, "Lips are sealed." Ares nods in return, "Xena has agreed to be my wife and the Goddess of War and-" Xena interrupts him, "I'm pregnant." Strife's eyes go wider with each word, then he smiles and realization shoots into his eyes, "That's why you wanted to talk to Hera!" Ares turns sharply to Xena, "You went to my mother?" She nods, "I wanted to make sure I was pregnant before I told you." He gives her a dark look, "That was risky, too risky. She could have…" He trails off and Xena places a finger over his lips, "She didn't. We came to an understanding." He nods and she removes her finger, then turns to Strife with a harsh glare, "That was supposed to stay between us," she reminds him. He shrinks under her look, "Sorry. I'll do better next time," he says, looking like a scolded puppy. She nods, "You had better," she warns. Ares turns to him, "Leave now. Remember to check on Athens and keep your mouth shut." Strife nods and disappears. Xena stares at the spot where he had stood, "He's going to take a lot of work and patience." Ares nods, "Yeah, but we've got nothing but time." She smiles and motions around the room, "I grabbed a few daggers, but really there's nothing I need other than my sword and Chakram." Ares nods and walks to a small table, opening a decorative box and pulling out a gorgeous dagger with stones decorating the hilt. "Years ago, a King left this as an offering in one of my Temples, it had been passed down through his family for generations. He had no sons and not wanting it to go to his undeserving brother, he gave it to me. What he didn't know is that the dagger originally came from me, so many generations before his time that it had been lost to history. It is one of Hephaestus' daggers, very beautiful, very powerful. It was going to be yours till you left me. I've never found another worthy. Now, I think it's fitting that we use it to stop Dahok, together." She takes the dagger from his hand and examines it, then nods, "It's perfect." He nods, agreeing with her then offers her a decorative sheath. She sheaths the dagger then clips it to her waist, opposite her Chakram. She glances around the room, then turns to Ares, "Ready?" She asks. He nods and takes her hand, taking them both through the ether.
Ares steps out of the ether, Xena behind him, on a dirt road. Eli walks ahead of them, dragging a trunk behind him. Xena steps out from behind Ares and starts to approach Eli, taking careful steps, not making a noise. Ares follows her lead, approaching Eli on the opposite side. Xena approaches behind Eli and silently puts the pinch on him. He collapses to the ground, gasping, reaching for his neck, eyes wide, "What?" His eyes dart around, landing first on Ares, then Xena. Fear fills his gaze, "What do you want?" He chokes out, blood beginning to drip from his nose. Xena releases the pinch, "Now that we have your attention, we're here to stop your master." Eli sags to the ground, breathing heavy, hands rubbing his neck, "My master?" He asks with a weak voice. Ares nods, "Dahok." Eli looks up at him, "Dahok? I've never heard of him. You must have me confused with someone else. I'm just a magician, honest, I use illusions to bring people joy." Ares scowls, drawing his blade. Xena places a hand over his, "Wait," she says, then turns to Eli, "You haven't heard of Dahok?" Eli shakes his head and Ares advances, "He's lying," he says, then turns to Eli, "We saw you working for Dahok, we know you side with him." He begins to advance again, but Xena grabs his arm, "What if that hasn't happened yet?" Ares shrugs, "Doesn't matter, this has to done. We have to stop Dahok." Xena nods and draws her sword. She closes her eyes briefly, then shakes her head and scowls, "Not here. Britannia, like you said." She grabs Eli and holds her sword to his throat, "Don't move," she warns him. Ares sheaths his sword and places a hand on Xena's shoulder, whisking them to Britannia through the ether.
They arrive in the ruins of Dahok's Temple in Britannia. Eli falls to his knees, stumbling on the rubble. Ares stares down at him and shakes his head, then drags him to his feet by the shirt collar and ushers him to the remnants of the altar. He forces Eli to stare down into the depths of the hole and the man begins to shake in fear. Xena follows, "I hope this works," she says quietly. She draws her sword and nods towards Ares. He releases Eli and takes a step back. Eli remains in place, staring into the deep darkness, shaking in fear. Xena closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, "Here it goes," she whispers on an exhale. She raises her sword over Eli's neck and scowls at the sky, "Dahok, here me. With this sacrifice of your servant, I demand your presence. With this sacrifice of a Warrior's Heart, I let you into this world." She opens her eyes and with a harsh look brings her sword down over Eli's neck, severing head from body. His body slumps, blood spewing to the ground and the head falls down into the pit. Xena and Ares both wait and watch, eyes darting around, looking for Dahok. Finally, Xena's shoulders fall and she wipes her blade on Eli's robes, then sheaths it, "We were wrong, this isn't going to work." Ares gives her a dark look, eyes still darting around, "Patience, Xena. Something isn't right, something is changing." She unsheathes the decorative dagger from her hip and reaches into Ares' vest, removing the Hind's Blood and smearing it onto the blade, then returns the pendent to him. He removes the stone, curling his hand around it, keeping it hidden from sight. Both grow tense, ready for battle, ready for anything.
The skies of Britannia grow dark and the sun is blocked by a red moon. Xena's gaze darts upwards, "This happened when Hope was born." Ares nods and moves to stand closer to her, drawing his sword and looking around. Eli's body begins to glow on the ground and his head reattaches, appearing from nowhere. Slowly, he rises from the ground and brushes himself off, the blood flying from his form with the wave of his hand. He turns and a hideous sneer covers his face, "You," he growls, eyeing both Ares and Xena. Xena smirks, "Dahok," she greets coolly. He walks towards her, eyes raking over her, then he smiles, a cold wicked smile, "You're with child." He turns to Ares, "This must be your doing. Pity, I had such plans for you, Olympian." Ares shrugs, "Plans change, Dahok." Dahok gives a harsh laugh, "Now that I have human form, you can't stop me. I will take over the world, one land at a time. When I am done no one will stand against me. And I will start here, with you two." He moves towards Xena and Ares tosses the stone into the air, hovering it above Dahok, then forces the darkness in the sky to crack so a single light shines down on the stone. A blue light flies from the stone and Dahok falls to his knees, breathing heavy. "Weren't expecting that, were you?" Ares asks, breathing labored from the effort of holding Dahok's darkness at bay. Dahok screams, a mad angry scream then laughs, "It doesn't matter. The stone can only hold me for a time, then I will be free and there is nothing you can do about it. Xena points the dagger at him, "Want to place a bet on that?" She asks, letting him see the red liquid on the blade. For a moment, fear invades his eyes, then cockiness replaces it, "You won't kill me in cold blood. It isn't your way." Xena sneers, "My way changes when the people I love are threatened," she says. Fear returns to his gaze and he eyes her hand holding the dagger. "I can give you greatness, anything and everything you want," he offers. She scowls, "You can't offer me anything I haven't already gotten on my own." She shoots Ares a small smile and he returns it, then he turns to Dahok, "What else have you got, Oh Great Darkness?" Dahok shrieks and turns to Ares, "You could rule at my side," he offers. Ares laughs and shakes his head, "I'd rather rule at her side," he says, motioning to Xena. She smiles, then gives Dahok a dark look, "Leave this world and never return. If you do, we'll come after you, no matter where you are or when it is." Dahok gives a cruel mocking laugh, "Puny mortal, threatening a God older than the world. And how do you plan to chase me through time, mortal?" She smirks, "Dahok, meet the new Goddess of War. What's a little time to an immortal?" Fear clouds his eyes and he begins to struggle against the hold of the Stone of Creation, jerking from side to side. Ares brightens the light shining through the stone and Dahok stops moving, held in its beam. He turns to Xena, "It's time to end this." Xena nods, "For the future and for children everywhere." She stabs Dahok in the heart with the Hind's Blood coated dagger, then pulls away. At first, nothing happens and Dahok lets out a laugh. Then blood bubbles in his mouth and he chokes, spewing blood everywhere. Ares and Xena back away as the darkness of Dahok fades from the sky and the Stone of Creation falls to the ground and the blue light holding Dahok fades away. Dahok rolls on the ground and tries to pull himself to them, uttering words in another language. Then the light in his eyes fades, the blood spewing from his mouth turns into a sluggish trail and he freezes in place. The wind picks up, attacking them and Dahok's still form. It whips Xena's hair around her and as they watch Dahok he disintegrates and blows away, disappearing before their eyes. Ares stares at the spot Dahok had been, nothing remains now, not even the blood. He picks up the Stone of Creation and tucks it into his vest, "It's over," he states, not quite believing it. Xena turns to him, beaming, "It's over," she repeats, then stares at the dagger in her hand. Where there had been Hind's Blood and Dahok's blood mixed on the blade, it is now clean. She shows it to Ares and he smiles, wrapping her in a tight embrace. She pulls away and sheaths the dagger, "Let's go home," she says. He nods and pulls her close, kissing her and melting into the ether.
Xena pulls from Ares' arms as they arrive in the Halls of War. She glances around, then sighs, "I can't believe it's over," she says quietly. Ares nods and runs a hand down her arm, "Dahok is defeated, but it isn't over. We still have to deal with my family, the Twilight, our daughter." She gives him a small smile and shakes her head, "I don't think so. The child that was going to bring about the Twilight was Eve, Dahok's child of light, not our daughter. I think she might be safe." He gives her a worried look, then offers her a hand, "Let's talk to the Fates, see if they can give us a straight answer for a change." She nods and takes his hand.
They arrive in the Fates' Temple, the Loom of Time shining in the middle of the room while the three Fates group around it. Clotho turns to them and gifts them with a rare smile, "You have done well, War God." Ares nods, "It's done then? No more Dahok? No more visions?" Lachesis nods, "For a time." Xena scowls, "A time?" Atropos smiles widely, "A long time, Warrior Princess or should we call you Goddess of War?" Xena gives the three a hard stare, "If you know about that then you know I'm pregnant." They nod and her hand drifts to her midsection, "Is this the child of prophecy? The Bringer of Twilight?" There is fear in her voice, fear and worry. Ares pulls her against him, offering her both support and comfort. The three sisters smile at each other, then Clotho shakes her head, "You have saved us all. Not just from the dark one, but the God of Love as well." Lachesis butts in, "Everyone, everywhere owes you their thanks. You truly are the savors of the world." Ares sighs and squeezes Xena's shoulder. Atropos approaches and lays a hand on Xena's stomach then smiles, "Strong girl," she says quietly, "Like her mother." She removes her hand and stares at it, "And stubborn," her gaze shifts to Ares, "Like her father." Ares smirks and shakes his head, "I'm not the only stubborn one," he mutters. Xena elbows him and he chuckles. Clotho comes near, stopping in front of them, "There is a favor you wish to ask of us," she states. Xena nods, "Later we want to be wed, here, by you," she says, motioning to the three. Clotho nods, "It shall be done. Return when you are ready, but know that once this commitment is made, neither of you can break it, ever." Xena and Ares smile at each other and Ares nods at the Fates, "That's kind of the point," he tells them. Xena smiles then turns from the Fates, "Ready to go?" She asks Ares. He holds up a hand, "In a minute," he tells her. He turns to the three Fates, "Thank you. You didn't have to give the visions to me or answer any of my questions, you did and I'm grateful. If you ever need us, we're yours." Lachesis gives him a kind smile, "We will hold you to that, War Gods." He nods and offers Xena a hand, "Home?" He asks. She shakes her head, "Olympus." He inhales sharply, "A stop off first, then," he says, whisking her through the ether.
Xena glances around their bedroom in the Halls of War, then turns a questioning look towards Ares. He removes the Hind's Blood pendent, now mostly empty, and the Stone of Creation from his vest and places them in the chest. "Change," he orders, motioning first to her armor then the closet. She rolls her eyes, "Seriously?" He smirks and approaches her, "Yeah, seriously. This," he says, pointing from himself to her and back again, "Is not just business," he tells her, repeating her words from the other day. She smiles and chuckles, then begins to strip off the armor, leather, and weapons. He watches her, eyes darkening with lust. She notices and shakes her head, "Stop or we'll never make it to Olympus." He sighs and nods, relaxing onto the bed, watching her strut naked to the closet. He watches as she thumbs through the gowns in the closet, "Are you sure that you want to talk to my family first?" She grabs a burgundy dress from the closet and slips it on over her head, pulling it down to flow around her, "Yes, I'm sure. If any of them are going to cause us problems, I want to know now so we can make a plan to deal with them." He glances at the chest, "We've always got the Hind's Blood," he says casually. She glares at him and shakes her head. He shrugs, "Just a thought." She puts the Chakram necklace on, then turns to him, hands held up, "Well?" He nods and points at her waist. A sash appears, wrapped tightly, above her hips, "Attach the dagger, it's best to be armed around my family." She grins and slips the sheathed dagger into her waist band. Another wave of his hand and her hair piles on her head in an intricate display, "There. You look like a Queen." She struts into his arms, "But do I look like your Goddess?" He pulls her close and brushes his lips over hers, "Oh yeah, most definitely." She smiles against his lips, "Good, let's go." He nods and wrapping an arm around her waist, they disappear.
Cautiously Ares exits the ether and glances around Olympus, then pulls Xena out behind him. She immediately moves to his side, giving him a dirty scowl, "Don't try to protect me." He turns to her, anger in his eyes, "Right now, here, I will protect you and you will accept it. My family can be dangerous and unpredictable on their best days," he warns. She nods, "Alright, fine." She glances around, taking in the bright lights and the golden walls, "Where do we start?" He shrugs and closes his eyes, searching the ether for the majority of his family. Opening his eyes he points down a hall, "Main hall. They felt Dahok exit our world, they're waiting for us, well for me, but if there's a time when they'll welcome you, it's now." She nods and follows him down the hall. Ares stops at a large golden door. His hand goes to the lever, then he pauses and looks at Xena, "If any of them make a wrong move, I'm getting you out of there. Understand?" She nods, "It will be alright, don't worry so much." He growls, then shakes his head and swings the door open.
As they enter the room, there is applause that ends with shocked murmurs. Aphrodite continues to clap, then rushes and grabs her brother by the neck, swinging around him, "You rock, Bro," she squeals, then glances at Xena, "Nice job, Warrior Babe." Xena smiles and chuckles while Ares untangles his sisters' hands from around his neck. Aphrodite releases him, then turns to the rest of the family, "Like, wow, I thought we were gonna celebrate. What's with all the harsh vibes?" Athena steps forward, "Ares, why is your pet here?" Xena's eyes flare and she starts towards Athena, but Ares grabs her arm, pulling her back to his side and shaking his head. "Knock it off Athena," he orders. Athena scowls and moves to stand at Zeus' left. Hera, on his right, walks from the dais and pulls Ares into her arms, "Well done," she says quietly. He nods and wraps an arm around his mother. She pulls away and to the shock of all gathered, pulls Xena into her arms, "You are risking much," she warns. Xena nods against her shoulder, "I love him," she quietly replies. Hera turns to Ares, keeping her voice quiet, "What are your intentions here?" She asks, eyes darting from him to Xena and back. He leans close to his mother, "She's carrying my child. We're getting married, in front of the Fates. She's going to be my Goddess." Hera inhales sharply and turns a questioning look to Xena. Xena smiles, "I told you I wasn't going anywhere." Hera smiles and lets out a bark of laughter, making others in the hall jump, "That you did." She turns back to Ares, "You have my blessing." She eyes Xena and offers her hand to her, "Welcome to the family," she says. Xena takes her hand gently, then together with Hera and now Strife following them, they approach Zeus. Aphrodite comes to Ares' side, "I'm not sure what's going on, but you have my support, Bro." He nods and stares up at his father. Zeus looks down at him with pride and anger in his eyes. Zeus turns his harsh look to Xena, "She helped defeat Dahok that is the only reason she still stands." Ares growls and starts towards his father, but Xena grabs his arm, shaking her head. Zeus watches them, intrigued, "There is more here than meets the eye. What is going on…Son?" Ares raises an eyebrow, "So, now I'm your son?" Xena elbows him, "Play nice," she warns him quietly. Again Zeus gives them a curious look, "Well?" Ares inhales deeply, "What do you know about recent events?" He asks. Zeus exhales heavily, "Dahok is gone, defeated by your hand with the mortal's help." Ares nods, "The Fates sent me visions of a horrible future. A future where Dahok won and we were all dead or dying. They said I couldn't defeat Dahok alone, they were right. I asked for Xena's help, she didn't disappoint me. Now, Dahok is gone, we are all safe and Xena and I will continue to work together as the God and Goddess of War. I'm not asking permission, I'm telling you what will happen." Everyone in the hall erupts, talking over each other, eyeing Xena, some in wonderment, others with violence in their gazes. Ares shifts closer to her, taking her hand and preparing to pull her into the ether. Zeus stares down at them, anger in his eyes, and something else, something not definable.
Zeus waves a hand over the hall, "Silence," he orders and everyone stops talking, turning their attention to Zeus. Zeus points at Xena, "Approach, Mortal." She moves towards him, but Ares doesn't release her. Hera puts a hand on her sons arm, then leads Xena by the shoulder to Zeus. Zeus looks her over, noting Hera's protective hand still resting on her shoulder. "You are impressive, for a mortal," he compliments. She gives him a small smile. He extends a hand to her and she takes it, moving closer to him. Behind them, Ares shifts and Hera holds up a halting hand. Zeus smiles, "You are aware that once this is done, it cannot be undone? Once you are a Goddess, his Goddess, there is no going back. You will lose all your mortal family, friends. Are you prepared to give all that up?" Xena's free hand goes to her stomach, then she turns and looks at Ares. She smiles and turns back to Zeus, "I am." His hand follows hers to her stomach and he gives her a shocked look, "You carry the blood of Olympus within you." He pauses and glances at Ares, then turns back to Xena, "No wonder he's so protective." He releases her and turns to Ares, "Approach," he orders. Ares climbs the dais steps and stops next to Xena, placing a hand on the small of her back. He gives Zeus an expectant look. Zeus nods, "You have my blessing, on one condition." Ares scowls, "Name it." Zeus smiles, "You have to stop going after Hercules." He turns to Hera, "Both of you." Hera and Ares scowl and share a look. Hera gives a small nod and Ares turns to a beaming Xena. He chuckles, shaking his head, "Like she would have it any other way?" He says, motioning towards Xena. Zeus smiles and hands him a small satchel, "When the time is right. But do it before the babe is born." Ares nods and tucks the satchel into his vest. Zeus rises from his throne and motions for them to turn around. They obey and look out over the gathered Gods and Goddesses. Zeus makes a grand gesture with his arms, "Meet the soon to be Goddess of War, Xena. She's part of the family now, welcome her." He eyes Athena and Discord, "Nicely," he adds. Discord throws her hands up in disgust and Athena curls her lip. Everyone else stares and begins to quietly talk amongst themselves.
Finally the talk dies down and Aphrodite rushes up to Xena, wrapping her in a tight hug, "Kick ass!" She exclaims. Xena smiles and nods, eyeing Ares, hoping for an explanation. He shrugs, "Thanks, Sis." She looks between them, "I really wish I could take credit for this. This is like, the hookup of the century." Xena chuckles, "Yeah, well, no offense, but I'm glad you had no part in it." Aphrodite huffs, then wrinkles her nose, "I guess this is better," she admits. Athena pushes her way passed Aphrodite and approaches Xena, "I hope you have plans on how to tame him," she says, eyes darting to her brother. Ares scowls, but Xena grins, "I have many skills, Athena." Athena rolls her eyes, "You must to keep his attention for more than it takes to-." Ares cuts her off, "Athena," he warns. Her eyes dart to him and she smirks, then turns back to Xena, "Welcome to the family and good luck." She walks away muttering, "You're going to need it." Xena raises an eyebrow at the retreating Goddess and gives Ares and questioning look. He shrugs, "That's Athena being nice." She curls her lip and nods. Discord approaches next. She grabs Ares' arm and hangs from it, "Ares, if I play nice with the new toy, can I come back? Please? I'll make sure you won't regret it," she says, giving him a lusty once over. He removes his arm from her grasp, but before he can answer, Xena grabs the back of her neck, forcing her head back. Discord glares at her, then goes slack in her grasp. Xena releases her, "Leave quickly," she warns. Discord huffs, "You need lieutenants!" Xena turns to Ares. He shrugs, "We have Strife and Deimos. We don't need you." Discord's eyes go wide, "Deimos?" She shrieks. Ares nods, as the Godling in question approaches, looking surprised and a little scared. Xena looks him over, not impressed, then turns to glance at Strife. She turns back to Ares, "How do you tell them apart?" Ares looks the two over and shrugs, "Wardrobe, laugh, aura, you'll figure it out pretty quickly." She nods and they turn back to Discord. Ares scowls at her and takes a threatening step forward, "You've been dismissed Discord, get a new life, a new God to follow around and annoy." She huffs and storms away. Several other Gods and Goddesses approach, most just curious about Xena, a few genuinely happy to welcome her to the family. Xena smiles and goes along with it all, growing more and more tired. She leans against Ares and he looks over at her, then smiles and wraps an arm around her. He turns to his family, holding Xena against him, "Sorry to cut the party short, but we, uh, have our own party to get to." Many present giggle, including Aphrodite. She waves at them, "Have fun." Ares shakes his head and holding Xena close, disappears.
Xena sighs and falls onto the bed upon exiting the ether. Ares looks down at her, amused, "Tired?" He asks. She nods, "Very. Between Dahok and your family…" She trails off and he nods, "Yeah, they're something, that's for sure." She smiles and sits up, "That didn't go badly. You had me prepared for a battle." He smiles at her and sits, unlacing the back of the gown for her, "Yeah, well, we caught them on a good day. They were all relieved and grateful that we had stopped Dahok. Any other time and things might not have gone so pleasantly." He slips the straps from her shoulders and she stands up allowing the dress to puddle at her feet. Slowly she bends and picks it up, hanging it in the closet and retrieving a short, thin, black gown made of silk. She puts the gown on then smiles when she sees Ares watching her, lust in his gaze. "Food?" She prompts. He points at the table in the corner and a plate with meats and breads appear. She goes to the table, grabbing the plate and returning to sit on the bed. A bite of food in her mouth and another on the way, she points at his vest, "What's in the satchel?" He removes it from his vest and opens it, letting her see the contents, "Ambrosia." She stares at it and he holds it out to her. She shakes her head, "Not yet. I want a chance to talk to Mother first. I don't want her finding out about this the wrong way. She's found out about so much in my life the wrong way." She pauses, then asks, "Why does it have to be done before the baby is born?" Ares answers, trying not to make a face at the way she's shoveling food into her mouth, "As long as you become a Goddess before the baby is born, she will be born a Goddess, otherwise she'll be a half breed like Hercules. It's no way to live." She nods, then pushes the empty plate aside. Ares glances at the plate and it disappears. She smiles, "Thanks." He nods and shrugs out of his vest, then tosses his belt and sword towards the chest. He lays down and she curls into his arms, pillowing her head on his chest. She shivers and a sheet appears over them. He runs a hand through her hair, "Rest, we'll be dealing with your mother in the morning." She chuckles, "You have no idea," she says quietly. He smiles and holds her close, falling asleep when her body goes lax in his arms.
Ares wakes to Xena propping her head up on his chest and smiling down at him. He leans forward and brushes his lips to hers. She smiles and deepens the kiss, then pulls away, "Not a bad way to wake up." He nods, "Sleep well?" He asks. She nods, "And you? Are the visions truly over?" He nods again, "They're over. So, I know you want to talk to your mother, anyone else?" She smiles, "Well, we will be in Corinth and I should let Hercules know that we defeated Dahok. Maybe you could try to make peace with him," she suggests. He glares at her and shakes his head, "That's not going to happen anytime soon. I said I would leave him alone, not make peace with the mongrel." She lets out an aggravated sigh and rolls off his chest, opening the closet and thumbing through the gowns. He raises an eyebrow, "No armor?" He asks, sounding disappointed. She smiles and shakes her head, "Wrong message," she explains, simply. He nods and rises from the bed, grabbing his vest and belt from on top of the chest. She grabs a green dress and steps into it, pulling her hair to the side and turning her back to Ares. His eyes follow the length of exposed skin, then meet her impatient look. He smirks and begins to lace the dress, "Alright so you're going to talk to your mother and I suppose Hercules, what about Gabrielle and Solan?" She glances at him, "First, we are talking to my mother and Hercules, not just me. Let's see how it goes with Mom, then I'll decide if it's time to tell Gabrielle." He eyes her, "And Solan? As a Goddess you can protect him. You could be a part of his life." She looks down, sad, "He has a family, I can't take that away from him. Maybe I should tell him, maybe," she pauses then shakes her head, "I don't know." He wraps his hands over her shoulders, giving them a tight squeeze, "Come on, let's get going." She nods and he pulls her into the ether, taking them both to Corinth.
A surprised screech greets them as they step from the ether. Xena glances around and sees that they had arrived in the middle of the gardens, directly in front of her mom. She shoots Ares a look, "Show off," she accuses. He smirks. Cyrene smiles and rushes to hug Xena, then pulls away and eyes Ares before turning her attention back to her daughter, "Xena, it's so good to see you. And you look lovely, what's the occasion?" Xena smiles awkwardly and leads her mother to a bench, "You should sit down." Cyrene sits and Xena sits next to her, holding one of her hands. Ares stands in front of them and Cyrene glances up at him nervously. Xena eyes him and scoots closer to her mother, "Sit," she orders. He sighs and sits next to her an arm casually draping around her shoulders. Cyrene takes notice, then eyes Xena, "What's going on?" Xena's eyes dart to Ares, then return to her mother, "We stopped Dahok, it's over, you can return home." Cyrene smiles brightly, then her brow scrunches, "We?" She asks, eyeing Ares. He nods and Xena squeezes her mom's hand, grabbing the woman's attention. Cyrene nods, "Oh, the two of you? Together?" Xena nods, "Yes, together." Cyrene nods and she stares at Ares' arm, still draped around her daughter. She returns her attention to Xena, questions in her eyes, "Xena, has something happened?" Xena nods, "You could say that. Mom, remember when we were getting ready for dinner and you asked if there was a man in my life?" Cyrene nods, "A good man, I specified a good man, Xena." Ares scowls, "Well, isn't this going great?" Xena elbows him and shakes her head. He squeezes her shoulder, then looks at Cyrene, "I'm not that bad," he assures her. She gives him a disbelieving glare, "Oh, I'm sorry, but the last time I saw you, you were trying to convince my daughter to kill me." He shrugs, "Not my finest moment." Cyrene begins to respond and Xena holds a hand up between them, then turns to her mother, "We're getting married," she announces. Cyrene inhales sharply and her mouth hangs open, "Married?" Xena nods and takes her mother's hand, leading it to her midsection, "I'm with child," she adds. Cyrene's hand shoots to her mouth, covering a surprised gasp. She gives her mother a moment to take it all in, then gives her a concerned look, "There's more." Cyrene looks unsure, "More?" Xena nods, "Our marriage will be an eternal bond. I'm going to be the Goddess of War. Your granddaughter will be a Goddess." Cyrene doesn't react, just stares at Xena's stomach. Xena squeezes her hand and places her other hand on her mother's shoulder, "Are you alright?" She asks. Cyrene inhales sharply, suddenly nodding her head. She gives Xena an unsure smile, "This is what you want? He will make you happy?" Xena smiles and nods, "Very happy." Cyrene nods, eyes cast off to the side and remains silent for a moment. Finally she meets her daughter's eyes, "Alright. I want to talk to my new son-in-law," she pauses, then adds, "Alone." Xena nods and rises, "I skipped breakfast, I'll be in the kitchen." Cyrene nods and Ares eyes her, looking like he had been thrown into the lion's den.
Both Ares and Cyrene watch Xena until she fades from sight, then Cyrene turns to give Ares a dark look, crossing her arms over her chest. He eyes her crossing his own arms, "Yes?" She glares, "You hurt her," she accuses. He starts to object, explain, but she holds up a hand, "She doesn't speak of it, but I've heard the stories. I know I'm just a mortal but if this is some scheme, some new way to hurt my daughter, I will come after you. Am I making myself clear?" He eyes her, trying to hide a smile, "Crystal." They sit in silence for a moment, then he continues, "It's not a scheme. I love her." She nods, "You had better," she warns. She stays quiet for a moment, then her look softens a degree, "Xena has always been difficult." He chuckles and she continues, "It's made her life hard and miserable at times. If being with you can make her life better, make her happy, then I support you two in this." He nods, "I appreciate that, she will too." She gives him a questioning look, "Will I get to be a part of my granddaughter's life? I mean will that be allowed?" He laughs lightly, "Xena would have it no other way, I'm sure." She smiles and laughs to herself, shaking her head, "You're going to have your hands full with her," she warns. He nods, "I know." He eyes her for a moment, "How did you survive?" He questions, looking her up and down. Cyrene smiles and laughs, patting his arm, "Lots of patience and maybe a little luck," she confides. He laughs with her for a moment, then motions towards the Palace, "If you're done threatening me, we should find Xena." He rises and offers her a hand up. She smiles and accepts his hand, then allows him to lead her into the Palace.
Xena looks up from her plate and sees Ares leading her mother into the kitchen. She smiles, "Everything alright?" She asks, eyeing each of them. Cyrene smiles and rushes to her side, wrapping her in a tight hug, "Congratulations." Xena smiles, returning her mother's embrace, "Thanks, Mom." Cyrene pulls away and eyes Xena's midsection for a minute, then shakes her head. "So," she starts, "The wedding, when? Where? Am I invited?" Xena glances at Ares and he gives a small shake of his head. Xena turns back to her mother, "It's a private ceremony, in front of the Fates. It'll just be us." Cyrene looks disappointed, then shrugs, "Well then, the wedding feast will be at the inn and I will not take no for an answer. Is that clear?" Xena nods, eyes wide. Cyrene turns her stare to Ares. He holds his hands up, "No argument from me." She nods, "Good. Speaking of my inn, I need to be getting back to it. I'll go pack." She turns her full attention to Xena, "Hercules is upstairs, main hall, last I saw. Talk to him." Xena nods, "Alright, Mom. How long do you need to pack?" Cyrene shrugs, "Not long. Queen Rena supplied most of my clothes while I've been here, so mine stayed packed. I only unpacked a few personal items." Xena nods, "Come on down when you're done. We'll take you home." Cyrene pats her arm, then leaves the kitchen. Ares stares after her, "She's a scary woman, for a mortal. I see where you get it from." She smirks at him, then grabs a biscuit and leads him from the kitchen.
Hearing a noise in the hall, Hercules pokes his head out of a sitting room and smiles at Xena, then scowls seeing Ares at her side. Xena squeezes Ares' hand, then releases him and rushes to give Hercules a hug. She pulls out of his arms and beams at him, "We did it," she says excitedly. He stares at her, mouth agape, "Defeated Dahok?" She nods, "He's gone, for now. He'll be back eventually, to try again, but it will take him quite a bit of time." Hercules smiles, "Congratulations, that's amazing. How did you do it?" Xena glances back at Ares, "With help." Hercules follows her gaze and eyes his brother, unsure, "You followed through? I'm…Surprised, pleasantly so." Ares rolls his eyes and shakes his head, refraining from stirring up trouble, "Yeah, well, I'm just full of surprises, huh Little Brother?" Hercules growls and takes a step forward. Xena's hand bolts out and halts his progress, "Enough," she orders in a hard voice. Hercules turns to stare at her surprised. Ares gives her lusty look. She smirks at him, then turns to Hercules, "We all need to talk. Let's sit down," she says motioning to the room behind Hercules. He nods and opens the door widely, allowing them to follow him in. Xena glances back at the door, then her eyes dart to Ares. He nods and waves a hand over the door, making it close on its own.
Hercules sits on a couch and Xena sits opposite him. Ares begins to walk behind Xena, intending on standing over her, but she grabs his arm and urges him to sit next to her. Hercules eyes her hand, resting on his brother's arm. He scowls, "So, this is still going on?" He asks, pointing back and forth between them. Ares chuckles, "You could say that." Hercules growls and Xena holds her hand up, motioning for silence. Ares relaxes into the couch, draping one arm around Xena and resting the other on her thigh. Hercules eyes the hand, then looks up at Xena, "Can we speak, privately?" He asks, eyes darting to Ares. She shakes her head, "Not this time." He scowls, "Xena, you need to listen to me. I know my brother." She feels Ares tense and places a hand on his leg, giving a small shake of her head. She squeezes his leg, then returns her attention to Hercules, "We're getting married." His mouth falls open, then snaps closed with an audible clack as his teeth hit. He scowls, "Over my dead body." Ares chuckles, "That can be arranged." Hercules starts to respond, but again Xena throws her hand up, "Enough," she says, slightly exasperated. She eyes Hercules, "You have no say in this, understand?" Weakly, he nods, eyes cast down. "The wedding will be in front of the Fates, you know what that means," she continues. His eyes shoot up, first looking to her, then Ares, "It's eternal, unbreakable." Quietly he adds, "To betray your spouse is to betray yourself." He gives Ares a questioning look, unable to find an argument. Ares smirks at his confused brother, "I have a thing for her." Hercules scowls, then turns his attention to Xena, "Your mortal, how does that work?" He questions. She gives him a small smile and starts to answer, but Ares beats her to it, "She's going to be my Goddess, Hercules. How did you think it would work?" Xena elbows him and he smirks, turning to her, "What? He asked a stupid question." She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, "Tact." He shrugs and they both turn to stare at a silent Hercules. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, then sighs and eyes Xena, "A Goddess?" She nods, "Yeah." He turns a dark look to Ares, "I suppose that was your idea?" Ares nods, "It's the only way." His hand moves from her thigh to her waist, "She's with child. If she's going to be my wife and the mother to my child, then she should be my Goddess as well." Hercules stares at her midsection, then his eyes dart up to Xena's, "You're with child?" He asks softly. She nods. He sighs, "Have you really thought about what this will mean for you? For your child?" She nods, "I've made up my mind. And maybe things won't always be easy and we won't always agree, but that's okay. We love each other and we're going to be a family. That's all that matters." Hercules sighs and closes his eyes briefly, "There's nothing I can say to change your mind?" He questions, eyeing Xena. She shakes her head, giving him an annoyed look. He nods, then extends a hand to her, "Congratulations." She beams at him and takes his hand. He shakes her hand briefly then releases it and turns to his brother. He offers Ares his hand, "Congratulations, Brother." Shocked, Ares takes his hand, "Thanks, Hercules." Hercules nods and adds on, "Hurt her and I will chase you down and make you suffer for eternity." Xena chuckles and shakes her head. Ares just smiles at the possibly not so idle threat.
From the door Cyrene smiles and laughs, "Well, that's a start." They all turn their attention to her. She enters the room, carrying a couple of bags. She sets them down and sits on a chair, looking concerned. Xena gives her mother a look, "What is it?" Cyrene's look turns guilty, "Xena, I've been talking to Solan. I told him that I'm his grandmother." Xena's eyes turn dark and distressed, "Mother! You promised." Cyrene's hands shoot up in a calming gesture, "Now, now. I didn't tell him that you were his mother. I told him you were his aunt and that my younger, deceased daughter was his mother. I couldn't come up with a reason for the interest you and I were showing in him without admitting a family tie of some sort. He wants to live with me in Amphipolis. He's a good boy, doesn't want his grandmother living alone, taking care of an inn all by herself. Kaliapus is fine with it, feels that it is a good move for him. Are you comfortable with it?" Xena sits for a moment, taking in a deep breath, thinking, then nods, "That's a wonderful idea, Mother. I don't like you being alone either. I wish you would have discussed this with me first though." Cyrene lets out a deep breath, "Would you like me to tell him?" Xena shakes her head, "No, I'll tell him myself. Where is he?" Cyrene points in the direction she had come from, "His room, packing, I'm sure." Xena rises and so does Ares. She glances at him a question in her gaze. "I need to talk to Kaliapus real quick. Let him know it's safe to return home and that you will be the new Goddess of War." She nods, "Of course." She glances back at Hercules, "Do me a favor?" She asks. He nods, "Anything." She smiles, "Get Argo ready for me." He nods, "Of course." She smiles, "Thanks Hercules." She turns to her mother, "We'll be back real soon, then we'll take you and Solan home." Cyrene nods, "Sounds like a plan. I'll be in the kitchen, packing a meal to go." Xena nods and leaves the room with everyone following her, then heading in their separate ways.
Xena makes her way up the stairs and knocks on Solan's door. There's rushing behind the door, "Just a minute," she hears. She smiles, then the door opens. Solan's eyes go wide. "Xena!" He shouts then throws his arms around her. She smiles and returns his embrace. "Solan! It's great to see you." She releases him and ushers him back into the room, "Are you all packed and ready to go?" He shakes his head, "Almost." He gives her a nervous look, "So, um, I know the truth. I hope it's okay." She smiles and nods, "I wanted to tell you myself. I just didn't know how, sweetie." He nods, "It's okay. I understand. Can I call you Aunt Xena? Is that okay?" She nods, "It most definitely is, Solan." He smiles at her and moves to the closet, opening it wide and tossing his items into a bag, "Did you save the world? Has Dahok been defeated?" She nods and smiles, "Yes, Ares and I defeated Dahok, the world is safe now. Solan there's more. Could we sit down for a moment?" He nods and sits on the bed. She sits next to him and gently takes his hand. "Aunt Xena, what is it?" He asks, giving her a concerned look. She smiles at him gently, "Ares and I are getting married. I'm going to be the new Goddess of War and I'm going to have a baby." He smiles happily, "That's great!" She smiles, "I might need a babysitter once in a while." His eyes widen, "Me?" She nods, "If you're up to it?" He nods, excited, "Oh yes!" He looks down for a moment, then glances back up at her, a question in his gaze. Xena gives him a concerned look, "What is it Solan?" He asks, "Can I visit you? On Olympus?" She smiles, "I'm sure we can arrange something." He smiles, happy and excited, "That would be great." She smiles back, then motions to the closet, "Alright, go ahead and finish packing. I'm going next door to talk with Ares and Kaliapus." He nods and rises from the bed returning to the closet to finish packing and Xena exits the room.
Xena heads next door and knocks on the door. In swings open and she finds Ares and Kaliapus standing in front of the fire conversing quietly. Ares smiles and motions for her to approach. As she does the door closes behind her. Kaliapus nods at her, "I hear that congratulations are in order." She smiles at him, "Thanks." Her look turns cautious, "About Solan…Are you alright with this? With him going to Amphipolis and living with my mother?" He nods, "I love Solan and will miss him a great deal, but life with the Centaurs isn't for him. Our world is too small for him. It is time for him to live with his own people. And your mother is a good woman. How she raised a hellion like you is beyond me, but I think she'll do well with Solan." Xena smirks at him, "Mom tried her best with me, but I was…difficult on my best day." Kaliapus smirks in return, "I can imagine." She laughs lightly and Ares rests an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. Kaliapus watches, eyeing them oddly, then shakes his head, "That's a sight I never expected to see." Xena nods, "Same here." She extends her hand to him, "Thank you for everything you've done over the years." He clasps hands with her and nods, then turns to Ares, "You have my allegiance War God, as always." Ares nods, then leads Xena from the room.
Ares leads Xena down the steps and outside. They find Hercules holding Argo's reigns and resting a hand on Cyrene's arm, talking quietly with her. Solan kicks some rocks around in the dirt off to the side. Xena smiles, "Mom," she greats. Cyrene and Hercules quiet, both turning and waving at her. Xena takes Argo's reigns, "Thanks Hercules." He nods, "Anytime." Cyrene reaches her hand out to Solan, "Ready, dear?" He nods and takes her hand, "Ready, Grandma." She smiles happily and extends her free hand to Xena. Xena takes her hand and turns to Ares, "Ready?" He nods and rests his hands on her shoulders. She glances at Hercules, "Where are you heading?" He shrugs, "I'll probably catch up with Iolaus. He was taking Gabrielle back to the Amazons. Would you like me to tell her about your plans or will you do it yourself?" Xena inhales sharply, "I'll talk to her myself. Just as soon as I take Mom and Solan home. And maybe after lunch." Ares gives her an odd look. She shrugs, "I'm hungry, okay?" He shakes his head, "Sure." She growls, "Let's go." He nods and in seconds they disappear with a flash of light and a squeal from Cyrene.
Cyrene releases Xena and pulls Solan to her chest as they arrive in Amphipolis. She's breathing heavy and her eyes are closed tight. Solan looks around, slightly embarrassed by her extreme reaction. He pats her back, "It's okay Grandma. We're okay." Xena rubs her mother's back, "Mom, it's over. You're home now." Ares glances over and takes Argo's reigns from Xena, "I'll hold Argo, help your mom get settled in." She nods her thanks, then returns her attention to her stressed mother. Cyrene finally relaxes her hold on Solan and allows the boy to retreat from her arms. Solan smiles and rubs his arms, then takes Cyrene's bags, following Xena into the inn. Cyrene enters and a young woman rushes to her pulling her into her arms, "Oh Cyrene I'm so glad you're home. We have all missed you so much. How was your vacation?" Cyrene smiles and hugs the woman back, "It was wonderful Marian. This is Solan, my grandson. He'll be staying with us for a while to help out." Marian smiles and offers Solan her hand. Shyly Solan takes her hand. Marian begins to lead him upstairs, "I'll show you to the spare bedroom and your grandmother's room." Cyrene watches them go, "Thank you Marian." Marian waves at her, already talking to Solan about how things work at the inn. Xena smiles after them, then motions around the inn, "Want me to stay and help for a bit?" Cyrene gives her a horrified look, "And scare off my cliental? I think not. Now go. You have a wedding to prepare for and I have a feast to cook for. How many should I be preparing for? And how long do I have?" Xena shrugs, "Not many. Gods don't eat and I don't have that many friends, probably fewer when all this is said and done. Let's say a dozen or so. My guess is Ares will want to get this done and over with pretty soon, a couple of days, max. Does that give you enough time?" Cyrene nods, "Plenty, dear." Xena smiles, "And Mom." Cyrene raises an eyebrow. Xena smiles wider, "Thanks." Cyrene smiles and gives Xena a quick hug, "Alright, get going now." Xena nods and leaves.
Xena finds Ares standing in the streets of Amphipolis holding Argo and looking rather lost. She smiles at him and walks into his arms, "Thank you," she says quietly. He shakes his head, "For what?" She motions towards the inn, "For taking care of my family." He nods, "Yeah, well, they're my family too, now." She smiles at him, "I guess so." He glances around at the growing crowd, "We're attracting attention." She follows his gaze and nods, "We should probably leave." He nods in return, "Where would you like to go? The Temple here? Halls of War? Olympus?" She gives him a look, "Olympus?" He shrugs, "It will be your home, might as well take a look around." She nods, "Alright, what about Argo?" She asks, resting a hand on her horse. His eyes dart to the horse, "Olympus has fields too. Where do you think my horses live? I certainly don't keep them in stables all the time." She nods, "Alright, Olympus then." He nods and wraps an arm around her waist, holding Argo's reigns in the opposite hand. In the blink of an eye they are gone leaving the people of Amphipolis wondering if they were ever really there.
Xena glances around the stable, so like the ones on the mortal plane that she couldn't swear she was actually on Olympus. Ares motions to a stall, "Untack her. I'll be right back. I want to get your stuff from the Halls of War, bring it here to our quarters." Xena turns to him sharply, "Our quarters?" He nods and she smiles, "I like the sound of that." He smiles, "You better. I'll be right back." She nods and begins to untack Argo as Ares disappears. Xena removes Argo's gear and begins to brush the horse down. "Hey girl. Things are going to be different now. No more living on the road. We're going to have a home and three square meals a day and a safe place to sleep at night. We'll still go on adventures though. I promise. And hopefully we'll get to see Gabrielle again. I know she's not your favorite person, but she did grow on you, didn't she?" Argo tosses her head and neighs lightly. Xena smiles and strokes her nose. Xena glances at the door, "Come on girl. Let's go outside and see if we can find some new friends for you." Xena rests a hand on Argo's shoulder blades and guides her out of the stable. Outside, the sun shines brightly, casting an unearthly glow on everything. The grass radiates and looks far more green and healthy than anything seen on the mortal plane. The stream gurgles and the blue of the water is crystal clear in color, cleaner than anything she'd ever seen before. She looks around and gasps. Several other horses travel around in small groups, grazing and socializing. A chill goes up her spine and she smiles, "You're back." Ares rests a hand on her shoulder, "I brought you something," he says. She turns and finds her young stallion from their trip to Siberia approaching her. She smiles and runs a hand over his nose, "Hey boy. Argo, this is," she pauses, looking the horse over, "Odysseus," she finishes. The two horses look each other over, then run off to play and graze together. Xena watches them with Ares at her side then turns to him, "Show me around?" She asks. He nods and takes her hand, whisking her off to their quarters.
Xena glances around what will soon be her home. She turns to Ares and smiles, "Very nice," she compliments. He waves his hand over a table in the corner and a tray of meats and breads appears, "You said you were hungry," he says motioning to it. She nods, grateful and snatches at the food, "So, once I eat the Ambrosia, will I still be hungry?" He shrugs, "You're pregnant, so probably, at least until the baby is born. I seem to remember Aphrodite eating when she was expecting Cupid. It takes a lot of energy to grow a little Godling." She smiles and nods, "That explains it all, I guess. I don't remember being this hungry with Solan. I wasn't this tired either." She yawns and gives him a tired smile. He nods, "It all comes with the territory." She nods and drops the gown from her shoulders, then glides onto the bed, lounging and staring up at Ares with a soft smile. He smiles down at her, "Xena, what are you doing? I thought you wanted to talk to Gabrielle?" She nods, "I do, after a meal and a nap." She points at the plate, "Bring that," she orders. He smirks and brings her the plate. She grabs a few more bites of food. Talking around a bite, she asks, "So how will the ceremony in front of the Fates work? Is it anything like a mortal wedding ceremony?" He shrugs, "I have no clue what a mortal ceremony is like, but the ceremony in front of the Fates will be simple. You can wear a dress or not, your choice. We can exchange jewelry or not, again your choice. Other than that the Fates will ask if we accept each other for eternity in the name of Zeus and Hera." She nods, "And it will take place in their Temple?" He shrugs, "If that's what you want. Gods are flexible. The ceremony itself is the important part, not the location." She takes another bite from the plate, thinking, then says, "Alright, I have a few requests then." He nods, "Go ahead." She smiles, "I want Hephaestus to make us matching daggers to exchange." He nods, "Anything else?" She nods, "I want it to take place in your Temple in Amphipolis. That's where all of this started." He smiles at her and nods, "Alright, fine. I have a request as well." She raises an eyebrow, "Really?" He nods. She smiles, "Go ahead then," she says, grabbing another bite from the plate. He grins, "Two things. First we do this sooner rather than later. And second, wear a dress, maybe that pretty navy one you wore in Corinth or maybe you could find something new." She nods, "Done and done. You talk to Hephaestus about those daggers while I take a nap. Then I'll talk to Gabrielle and we can get this show on the road." He looks her over, "Do you honestly think I'm just going to let you crawl naked into my bed and not do a single thing about it?" She gives him a small smile and nods, "I believe there's some old saying…hmm…oh yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder." He growls and shakes his head, "That's not funny." She smirks, "Funny or not, doesn't matter, I'm tired and taking a nap. Go, give me an hour or two." He nods, "You sure?" He asks, looking her over, eyes lingering. She nods and pulls a blanket over her, "Good night." He nods and disappears from the room.
Ares arrives in Hephaestus' forge and glances around with an admiring eye. Hephaestus stops pounding on a shield and waves him over to the forge, "Ares, good to see you. Need some new weapons? Armor for your warlords? Temple decorations?" Ares smirks and waves his hand in dismissal, "No, no, nothing like that. I need something special. Very special. Xena and I are getting married." Hephaestus nods. Ares continues, "Xena wants us to exchange personal daggers at the ceremony. Think you can come up with something?" Hephaestus nods, "Of course I can. Weapons are my life, Ares. How soon?" Ares shrugs, "How long do you need?" Hephaestus looks around the forge, "Keep Aphrodite off my back and I can have them done in a few hours. I love that woman more than life itself but she needs constant attention." Ares smirks and nods, "Alright, it's a deal. Where is she?" Hephaestus closes his eyes briefly and wrinkles his brow, searching the ether for his wife, then opens his eyes, "Her quarters, trying on dresses, but she's getting bored." Ares shivers, "Great. A bored Aphrodite is a very, very dangerous Aphrodite." Hephaestus nods in agreement. Ares glances around, "Alright, get to work and I'll distract her for a few hours. Xena's going to need a dress anyway. Might as well have Aphrodite come up with something." Hephaestus gives him a wide eyed stare, "You are a brave man." Ares laughs and waves at him, disappearing into the ether.
Ares arrives on Olympus and sneers at the too bright lights. He walks to his sister's rooms and knocks on the door. A small girl with a dark complexion opens the door with a shy smile. Ares waves her aside. Aphrodite looks away from her mirror, "Ares? What are you doing here?" He smiles at her, "I need a favor." She looks him over and giggles, "Ha! You still owe me for helping you get the Hind's Blood from the other dimension." He shrugs, "Yeah, so what if I do? You'll enjoy this one, I promise." She looks intrigued, "Alright, I'm listening," she says, turning back to the mirror. He waves at the mirror and it clouds over. She pouts turning back to him, "Ar!" He gives her an expectant look, "I need your full attention Aphrodite, this is important." She huffs and waves a hand, "Fine fine, go on," she says, flouncing onto a chaise. He stares down at her, "Xena needs a dress for the ceremony in front of the Fates." Her face lights up, "A dress? Really? Warrior Babe wants a dress? That's fabulous! I love it! What kind of dress? Where is she?" She rises and begins to look around the room, checking first behind him, then under a few pillows and behind the mirror. Ares watches her, shaking his head, "She's sleeping. You have to do this without her." She wrinkles her nose, "Sleeping? Why's she doing that?" Ares pauses, debating the logic of telling his sister anything of a delicate nature, then smirks, "She's pregnant." Aphrodite's eyes go wide, "Bro!" She squeals and leaps at him, wrapping her arms around him and hanging from his neck, "That's awesome." She pauses for a moment, "So the dress has to hide the baby belly, huh? That might be tricky." She releases him, moving back to the chaise, deep in thought. Ares shakes his head, "The ceremony will be soon, nothing to hide yet." Aphrodite sighs, "Oh good. I was getting really worried for a minute. Almost ruined the whole thing." He shakes his head, then smiles at his sister, "What do you need?" She shrugs, "Nothing really. Anything is particle Xena wants or doesn't want?" Ares shrugs, "I don't know," he snaps, then adds quickly, "No pink." She gives him an obvious stare, "She's going to be your wife. I'm not about to put your wife in pink, Ar. Give me some credit, damn." He chuckles, "Alright, let me know when it's ready." She nods, and waves a hand in dismissal, staring at a naked dummy in deep concentration. Ares shakes his head, then eyes the naked dummy, "Xena's taller than that and her, uh, assets are larger," he informs his sister. Aphrodite nods following his sightline to the bust of the dummy and smiles broadly, "Thanks, Bro. Anything else?" He shrugs, "No heels," he says and disappears lest he distract his easily distracted sister any more than he already had.
Ares returns to his room in silence and stares down at a sleeping Xena. Sliding into the bed next to her, his leathers melt away. Carefully he gathers her into his arms, trying not to wake her. She rolls to face him. "Sorry," he apologizes. She shakes her head and smiles a little, "It's alright. How long have I been asleep?" He shrugs, "An hour or so. Hephaestus is making us a set of matching daggers and Aphrodite is making you a wedding dress." Her eyebrow shoots up, "Aphrodite is making me a dress?" He soothes a finger over her eyebrow, "Don't worry. This is her thing. Have a little faith in her. I gave her a few guidelines." She gives him a soft smile, "If you trust her, then I guess I can too." He brushes his lips over her forehead, "Go back to sleep, you need your rest." She closes her eyes, then opens them and gives him a concerned look, "You're staying?" He nods, "You want me to leave?" She shakes her head, "Of course not, but don't you have more important things to do? Temples to check on? Wars to take care of?" He shakes his head, "I'm right where I need to be," he says, tightening his arms around her. She smiles and burrows against his chest, "Alright, just another hour or so." He nods, running a hand up and down her back.
Ares' eyes pop open when there's a knock at the door. Xena makes an agitated noise and her eyes squint open, "Who is it?" She asks, sounding cranky. He shrugs and pulls the blanket around her tightly, then sits up, pants appearing, "Come in." Aphrodite appears, "Bro, Warrior Babe," she greets. She eyes them, then her eyes go wide, "Oh, wow, sorry. I'm like totally interrupting. So sorry. I should have known. When I was pregnant with Cuppie all I could do is have sex constantly, only thing on my mind, remember Ar? Oh, sorry again. Probably shouldn't have brought that up. Uh, leaving, now." Xena gives her a raised eyebrow look, sitting up and wrapping the blanket around her chest, "Oh you were interrupting something alright. My nap." Aphrodite turns around sharply, "Your nap? That's just as bad. Sorry, Xe. Can I call you Xe sense we're like gonna be sisters and all?" Xena nods and Aphrodite smiles, "Bitchin." Ares stares at her, "You wanted something?" Aphrodite stares at him looking lost, "What? I did? Oh yeah! Right. I finished the dress. Want to see it?" Ares looks over at Xena and she shrugs. She returns his gaze to Aphrodite, "Go ahead." She smiles and wrinkles her nose, then snaps her fingers. A dummy appears in front of her wearing a shimmery light silver dress with a light metal breastplate. The metal work was intricate over the breasts and trailed lightly over the ribcage. There were matching arm cuffs. The dress itself was formfitting with no sleeves, relying on the bodice to keep it in place. There was a very high slit in the front of the dress, almost too high and the dress hung low enough to brush the floor. A pair of silver sandals were on the floor with laces that would tie up to the knees. Aphrodite gives Ares a guilty look, "Hephaestus says it will take him a couple more hours to get the daggers done. He had to pause to do the medal work on the dress." Ares nods, "I see." Xena walks around the dress, giving it a critical eye, then smiles at Aphrodite, "It's beautiful. Thank you." Aphrodite squeals, "I'm so glad you like it. I racked my brain to come up with the perfect dress for our future Goddess of War. I have one more thing for you, if it's okay with Ares," she says, eyeing her brother. He nods and a box appears in her hand and she extends it to Xena, "On loan only," she says, releasing it into Xena's hands. Xena opens the box and gasps, "It's amazing," she says, removing the crown. Aphrodite smiles and nods, "Hephie made it for me before we got married. I had actually given up on love and he gave me hope again, gave me faith in myself. I wore this when we married in front of the Fates and I let Psyche wear it when she married Cupid and I want you to wear it when you marry Ar. Please?" Xena nods, "Of course, Aphrodite, of course I'll wear it." Aphrodite sighs, "Oh good. I was worried you would say no. Okay, well, do you need anything else?" Xena glances at the dress then looks at Ares, a question in her gaze. He shakes his head and she turns back to Aphrodite, "I think we're all set. Thanks for everything." Aphrodite pulls her into her arms, "No problem, Xe. Good luck and Congrats." She turns to her brother and pulls him into her arms, "Congrats, Bro. Let me know if you need anything. I'm here for you." He nods against her, "Thanks for everything, Sis. I'll return the crown after the ceremony. We'll keep it safe," he assures her. She nods and pulls from his arms, "I know you will, Bro." She waves at them, "Tootles," she says and disappears.
Xena's eyes go from the pink sparkles still falling to the ground to the gown in the middle of the room, "You were right. She did very well." He smirks at her, "Yeah," he says, then waves his hand over the dress, moving the dummy to the corner of the room. Xena sets the box containing the crown on the table next to the bed, "That was very sweet of her." Ares nods, "Yes it was. She must like you." She smiles, then drops the sheet and begins to rummage through the closet. Ares watches her, "Ready to talk to Gabrielle?" Xena nods, not turning around, looking between a gown and her armor, "Where is she?" Ares opens a portal, "She hasn't made it to the Amazon's yet. Iolaus is with her, but Hercules hasn't caught up." He pauses and eyes the bard, "She doesn't seem as upset as when she left." Xena turns and glances in the portal, "Yeah, well, I'm sure that will change the second she hears our news." He nods, "Probably," he agrees, then snaps the portal closed, "Want a snack before we leave?" He asks, eyeing her as she continues to debate her clothing decisions while standing naked in the closet. She gives him an annoyed look, "What do you think?" She asks, little patience in her voice. He raises an eyebrow and a plate appears on the table next to her. She eyes it and snatches at a piece of nut bread, shoving it into her mouth with very little grace or dignity. Ares eyes her. She returns to eyeing the closet then sighs and collapses onto the bed, looking frustrated. Ares sits next to her, resting a hand on her shoulder, "What's wrong?" She motions at the closet, "If I wear my armor Gabrielle will see that I am still me, but I'm worried that she will think that you are only after me as a warrior. If I wear a dress I'm worried Gabrielle is going to think that it's a spell or that I've lost my mind." He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head, "She already knows we're together. What's the big deal?" She grabs another piece of bread, talking around it, "This is so much more than just being together, Ares. This is marriage and a baby and me becoming your Goddess, the Goddess of War. It's going to be a lot for her to take in. I want it to go smoothly unlike with Hercules. She's already so upset about Hope, I don't want this to add to it. Gabrielle means too much to me, I can't lose her." He moves his hand in a calming motion, "Okay, it's okay. It might take some time, but you won't lose the brat." She shoots him a dirty look and he smirks. Her attention returns to the closet. His gaze follows hers and he sighs, "Wear a dress, carry a sword at your waist, maybe a few daggers in your boots and hidden in other, more…creative places," he says eyeing her cleavage. She smiles at him and gives him a quick kiss, "Aren't you the clever one?" She asks, bouncing off the bed and rushing to the closet, pulling a crimson gown from the closet. Ares watches her pull the dress on then laces the gown for her. She smiles and latches the Chakram necklace around her neck. She grabs her sheathed sword then glances at Ares, "Sword belt?" He nods and places a hand on her waist. When he removes it a sword belt rests on her waist. She attaches her sword to one side and her Chakram to the other. She pulls her boots on and slides a dagger into each. Then taking Ares' advice she slides a dagger down the back of the dress and one down her cleavage. She turns to Ares, "Well?" He nods, "Very nice, Warrior Princess." She smiles and gives him a quick kiss. "Ready?" He asks. She exhales loudly, then nods, "As I'll ever be." He nods and takes her hand, pulling her into the ether.
Xena shoots her hand out and grabs the staff as it swings at them. She smiles at Gabrielle, "Nice move." Gabrielle wrinkles her nose, "Sorry, reflex." Her eyes move to Ares, "Hi," she greets, sounding a little lost and almost shy. Ares nods at her and motions to Iolaus, "Let's take a walk. They need to talk," he says, motioning to Xena and Gabrielle. Xena gives him a grateful smile and nods a greeting to Iolaus. He nods in return and squeezes her arm while walking past her, following Ares away from the two women. Gabrielle stares down at her feet, "I know you did what you had to do. Hope had to be stopped, I understand that. Did you stop Dahok?" Xena nods, "We stopped him, he's gone." Gabrielle gives her a tight smile, "That's good. Look, I, uh, I still want to return to the Amazons. I'm not ready for us to return to traveling together. When I look at you I still see you killing my little girl." Xena holds up her hand, silencing her friend, "I'm not returning to the road, Gabrielle." "What?" Gabrielle asks sharply. Xena gives her a soft smile and points to a fallen log, "Let's sit down." Gabrielle nods and sits next to her, eyeing the dress for the first time. "Xena what's going on?" She asks. Xena smiles softly, then bites her lips together, searching for the delicate way to tell her friend the news, "You're always the one good with words, not me." Gabrielle begins to grow concerned and takes Xena's hand, "What is it? What's wrong? Did Ares do something to you?" Xena laughs lightly, "Nothing is wrong, Gabrielle. I'm getting married." Gabrielle drops her hand and blinks a few times, "You're…You're getting married? To who?" Xena stares at her, "To Ares. I'm going to be his Goddess. I can do a lot of good as his Goddess. I can temper his actions, protect the innocent, keep them out of the line of fire. Have you heard about Athens?" Gabrielle nods, silently, still digesting what Xena has told her. Xena smiles and nods, "That was us, working together. This will work, Gabrielle." She grows quiet for a moment, then catches Gabrielle's eye, "There's one more thing." Gabrielle looks up and nods, "Okay, go on." Xena gives her a gentle smile and places her friend's hand on her stomach, "I'm pregnant. It's a little girl." Gabrielle pulls her hand away with a sharp inhale, "Pregnant?" She repeats, shocked. Xena nods, "I want you to be a part of her life. You are the most pure thing in my life, I want my daughter to know what that's like." Gabrielle stares at her lap, then gives Xena a small smile, "Of course." She gives Xena a small hug, "Congratulations," she says quietly. Xena hugs her back, "Thanks," she pauses, then continues, "Hercules is catching up with you. Why don't you and Iolaus turn around? Mom is going to host a wedding feast at the inn, it would mean a lot to me if you were there." Gabrielle smiles and pats her arm, "That sounds wonderful. I'll join my sisters after the feast. I should send a note to Ephiny, she would want to be there too." Xena smiles and nods, "That's a great idea." Gabrielle grows quiet and a concerned look covers her face. Xena takes her hand, "What is it?" She looks up, "What about Solan?" Xena smiles and chuckles, "Mom has that under control. She told Solan that I am his aunt. He's living with her for a while, taking care of her. It solves a lot of problems. I was beginning to worry about Mother living alone." Gabrielle gives a half smile, "Well, it isn't the truth, but at least he's with family now. Cyrene will take good care of him and he'll take good care of her." Xena nods in agreement, "Mom needed someone to take care of." Xena rises from the log and offers Gabrielle a hand up. Gabrielle takes her hand and pushes up using her staff, then wipes the dust off of her skirt, then giggles at the back of Xena's dress. Xena glances at her, "What's so funny?" Gabrielle shakes her head and swipes at the back of Xena's dress, "You should stick with leather, it doesn't attract as much dirt." Xena smiles, "Yeah, well, we thought it would send the wrong message." Gabrielle nods, then scrunches her brows, "We? Ares agreed?" Xena nods, then her head jerks towards the path and she smiles as Iolaus and Ares walk towards them. Iolaus looks her over, eyes darting to her midsection then meeting her eyes. He smiles a broad smile, then rushes to embrace her, "Congratulations," he says, pulling her into his arms. She smiles, "Thanks," she responds, embracing him back. Gabrielle eyes them, then turns her attention to Ares, "Um, listen, you take good care of my friend, hear me?" He stares at her, then nods, "You have my word." Gabrielle nods, "Okay, then, good." She turns back to Xena, "You better get going. You have a wedding to get ready for and we have quite a journey if we're going to make it to your mother's in time for the feast." Xena smiles and Iolaus perks up, "Feast? At Cyrene's? Count me in. That woman can cook." Xena nods, "Alright, we'll see you guys in a couple of days, Hercules will meet you guys somewhere on the road between here and Corinth, not sure exactly where." Gabrielle nods and waves, "Bye for now." Xena waves and backs away. Ares places a hand on her shoulder and pulls her into the ether.
Ares arrives in his quarters on Olympus and releases Xena's shoulder. She steps from his grasp and grabs a piece of nut bread from the tray still resting on the table. Ares smiles at her, shaking his head, "Anyone else you want to talk to?" She shakes her head, "I have other friends, but no one that I feel needs to hear the news directly from me. Maybe after the baby is born, Mom and I can visit Toris, introduce him to Solan and the baby, give me a chance to meet his wife and child too." Ares nods, "That's a good idea. And just think, you won't have to travel by foot, won't that be nice?" She smiles, "Yeah. That will take some getting used to." She glances away, brows scrunching together. He approaches, resting a hand on her shoulder, "What is it?" She turns back to him, "Is it difficult? Traveling through the ether? Controlling all that power?" He shrugs, "At first, it can be. But, you will get used to it and I'll be with you every step of the way. You won't be going through this alone, I promise." She smiles and kisses him gently, "I know." He runs the backs of his fingers down her cheek, "The first few days will be the worst. Your powers will be unstable and you won't be used to them. Little things can turn into big explosions and big explosions can turn out as little poofs. Traveling through the ether can be risky, you could get lost or even stuck. Strife ended up in a wall for two days, no one could find him. Once you get a feel for your powers it will get better, easier and you will stabilize." She nods, "After the ceremony then. I'll eat the Ambrosia after the ceremony. I don't want my powers to accidently hiccup in the middle of our wedding ceremony and I don't want to push it off too much longer. I'll send Mom a message, let her know that the feast will need to be in three days, gives us a couple of days to get my powers under control. Sound good?" He stares at her for a minute, "You're talking about doing the ceremony now, aren't you?" She nods, "If you're up to it, yeah I think I am." He pulls her into his arms with a sigh and nods, "I'll talk to the Fates and Hephaestus and get the priests to clear out the Temple. I'll talk to your mom too. You have enough to worry about. Do you want Aphrodite to help you get dressed or can you manage on your own?" She takes a step back and gives him a dirty look, "I do not need Aphrodite's help getting dressed. But, I wouldn't mind talking to Hera again, if that's okay with you?" He inhales sharply, then nods, "I'll see if she's available and in a decent mood." She smiles and retreats from his arms, eyes glued to the plate. He chuckles and shakes his head, "Have Mom send you to my Temple in Amphipolis when you're ready, alright?" Nut bread in mouth, Xena nods and Ares shakes his head, disappearing into the ether.
Ares arrives outside his mother's chambers and before he can knock the door opens. Hera stands in the open doorway giving him an expectant look, "Ares," she greets. He gives her a gentle hug, "Mom." She sighs, "I haven't felt Xena join our ranks, are things not well?" He shakes his head, "Things are fine. She wants to be in control at our wedding ceremony." Hera nods, "Of course. All that power, it will be a lot for her to handle. She's a wise woman to wait." Ares nods, "She is. Hephaestus is finishing up some daggers for us, then we're meeting the Fates in my Temple in Amphipolis." Hera gives him a harsh look, "You can't see her till the ceremony. It's bad luck. Someone else will have to bring her there." He smiles at his mother, "Actually, that's why I'm here. I was hoping you would bring her." Hera nods, "Usually the bride's mother would be with her till the ceremony. In these circumstances, that isn't possible. I suppose it's acceptable for the groom's mother to stay with her. And there are a few things that I should explain to Xena, woman to woman." Ares gives his mother a raised eyebrow look, "Mom, she's already pregnant, I don't think you need to explain what happens on the wedding night." She growls and swats at the back of his head, "Insolent child! Have you explained the blood bond to her?" He gives her a curious look, "Blood bond?" Her face falls, "Your father never explained? No, of course he didn't. The vows you take in front of the Fates are eternal and unbreakable. However, you can also chose to share blood with one another, this is actually the reason Hephaestus was charged with making weapons that could pierce the veil of immortality. If you chose to do this, it will bind your Godhoods, your immortality together. If one of you dies, so does the other, however one of you can also keep the other alive. The two of you already share a deep connection, correct?" He nods and she continues, "It would become deeper, stronger. Your emotions would be shared, all of them. Anger, fear, love, lust, hate, everything. In times of battle, the blood lust would be all consuming. And I know I'm your mother so bear with me for a minute, but the sex is amazing. You would feel everything that she feels and she would feel everything that you feel." He squirms a little, uncomfortable with the intimate nature of the conversation, "Why hasn't anyone told me about this before?" Hera shakes her head, "This is a father, son talk. I suppose Zeus hasn't seen it as necessary because you've never shown any serious interest in a woman before. This is the first time you've ever spoken of marriage, Ares. Even as a hormone driven teen you never tried to run off with any one girl, you just kind of slept around a lot, like your father and Apollo and a young Aphrodite." He nods, "Alright, I guess this is the woman to woman talk you wanted to have with Xena?" Hera nods and Ares nods in return, "Talk to her, I guess. This can be done at any time, right? We don't have any time constraints?" She nods again and he continues, "Good. I'm going to talk to Hephaestus about our daggers and grab the Fates and clear out my Temple. You'll be okay dealing with Xena?" Hera chuckles, "My dear boy, I think I can handle one mortal woman. I am after all the Queen of the Gods." He laughs in true amusement, "Yeah, well, I wouldn't underestimate her, Mom." She gives him an amused smirk and waves in dismissal. He gives her a small hug then disappears.
Ares arrives in Hephaestus' forge and approaches the God cautiously. Noticing nothing, Hephaestus continues to pound on the sword blade he is working on, humming a tuneless melody to himself. Ares taps him on the shoulder and the man spins sword in front of him, held out like the weapon it would one day be. Ares raises his hands in surrender and backs up a step. Hephaestus smiles and lowers the blade, setting it aside, away from the heat of the forge, "Ares, I didn't hear you." Ares nods and points at the forge, "Wonder why?" Hephaestus laughs and motions off to the side, "The daggers are done. I would have had them finished earlier, but Aphrodite needed me to work some medal for a wedding dress," he says, giving Ares a curious look. Ares nods, "Yeah, her idea, not mine. The woman is a genius when it comes to her craft though." Hephaestus nods, "Yes she is. But if she hears you say it she won't ever let you forget about it." Ares follows Hephaestus to the table and gives a sharp inhale when he removes the cloth covering the sheathed daggers. "Very nice," he compliments, unsheathing a dagger and running a hand over the blade, eyeing the hilt studded with red stones. Hephaestus nods, "Some of my best work, I'm almost sorry to see them go," he pauses for a moment, then asks, "I suppose they're for the ceremony?" Ares glances at him, slightly agitated, "Does everyone other than me know about this blood ceremony?" Hephaestus raises an eyebrow, "You didn't know? Ah, well, neither did I, not till my wedding night. Boy was I surprised when Dite came at me with a knife. I must have leapt twenty feet, squealed like a girl, too." Ares raises an eyebrow and Hephaestus shrugs, "Wouldn't you be terrified if she came at you with a knife in the bedroom?" He nods, "Alright yeah. Was it worth it?" Hephaestus' eyes roll back a bit, "Oh yeah. If you go through with it, just uh, give yourselves a couple of days to acclimate. Every little touch will get something started." Ares inhales sharply, raising his eyebrows, "Well, that's something to think about. And it's eternal?" Hephaestus nods, "It weakens if you don't continue to share blood once every few years and if you don't have sex often. I'm sure the bond between Zeus and Hera is barely existent at this point. One of them could probably die and the other wouldn't even be effected, it's been so long sense they've been together in any way. Me and Dite on the other hand, we have a very…healthy relationship." Ares curls his lip a little, "Yeah, thanks for that image. On that note, I should leave. I need to gather the Fates and get my Temple cleared out." Hephaestus stares at him, "You're getting married now? So soon?" Ares nods, "Xena wants now. What the woman wants, the woman gets." Hephaestus nods, "Don't I know it? Alright, well, good luck." He clasps hands with Ares then returns to his forge, grabbing the sword and thrusting it into the fire. Ares collects his daggers, wrapping them in the cloth and disappearing.
Xena jumps a little when there is a knock at the door. Carrying her plate of nut bread with her she opens the door and smiles at Hera. Hera gives her an amused look, "Dear girl, if you expect to fit into your wedding gown, you will need to stop eating everything in sight." Xena swallows the bite in her mouth and the smile falls from her lips, "It takes a lot of energy to grow a little Godling," she says, repeating Ares' earlier words. Hera nods, hand resting on her own stomach, "Mhm, I remember." She sweeps into the room and her eyes land on the gown. She lets out a small gasp, "Well, Aphrodite has outdone herself this time." She returns her attention to Xena, "Come now, time to get dressed and we have business to discuss." Xena closes the door and sets her plate down, then begins to fight with the laces of her dress. Hera brushes her hands aside, "Stop that. Sit down," she orders. Xena obeys, sitting stiffly on the bench at the end of the bed. Hera stands behind her, gently unlacing the dress, "I've never done this, you know? I don't have any daughters of my own. Just Ares and Hephaestus. And really Ares is the only son that has ever really been mine. This is all very new to me." Xena nods a little, "Me too. I was…a difficult child. My mother and I weren't exactly close." Hera shakes her head, "Such a shame. I'm not close to Hephaestus. My fault though, not his. I was ashamed of him. I regret that now, but it's too late. I've asked for his forgiveness, he won't give it, I probably don't deserve it." Xena reaches and rests her hand on top of Hera's, patting it gently, "You have Ares and me and soon you'll have a granddaughter." Hera squeezes her fingers then pulls her hand away, "Alright, stand up." Xena obeys and the dress falls away. Hera stares her up and down and inhales sharply, "My my, now I see what caught my son's eye." Xena smiles and begins to move towards the gown, but Hera holds up a hand, "Allow me." She retrieves the dress and holds it, allowing Xena to step into it. Xena holds it in place while Hera laces the top, pulling it tight to make sure it stays put. Laces tied, she begins to hook the metal breastplate in place.
Hera places her hands on Xena's shoulders, "Sit," she orders, urging her down. Xena obeys, starting to grow a little grumpy with taking orders. Hera reaches around her and hands her a plate of fruits and cheeses, "Have a snack, dear, the baby is hungry." Xena takes the plate and turns slightly to give her a curious look, "How do you know?" She asks. Hera shrugs, "Call it a mother's intuition." She gently takes Xena's head in her hand and turns it back around then begins to drag a brush through her hair, "Has my son explained the ceremony to you?" Xena tries to nod and finds her head trapped by the brush, "We'll stand before the Fates and swear ourselves to each other for eternity. It's an unbreakable vow. We're exchanging daggers made by Hephaestus and it will take place in Ares' Temple in Amphipolis. It will just be the two of us and the Fates. At the end of the ceremony I will eat the Ambrosia and become a Goddess." Hera nods, "And has he explained what that will be like?" Again Xena tries to nod, then growls in frustration, "I won't have control at first, but in time and with Ares training me, I'll learn to control my new powers." Hera nods, and begins to finger through Xena's hair, separating it. Xena holds her hand up, "Wait, Aphrodite loaned me something to wear. It's on the table by the bed." Hera glances at the box and it appears in her hand, she opens it and smiles, "Hephaestus' work, no doubt. Amazing." She sets the box on the bed and returns her attention to Xena's hair, "There are other things to consider, things Ares didn't know about until a few minutes ago. The two of you will need to discuss them further but you should go into the discussion with a working knowledge." Xena's brows scrunch together and she places her empty plate on the bed, "What is it? Should I be concerned?" Hera lets out a bark of laughter, "Oh no dear, nothing to be concerned about. Certainly not." Hera pulls a section of hair from each side of Xena's face, braiding them, then working them into a single braid trailing down her back to mix with the rest of her loose hair. She ties it with a thin piece of leather. She sits in front of Xena and pulls a few strands out to frame her face then places the crown on her head. She places her hand on Xena's cheek, "Lovely," she compliments. Xena smiles, then scrunches her brow. Hera nods, "There is a second part to the ceremony. It's optional. Zeus and I discovered it long ago. It is the reason we commissioned Hephaestus to create weapons the pierce the veil of immortality. If you and Ares wish it, you can share blood. The rather odd connection you already have will become deeper, stronger, your Godhoods will become connected and there are other…benefits." Xena stares at her, mind trying to catch up, "Our Godhoods will be connected?" Hera nods, "Yes, meaning if one of you dies, the other will as well. However, it also means that there is a chance that one of you can keep the other alive as well. It all comes down to your strength as a God and how strong your bond is. Zeus and I have a blood bond but it is very weak at this point. If I were to die, I'm not sure he would be effected." Xena's brows scrunch, "So it isn't permanent?" Hera shrugs, "It is, but it isn't. It should be, but for it to remain strong you would have to share blood once in a while and continue to have sex on a regular basis. Zeus and I do neither ever and haven't sense Hephaestus was born and Zeus accused me of shaming him." Xena nods, "You said our connection would become stronger. Do you know how? In what ways?" Hera shrugs, "There's no way to know for sure. I know you can sense Ares when he's near. And I know he can pick up on you when you're in trouble." Xena's head jerks towards her suddenly and Hera smiles and nods, "Yes, he knows when you're in trouble. I'm the only one who can tell that he gets edgy and impatient, wanting to drop everything and open a portal to check on you. Don't let on that you know." Xena smiles a little, "Our little secret." Hera nods and continues, "Other than that, my guess is you'll be able to read each other's emotions easier. You might be able to access each other's powers and read each other's minds over greater distances." Xena nods, seeing the benefits, "You mentioned other benefits?" A bit a rosy color comes to Hera's cheeks, "Sex, my dear. It's a very different experience. With the blood bond you would feel what he is feeling and he would feel what you are feeling. It's intoxicating. The battlefield would be much the same and would probably lead you two to the bedroom." Xena chuckles, "What are the down sides?" Hera thinks for a moment, "The first few days after sharing blood are rough and will be each time you share blood. It's best to free up those days. You'll have exactly one urge and it's best to just give into it and not fight it." Xena nods and smiles, "Anything else?" Hera shakes her head, "Not really. It's the most amazing, most pure bond you can have with someone so long as they truly are the one for you. I chose wrong, Hephaestus chose right, though rumor has it Aphrodite didn't tell him anything about it first and just came at him with a knife," she says, laughter in her voice. Xena joins her in laughing, "That's what nightmares are made of." Hera calms, "If you two decide to bond, do it right away. Get used to the bond while your powers are stabilizing. Ares' strength will be rushing through your veins, offering you the stability you will need to find balance within yourself." Xena nods, deep in thought. Hera takes her hand, "One thing though." Xena looks up. Hera continues, "Do it in private. The first thing you will want to do after bonding is rip each other's cloths off. The Fates don't need to see that." Xena laughs and nods, "Right. Don't want to scar the poor girls." Hera nods, "Exactly. And please remember to stop and eat once in a while, for my granddaughter's sake." Xena smiles and nods.
Xena rises from the bench and fingers the Chakram necklace around her neck with a smile. Hera notices and smacks her fingers aside, "From Ares?" Xena nods, "When I went to Corinth a couple of weeks ago to get my mother and son settled and in." Hera nods then looks Xena over, "Put the sandals and armbands on, dear," she orders. Xena obeys, glancing around the room looking for something. Hera notices, "What is it?" Xena shakes her head, "I should have had Ares show me where he put all of my weapons before he left." Hera points at her sword and Chakram resting on a weapons rack next to a chest. Xena shakes her head, "No, not those. When I was in Corinth, I had to go to this dinner with Hercules and his brother King Iphicles. Anyway, Ares showed up while I was getting dressed, gave me this necklace and placed a gorgeous little dagger on my thigh. It was perfect and fit tight enough against my skin that you couldn't see it through the material. I thought it would be a nice surprise." Hera shakes her head, "War Gods," she mutters, then closes her eyes and scrunches her brow. When nothing happens she sighs and places her hand on Xena's forehead, "Envision the dagger, please," she orders. Xena obeys and the dagger appears in Hera's hand, complete with the belt used to hold it to her thigh. Xena smiles and snatches it away, placing her foot on the bench and hiking the dress up, "I'm going to be able to do that," she says quietly. Hera watches Xena attach the dagger, then sighs, "Mortals have a tradition I believe: Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Am I correct?" Xena nods, then shakes her head, "I don't need to follow mortal traditions. It's okay." Hera waves a hand, "I insist. Now Aphrodite gave you the crown so that is borrowed. Hephaestus made the daggers, so they are new. That leaves old and blue for me to come up with." She pauses then smiles and closes her eyes and loosely holds her hand closed, "Is it alright if it is old and blue?" Xena nods, "Of course." Hera nods and sits on the bench, motioning for Xena to join her. "This belonged to my mother, Rhea. I had hoped to pass it to my daughter on her wedding day, then I was cursed with boys. Now it is yours and one day you will give it to your daughter and she to hers." Xena opens her mouth to object then closes it when Hera opens her hand and spills a delicate silver and blue beaded bracelet into her hand. She stares in wonder at the stones that shift color from dark blue to light as she moves them in her hand. She smiles softly and looks up at Hera, "Thank you," she says quietly. She motions to the bracelet, "Do you mind?" She asks, then motioning to her wrist. Hera nods and places it on her wrist, giving the bracelet a fond smile. They sit side by side, silent for a moment, then Hera inhales deeply, "Alright, stand up, give us a twirl." Xena lifts her lip, "I don't really twirl." Hera glares at her, "This once, for me, you will twirl." Xena stands and, this once, for this woman who had been so kind and generous, she twirls, trying not to snarl as she does so. Hera chuckles, "Stop making that face, Ares will think he is marrying a Gorgon." Xena laughs, "Do I look alright?" Hera motions to a wall that she has transformed into a mirror, "Look for yourself, dear." Xena turns and stares at her reflection, shocked and delighted by the sight that greets her. She turns back to Hera, "I'm ready." Hera nods, "Yes, you are. I just hope Ares is, though I doubt anyone can be prepared for you." Xena laughs lightly and extends her hand to Hera. Hera takes her hand and wraps it around her arm, holding it gently and disappearing.
Ares arrives in his Temple in Amphipolis and glares at the priest, "You have about ten minutes to get everyone out of here for the rest of the day. This Temple is going to be closed to the public until tomorrow." The priest, eyes wide, falls to his knees and mumbles, "Yes, My Lord," then begins to crawl away. Ares watches priests, priestesses, warlords, and other random followers exit the Temple, then disappears only to reappear a few miles away inside Cyrene's inn. Several patrons screech, a few go for weapons that Cyrene forces them to leave at the door. Cyrene herself looks up from the bar with a nervous smile, "Ares," she greets. "Cyrene," he responds. She glances around behind him and he shakes his head, "Sorry, just me. Xena's a little busy getting ready for the ceremony. I'm running errands. The feast will need to be pushed back a little. We're thinking maybe three days or so. It's going to take her a couple of days to get her powers under control, we don't want to risk an accident that could lead to someone getting hurt." Cyrene nods, "Of course. I understand. But does she have to change so soon?" Ares nods, "It's best for the baby. If she changes now while the baby is so young it will put less stress on the baby, fewer chances of something bad happening. Even Gods have to worry about complications." Cyrene nods, "Of course, the baby. We can't risk anything happening to the baby. Well, then I guess I'll be seeing you two in three days. Should I plan on anyone from your family eating or drinking anything?" He shakes his head, "No, not really. On a dare maybe someone might eat something, maybe. If the wine is good, we might drink it, but mostly, we bring our own. And don't expect my family to stick around for long. Most won't even show up. Don't take it personal. They don't like me much." Cyrene nods slowly, "Okay, well, good to know, I guess. If you get any clue on numbers, send me a raven or whatever it is Gods send." He chuckles, "I'll send Strife," he pauses and turns away, "Strife," he shouts. Cyrene jumps a little and gives him a dirty look. Strife appears, "What's up, Unc? Oh, mortal digs? Retro." Ares shakes his head and points to Cyrene, "This is Xena's mother. You will show her respect and take orders from her if I send you to her. Understand?" Strife nods and salutes Ares, then takes Cyrene's hand and places a sloppy kiss on her knuckles. Cyrene smiles, then wipes her hand on her skirt. Strife turns back to Ares, "That all Unc?" Ares shakes his head, "Tell the Fates to get to my Temple. I'm getting married today." Strife lets out a very ungodly, excited noise and disappears. Ares turns back to Cyrene, "I would apologize for him, but there just aren't any excuses for that boy. He's a moron, but he is obedient and Xena thinks she can help with him." Cyrene shakes her head, "If anyone can it's her." An awkward silence falls between them. Ares glances down at Cyrene, "I should be going. If I'm late Xena will get pissed." Cyrene smiles up at him and raises to her tiptoes to brush her lips to his cheek, "Good Luck. And please take good care of my baby girl." He squeezes her shoulder, "I will, you have you word," he says, then disappears.
Ares appears in his empty Temple and glances around, assuring himself that no one was lurking. He approaches the altar and thumbs the offerings, taking an interest in one sword, sending it to the weapons locker in the Halls of War and sending the rest to a back room in the Temple to be looked at later by the head priest. Figuring that Xena wouldn't want blood as a decoration for their wedding, he waves a hand over the Temple and removes the blood left over from the morning sacrifices, also removing the odor that went with it. Eyeing the rest of the Temple he smiles and moves a few of the tapestries around, making her the focus around the altar and trying to avoid the ones that were likely to agitate her. He waves a hand over his throne, making it glide back into the corner for the time being and with another wave of his hand the altar and tapestries move to the top of the dais. He eyeballs it, relieved that no one was around to watch him setting things up for the wedding. A flash behind him grabs his attention. Clotho, Atropos, and Lachesis stand behind him. He smiles at the Fates, "Ladies, thank you for coming." Clotho smiles at him, "We are the ones grateful to you, War God." Atropos continues, "We are happy to bind you to the woman you love." Lachesis adds on, "For all eternity." Ares nods, "Yes, eternity. Will you three be comfortable standing behind the altar?" They nod and file behind the altar, standing in order of age. Ares stands in front of them, trying not to fidget and give away just how nervous he is.
Hera appears with Xena at her side. She eyes her son and releases Xena's hand, "Good luck," she whispers, urging Xena towards Ares. Xena glances around the Temple, taking in the minor changes. Her eyes land on Ares, standing by the altar, looking almost lost, eyes glued on her, two daggers resting on the altar next to his hand. She smiles brightly at him and his eyes travel up and down her body, lust burning in his gaze. She approaches slowly, giving him time to drink in the sight. She stops next to him and he takes her hand, "You are absolutely breathtaking." She smirks and he rubs his fingers against her wrist then glances down at the bracelet. He meets her eyes, "Mom?" She nods and he gives her a surprised look. He turns to the Fates, "We're ready." Clotho nods, "We have been called here today, to witness the union, of this God, Ares, and this mortal woman, Xena," she pauses and Atropos continues, "The union which, Ares and Xena, are about to enter into shall be eternal and unbreakable by Gods or mortals. Any breach of their vows will result in anguish for both." At her pause Lachesis turns to Ares, "In the name of Zeus, do you, Ares, God of War, take this mortal woman, Xena, for your eternal partner?" Ares stares at Xena, "Yes. Yes, I do." He raises his eyebrows, giving her a relieved look. Lachesis turns to Xena, "And in the name of our mother, Goddess Hera, do you, Xena of Amphipolis take Ares, God of War for your eternal partner?" Xena smiles at Ares and nods, "I do." Atropos nods, "It is done, are you exchanging jewelry or," her eyes dart to the altar, "Weapons?" Ares reaches for the daggers but Xena places her hand over his, "Let's hold off on those till we get home." He gives her a curious look but nods and turns to the Fates and shrugs. Atropos nods, "Well then, kiss the bride." Ares pulls Xena into his arms claiming her lips in a passionate kiss. She throws her arms around his neck, tangling them in his hair, plastering her body against his, moaning into his mouth. They hear the Fates disappear as Ares lifts her onto the altar and her legs wrap around his waist and suddenly they're both very grateful that the slit on the dress was almost too high. He tears from her lips to bury his face in her cleavage and her head falls back with a gasp. His hand travels up her thigh and lands on the dagger hidden there. A groan escapes him and she chuckles, then pushes on his shoulders, "We should go home, there are a few things we need to talk about." He lets out a frustrated noise but stops attacking her cleavage and nods. She scoops up the daggers and wraps her legs tighter around his waist. He lifts her easily, "Yeah, this is so going to lead to talking." She chuckles and latches onto his shoulders, "Come on, take us home," she orders. He brushes his lips to hers and disappears.
Xena gasps as her back hits the bed and Ares lands on top of her, his weight on his hands. He leans forward, trying to devour her in a kiss. She responds, hands moving against his chest, under the vest. Slowly her hands travel to the sword belt and she begins to fight with buckle, smiling to herself when she wins the battle and it clanks to the floor. Ares pulls from her lips and looks the rather complicated dress over, "Yeah, this might actually take some time. Plus Aphrodite would never forgive us if we destroyed her creation." Xena smirks and chuckles, then pushes against his shoulders. He sighs and rises, pulling her up with him. She goes to the dresser and removes the bracelet, necklace and crown, placing the crown back in the box. She hands the box to Ares, "Send that back to Aphrodite," she orders. He nods and the box disappears. She slides the armbands off and unties the piece of leather from her hair, releasing the braids and letting her hair fall naturally. She sits on the bench, unlacing the sandals and tossing them aside. Standing she motions to her thigh, "Think you can help me out a bit?" He eyes her thigh then sits on the bed and motions for her to approach. She obeys and he lifts her leg, placing her foot on his knee and running a hand up her leg. She shivers as his fingers unhook the belt and drag the sheathed dagger down her leg. He eyes the dress, "So, how do you feel about cheating?" She smirks, "You read my mind," she says with a chuckle. He laughs a little and waves his hands down her body replacing the gown with a thin black silk gown that falls to her mid-thigh. Xena glances at the dummy and finds her gown has returned to the dummy. Ares tosses his vest to a chair and retrieves his sword and belt from the floor, hanging the sword on the weapons rack and tossing the belt on the chair with the vest.
Ares grabs the pouch with the ambrosia from the chest and returns to the bed holding it in his hand. Xena sits next to him, eyeing the pouch, "What does it taste like?" She asks, trying not to sound nervous. He shrugs, "It's sweet, sugary. It's going to pack one hell of a punch though." She smirks at him, appreciating his attempt to ease her nerves. He runs the backs of his fingers down her cheek, "If you're not ready, we can wait a little bit." She shakes her head and reaches for the pouch. He releases it to her. She removes the red, fleshy fruit and eyes it. She sniffs it and wrinkles her nose. Ares watches her. Her eyes dart to him and she gives him a challenging look as she puts the Ambrosia in her mouth. She chews the too sweet food of the Gods and swallows. Ares watches her, then smiles when she starts to glow. Xena inhales, eyes closed as she feels strength rise within her and a power that she had never felt before. It was building quickly, filling her with a warmth and a feeling of security and ultimate power. She opens her eyes and finds Ares staring at her, lust mixed with the worry in his gaze. "I'm okay," she assures him, not sure if she was being honest or not. "I can feel the power coming off of you," he informs her. She smirks and closes her eyes, reaching out to him, trying to see if she can feel him as well. Then her eyes snap open as she not only feels his strength but also the passion and love coming off him in waves. Resisting the urge to throw herself at him, she licks her lips and reaches for one of the daggers still resting on the bed, "Hera mentioned another part of the ceremony," she starts. Ares shakes his head, "Xena, you've done enough. We don't have to do that too. Don't worry about that." She gives him a disappointed look and unsheathes the dagger admiring the blade, not meeting his eye. He feels her disappointment and raises her chin, "You want to?" She shrugs and gives him a small lusty smile, "We're in this for eternity, let's go for the blood bond too. It sounds…fun. And it sounds safer. Hera said that if we're strong enough we could keep each other alive if something bad happened, you know if someone tried to kill us." He nods, "Yeah, on the flip side, if we aren't strong enough we both die, leaving our child an orphan." Her hand flies to her stomach, then she shakes her head, "We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen," she says, grasping the dagger in her hand and dragging the blade over her opposite palm. Ares stares at her bloody palm, then smirks and shaking his head draws the other dagger and slices his own palm, "I'm getting the feeling that you will be getting me into a lot of trouble," he says offering her his palm. She smirks and clasps his hand, "You know it," she says with a gasp.
As the blood soaks into their wounds and they heal, Xena and Ares remain silent, staring at each other, feeling each other in a whole new way. Ares reaches out and strokes Xena's cheek. She closes her eyes leaning into her touch, then snaps her eyes open and sheathes her dagger, handing it to Ares, "Wouldn't want any accidents." He nods, sheathing his own dagger and making them disappear only to reappear on the weapons rack. Xena eyes them, then her attention returns to Ares when he runs a hand down her arm. She crawls toward him, cat-like, claiming his lips before climbing onto his lap and wrapping her legs around him. Pulling her against him and thrusting against her he moans into her mouth and she lets out a groan deep in the back of her throat. His lips travel from hers down her throat to her cleavage and her head falls back while her hands tangle in his hair. His hands travel to the hem of her gown and begin to lift it, but she shakes her head, swatting at his shoulder, "Don't." He lets out a frustrated noise, pushing away from her cleavage to give her an agitated stare. When he stares up at her he finds her concentrating and he smiles. A few seconds later not only does her gown disappear, but so do his leather pants. She smirks at him and raises her eyebrows, "Your mother was right." His expression falls, "Just what every guy wants to hear on his wedding night. Thanks Xena." She chuckles, "No, Hera said your strength would help stabilize me. She was right." He nods, "Yeah, well, that's great and all, but could we please stop talking about my mother? It's a mood killer." She grinds against him, "Better?" She asks, a little breathlessly. He nods, "Oh yeah," he says, lifting her slightly and entering her quickly. They both inhale sharply, pausing and staring at each other in shock. He smirks, "Well, that's…" She nods, "Something," she finishes. He nods and thrusts against her. She moans, grinding against him, delighted when his breath catches slightly. He attacks her breasts, going from one peak to the other, then claims her lips, quickening his pace, making her moan, making himself moan. Xena matches his pace, nails biting into his shoulders, heels digging into his lower back. She pulls back slightly, pulling on his shoulders and he obliges, slamming her back on the bed, landing fully on top of her. She lets out a gasp of delight and he groans, eyes closed for a moment. One leg wrapped around him, the other on the bed for leverage she matches his thrusts till they are both sweating and close to the edge. Feeling just how close she is to the point of no return, Ares grabs her hips, holding them close to his and quickens his pace, pounding into her mercilessly. She lets out a quick little scream of surprise, then a few moans, wrapping her legs around his waist, devouring his lips with her own. Then a white hot feeling of release building inside her, she rips from his lips and screams his name, sure that all on Olympus had heard her. Seconds later Ares growls her name and collapses on top of her then rolls placing her on top of him and dragging a sheet over them both.
Breathing almost normal, Xena props her chin up on Ares' chest and stares down at him, "That was different." He nods, "Definitely different." She eyes him, "Better though?" He raises an eyebrow, "I don't know. I wasn't paying enough attention." She smacks at his shoulder and shakes her head. He leans forward and begins to nibble a path from her shoulder to her collarbone. She sighs, then tries to distract him, "We need to start my training." He makes an affirmative noise, "We have. You removed our clothes very well. I am really impressed actually," he says, then returns to her collarbones. She closes her eyes, falling into his touch, then shakes her head, "Ares, I'm serious. We only have three days before I'm going to be around the most important people in my life." He jerks away from his nibbling, "I thought I was the most important person in your life," he says, pretending to be hurt. She rolls her eyes, "Mortals, Ares. People I can hurt." He smirks and gives her a quick kiss, "I know, love. Don't worry so much. Right now your powers are jumping around in your body, getting used to you just like you are getting used to them. Give them time to settle before we start any real training. Anyway at this point your powers are so new, so fresh, if we do any real training, you'll get drained real fast." Concern still in her gaze, she nods. He runs a finger down her cheek, "How about if I send Strife to your mom and tell her four days instead of three, just to be safe? Would that get you to stop worrying about it and focus on more important things?" She raises an eyebrow, "More important things?" He moves against her and feeling him harden inside her she moans and nods, "Yeah, four days, definitely four days." He nods and pulls the sheet tighter around her, "Strife." She shoots him a dark look and he shrugs, "To put your mind at rest." Strife appears and stares wide eyed before spinning on his heel, "What's up Unc? Uh, never mind, I can guess. What do you need? I'm really not comfortable joining in. It's kind of you to think of me and all, but it's not my thing." "Strife," Xena snaps. "Shutting up," he responds. Xena inhales sharply in frustration and gives Ares a dirty look before returning her attention to Strife, "Go to my mother's inn and tell her the wedding feast will be in four days instead of three. We need some extra time to get my new powers under control. I can't risk hurting someone." Strife turns sharply and stares at her, "You DO look different. Welcome to the ranks, Aunt Xena!" He extends his hand, then quickly pulls it back, "Right-O, talking to Cyrene. Hey, am I invited to the wedding feast?" Xena smiles, "Of course." He shoots his fist into the air, "Bitchin. Catch ya later," he says disappearing. Xena stares after him, shaking her head, then turns to Ares, "That boy is going to take a lot of work." He nods, then runs a hand down her arm, "You know, maybe we should have told him five days. I'm thinking I could keep you right here for the next five days at least." She sinks onto his chest, wrapping her legs around his, "Really? I don't think you can." He smirks at her, "Is that a challenge Goddess of War?" She smiles bringing her lips a breath from his, "And what if it is God of War?" He captures her lips, then pulls away, "A good War God never backs away from a challenge." She returns his kiss briefly, "Mhm, well, we'll just have to see about that won't we?" He chuckles and grabs her hips, thrusting against her. She moans, closing her eyes, then jerking to a sitting position and smiling down at her War God and eternal partner, knowing that whatever the future holds for them they will be there to conquer it together. As long as they first live through her mother's wedding feast of course.
-The End
Gabrielle glares at the back of her best friend's head, "Why do we always have to take a boat?" Xena chuckles dryly, "It's the only way back to Greece. Use the pressure points, we're close now." Gabrielle growls, sick, not just from the sea, but also the loss of her daughter. Her travels with Xena had gone from being a wonderful adventure with a great friend to being a torturous trial with the Warrior Princess. She had never understood the hatred people had shown towards her friend until now. Xena had hunted her and her child and thought nothing of it. She acted as if Hope had been an evil creature and not an innocent baby. Gabrielle would never forgive her. "There's the dock," Xena says, pointing ahead. Gabrielle smiles, then frowns, "Is that Argo?" She asks, pointing at the horse close to the shoreline. Xena nods and frowns. "Who is that with her?" Gabrielle questions, pointing at the hooded figure leading the horse. "Trouble," Xena answers. Not offering any further explanation, she dives off the boat and swims to shore. Gabrielle stares after her, shaking her head, fingers jabbing at her wrist.
Xena comes up on the shore and rushes to her horse, ringing water from her hair and flicking seaweed off her armor. After checking Argo over and finding no damage she turns to the hooded figure with a glare, "I should have trusted you. I admit it. Satisfied?" Ares removes his hood, "We have larger problems now. Your friend has betrayed you, the demon spawn lives." Xena growls, "How do you know?" Ares shakes his head, "Not here, too many prying eyes. Get rid of the blonde and meet me at my Temple in Amphipolis. We can talk there." She looks at him, distrust in her eyes, "Ares," she starts, but is cut off by him saying, "Xena, trust me this once. I need your help to save us all. My Temple in Amphipolis, be there and hurry." He disappears, waiting for no reply. Xena collects Argo's reigns and leads her to the docks, casting a glare over her shoulder.
Xena stares at her friend as she exits the boat on shaking legs. "Who was that with Argo?" Gabrielle asks. Xena takes the girl's arm and leads her away from the hustle of the busy port, "It was a messenger from Ephiny. Your tribe is having trouble with some nearby villagers. Your sisters need you." Xena mounts her horse and pulls Gabrielle up behind her, "If we hurry we can make it before midday tomorrow." Gabrielle wraps her arms around Xena's waist and nods against her back, "Hurry, Xena. If Ephiny sent someone for us, it must be serious." Xena nods and kicks Argo into a fast trot.
Ares paces his Temple in Amphipolis. Xena needed to hurry, there was much that needed to be done if they were going to save his family and mankind. The Fates had invaded his dreams, showing him terrible images of a future he could hardly believe. He had seen a child, with the presence of Dahok, releasing Callisto from the hardened lava and going after the children of the Centaur nation, killing Xena's son in the process. He had seen the husk of that same child help Callisto kill Strife and try to kill him. He saw Callisto die at Xena's hand, a dark Temple surrounding them. He had seen Xena dying at the hands of the Romans, crucified along with her friend. He had seen his whole family die, one by one, Olympus shaking with its loss. Somehow he was the key. His actions would save or doom them all.
It's slightly after midday when Xena and Gabrielle ride into the Amazon camp. Several women bow as they recognize their long absent Queen, Gabrielle. Xena helps Gabrielle dismount, then rides over to Ephiny. The Amazon Queen looks up, "Xena, we weren't expecting you. Is everything alright?" Xena shakes her head and dismounts, moving close to Ephiny, "Gabrielle has been through a lot and needs a chance to heal. I told her you needed help here. Ephiny, she needs to be needed right now. And she needs to be with her sister Amazons and away from me." Ephiny turns towards Gabrielle as she approaches, "My Queen, thank you for coming so quick. We are working on a peace treaty with the villagers nearby, we need someone to negotiate and I can think of no one better than you." Gabrielle nods, "Of course. Xena and I are more than happy to help." Ephiny turns a sharp glare to Xena, "This is Amazon business." Xena nods, "I understand." She turns to Gabrielle, "It's alright, Gabrielle. I'll go visit Mother and when you're done here you can meet me in Amphipolis." Gabrielle smiles, "Are you sure?" Xena smiles back, "Of course I'm sure. Your people need you, a peacemaker, not a warrior like me. If I stay, I'll just stir up trouble." Gabrielle nods, "Well, alright, if you're sure?" Xena nods and Gabrielle continues, "I'll meet you in Amphipolis then. Be safe Xena." Xena hugs her friend, "Don't worry about me. Good luck with those treaties." Xena releases her and mounts Argo. "Take care of her," she orders Ephiny, then rides away.
Xena rides towards her hometown hoping that the weather holds until she gets there. She keeps Argo at a steady pace, not wanting to tire the horse too quickly. As she rides she reflects on recent events. Because of her obsession with Caesar, Gabrielle had lost her blood innocence and given birth to a demon. She knew her friend didn't see the infant in the same light as her, but she never thought Gabrielle would betray her. Ares on the other hand had proven to be distrustful. He had lied and manipulated her several times over the past few years. But had she destroyed the Temple of Dahok when he had asked her to, none of this would have happened. It was the only reason she was trusting him now. She only hoped that he didn't betray her as he had done in the past.
Xena makes it to the outskirts of Amphipolis just as the rain starts. She rides through town towards her mother's tavern, scowling at the dampness of her leather and armor. Leaving Argo in the stables, she heads in to speak with her mother and grab a hot meal. The tavern is near empty and Xena spots Cyrene behind the bar cleaning mugs. "Mom," she greets. Cyrene rushes around the bar and wraps her in a tight hug, "Xena! I didn't know you were going to visit. Sit down and let me get you some food. Is Gabrielle with you?" She asks, glancing behind her. Xena shakes her head, "The Amazons needed her. I was in the area and wanted a safe place to stable Argo for a while." Cyrene nods and passes Xena a plate, "Is everything alright?" Xena nods, "Everything is fine. Argo just needs a chance to be off the road for a bit." Cyrene smiles, "I see. And what about you? Maybe you could stay for a while." Xena shakes her head, "I would love to Mom, but Hercules needs my help. I'm meeting him on the road outside of Amphipolis. Something is going on in Athens." Cyrene's smile grows, "Oh Hercules! Isn't that wonderful!" Xena grimaces, "Yes and I had better hurry if I'm going to meet him on time." Cyrene smiles, "Wouldn't want to keep him waiting," she says, hugging her daughter goodbye before returning to cleaning mugs behind the bar.
Xena heads towards Ares' Temple, eyes darting from side to side in caution, not wanting to be followed. Gabrielle was safe with the Amazons, Argo was with her mother and Cyrene thought she was helping Hercules in Athens. Everything was in place so that she could disappear for a while and help Ares destroy Hope and defeat Dahok. The Temple is isolated on the far side of town and sees very little foot traffic, save for the occasional priest or warlord. She enters and a wall sconce blazes to life. She heads deeper into the Temple and finds Ares sitting on his throne watching something in a small portal at his side. "Alright Ares, what's going on?" Ares' head jerks up, "Xena, it's about time. Here, watch." He spreads his hands and the portal grows larger. Xena approaches, "What am I watching?" She questions. "My dreams. The Fates sent me visions of the future," he answers. Xena watches quietly, horrified by the images she sees. When they start over she looks away to collect her thoughts, "Why would the Fates show you this?" Ares shakes his head, "The Fates work in mysterious ways. Obviously I can do something to prevent all this from happening, otherwise what's the point?" Xena nods, then thinks for a moment and asks, "Why are you showing me?" Ares stares at her, trying to read her expression, "You're the only one I trust," he admits. Xena nods and silently sits on the steps below Ares' throne as she considers her options.
Xena thinks for a while as Ares continues to watch the visions, hoping to find a way out of this. Finally Xena rises, "I'll help," she states. Ares nods, "Good. What's the plan?" He asks. Xena shakes her head, "I don't have one. Yet. Gabrielle saved Hope in Britannia, but the visions are in Greece and Rome. Can you locate Hope?" Ares shakes his head, "She's blocked from me. She frees Callisto though and we know where she is. If we watch the lava pit we should find Hope." Xena growls, but nods, "It's our best option. What did Callisto use to kill Strife?" Ares sighs, "A dagger coated in Hind's Blood. I don't know where she got it though. Hope must give it to her." Xena begins to pace, "That's not an option then. What about the Dagger of Helios?" Ares shakes his head, "Zeus has it locked away. No one can get to it." She looks at him, "What else can kill a God?" She asks. "The blood of a Golden Hind is our only option," he states. Xena shakes her head, "Then we're doomed. Damn Zeus and his paranoia." Ares thinks for a moment, then smiles, "I know where we can get Hind's Blood. Zeus opened a portal to another world and in that world there was a vial of Hind's Blood. It's trapped between our world and this other with Hercules' crazed double. If we can open the portal, we can take the vial from him. It won't be easy though. He wears it around his neck," Ares explains. "Can you open the portal?" Xena questions. He shakes his head, "Not alone. Zeus opened it to stop me and Hercules from killing each other. We would need something equally as powerful." Xena isn't able to come up with any ideas so she remains silent and begins to pace the Temple.
Ares glares at the pacing warrior woman. "Would you stop?" He asks, irritated, "You're driving me insane." Xena rolls her eyes, but sits on the altar steps and begins to clean her Chakram. "How did Zeus open the portal?" She asks. Ares answers, "Hercules and I were fighting, I was winning of course, so Zeus threw a lightning bolt to separate us. I guess it was a weak point between the worlds because a portal opened up." Xena nods, "Where?" "Corinth," he answers, "In front of my Temple." She nods again, stands, and places her Chakram on her hip, "In the morning we go to Corinth, maybe we'll see something there. I'm going to rest for a few hours." She begins to walk out of the Temple, but Ares stops her, "Wait. There are quarters in the back of the Temple. Stay here, we can leave when you wake." She nods and heads to the back of the Temple, Ares close behind her. She turns and raises a questioning eyebrow. "I need to rest and recharge, who knows when I'll have the chance to again," he explains, heading into a room. Xena watches him as he shuts the door, then goes into the room across from him.
Ares falls onto the bed, exhausted. He hasn't been able to rest sense the Fates sent him the visions. In fact he hasn't done much other than try to decipher them for days. Strife, Deimos, and Discord were handling things in his absence and it left him worried. Trying to shut everything out, he rolls over to get a good night's rest.
The Fates have other things in mind though. Ares suffers more visions of the future. He sees confusing images of far off places, Chin, Jappa, India, Sumeria, Eire. He sees Hercules' companion, Iolaus, die, then return to the land of the living to lead a cult. He sees a man in clothes from India dying at his own hand. He sees Xena heavy with child. He sees a Roman warrior woman fighting against him with amazing skill. He sees Xena dead in his arms, snow falling on them. He sees Gabrielle falling into a lava pit, beside another figure. He sees Aphrodite all in black. He sees himself holding a child. He watches as he and Xena fight side by side against Athena and a woman in silver armor. He sees the faces of other Gods that he is vaguely familiar with, Kal, Loki, Oden, Thor, Krishna, Indrajit, a few Druids, and possibly a few Sumerian Gods as well judging by the clothes. He wakes suddenly in a cold sweat. Giving up on rest, he returns to the main part of the Temple to start examining the new images with the old, hoping that something will make sense.
Xena rises early after a fitful nights rest. The room had been nice and the bed very comfortable, and it had been nice to remove the wet, stiff leather, but she had been unable to relax enough to fall into a deep sleep. Every noise had woken her. She heads to the main hall and sees Ares on his throne watching his portal again. "Learn anything?" She asks. He shakes his head, "The Fates sent more visions. Here, watch." Xena stands next to him staring over his shoulder. "I don't recognize those people," she says. "Most are other Gods, some I don't know. The man from India, the Roman woman, and the infant I'm not familiar with," he says. "I was pregnant," she states flatly. "You also die," he replies. She nods, "Yes, crucified by Roman hands. Once we stop Hope and Callisto I think it's time for me to put an end to Caesar," she says. He nods, distracted, "Yes, Caesar will pay, but for now we need to go to Corinth. Take my hand." He rises and holds his hand out and she grabs ahold. Her world goes black and the floor disappears as Ares speeds them through the ether.
Ares and Xena reappear in the back hall of his Temple in Corinth. Xena releases his hand quickly and begins to head outside. Ares follows, ignoring the bowing priests, then leads her to the spot where the portal had been. They examine the area but find nothing special about it. Ares tries to open the portal on his own but fails. "Any ideas?" He asks sarcastically. Xena shrugs, "Maybe Zeus would reopen it if you asked." Ares rolls his eyes, "Sure. I can see that conversation, "Hey dad, I really need you to open that portal so I can get some Hind's Blood. Betray you? No of course not, I need it to save the world. Oh Xena here? Oh, she's helping me." Yeah, he's so going to believe that." Xena growls in the back of her throat, "Hera then," she suggests. He shakes his head, "Do you want her to get wind of the Hind's Blood? She'll go after half the pantheon. Maybe I should talk to Aphrodite. Out of all my family she's the only one I'm on good terms with." Xena starts to pace, "You could just pick a fight with Hercules again." Ares starts to object then becomes thoughtful, "For a plan b it's not bad. Let's try Aphrodite first though." She nods, "I'm going to get some food, you find Aphrodite," she orders, walking away.
Olympus is far too bright and noisy when Ares arrives. Athena passes him yelling back at Hera, "This is why Zeus prefers mortals over you." Hera responds with a fire bolt that misses and destroys a nearby vase. Athena shakes her head and keeps walking. Hera growls and begins to follow Athena, then spots Ares, "Son, where have you been? Your father has had more dalliances with mortals." Ares shakes his head, "I've been busy. Where's Aphrodite?" Hera rolls her eyes, "Xena again?" She questions. Ares shakes his head, "One of Aphrodite's Temples is in my way. I want to know how big of a fit she'll throw if it gets damaged," he lies. Hera nods, "She's in her rooms." Ares nods and turns in the opposite direction.
Ares approaches Aphrodite's room cautiously. His sister often practices new love spells on the mortal servants. Seeing no one near and hearing nothing, he knocks on the door, "Hey Sis, you there?" The door opens and he sees Aphrodite lounging on a couch, "What's up Bro?" She asks, waving away a servant. Ares dismisses the mortals from the room. "I need a favor," he states. She raises an eyebrow, "Oh really. And what do I get out of it?" She questions. "I'll owe you," Ares states. Aphrodite is intrigued, Ares isn't known for owing favors, "Go on." He sits next to her, "I need you to help me open the portal to that other world. I think together we'll be strong enough," he explains. Aphrodite rises and begins to pace, "I don't know, Ares. I don't think that's such a good idea. There's Hind's Blood in that other world. If it ever got into the wrong hands it could lead to the deaths of us all." Ares grabs her arm, turning her to face him, "I won't let that happen Dite. Trust me." Aphrodite moves away, but nods, "You're my big brother, of course I'll trust you. Will you tell me why you want the portal opened?" He shakes his head, "It's personal." Aphrodite rolls her eyes, "Fine," she says, disappearing in a shower of pink sparkles. Ares soon follows her.
Xena's waiting on the steps of Ares' Temple when the two Gods appear. She rises and steps towards them. "Hey, Warrior Babe," Aphrodite says before turning to Ares, "So what do we do?" She questions. He points to the weak spot, "Focus your energy there," he says. He turns to Xena, "Stand back and be ready for anything." Xena nods and moves to stand behind the Gods, drawing her sword. Ares and Aphrodite stand side by side and focus all their energy on opening the portal. Soon the air begins to swirl, then everything breaks apart, revealing a tunnel between the worlds. It stays open just long enough for a Hercules look alike to tumble to the ground at their feet.
Ares and Aphrodite fall back a bit, breathing heavy. Xena steps forward, "Hercules?" She asks, eying the man on the ground, dressed in leather. The man struggles to stand and looks around, "This isn't my world." Xena nods and offers him a hand up, "It's alright Hercules." He turns to her, "I am The Sovereign. You should all worship me." Ares steps forward, putting himself between Xena and The Sovereign, "Back off mongrel." He grabs the necklace of Hind's Blood, then punches The Sovereign in the face. The Sovereign falls back then kicks out at Ares, "Give it back," he shouts. Ares faints left and counters with an open backhand that sends The Sovereign flying into a wall. He sags against the wall for a moment then rises, shaking his head. Before Ares can continue the fight, Xena steps in, "You and Aphrodite open the portal, let me worry about The Sovereign." Ares nods, "Don't get too close," he warns before returning to his sister. The Sovereign charges toward the Gods, but Xena gets in his way. He looks her over, "I could find uses for you," he sneers. She grimaces and aims a kick at his head. The Sovereign moves back, towards the portal that Ares and Aphrodite had managed to reopen. The portal begins to pull at him and he struggles against it, "No, I won't go back," he shouts. Xena smiles and charges him, back flipping away as she kicks him in the face. He loses his footing, sailing into the portal. The portal closes behind him and both Gods sag a little from the strain.
Aphrodite turns to Ares, "We did this so you could get the Hind's Blood. Ares, what are you planning?" Xena steps forward, "It's alright Aphrodite. It won't be used against the Olympians. We're going to destroy it so that there is no chance of it falling into the wrong hands." Ares nods his agreement, "After what almost happened to Dad, I felt it was for the best to neutralize it. I didn't want any of the other Gods to know. Someone might have gotten a stupid idea, after all, most of the family doesn't always fire on all cylinders." Aphrodite nods and smiles, "Secret's safe with me. But if you do something stupid with it, I won't protect you," she informs. He nods, "Of course. Thanks for helping Dite." She hugs him quickly, then says, "Later Bro," and disappears. Xena extends her hand towards Ares and he drops the necklace into her palm. She smiles, looking it over, then tucks it between her breasts, "For safe keeping," she explains when Ares raises an eyebrow. "What do we do now?" He asks. She shrugs, "We wait," she says, not liking the idea at all.
Ares and Xena return to Ares' Temple in Amphipolis. Ares sits on his throne above the altar and opens two portals. One portal is a view of the hardened lava pit that holds Callisto captive, the other is of the visions. Xena stands behind him, leaning over, studying the images. "Do you think that they are in order?" She asks. Ares thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, "I don't think so. If they are then you and Gabrielle die multiple times and that makes no sense." She shrugs, "I've died before. Maybe after the Romans nail me to the cross you come and remove me. That would account for the different images of my death." He shakes his head, "No. When the Romans nail you to the cross you aren't wearing armor, in the other vision, you have your armor on and I don't see any wounds from the crucifixion." She nods, "I guess I survive the Romans and you kill me then," she reasons. "Why would I kill you?" He questions. She shrugs, then returns to watching the images in silence. After a few minutes, Ares freezes the images on that of him holding the baby, "Do you think it's ours?" He asks. Xena stares at the image, "It's possible. Unless it's not the baby I was pregnant with." The images resume till they reach the one of Ares fighting the Roman woman. Xena points at the image, "Maybe you're fighting to free me from the Romans." Ares nods, "Could be, I don't recognize her. I have warriors in Rome and she's not one of them." Xena shrugs, "Maybe she's Athena's. You and I fight together against her. Maybe this woman follows her." Ares nods, "That makes sense. Do you recognize the man from India?" He asks, switching to the image of the man. Xena shakes her head. "What about the other Gods pictured? Do you have dealings with them?" She questions. He nods and moves to one of the images, "This is Kal, he's another War God. I've dealt with him in the past, but not recently. Do you think we need to go to these lands and enlist the help of their Gods in the fight against Dahok?" He asks, letting the images resume their normal flow. Xena shrugs, "Maybe. You should talk to Athena. Show her the girl, see if she recognizes her." Ares cocks an eyebrow, "We aren't on speaking terms," he responds, not meeting her eyes. Xena rolls her eyes, "I'm not surprised after your stunt with Agathon." Ares growls, "Agathon or not, Athena and I are never on speaking terms." Wanting to think, Xena rises and begins going through drills slowly, methodically, with her sword. Ares watches, entranced by her movements.
Hours later, Xena stops and turns to face Ares, "We're missing something, we must be. Let's go over what we know. Dahok is the one great evil and Gabrielle has betrayed me and possibly destroyed the world by saving Hope. You are sure that the child is Hope, right?" He nods. She continues, "Hope somehow knows about Callisto and frees her. Once Callisto is free she goes after the Centaurs and kills Solan, then goes after the Gods and kills Strife. I kill Callisto with her own dagger. Does she kill the other Gods or do I? Or is it someone else? Dahok maybe?" Ares shrugs, "I don't know. Aphrodite survives though, I saw her in black mourning clothes." She nods, "More than likely I go after the Gods then, anyone else would have killed her too. Obviously we're on the same side sense we fight against Athena together." Ares nods, "Maybe Dahok corrupts the Olympians, maybe even all the pantheons." She shrugs, "It's possible. Can you show us Hercules and Iolaus? We saw Iolaus die, be reborn, and lead a cult and those images came together and in that order. Just like the images of Hope releasing Callisto and then going after the Centaurs leading to my son's death. I think that is another sequence of events we need to look out for." Ares nods and opens a third portal, this one focused on Hercules and Iolaus, "That leaves us with you dying, Gabrielle's leap into the lava, the baby, and all the odd people we don't know." Xena nods, "I might be the one responsible for Gabrielle's death. I would be lost and hurting after the death of my son. Maybe that's when we..." She trails off and he shakes his head, looking offended, "I wouldn't take advantage of you like that. When you give yourself to me it will be your own choice." Xena scowls, "It's not something I will ever chose." Ares grunts and pulls up the images of a pregnant Xena and him holding a baby, "Visions from the Fates don't lie, Xena." She rolls her eyes, "We could be reading them wrong though. We need to talk to the Fates." Ares nods and extends a hand to her, "They won't give us a straight answer, but we can try." Xena takes his hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena stands still for several seconds, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness of the Fates' Temple. Spotting their loom, she walks towards it, but is pulled back by Ares, "No one approaches the Loom of Time without their permission," he explains, pointing at the three sisters. Xena nods and turns to Atropos, "May we approach?" She shakes her head and Clotho demands, "Ask your questions Ares, then be gone." He nods, "What do the visions mean?" Lachesis answers, "The world is ending." Clotho adds on, "Or is it?" Atropos chimes in, "There is one who can save us all, but he will need help from her." "Her?" Xena asks. Lachesis nods, "Yes, her." "Xena?" Ares asks. The three Fates smile in response. Ares sighs, "Are there more visions?" Clotho nods, "Many more, War God and for that we are sorry. Seeing them all at once would destroy you. We will show you what we can, when we can. Now go." Ares nods, "Thank you." He takes Xena's hand and they disappear.
Xena pulls away from Ares' grasp, agitated, "I had more questions," she snaps. Ares shrugs, "When the Fates tell you to leave, it's best not to argue with them." Xena growls low in her throat. Ares walks from the front of the Temple to the back and opens a door, "Rest and eat. Take a bath if you like. I'm going to bed to have more visions." Xena nods and follows him. As he grabs the door handle, she rests a hand on his arm, "When you have the visions, do you get any rest?" He shakes his head, "It's a good thing Gods don't need sleep." She looks concerned, "True, but you need down time to recharge. Between the visions, the portals, and transporting us both around, you're going to get drained." Ares laughs, "Don't worry about that. We have a long way to go before I'm drained." Xena nods, "I'll see you in the morning," she says before heading into a room. Ares smiles softly after her, then retires to his room.
Despite his assurances, Xena worries. Just sense the day before, she sees differences. It could be that he was just distracted, worried about Dahok, but she suspected that he was running low on energy. If they were going to defeat Dahok, she knew that Ares would need to be fully charged. Which meant she would have to convince him to shut everything down for a while, no visions, no portals, no transporting. Neither of them would be comfortable with that. Even now Xena didn't like not being able to keep an eye on the lava pit or Iolaus. She would have to come up with a plan to distract them both. But for now it was time to eat and rest in order to regain her own strength.
Ares lays down, not really wanting to sleep and have more of the horrible visions, but knowing that it is necessary. He hopes to get just a little rest before the visions begin. Though he had assured Xena that all was well, he is beginning to worry. The visions zapped his strength and the constant transporting and vision portals weren’t helping. Nor had opening the portal to the other world. Without a chance to recharge, he would soon falter under the strain of it all. As his head hits the pillow, he is pulled under, into the dark depths of the Fates' visions. The visions don't start bad this time, though, more dream-like than those before. He sees himself and Xena on a couch in this very Temple getting frisky with one another. But the dream ends there and the visions take on their usual darkness. A Shamaness from the north was attacking a pregnant Xena, trying to destroy their child. Hercules was stabbing Zeus with a strange weapon and Olympus was shaking with its loss. He places Xena in an ice coffin, with her sword and Chakram as a grave marker. His own mother, Hera, attacks him, saving Hercules. A horrible creature stabs Gabrielle, a Gabrielle that felt more like Dahok than the bard that traveled the world with Xena, then holds her as they both fall to the ground, dead. Xena points her Chakram at his throat. Then he is in the cold water pulling her lifeless corpse up with him. He can feel the cold, the burning in his lungs, the guilt, and the grief. He can hear himself, feel himself screaming over her body as he lays it on the frozen ground.
Xena wakes suddenly to the sound of ultimate suffering. She recognizes it from the day her younger brother had died, the day she had made that noise, the day it had all started. Pulling herself from the painful memories, she rushes from her room and across the hall to where the sound is coming from. When she enters, she sees Ares on the bed, sweating, screaming, and fighting to wake up. She rushes to him and shakes him hard, "Ares, wake up." Finally he springs awake, eyes wide, breathing heavy. He looks around, unsure of everything until his eyes land on her, "You're alive," he says, pulling her towards him and kissing her passionately.
Xena pulls away, startled and worried, "What did you see?" She asks, concern in her voice, hand going to her lips. Ares shakes his head, "You don't need to see these visions." She shakes her head, "That isn't how this works. Show me." He considers for a moment, then obliges, creating a portal and letting the new visions play out. When they get to the last one, Xena begins to shake from the cold and feel her lungs burn from lack of air. As Ares screams over her body, a single tear goes down her cheek as she too feels his loss. As the visions end, Ares closes the portal, not wanting to experience them again. He shakes his head and leans back on the headboard, closing his eyes, more exhausted than before. Xena stares at him, curiously, "You love me?" She asks quietly. He nods, not opening his eyes, "It appears so. The child is ours and Hera is an enemy, maybe Hercules too." Xena nods and leans next to him. He opens his eyes and gives her a questioning look. "Sleep, we'll worry about the rest in the morning. Hopefully the Fates don't show you anymore tonight. If they do, I'll be here to wake you." Ares looks confused, "You're going to sleep with me?" She nods and lays down, "How else will I know if the visions are back? I don't want to wait until you're screaming again." He nods and lays down next to her, "Thank you," he says quietly before drifting back to sleep.
Xena waits until she is sure that Ares is asleep, then rolls over to look at him. She had felt his pain and suffering over her death and it was affecting her just as it was him. It makes her think about her own feelings. She certainly doesn't want him dead and she is enjoying her time with him. Does she love him? Can she? Long ago, yes. Love, worship, trust. In the beginning that was all there. But that was before Caesar, before Alti and Borias, before being forced to run the gauntlet. It was before he had pretended to be her father, before sending her to Tartarus in Callisto's body, before the Furies. She doesn't know if she can forgive him all of that in order to love him. According to the visions, they were going to have a relationship of some sorts. Glancing at him, she smiles softly and brushes his hair out of his face before rolling away from him and drifting off to sleep.
Ares wakes and is convinced that he is having another vision. He is well rested and Xena is curled up in his arms. Her smell surrounds him. He feels her firm curves pressed against him. Wanting to enjoy this vision while it lasts, he holds her closer, letting his hand drift over her body through her thin shift. Knowing that the Fates would soon change the vision to something horrible, he lets his hand drift lower, over her exposed thigh, working his way back up. He only stops when her hand lands on top of his halting his progress and letting him know that she is awake. She rolls in his arms to face him with a questioning glare, "What are you doing Ares?" It dawns on him then, this isn't a vision. Xena is really there, in his arms, in his bed. And she doesn't have the happiest look on her face. "Thought it was a dream," he explains, "I didn't mean to wake you." She sits up, shifting away from him, "Anymore visions?" He shakes his head, "Assuming that this is real, then I am vision free." Xena nods, "Good. Rested?" He nods, "Yeah. Go change and eat. I'll meet you out front. We need to examine these new visions again." Xena nods and heads for the door, "Ares, skip that last one, we don't need to see that again," she says. He nods in agreement.
Xena eats and dresses quickly, then meets Ares in the front of the Temple. He looks up and motions for her to look at the center portal, "Is this Alti?" He asks, pointing at the image of the northern Shamaness. Xena nods, "Yes, and she's after our baby." "Why?" Ares questions. She shrugs, "She probably sees our child as a great source of power and that's all she's ever wanted. Or maybe she wants to use the child against me." Ares growls, "We'll add her to the list. Dahok, Caesar, then Alti." Xena nods, "We might be able to go after her before the rest, depending on when Hope frees Callisto." Ares stays quiet for a minute, "Our relationship seems to start here," he says. Xena glares, "Perhaps. Of course you were trying to start things earlier in the bedroom," she says lightly. He smirks back, "You were the one in my bed." She laughs lightly, then goes back to watching the visions. Ares pauses at the ice coffin, "Do you think this is after..." He trails off as Xena nods, then lets the visions resume. Xena stops him, "Go back to the ice coffin." He flips the images back, "What is it?" He asks. She points at the Chakram, "It's different." He stares at it curiously, "I've never seen anything like it," he admits. He studies it, "I know of two Chakrams, yours and the Chakram of Light. But it doesn't look like that either." Xena looks confused, "Chakram of Light?" She questions. He nods, "Yes. Long ago there were two Chakrams created. Dark and Light. They were the treasured possessions of the War God, Kal from Italia. I stole the Dark Chakram for you, but only the purest of souls can lift the Light Chakram. Any others will die horribly," he explains. Xena nods, "To have a protection spell that strong, the Chakram of Light must be very powerful." He nods, "It is rumored that it can kill a God. None have ever been able to wield it, so none know if it's true or not." Xena looks discouraged, "That doesn't help us. Who made the Chakrams? Maybe they make my new one." Ares shakes his head, "They appeared in Italia one day along with a scroll. No one knows where they came from." She scowls in response, "What did the scroll say?" She questions. Ares shrugs, "Not much. The Dark Chakram would make mortals fall before its power, but must be gifted by a God, for mortals would perish to remove it from the altar. The Chakram of Light would be its equal, but feared by the Gods, and only the purest soul could lift it, all others would perish. Separate they would be incredible, united they would rule the world," he says with an eye roll, "Not sure how much of it's true though." Xena sighs and shakes her head, deep in thought.
After watching the visions a while longer, Ares pauses on the image of Gabrielle and the creature, "What is it?" He questions pointing at the creature. Xena shrugs, "I've never seen anything like it. It's horrible." He nods, "It seems that everyone dies more than once. How is that possible?" Xena shakes her head, "I don't know." Ares pauses a moment, "Maybe that isn't Gabrielle. At least not your Gabrielle." She gives him a questioning look and he explains, "That Gabrielle doesn't feel right, she feels darker, almost like Hope. If I didn't know better I would say it is Hope." Xena thinks for a moment, then shakes her head, "Is that possible?" "Ares shrugs, "Maybe, I don't know what Dahok and his spawn are capable of." They remain quiet for a moment, then Xena declares, "We need to avoid the other Gods. What is it that Hercules uses to kill Zeus?" Ares shakes his head, "I don't know. I find it odd that Hercules and I are on the same side. We've never worked together before." She shrugs, "I've worked with him in the past. Maybe you two set aside your differences because of me," she says sarcastically. Ares laughs, "Not likely. Maybe Zeus was on our side and Hercules is against us." Xena shakes her head, "Hercules fights for the greater good and so do I. We would be on the same side." Ares turns to the images of Iolaus, "His best friend is leading a cult, it could be the cult of Dahok. Maybe Hercules is corrupted." Xena shakes her head, "I can't see that happening. Hercules isn't the type to fall for Dahok's schemes. Maybe we should talk to Hercules. See what he knows about Dahok." He scowls in response, "Not yet. Let's leave him out of it until we know more." She nods, "Fine. I need to think." That said, she grabs her sword and heads to the door. Ares follows, curious.
Xena steps out of the Temple, into the light and turns to face Ares, sword pointed forward, "Either join in or stay out of my way," she says evenly. Ares raises an eyebrow and draws his own sword, "This is how you think?" He asks, stabbing at her with a testing blow. Xena parries easily, "It gets my blood flowing." He smiles and strikes again, harder than before. She again easily parries and strikes back viciously, making contact with his sword. Ares pushes back, but she resists and their swords stay locked together. Xena kicks out and he moves back slightly. She unengages her sword and spins, raising her leg high for a kick to his head. He dodges to the side and swings to backhand her. She grabs his wrist before it can reach her and smiles before flipping him over. Rather than falling, Ares tumbles and lands back on his feet, now behind her. He wraps one arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him and holding his sword to her throat, "I win," he says. Xena growls and elbows him in the ribs causing him to lean forward enough that she escapes. Free from his grasp, she sweeps his legs out from under him and comes down on top of him holding her Chakram at his throat. She smirks, "I win," she says. Ares laughs softly, "I guess you do. Did you come up with an idea?" He asks. She nods, placing her Chakram on her belt and rising off of him. She extends a hand to him, "We're going back to Britannia. I want to examine the Temple and the Castle of the Knights of the Pierced Heart. I want to see if I missed anything." Ares nods, "Solid plan. You'll be recognized though. And if I take us, Dahok might sense me in his territory. It could give us away." Xena shrugs, "Dahok isn't strong enough to take physical form yet. And his followers should have all been destroyed." He nods and extends his hand, "Where would you like to start?" She thinks for a moment, "The Temple, at least what's left of it," she says, taking his hand.
Moments later they arrive at the top of a hill overlooking the ruins of Dahok's Temple. Xena quickly surveys the area, then starts walking in the direction of the ruins with Ares close behind her. "I missed the action," Ares starts, "How did you destroy it?" Xena shrugs, "Krafstar turned into some sort of demon creature called the Deliverer. We fought and I threw him into Dahok's flame in the center of the Temple. After that everything imploded and collapsed." Xena starts poking through the rubble, making her way to where the altar used to rest. Seeing that the altar site is covered in rubble, she begins to remove what she can. Ares approaches and rests a hand on her shoulder. "Allow me," he says, waving a hand over the rubble and making it shift out of the way. She nods in appreciation then examines what is left of the altar. Where a slab of rock used to rest there was now a gaping hole. She tosses a rock in and doesn't hear it hit bottom. She leans on the side, peering down the hole, then jerks back. "What is it?" He asks, stepping closer. "It's still hot," she explains, "Odd, but not helpful. Are you picking up anything? Does any of this remind you of the visions?" He shakes his head, "Nothing is familiar and I don't feel anything. Let's try the castle," he suggests, placing a hand on her shoulder before disappearing.
A horrible smell comes from the open doors of the castle. Xena grimaces, "I guess the Banshees returned and killed them all." Ares nods, "Banshees? We don't need them getting in our way." She agrees and begins working her way into the interior of the castle. She heads first to the stable. Ares pauses at the entrance, "There's a darkness here, so thick it's almost tangible." She nods, "This is where Hope was born," she explains. He nods, "This place is tainted by Dahok. We should destroy it when we leave." "Agreed," Xena says, heading into the sword room. She glances at the bodies, then begins to look around. Ares stares at the sword in the stone, then shakes his head and starts to examine the room. After several minutes, he halts, "Xena, there is nothing here. We're wasting our time. Let's destroy this place and go home." She nods and moves to his side. They appear outside the castle and Ares points at it, causing an explosion as they return to Greece.
Arriving at the Temple, Xena growls and sits on the altar steps rubbing her temples in frustration. Ares leans on a pillar watching her. She pauses and glances at him, then sighs, "Alright, let's try a different approach. Which lands and Gods were in the visions?" She asks. Ares thinks for a moment, "Greece and Rome of course. Kal from Italia. Oden, Loki, and Thor from the Norse lands, Krishna and Indrajit from India, Sumerian Gods and Celtic Gods or maybe they were Druids, not positive, I only recognized them by their clothes. And I saw Jappa and Chin, but none of their Gods. That's it." Xena thinks for a moment, "I've had dealings in Jappa, Chin, and the Norse lands. You've had dealings with Kal in Italia. What about the others?" He shakes his head, "I know the Norse Gods by reputation only, same goes for Sumeria and Eire. And I've never had dealings with Chin or Jappa. During your time in the Norse lands, Jappa and Chin, did anything happen that might have any bearing on what we're doing?" Xena considers for a moment, "I was conquering and killing throughout those lands. I manipulated Odin pretty bad, so if we need his help in the future, I doubt we'll get it. I can't think of anything else though. I was in Siberia too. I helped Alti kill a lot of Amazons. But again, I don't see how that has any baring." Ares nods, "I agree. Maybe we aren't supposed to do anything about the other lands and Gods. Maybe the Fates were just showing us how far reaching Dahok's hand would be." Xena shrugs, "It's possible." She glances at the sky which is turning dark, "It's been a long day. I'm going to eat and turn in for the night. I know you don't have to eat, but join me, if you'd like," she offers. Ares raises an eyebrow, then follows her inside, "Sounds nice," he says.
Inside the Temple, Ares takes the lead, opening a side door that leads to a room with a small table covered in food and wine. They each fill a plate and sit at the table eating in silence. Ares breaks the silence, "The Fates have shown us these visions for a reason. My guess is we are supposed to prevent the bad stuff from happening." Xena nods, "But without the full context how do we know what is bad?" He shrugs, "We don't. But some is obvious and preventable." Xena looks confused, "What are you getting at?" He glances away quickly before continuing, "Let's get Solan out of harm's way and warn the Centaurs." She inhales sharply, then sighs, "You're right. We know Hope and Callisto attack them and that the death of my son will lead me down a dark path. We need to prevent it. I don't know if the Centaurs will trust me." Ares shrugs, "Doesn't matter. Tell them what will happen then take Solan somewhere safe, maybe here with your mother, maybe off with his fathers' people. With him gone, Hope will have no reason to go after the Centaurs." Xena looks away and nods sadly, "I'll have to tell him the truth about who I am. It will hurt him." They remain silent, for a time. "Let's release and kill Callisto," Xena suggests, "Then Solan will be safe." Ares nods, "We can do that, but Callisto doesn't know about Solan, does she?" Xena shakes her head and Ares continues, "Then Hope must tell her. Which means that even if Callisto is dead, chances are Solan will die anyway. We have to hide him." She lets out a deep breath, "You're right, but not here. We'll take him to Corinth. Hercules' brother is King, he's a good man, he'll protect Solan." Ares nods, "Good idea. With your history with Corinth no one will suspect you'd hide your son there. We'll go in the morning. Go get some rest," he orders. Xena nods and rises, then looks at Ares expectantly, "You need rest too. The next few days won't be easy. You'll have to transport us through the ether many times. And the battle with Callisto won't be an easy one." Ares shakes his head, "I'm not in the mood for more visions right now. I'll be fine." Xena steps forward and grabs his shoulder, "You'll be exhausted. I'll wake you if the visions get bad again." He gives her a curious look, then nods and rises.
Xena walks into the room they had shared the night before and strips off her armor, weapons, and leather until only her shift remains. Ares watches from the doorway, curious. She looks at him and offers a small smile before crawling under the blankets. He approaches the bed, removing his vest and sword, then stops and stares down at her. She rolls to look up at him, "Are you just going to stand there all night?" She asks dryly. He smiles and shifts onto the bed, turning to face her, "Are you sure about this?" She nods and rolls away from him, "I'm a light sleeper. If you start to twitch from the visions, I'll wake up, trust me," she says. "That's not what I meant," Ares says quietly. Xena ignores him, pretending to be asleep. Getting no response, Ares sighs and turns away from her, trying to find rest.
Soon sleep overtakes Ares and the visions begin. He sees a huge coliseum in Rome. Xena fights for her life while Caesar watches from above. Then Crassus, an ally of Caesars', is beheaded in the same Coliseum on Caesar's own command. The vision changes to a scene deep in the forest, late at night, of Xena punching him in the face. It shifts again, this time daytime in a village, Xena holds a dagger to his throat. Changing again, he watches Roman soldiers destroying the Amazons. The scene tightens, showing a Roman general killing the Amazon Queen. Then it shows Pompeii, on horseback, leading Roman's against the Amazons. The scene shifts again to Caesar, Pompeii, and Xena all crossing blades in some sort of pit. Then it all changes again. This time, it's snowing, a cold snow that Ares can feel on his skin. Xena and Gabrielle are drug from a dungeon and laid on crosses. Ares tries to wake up, but can't. As the stakes are driven into Xena's flesh, he can feel it too. Horrible pain races through his body from his hands and ankles. Her body arches away from the cross, unconsciously trying to escape the pain, but it only makes the flesh tear more. When the crosses are hauled upright, he can feel the stakes tearing at his flesh. Seconds that feel like eons pass, then he feels the life drain from Xena.
Ares jerks awake and wildly looks around the room. His eyes fall first on her discarded armor and weapons, then on the woman herself. She is lying on her back, face turned away from him. He watches as her chest gently rises and falls in the rhythm of sleep. He sighs with relief. Carefully, he finds her hand and searches for the marks of the stakes. She groans quietly and pulls away from him, turning so her back is facing him. He sighs again and lays back down, carefully pulling her into his arms before returning to sleep.
Xena wakes before morning to the most amazing feeling. She's warm and held close in Ares' arms, protected from everything, his strong masculine smell fills her head and she smiles. In that moment she could almost forget all the dangers that awaited her with the dawn. She could almost forget the horrible things the Fates had shown them, the horrible agony in Ares' scream over her dead body. She could almost forget the pain he had caused her. Cautious not to wake him, she rolls to face him. She can feel his hot, even breath on her cheek, as he sleeps on. Lightly, she runs a finger down his jaw, tracing the line of stubble. He twitches in his sleep, then sighs and pulls her closer till their bodies are flush against each other. Xena smiles and rests her head under his chin, wrapping her arms around him before going back to sleep.
Light pours into the room, striking Ares in the face. He squints his eyes open and glares at the window. With a thought, the shade is pulled. Glancing down, he sees Xena still in his arms, now facing him with her arms and legs intertwined with his own. He sighs, wishing they could stay like this, wishing that she had chosen to sleep with him for him and not the horrible visions, wishing that she could be his, but ultimately knowing that he was not her choice and that once they had saved the world she would be gone. Xena awoke when he sighed, but chose to stay still, curious about what he would do. He holds her close, running a hand through her hair lightly, hoping she won't wake for a while yet. He lightly kisses the top of her head while his other hand strokes her back, making circular patterns against her skin. Xena shivers from the contact and moves away enough to look up at him, curiously. Seeing her bright blue eyes full of questions, Ares pulls away, untangling himself and sitting up on the bed. Xena rises and sits next to him, "Sleep well?" She asks to break the heavy silence. Ares shakes his head, remembering the feel of the stakes, the tearing of flesh. She frowns, "More visions?" He nods and creates a portal with the images playing.
Xena watches the images, a plan coming to mind, until the final vision starts. She gasps and shivers as the cold hits her skin. She screams out as the stakes pierce her skin. It's as if she is there. She can see, smell, feel everything that was happening to her in the vision. As it ends she blinks her eyes, trying to hide the tears. Her eyes land on Ares and she sees her pain reflected in his eyes. "I felt you die," he says quietly. She nods a little, trying to clear her head of the sights and feelings from the vision. Ares reaches out and takes her hands in his, again searching for the wounds from the crucifixion. Xena watches his hands examine hers and grips them tightly before releasing them and moving away. "We have work to do," she says, while getting dressed. Ares sighs, the moment lost and retrieves his sword and vest before following Xena from the room.
Xena enters the side room and begins to eat in silence. Ares follows, watching her silently. Xena glances at him, "It's time for us to talk to Hercules. I want him and Iolaus in Corinth to watch over Solan." Ares nods, "Of course. We should take your mother too, Callisto has gone after her in the past," he suggests. Xena nods, "Good idea. Where is Hercules?" Ares sighs and searches the ether for his half-brother, "He's visiting his mother." She nods, "Close to Corinth then. Good. Let's go." Ares looks unsure, "Baby brother isn't going to be helpful if I'm involved." She rolls her eyes, "You two will have to get along for a bit. I need him right now." Ares puts his hands up and backs away, "I'm willing to work with the mongrel, he's the one that will start the problems." Xena sighs, "Fine. Get me close and I'll walk the rest of the way. I'll talk to him and we'll meet you at your Temple in Corinth as soon as possible." Ares nods and takes her hand.
Ares and Xena appear on a hill overlooking a beautiful valley. Ares points west, "Alcmene lives there. Hurry," he says, giving her hand a tight squeeze before disappearing. Xena sighs and breaks into a quick run in the direction Ares had pointed. She wasn't sure how she would get Hercules on their side, but she knew that she needed him. She knew that he was the only person who could protect her family, not just because of his strength, but also because he was the only one she trusted enough to even ask.
Xena slows as she approaches the small cottage with its beautiful gardens. She smiles at the older woman bent in the dirt, tending her flowers. As if sensing her presence, the woman looks up and smiles, "Xena?" She asks, wiping her hands on her apron and rising to walk towards her. Xena smiles, "Alcmene. It's good to see you." Alcmene embraces her, "And you. I know you aren't here for a social call. You're here for Hercules, aren't you?" Xena nods, "Afraid so. Is he around?" Alcmene nods and leads her around back, "He's working on that wall again." Xena laughs, "Isn't he always?" Alcmene nods, laughing, "I'll fix food and drinks. Go talk with him. We'll eat when Jason and Iolaus get back from fishing." Xena nods her thanks to the woman and heads towards the back of the property where Hercules is building a stone wall.
Hearing movement, Hercules looks up and smiles, "Xena, what are you doing here?" He asks, reaching to hug her. She steps into his embrace, then pulls away and grimaces from the sweat, "I wish this were a social call, but I need your help." He leans against the wall, looking concerned, "What is it? Did something happen to Gabrielle?" He asks, glancing behind Xena. Xena shakes her head and leans next to him, "Gabrielle is fine. Have you heard of Dahok?" She asks. He nods, "He's an evil force that can't be let into this world. Rumor has it you defeated him in Britannia." Xena shakes her head, "I delayed him, but he isn't defeated." Hercules nods, "You want my help stopping Dahok?" He questions. She grimaces, "In a way, yes. I had a vision from the Fates that Dahok is going to go after my family. I want to bring them to Corinth and have you and Iolaus protect them until I've finished dealing with Dahok." He looks skeptical, "You've always believed that we make our own fate, why believe these visions?" Xena's expression becomes stony, "I went to the Fates. They agree that horrible things will befall my loved ones if I don't protect them. Please, Hercules, I need your help." He wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, "Of course, I'll help. Your family will be safe in Corinth, but maybe I should come with you. After all going against a God isn't an easy task." She shakes her head, "I have to do this alone. Besides, you are the only one I trust with my family." Hercules nods, running his hand up and down her back, "Alright, you win. I'll head to Corinth in the morning to talk with Iphicles. When should we expect you? And how many rooms will you need?" Xena smiles, "Thank you Hercules. I'll try to make it in time for lunch tomorrow. My mother will need her own room and my son and his guardian will need separate rooms as well." Hercules inhales sharply, "Son?" He questions. Xena looks down sadly, "Yes, my son, the son of Borias. He doesn't know that I'm his mother and it will stay that way. The Centaur Kaliapus has raised him as his own. He has made my son into a good man. They must be protected, Hercules. I don't know what I would become if any harm befell Solan." Hercules holds her close, "I'll keep your secret and protect your family as if they were my own. You have my word." Xena smiles up at him, "I knew I could count on you. Thank you," she says, giving him a tight hug.
Alcmene ventures outside and finds her son and Xena working silently building the wall. "Lunch," she shouts. Both turn and grin before setting down their tools and heading towards her. "There's a wash basin by the door," she instructs before walking inside and setting the table with five place settings. Xena clasps hands with Jason and Iolaus, then sits to enjoy the nice family meal. Soon they are finished and Xena rises from the table, "Thank you Alcmene, it was wonderful. I wish I could stay, but I have pressing matters to attend to." She then turns to Hercules, "I'll see you in Corinth tomorrow around midday." He nods, "Safe journey, Xena." She smiles tightly and nods, then leaves quickly, heading east.
Xena climbs the hill to the spot where Ares had left her and closes her eyes. "Ares," she calls, softly. He appears with a flash of light, "Xena," he acknowledges, "I thought we were meeting in Corinth." She shrugs, "I am meeting Hercules there tomorrow at midday with my mother, son, and Kaliapus in tow." Ares nods, "He agreed to help, then? It didn't take you long to convince him either. I'm surprised. Usually he's not very trusting when I'm involved." Xena shrugs, "I didn't mention you." He nods, "That explains it." She smiles, "Let's go back to Amphipolis for now. I need to talk to my mother. She'll have to find someone to watch the inn." Ares nods, "And we need to examine those new visions a little closer." Xena nods and reaches for his hand. In seconds they are travelling through the darkness of the ether.
Xena and Ares arrive in Ares' Temple in Amphipolis. He releases her hand and goes to sit on his throne, opening portals as he goes. The first is of the hardened lava pit, the second of Hercules and Iolaus heading towards Corinth, the third of Gabrielle speaking with an Amazon, the fourth is the visions playing on a loop, with the crucifixion and drowning being omitted. Xena follows after him, sitting on the arm of the throne to better view the images. "Focus on the Romans for a minute." Ares obliges, showing only the visions that include the Romans. "Stop," Xena orders. The images stop on the one of a Roman killing an Amazon. "That's Ephiny, the Amazon Queen, in Gabrielle's absence, and that is Brutus, Caesar's right hand," she says, pointing first at the Amazon, then the Roman. Ares nods, "I recognized Brutus, didn't know the woman though. Are you familiar with Crassus and Pompeii?" He asks, showing images of them. She nods, "I've had dealings with Crassus in the past, he has the loyalty of many soldiers. Pompeii I know by reputation only. Together, with Caesar, they form a triumvirate of power in Rome. They balance each other. But if one were to die, there would be a struggle as the other two tried to collect more power than each other. Different factions would arise. It might be enough to throw Rome into confusion. It might be enough to throw Rome into a state of war," she says, thinking aloud. Ares nods, "Yes, but what would happen if two of them were killed?" He asks, pointing first at Crassus being executed, then Pompeii as he fights Caesar and Xena. She closes her eyes and sighs deeply, "Whoever was left standing would declare himself Emperor of Rome and reunite the kingdom under his rule. He would be praised as a hero, a God among men. It would be impossible to turn Rome against him." Ares nods, "Which means we either need to destroy all three of them or find a way to get Rome to turn on their precious triumvirate." Xena nods, "The Romans won't easily turn and if we kill all three, Rome will fall into chaos. We need someone who can either win the people over or pick up the pieces when we're finished. Do you have anyone?" Ares shakes his head, "I have Roman followers, both royal and peasant, but I don't think any are capable of taking over, even with our help." Xena scowls, "We'll have to worry about that later. Right now I need to focus on my family. I'm going to Mother's," she says, heading towards the door. "Xena, wait, " he says. She stops and raises a questioning eyebrow. "Your mother won't react well to me and the only way to get her to Corinth tomorrow is with my help," he tells her. She growls low in her throat, "Well, maybe if you hadn't tried to get me to kill her, we wouldn't have to worry about it." When he starts to respond, she shakes her head and holds up her hand, "I'll deal with my mother," she says, leaving the Temple.
Xena enters Cyrene's tavern and sees a young girl working behind the counter. She approaches, glancing around quickly, scanning for her mother, "Where's Cyrene?" She asks the girl. The girl looks up, startled, then smiles, "You must be Xena. Cyrene talks about you all the time. It's her night off, she's upstairs in her rooms. I'm sure she would love to see you." Xena nods her thanks to the girl, then heads towards the steps which lead to the private living quarters. Reaching the top of the stairs, Xena feels around the doorframe looking for the hidden key. Finding it, she lets herself in, quietly closing the door behind her.
Xena approaches her mother's bedroom and knocks gently, "Mom, it's me, are you in?" There is rustling behind the door, then it opens, revealing Cyrene in a pale nightgown. "Xena?" She says tiredly. Xena nods and embraces her mother, "Sorry, it's so late, but this can't wait. We need to talk." Cyrene nods and leads Xena to sit at a small round table in the corner of the room. "What's wrong? I thought you were going to Athens." She asks. Xena takes her mother's hand, "I was on my way to Athens when the Fates sent me a vision of my family being tortured and killed. I stopped at the Temple of the Fates and they confirmed it, without intervention the people I care about will die." Xena pauses to let her mother take it in. Cyrene looks confused, "Xena, you told me that you believe that we all make our own destinies, that the Gods don't control us." Xena nods, "Mother, it was so real, so horrible. I spoke with Hercules and he agrees with me. You're going to Corinth to stay with Hercules at the Palace. His brother is King, you'll be safe and happy." Cyrene shakes her head, "What about my inn?" Xena rolls her eyes, "Your life is more important! Mother, please," she begs. Cyrene sighs, "If you think it's for the best, so be it. I'll have Marian watch the inn. I'll pack tonight. How are we traveling?" Xena sighs, "I called in an old debt, Ares will take us to Corinth." Her eyes go wide, "Ares!" Xena nods, "It's a onetime thing, no strings. He swore on his Godhood." Cyrene nods, "Alright, Xena, I hope you know what you're doing." Xena nods, "Me too. Look, Mom, there's one more thing. There will be a Centaur and a boy there too. The boy, Solan, is my son." Cyrene inhales sharply and Xena continues before she can interrupt, "He doesn't know I'm his mother and it needs to stay that way. If he knows I'm his mother, it will hurt him. And if people find out he's my son, he'll become a target for all those who hate me. I know it won't be easy, but please, Mother, don't tell him. Just help Hercules keep him safe. Please." Cyrene nods, looking upset, "Of course. Who's his father?" Xena answers, "Borias, a warlord I rode with till he betrayed me." Cyrene nods again, "And the Centaur?" She asks. "Kaliapus, Solan's stepfather. He's taken good care of my son. I won't see him hurt." Cyrene sighs, closing her eyes, "Alright. If I have questions about the boy, can I speak with Kaliapus?" Xena smiles and nods, "Of course. I would love for you to have a relationship with my son, a relationship that I can't have." Cyrene smiles softly, "Are you staying the night?" She asks. Xena shakes her head, "I have to meet up with Hercules and tell Kaliapus what's going on. Pack and rest. In the morning, collect Argo and meet me in front of Ares' Temple," she orders. Cyrene nods and hugs her daughter, "Be safe." Xena nods, hugging her mother back, before leaving.
Waiting for Xena's return, Ares sits on his throne studying the visions. Getting nowhere, he grows frustrated and decides to work on another problem. "Strife," he calls aloud. There's a flash of light, leaving the Godling in its wake. "What's up, Unc?" Strife asks. Ares rolls his eyes at the Godling's vocabulary, "You need to deliver a message for me. I need Kaliapus the Centaur and his son, Solan, to meet me at my Temple in Corinth tomorrow around midday. Do you understand?" Strife nods, "Sure, Unc. You want the four legged freak and his brat to go to your Temple in Corinth." Ares sighs, "Kaliapus has always been loyal to me, you will show him some respect. And the boy has a bright future in my service." Strife sighs, "Fine, I'll play nice with the mortal toys. Anything else, Unc?" He asks. Ares thinks for a moment, "I may live to regret giving you such a delicate errand, but I need you to deliver a message from Xena to her companion, Gabrielle, with the Amazons. You will need to disguise yourself. Is this something you can handle?" Strife smiles, "Xena's back? Awesome." Ares looks at him expectantly and Strife nods, "Oh yeah, disguise myself to take a message to Xena's Amazon girlfriend. What's the message?" He asks, making a scroll and quill appear in his hand. Ares rolls his eyes, then sighs, "Gabrielle, if I don't return to you by the time you're ready to leave your sisters, go to Corinth. I will meet you at the Palace of King Iphicles. If you can't find me, find Hercules, he'll explain. Don't rush to me, take your time, all is well. Always yours, Xena. Got it, Strife?" Strife nods and hands him the scroll. Ares looks it over and nods, "Good. Go, you're grating on my nerves," he orders. Strife takes the scroll back, nods, and disappears in a flash of light.
Xena returns to Ares' Temple, exhausted from the long day and knowing that she still has a lot to do. She heads to Ares' throne, expecting to find him studying the visions and is surprised to find the throne room empty. Furring her brow, she checks the side room, where they had eaten, then upon finding that empty as well, she heads to the room they had shared the night before. Opening the door, she also finds that room empty. "Ares," she calls, curious where he could be. "Back here," she hears him reply from the back of a long hallway. Xena walks down the hall and opens two double doors, entering a warm room, smelling of sweet oils. She finds Ares lounging in a large bathing area full of steaming water. She raises a questioning eyebrow at him. He smiles at her, "It's been a long couple of days. The visions are taxing, especially certain ones. I thought it would be nice to relax." Xena nods, "I see. Well, I'll leave you to it. We still have work to do tonight, don't take too long." She begins to leave the room, when Ares stops her, "Xena, we both need to relax. You experienced those visions the same way I did. Stay. We can work from here." Xena closes her eyes, back still facing him, then sighs and heads to the opposite side of the pool, stripping off her weapons and armor as she goes. Aware that his eyes are glued to her every move, she lets her shift fall from her shoulders, then wades into the sweet, warm water.
Xena looks up at Ares from across the pool, then wades a bit closer. "How'd it go with your mother?" Ares asks. Xena smiles, happy that he will indeed be willing to focus on the job at hand. "She will meet us in front of the Temple with Argo in the morning. She thinks I called in a favor with you and that it's a onetime thing. Don't expect her to be nice," she answers. He nods, "Of course." An awkward silence falls over them. Xena begins to make her way out of the pool, but stops when Ares' hand lands on her shoulder, "Stay, relax," he orders. She shakes her head, "I can't. I have to get to Kaliapus and Solan and I need to send Gabrielle a message. If she comes here and both me and Mom are missing, she'll worry." Ares smiles, "It's all taken care of," he says, resting his other hand on her shoulder as well and beginning to gently massage them. She sighs at the feeling, "How?" She asks. He explains, "Kaliapus has always been loyal to me. I sent a message asking him and Solan to come to my Temple in Corinth around midday tomorrow. And I sent a messenger to the Amazons with a scroll for Gabrielle telling her that all is well and to meet you in Corinth when she's ready. I signed your name." Xena nods, her eyes closed, relaxing into his touch, "How long has Kaliapus been loyal to you?" Ares pauses a moment, "Sense before you attacked Corinth. I have a small sect of Centaurs loyal to me, he happens to be one of them." She nods again, then stiffens slightly, "How long have you known about Solan?" Ares sighs deeply, "I've always known. You might have been able to hide your pregnancy from your men, but not from me. When Kaliapus brought his infant stepson, the son of Borias, to my Temple to be blessed, I figured it out. The boy has your aura and eyes." She relaxes again, leaning into his touch, "You knew and you never tried to use him against me. Thank you," she says quietly. Ares remains silent and continues to massage her shoulders, gradually adding more pressure, waiting for her to pull away from his touch.
Time passes slowly as Xena and Ares relax in the pool of warm water. Eventually Xena pulls away and settles next to Ares. "We should probably study the visions some more," she suggests. Ares sighs, frustrated, but nods and opens a portal showing the visions. He stops them at the image of Xena holding a dagger to his throat, "That," he says, pointing to the dagger, "Is the Dagger of Helios." Xena stares at it, "How?" She questions. He shrugs, "I have no clue. This town looks familiar," he says, restarting the visions, then stopping them on the one of him killing the man in clothes from India, "Look the same to you?" He asks, pointing at the background. Xena studies it and nods, "I think you're right. I guess we were on opposite sides still." He shrugs, "Or we were having a lover's quarrel." Xena laughs lightly, "With the two of us, that could actually be true. Seriously though, who do you think he is?" Ares shakes his head, "No clue, but he must be important for you to threaten my life." She nods, "Maybe he's the father of my child." Ares gives her an annoyed look, "Do you really think I would kill someone for getting you pregnant? Give me some credit." Xena shrugs then watches the visions in silence.
After watching the visions cycle a few more times, Ares closes the portal, "We're getting nowhere. Tomorrow will be a long, hard day, go get some rest," he orders. Xena nods, "And what are you going to do?" She questions. He shrugs, "Watch the visions, what else?" Xena shakes her head and grabs his hand, leading him from the pool, "We need more information. Which means we need more visions." Ares pulls away, shaking his head, "All that will do is confuse us more. I need to make sense of the ones the Fates have already sent me first." Xena wraps a towel around herself and starts to pick up her discarded clothes, "They're taking more out of you, aren't they?" Ares remains silent and she turns to glance at him, "Am I right?" She prompts. He nods, clothing himself in his regular garb with the wave of his hand. She nods in return, then puts her stuff down, holding onto her shift, "Can I leave these here?" She asks. He nods again with a curious look, "Xena," he starts. She shakes her head and takes his hand, leading him to their room.
Xena opens the door and lets the towel fall to the floor then slips on her shift. She smiles at Ares, "Come to bed. Time to take one for the team." He sighs deeply, "What else can possibly happen? What else can they show us?" She shrugs, "I don't know, but whatever it is, I'm here to help," she says, laying down. "This is a bad idea," he says, joining her. Xena smiles to herself, "I don't have bad ideas." Ares laughs lightly and pulls her into his arms. She stiffens against him, "Ares," she warns. He holds her tighter, "It helps. Isn't that why you're here?" She laughs and shakes her head, but doesn't try to move.
Ares fights the urge to rest, but Xena had been right when she asked if the visions were getting harder on him. It seemed that the more emotionally charged the visions were, the more drained he felt. Even just viewing them through the portals was draining him far more than they should. Soon his thoughts leave the visions and begin to turn to the woman in his arms. It was clear that they had a future together, just what that entailed he was unsure. Where they lovers? Enemies? Was the child his? If so, was it an accident or something they tried for? Neither he nor Xena would make a good parental figure and together the Gods only knew what kind of damage they would do to a child. Were things going to change so much that they would chose to bring a child into the world? With questions chasing their way through his head, he drifts off to sleep.
Xena fights her own exhaustion, wanting to remain awake in case Ares had more troubling visions like before. Her own crucifixion still rang through her limbs, making her flex her fingers and toes. What haunted her more, were his screams over her lifeless body as he pulled her from the frozen water. Screams like that were born from a deep love, a love that she didn't know he was capable of. She feels him fall asleep and carefully rolls in his arms to study his face. His muscles soon go from relaxed around her to tight and she knows that he's experiencing the Fates' visions. Not knowing how to help and not wanting to wake him yet, she holds him close and lightly draws circular designs on his back.
Ares tries to jerk away from the visions, but the Fates hold him tightly under their spell. First a double funeral pyre, with Xena and Gabrielle at the heads, the Amazon, Ephiny, singing above them. Xena radiates loss, pain, and anger. Gabrielle, loss, pain, and guilt. The next is another funeral pyre, but only Xena is shown, dressed in the robes of an Amazon Shamaness. She's screaming as it burns. Then he sees Callisto, hair cut short, all in white deflecting Xena's sword with nothing but a finger. With the next, Ares feels pain and a heavy weight. He looks down at himself and sees an arrow in his leg and the Chains of Hephaestus wrapped around him. Close by he sees Gabrielle and the Roman warrior woman, both bleeding, maybe not even alive. The sound of clashing swords echo around him. He looks up and notices that he's on Olympus and Xena is battling Athena on her own. He feels his own panic and watches as he pulls himself over to the woman and Gabrielle. He manages to shrug off the chains enough to free his hands and places one on each of the women. Glancing at Xena, he sees her failing against his sister. He feels the power leave his body as it travels into them, healing them both and leaving him mortal. Things change again and he's in an ice cave, placing Xena's body in the coffin, loss radiating through him, "You're with her now," he hears himself say, "I handled you all wrong. I know that. She knew what you needed, unconditional, and unselfish love, and I couldn't give that to you. But I appreciated you in ways she never could, your rage, your violence, your beauty. When you sacrificed yourself for others, you were hers. But when you kicked ass, you were mine. I love you, Xena." He watches as he kisses her gently and closes the coffin lid over her. He plants her sword in the frozen ground at her feet and places the Chakram around it, heart breaking with the loss of his Warrior Princess.
As the visions haunt Ares, Xena watches his face, not knowing what to do. They need the visions to make any progress but watching him suffer was torture for her. She watches emotions flicker across his face, first confusion, suffering, pain, then heart breaking loss. Knowing that the visions leave him drained, she shakes him gently, hoping to wake him, "Ares, wake up," she says quietly. He moans lightly and turns away from her. "Ares, wake up," she says, leaning over him, gently slapping his cheek. He begins to flinch more, but still doesn't wake. Slowly she leans closer to him, "Ares, come back to me," she says before kissing him gently. He jerks towards her and pulls her close, responding with a passion and desperation she hadn't been expecting. Slowly, she pulls away and his eyes open, confusion playing in his gaze.
Ares stares at Xena, not knowing if this was a vision or reality. The visions of late had been too real, too close to reality, too emotional. "Xena?" He asks, not really knowing the question. She smiles softly, "You're awake," she says, rolling off him and settling at his side. He nods and glances around the room assuring himself that this is reality. "They're so real now," he says quietly. Xena nods and rests her hand on top of his, "Show me," she orders gently. He nods and opens a portal. The visions begin to play, then flicker and fail. Ares stares at the empty space where the portal had been, then looks at Xena, "In the morning," he says quietly. She nods, concern in her gaze, "Were they bad?" She asks. He nods, remaining silent. He stares at her and runs the back of his hand down her cheek, "We can't let these things happen." She smiles and grabs his hand, "We won't," she says. He turns her hand over in his, tracing the area where the stakes had gone through her palm. She grips his hand tightly, then releases it. "Lay down," she orders. He nods and complies, exhausted and drained from the Fates' torture. Xena looks down at him and lays in his arms, resting her head on his chest, "Sleep now. We have a lot to do tomorrow." He wraps his arms around her and soon she feels him relax beneath her. After a few minutes of him remaining relaxed, she decides the visions won't restart and allows herself to sleep as well.
Ares awakes to a wonderful weight on his chest. He holds Xena close, pulling her on top of him fully, very carefully, not wanting her to wake and pull away from him. He strokes her back and enjoys the feeling of her. Soon his mind wanders back to the previous night. When he had woken to her kissing him, he had been sure that it couldn't be real. He knew now that in the future, they would be in love, or at least he was in love with her. And it was love, not passion, not the urge to own or control her, but love. The last vision told him that he had to change his ways. He had to give her selfless love, stop scheming and manipulating her to get his way. But wasn't that what he was doing now? Each vision took more strength from him and he was willingly sacrificing himself for her, for himself, his family, the world. For once he was on the right side, her side, maybe it was the change that needed to happen. Maybe it would prevent her death and the soul shattering heartbreak that followed it.
Xena wakes, laying on top of Ares and remains still. She would never admit it to him, but it wasn't a bad way to wake up. His scent surrounds her, his arms holding her close, making her think that everything would be alright. Logically, she knew not to get involved. Eventually he would turn her back into the Destroyer of Nations or his Warrior Queen. It wouldn't be his fault exactly, it was who he was. And he couldn't change that, could he? Held close in his arms, being his lifeline to reality, she almost believes that he could change. And though she doesn't want to, she hopes he would prove her wrong.
Ares holds Xena for a while, but knows that they have too much to do to spend the whole morning resting. He shakes her lightly, "Hey, wake up," he says gently. Xena pushes herself up a little, pretending to wake up, "Mornin'," she greets. He smiles at her, "How long have you been awake?" He asks. She laughs, "A few minutes," she admits. "Were you able to rest?" She asks. He nods, "Yeah." She smiles softly, "Good. I need you at full strength today." He smiles back, then sighs, "I guess you want to see the visions, huh?" She nods and rolls off him, resting next to him, "How bad are they?" She asks, wanting to be prepared. He doesn't respond at first, taking time to reflect on the visions, then answers, "They won't be easy. And they raise more questions than they answer." She nods, "Show me," she orders gently. He nods and opens a portal. The visions play flawlessly. When they start to repeat, he closes the portal and relaxes back against the headboard of the bed. Xena stares at him, confused by what she had seen. He nods in understanding, "Told you it was a bad idea," he says sarcastically.
Xena thinks for a moment, then starts to rationalize aloud, "The first funeral must have been the Centaur children. Hope must have killed Ephiny's son, Xenan. That would explain her singing and Gabrielle's guilt. At the second funeral pyre, I'm mourning in the garbs of a Shamaness. For me to do that, I would have to be very lost. It must be Solan. I can't think of anyone else whose death would affect me like that. I can't explain Callisto, but we'll be going after her soon, hopefully she won't matter anymore. I don't understand the next one though. Why are we on Olympus? Who is the Roman woman? And what did you do to her and Gabrielle?" Ares shrugs, "I have no clue why we're on Olympus, but the Roman is our daughter. She must have matured fast, some half Gods do, but she is our daughter." Xena questions him, "How do you know?" He shrugs again, "Easy, when I healed her and Gabrielle, I didn't have Athena's blessing which means, I had to give up my Godhood. I would only do that to save someone very important, thus our daughter." Xena nods slowly, "The last one," she starts. Ares interrupts her, "Needs no explanation. I've been wrong these past few years, I see that now. I also see that if we're going to prevent these visions, I have to change and you have to trust me. I'm willing to try, are you?" Xena remains silent, he was right, of course, they both had to agree to move on, to trust, and to be honest with each other. She nods slowly, "Alright, clean slate." Ares smiles and begins to respond, but is interrupted by Cyrene's voice, "Xena, are you in here?" Xena quickly gets off the bed and rushes to the door. "Wait," Ares orders, rising from the bed himself and waving a hand over them both, clothing them in their regular garb. She smiles at him in appreciation, then leaves the room, heading towards her mother's voice.
Xena walks to the front of the Temple and finds Cyrene snooping through offerings at the altar. "Mother," she greets. Cyrene turns sharply, "Xena, there you are. Argo's out front, we're ready when you are." Xena nods and closes her eyes, "Ares," she calls, trying to make her voice sound hard. Ares appears in a flash of light, "Xena," he acknowledges. "Our deal," she reminds him, "Take us to Corinth." He raises an eyebrow, "And what do I get in return?" He questions, playing off of her coldness. She scowls in response, "I helped you get your sword back from Sisyphus. You owe me. Take us and your debt to me is forgiven." He nods, "So be it." Xena smiles and leads her mom out of the Temple. She grabs Argo's reigns in one hand and Cyrene's hand in the other then turns to Ares, "We're ready," she tells him. He nods and places a hand on her shoulder. In seconds everything goes black as he speeds them through the ether.
Seconds pass and they arrive in front of Ares' Temple in Corinth. Xena shakes her head to clear it and turns to her mother, "Are you alright?" She asks. Cyrene looks at her shakily, "That is not a nice way to travel," she says. Xena nods, "I know, Mom. Look, we have a bit of time before we meet up with Hercules. Go find a place for us to grab a meal. I'll catch up in a minute." Cyrene nods and takes Argo's reigns, leading her further into the busy city. Xena smiles after her mother, then turns to Ares, "Thank you." He nods, "Of course. I'm going to study the visions for a while. When Kaliapus gets here, I'll explain what's going on and send him to the Palace." Xena smiles, "Thanks that will make things less complicated. Hercules will want me to stay the night, to rest before going against Dahok. I'll meet you back here in the morning." He nods, disappointed, but not surprised, "If you need me before then, just call," he tells her. She nods and walks down the path her mother had gone down moments before.
Ares stares after her, then disappears in a shower of light. Arriving inside the Temple, he approaches his altar and thumbs through the offerings, trying to distract himself not just from the visions, but also the thoughts they brought up. Grabbing a decorative dagger, he smiles, then places it in his boot. Seeing nothing else of immediate interest, he lounges on the throne and calls for Strife. The Godling arrives, "Hey, Unc," he greets. Ares rolls his eyes, "Don't talk like that. You're a God of Olympus, act like it." Strife nods, "Will do, Unc," he acknowledges. Ares sighs, giving up on the Godling, "Kaliapus and his son will be here this afternoon?" Strife nods, "Yeah and I delivered the scroll to Xena's girlfriend. You should have been there, Unc. All those scantily clad women, quite a feast for the imagination." Ares growls low in his throat, "A real God wouldn't need to imagine, Strife. How did you disguise yourself?" Strife smiles, not even noticing the previous insult, "You're gonna love this, Unc. You know that moron that follows Xena around? The one with the bad armor and pale skin?" Ares nods. Strife continues, "Yeah, I was him. Showed up, asked for Xena's sidekick, gabbed with the twit and gave her the scroll. Then I left quickly, claiming someone needed my help. She bought it, hook, line, and sinker. I am a genius." Ares laughs, "Debatable, but good job. You're not a total moron. I might actually be able to turn you into a real God one day. Now, pick something from the altar and leave," he orders. Strife smiles and cackles, "Really? One of your offerings? I don't know what to say. Ha! Discord will be so jealous. Thanks, Unc." Ares waves him towards the altar and rolls his eyes before opening a portal to view the visions on.
Xena walks down the roads of Corinth for a while before seeing Argo tethered outside of a small inn. She approaches the horse and strokes her mane, "Hey girl. Sorry I haven't been around. Things will be back to normal soon, I promise. And until then you'll be at the Palace and I'll make sure that they treat you like royalty. Sound good?" Argo throws her head up and nudges Xena's hand lightly. Xena smiles and rubs the horse's nose, then walks into the inn.
A sign on the wall catches Xena's eye. "No weapons," it reads. She sighs and places her sword and Chakram on a weapon rack near the door, then heads to the table her mother is sitting at. "Hey Mom," she greets, sitting down across from the woman. Cyrene smiles, "Xena. I was starting to worry. I ordered for you, I hope that's okay." Xena smiles, "Of course." Their food arrives soon and Xena attacks it. Cyrene raises an eyebrow, "Hungry?" Xena nods, "I've been busy. Eating wasn't very high on my list." Cyrene nods and slowly picks at her food. Xena takes notice, "Mother, what's wrong?" Cyrene sighs, "Xena, last time I saw you, you tried to kill me because of Ares, now you're calling in favors, what changed?" Xena pauses to get her story straight, "Nothing. This is more important than old grudges. The only way to get here in time was with the help of a God and the only God who owed me was Ares. I had no choice." Cyrene nods, but doesn't look satisfied. "Mother," Xena prompts. Cyrene sighs, "Oh, it's silly. And it won't matter or change things, but do you really believe that Ares is your father?" Xena laughs, a quick, short laugh, then shakes her head, "No, but it was a very convenient lie at the time." Cyrene still doesn't look convinced, "Why did he let you win, then? You are a great warrior, but he's a God. He could have smashed you like an insect." Xena nods, "Maybe he was tired of crazy Xena, maybe he was just bored and wanted it over, I don't really know," she admits. Cyrene laughs, "That makes sense, he was bored. I thought maybe he didn't want to hurt you, but boredom makes much more sense. Oh Xena, the crazy thoughts that go through a mother's head. I'm such a silly woman sometimes," she says, laughing lightly. Xena smiles, "You're just worried about me, there's nothing wrong with that." Cyrene smiles and they finish their meal in silence.
Xena approaches the Palace with her mother beside her and Argo slightly behind them. As they reach the Palace gates a guard steps in front of them, "State your business," he orders. Xena glares at the man, "I'm Xena. I'm here for Hercules." The man immediately backs down and opens the gate, "Of course. I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you. Please, let me take your horse to the stables. She'll be treated like a Queen, I swear," he gushes. Xena nods and hands over the reins. "Be good, girl," she instructs Argo before leading her mother up the steps to the Palace doors. She pushes them open and ushers her mother in. From a side room, Hercules pokes his head out and smiles, "Xena. And this can't be your mother, she's far too young." Cyrene smiles and blushes, "Oh what a charmer. I'm Cyrene. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hercules." Hercules smiles and shakes her hand gently, "Pleasure is all mine. Now, I'm sure you're exhausted from your journey. Queen Rena will take you to your room and show you around the Palace. During your stay here, don't hesitate to ask for anything. "Cyrene smiles and gives Xena's arm a tight squeeze before following the Queen.
Xena smiles after her mother, "Thank you Hercules, she'll be talking about this for years." He laughs lightly, "You must be exhausted too. It probably took all night and morning to get from Mother's to Amphipolis and then here to Corinth." Xena nods, "It was rough, but I'm alright. I want to speak with Kaliapus when he gets here, then I'll head out. Dahok must be stopped." Hercules nods, "Of course. Will you let me come with you? We have a better chance of defeating him together than you do on your own." Xena shakes her head, "I have to know that my family is safe. Surely you of all people understand that." He nods and pulls her into a tight embrace, "I understand. However, stay for dinner tonight and rest. Leave in the morning." Xena nods, not pulling away from him, "You win. I won't stay too long after dinner though. You are right, I need my rest." He nods, then furrows his brow, "Where is Gabrielle?" Xena smiles softly, "I left her with the Amazons. Ephiny and I made up a story about some treaties that only Gabrielle could handle. She's safe with her sisters." Hercules nods, "Good. I'll send a message to the Amazons, let them know that she should come here when she's done." Xena shakes her head, "That isn't necessary. I already sent her a message." He nods, pulling her closer, "You've thought of everything." She nods against his chest, "I try," she says. He uses his hand to gently raise her chin, "I wish you would let me help." She smiles at him, "You are, more than you know." He smiles and leans towards her. She pulls away, "I can't." He sighs, but nods, "Of course, you need to focus." She nods and moves out of his arms. An awkward silence falls over them for several minutes. Finally a servant enters the room, "Xena, he's here," the boy says. Xena smiles and heads to the door to meet Kaliapus and her son.
Xena smiles and waves from the Palace doors. Solan rushes up to her, "Xena, this is great! I've never seen the Palace before." Xena smiles, "Well, now you'll get to brag to everyone that you got to stay in the Palace." His smile widens, "Really? I get to stay here?" Hercules approaches, "Of course you do." Solan stares up in awe, "Are you really Hercules?" He questions. Hercules and Xena both smile. Hercules lays a hand on the boy's shoulder, "I sure hope so. Come on, let me show you around." Xena smiles and urges him on, "I'll catch up later," she promises. Solan smiles and follows Hercules into the Palace.
Kaliapus approaches at a cautious pace, "Xena," he greets. She smiles, "Thank you for coming." He nods, "Ares said it was important." Xena nods, "Dahok, the evil one is here, trying to enter this world. I must stop him, but I had to know that my family was safe first." Kaliapus nods, "You wanted to protect Solan," he states. She nods, "And you. You have cared for my son, raised him, and turned him into a good man. You are his family and thus mine as well." The Centaur looks shocked, "Are you going to tell him?" He questions. She shakes her head, "I have too many enemies. I would love to be a part of his life, but I would only bring him sorrow." He nods in response and heads into the Palace. Xena places a hand on his shoulder, "You should know, my mother is here too and she knows the truth. She will seek you out to learn more about Solan." Kaliapus nods again and pulls out of Xena's grasp, walking into the Palace.
Xena stares out over the city, watching the people go about their lives, none knowing how close they are to destruction. Staring at the women walking with their children in the marketplace, she becomes sad. Once that had been her and her own mother. She had hoped one day it would be her and her own child. If she was to have any hope of that, she had to defeat Dahok. Hearing the wail of a baby, her head shoots to the left and she watches a young mother console her screaming infant. The scene takes her mind back to the visions and her hand unconsciously goes to her flat stomach. She can see Ares first holding their daughter, then giving up his Godhood to save her. She smiles softly, then jumps when a hand lands on her shoulder. She turns, "Hercules. Sorry, I was just thinking." He nods, "Want to talk about it?" He asks, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. She shakes her head and shrugs out of his embrace, "I should check on Mother and Solan," she says, heading into the Palace. Hercules follows her and leads her up a flight of stairs, then points to the left, "Your mother is there, Solan is across from her, Kaliapus next to him, I'm next to your mother. Dinner will be in a few hours, Rena's had clothes brought for you and your family. The Queen dislikes leather and weapons at her dinner table." Xena smiles, "She's being very kind letting us stay here, I'll try not to upset her." Hercules nods and gives her shoulder a quick squeeze before going back down the steps.
Ares paces his Temple, a portal playing the visions one step ahead of him. He closes his eyes and runs a hand down his face. Deciding to look at things in a different way, he starts to group the visions together in a logical order, hoping to get a peek at the bigger picture. He starts with Xena being pregnant, then Alti attacking Xena to get to their baby, then the image of him holding their child, then him fighting their daughter. He pauses on that one, amazed that he hadn't noticed it before. The girl moved and fought like Xena. He was shocked that they originally thought that she was an enemy. Next he adds in him and Xena fighting against Athena, then him giving up his Godhood to save their daughter while Xena continues to fight Athena. The next set he sees is Xena's death. He starts with pulling her body from the water, then the scene of him holding her corpse and finally the ice cave. He repeats Xena's death, trying to memorize every detail, swearing that it will never come to be.
Xena knocks on her son's door, "Solan, it's Xena, can I come in?" She hears rushing behind the door, then it swings open, "Hi Xena," he says, full of excitement. She smiles and follows him into the room. They sit next to each other on the bed. "So what do you think of the Palace?" Xena asks. Solan smiles, "It's great and Hercules is really nice. I thought he would be intimidating, instead he's like you." Xena smiles, "He's a very good man and a good friend too." Solan nods, then looks curious, "Xena, why am I here? Kaliapus made me leave the room when he was speaking to Ares and he wouldn't answer any of my questions on the way here." She thinks for a moment, "Have you ever heard of Dahok?" Solan shakes his head. Xena explains, "He's a very powerful, very bad God. I have to stop him, but I'm worried that he'll come after my friends. Hercules agreed to help me keep my friends safe from Dahok so I can fight him without worrying. So Gabrielle is with her Amazon sisters and you, your father, and my mother are here with Hercules and his brother, King Iphicles." Solan smiles, "Kaliapus and I are that important to you?" She nods, "Of course. Your father, Borias, was a very good friend of mine. I don't ever want to see you, his son, hurt," she says giving his shoulder a light squeeze. He smiles and hugs her, "Thanks Xena, you're important to me too." Xena closes her eyes and embraces her son for a minute, then pulls back, "Alright, now onto business. There's going to be a very boring dinner tonight that we all have to attend. Will you tell Kaliapus about it? Ask him to help you get ready. The King and Queen are doing us a great kindness by having us all as guests, we need to show them our appreciation." Solan smiles and nods, "You can count on me," he says leaving the room.
Xena smiles at her son as he leaves the room, then goes across the hall and knocks on Cyrene's door, "Mom, it's me." Cyrene responds, "It's open, come on in." Xena walks into the room and stares in shock, "Mother, what are you doing?" She asks, staring at the mountain of clothes. Cyrene looks up from the clothes, a dress in her hand, "How many times will I ever have the excuse to dress up like royalty? I'm going to take advantage of it." Xena smiles and laughs lightly, "Alright, Mom. I'm going to need your help. Have you seen anything that would fit me?" She asks. Cyrene smiles and looks excited, "That pile over there," she says, pointing to a smaller mountain. Xena approaches the pile with a slight scowl. Cyrene takes notice, "I was so excited when I had you, finally I had a little girl to dress up and gossip with. Then you turned out to be worse than your brothers. Just this once, please Xena, be my little girl and play dress up with me and gossip with me, just this one time," she says, desperation in her tone. Xena sighs and starts to remove her armor, "Alright, you win. I'll play dress up and I'll try to gossip, no promises though." Cyrene smiles in triumph and hands Xena a dress, "Try this one," she orders. Xena sighs and removes her shift, making sure it covers the Hind's Blood pendant that she had been hiding in her armor, then slips on the dress. Cyrene shakes her head and points to another dress, "So, do you have a nice man in your life?" Xena laughs and tries the next dress, "I don't have time for a nice man, Mom." Cyrene thinks for a moment before pointing to another dress, "Well, what about Hercules? You two seem close." Xena thinks for a moment, "We've gone our separate ways. He's a very good friend, but the time for us has passed," she says, a little sad. Cyrene nods and rubs her back gently, "I just want to see you happy and safe. That's all any mother wants for her child," she says, giving Xena a quick hug. Xena hugs her mother in return, "I know, Mom. And I am happy. I have my friends and my family. What else can I ask for?" Cyrene smiles and points at another dress, "Did you love Solan's father before he betrayed you?" She questions. Xena sighs, "As much as I could at that time. I was so lost, it truly was the darkest point in my life, but when I look back on it, thoughts of Borias make me happy, so yes, I did love him, still do in a way." Cyrene looks up with a sweet, comforting smile, "That's beautiful Xena." Xena looks down at her current dress and wrinkles her nose, "Really? I feel like a piece of fruit." Cyrene sighs, "Not the dress, silly, it's hideous. I'm glad you've experienced love." Xena nods and removes the dress, "Love isn't the problem. I loved Lyceus and Toris and you. I love my son and Gabrielle. And there have been other men, some I might have loved under different circumstances," she explains, then quickly, before Cyrene can continue questioning her, she asks, "And what about you, Mom? I worry about you always being alone at the inn." Cyrene smiles and laughs, "My luck with men isn't very good. After your father and stepfather I think it's better for me to be alone. And I do have help now. I have two girls who help out and Toris stops by when he can." Xena nods, "I haven't seen Toris in a long time, how is he?" She asks. Cyrene smiles happily, "He's doing great. He met a nice woman, they're expecting their first child soon. They left Greece though. I think they went to Italia, she has family there." Xena smiles, "I'm going to be an aunt. When all this is over, you and I can go visit," she offers. Cyrene nods, "That would be nice, Xena. I like that dress, what do you think?" Xena glances down at the navy, skin tight dress and smiles, "It's good. Does that mean I'm done?" Cyrene laughs, "We're just beginning," she states evilly.
Ares grows tired of watching the visions. They were beginning to drain him. He checks on the lava pit and is pleased to find it undisturbed. He opens a portal to Gabrielle and finds her eating with her sisters. He checks on Hercules and Iolaus and finds them getting ready for some sort of dinner at the Palace. Solan and Kaliapus are doing the same. Curious, he opens a portal to Xena. When he does, her head shoots up and she starts to glance around the room. "Mom, go on ahead, I'll catch up in a few minutes," she says, still glancing around the room. Cyrene nods and leaves the room. Xena closes the door gently. "Ares," she calls quietly. He appears before her, "How do you do that?" He asks. She shrugs, "Why were you watching me?" He shrugs back, "I needed a break from the visions. I was checking up on everyone. You look nice." Xena smiles, "Mom's idea," she says, indicating her dress and hair with the wave of a hand. He nods, "It's missing something," he says. She gives him a questioning look and he pulls the dagger from his boot, "Give me your leg," he orders, kneeling in front of her. She places her foot on his leg, curious. He smiles and runs a hand up her leg to her thigh. She shivers lightly with the contact. He smiles and wraps a small belt around her thigh and attaches the sheathed dagger to it, then runs his hand back down her leg, "Perfect," he says quietly. She smiles and removes her leg, letting him stand. She walks around the room, "Can you see it?" She asks. He shakes his head. She smiles, "Thank you." He nods, then questions, "Where's the pendent?" Xena walks over to her stuff and pulls it out, then hands it to him, "Keep it safe, I can't wear it and I don't want to leave it here while I go to dinner." He nods and puts it in his vest. "Xena," he starts cautiously, "Can I give you one more thing for the dinner tonight?" She nods, curious, "Alright," she agrees. He moves behind her and puts his arms around her, raising them slowly to place a chain and pendent around her neck, then let's his hands fall back down, bringing them to rest on her hips. She reaches up to finger the pendent, then turns to look in the mirror. She smiles at the replica of her Chakram, studded with small blue stones, "It's gorgeous." He smiles, still holding her, "You're gorgeous, the necklace just adds an extra sparkle." She smiles and turns in his arms, "Thank you," she says, giving him a gentle kiss. He pulls her towards him, running his hands up and down her back, deepening the kiss. She runs her hands through his hair, holding him close and raises a leg to rest on his hip, pulling his lower body closer to hers. Before things go further, there's a knock at the door, "Xena, are you ready?" Hercules asks. Ares growls low in his throat as Xena pulls away. "Just a minute," she says to the closed door, then lowers her voice, "Go and keep the pendent safe," she says to Ares. He nods and disappears. She sighs and glances in the mirror. Her face is flushed and her lips are red and swollen from his kisses. Straightening her dress and hair, she shrugs, "Good as it's going to get," she mutters, then heads to the door.
Xena exits the room and smiles at Hercules. "What were you doing?" He asks, glancing in the room behind her. She smiles and pulls the door closed behind her, "Working out the kinks, that's all," she explains. He smiles softly, and fingers her necklace, "You look stunning." She smiles, "Thank you, Hercules. Come on, we're going to be late," she says, heading down the hall. Hercules follows her, then takes the lead, holding her hand gently. They enter the dining hall together, hand in hand, and all heads turn to stare. Hercules releases her hand and heads towards his brother. Cyrene rushes up to Xena and asks in a hushed voice, "Did something happen between you two?" Xena shakes her head, "Of course not, why?" Cyrene raises an eyebrow, "You look like a well-loved woman." Xena reaches a hand to her lips and is saved by Iphicles calling everyone to the table for dinner.
Dinner topics remain lighthearted and simple. Hercules shares a few stories from his adventures and Solan hangs on every word. Iolaus interrupts with a few jokes. Xena smiles from across the table. Solan glances at her and smiles, "Xena, where did you get the necklace? It looks just like your Chakram!" All eyes turn to look at the necklace. Xena reaches down and fiddles with the pendent, "It was a gift from an old friend. I thought it would look nice." Cyrene smiles, "Who?" She asks. Xena pauses, "No one you know, Mom," she answers. Hercules becomes interested, "You're dodging, Xena." She glares at him, "Drop it, Hercules," she warns. He puts up his hands in surrender and the conversation goes back to normal.
Soon, dinner is over and the plates are removed. Xena watches as Solan begins to nod off during one of Hercules' stories. His head shoots up, then starts to drupe again. She walks up and puts a hand on his shoulder, "Come on Solan, let's turn in for the night. Hercules can tell you more stories in the morning." He nods and gets up to follow her. She turns to Iphicles, "Thank you for everything. Dinner was wonderful." He nods at her and the Queen smiles, "Xena," she says, "It's too late for you to leave tonight. The room on the other side of Hercules' room is open. Stay the night and start fresh in the morning." Xena nods, "Thank you Queen Rena. I'll head out at first light." Hercules approaches her, "Can we talk before you leave in the morning?" He asks. She nods, "Of course. As long as you bring me breakfast." He laughs and nods, "It's a deal then." She smiles and places a hand on Solan's shoulder leading him up the stairs to his room.
Xena helps Solan remove and hang up his clothes, then leads him to the bed and tucks him in. He smiles up at her, "Goodnight, Xena," he says, eyes barely open. "Goodnight, Solan," she responds, stroking his cheek. She heads to the door and stops to glance back at her sleeping son. She smiles softly, wishing she had been there for him more. She leaves the room and quietly shuts the door. Going across the hall to her mother's room, she collects her things and goes to the empty room next to Hercules' room.
Ares paces his Temple, reflecting back on his earlier kiss with Xena and her response. Her enthusiasm had surprised him, she had melted into his touch, holding nothing back. He had forgotten what her true passion tasted like after all the years of them being enemies. It had been a long time sense they had allowed themselves to be truly open with one another. When she had given him a clean slate earlier, he hadn't expected anything like this to happen, at least not so soon. He needs to talk to her, to see if it just happened in the heat of the moment, an accident on her part.
Opening a portal, Ares sees Xena alone in a Palace bedroom, removing the dress from dinner. He watches her glance around the room. Then she smiles, "I know you're there," she says quietly. He appears next to her, "That truly is amazing," he says. She nods and motions to the dress, "Undo the laces for me," she orders. He approaches and carefully unlaces the back of the gown, leaving her back exposed to him. He runs a finger from the small of her back to the base of her neck and she shivers. She moves away and lets the dress fall to the floor. She retrieves it and puts it in the wardrobe, then removes a silk nightgown. She lays it on the bed and removes the dagger from her thigh, handing it back to Ares, "Thank you," she says. He pushes the dagger back towards her, "Keep it, you might need it." She smiles and sets it down with her sword and Chakram. She approaches the mirror and starts pulling out the pins that were holding her hair up. Ares comes up behind her and pushes her hands away. Carefully he removes all the pins, letting her hair flow down her back. She smiles and runs her hand through it. She grabs the gown from the bed and drapes it on. Ares' eyes follow the silky material as it falls down her body, then shoot back up to her face. She smiles and sits on the bed, "Have you figured out anything?" He shrugs, "Not really. I put some of the visions in order, but it hasn't helped," he says. "Can I see?" She asks. He nods and opens a small portal while sitting next to her. She watches the two sequences in silence, heart breaking at the pain Ares goes through. Seeing them in order was emotional torture. When they start to repeat she grabs his hand, "That's enough," she says, voice shaking. He nods and closes the portal, "Doesn't help much, does it?" She shakes her head, "At least we understand them and can eliminate them. We don't have to watch those anymore." Ares nods, stroking her hand, "I hadn't thought of it that way. Are there other's we can eliminate?" He asks, playing the other visions in the small portal. Xena watches for a moment, "The ones with the Romans can be eliminated, we know we have to eliminate the triumvirate and place someone else in charge, someone who can handle the power without becoming corrupted by it." Ares nods and removes those images from the cycle, leaving the one of Xena's crucifixion. Xena stretches, "What's the plan for tomorrow?" She asks, laying back on the bed and pulling a light sheet over her. Ares looks down at her, "Go after Callisto?" He suggests. Xena shakes her head, "I thought about that, but if we get to Callisto before Hope does, we will have no way of keeping tabs on when Hope arrives." Ares nods, "Good point. I want you to meet some of the Romans who follow me. I want your opinion on them. Maybe you can spot someone who can handle Rome and turn it into the Empire it should be." Xena nods, eyes barely open, "Sounds like a plan," she says sleepily. Ares smiles at her, "Goodnight, Xena," he says standing up. Her eyes shoot open quickly, "You're leaving?" She asks. He nods. "If you rest, the visions will start, you might not be able to wake up and stop them. You'll be exhausted tomorrow." He shrugs, "I'll deal with it." She stretches over the bed and grabs his arm, "Or you can stay and I'll wake you. At least then you'll be able to rest for a while," she suggests. He sighs and shakes his head, "It's not worth the possibility of dealing with Hercules or your mother. If either finds out I'm involved it could threaten the safety of your family. The only reason Hercules agreed to all this was because you didn't tell him I was involved." She nods and releases his arm, "You're right. I'll call for you in the morning." He nods, disappearing into the ether. Xena falls back on the bed and tries to get some sleep.
Ares returns to his Temple in Amphipolis and lays in the bed he and Xena had shared the night before. Inhaling her scent from the sheets, he relaxes into the bed and slowly falls asleep. The Fates show him no mercy, starting the visions immediately. He sees himself kneeling before an altar filled with fire. Then he's embracing Gabrielle, only not Gabrielle, there's a darkness in this Gabrielle that the bard doesn't possess. It's the same darkness from the child and the husk, it's Hope. Ares fights to wake up, not wanting to see more. The Fates hold him under, refusing to let him wake. Things go dark and he feels rain pouring on him. Xena's holding her sword and Chakram out between them. She's mad and worried. "I love you," he hears himself say. Disbelief plays in Xena's gaze, then everything changes again. He's inside a tavern of some type and his family is attacking Xena, who's fighting them off. He has his sword drawn, Xena throws her Chakram, knocking the sword away and slicing his arm. He feels the shock, the pain, the guilt. Then he's back outside, in a forest at night. Xena's in front of him and a man is creeping through the bushes, sword raised, trying to kill their baby. Xena throws her Chakram setting off a trap that holds their baby out of harm's way. Ares throws an energy bolt into the chest of the man just as their baby springs to safety. Xena gives him a shocked look. The Fates change things again. It's daylight and he's grabbing Xena's shoulders hard and yelling at her. In true Xena fashion, she doesn't react. Again Ares fights to wake up, but the Fates hold him under their spell and the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes and looks out her window. The sun isn't quite up yet, but she can't stay any longer. She spent the night in a fitful sleep, waking constantly. When she did sleep, she saw the visions playing over and over in her head. She didn't know how Ares was handling it. She feels exhausted. A knock at the door pulls her from her thoughts, "Xena, are you awake?" Hercules asks quietly. She sighs and opens the door, letting him in. "I brought breakfast," he says extending a tray filled with fruits and sweet breads. "Thanks," she says taking the tray and sitting on the bed. Hercules sits next to her, "Where are you going to start?" He asks. She munches on some bread and answers, "Britannia. Everything started there, so it's the most logical place to start." Hercules nods, "How will you kill him?" Xena shrugs, "I don't think he can be killed. Dahok is the dark force behind every evil deed. I think the best I can do is beat him back out of our world and destroy his spawn." He sighs, "Not exactly a happy ending, is it?" Xena shrugs, "If I can save everyone and prevent Dahok from becoming the supreme force in our world, then it's a happy enough ending." He smiles at her, "I really wish you would let me go with you. I don't like you going after Dahok alone," he says stroking her cheek. She smiles gently, "I need to do this alone, I can't risk any distractions, the stakes are far too high." He nods, "Alright, but promise me that you'll come to me for help if you get in over your head." She nods, "You win, but only if I'm in over my head." He smiles and leans towards her, capturing her lips in a light kiss. Gently, Xena pulls away, "This isn't the time for us. I'm sorry." He nods, disappointed, "We'll have our time when it's over," he says, running the backs of his fingers down her cheek. She nods, looking unsure, then asks, "Will you tell everyone goodbye for me?" He nods, "Are you heading out now?" She nods in response, "I have a long way to go. I need to get started," she says. He smiles and rises from the bed, pulling her up with him. "I at least want a proper goodbye," he says capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Xena tries to respond in kind, but has problems meeting his passion. He pulls away, "What's wrong?" He asks. She sighs, "I'm sorry, Hercules, I'm just distracted," she explains. He nods, looking disappointed and leaves the room.
Xena closes the door behind Hercules and begins to collect her belongings and change into her armor. She reflects on her time with Hercules. Years ago she had loved him, and truly she thought she still did. But when he touches her, it isn't his touch she wants and when he kisses her, it isn't his kiss she craves. Maybe it is a result of the visions and all the time she is spending around Ares. Maybe that is why she can't respond to Hercules' touch the way she wants to. The other option just isn't worth considering.
Xena quietly leaves the Palace, avoiding everyone. She walks into Ares' Temple and calls softly, "Ares." When he doesn't respond immediately, she starts to grow concerned. "Ares." She calls louder. Still getting no response, she kneels before the altar, placing her weapons on top. Taking the dagger he had given her the night before she slices her palm and lets the blood drip onto the altar, "Ares," she calls again. Still getting no response, she growls low in her throat and stands, collecting her weapons. She rolls her eyes, not happy with the next option. "Strife," she calls. The Godling appears before her, "Xena, so glad you're back. Things haven't been the same without you." She smiles sarcastically, "Strife take me to Ares' Temple in Amphipolis," she orders. He cackles in response, "And why should I?" He challenges. She grabs him by the back of the neck, "Because I asked nicely. Would you like me to try another way?" He tries to shrug out of her grasp, but fails. He gives in, going slack, "Alright Xena. I'll take you wherever you want to go." Xena smiles and releases him. He places a hand on her shoulder and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena steps away from Strife upon arriving in Amphipolis, "Leave," she orders. He huffs at her, "I'm a God, you can't order me around." She turns on him, "Do you really want to challenge me, Strife?" He backs down, "I have places to be, people to maim," he says, then disappears in a flash of light. Xena rolls her eyes and heads farther into the Temple, searching for Ares. The throne is empty, so are the baths. Going into their room, she sees him on the bed, thrashing, sweat dripping from him. "I knew this was a bad idea," she says, tossing her weapons aside and rushing to his side. Careful of his thrashing, she climbs onto the bed and straddles him, grabbing his wrists and holding them down. He moves against her, but there's no strength behind it. Leaning heavy on his wrists with one hand, she gently slaps his cheek, "Ares, wake up," she says forcefully. He turns from her, moaning softly. She grabs his chin and forces him to face her, then leans down and kisses him forcefully. As before, he responds quickly, flipping her over to lay on her, kissing her passionately. Relieved to have him awake, she responds for a minute, then pushes against him. At first he doesn't respond and continues to plunder her mouth. A few more forceful pushes and he pulls away, looking down at her in confusion, "Xena?" He asks, rising up on his arms, leaving his lower body pressed against hers. "Yeah, it's me," she answers. More confusion is evident on his face, "How?" She smiles, "I called for you. You didn't come. I was worried. I had Strife bring me here, it was the only place I could think of." He smiles and strokes her cheek, "You were worried?" He asks. She nods and remains silent. He shifts a little and she inhales softly, exhaling with a slight moan. Quickly Ares takes in his actual position and smiles. Xena raises her hips, trying to remove him and he closes his eyes briefly. "Move," she orders gently. He rolls over, holding her as he goes, and places her on top. She smiles and tries to dismount, but his hands hold her hips in place. She glares down at him, "Ares," she warns. He shakes his head and pulls her down on top of him, "Just for a minute," he whispers in her ear. She nods against his chest and lets him hold her.
Xena lets Ares hold her for a few moment before asking, "Did you have visions all night?" She feels him nod. "Were they bad?" She asks, drawing small circles on his chest with the tips of her fingers. "They've been worse, but they kept repeating and I couldn't pull myself out of them. It was horrible," he says, with a shiver. Xena shifts slightly and they both moan lightly. "Show me?" She asks, rolling off him and resting at his side, leaving a hand resting on his chest. He rolls to look at her and makes a small portal appear between them. The visions play and Xena glares up at Ares, then seeing his struggle with the portal, she softens her look and places a hand over his, blocking the portal. He looks up at her and shuts down the portal, trying to read her expression. She closes her eyes briefly, one hand still on his chest, the other in his hand, "Gabrielle?" She asks, glaring at him. He shakes his head in denial, "Hope," he corrects. She growls low in her throat, "Of course. And the altar of fire?" "Dahok," he confirms. "You betray us all," she accuses quietly. He nods, then shakes his head, "Not this time though. It will be different." Changing the subject, he says, "You were killing my family, came after me too." She nods, "How though?" He shrugs, "I have no idea." He thinks for a moment, "The man who came after our child looked like one of Apollo's. Maybe you coated your weapons in Hind's Blood to protect our child," he suggests. She shakes her head, "You would have died when my Chakram sliced your arm. We know you outlive me." He growls, "You're right," he admits. They sit in silence for a few minutes, both trying to make sense of the visions, both failing. "Can you show me the image of you shaking and yelling at me?" Xena asks. He shakes his head, "I've seen it hundreds of times, what are you thinking?" He asks. "What's in the background?" She questions. He sighs, "Crucified men and women. We must have been in Rome." She nods, "That's what I thought. Why would we be arguing over crucified people?" He shrugs, "Maybe we weren't. Maybe they were just there and we were fighting about something else," he suggests. She nods, then rises from the bed, "We have work to do," she says, offering him a hand up. He takes her hand and rises carefully, "We need a day off," he says quietly. She stares at him, a question in her gaze. He sighs and looks away, uncomfortable, then says, "Having the visions once a night is draining. I saw them hundreds of times last night. I barely had the strength to play them for you." She nods in understanding, "I thought as much. Still we can make plans, it's a beginning at least." He nods, then leads her to the bathes.
At first Xena thinks to object, then decides to go along with him and maybe find a way to distract him long enough for his powers to recharge. They enter the bathes and Xena turns to give Ares a seductive smile before slowly stripping off her armor and leather bodice and letting them fall to the floor. She turns her back to him, knowing that his eyes are glued to her, and pulls her shift off over her head. She hears his sharp inhale of breath and smiles to herself before gliding into the warm pool of water. She turns to face him, resting her arms and chin on the side of the pool, "Are you joining me?" She questions, staring up at him through her eyelashes. He drops his belt and sword with a clank of metal on marble, then shrugs out of his vest and leather pants. Watching for a reaction from Xena, he wades into the pool and lounges next to her. She turns in the water to face him, letting the water barely cover her breasts. "What do you think we should do?" She questions. A fire dances in his eyes, but quickly vanishes. He shakes his head, "Until Hope frees Callisto, there's not much we can do. We don't know where Hope is or how to get to Dahok." She nods, "Are the Olympians the only pantheon who have felt his return?" She questions. Ares shrugs, "How should I know? We don't really talk with the other pantheons unless we're waging war with them or against them." "Alright then," Xena says, "Tomorrow, let's go talk to Kal. We can see if he's heard of Dahok or felt his return. Maybe he and his pantheon could be allies in our war against Dahok and his spawn." Ares looks apprehensive, "Kal and I didn't leave off on the best of terms. He wasn't too happy with me when I stole the Dark Chakram for you. If he and his pantheon had been stronger, there would have been a war over it," he says. She shrugs, "Water under the bridge, there are more important things now than old grudges. We can at least try," she says. He nods in agreement and runs a finger down her cheek. She flinches away slightly and he sighs. She smiles softly at him, "Sorry," she says quietly.
Wanting a moment to think, Xena moves away and dives under the water, pushing her hair back as she resurfaces. She smiles at Ares and wades to the edge of the pool, resting her chin on the cool marble surface, "The bed at the Palace left me sore, help a bit?" She asks, jerking her head to urge him towards her. He smiles and wades to her, resting his hands on her shoulders, "Where?" He asks, quietly. She shrugs into his hands, "You'll find it," she says, closing her eyes. He rubs her shoulders for a few minutes and finding nothing tight he gradually moves lower, first rubbing the backs of her shoulder blades, then down her spine and finally reaching the small of her back. She jerks away slightly, "You found it," she informs him. He smiles and holds her above her hips, using his thumbs to massage the area. At first she tenses, whether from his touch or the tenderness of the area, he didn't know, but eventually she relaxes. After a few minutes, Xena lets her body go lax and a soft moan escapes her lips. Slowly, he massages his way up her back until he reaches her shoulders. Bringing his hands from the back of her shoulders to the front, he pulls her back against him, amazed when she doesn't fight back. Slowly, he wraps his arms around her, running his hands down her ribs. She shivers at the caress, then turns in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. He inhales sharply and gives her a wicked smile before claiming her mouth with his own.
Xena doesn't fight the kiss, but pulls him closer. She feels his heart racing and knows that hers matches its frantic beat. His arms cross around her back, forcing their chests together, making retreat impossible. Slowly, he moves from her mouth, down to her neck then back up to kiss her fully. She moans into his mouth. Taking that as a good sign, he lowers his hands to force her pelvis against him. She stiffens in his arms and pushes against his shoulders. "Ares, we can't," she says, starting to pull away. He moves his hands up her back, again pulling her towards him, trying to reclaim her mouth, "We won't," he whispers against her lips. He traces her lips with his tongue, urging her to open up to him. Slowly, she relaxes against him and wraps her arms around him, kissing him fully. Ares sighs at her response and races his hands up and down her back, enjoying the feel of her pressed against him. She smiles into his mouth, running her hands through his hair, pulling him closer to her. Xena pushes him back against the side of the pool, trapping him between her and the marble, never once breaking their kiss. She rubs herself against him, laughing evilly when he groans against her lips. Holding him close she runs her hands down his arms and over his chest, enjoying the flex of his muscles under her fingertips.
Slowly, Xena pushes away from Ares, leaving them both breathing heavy. He watches as a wall goes up between them and Xena returns to her normal warrior self. "We need to focus on the task at hand," she says. He nods and growls, frustrated, "Yes, the visions," he says, annoyed. She shakes her head, "No, Rome. You wanted me to meet a few of your men, remember? Do you think you have the strength to take us there?" His eyes flash in anger, "This," he yells, motioning to her and the bath, "Was nothing but a distraction? A way for my powers to recharge?" He questions. Xena looks away, "It started that way," she admits quietly. "But," he prompts, moving closer to her. She shrugs, meeting his eyes, "Maybe I enjoyed myself a bit." He smiles, "Maybe?" He questions, pulling her against him. She smiles and nods, "Yeah, maybe." He smiles and softly kisses her. She responds for a moment, then pulls away, "Come on, we have work to do." He nods and sighs, releasing her, "Yeah, Rome awaits," he says, disappointed. Xena nods and pulls herself out of the water, smiling to herself at Ares' sharp intake of breath. Slowly she rings her hair out and wraps a towel around her body before turning to face him, "Coming?" She asks. He nods and rises from the water, smiling when Xena looks him up and down, then clothes himself in his leathers. Xena smiles, "Handy talent," she jokes. He laughs, "So do you want to go as Xena Warrior Princess or sexy woman tag-a-long?" She thinks for a moment, "As myself they would either try to impress me or kill me to please Caesar. As a woman, they will just dismiss me, I'll be able to watch them, get a clear picture of their personality and capabilities." Ares nods, "Sexy tag-a-long it is then." He waves a hand over her and smiles widely, "You look absolutely stunning in Roman finery." Xena looks at herself in a mirror that runs along one of the walls, a red gown is draped over her, gold beads replace the straps and there is a deep plunge in the front and back. She raises an eyebrow, "I might be a little distracting." He shakes his head, "You're with me, they would expect nothing less." She nods, "Of course." Ares thinks for a moment, "I have a few men in mind. We need a way for you to signal me that you're ready to move onto the next." She smiles and approaches him slowly, then runs her hands under his vest and around his back, pulling him close, "Do I have your attention?" She asks. He nods, "Yeah, that will work," he says, holding her close for a moment. "Ready?" He asks. She nods and pulls out of his embrace.
Ares and Xena arrive in a Temple in Rome. Xena looks around, "Yours?" She questions. He nods, "Yes. The first man is a General, peasant by birth, but very capable. His name is Fillus, he happens to be here right now. Stay a step behind me and stay quiet," he orders. She nods, "I know how to act submissive." He laughs and leads the way to the front of the Temple.
Priestesses and men bow as Ares walks through the Temple with Xena following close behind him, trying to look demure. Ares doesn't spare them a glance, but approaches a man in heavy armor wearing a helmet with a large red feather in it. Xena quickly stares him up and down before she is noticed, trying to take stock of the man. She grimaces, already not impressed. "Fillus," Ares says. The man turns and takes a knee quickly, "Lord Ares," he greets, not looking up. "Rise and walk with us," Ares commands. The man gains footing quickly and places himself at Ares' left, not even acknowledging Xena. "What do you wish to discuss, Lord?" Fillus asks. Ares walks around the Temple, not bothering to look at the man, "I am concerned for Rome. Crassus is never around, Pompeii is green, and Caesar can't beat back a band of cult following Gauls. Without proper leadership, Rome will fall." The man remains silent for a moment, then speaks, "Lord, I do not know what you are asking of me," he admits. Xena rolls her eyes behind their backs and Ares sighs, "Had you been in Britannia with Caesar, what would you have done?" The man nods quickly, "I would have followed orders, My Lord," he responds. Growing tired of Fillus, Xena catches up with Ares and wraps her arms around him, under his vest, from behind. She rests her chin on his shoulder, "I'm tired of all this war talk," she whines, rubbing her body against his back. Ares smiles indulgently, "Fillus, return to your men," he orders. The man salutes smartly and walks away. Ares turns in Xena's arms, kissing her roughly and they both disappear.
Xena pulls away from Ares as they appear behind an army settlement. Ares glances down at her, "Too submissive?" He questions. She nods. He nods in return, then smiles, "You'll love this next one then. His name is Marc Anthony. He used to be Caesar's second in command but they had a falling out. He's been out of the country for quite some time now. He's battle hardened and smart. I once thought he could replace you." Xena raises an eyebrow, "What changed your mind?" She questions. He smiles and kisses her lightly, "You." He pulls away and leads her to the commander's tent. Entering quickly, Ares clears his throat, "Anthony, we need to talk." The man's head shoots up, "Ares," he acknowledges, then glances behind him, "And what have I done to earn such a lovely present, War God?" He asks, reaching for Xena. Ares steps between them, "She is none of your concern. I'm here about Rome." Anthony growls, "I haven't seen Rome in years. Caesar and his lap dogs keep me out in the wastelands so I can't get in the way of their precious triumvirate while they run Rome to the ground." Xena smiles and Anthony points at her, "See, even your woman agrees." Ares waves a hand in dismissal, "Ignore her. What do women know of the way the world works? Tell me Anthony, what would you do differently?" He questions. Anthony smiles, "Easy, I would unite the nation. Crassus has his followers, Pompeii has the armies and Caesar has the people, I want them all. I would destroy our enemies and bring all others under the firm boot heel of Rome. With your guidance of course." Xena, forgetting her place, buts in, "And the people?" She questions. Ares glares at her and Anthony smiles, "I like her. The people, pet, would be fine, free, and happy. Without the constant struggles between the members of the triumvirate, the money could go where it needs to go, to the children of Rome. I could improve schools, living environments, food collection and storage, maybe even lower the taxes." Xena smiles and grabs Ares arm, draping herself over him, "You promised me something fun," she pouts. He smiles indulgently, "That I did. Anthony, return to your men, you'll hear from me soon." Anthony smiles wickedly, "Maybe when you're done with this one, I could try her out for a spell." Ares glares and Xena steps forward, "You couldn't handle me," she says, then returns to Ares, kissing him passionately and wrapping her legs around his waist, ripping the sides of the dress in the process. Ares responds with like passion and they disappear.
Ares appears in his Temple in Amphipolis still locked in the embrace with Xena. He slams her back against the Temple wall, trapping her between it and his body. She groans into his mouth, pulling him closer with her legs. He thrusts against her, causing a groan to escape from them both. He pulls away for a moment, curious about her reaction and is surprised to find her cheeks flushed and her eyes clouded with passion. She pulls him back towards her for a slow kiss, then gently pushes at his shoulders, "Let me down," she says softly. He nods and moves away from the wall, holding her as she lets her legs hit the floor. She quickly gains her balance and attempts to straighten her dress and hair. Ares shakes his head and waves a hand over her, repairing the dress. She smiles, "That's a handy skill." He nods, "So what are you thinking?" He asks. "That I should be a bit more careful about how I get your attention," she says under her breath. Ares smiles and chuckles lightly, "And Anthony?" He asks. She nods slowly, deep in thought, "He's a Roman from the top of his head to the soles of his boots, but with some help he might be just what Rome needs." Ares nods, "I agree. He will need help though. What do you think of Brutus, Caesar's man? He's smart, loyal, and a decent man. He has tempered Caesar's actions many times over the last few years, maybe he would make a good second for Anthony as well." Xena shakes her head, "He's too loyal to Caesar, he would never betray him." Ares thinks for a moment, then laughs lightly, "I think I have someone. He's a royal, young and idealistic. Alone he would be crushed, but with Anthony, he might be able to change a nation." She's intrigued, "Who?" She asks. "Octavius, Julius' grandnephew and heir. He's nothing like his Uncle. He was schooled in the provinces, he's never seen war, he's pure and naive, but he would balance Anthony well," he explains. Xena nods, "Take me to him," she orders. He nods and takes her hand.
The villa Ares and Xena arrive at is an example of the best Rome has to offer. Xena scowls and curls her lip, but before she can say anything a young man exits the villa, yelling back through the door, "I'm going for a walk. I need to clear my head. I can't believe my own mother and Uncle believe that genocide is the answer to all our problems." The man slams the door and storms off into the gardens. Xena sends Ares a quizzical look and he nods, "That's our boy." They start down the path after the boy and find him tossing stones into a small stream. "Octavius," Ares calls. The boy turns and his eyes go wide, then he falls to his knees, bowing his head, "War God," he acknowledges. Ares rests a hand on his shoulder, "Rise, we need to discuss Rome's future." Octavius rises and glances behind Ares, offering Xena a shy smile. She smiles back. He looks at Ares and fidgets a little, "Rome will have no future if my Uncle and his Triumvirate aren't stopped. They will ruin her." Ares nods, "That's why I'm here. The time has come for the Triumvirate of Rome to be dismantled and new leadership appointed." Octavius responds quietly, "My Uncle and his dogs will not go down without a fight." Ares nods, "Yes, which is why you will need an ally. I have spoken with Marc Anthony, he's an amazing general, has many legions of men loyal to him, and like you, believes that Rome is destined for far greater things than the current status quo." Octavius looks startled, "Me? I have no experience, no power of my own. All I have is my name, my Uncle's name. What can I do?" Ares begins to respond but Xena places a hand on his arm and steps forward, "You have knowledge and an open heart. There is strength and goodness in you. With Anthony leading the men and you guiding him on the right path, Rome can be a great protector of her home and allies." Octavius stares at her, "Who are you to claim to know all of this? To know my heart?" He asks. She smiles, "My name is Xena and I'm a friend." His eyes light up, "Xena? Enemy of Rome?" He questions. She shakes her head, "My quarrel is with Caesar, not Rome," she corrects. Octavius nods, "I see," he says, then turns back to Ares, "Where do I start?" Ares thinks for a moment, "Travel to Thebes, I will have Anthony and his men meet you there. From Thebes, find Cleopatra, she is a good woman with a strong Navy. She will make a good ally against the Triumvirate." Octavius nods, then asks "Will they have to be killed? Julius, Pompeii, and Crassus?" Ares shrugs, "That is up to you and Anthony. I leave this in your capable hands, young Octavius, don't disappoint me." Octavius nods and stands taller, "Yes, War God, I understand and I will not fail you." Ares nods back and Xena squeezes the man's shoulder, then the two disappear.
Ares and Xena arrive back in his Temple at Amphipolis. Quickly, Ares opens a small portal to check on things. Xena stares over his shoulder as he starts with the undisturbed lava pit, then Gabrielle dancing in an Amazon ceremony, and last her son sleeping soundly and safely. She smiles at the image, "Thank you," she says quietly. "Of course," Ares responds, then orders, "Go eat. I'll send Strife to Anthony." She nods and walks to the side room, entering silently.
Ares lounges on his throne, the picture of strength and power. Though Xena's distractions earlier had left him feeling recharged, the activities of the day and the visions playing in the back of his mind, had him feeling drained. Taking a deep breath, he calls, "Strife." The Godling appears, "Hey, Unc," he greets, then looks around, "Where's Xena? I thought you two would be making up for lost time," he says, wiggling his eyebrows. Ares rolls his eyes and grabs the Godling by the throat, "Xena is none of your concern." Strife chokes, "I get it, let go," he whines. Ares releases him and he stumbles down the steps in front of the throne. "Gods," he mutters, "I thought getting laid would help your temper a bit, guess not." Ares rises from the throne and sends the Godling flying into the wall, "Strife," he yells, anger in his voice. Strife puts his hands up, "I'm silent from now on, Unc. Promise." Ares rolls his eyes, "I need you to go to Marc Anthony. You know him?" Strife nods, "The Roman, right?" Ares nods, "Yes. Tell him Octavius is meeting him in Thebes, together they are to ally themselves with Cleopatra against the Triumvirate. He is to listen to Octavius, the boy is smart and will win the people over to their cause." Strife cackles, "An all-out Roman war! This will be amazing. People will speak of this for eons to come. Both sides will be praying to you for power and strength. Oh Uncle, you are a genius." Ares nods, "Yes, now go." Strife cackles again and disappears. Ares sighs and rubs his temples in agitation.
Xena eats in peace, quietly listening to Ares and Strife. She hears Strife leave, then exits the room to find Ares and study the visions some more. She finds Ares on his throne, head in hands. Quietly, she approaches and sits on the arm of the throne. He looks up at her and smiles. She smiles back gently, "Show me the visions again," she orders. He nods and opens a small portal with the visions from the previous night playing. Xena watches them several times in silence before putting a hand over his, covering them. With a sigh, he closes the portal, "Learn anything?" He asks. She shrugs, "I don't know. We need more information. Why would you side with Dahok? And why would I be so surprised that you would protect our baby?" He shrugs in response, "We know the Gods are after our child, maybe you thought I would side with them." She nods, not convinced, "And Dahok?" She questions. He shakes his head, "I may be out for myself, but I would never betray my family like that, not to an outside God." She nods, then shakes her head in frustration, "None of this makes sense. We need more conversations with the visions. We need to know what is actually going on and being said instead of wildly guessing at it." Ares shrugs, "It would be helpful," he says halfheartedly. Xena stares at him, "When there is conversation, it drains you more, doesn't it?" She questions. He nods, "Thus far, yes, but if it would give us answers, I would endure it. Even drained like I am now, I'm more than a match for most other Gods." Xena raises a doubtful eyebrow. He gives in, "Alright, maybe not right now, but earlier, before Rome," he admits. She nods, then takes his hand and rises from her perch beside him, pulling him up as she goes, "I'm tired," she says quietly. Ares follows, both looking forward to and dreading the idea of going to bed.
Xena enters their bedroom with Ares following behind her. He closes the door and she turns to face him, "I can't sleep in this," she says, motioning to the Roman gown. He smiles and turns her around to face the mirror. Slowly, he removes one strap, then the other from her shoulders, then slides his hands down her body, the gown following them until it passes her hips and puddles on the floor. She shivers slightly and Ares smiles. He waves his hands down her body and a thin silk gown covers her. She smiles and leans back against him, "Thank you," she says. He nods, wrapping his arms around her, enjoying the peace. Slowly, she turns in his arms and runs her hands up his chest and down his arms, pushing the vest off and letting it fall to the floor. She glances up at him through her eyelashes and slowly lowers her hands to his waist. He inhales sharply and she smiles. Slowly she undoes the clasp on his belt and grabs the sword, setting it aside, before it can clank to the floor. She takes his hand and leads him to the bed, forcing him to lay down, then lays against him, cuddled in his arms. "If you need me, I'm right here," she says, holding his arm around her body. He pulls her closer, "I always need you," he says quietly before drifting off to sleep.
Ares fights the urge to sleep, but the Fates pull him under to torture him with their visions. He's beside Hope, "Slit their throats!" She yells. He's in front of the crosses, shaking Xena. She glares up at him, "The thought of being with you or of having your child, that sickens me." It changes again and Ares watches the man from India walk around a village, "We don't need a sacred dagger," he starts, "Love is the only weapon we need." Ares is in a forest, Xena in front of him. "Hope is pregnant with your child," she accuses. Iolaus, dressed in a black robe, a dark aura around him stands in front of Hercules, "All Dahok needed was a Warrior Heart. So when little Iolaus sacrificed himself for the fair maiden Nebula, Dahok had everything he needed." Ares jerks trying to wake up, but can't. He's in a Temple, Gabrielle is on the ground, Kal in front of her. Kal raises his sword, ready to strike her down. Xena steps in, grabs the Chakram of Light from its place on the altar and cuts through Kal's stomach. The God screams and disintegrates into dust at her feet. Callisto stands in front of Xena, laughing. "I never thought I'd feel so good again," she starts, "Seeing poor, dear Gabrielle sacrifice herself makes it all worthwhile. It finally gives me a reason for living and I have you to thank for it Xena." Xena turns, hurt and anger in her eyes and plunges a dagger into Callisto's gut, "No more living for you," she says hoarsely. Xena stands in front of him, Gabrielle next to her. "I felt nothing," she says. Hurt and betrayal rip through him. Xena stands in front of him. "Callisto is not a true God," he says, "She was mortal. She's got no control, no respect for any of us. All she can bring is destruction. And when she gets an army of worshippers, conquers the world, what then?" Xena scowls, "Then she's coming after you," she says harshly. Again, Ares tries to pull away, but the Fates keep him trapped and the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes as Ares' breathing becomes more labored. She waits a moment, then shakes him, "Ares," she calls. He doesn't respond to her, but starts to thrash, trying to wake himself. She crawls on top of him, using her body to make his be still, then traps his wrists above his head with one of her hands. He doesn't struggle against her, but begins to sweat. She leans down and whispers against his lips, "Wake up, love," then kisses him soundly. Unlike the previous times, he doesn't respond. She growls low in her throat and sits up, straddling his waist, "Fates," she yells, "Release him." Getting no response, she drapes her body over his and kisses him again, this time deeply. She waits a moment, letting her lips rest against his, feeling his ragged breath mix with hers.
Slowly, Ares' body relaxes beneath Xena and his breathing evens out. She smiles when his eyes open, then slams her mouth to his. Unsure of everything and shocked, at first Ares doesn't respond. When Xena doesn't pull away, he kisses her back, pulling her towards him. Suddenly she pulls away, straddling him and he sighs, disappointed. To his surprise, she lifts her gown over her head, then with a wicked smile returns to his mouth. His hands race over her body, enjoying the feel of her bare flesh. Xena shivers at the contact and rubs her breasts against his chest. He smiles into her mouth, then jumps when her hand finds its way beneath his leather pants and past his curls. He groans as she gently cups him and she smiles and laughs against his lips. Not knowing her stopping point, he cautiously runs a hand down the outside of her thigh, then back up the inside, pausing to give her a chance to back out. Rather than pull away from him, she thrusts herself towards him. Surprised, but more than willing, Ares gently explores her. She gasps and holds him tighter. He pushes his way deeper and she moans and rocks her hips against his hand. Slowly he begins to thrust his fingers in a sweet rhythm that she matches her strokes to. Soon, they are both sweating and breathing heavy.
Suddenly Xena pulls away and Ares groans in frustration. Quickly she pushes his leather pants down and impales herself on him, causing them both to gasp and groan at the same time. Ares freezes, shocked, and enjoys the feel of her around him. Xena smiles down at him and entwining her hands with his, she slowly starts to ride him. Ares moans, raising his hips to meet hers and Xena gasps, resisting the urge to quicken the pace. Slowly their breathing becomes labored and Xena falls forward against Ares. He holds her close and quickens the thrusts of his hips and she matches his pace. Ares can feel her tightening around him and knows he's just as close as she is. She screams his name and collapses against him, drenched in sweat and he feels her convulsing around him. Her release sets his own off and he groans her name deep in his throat. She smiles against his chest and he holds her close, making a light sheet appear over them. "I love you," she whispers, then sighs and falls asleep. Ares remains awake, shocked by her whispered words. Were they true? Or just spoken out of passion? Why had she let things go this far when she had stopped them earlier that same day? What had changed? Or had nothing changed and she was going to be upset and distant the next day? Quieting his mind, he holds her close and strokes her hair while falling asleep.
Xena wakes the next morning still held tight against Ares' chest. She smiles softly and tries to pull away from him, but he holds her tightly and not wanting to wake him yet, she doesn't struggle. She reflects on the night before and sighs. When he hadn't wakened at first, like usual, she feared that the Fates would keep him trapped or that maybe the visions had finally gotten to be too much for him. Sex hadn't exactly been her plan, but she also hadn't planned on the relief she felt when he finally woke. Tired of her own inner thoughts and curious about the visions, she once again tries to pull out of his embrace. She brings a hand up and gently runs it along his jaw. He flinches in his sleep and moves his hand to push hers away. Having one of his hands removed, she's able to push up off of his chest slightly. The cold air rushing over her breasts makes her inhale sharply and Ares opens an eye, looking around. She smiles at him, "Good morning," she says, leaning over him. He smiles, "Morning," he replies, trying to figure out what had been real and what hadn't from the night before. Seeing his confused look, Xena smiles softly and takes his hand in hers, then runs it over her bare thigh. He smiles, then knits his brows together, "Why?" He questions. "Does it matter?" She questions back. He nods, "To me, yes it does." She sighs and rolls off him, staring at the wall, "Last night you didn't wake up right away. I thought I'd lost you," she says quietly. "You were afraid?" He questions. She nods and remains silent.
Ares and Xena sit silently for a few seconds. Finally, Xena turns to face him, "Show me the visions?" She asks quietly. He stares at her, "They aren't easy to watch," he warns. She raises an eyebrow, "And they have been thus far?" She asks with a tight laugh. He shrugs and opens a portal in front of them. Xena leans forward, watching and listening to the visions. They finish and she turns a sad look to him, "Ares," she starts, but he shakes his head. The corners of her mouth turn up for a moment, then back down as she rests against the headboard. Ares smiles over at her and runs the back of his hand down her arm. She shivers and turns towards him, "This has to end." He sighs and removes his hand, rising from the bed and clothing himself quickly, "I'll leave you to get dressed," he says, motioning towards an upright closet in the corner. Xena gives him a confused look, "Were are you going?" She questions. "Throne room, meet me there when you're ready," he responds, grabbing the door handle and turning his back to her. She growls and hurls a dagger into the door, next to his hand. He turns and gives her a questioning look. She stands and glares at him, "Don't walk away from me," she says harshly. "Why not?" He questions, then continues, " You want this to end, I'm giving you what you want, no fight." She smiles and laughs, "The visions have to end," she corrects. He stares at her, "The visions?" He questions. She nods, growing a little confused. "Not us?" He asks. Realization dawns, "I chose to be with you last night and I won't regret that." He gives her an uncertain look, "You know what happens. I betray everyone by siding with Dahok and impregnating Hope. I sicken you." She shakes her head and slowly approaches him, "Ares, the woman in those visions isn't me, her thoughts aren't mine and his actions aren't yours. We've already changed all of that." Slowly she runs her hands under his vest and around his neck, pulling him towards her for a quick kiss. He responds, pulling her close.
Xena pulls away and walks towards the closet, pulling her clothes out and getting dressed. Ares watches, "Still want to talk to Kal?" He questions. She shrugs, "It's as good a plan as any. And we have to make sure the Chakram of Light hasn't been disturbed. We already have to worry about the Hind's Blood, we don't need another God killing weapon to keep track of." He nods, "That's for sure. You know the one thing I really don't understand, you were able to remove the Chakram of Light from the altar. That scroll says only a pure soul can remove it without dying. You don't exactly qualify." She shrugs, lacing up her boots, "Maybe I find redemption or maybe that scroll is full of lies," she suggests. He shrugs, "Others have tried to lift it, they all died. Kal's tried everything to get that Chakram. He's sent priests, women, children, monks, anyone he could think of, all died." "Children?" Xena questions, disgusted. Ares nods. She thinks a moment, "Infants?" She questions. Ares shakes his head, "An infant wouldn't be able to lift it." "But the woman carrying the unborn child, could," she suggests. Ares nods, "I suppose it's possible. The child's soul would be pure. That would mean that you were pregnant when you killed Kal." She nods, "We can't let Kal figure this out," she says, attaching her weapons. "Agreed," he says, handing her the dagger from the door. She sheaths it and slides it into her boot then searches his vest and retrieves the pendent full of Hind's Blood, tucking it between her breasts. He raises an eyebrow, "Don't you trust me?" He questions. She nods, "I do," she answers simply. "Then why take the pendent?" He asks. She smiles wickedly, "So you can retrieve it later," she teases. He smiles in return and shakes his head, laughing quietly, "Come on, you need food before we leave." She nods and follows him from their room.
After a quick meal, Ares leads Xena into the throne room and pauses, glaring at the figure on his throne. "Discord," he says. The Goddess pouts at him, "Ares, I've missed you. What has you so busy that you have no time for me?" Xena steps out from behind Ares, "Hello Discord," she greets. "Xena!" The Goddess screeches. Discord raises her sword and charges at Xena, but Ares steps in the way, "We don't have time for this, Discord." Xena pushes past him, sword and dagger drawn, "Oh, this won't take any time." She advances on the Goddess and strikes viciously with her sword. Discord parries and pushes against her, trying to kick the dagger from her hand. Xena shrinks back out of reach, then charges and flips over Discord landing a kick to the back of her head. Discord stumbles forward and looks to Ares for help. He smiles towards Xena and leans back on a nearby wall, watching the battle. Discord screeches and sends a fire bolt at Xena. Xena flips to the side and the bolt lands in the wall. Xena sends her Chakram flying at the Goddess. Discord deflects it with her sword and rushes at Xena. Xena catches her Chakram and meets Discords strikes with her sword. They parry for several minutes before Xena gains the upper hand and unarms the Goddess with a laugh. Xena smiles, "It's over Discord. Go away until you can actually challenge me," she says, walking back to Ares. Discord growls, "Ares, how can you let her do this to me?" She yells. Ares laughs in response, "You embarrass yourself Discord." The Goddess screeches and disappears. Xena smiles at Ares, "See that didn't take long at all," she says returning her weapons to their places. He smiles at her indulgently and shakes his head, "Ready to go?" He asks, extending a hand towards her. She nods, taking his hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena releases Ares' hand as they arrive in a dark Temple. Light shines in the center, illuminating an altar. She starts to approach, but Ares grabs her arm, "Don't touch it," he reminds her. She nods and jerks away from him, looking at the altar. One half is dark and has an empty spot where her Chakram used to rest. The other is light and holds an exact replica of her Chakram, the Chakram of Light. Ares stands next to her, "There it is," he says. She nods, "At least we know Kal hasn't found anyone who can retrieve it." He nods, "Kal isn't here, he must be in his Temple. Let's go," he says, grabbing her arm and disappearing.
Compared to the Chakram's Temple, Kal's Temple is very bright. Xena blinks her eyes. When she reopens them, a sword is pointed at her and Ares. Ares draws his sword and points it at Kal. "Ares," the God sneers, then looks past him, "And Ares' whore." Xena growls and draws her sword and Chakram, pointing them at the God. Kal glares at the weapon, "That should have been mine," he says, striking at her. Ares deflects the blow and easily disarms the God, catching his sword, before it hits the floor. "We're here to talk, Kal," he says, pointing both swords at him. Xena sheathes her weapons. Kal glowers at them, "Fine, talk," he says, reaching for his sword. Ares nods and hands Kal his weapon hilt first.
Kal leads them to a small sitting area and motions for them to have a seat. Ares sits with Xena beside him and Kal sits across from them. "What brings you to my domain, Ares?" He asks, coldly. "We have a problem, Kal. All on Olympus have felt the return of a dark presence. Dahok is trying to return to our world. Have you and your kin felt him?" Ares questions. Kal nods, "Yes. We heard about you destroying his Temple in Britannia. We thought that would be the end of him." Xena interrupts, "Actually I destroyed the Temple." Kal sneers at her, "I wasn't speaking to you, mortal." Ares growls low in his throat, "Show some respect Kal," he warns. Kal rolls his eyes and Ares continues, "Dahok hasn't been defeated and he threatens us all, God and mortal alike, across all the lands. Would you and your pantheon be willing to ally yourselves with us against him?" Kal gives a sharp, cruel laugh, "Willing? Of course. Able is another matter. Once you stole the Dark Chakram and we couldn't find a way to lay claim to the Light Chakram, we lost everything. Now, years later, few even know who we are. Our followers are few and far between and aging with each passing day. Because of you and her, we have lost everything," he shouts, standing and pointing first at Ares, then Xena. Ares rolls his eyes, "Don't blame me for your weakness. Long before I liberated the Dark Chakram, you were losing strength and power. Your followers left you because they sensed that their God wasn't strong enough nor worthy of their worship. If you are unable to help, we'll leave. There is too much that needs to be done to waste time with an incompetent, weak God," Ares says standing. Kal growls at him, "Leave then. There is nothing for you here," he shouts. Ares nods and places a hand on Xena's shoulder, both disappearing in a flash of light.
Arriving in Amphipolis Ares growls and sits on his throne, "That was a waste of time." Xena shrugs and leans next to him, "At least we know that Kal hasn't found a way to liberate the Light Chakram and we know that he won't be a threat to us." He glares at her, "Kal has never been a threat to me," he states. She shrugs, "Is Callisto still imprisoned?" She asks, changing the subject. He opens a portal and they watch a small girl approach the lava pit, playing with a ball. "That's Hope," Ares says, grabbing Xena's arm and disappearing.
Ares and Xena arrive in front of the lava pit with weapons drawn. The girl cowers and whimpers for a moment, "Don't hurt me, I was just playing." Xena sends Ares a questioning look and he gives a small shake of his head. "Don't play games, Hope, we know who you are," she says, removing the Hind's Blood pendent from her bodice and coating her sword with it before handing the pendent to Ares. Hope sneers at them, "You two won't be a threat to me and my father," she says, sending an energy blast at Xena, trying to disarm her. Xena holds her sword firmly and Ares grabs the girl with his powers, keeping her still. Hope fights against him, trying to free herself, then her attention turns to the lava pit. Ares shouts, "Xena, kill her before she frees Callisto." Xena approaches the girl and raises her sword over the child's head. The girl looks up at her with the eyes of Gabrielle, "Don't hurt me, Xena," she begs, tears going down her face. Xena falters for a moment, then brings her sword down, piercing the child in the heart, "I'm sorry, Gabrielle," she whispers quietly. Ares releases his hold on the girl and her corpse falls to the ground. He places a hand on Xena's shoulder and gives it a tight squeeze. She smiles sadly at him and reaches for the pendent. He hands it to her and she tucks it into her bodice again.
A noise by the lava pit gets Ares' attention. He turns to stare and finds Callisto materializing. He grabs Xena's arm, spinning her to face the pit and grabs the pendent from between her breasts, coating his sword, then putting the pendent in his vest. Callisto gives a little wave, "Why hello there, Xena." Xena points her sword at the woman, "Callisto," she acknowledges. Callisto turns to Ares, "And you. I see you've gotten what you always wanted, Ares." He gives her a sarcastic smile, not lowering his sword, "You're a newborn Goddess, Callisto, your powers are untested, you're no match for us. But with some training you could ally yourself with us to defeat a great evil that threatens us all," he offers. Callisto cackles, "No, I don't think so," she says, tossing a fire bolt at him and disappearing in a flash of fire. Both Ares and Xena lower their weapons. Xena turns to Ares, "Can you track her?" She asks. He nods, "We have more important things to deal with," he says, motioning towards Hope. Xena glances at the body, "What do we need to do?" Ares thinks for a moment, then says, "In the visions, she was a husk, which means someone burned her body at some point. That didn't stop her. We need to trap her body, her spirit, so she can't be reborn," he explains. "How?" Xena asks. He shrugs, "I think we should entomb her here, in the lava. It held Callisto, till Hope freed her, it should be enough to hold Hope's corpse so Dahok can't give her life again." She nods, "The lava is hardened," she states, looking down. He laughs, "And I'm a God," he reminds her, pointing at the hardened lava and making it flow again. Sheathing his sword, he picks up the lifeless body of Hope and drops it into the flowing lava, then points and hardens the lava.
Xena glances at Ares, "Where's Callisto?" Ares pauses for a moment, searching the ether for Callisto, "Cirra," he responds, "Or what's left of it." A guilty look travels over Xena's face, "We need to either trap her or kill her." He nods, "Yes, but it can wait. I'm not going to chase her all over Greece. She'll come to us eventually, she wants you." She shakes her head, "She wants me to suffer." Ares nods, "Yes, but your family is safe for now, when she can't find them, she'll come to us. And maybe as a Goddess, she'll have her uses as a pawn against Dahok." She gives him a questioning look, "How?" She questions. "Callisto can be destructive, we just need to point her in the right direction," Ares responds. Xena shakes her head, "It's not worth the risk. Callisto is a wild card, she can't be controlled." Ares sighs, "Fine, let's go to Cirra and stop her before she gains any more control over her powers." Xena shakes her head, "No, let her mourn for the night, in the home that I destroyed." He nods, "We'll go after her tomorrow then. With Callisto on the loose, we should stay away from Amphipolis, I don't want her tracking us there. I suggest we stay at the Halls of War, it's my domain, no one can enter without my permission." Xena looks uncertain, "It's close to Corinth," she says. Ares shrugs,
"Callisto thinks we're together, she won't think of Corinth. She'll just see the Halls of War with its closed doors," he assures her. She nods and extends her hand, grasping his.
Ares walks through the Dark Halls of War and sconce blazes to life. He leads Xena to the throne room. She follows, then pauses at a tapestry on the wall. She's quite a few years younger in the tapestry, smiling, bloody Chakram and sword in her hands. She turns to Ares with a questioning look. He shrugs, eyes following hers, "You're gorgeous," he comments. She purses her lips and shakes her head. Ares smiles, his back to her, then sits on the throne, opening a portal. "What are you doing?" Xena asks, sitting on the throne arm. He shrugs and makes the portal wider, "Checking on everything." Slowly the view goes from Gabrielle sleeping, to a very tired Solan hearing a story from Hercules, to Cyrene sleeping, then to Callisto screaming and crying in rage next to her family's graves. Xena puts a hand over the images, "Thanks, but that's enough." He nods and closes the portal. She moves away with a sad, distant look. "What's wrong?" Ares asks. She laughs bitterly, "I knew Hope had to die when we started this. I guess I was expecting some great battle with a God, not a child. And not a child that resembled my best friend so much." Ares approaches and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder, "It had to be done. By stopping her now, as a child, without full control over her powers, we prevented the deaths of many others." She nods, placing her hand over his, "I know, but she was my best friend's daughter. It makes me feel dirty inside." He wraps a gentle arm around her shoulders, pulling her back against him. She goes willingly, putting up no fight. "Let's get you fed," he suggests, trying to lead her towards the back of the Temple. She shakes her head, "I'm not hungry." He laughs, "Don't fight me." She nods a little and follows him.
Ares opens a door and leads her down a hall, stopping at a dark green door. It opens silently without a touch and a long table covered in food rests behind it. Xena enters and sits in a chair, still looking distant. Ares puts a plate in front of her, then sits across from her, giving her a disturbed look, "Are you still thinking about Hope?" He asks. She nods, "I didn't expect it to be so easy." He laughs, "Easy?" She gives him a questioning look. He continues, "Hope was stronger than I expected. All I could do was hold her down and she was beginning to break through my strength. Even while fighting against me, she was still able to free Callisto. Had her full attention been on me, I don't know if I could have held her," he admits. She looks down and begins to pick at the food on her plate. Ares remains silent, not sure what to do to lift her mood. After a few minutes she pushes away from the table and walks to look out a window. Ares follows and places his hands on her shoulders, gently rubbing them. She shrugs away from him, "Don't." He sighs and moves to stand next to her, "What should we do next?" He asks, trying to distract her. She looks thoughtful, "Show me the visions again. Actually just one, Iolaus talking to Hercules." Ares nods and plays the vision, "What are you thinking?" He asks. She stops him, "There. Who's Nebula?" He shrugs, "No clue, why?" "She's important," Xena responds, "Iolaus, or Dahok said that Iolaus sacrificed himself for her and it's one of the only names we have to go on." Ares shakes his head, "It doesn't matter. Iolaus is with Hercules in Corinth. He can't sacrifice himself for some woman with Little Brother standing guard. I'm more concerned about the man from India. He preaches like a prophet and knows about the Dagger of Helios." Xena nods, "Krafstar spouted lines like that when he was trying to gain Gabrielle's trust. He's another of Dahok's pawns. The Dagger concerns me though. Are you sure it's safe?" She questions. Ares nods, "Zeus banished it from this world, only he knows its safe house. We should go to India, find this pawn of Dahok's, stop him now." Xena raises her eyebrows, "We're going to search all of India for a man dressed in clothes from India, with nothing to go on but an image? No, that's a waste of time and energy." Growing frustrated, he growls, "Do you have a better idea?" She shakes her head, "Not yet," she admits, "We need a way to draw out Dahok. Which means that for now, at least, we need to let his pawns do his bidding." Ares growls again, "I don't like waiting." Xena nods, agreeing with him.
No plan in site, Xena turns from the window and draws her sword, looking at the dried blood covering it. Ares glances at it, then draws his own, "They're covered in Hind's Blood," he states. Xena grabs a rag from a side table and wipes her blade clean, then returns it to her sheath. She reaches for Ares' sword and he hands it to her. She wipes the deadly blood from it and returns it to him, then tosses the rag in the fire. "Thanks," he says, then hands her the half empty pendent, "We'll have to be careful, not much left." She nods. A few minutes of silence pass, then Xena heads for the door, "I'm turning in for the night. Coming?" She asks, extending a hand towards him. Ares shakes his head, "I'm fine. I'll study the visions, try to come up with a plan. Bedroom's at the end of the hall, on the right." She gives him a concerned glance, then shakes her head, "If that's what you feel is best," she says, turning from him, "I'll be in your room if you change your mind." She leaves the room without waiting for a reply.
Ares follows her with his eyes till she falls from sight, then returns to his throne. He lounges on the throne and opens a small portal, studying the visions. Growing frustrated quickly, he closes the portal and transports himself to Temple of The Fates. "Sisters, may I approach?" He asks. "You may, War God," Clotho answers. He nods in appreciation. Lachesis steps forward, "You are troubled, Ares," she states. He nods, "I don't understand the visions. I need more information." Atropos shakes her head, "What you are asking is dangerous, too dangerous." "Why?" He questions. Clotho steps toward him and responds, "The process of absorbing that much information will destroy you." "As in death?" He asks. Clotho nods sadly. He prepares to leave, but Atropos places a hand on his arm. Surprised by her touch, he turns, a question in his gaze. Lachesis answers for her sister, "Ask two questions. If we have the answers, they are yours, War God." Shocked, he thinks for a moment, knowing they never offer such favors. "The man from India," he says conjuring an image of him, "Tell me what you can, please," he requests. Clotho closes her eyes, "Eli, prophet, healer, practicer of the Way of Love, savior to many, but not the Gods. The religion of the One God. Twilight of the Gods. Angels and demons, heaven and hell," she rambles, then falls back, exhausted. He moves forward to catch her, but her sisters block him. "Your second question, Ares," Atropos prompts in a hard voice. Again, he pauses to think, images of Xena's death and their daughter haunting him. "Can I save Xena?" Lachesis closes her eyes, "Death follows the woman and so do you. There is death, there is life. Save her you must, her death is the beginning of a chain of events that we cannot recover from." Atropos interrupts, "The child," she says, breathing heavy, "She will destroy our world. The Bringer of Twilight." All three sisters fall back, exhausted. "Now," Clotho huffs, "Leave Ares." He nods, "Thank you, sisters," he says disappearing.
Disturbed by his talk with the Fates, Ares returns to the Halls of War and lounges on his throne, reflecting on the visions and the knowledge the Fates had gifted him. More worried than before his talk with the Fates, he walks down the hall towards his room. He opens the door and finds Xena asleep in his bed. Smiling, he enters and shuts the door quietly. He removes his sword and vest, then lays down on the bed, gathering Xena in his arms. She moans and her eyes flutter open, "You alright?" She asks quietly. He nods, "Shh, go back to sleep." She nods against his chest and sighs quietly, returning to sleep. He smiles, hoping the Fates would be too tired to torture him tonight, and settles in to rest.
Light pours through the window, hitting Ares in the face. He blinks an eye open and draws the blinds with a thought. He sighs and feels Xena shift against him and looks down to see her staring up at him. She smiles, "Sleep well?" She asks, moving out of his arms. He nods, "For the first time in a long time, yeah I did." She scrunches her brows, "I wonder why?" He sighs, "I went and talked to the Fates last night. They gave me some answers. They were exhausted when I left." "Answers?" She inquires. He nods, "I asked about the man from India and if I could save you," he explains, then opens a portal, "Here, listen to their responses." Silently they listen to the Fates' responses from the night before. "What's the Twilight of the Gods?" Xena asks when Ares closes the portal. "Long ago," he explains, "The Fates spoke of a time when mortals would no longer follow the Gods and we would cease to exist. They were very young when they foresaw it. It was their first vision of the future." She nods, "Do you think you can find this Eli?" Ares nods, "With a name? Sure. Did Krafstar ever mention the Way of Love to Gabrielle?" Xena shakes her head, "Not that I know of. Dahok must be trying something new sense his plan with Hope failed." He nods, then asks, "So should we go after Callisto or Eli first?" She leans back against the headboard, "What's Callisto doing?" She asks. He opens a portal and they watch Callisto throw a fireball at a small house on the edge of a town. She cackles as it burns to the ground and people run screaming. Xena quickly gets up, "We have to stop her. We can't let her hurt innocent people," she says, changing from a nightgown into her warrior clothes. Ares stands and collects his vest and sword. Xena smears Hind's Blood from the pendent onto her sword then hands it to Ares. He does likewise then sets it on a small table next to the bed, "I don't want to risk Callisto getting her hands on it," he explains. She nods in agreement then grabs his arm. Swords drawn, they disappear in a flash of light.
Terrified villagers run around screaming when Ares and Xena arrive. Xena whips around, searching for Callisto, "Where is she?" A blast of fire wizzes past her head and she turns sharply. "Callisto," she growls. Callisto smiles and draws her sword, pointing it at Xena, then raises a hand and sends another blast of fire at her. Ares intercepts the fire with a blast of his own. The two blasts sizzle for a moment, then go out. Callisto sneers, "Stay out of this Ares, this doesn't concern you." "Oh, but it does," he replies, advancing on her. Xena steps up beside him and quietly tells him, "Go left," then heads to the right. Callisto twirls her sword, "Oh Xena, this will be fun." Callisto jabs out with her sword and is blocked by Xena. Their swords locked together, Callisto forms a fire blast in her hand and prepares to throw it at Xena, but Ares grabs her wrist, forcing it back. The blast goes wild in the sky and she shrieks, unlocking her blade from Xena's and striking again. Xena unhooks her Chakram and parries with it, then strikes out with her sword. Callisto parries and flips backwards before Ares' sword can strike her. Ares and Xena stare at each other for a moment, eyes locked, then charge after Callisto. Xena sends her Chakram on a wild arc, hoping to distract Callisto. Watching the Chakram, Callisto doesn't see Ares come up behind her. She turns quickly, but his sword slices her arm. She turns again to parry Xena's blow but her arm falters and she drops her sword. Xena pulls back, watching the fear and confusion on Callisto's face. "I'm a God," Callisto screams, blood running from the slice on her arm. "Hind's Blood," Xena says. Callisto shrieks and struggles to breathe, "I will never stop hating you, Xena, do you hear me? Never! You killed my family! My soul! My reason to live and love! And I will spend eternity seeking revenge!" Xena closes her eyes and looks away, sadness covering her face. Ares gives a sad smile and goes to Xena's side, putting a hand on her shoulder. Together they watch Callisto draw her last breath and disintegrate into dust.
A scream interrupts Xena's silent reflection. She turns sharply and sees the village burning behind her. Quickly, she sheaths her sword and starts running towards the village. Ares stops her and points at the village, quickly extinguishing the flames. She smiles, "Thanks. Let's go help those people get things back in order." He smirks, "I'm the God of War." She shrugs and gives him a disappointed glare, before heading towards the village. Ares looks after her and snarls, then sheaths his sword and rolls his eyes, before following after her.
Kneeling over an old woman, Xena examines a cut on the woman's temple. She rips a section of the woman's skirt and blots at the cut, "Here, hold this to the cut, it will stop the bleeding," she says. A few houses down, a man coughs continuously and Xena runs to him, "The smoke?" She asks, searching for some water. He nods, gagging. A water skin is held out towards her. She grabs it and hands it to the man, then turns to whoever had helped. Seeing Ares next to her with an unamused sneer on his face, she smiles, "Thank you." He nods, "What else do you need? The sooner we help these people, the sooner we can leave." She smiles, "Can you repair the fire damage?" She asks. He sighs, "At one time you would have ordered this damage done, then laughed over it with me." He states, repairing a house on his left with the wave of a hand. "I've changed. At one time you wouldn't have bothered to help these people," she states with a small smile. He rolls his eyes and sneers, "I've changed." Her smile widens and she goes to help a woman gather her small children together.
Xena returns to Ares' side as he finishes repairing the last building. "Are you done yet?" He asks. She laughs lightly, "Not quite. The people will want to know who repaired their homes," she says, taking his arm and leading him towards the waiting villagers. He closes his eyes and sighs, following her. The people begin to clap as they approach and an old man steps apart from the group, obviously the leader. "Thank you, Xena," he says, then seeing her shocked expression, continues, "Yes, we know of you. Who was the woman?" Xena looks sad again, "Callisto, a newborn Goddess. Don't worry, she has been stopped, she won't hurt anyone ever again." The people begin to talk among themselves quietly. The leader turns to glance at Ares, "And who's your friend?" Xena smiles widely, "Ares, God of War," she says simply. The people gasp and begin to bow, but Xena stops them, "You have all been through enough, rise." Ares glares at her. The leader, his voice shaking a little, asks, "What can we do to show our appreciation?" Xena begins to object, then looking at Ares, shakes her head, "When you have the time and resources, build a Temple, dedicate it to Ares and remember that he is capable of more than just destruction." The leader nods, "It shall be done. Thank you again Xena and you Ares, God of War." The people begin to retreat to their homes and Xena turns to Ares, "Ready to go?" She asks. He grabs her hand, "Thank you, for that," he says motioning towards the people. She nods and they disappear.
The Halls of War are dark and empty compared to the brightness and commotion of the village. Xena draws her blade and cleans it of the Hind's Blood, then does the same to Ares' sword before throwing the rag into the fire of a nearby sconce. She looks down at her dirty arms and filthy armor, reeking of smoke. "I'm taking a bath," she states, walking to the back of the Temple. Ares smiles and follows her. Quickly Xena sheds her armor and leathers, lifts the shift over her head and sinks into the warm, fragrant water. "Take care of those," Xena says, motioning towards her dirty things. Ares nods and waves a hand over them, making them disappear, then makes his own clothes disappear before following Xena into the bathes. She smiles at him, "You're not dirty," she states. He shrugs and grabs a bottle of oil, "Lean back," he instructs. She leans back, wetting her hair. He smiles and pours the oil into his hands before running them through her hair. She sighs, "That smells nice," she comments. He gives a short laugh, "Sink down into the water more and lean your head back further." She obeys and he rinses the oil from her hair. Rising she gives a sad, small laugh, "I never thought Callisto would be gone. Some part of me always thought she would be there, tormenting me." He nods, leaning back against the wall of the bath, watching her run oil over her skin, "I know what you mean. She was easier to defeat than I expected." Silence envelopes them as Xena continues to bathe.
Xena smiles and lounges back, her head resting against the marble edge while she allows her body to flout in front of her. Ares stares openly at her, then wades towards her, "What's the plan?" He asks, leaning next to her. She opens an eye, "We go after Eli," she states. He nods, "It might take me awhile to find him." She sits up, pulling her body under her and resting next to Ares, "We might need to head towards Siberia soon, too." Ares gives her a questioning look, then nods, "Alti, right?" He guesses. She nods silently, looking sad. He continues to question her, "Do you know where to look?" Xena nods, "Alti would chose the place that would give her the most spiritual power. She'll have a fortress somewhere near the Siberian Amazon's land of the dead. I don't know if there will be guards or not." Ares nods, "That makes sense. You said she uses spiritual powers, how do we beat that?" Xena shrugs, "Alti is strong spiritually, but weak physically. If we can get past her powers, she should be easy to kill. After all, she is only mortal." Ares remains silent as Xena begins to scheme, "She won't expect you to be there, she won't know how to fight you. She'll focus on me, which means you'll be open to attack her. If we arrive too close to her fortress, she'll sense you and have a chance to find a way to fight against you. We'll have to travel at least two days by foot. You won't be able to use your powers for much." He nods, "What if we get a lead on Dahok? Or the Fates give us more pertinent information?" He asks. She shrugs, "We'll have to leave and hope our chance to surprise her isn't lost." He nods and pulls her back onto his lap, leaning her against his chest. She goes willingly, resting her head back against his shoulder.
Minutes pass as they sit in silence, neither wanting to move. Eventually Xena moves away and Ares sighs. She smiles at him and lifts herself from the water, then grabs a towel and wraps her hair in it, grabbing another for her body. Ares watches from the water, looking disappointed. She extends her hand to him, "Come on, I'm hungry and tired." He takes her hand and exits the water, his clothes materializing on his body. "Show off," she says with a laugh. He smiles, "It pays to be a God," he says with a small laugh. They walk to Ares' room and upon entering, a tray of meats, breads and cheeses appears on a small table in the corner, next to the fireplace. Xena smiles at the food and sits down placing meat and cheese on top of the bread and taking a bite. She raises an eyebrow at Ares and he hands her a glass of wine, keeping one for himself. She takes a lingering sip and smiles softly. He sits across from her watching her eat while enjoying his own glass of wine.
Xena finishes her meal and stands up letting both towels fall to the floor. She walks to a wardrobe in the corner of the room and opens it, looking for something to wear. Finding nothing suitable, she turns to Ares, "Clothes?" She questions. "You don't need them," he says with a smirk. She rolls her eyes, "Ares," she says with a warning tone. He removes his sword and vest, then lies on the bed, staring at her. She shrugs and lies next to him, "I'm tired." He sighs and a soft gown covers her body. She smiles, "Thank you," she says, rolling to stare at him, "Do you think there will be more visions tonight?" He scowls, "I'm sure there will be." A sad look covers her face, then she stretches against him, letting him pull her into his arms. Ares holds her tight against him, then pulls her over on top of him. "I'll wake you," she promises, stretching over his chest.
Ares falls asleep quickly and the visions start immediately. Ares is in the forest at night, talking with Xena, "Our child will be the first of what Dahok calls the six destroyers. Insidious creatures with no souls, who eat of the living and the righteous and lay waste to all Gods." He's in a dark Temple, Xena pointing a dagger at him, "You want a taste of Hind's Blood, huh?" The man from India, Eli, stands in his path, he reaches a hand out to move him and feels the power rushing through him. He backs off, staring the man up and down. Xena and Gabrielle lay dead on rock slabs. Eli sits above them, a hand on each of their heads. Power surges through him and with a gasp, both women open their eyes, alive and well. Ares stands in front of a very pregnant Xena, anger in his voice, "The decisions you make don't just affect you anymore Mom, they affect your child. And I would hate to have to kill you both." Eli stands in front of him, back turned, a comforting hand on Gabrielle's back. A crowd is below them. Ares spreads his arms, "Since the beginning of time, it's been warriors who shaped the world." Eli turns and stares at him, "That's about to change." Ares raises his sword, "I don't usually take matters into my own hands, but in your case, I'm gonna make an exception." With that Ares runs the man through and rather than fear or pain a look of conquest covers the man's face before he falls to the ground, dying in Gabrielle's arms. Ares stands behind Xena and whispers in her ear, "Give me a child." She shudders in response, closing her eyes briefly. Ares tries to jerk awake, but fails as usual. Trying to think of anything other than the visions, his mind brings up an image of Xena. The visions change, they stand in a forest at night, bodies pressed together, mouths locking and unlocking, he breaks away, burying his head in her cleavage and she arches against him, gasping with pleasure. Quickly, he returns to her mouth, running his hands over her body. Ares shudders from the vision and for once doesn't want to wake.
Xena feels Ares shudder and opens her eyes. Sweat already covers his body and he moans softly. His breathing is rapid. She closes her eyes in sadness, then feels his hardness pressing against her stomach. She raises an amused eyebrow and gently slaps at his cheek, "Ares, wake up now." He turns from her, but his grip on her body tightens and he starts to thrust against her. She groans and rubs herself against him, then stops and shakes her head. "Ares wake up," she says, trying to remove herself from his grasp. He holds her tight and his hands begin to race up and down her body, making her gown bunch against her skin. She growls, "Fates, enough is enough, release him. Let him have peace." His arms relax around her and his ragged breathing evens out. She smiles as his eyes flutter open, "Hi there," she says. "Hi," he says, shifting under her. He rubs against her and she moans. He pauses, "Were we doing something that I should know about?" He asks with a wicked grin. She shakes her head with a smirk, "I'm not sure you were having a vision." He reflects back on the visions and when considering the final one, a grin spreads across his face, "For once the Fates saw fit to show me something not horrible. I think it was the conception of our daughter." She nods, "That explains a few things," she says, moving her hips against him. Briefly he closes his eyes. "So," she starts, "What else was there?" He shrugs, "This and that." She glares at him and he smiles, shifting her off of him, "Want to see?" He asks. She nods and he opens a small portal between them. She watches the visions in silence, then finds herself gasping and moaning during the last one.
Ares smiles at Xena as he notices the lust in her eyes. "Some vision, huh?" He asks, running the back of his fingers down her arm. She shivers and nods, staring at the bedroom wall. He turns her to face him and gently captures her lips. She reacts passionately, pushing herself against him till he lays down and she crawls her way on top of him. Gently she grabs his bottom lip with her teeth and pulls on it. She smiles as he groans. He holds her hips against him and thrusts against her. She moans low in her throat. He lowers his head, attacking her breasts through the thin gown. She presses her breasts to his mouth and he laughs lightly. She rubs herself against him shamelessly and gasps, "Clothes." He closes his eyes and sighs, smiling. In seconds their clothes disappear and they both gasp as skin makes contact with skin. Xena smiles and lets out a feral growl as she rolls taking Ares with her. He smiles down at her and she raises her hips, locking her legs around him. He enters her quickly and she gasps, arching her back. He grabs her hips, raising them to meet his thrusts evenly. She gasps again, her breaths coming out unevenly, moans mixing with her exhales. They find a rhythm that leaves them both sweaty and close to the point of no return. Growing desperate for release, Xena grinds herself against him and he inhales sharply. She screams his name and he moans hers. He collapses against her, sweaty and satisfied. She moans and pushes against his shoulders. He sighs and rolls over, placing her on top. She smiles and rests her head on his chest. As the cool air caresses her skin she shivers and Ares pulls a sheet over her. "Sleep now, my Warrior Princess," he says, stroking her back. She nods against him, already close to falling into dreamland.
Ares sighs deeply, holding Xena close against him. He wasn't usually a reflective God, but this seemed like the time to try it out. In her warlord days, Xena had been amazing, both in combat and in bed. Now, with her so different, she was marvelous. She was open to him in a way she never had been before. And he was certainly open to her, the love he felt in the visions and his love for her now mixing into something all-consuming and all powerful. He wondered if it would last though. When the visions stopped, would she still want him? Or was this just a result of the strong emotions the visions brought on? He knew he would never be the same, but would she? Giving up the self-questioning, he sighs and holds her firmly against him, never wanting her to leave his arms.
Xena relaxes against Ares' chest, pretending to be asleep. The visions brought on strong emotions, stronger than she thought possible. Ares had always affected her, gotten under her skin, aroused her. That was nothing new. But that heavy feeling in her chest at the thought of him not being there, that was new for her. The tightness in her throat when she remembered that this would end when the visions did, that was new too. She knew he was reacting to what the Fates showed him and then acting on the emotions brought on by the visions. She was being foolish playing into those emotions, trusting him the way she was. But a part of her hoped against hope that when the visions ended, he would stay the same, stay this man, this God, that she found herself falling in love with. Growing sad and frustrated with her line of thought, she lets herself drift off to sleep held on top of Ares, safe in his arms.
Xena wakes before the dawn and tries to stretch, but can't move through Ares' tight embrace. She runs her hand up his ribs, letting her fingertips barely brush his skin. He shivers and flinches, then slowly opens his eyes. Xena shifts in his arms and he loosens his hold on her. She rolls off him and stretches like a cat before facing him. He smiles and brushes a strand of hair off of her cheek. "Can you show me the new visions again? We got a little distracted last night," she says with a small smile. He smirks in response and plays the visions in a small portal that flouts in front of them. The final vision starts to play and they turn to each other, eyes filled with lust. Xena lets out a ragged breath, "We need to focus," she reminds him. He nods, "I think the creature killing Gabrielle that we saw earlier, was my child, one of the six destroyers, killing Hope." Xena nods in return, "I agree. It also looks like Gabrielle fell for another cult. Did you see how she clung to Eli after you killed him?" Ares agrees, "For a cult leader, he has some strong powers. He brought you and Gabrielle back from the dead after the Romans crucified you," he says. "Maybe he doesn't follow Dahok. Why would Dahok want me and Gabrielle to live? Our deaths could only help him," Xena suggests. Ares scowls, "So, first we have Dahok, then another all-powerful God with no pantheon? No, that's too much of a coincidence." She agrees, "You're right. We have to stop Eli before Dahok makes him too strong for us to defeat." He continues her thought, "The power that man possesses in the visions is more than any single God on Olympus, myself included. It shouldn't be possible." A quizzical look covers Xena's face, "What if he is Dahok?" He shakes his head, "I kill him with my sword. Anyway, he didn't feel like a God." She shrugs, "Maybe Dahok possesses him like he does Iolaus," she suggests. Again he shakes his head, "He didn't feel like he was possessed. More like he was channeling someone else's powers. Either way we need to find him." She nods in agreement and rises from the bed. He stares at her openly and she raises an eyebrow at him. "Clothes," she says. He waves his hand and she's wearing her armor. Rising from the bed, his clothes appear with no effort.
Ares walks into the throne room with Xena behind him. "Look through those," he orders, pointing at the items on the altar. Xena raises an eyebrow, but obeys, looking for anything of value among the offerings. Ares smiles, watching her critical eye go over the offerings. Lounging on his throne, he assumes an uncaring, bored look, "Strife," he calls. She turns with an unamused look, then goes back to the offerings. Strife arrives with a cackle and a flash of light. "Hi, Unc," the Godling says. Ares growls, "Speak like a God," he orders. Strife nods, "Right-O, Unc." Ares sighs and Xena laughs lightly. Strife turns, "Oh, hi, Xena," he greets, sounding nervous. She raises an eyebrow and returns to the offerings on the altar. Strife looks back at Ares, "So, uh, what did you need, Unc?" Ares growls again and opens a small portal with the image of Eli showing, "You need to find this man. His name is Eli and I suspect he's in India. He is very dangerous and you should not go against him. Tell me when you find him, Xena and I will deal with him." Strife grumbles, "You and Xena? What about me? I can take care of him myself. After all I'm a God too." Xena buts into the conversation, "Gods don't whine," she says to Strife, then turns to Ares, "We don't need his help, we can find Eli without him." Ares shakes his head, "It will take too long, we have too many other things to deal with." She shrugs, "If you think he can handle it." Strife stands between them, "Don't talk about me like I'm not even here. Of course I can handle it, it's just one mortal man." Ares scowls at the Godling, "Don't underestimate him, Strife." Strife nods, "Right, Unc. Anything else?" Ares shakes his head, "No. Go now. Return when you find Eli." Strife gives a sharp nod and leaves with a flash of light.
The Godling gone, Xena approaches Ares' throne, a small dagger in hand, "Do we really need his help?" She questions, placing the dagger between her breasts. Ares glares at her cleavage and retrieves the dagger, looking it over, then places it back between her breasts, "If he goes after Eli, we will be free to go after Alti. I don't want her to have a chance to threaten our child's safety." She nods at first, then scowls, "Speaking of threats..." She trails off and Ares gets a guilty look, "I guess now we know why you threaten me with the Dagger of Helios." She shakes her head and smiles, "It doesn't matter, not really. The Fates said our daughter would cause the Twilight of the Gods, right?" He nods and she continues, "It makes sense that you would feel threatened and be a little short tempered." He gives her an annoyed glare, "You know, you do tend to press all my buttons. Maybe you pushed the wrong ones." She cocks an eyebrow and gives him a small smile, "Maybe." She's quiet for a moment, then asks, "Why would you ask me to give you child?" He shrugs, "I wouldn't force you." She shakes her head, "No, but we've already had sex. There's already that chance." He smirks, "I guess in that other time, we hadn't been having sex." She rolls her eyes, "Why ask though?" Growing frustrated he says, "I don't know. Maybe it was lame pillow talk." First she snarls, then laughs a little, "Yeah, maybe." He reaches for her, "You know what that means, right?" She shakes her head, going into his arms easily, "Tell me," she says. He smiles, "We chose to have a child together," he informs her. She smiles, "I guess so." Thinking on it, she gets a far off look, "Seems impossible," she says quietly. He nods, then gets a serious look, "So what do you say, give me a child?" She glares at him and he smiles widely, "That's ok, we're too busy for kids right now anyway." She laughs and shakes her head, "Can you imagine us raising a child?" Ares shakes his head and pulls up an image of their daughter fighting against him, "Looks like she turns out ok." Xena shrugs, "Until she dies," she states flatly. He growls and moves away from her, "Cynic." She rolls her eyes, then grabs his shoulder, turning him. He gives her a questioning look and she gives him a gentle kiss, "We'll save her," she says. He nods and sits on his throne, pulling her to sit next to him on the arm.
Ares opens a small portal and Xena peers down. Gabrielle, in full Amazon garb, sits around a small table with Ephiny and two men. A map and a scroll sit between them all. "The treaties are going well," Xena says. Ares sighs, "Such a shame." She elbows him and the image changes to one of Solan. He's wrestling with Hercules while Cyrene and Kaliapus laugh from the side. Xena stares longingly at her son and reaches out to touch her son's image. The image ripples and she pulls her hand away. "Solan," she says, barely above a whisper. Ares tightens the view, so the image focuses on only Solan, "He looks happy," he says quietly. She nods, staring at her son wistfully. "Will it ever be safe for him, for our daughter?" She questions quietly. He nods, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close, "We'll make it safe," he assures her. Pulling herself away from Ares and the image of her son, she nods, "Yes, we will." She thinks for a moment, "Alright, let's go after Alti. If Strife is finding Eli and we have no leads on Dahok, then we should go after Alti and get her out of the picture." He nods, "You said before that we would have to travel on foot for at least two days and I wouldn't be able to use my powers too much. How much is too much?" She thinks for a moment, then answers, "The portals should be alright. But transporting is out of the question." He questions, "What about materializing? Or will we have to carry everything with us?" She curls her lip, "We're going to need horses and supplies, we can't risk her sensing your powers." He nods, "We can visit one of my stables for the horses. What other supplies will we need?" He asks. She thinks for a moment, "Food, cooking supplies, maybe a few extra weapons, heavy parkas." She pauses for a moment, "Medical supplies might be good to have on hand too." He nods, "Does Alti have the ability to watch us? Do I need to act like a mortal?" Xena shrugs, "I don't know how her powers have grown over the years. I don't want to take any chances. Go get some supplies, I'll meet you in the stables." He nods and she leaves, heading towards the stable behind the Halls of War.
Ares watches Xena leave, then begins collecting things for their journey. Two large packs appear at his feet along with two sets of saddlebags. Calling a priest to his side, he points at the bags, "Fill these with winter gear, food, cooking supplies, and medical supplies. It needs to be enough for two people to travel in the cold on horseback for a few days. Leave room for some weapons. Clear?" The priest nods, "Yes, My Lord." Satisfied that the priest will take care of the packing, he leaves to follow after Xena.
Xena leaves the Halls of War and walks behind it heading towards the stables. Walking in, she smiles, inhaling the smell of horse and hay. Walking to the first stall she glances in and grimaces at the heavily pregnant mare. She strokes the horses muzzle, "Well, you won't be going anywhere for a while." The mare pushes against her hand and she smiles, moving onto the next stall. Walking along the row of stalls she approaches one where the horse inside is pawing at the ground. "Eager, aren't you?" She asks the young horse. He paws at the ground again and neighs, tossing his head. She smiles and opens the stall door, leading him out by the halter. While she saddles him up, he prances in place. She smiles, tightening the saddle and replacing the halter with a bridle. She turns to the entrance, leading the horse and finds Ares in the doorway, casually leaning against the door jam. "Find one?" He asks, approaching the horse. She nods, "He's not Argo, but he has spunk." Ares pats the horses flank, then heads towards a back stall, retrieving a large black stallion. Xena glances at the horse, "He wasn't here," she states. Ares shrugs in response, "He's wherever I want him to be." He places a hand on the horses shoulder and a saddle and bridle appear. "Let's go for a ride. Make sure these two can get along," he suggests. Xena nods and leads the way out of the stable.
Ares takes the lead, mounting his horse and motioning away from Corinth, "We can go this way, don't want to get too close to Corinth." Xena nods and mounts her horse, following him. They ride in silence, enjoying the fresh air and the momentary peace their ride offers them. Ares slows and waits for Xena to catch up. They continue side by side. "So what's your plan?" Ares asks. Xena shrugs, "Find Alti, kill Alti, come home, find Dahok, and kill Dahok. Sound good to you?" He laughs, "Want to look through my collections to find some new toys?" She smiles, "Oh yeah." He grins at her eagerness, "Will Alti be difficult?" He questions. She shrugs, "I don't know what sort of powers she has developed, but she has always been weak physically. She can't fight, not really. As long as we don't give her a chance to use her powers against us, she should be pretty easy to beat. Of course we have to find her first." He nods, "We'll be going through Amazon lands, will they be a problem?" She gives a short dark laugh in response, "Ten years ago I destroyed them. I doubt they'll be organized enough to cause a threat, not so soon anyway. And even if they do attack, we'll be more than a match for them." He nods and gives his horse a swift kick, urging it to pick up speed. Xena smiles and catches up with him.
The sky turns dark and Ares leads the way back to the stables and the Halls of War. Dismounting her horse, Xena leads the way into the stable and quickly begins to untack the animal. Ares enters behind her and a stable hand walks out of a small side room. "My Lord, I will care for your horses," the small man says extending his hand for the reigns. Ares nods and hands over the reins, motioning for Xena to do the same. She gives her horse a final pat on the nose, "Be good, boy," she says, following Ares from the stable. "Do you like him?" He asks, motioning back to the horse as they walk to the Temple. She nods, "He's strong and easy to control. He'll do well." He smiles, "He's yours." She smiles, "I already have a horse," she reminds him. He shrugs, "Now you have two." She smiles and changes the subject, "So, where do you keep the good weapons?" He laughs and places a hand on her shoulder. In seconds they are both gone in a splash of light and color.
Pulling Xena out of the ether after him, Ares motions towards their surroundings with a smile, "See anything you like?" Xena's eyes dart around the room, taking in the options. He smiles at her contained excitement as she browses the weapons. She lightly fingers a few swords, then pulls out her own blade. She stares at it, examining the blade and hilt, then sighs, "A little worse for the wear," she says, sadly. Ares wraps an arm around her and takes the sword, making it glow for a minute. He smiles and releases it, "Good as new." She smiles, "Thanks," she says, examining the blade again. She grabs a dagger from the wall and tucks it into her boot, then looks around some more. Ares grabs a few daggers for himself, then watches Xena, curiously. "What are you looking for?" He asks as she passes by some spears without a glance. "I need a new whip. Gabrielle traded mine months ago," she answers. He points to a far wall, "Over there," he directs, then asks, "What did she trade it for?" Xena smiles, having found a good, solid whip, "A frying pan," she answers. He stares at the back of her head, confused, then grabs a cross bow and a quiver of bolts. "Anything else you'd like?" He asks, motioning around the room. She gives the room another glance then shakes her head, "No, I think this will do." He nods and pulls her against him, disappearing.
Outside the Halls of War, thunder crashes as rain pelts the ground and wind whips through the air. Xena glares at the closed door. Ares smiles, "It will stop by morning and we can leave. The horses need a solid rest before we leave anyway. So do you." She turns her glare to him, "I'm fine." He sighs, "This isn't the time to be acting like a tough Warrior Princess." She smiles, "But I am a tough Warrior Princess." He smiles and shakes his head, reaching for her. She walks towards him and grabs his outstretched hand, "I would like to eat." He nods and leads her to the banquet hall. She walks along the table, filling a plate, then grabs a glass of wine and sits next to the fire. Ares grabs a glass and sits next to her. Sipping the wine he turns to her, "So, tonight you rest, then we leave in the morning?" He questions. She shakes her head, "No, we rest tonight, then we can leave in the morning." He glares at her, "I don't need to rest." She shrugs, "Yes, you do. We'll be traveling for a couple of days, who knows when or if either of us will get to rest again until we destroy Alti." Taking another sip of wine, he nods, "Have it your way," he says. Xena pushes her now empty plate away and finishes her wine.
Xena stands and makes her way out of the room, heading towards the bedroom. Ares follows with a dramatic sigh. Entering the room, his gaze follows Xena around the room. Slowly, she removes her weapons and armor setting them on a chair, then steps out of her leather tunic leaving her white shift on. He glares at the shift and it's replaced by a thin black nightgown. "Better," he states. She gives him a small smile and climbs under the blankets. He glares at the blankets then sheds his clothes and joins her in bed, pulling her into his arms. Turned away from him, she curls into his arms, pressing herself against him. He growls low in his throat and runs a hand over her. She starts to pull away but he holds her firmly. She shakes her head with a sigh, "Ares, rest." He gives an agitated sigh, "But I'm not tired." She gives a small, tight laugh, "Too bad." He sighs and relaxes against her, "Have it your way." She smiles and holds his hand against her chest, trying to relax enough to sleep.
Ares is soon sucked in by the Fates and their torturous visions. Hercules stands with a man from Sumeria, fire dancing around them. The man speaks, "The destruction you've seen across the land, is the direct fallout from a battle raging high above, between the Gods and My Master. You see when I lost my family, I did lose my faith. And in my deepest despair, I heard the voice of Dahok, a voice so pure, so true, I knew I had found salvation." Hercules' response is muffled to Ares, then the man continues, "He's the darkness that you hold closest to your heart. Without the nectar, the Gods won't be strong enough to prevent Dahok's arrival. All he needs is the sacrifice of a Warrior Heart." Ares strokes his daughter's cheek and she closes her eyes as he places a kiss on her forehead. Xena stands in the rain, dragging Gabrielle next to her and half carrying their daughter. She stops moving and says, "Neither of you is going to leave me. Gabrielle, you're the most pure thing in my life." Turning to their daughter she continues, "And you're my great hope. So I'm not gonna let either of you go!" Hercules stands before a pedestal with a ray of light beaming down on a large blue stone. Xena's sword goes through Athena's gut in a swift motion. "You healed them without my blessing. That's impossible," Athena says, shock and pain blending in her voice. Ares glances at her, "I gave up my immortality to save them." She chokes, "Why?" She asks on a gasp. He smirks sadly, "I'm sorry, but I've got a thing for her." Athena sinks to the ground, dead. Ares' thoughts turn to Xena in an attempt to direct the visions as he did before. It's night and Xena stands above him, naked and sweaty. Slowly he devours her as she gasps and writhes under his tongue.
Xena awakens to Ares nibbling on her neck and his hand creeping its way up her thigh. She sighs, "Ares, sleep." She pushes his hand away from her inner thigh. When it quickly returns and the nibbles don't cease, she pulls from his arms and rolls over to give him a dirty glare. Glaring at him, she notices that he's still held under the spell of the Fates' visions. The glare is replaced by a sad smile and she returns to his arms, facing him now. Resting a hand on his cheek, she kisses him lightly and sighs when he responds immediately. His hands race up her back, holding her close as he plunders her mouth. She moans and puts a leg over his hip, drawing him closer. She pulls away with a gasp and smiles at him, breathing heavy. His hands continue to race up and down her back. "Ares?" She asks, trying to get his attention. Getting no reaction, she growls low in her throat, "Fates! By the Gods, just leave him alone you little harpies." With a gasp, his eyes snap open. She smiles and runs a finger down his jaw, "Welcome back," she says. Eyes filled with lust, he pulls her closer for a passion filled kiss. Slowly, she pulls away, "They're getting worse," she says. He shrugs, "I'm learning to direct them. Not sure how much control I have though." She gives him a questioning look. Again, he shrugs, "I can't stop them, but if I think of you, they tend to take a much brighter turn." She smirks and quietly mutters, "That explains a few things." He gives her a questioning look and she shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. Do you want to show me the visions now?" He shakes his head, "Not really." She gives him a soft smile, "Let's get some rest then," she says, rolling over to face away from him. He stares at the back of her head for a moment, then gathers her into his arms, pushing her curves against him. He runs his hand from her hip to her inner thigh, but stops when she tenses. Moving his hand back to her hip, he places small kisses from her ear down to her shoulder. She shivers, then pulls away, "Stop," she says quietly. He pulls on her shoulder, forcing her onto her back, "What's wrong?" He asks, impatience evident in his voice. She shrugs and shakes her head, "Nothing. I'm just tired," she says, trying to roll back over. Keeping his hand on her shoulder to stop her from pulling away, he shakes his head, "No, something has changed. What happened while I was having the visions?" She sighs, this time rolling to face him, "I thought you were awake and you weren't." "So?" He questions. She growls and sits up, "Is this happening because we want it to or because of the visions?" He sits next to her and sighs, "I can't speak for you, but the visions aren't making me do anything, at least not when I'm awake." They sit in silence for a moment, then he gets up, his leather pants and vest appearing with a thought, "Go back to sleep," he says, leaving the room. She stares after him for a moment, then lies back down.
Ares storms into his throne room and collapses onto the throne with a growl. Xena was just reacting to the visions, he reflects. It shouldn't have been a surprise, not really. He had tortured her for the past couple of years, betrayed her, surely he didn't really expect her to give him a real fresh start, no matter what she said. "Clean slate," he growls, a nearby bust of himself exploding in shards of marble. Getting no satisfaction, he rises and begins to pace the Temple. Without the visions, where would they be? On opposite sides, sure, of course, no doubt about it. But these visions were their future, these things, their love, they were going to happen. Why couldn't it be real now? And sense they were changing everything now, would that future even happen? Was this the only time he would have with her?
Giving up on sleep, Xena rises from the bed and paces the room. Ares loves her, she reflects, and she had hurt him. He wouldn't admit it, but she had seen the pain in his eyes when she had turned from him, questioned him. She wanted to believe him, trust him, but when all this was over, would he still love her? Or would the cocky God of War return? Would she end up alone, picking up the pieces of her life while he went back to torturing her? The sound of busting marble stops her reflection. She grabs a robe from the upright chest and rushes from the room, towards the noise.
Ares stops pacing when Xena rushes into the room. Her robe hangs open, flowing behind her and a concerned look is in her eyes. "Sorry," he says, "Go back to bed, I didn't mean to wake you." She looks first at the shards of marble, then him. "Are you alright?" She asks, approaching him. He nods, "Perfect," he responds. Guilt flashes across her face for a split second, then a soft look replaces it, "I didn't mean to hurt you," she says quietly. He growls and walks away from her, collapsing onto his throne. She follows him slowly, "I had to know, Ares." He watches her slow approach, "Why?" He questions, "Why couldn't you just believe, just trust me?" She stops in front of him, a vulnerable look on her face, "I didn't want to get hurt." He stares at her, the anger draining from him, "What are you saying?" He asks, softly. She smiles and lets the robe fall to the ground before climbing onto his lap, straddling him, "I'm in love with you," she says, capturing his lips gently. He pulls back and stares into her eyes, "I love you," he says, then returns to her lips. She smiles against his lips and wraps her legs around the throne, pulling herself closer and grinding against him. He gives a low, feral growl, holding her hips against him and running a hand up her back, under the thin gown. One of her hands tangles in his hair, pulling him closer while the other tugs at his vest. He leans forward, shrugging his shoulders to help her remove the vest. It falls to the floor next to the throne with a clank. His hands race to her gown, pulling it up her body. She pulls away with a gasp and throws her arms up as he tears the gown off over her head. She returns to his mouth, pressing her breasts against his chest, gasping at the friction. Her hands travel down his chest till they reach his waist. She rips at the ties on the leather and struggles with the stiff material. Ares stands, holding her to him and she pushes the pants down with her legs. He collapses back into the throne and she smiles wickedly. Using the back of the throne for leverage she slides onto him with a moan and wrapping her legs around both him and the throne, she begins to ride him at a slow, torturous pace. His hands fly to her hips, forcing himself deeper into her. She gasps against his lips and throws her head back, panting. He attacks her breasts, moving from one peak to the other, then back again. One arm rises from her hips, up her back, holding her shoulder to keep her pulled close to him. Gradually her pace quickens and he thrusts against her, going deeper each time. Soon, she collapses against him, quivering in his arms and he lets himself find release in her softness.
Ares holds Xena against him as their breathing slowly returns to normal. Her forehead leans against the back of the throne and she stares at his shoulder. She places a light kiss there and pulls away from him, trying to rise. Sliding off his lap, her legs shake beneath her as she stands. Ares rises and offers a steadying hand, "Guess I'm that good, huh?" He says with a small laugh. She rolls her eyes, then finally gaining her balance, heads towards their bedroom, "Come on, tomorrow won't be easy," she says. He grabs her outstretched hand and, leaving their clothes flung around the throne, follows her.
Xena falls into the bed, dragging Ares with her. He lands on top of her, his weight on his hands. She smiles up at him and pulls him down for a passionate kiss. He brings his hips down to rest on top of her and groans when she wraps her legs around his. She shifts under him and feels his tip at her entrance. She moans and deepens their kiss. Ares feels the heat of her so very close and thrusts into her, hoping she won't pull away. She arches her back to take him in. Her legs rise, wrapping around him, urging him on. He thrusts harder into her and she screams out, pulling from his mouth and throwing her head back. He trails kisses down her neck to her breasts, then back up to nibble on her collarbone, never breaking stride. She gasps and finds release, screaming his name and sinking her teeth into his shoulder. Ares gives one final thrust before joining her and collapsing on top of her. She pulls from his shoulder and places a small kiss on the red spot her teeth had left. Holding him close, she sighs, "Good night." He places a kiss on her collarbone, then places his head above her shoulder, inhaling her hair, as sleep overcomes him.
Xena wakes with the dawn, a delicious weight on top of her. She leans forward and kisses Ares' shoulder and strokes his hair. Slowly, he wakes and she feels him harden inside her. He pushes himself up onto his hands and smiles down at her, "Mornin'," he says, pushing fully into her. She gasps, then smiles, "Mornin'," she responds. She pushes against his shoulders and tilts her hips to the side. He rolls, pulling her on top of him. She smiles down at him and gives him a quick kiss before rolling off of him. He growls and she laughs lightly, "We have a lot to do." He sighs, "I guess you're right. Want to see the visions from last night?" She nods and rises from the bed, stretching. He stares at her, lust in his eyes. She smirks and stares him up and down, her smirk growing to a full smile. He rises from the bed and approaches her slowly before pulling her into his arms. She goes willingly, rubbing herself against him, delighting in his moan. She grabs his hand and pulls from his arms, leading him from the room.
Xena enters the bathes and sinks into the warm waters, pulling Ares in behind her. She rests against the marble edge and stares at him, "Show me," she orders. He nods and sits next to her, a portal opening in front of them, the visions playing. Xena watches curiously, then gasps and shivers during the final vision, giving Ares a lust filled stare. He returns the stare and wades closer. She smiles and pulls him against her, capturing his lips with her own. He presses her against the marble side of the pool. She wraps her legs around his waist, pulling him flush against her, then pulls away from his lips. "We need to focus," she says, as he dips his head to her breasts. He gives a small laugh, "Oh, I am," he assures her, lifting her slightly so he can roll a nipple between his teeth. She moans and throws her head back, then stops, "No, no, on the visions," she reminds him. He nods a little, pushing her further out of the water, trailing kisses down her body, "I am," he says again. She starts to argue, but stops when he lifts her out of the water and pushes her legs apart to expose her to him. He starts nibbling at her knee and works his way up her inner thigh, laughing lightly as she shivers beneath him. She throws her head back and tangles a hand in his hair, the other resting behind her for support. He glances up at her before slowly running a finger over her. She moans deep in her throat. He replaces the finger with his tongue and she arches into his mouth. He laughs throatily and continues his slow exploration. She wraps her legs over his shoulders, digging her heals into his back. His light kisses and gentle nibbles drive her insane while his rough beard makes her tingle all the more. Feeling her tense around him, he pulls away and she lets out a strangled cry. He gives her a devilish grin, then pulls her back into the water, trailing light kisses up her body. She slides down his body, then guides him into her as she claims his mouth. He moans into her mouth as she envelops him. They remain still for a moment, then slowly, Ares begins to thrust into her. Frustrated from already being on the edge once, Xena takes charge, pushing him against the marble edge and mercilessly riding him. She pulls from his lips, breathing heavy and feels the tension rising. He feels her inner muscles tighten around him, then she's screaming her release and riding the waves of Eternity. Ares continues to thrust into her, then he too joins her in release.
Still breathing heavy, Xena glares at him, "Think we can focus now?" She asks, sarcastically. Ares nods, "Like I said, I was focusing," he says with a grin. She laughs and shakes her head, then slides off him. His gaze follows her as she dips her hair into the water. He approaches, oil in hand and runs it through her hair, then helps her rinse it out. "In the first part of the vision," she starts, "Who was that man?" Ares shakes his head, "I'm not sure, but he was Sumerian." She thinks for a moment, "And the nectar he spoke of?" He answers easily, "Nectar of the Gods, similar to Ambrosia." She nods, "And the stone Hercules grabs?" She asks, now rubbing the oil into her skin. Ares shrugs, "That I'm not sure about. I hate to say it, but I might need to ask Mom or Zeus. I get the feeling that the stone is important." Xena nods and gives him a small smile, "Our daughter looks amazing." He nods, "I want to know who hurt her like that. When I find out, they're dead," he says seriously. She nods and remains silent. A quizzical look covers her face, "Do you think the future is in motion? That the visions are in motion?" Ares shrugs, "I don't know. Why?" She pauses before answering, "If Gabrielle were responsible for the death of Solan, I would kill her. I have no doubt about that. But, she and I are still close. I was just thinking that by saving Solan, maybe we've already changed the future and the visions reflect that change." He nods, "That makes sense." She smiles, "We're already making a difference," she states. He smirks, "We've saved the irritating blonde, wonderful." She gives him an indulgent smile, then pulls herself from the bathes, "Come on, we need to get to Siberia." He exits the bath water, instantly dry and clothed in his leather. She raises an eyebrow and her leather and armor adorn her body with a wave of his hand.
Xena leaves the bathes with Ares following her. "I'm going to eat and get the rest of my things. Go ask Hera or Zeus about that stone and meet me in the stables. We'll leave as soon as you get back. I want Alti out of the way now," she says. Ares nods and squeezes her shoulder, "We'll stop her Xena, then we'll go to Sumeria and stop Dahok." She nods and he disappears. She enters the throne room and gathers her discarded robe and gown from the night before, then returns to their room. Placing the garments in the chest, she glances around the room. The Hind's Blood pendent rests on the small table next to the bed, she picks it up and places it along with her Chakram pendent in the chest as well. She grabs her sword, Chakram and other weapons, then leaves the room, heading toward the stables.
Ares appears on Olympus and glares at the too bright light. Finding no one in the main hall, he picks a hallway and begins to wander towards his mother's quarters. Artemis passes him and sneers, "Where have you been?" He rolls his eyes at her, "Busy, go away Artemis." She growls at him, but keeps moving passed him. Choosing another hallway, he enters his mother's wing. Gradually, the light of Olympus fades, replaced by a warmer, darker light. He approaches his mother's closed bedroom door and knocks once. "Come in, Ares," his mother responds. He enters, closing the door behind him, "Mom," he greets. "There you are, Ares. I was beginning to wonder," she says, running a finger down his jaw. He smiles at his mother, "I've been busy." She sighs, "Then this isn't a social call?" She questions. He shakes his head, "No. I have a question." She motions for him to continue. He shows her an image of the stone, omitting Hercules from the picture, "What's this?" Hera looks at the stone for a few minutes, then her eyes lighten, "Oh yes, I remember. It's called the Stone of Creation, one of the Titans' many treasures. Your father has it locked away in some Temple." "What does it do?" He asks. She shrugs, "I have no idea. Athena makes a hobby of studying that stuff, maybe you should ask her." Ares sneers, but nods, "Thanks, Mom." She prevents him from leaving by pulling him into her arms gently. He hugs his mother softly. "Ares, I don't know what you're working on, but be careful," she says. He nods against her shoulder, "I will, Mom, don't worry." He pulls from his mother's arms and exits the room.
Searching for his least favorite sibling, he heads towards the nearest library room. As luck would have it, Athena is sitting in a chair, studying a scroll. Her head shoots up as he closes the door. Her eyes go wide, "Ares, I didn't know you even knew about the libraries." He smirks at her, "I'm just full of surprises, aren't I, Sis?" She returns his smirk, "What do you want, Ares?" He approaches her and opens a small portal showing the stone, "Mom says this is the Stone of Creation, do you know anything about it?" Her eyes go bright, as they often do when someone seeks her knowledge, "It isn't a weapon, Ares," she informs him. He shrugs, "Doesn't answer my question." Surprised that he hadn't already left, she explains, "Long ago the Titans created the Stone of Creation as a means of harnessing a pure light. I'm not sure what their goal was." Ares nods, "Maybe it is a weapon then," he says quietly, then looks back at Athena, "Any clue where it is?" Athena shrugs, "Dad has it locked away in a Temple near the lava pit that holds Mneomoscene, the fire titan. Why?" She asks, growing concerned. He shakes his head, "Just an idea," he says. "Ares," she starts, "Is this something Zeus should know about?" He laughs, "No, but I'm sure you'll tell him anyway. After all, you are Daddy's Little Girl, aren't you?" She growls at him, then turns back to her scroll, "You should leave before you get a headache from all my knowledge." He shakes his head and leaves the golden library.
Ares leaves Olympus and appears in his stables behind the Halls of War. Xena stands between the stalls, holding both sets of reigns in her hands, the saddlebags full and flung over the horses backs, their packs resting at her feet. She smiles at him, "Took you long enough." He takes the reigns of his horse from her and picks up his bag, "Let's go." She puts a hand on his arm, "What's wrong?" She asks, catching his bad mood. He scowls, "I had to deal with Athena." Xena nods, "That explains it. Learn anything about the stone?" He nods, "It's called the Stone of Creation. The Titans created it to harness pure light." She thinks for a moment, "Dahok is the dark force behind every will, we'll need his opposite to defeat him that must be what the stone is for." Ares nods, "That's what I was thinking too. Do you still want to go after Alti? Or should we focus on Dahok?" He questions. She shakes her head, "Let's get rid of Alti," she says, her hand unconsciously going to her stomach. He nods, "Strife hasn't returned with word of Eli anyway. I think that man is the key to finding Dahok." She puts her hand in his, "Alti's stronghold will be close to the Amazon's land of the dead. Take us two days out from there." He nods and holds her hand tightly, waving his hand over himself, her, and both horses. They all disappear in a flash of light.
A cold wind rushes over Xena as she steps out of the ether. She digs through her pack and pulls out a thick parka. Putting it on, she glances at Ares, "Play along," she reminds him. He nods and pulls out his own parka, then points west, "The entrance to the Amazon land of the dead is that way." She nods and mounts her horse, "We'll ride till the sun starts to set, then make camp for the night." Ares mounts his horse and follows after her. Soon he catches up and rides next to her. They ride in silence for several hours, both keeping an eye on not just the terrain but also the surrounding woods. Around midday, Xena digs in her pack and pulls out a loaf of bread and some jerky. Keeping some for herself, she passes it to Ares. He stares at it, then over at her. "Just eat it," she says. He rolls his eyes, but eats the bread and jerky, making a few distasteful faces as he does. She smiles and laughs lightly, "Traveling food isn't exactly the best." He nods, "So I see. We can hunt tonight, cook up some rabbit or something," he suggests. She laughs, "Sorry, Gabrielle's the cook, not me. If I cook us rabbit," she pauses for dramatic effect, then continues, "It just might kill us." He laughs, "That's why you keep her around? It all makes sense now. I'll cook the rabbit, how hard can it be?" She raises an eyebrow, "Or we could just eat jerky, bread, cheese, and whatever fruit is in these packs." He scoffs at her, "You don't think I can do it?" She shrugs, "You can try." They smile at each other, then continue to ride in silence.
As the sun begins to set, casting a red glow over the world, Xena and Ares stop next to a small lake. They quickly remove their gear from their horses, then untack them. Xena gives her horse an affectionate pat on the nose, "Go on, boy. I'll see you in the morning." The horse takes off, Ares' horse close behind. "I'll set up camp, you go hunt those rabbits," she orders, laughter in her voice. He nods, grabbing the cross bow and quiver of bolts, "You'll see, we're having rabbit for dinner." He leaves the camp and Xena's eyes follow him. With a shake of her head, she collects firewood and digs a small pit, lighting the sticks and poking until it blazes steadily. She digs through their things and pulls out a frying pan and a few spices. Adding water to the pan, she slices up some potatoes and sets them to boiling. She pulls out a couple of bedrolls and heavy blankets and sets them next to the fire to warm. She takes their water skins to the lake and fills them, then sits down and begins to clean and polish her weapons while waiting for Ares.
Ares returns to camp with a rabbit in hand. Xena takes it from him and begins to skin it, "I have potatoes boiling, maybe they will be edible. Find a spit for your rabbit." Looking around the lake, he returns with a few sticks and sets up a spit to roast the rabbit on. Xena hands him the skinned animal and he glares at it and shakes his head before sliding it onto the spit. She tosses him some spices and he dumps them over the roasting animal. He glances in the frying pan, "Don't you need water for boiling potatoes?" He asks, turning the rabbit over. She growls and adds more water to the pan, using a stick to make the potatoes stop sticking to the bottom. He smirks at her, "How did you not starve on your own?" She growls again, "Bread, jerky, and cheese." He laughs, "Is any of this familiar to you?" He asks, motioning to the surrounding area. She nods, "Yeah, another day, maybe day and a half and we'll be there. We're in Amazon lands." He nods, spinning the rabbit again, then uses a stick to turn Xena's potatoes, "I know. I saw some of their old totems while we road. Nothing recent though." She nods, "Like I said, I destroyed the Amazons a long time ago. I doubt they've recovered." "Too bad I didn't get to see that, it must have been quite a battle," he says. She glares at him over the fire. He meets her eyes, "What? I'm the God of War, you can't hold it against me." She shakes her head, with a small smile. She grabs a couple of plates, "Rabbit done?" She asks. He nods and removes it from the fire, sliding it off the spit and removes the potatoes as well. Xena glances in the frying pan, then smiles. He watches her, "You can't take full credit for that," he says. She rolls her eyes, "Well fine, God of War, let's see if that rabbit is any good." She hands him a dagger and he begins to remove the meat from the bones, handing her a plate. She adds potatoes to it, then puts some on his plate too. She glares at the rabbit, before carefully taking a bite. She rolls her eyes and Ares laughs, "Told you so." They continue their meal in silence.
After dinner, Xena takes the dishes to the lake and washes them, then refills their water skins. She returns to camp and points at the bones from the rabbit, "Get rid of that somewhere away from camp. We don't want any nighttime visitors." He takes the scrap and disposes of it, then returns to camp. Xena removes her armor and weapons and hangs her parka on a tree branch, then falls into the bedroll, pulling the blanket up under her chin. Ares follows her lead and hangs his parka next to hers, then removes his vest and weapons, before crawling into the bedroll with her. She shivers and he gathers her into his arms, "Leave at first light?" He asks. She nods. He tries to get comfortable, but can't seem to. "Just hold still," Xena tells him. "Is the ground always this hard?" He asks, shifting again. She laughs, "Unless it's covered in mud, then you sink." He growls and she laughs again, "You'll get used to it." Behind her, he rolls his eyes, "I seriously doubt that." She rolls in his arms, now facing him, she smiles and gives him a light kiss, "Don't think about it." He smiles, "Are you offering to distract me?" She smiles and shakes her head, rolling back over and pressing herself against him, "Go to sleep," she says. He holds her firmly against him, inhaling her hair. She sighs in his arms.
The sun rises early, casting an eerie glow over the lake. A cold mist hangs in the air, making everything wet and miserable. Ares wakes and glares at the sky. Xena rolls and stretches against him. She rises from the bedroll and is chilled to the bone. Ares stands up and begins to roll the bedrolls and blankets. Xena gives a whistle and the horses come trotting into the camp. Quickly she puts her armor and weapons on, then begins to tack up her horse. Ares joins her, "This is tedious," he says, tossing the saddlebag over his horse. She smiles, "You get used to it." He shakes his head, "I don't want to get used to it. What's for breakfast?" He asks, mounting his horse. Xena mounts hers as well and throws an apple at him. He catches it, "And lunch?" She smiles, "Jerky and bread." He rolls his eyes, "Fine," he says. She smiles and starts to lead him away from the camp. He rides beside her in silence.
The sun is high in the sky when Xena hands Ares some bread and jerky. He eats the food and grimaces. "Can you mortals really survive on this?" He asks. She nods, "The poor aren't even lucky enough to have food like this." "Why not?" He questions, "Can't they just hunt?" She shakes her head, "Some don't have the skill, others work so hard to give their families something to eat and a roof to protect them, they don't have the energy to hunt as well." He nods and remains silent. She gives him a questioning look, "There were no visions last night, were there?" She asks. Ares shakes his head, "We're outside of Greece, outside of the Fates' reach. I'll be vision free until we return home," he explains. She nods and continues on in silence.
Xena stops while the sun is still high in the sky. Ares gives her a questioning look. "We're close now. I don't want to make camp any closer to Alti's stronghold and I don't want to fight her in the dark," she explains. He nods, "Makes sense. I'll set up camp tonight, you go fishing." She gives him a doubtful look, "Really? You think you can cook fish too?" He gives her a cocky smile, "Of course I can." She smiles and strips off her armor and leather, letting the parka fall as well. He stares at her, "What are you doing?" He questions. She smiles and shrugs, "Fishing," she answers. She struts out of camp and he smiles after her. He untacks the horses and sends them off to graze. He digs a pit and tosses some twigs into it, then starts a small fire. Digging through their packs, he pulls out what is left of the potatoes and slices them then starts them boiling as Xena did the night before. Going to the stream, he fills the water skins and looks for Xena, but doesn't spot her. Returning to camp, he lays the bedrolls and blankets out by the fire. Seeing nothing better to do, he goes through some basic sword drills.
Xena walks into camp with a couple of fish. She quietly lays them by the fire, then puts her parka on, watching Ares go through drills with his back to her. "Catch anything?" He asks, not turning around. "A couple," she answers. He turns, sheathing his sword, "Good." He heads to the fire and slides the fish onto a spit, slowly cooking them. Xena glares and he chuckles. "Any word from Strife?" She asks. He shakes his head, then opens a small portal, searching for Strife. Xena kneels next to him, watching the images dance in the portal. It finally settles on Strife sitting in a tavern, his back to the wall, watching the people come and go, a drink in his hand and a wench rubbing his shoulders. He growls and rolls his eyes, "That useless moron." Xena smiles and gives a light laugh, "At least it looks like he's in India." Ares shakes his head and changes the image. Gabrielle appears. She's riding a horse, travel bags on the horses back. Xena becomes interested, "Can you tell where she is?" He nods, "Road to Corinth. She's still a few days away." She nods, concerned. He places a hand on her shoulder, "Hercules will take care of her." She nods and the image changes to Solan. She smiles as her son and mother sit at a small table in a beautiful garden, eating and laughing. Her smile turns sad and wistful. He closes the portal, "Fish is done." She nods and holds out the plates. Ares fills both plates with food, then takes his from her, "What's your plan for Alti?" He asks. She takes a bite of fish, then answers, "Kill her." He gives her a pointed look, "Care to elaborate?" "Alti will focus on me. I'll keep her attention while you attack her. Hopefully she'll be so distracted by me, she won't even notice you until it's too late," she says. He nods, "I figured you would want to kill her yourself." She shrugs, "It doesn't matter. I just want her stopped before she has a chance to hurt our daughter." He nods and smiles, noting her protective and possessive tone. They finish their meal in silence, then quickly clean up the camp.
Xena glances at the sky. The sun is starting to set and soon the air will grow cold. She smiles at Ares, then drops her parka from her shoulders and grabs her sword. He raises an eyebrow, "Something wrong?" He asks. She shakes her head, "I'm stiff from riding all day. I need to loosen my muscles a little." He gives her a wicked smile and she shakes her head before turning her back on him and raising her sword. He quickly grabs his sword, then strikes at her. She spins around, deflecting his blow and kicking out at his gut. He catches her leg and pushes it away. She spins and lashes out with her sword, aiming at his head. He raises his sword, blocking her attack and forces her back with the strength of his parry. She runs at him, grabbing his shoulders and flipping over his head, bringing him with her. He lands on his back and Xena points her sword at his neck. He smiles and kicks her legs out from under her. She lands hard on her back, the wind knocked out of her. He rolls to land on top of her, pinning her in place and knocking the sword from her hands. He places his own blade over her neck and grins in triumph. She smiles at him, "Not bad," she compliments. He rolls off her and offers her a hand up. She grabs his hand and stands, collecting her sword.
Xena returns to camp with Ares close behind her. She grabs their packs and starts digging through them. Ares watches her, curious. When she tosses the bags to the ground, he raises an eyebrow. She gives a frustrated grimace, "This has to end tomorrow." He nods and gives her a reassuring smile, "It will. By this time tomorrow, we will be going home, victorious. Don't fret." She chuckles, "I'm not fretting, Ares. We are out of food." He shrugs, "Doesn't matter. I can cook, remember?" She shakes her head with a small laugh, "Fine then. In the morning, you're in charge of food. I'll pack and get the horses ready." He strides closer to her, "And what are we going to do until morning?" He asks, giving her a seductive smile. She returns his smile and easily struts into his arms. Looking up at him through her eyelashes, she responds, "Sleep." His smile turns into a disappointed frown. She chuckles and gives him a light kiss, "Big day tomorrow." She ducks out of his embrace and heads to the bedrolls, settling in for the night. Ares glares at her, then joins her, pulling her against him with a grumble. She laughs lightly against his chest, then relaxes and falls asleep.
Xena wakes alone, with the sun barely peeking through the trees. She glances around the camp and finds Ares by the fire, roasting something over a low fire. She grabs her parka and sits next to him, "How long have you been awake?" She asks, trying to recognize the meat over the fire. He glances at her, "Awhile. Without the visions playing constantly I don't really need the rest. Bags are packed, horses are ready," he says motioning towards a tree where the horses are tethered. She smiles, then returns to giving the meat a questionable look. "It's quail, I think," he informs her. She scrunches her brow, "You're not sure?" He shrugs, "It was a bird." She laughs, "Mystery meat, my favorite." They eat in silence, then Xena finishes cleaning up the camp and gathering her armor and weapons.
Xena and Ares ride through the forest until the sounds of animals disappear and the plant life begins to thin and look straggly. Xena halts her horse and dismounts, motioning for Ares to do the same. Quickly, she begins to untack her horse and he does the same, giving her a questioning look. "We're close," she starts, "I don't want the horses caught in the cross fire. We'll collect them and our things when it's over." He nods and sends his horse off, Xena's quickly following after. Xena grabs her bags and the saddle, moving them into the brush. Ares adds his to the pile, keeping the crossbow and quiver of bolts. Silently, they begin to traipse through the sparse underbrush, trying to stay covered and make as little noise as possible.
Xena points ahead, towards a hut at the base of a large mountain, "There she is," she says, an evil glare in her eyes. Ares smiles, then points to a figure at the side of the hut, "Is that her?" She shakes her head, "No, that's trouble. Let's get its attention." She draws her Chakram and sends it on a wild arc. It passes in front of the figure on horseback and its head turns towards them as the deadly weapon lands in Xena's hand. Xena stands tall with Ares beside her, both having their weapons drawn. It gallops towards them and as it does an image flashes through Xena's mind. Her Chakram is hurling towards her and she catches it, clutching it to her stomach. The force sends her flying back. Xena reacts to the image, being thrown back. Ares stares at her, "Xena?" He asks, rushing to her and helping her rise. She gasps and takes his hand, pulling into a standing position. She shakes her head and snarls, sending her Chakram at the creature. The Chakram hurls towards the creature, but another image enters Xena's mind. She's on a beach, on a cross and a hammer strikes her legs. Pulling from the image, Xena crumples to the ground. She gasps, grabbing at her legs, trying to get them back under her, "My legs." Ares glares at her legs, then the creature on horseback. Watching the arc of the Chakram, he raises his sword, sending it at the creature again. It passes the creature, then reflects back and strikes it on the back of the neck. A dark cloud races from its body, screaming and the creature falls from the horse. Xena gasps and rises, "Alti has some new tricks." Ares grabs her arm, "What did she do?" She closes her eyes, "It was like Caesar had broken my legs all over again. I was there, I saw it, I felt it," she says, racing her hands over her legs, checking their steadiness. Ares snarls and glares at the hut, "She will die," he states. Xena glances at him and sees the anger in his eyes. When she follows his gaze to the hut, her eyes go cold and focused, "Let's get this done," she says, heading towards the hut with a meaningful stride.
Alti exits her home with a cackle, "Xena," she rasps, not sparring Ares a glance. "Alti," Xena replies coldly. The Shamaness cackles, "You defeated my precious Berserker. I'll have to make a new one. Maybe I'll use you or your new toy," she says, glancing at Ares. His eyes flare, but a look from Xena tells him to remain calm. "That's a powerful ability you've cultivated," Xena compliments. Alti nods, "Yes, it is. And it's all thanks to you. If you hadn't helped me kill Cyane and collect her blood I would have never been able to learn this particular Spiritual ability. As you know, I've never been much for physical violence, but Spiritual...Ah yes, that I can do." Xena catches Ares eye real quick and motions for him to start moving around Alti to the opposite side. She smirks at Alti, "Enjoy it while you can. I'm going to stop you." Alti cackles, "Will you?" She asks, sending an image to Xena's mind. Xena falls to her knees, Ares angry above her. He grabs her hair, pulling her head back and his knee comes to her face. Xena pulls from the image, gasping, "Alti," she warns, advancing on the woman, sword drawn. Alti laughs, "Seems you and your lover have a checkered past, Xena. Let's see what the future holds, shall we?" Ice surrounds her and she slides on it, almost losing her footing. Ares advances on her. Xena shakes her head, pulling away from Alti's mind games and continues rushing at the Shamaness. Alti cackles, "Oh Xena, let's see what happens now." Ares punches her first in the face, then the gut. Xena stumbles in her advance and falls to the ground, glaring at Alti. The woman laughs throatily, "Seems you two aren't going to last, Xena. What a shame. But no surprise, given your history with men." Xena growls and shakes her head, trying to clear it. She catches Ares eye and encourages him to continue his slow, careful approach around Alti. Xena gives a war cry and rushes the woman. Just as she is within reach, Alti sends another image. Xena is on the edge of the ice, blood dripping down her chin, breathe coming in gasps from the punch to the ribs. Ares growls and punches again, sending her flying into the icy water. She struggles to surface, to find air, but gets trapped. Xena falls to the ground, her lips turning blue and her breath stopping. She fights under the ice, beating on it, trying to find oxygen. Slowly, the life drains from her and she stops. Xena collapses to the ground, body shaking in shock and cold. Ares stares in shock as Xena goes still, lifeless. Pain and anger cloud his mind. He rushes Alti as she stands over Xena, laughing, and grabs her by the shoulders, pulling her back against him and sliding his sword over her exposed neck. The Shamaness gurgles and blood spews from her neck and mouth. Finally, her eyes cloud over and the bleeding slows to a sluggish pace. Ares lets her fall, then falls to his knees beside Xena.
Xena feels the ice and water leave her lungs and gasps for air, flailing to sit up. Ares grabs her and pulls her to his chest, holding her tightly. She breathes hard against him, "Alti?" She gasps. He nods, "She's dead." He pushes her away for a second, "Are you alright?" He asks. She nods, not trying to leave his arms, "I'm fine, I think." He strokes her hair, feeling her breathing calm and seeing the color return to her flesh. "What did she show you?" He asks. She shakes her head slowly, "I know how I ended up in the ice." He closes his eyes, "Me?" He guesses. She nods, then pulls away and tries to stand. He helps her to her feet. "It won't happen," he assures her. She gives him a flashy smile, "I know." A curious look crosses her face, "I don't think I died." He raises an eyebrow and she continues, "When we were fighting, I wasn't worried. Which means either I was so sure of my victory that you winning never even entered my mind or I had a plan." He glares at her, "We've seen me pulling you from the icy waters. And we've seen your coffin in the ice cave," he reminds her. She shakes her head, "I can't explain it, but I wasn't dead, not really." He shrugs, "Good. I don't like the idea of killing you." She smiles at him, "Really?" She asks, sarcasm dripping from the one word. He smirks and pulls her against him roughly, "Yeah really," he says, claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Xena pulls from Ares' embrace and glances at the dead woman at her feet, "We need to put her to rest so her spirit will pass on. With her spiritual powers, she could still be a threat, even as a shade." Ares nods, "What do we need to do?" She thinks for a moment, "We need to wrap her and build an Amazon funeral pyre. Her body needs to be returned to nature so her spirit can be free. She'll pass to the Amazon land of the dead and enter Eternity." He snorts, "Seems like too nice of an ending for her." She smirks, "Cyane and the other Queens will make Eternity miserable for her." He smiles, "Good." With a snap of his fingers, Alti's wrapped body is atop a funeral pyre. He hands Xena a torch, "Care to do the honors?" She smiles, then approaches the pyre and walks around it, the torch lighting various points, "May you suffer for eternity" She turns from the fire, "Get our stuff and the horses. When this burns down, we'll collect her ashes and spread them here, in her home, then we can leave." He nods and walks off, whistling for the horses.
Xena watches the flames burn down, smoke billowing from the top of the pyre. Her mind travels to the past, to the damage she had done. She closes her eyes and brings up an image of Cyane, the greatest of the Amazon Queens. A woman that she had killed for Alti, one of many. "Cyane," she whispers, "I'm sorry. I hope with Alti's death you can pass on and find peace. I'm sending Alti to you. Make her suffer eternally." She pauses, then continues, "I swear, I'll do what I can to help the Amazons rebuild, to save your people, your dream, your legacy." She opens her eyes as the last of the flames die out and the smoke thickens in the air. A bird chirps in the near distance and she smiles, knowing that it will be the first of many to return to this desolate area. She smiles and in a whisper says, "To a strong Amazon Nation."
Xena's thoughts turn from her mistakes of the past to her present. She'd seen the look on Ares' face when he thought she had died. She'd seen his guilt too when she admitted that he had killed her. And she'd seen loss, and pain and love in his gaze and felt it in his hold when he pulled her into his arms. She knew she would have failed without him. Died, here in Siberia. Once, he wouldn't have cared and she never would have thought of him as her savior. Somewhere along the way things had changed for them. She no longer saw her life as a solitary mission of redemption, but as something more. She loved him and when this was over and they were done fighting Dahok and his minions, she would fight to save their relationship.
Ares watches from a distance. He had lost her, if only for a second. And no matter what she said, he knew that ultimately he would cause her death. He shakes his head, "No, not this time." Knowing the future put the power in his hands. He could prevent it, he would prevent it. He would save her, no matter what it meant. An image of their daughter comes to his mind and he smiles softly at the infant then banishes the thought. His love, his child, somehow they would lead to her death and that was something he wouldn't let happen. They would defeat Dahok, then he would let her go. It would destroy him, no doubt, but it was a sacrifice he had to make, to save her life.
Xena spreads Alti's ashes around her hut and the surrounding land, watching the earth they touch turn black and die. She shudders and wipes her hands together to get rid of the last remnants of Alti. She closes her eyes and sighs, then turns to find Ares. Seeing him standing back a ways, with the horses, she gives him a small smile, then jogs to join him. "It's done, then?" He asks, handing her the reigns to her horse. She rubs the horses nose and nods, "It's done." She reaches for his hand, "Take us home?" She asks. He takes her hand with a small smile and in seconds they are gone.
Xena sighs as she exits the ether and catches sight of Corinth in the distance. She follows Ares to the stable, leading her horse beside her. An eager stable hand approaches and she hands her horses' reigns over before grabbing her bags and following Ares to the Halls of War. He lounges on his throne and motions towards the altar. She rolls her eyes, but goes to the altar and begins to examine the offerings of swords and daggers. "Strife," Ares calls. The Godling appears, "Hey, Unc." He turns slightly, "Hi, Xena." She spares him a hard glance and he shrinks a little, then turns back to Ares. "I asked you to find Eli, not play in a tavern with ale and wenches," Ares shouts. He stammers over the reply, "I was working, Unc. I was undercover, I swear." Ares flings the Godling against the far wall, holding him off the floor. "Strife." He shouts. The Godling quivers, "I'll try harder, Unc. I swear it." Ares releases him and he crashes to the floor. "You had better," Ares warns. Strife nods and disappears, still cowering.
Xena approaches Ares, carrying a heavy sword. She hands it to him, "You should find out who left this." He examines the blade and gives it a twirl, then smiles, "This is one for the collection," he says, making it disappear. He glances at the altar, "Anything else of interest?" She shakes her head, "Not really. Just the basics. There are a couple of decent things, but nothing worth my time, or yours." He nods, "So, what's the plan?" He asks. She gives him a coy smile and begins to walk away.
Ares follows Xena to the bathes and lets out a low growl as she strips her armor and leather and sinks into the warm waters. "Join me?" She asks, motioning to the water. He turns from her, "I have work to do." She stares at the back of his head, "That wasn't a request, Ares," she says, rising from the waters and pulling herself onto the cool marble floor. She slowly approaches and slides his vest from his shoulders, tossing it aside. She reaches around him, pressing her breasts against his back and struggles with the belt. Finally she releases it and tosses it aside as well. She reaches for his leather pants and his hand lands on top of hers, stopping her progress. "Like I said, I have work," he says, moving out of her embrace and leaving her alone.
Xena stares after Ares as he leaves the bathes, both confused and hurt by his rejection. She returns to the bath and quickly rinses of the filth from the funeral pyre and their adventures through Siberia. Leaving her armor and leather on the floor of the bathing area, she exits and heads towards Ares' room. Once inside, she checks the Hind's Blood pendent and seeing it still in place, she opens the wardrobe, exposing a multitude of clothes. Pursing her lips in contemplation, she flips through the clothes. Selecting a green silk gown, she drapes it on, then grabs her Chakram necklace and puts it on. Quickly, she styles her hair and hides a few daggers, one down the back of the dress, another on her thigh and one between her breasts. Smiling, she exits the room, determined to get Ares' attention.
Ares stalks his throne room. Walking away had been the hardest thing in his immortal life. Having her not just willing, but actually seducing him, it had nearly undone him. But if he was going to save her from himself, that meant staying away. And in the long run, it would make their ultimate separation far easier to bare. He had the memories of their time together to draw on, no need to make their bond any deeper. Or Gods forbid create a child with her. That would seal her fate. He already knew that if she bore his child, he would never leave them, leave her. And leave her he must, for her own good, for her life.
Xena enters the throne room and watches Ares stalk for a moment, then lounges on his throne, waiting for him to notice her. He paces the Temple in frustration, then slams his hands down on the altar, making the weapons spill to the floor. Staring at the marble surface of the altar, he slams his hands down again and getting no satisfaction, repeats the action. Growling, he turns to his throne and stares at Xena sitting there, perched like a Queen before her subjects. The gown hugs her curves, hiding nothing from him. Her nipples stand erect begging for his attention and one of the straps has slipped from her shoulder. A small, expectant smile rests on her lips. He looks her over and passion burns in his gaze, then he turns from her. She shoots him a dirty look, then pushes up off the throne and struts to the altar. She lounges back on it, using her arms for support, and crosses her legs, letting the slit on the skirt ride up high. "Ares," she says. He turns to the altar, following her voice and inhales sharply. She raises an expectant eyebrow, "So, what are you working on?" He stares at her, confused, "What?" He asks, eyes following the path of flesh from her legs up to the slit that is far too high up her thighs. She purses her lips, "When you left me in the bathes, you said you had work to do. I thought maybe I could help." She leans farther back, uncrossing her legs and the slit rises higher. His eyes are glued to her legs and a hint of metal catches his eye, he glares at it, not hearing her reply at all. Slowly, he approaches her and runs his hand from her ankle to her thigh where a small dagger rests. She shivers under his touch and a powerful smile crosses her lips. He slowly removes the dagger, letting it lightly drag along her skin. She tenses and inhales sharply, then smiles, "How did that get there?" She asks, innocently. He lays the dagger next to her, shaking his head, "Xena, don't." She wraps her legs around his waist, quickly pulling him to her and glares at him, "What's wrong?" She asks harshly. He tries to pull away from her, but she digs her heals into the back of his knees and gives him a steely glare. He shakes his head, "It's nothing, just war stuff. I'm distracted, that's all." She raises an unbelieving eyebrow, then softens her glare, "The visions will restart tonight, won't they?" He shakes his head, "I don't need rest, I'm fine. I'm going to help Strife search for Eli, try to get a lead on Dahok." She nods, leaning towards him, "We should go after the stone, too. Did Athena know where to find it?" He nods, no longer trying to escape her, "Temple, not far from here actually. I don't know what kind of traps there will be." She nods and pulls him closer, bringing her lips to his ear, "There's more than one dagger," she whispers, then pulls away, leaning back on the altar again. He moans lightly and she grabs his hand, bringing it around her. He feels the hard dagger under the dress, resting against her spine. Slowly he removes it, setting it next to the first one. Stepping out of her embrace, he shakes his head, "Go rest. We'll get the stone in the morning," he says, turning away from her. She glares at him and grabs the daggers, throwing them at him. They imbed themselves in the wall on either side of his head. He turns surprised, "Yes?" He says, unsure. She glares, then rises from the altar and storms from the room, green dress flowing behind her.
Ares watches her go. She was mad, hurt, upset, because of him. But it was better than being dead. One day she would realize why he'd pulled away and it would ease the hurt. Until then, she certainly wasn't going to make it easy. Closing his eyes, he sees himself pulling her lifeless body from the water. He sees the ice coffin with her sword and Chakram as grave markers. He shakes his head, trying to rid himself of the images. They are replaced by images of her laying on the cross, nails in her ankles and hands. Shaking his head again, he thinks of their daughter. The only place she would ever exist would be in these visions. It saddened him, but not as much as the thought of killing Xena.
Xena storms into the bathes and rips the gown off over her head, tossing it to the corner, then begins to dress in her armor. Attaching her sword and Chakram, her hand flies to the pendent around her neck, then falls back to her side. With a small sigh, she leaves the bathes and returns to the throne room. Ares' head jerks towards her when she enters and he gives her a questioning look. "So, where is the Temple?" She asks. He vaguely points east, "Not far. Don't worry, we'll go tomorrow." She heads for the door, "Zeus' Temple, right?" He nods, rising from the throne, to block her, "We will go tomorrow," he repeats. She pushes at his shoulders, "I'll go now, it'll save us time." He refuses to budge, "There will be traps," he warns. She shrugs. "It's been a long day," he reminds her. She shrugs again and tries to move around him. He remains in her path and she gives him a stubborn glare, "Either get out of my way or tell me why you're being so distant. And don't try to feed me some lie about being distracted by war stuff." Not liking either option he gives her a cocky smile, "Distant? Me?" He laughs and pulls her into his arms, kissing her. When she doesn't react, he pulls back. She glares at him, then turns away, thinking. He remains between her and the door, watching her slowly pace in front of him. Finally, she stops and turns to him, a soft look on her face, "You're afraid," she accuses. He snarls and grabs her shoulders shaking her slightly, "I am Ares God of War, don't forget that." Rather than returning his anger, she gives him a small smile, "It's alright. I'm fine. We're changing the future, who knows if that will even happen." He sighs and releases her, "It's not a risk I'm willing to take," he says, walking away from her. She follows after him, "Don't I get a say?" He turns to her with no reply. She smirks, "Didn't think about that, huh? The future is in motion. And if I want to risk my life by being with you that is my choice." He shakes his head, "I won't let you." She laughs, "Let me?" She shouts. He thinks it over and laughs a little, "I'm only trying to protect you," he explains. She nods and wraps her arms around his neck, "I know and I love you for it. But I'm not willing to give up on us because you might hurt me." She gives him a light kiss and he doesn't pull away. He shakes his head slightly, "Guess I should know better by now." She smiles, "Yes, you should," she says with a laugh. Moving from his arms, she walks toward the door again, "Come on, let's get that stone." He nods and takes her hand, "Are you sure?" She nods, "I'm dressed, might as well get something done." He nods and they disappear.
Ares steps out of the ether with Xena beside him. A grand old Temple stands before them, surrounded by forest. The front steps are cracked and weeds are growing over them. Vines creep up the side of the building and wrap around it. "Looks abandoned," Xena says, carefully walking up the steps. Ares nods and grabs her hand before she can grab the door handle, "Traps," he reminds her. She nods and draws her sword, then carefully opens the door. It creaks on its hinges and only opens a little. She puts her blade through the crack first, then follows after it. Ares comes in behind her and creates a ball of light for them to see by. Xena's eyes dart around the room, then they land on the stone, illuminated by a blue light on the far side of the room. She smiles and points at it. Ares nods, "Stay behind me" he orders, moving in front of her. She rolls her eyes, but obeys until he stops moving forward. She stands next to him and stares down at the floor, only to discover that it ends at their toes. A wide crevice separates them from the stone which rests on a small island in the middle. Ares glances at her, "Zeus is blocking me. I can't get it," he tells her. She smirks, "Good thing I'm here." She takes several steps back, then rushes forward and flips over the crevice, landing on the small island. She grabs the stone and the floor beneath her starts to quake. As the island disintegrates under her feet, she flips away, landing slightly behind Ares. He glares at her and she smiles, then hands him the stone. The building begins to quake and crumble around them, huge chunks of ceiling collapsing and crashing to the Temple floor. Ares pulls her to him, shielding her with his body as they disappear.
Xena ducks out from under Ares as they reappear inside the Halls of War. She gives him a cocky smile, "That wasn't so bad," she says, her breathing slightly labored. He rolls his eyes, but smiles, "Could have been worse," he agrees. He returns the stone to her and she turns it over in her hands a few times. "Any clue how it works?" She asks. He shakes his head, "Didn't you read the directions?" She glares at him, "I was a little busy," she reminds him. He smiles and laughs. "You could ask Athena," she suggests. He curls his lip in disdain and she smirks. Rolling the stone in her hand, she walks toward the altar. "It harnesses a pure light, right?" She asks. He nods, "Supposedly." She holds it up to the light shining through a window and a blue beam shoots from the stone. She smiles, "I'm betting that stops Dahok in his tracks." He nods, approaching her, staying out of the beam, "It won't kill him," he says. She nods, "I know, but maybe it will stop him long enough that we can either trap him or banish him." He thinks for a moment, "That means he needs to take physical form." She nods, "Sumeria?" He shakes his head, "Not yet. Let's take care of Eli first." She nods, "Sounds like a plan." She removes the stone from the light, "I'll put this with the Hind's Blood," she tells him, leaving the throne room.
Xena walks into the bedroom and places the stone in the chest next to the Hind's Blood pendent. She strips off her armor and weapons and places them in there as well, then walks to the wardrobe. She hangs her leather and cloth tunics up, then pulls out a thin, short, black, silk gown. Draping it on, she walks from the room and enters the room with the green door. She grabs a plate and piles food on it, then snatches a goblet of wine before heading back to her room. She lounges back on the bed, plate beside her, goblet in hand, and begins to silently eat.
Ares lounges on his throne, silently searching the streets of India through a portal. The markets are busy with people rushing around, haggling over prices and filling baskets with food. Through the crowds he spots his nephew, Strife, trying to blend in and looking like a total fool in the process. "Useless twit," he mutters, watching people skirt around Strife, pulling their children closer as he approaches. He shakes his head and continues to search the streets and vendor stalls. Hours pass with no luck and he grows bored. Rising from the throne, he walks down the hall, searching for Xena.
Ares stands in the doorway of his bedroom and smiles, watching Xena twirl and strike out with her sword in a mesmerizing dance of skill. Sensing his presence behind her she turns sharply, pointing her blade at his throat with a smile, "Did you find Eli?" She asks. He pushes the blade away, but she quickly returns it, raising her eyebrows. He smirks and answers her with a frustrated growl, "No. I found Strife though." He gives his head a sad shake and she smiles, advancing on him, sword still held at his throat. He backs up a step and swats at the blade again. She swiftly moves it back only now, pointed at gut level. He smirks and walks towards her, the sword gliding harmlessly through him, "What are you doing?" He asks. She shrugs, removing the blade, "I'm bored." Stepping away from him, she returns her sword to the chest, then lounges on the bed. "I'm turning in for the night, what are your plans?" She asks. He shrugs, "War stuff, I guess. I've been so wrapped up and exhausted from the visions, I've been neglecting my duties." A disappointed look crosses her face, then she rises, "Want help?" He raises an eyebrow, "I thought you were turning in?" She shrugs, "I'm bored, not tired. Anyway helping you could be fun." He smirks, "For the past couple of years, you've been destroying my wars and now you want to help me plan them?" She shakes her head, "War is part of living, I know that. Without it, mankind won't advance. Maybe I can help you with wars and together we can find a way to avoid pulling innocents into the middle of them." He shrugs, "Interesting idea. And if innocents can't be avoided?" She smiles and begins to change back into her armor, "Then I'll have a head start on stopping you." He laughs and waves a hand over her, clothing her in her armor and weapons, "You don't need a head start." She smirks, "So, do you want my help?" He nods, taking her hand, "Alright, we can try doing this your way." She smiles, "Thank you." He nods in response and they disappear.
Ares pulls Xena out of the ether and keeps them invisible to the mortals around them. She glances around for a minute, "Athens?" She guesses. He nods, "Close to it. Agathon did quite a number on the Athenian army, this is my chance to get the upper hand over Athena." She nods, "How many men do you have?" He shrugs, "Five hundred or so." She nods, "The commander?" He answers, pointing at a man walking past them, "Grenick." "I haven't heard of him," she says, following him. Ares nods, "He's new." She nods and they enter the commander's tent. Moving to stand slightly behind Ares, she places a hand on his shoulder and he makes them visible. The commander first draws his sword, then seeing Ares falls to his knees, head bowed. Xena stares down at the man, "Why do they all do that?" She asks, annoyed. "They're supposed to," Ares answers. She makes an amused noise in the back of her throat, "I never did." He smiles at her, "You were special." Turning to the man, he commands, "Rise Grenick." The man finds his feet and sheathes his sword, "War God," he acknowledges, then gives Xena a questioning look. She gives him a cold smile, "Xena," she introduces moving around Ares to approach a map on a large table. The man stares in awe and salutes smartly. She rolls her eyes, then looks up at Ares, "Where are Athena's armies?" He approaches and points on the map, "The road to Athens." She scowls, "That's a busy road." Grenick cautiously buts in, "They are charging a toll, not many are willing to pay." She nods, turning her attention back to the map, "We're here, right?" She asks, pointing to a group of soldier figures on the west of Athens, about two days from the city. Grenick nods, "Yes, My Lady." She growls low in her throat, then glances at Ares, "Are you just wanting to hurt Athena or have a following here, a Temple?" He smirks, "The goal had been to hurt Athena, what are you thinking?" She shrugs, "Well, if you were to liberate the road from Athena's armies and reopen the road to Athens, then 'protect' the city from Athena, the people would be awfully grateful. If you make yourself look like their savor, they'll give you their loyalty." He smiles and leans over the map, examining things in a new light. Xena leans closer as well, moving the soldiers around to plan an attack that will leave the city not just unharmed but free from Athena's tolls. Grenick watches, stunned and honored to have so much interest taken in his little campaign.
Hours pass and Ares nods, pushing away from the table, "Looks good." Xena nods and stretches, "It should work as long as he can follow orders and stick to the plan," she says, eyeing Grenick. The man nods eagerly, "Don't worry about a thing. I won't fail," he assures them. Ares nods, "You better not. I don't accept failure." The man quakes, but nods, fear in his eyes. Xena smiles and turns to Ares, "Ready to go?" She asks. He nods and gives Grenick one last hard look, then disappears with Xena.
Xena steps away from Ares as they return to the Halls of War. He stares after her as she walks around the Temple, stretching her arms and legs after the hours of leaning over the map, "I wouldn't have come up with that without you," he admits. She smiles, "Of course not. You would have attacked, destroying not just Athena, but Athens in the process." He nods, not denying it, then pulls her close, "It's late." She nods, slowly pulling from his arms, "Yes, it is. I'm going to turn in." She begins to walk away from him, then turns, "Join me?" She asks, extending her hand. He takes it and nods, following her from the throne room.
Ares pauses at the doorway of the bedroom. She turns to look at him, a question in her gaze. "The visions," he reminds her, "They will restart tonight." She gives him a soft look, "And I'll be here to wake you," she reminds him. He smiles and waves his hands down her body, replacing her armor and weapons with the black gown from earlier that evening. She smiles and reaches up to remove her necklace, then sets it on the table beside the bed. She tugs at his vest and he shrugs out of it, then removes his sword belt. She smiles, turning her back to him, then drops the gown from her shoulders. He inhales sharply and she smiles, before lying in bed, curled on her side under the blankets. "That's torture," he comments, removing his leather pants and crawling into bed, pulling her against him. She laughs lightly, "You'll get used to it," she promises. He growls and rubs against her making her inhale with a gasp. She rolls in his arms and presses herself against him, capturing his lips for a passionate kiss. He runs his hands over her, holding her close against him. She pulls away, smiling, then rolls away from him, "Sleep," she reminds him. He growls and glares at the back of her head, then sighs, gathering her into his arms, "You will be the death of me," he says quietly. She laughs, grabbing his hand and holding it against her chest.
Ares feels Xena relax in his arms and soon joins her in sleep. He fights against the pull of the Fates, but fails in the end. Ares pulls Xena up from the ground, a red dress flows over her body. Holding her close, he begins to sing and dance a slow, sensual dance with her as an army watches them. Pulling from the vision, confused, Ares fights the hold that the Fates have on his mind. They snatch at him, pulling him back under their control. Xena stands in a hallway on Mount Olympus, the chains of Hephaestus wrapped around her shoulders, a cross bow in one hand, dragging Gabrielle across the floor and struggling under the weight of their daughter. Ares is in front of her lowering the crossbow she has pointed at him, "This is the second time sense you became Xena, Slayer of Gods, that we've faced off one on one and you haven't been able to pull the trigger." She pulls the trigger and the crossbow bolt goes through his leg. Things change and he's laying in a bed between Xena and Gabrielle. Both women wear very little. He turns around a few times and comes face to face with Xena. She jerks away, "I think a change of positions is in order," she says rolling away. He nods and curls against her back. She glances over her shoulder, "I meant we should both change positions." He nods, tired, "Alright." He lays on his back and Gabrielle flails in her sleep, slapping her hand over his face and another over his crotch. Xena turns, an offended look on her face and removes the girl's hand, then lays back down. "I'm in Tartarus," Ares says. The scene changes again and Xena stands on a beach. She draws her sword, thrusting it into the air, pointed at Athena, Hades, and Hephaestus who watch from above, "Each to their own," she shouts, "You to yours and me to mine." She spins the sword and brings it to plunge into her own gut. Ares stops her, appearing in front of her and grabbing the sword from her hands, flinging it away, "No, Xena, don't." He says, pulling her into his arms. She pushes away from him a bit and raises a small bottle to her lips, "Ares, you can't stop me this time." He shakes his head, "No." "It's over. It's over," she says drinking from it and pushing Ares away. He stares at her, shaking his head, "No." She begins to collapse and he pulls her toward him. She stares up at him, struggling to speak, to breathe, "Join your family. Tell them it's a package deal. They get me too." She dies in his arms, falling to the ground at his feet. Things change again, Xena stands against the Romans. Her Chakram comes flying at her. It strikes her in the middle of her back and she crumbles to the ground. The Chakram falls to the ground in two pieces. Ares stops fighting the Fates and lets the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes in Ares' arms, he is holding her tightly, his arms stiff, his breathing labored. She wiggles in his arms and eventually escapes his grasp. She rolls to face him and closes her eyes, "Fates," she says with a growl. She leans toward him, letting her lips brush against his, a feather light kiss, "Release him," she orders. Slowly, his breathing returns to normal and his eyes open, filled with pain. He looks at Xena and strokes her cheek, sadness in his gaze. She gives him a questioning look, "Are you alright?" She asks, raising her hand to take his. He shakes his head, remaining silent and gathers her into his arms, holding her close. She lays in his arms, confused and not knowing how to help, "Want to show me?" She asks, quietly. He shakes his head, the visions replaying through his mind again. She pushes him onto his back, then rests her head on his chest, "In the morning, then," she suggests. He shifts, nodding and pulls her to drape over his body. She goes willingly and returns to sleep on top of his chest. Ares lays awake, holding her for several hours before finally falling asleep again.
Xena wakes early in the morning, the sun just starting to peak through the window. She rests, draped over Ares and listens to his even breathing. He stirs beneath her and she pushes off his chest to smile down at him. As his eyes open, she sees that the sadness is still there. With a soft look, she places a light kiss on his lips, then rolls off of him. She sits next to him on the bed, pulling her legs under her. "Show me the visions?" She asks. He sits up and opens a small portal in front of them. The visions play and Xena watches. As they finish, she turns to Ares, "What in Tartarus is all that about?" She asks, confused. He shakes his head, "I don't know, but we're not sleeping in Greece anymore. At this point, I think the Fates are just trying to torture me." She shrugs, stroking his hair, "Maybe they aren't in full control over what they show you." He shrugs in return, "Maybe." They remain silent for a moment, then Xena starts to dissect the visions, "Our daughter and Gabrielle were hurt badly and you were still a God that means this vision happened right before I faced off with Athena and you gave up your immortality. And it tells us that I am the one responsible for the deaths of the Gods. But why? And why weren't we on the same side?" He shrugs and shakes his head, "You killed yourself in front of me," he says quietly, not looking at her. She shudders and nods, "Poison, but why? And who else died?" He shakes his head, no answers in site. She leans against him, silent, offering whatever comfort she can.
Gradually, Ares pulls away, an odd look on his face. Xena raises an eyebrow, "What's wrong?" She questions. He smiles slightly, an amused smile, "You will never guess who is in my Temple." She scrunches her brow, "Who?" He opens a small portal to his Temple in Corinth. Sitting before the altar, a small dagger in front of her as an offering, is Gabrielle, praying for Ares' presence. Xena stares at the image, then realization dawns, "She's looking for me." He nods, "She wants me to take her to you. What do you want?" She thinks for a moment, then shakes her head, "She won't stop, she won't give up. I should talk to her." She pauses, then continues, "Bring her here. But, uh, let me get decent first," she says, glancing at her exposed body. He smirks, then stands, his leather appearing with no effort, "I'll be back soon," he says, disappearing. She smiles at the spot where he stood, then gets up and begins getting dressed.
Ares appears in his Temple, lounging on the throne above the altar. Gabrielle glances up and a scared smile covers her face, "Um, this is for you," she says, handing him the dagger. With an amused smile, he takes the dagger, looks it over, and places it in his boot, "Thank you, Gabrielle," he says, turning from her. "Wait," she shouts. He turns and raises an eyebrow, "Yes?" He asks, mild agitation in his voice. She looks away, "I need a favor," she admits, quietly. He smiles, "And?" She fidgets for a moment, "Look, I know you have a thing for Xena and she's missing and I need to find her. Please, can you help me? I'll do whatever you want, I swear." He raises an eyebrow, "You haven't learned much from Xena, have you, little girl?" She gives him an offended glare and he laughs. "Rule number one, Gabrielle, never offer me whatever I want," he says. She grows concerned, "Well, um, within reason?" She amends, shakily. He laughs, truly amused and she scowls at him. "What makes you think Xena wants you around? She left you behind, after all," he says. She looks unsure, then pleading, "Please? She's my best friend. She needs my help, I just know it." He makes a rude noise in the back of his throat, but holds his hand out to her, "Take my hand," he commands. She glances down at his hand, hanging between them and shrinks back, "You'll take me to Xena?" She questions. He nods and takes a step toward her, "Take my hand," he repeats. Carefully, she steps forward and takes his hand, "Thank you," she says quietly, then tenses as they disappear.
Gabrielle screeches and plasters herself to Ares' arm as the world spins around her. Appearing in the Halls of War, he shakes his arm, trying to dislodge the girl. Eyes closed, she holds tighter. "Gabrielle, let go," Xena says, from somewhere behind her. Gabrielle's eyes open wide and she turns, releasing Ares and running to her friend, "I missed you, Xena." She quickly turns back around, "Thank you, Ares." He nods in response and Xena smiles at him, laughter in her gaze. Gabrielle looks around, confused, "Where are we?" Xena answers her, "The Halls of War." The girl's eyes light up, then she becomes confused again, "Why?" She asks, glancing at Ares. "Hercules said you were going back to Britannia to defeat Dahok," Gabrielle continues. Xena shrugs, "Plans changed." "Why are you here? With him?" Gabrielle asks, motioning towards Ares. Xena glances up at him, "We're going to the baths. I need to get Gabrielle caught up." He nods and disappears. Gabrielle stares at the space he had occupied, then at Xena, eyes full of questions. Xena smiles and motions for her friend to follow her.
Xena walks into the bathing area and begins to strip off her armor, casually dropping it on the floor, before climbing into the warm waters. Following her lead, Gabrielle begins to remove her clothes and wades into the bath, "Xena, what's going on?" Xena pauses, before answering, "Ares and I are going after Dahok." Gabrielle nods, unsure, "Hercules said you had a vision?" She questions. Xena shakes her head, "Ares had the visions. They're being sent by the Fates," she explains. Gabrielle's eyes are wide, "Visions? More than one?" She questions. Xena nods, looking sad and remains quiet. Sensing her friend's sadness, she reaches out and touches her shoulder, "Why didn't you tell me, Xena? I could have helped." Xena gives her a sad smile, "This isn't something for you." Gabrielle looks offended, "Xena! Dahok impregnated me! I killed because of him! Don't tell me this isn't my fight! Not after all we've been through," she shouts. Xena raises an eyebrow, "I know about Hope," she says quietly. All the fight leaves Gabrielle and fear fills her eyes, "How?" She asks, voice shaking. Xena shakes her head, "It doesn't matter. I stopped her." Gabrielle's eyes go dark, "You stopped her? From what? How?" She questions, tears in her eyes. Xena reaches for her friend, but Gabrielle pulls away. "She was her father's daughter," Xena explains, "She released Callisto from the lava, then I stopped her before she could hurt anyone." Tears fall into the water and Gabrielle looks up, "You- You killed her?" Xena nods sadly, "I'm sorry." Gabrielle starts to respond, then stops and takes a shaky breath. She turns her back on Xena as sobs rack her body, "She was my baby girl," she says between sobs. "She was a demon," Xena says, quietly. "She is my child," Gabrielle shouts, spinning to give Xena a harsh look, her hands splashing violently in the water. Xena gives her a shocked look, "She is not a child! She is a body, a vessel, an instrument for evil. That is all!" Gabrielle looks disgusted and shakes her head, "You are wrong!" She shouts, turning away from Xena. Xena stares at her back, then rises from the water, "I did what had to be done. Go back to the Amazons, Gabrielle. Or go to Corinth and help Hercules. Or go home to Potidaea." Gabrielle sits in the water, not moving. Xena glances back at her, then wraps herself in a towel and leaves.
Xena walks into Ares' room and grabs a simple black gown from the wardrobe. Dropping the towel, she drapes it on, then falls back onto the bed, rubbing her eyes. Why couldn't Gabrielle see the truth? She growls and tosses a pillow across the room with an agitated yell. Ares appears with raised eyebrows, glancing first at the pillow, then her, "You're upset," he states. "Frustrated," she corrects. He nods, "What happened?" She shrugs, "Gabrielle got upset when I told her about Hope." He nods, "Of course. To her Hope was just a baby. Did you expect her to be alright with the death of her daughter? She hasn't seen what we have." She glares at him, then smiles, "You're right." He gives her a shocked look and she shoots him an annoyed glare and starts to respond. He holds his hand up, "Wait, I'm trying to enjoy this." She throws a pillow at him and he dodges to the side. She shakes her head, smiling, then grows thoughtful. "Will you take Gabrielle to the Amazons? Or maybe back home?" He nods, "If that's what you want?" She nods in return, "It's for the best." He nods and disappears.
Ares arrives in the bathing area and is greeted by a scream. He stares down at Gabrielle, "Get dressed," he orders. Her eyes go large and round, "Um," she stammers. He stares at her expectantly and her eyes dart around the room, landing first on her discarded clothes, then back on him. "Could you turn around?" She asks, color coming to her cheeks. He rolls his eyes and sighs, turning around, shaking his head. She quickly rises from the water and rushes to her clothes, pulling them on over her wet skin. Drying her hair with a towel, she says, "I'm decent." He turns with another sigh, "Do you want to go to the Amazons or your family?" She gives him a confused look, then realization dawns, "Xena's sending me away?" He nods, "It's for the best." She thinks for a moment, "Xena said you had visions?" He nods and she continues, "Of Hope?" She asks. He nods again, "Among other things." She pauses, then asks, "Can you show me? Please? I just want to see my daughter." He inhales sharply, "I won't show you the visions, but I will show you the confrontation Xena and I had with her if you think you can handle it." She nods, desperate to see her child, "Please," she begs. He opens a portal and replays the events leading to Hope's death. Gabrielle lets out small, sad noises and looks away when Xena's sword pierces Hope. Sniffling, she nods, "Thank you. I'd like to talk to Xena before I leave." He nods towards the door, "Follow me," he says. She follows him from the bathing area and down a hall.
Xena looks up as the door opens. Gabrielle stands in the frame with Ares behind her. She wrinkles her brow. Gabrielle smiles softly, "I, uh, I just want to say good bye. Ares showed me the fight with Hope, I saw you struggle with it. Why did you struggle? And why did you do it?" Xena grimaces, "When I looked down at her, I saw you, I didn't want to hurt you, Gabrielle. But, if she had lived, others would have died, so many others." Xena shakes her head, looking away. Gabrielle approaches and lays a hand on her shoulder, "People we know? People we love?" Xena nods, sadly. Gabrielle sits on the bed, "Maybe what you did was for the greater good, but she was still my child. Did you ever stop and think that maybe we could have changed her, taught her to fight her dark side?" She doesn't pause long enough for Xena to answer, "No, you didn't. You just killed her without giving her a chance to change. If Hercules had thought that way, you would have never had a chance to redeem yourself." Xena doesn't respond, but looks past Gabrielle to Ares, "Take her home," she orders. He nods and approaches. Gabrielle ducks under his hand, "Not yet. I can't be around you right now, I don't know if I can ever look at you the same way. You murdered my daughter, there's no going back from that. I'll find you again when I can bare it. For now, I'll return to Corinth. Then I'll return to my sisters and take my place as Queen. Maybe I can help them find a way around the violence, the way I tried to help you." She rises from the bed and Ares approaches. She shakes her head, "I'll show myself out." She leaves the room and collecting her staff from the bathes, she leaves the Temple with tears in her eyes.
Xena stares after Gabrielle, hurt, angry, worried. Ares cautiously approaches and sits next to her, "You alright?" She shakes her head, "Not really." He nods and rises, heading towards the door, "I'll leave you alone." A startled noise escapes Xena's lips and he turns, eyebrow raised, "Would you prefer me to stay?" He asks, surprised. She smiles and nods, "I don't want to be alone with my thoughts right now. They aren't very constructive." He nods, "Strife hasn't found Eli yet, do you want to go to Sumeria and try to find Dahok without him?" He asks, trying to distract her. She shakes her head, "We need Eli, he'll lead us to Dahok, I just know it. Can we look in on Sumeria? Didn't the man in the vision mention something about the lands being destroyed?" Ares nods, "That's right," he says, opening a portal, viewing Sumeria. He glances across the lands, all healthy and prosperous, full of people going about their lives. He shrugs, "Looks fine to me." She nods, not impressed, then thinks for a moment, "Can you show me the latest visions again? I feel like we're missing something." He replays the visions, watching closely. As the Chakram breaks and falls to the ground, Xena points, "Is that possible? I've struck thousands of things far harder than my spine, it's never broken, cracked, dented, nothing." Ares shakes his head, "I can't explain it, the Chakram isn't of our world. All I know is what the scroll says," he admits. She growls lightly, then asks, "If it broke like that would it be possible to repair it? Reforge it?" He shrugs, "Let me see it," he orders. She nods and rises from the bed, collecting her Chakram and handing it to him. He rolls it over in his hands a few times, examining it, then shakes his head, "I don't know. Maybe if we put it back on the altar it would repair itself. Maybe we'd have to replace it with the Chakram of Light. Why? What are you thinking?" She shrugs, "Maybe when it's reforged, it's different. We saw a different Chakram in the visions. Maybe when this one breaks, we fix it and end up with something totally different." He nods, "It's possible. No clue how we would fix it though. Or why fixing it would make it so different." She shakes her head, then smiles a little, "Any idea why you, me and Gabrielle were half naked in bed together?" He laughs and gives her a wicked look, "I can think of one reason." She nudges him, laughing, "I don't think Gabrielle would be into that." He shrugs, "Maybe it was her way of saying thanks for saving her life." She scrunches her eyebrows, "How do you know it's after you saved her?" He laughs and brings up the image, "That," he says, pointing at the bed and surrounding room, "Is falling apart. As a God, I would never stay somewhere like that. But, if I were mortal, it's possible, unlikely, but possible." She laughs, then points at the still playing visions, "I didn't know you could sing." He grimaces, "Neither did I." She laughs, "Do you think this is really a vision or just some crazy dream?" He shakes his head, "Hate to say it, but it feels like a vision," he admits. She shakes her head, laughing, then places a hand over his, covering the visions, before they can take a darker turn.
Xena and Ares sit in silence, both reflecting on the visions and their next course of action. Xena rises from the bed, stretches and turns to Ares, "Maybe we should help Strife," she suggests. Ares growls, "The child is a moron." He rises and exits the room, motioning for Xena to follow him. She follows him to the throne room where he lounges on the throne. She sits on the arm, making it very clear that she isn't going to be pretending to go through the offerings at the altar. He smiles and wraps an arm around her waist, "Discord," he calls. She shoots him a look as the Goddess appears. "Ares," the Goddess purrs, then lets out a shriek when she sees Xena, "You again." Ares holds up a hand, "Don't start Discord. Strife is in India searching for this man," he says, showing an image of Eli, "I want you to join him. Bring the man, Eli, to me, unharmed. Is that clear?" Discord pouts, "Search and retrieve, isn't that a little beneath me? My talents are much better suited to...other activities," she says with a suggestive smile. He rolls his eyes, "Your talents aren't worth mentioning. Go to India, find Eli and bring him to me, unharmed. Clear?" Discord growls and stamps her foot, "Fine, so be it," she says disappearing. Xena gives Ares a doubting look, "Do you really think she can handle it?" He shrugs, "If she can't, there's no room for her in my service." She seems surprised, "That's harsh. Hasn't Discord always been loyal?" He laughs, "Loyal? No. She uses me to get what she wants. I let her because it's a nice...distraction." She raises a questioning eyebrow and he smirks, "Eternity gets dull." She smiles and shakes her head, "Gods," she says with a sigh. He smirks at her, then shrugs, "So, I think we should go to Sumeria, see if Dahok has a following there yet." Xena nods, "You're probably right. Do you know anyone there? Anyone we can talk to? Work with?" She questions. He shakes his head, "No, I've never dealt with their Gods, they're a quite bunch, keep to themselves." She scowls, "Alright, then we do this my way." He raises a questioning eyebrow. She explains, "We go there and mingle with the mortals, see if we can stir up some trouble." He nods, "Need to grab anything before we leave?" She shakes her head and places a hand over her Chakram, "I've got everything I need right here." She glances down at the silk gown, "Armor would probably be better," she admits. He smiles and waves a hand over her, replacing the gown with her armor, then places a hand over hers before disappearing.
Ares and Xena arrive in Sumeria in a small alley between two shops. Xena pokes her head out and glances around, then motions for Ares to follow her. They walk through the shopping center watching the people. Ares leans close to Xena's ear, "Think they would all freak out if I walked around showing them an image in the palm of my hand?" She laughs, "Probably. Are you thinking about the man from the visions?" He nods. She shakes her head, "Our best bet is to look around, try to spot him. And keep an eye open for anyone who doesn't fit in." He glances at her, "Other than us?" She glares at him and nods, "Yes, Ares, other than us." He laughs, then points at two men in robes that everyone else is avoiding, "What do you make of them?" She looks the two men up and down, then snatches a women's arm, "Who are they?" The woman follows Xena's finger, then looks away quickly, "They are the King's holy men, Miss." Xena nods and releases the woman's arm, stepping away. Xena turns to Ares and raises an eyebrow, "Let's go talk to them," she says, nodding towards them. He nods and they approach the men. The pair of holy men scowl at Xena, then turn to Ares, "You aren't from these lands are you?" One of them asks. Ares shakes his head, "Greece." The second man nods, "Long way from home." Ares nods and Xena buts in, "Have you heard of Dahok?" The men scowl and glare at her, "Control your woman," the first one says. Ares laughs and Xena growls, "I am no one's woman. Now, Dahok, have you heard of him?" They don't respond and begin to walk away. Xena widens her eyes and motions towards the men with the fling of her arm. Ares nods and catches up with the men, grabbing one by the shoulder, "Look, sorry about 'my women,' we aren't from here. We're searching for any knowledge you have on Dahok." The man turns with a grimace, "If you can control her, follow us. My King will have the knowledge you seek. He has just returned from battle with the pagans." Ares nods and grabs Xena's arm, "Be submissive. They're taking us to the King, he's been out fighting the pagans." She nods, "Pagans? Dahok's followers?" He shrugs, "Let's hope so." She nods and they follow the men towards a large building surrounded by a beautiful courtyard.
The holy men open the doors wide and Ares and Xena follow them inside. The Palace is dark, dreary and empty. Ares raises an eyebrow and glances around, "Must not be a very popular King." One of the men turn, anger in his eyes, "Our King is much loved by his people. He is in mourning." Xena's head snaps towards them, "Mourning? Who did he lose?" The man scowls and continues down the hall. She growls and smacks Ares' arm, then motions towards the men, eyes wide and angry. He sighs, "Who is he mourning?" The men continue down a hall, opening another set of doors, "His wife and children were murdered while our Lord battled the pagans. The cowards snuck through our streets and killed them in their beds." Finally, the men halt and lay their hands on one last set of doors, "Our King mourns behind these doors. We do not wish him to be upset further." The man pauses, then turns to Xena, "You will be quite and respectful or you will wait out here." She glares at the men then elbows a snickering Ares. He smiles and wraps an arm around her, "Think of it as a challenge." She sneers, then nods, "I won't upset the King, you have my word," she promises. Ares smiles and nods at the men, "She's good for it," he assures them. They cast a dark look at Xena, then swing the doors open.
A man sits on the throne wearing brown leather with gold embellishments and a gold helmet. His head rests in his hands and he doesn't move when the door closes. The two holy men approach quickly and kneel before the man. One of them speaks, "My Lord, we have visitors from Greece, they are seeking knowledge of Dahok." The man's head shoots up, "Dahok? The God the pagans followed?" Ares nods, "He started in Britannia. We heard a rumor that he was here and that Greece would be next. We're not going to let that happen. We're going to stop him. What can you tell us?" The man looks from Ares to Xena, "Introductions first. I'm King Gilgamesh. You are?" Ares pauses, debating whether to tell the truth or not, "I'm Ares, the Greek God of War, this is Xena, Warrior Princess." Xena smiles tightly. Gilgamesh nods, then glances at his holy men, "Leave us," he orders. They glance up quickly, "Lord?" He nods, "Go, they can't do anything to me that hasn't already been done." They nod, rise, and back out of the room, heads still bowed.
Gilgamesh rises from his throne and walks towards a small table, motioning for Ares and Xena to follow. He pours a goblet of wine and offers it to Xena. She smiles and accepts, "Thanks." Ares and Gilgamesh both take a glass, then the King leads them to a balcony. Xena looks over the fruitful land, "You have a beautiful country." He nods, "Yes." Ares glances at the landscape and shakes his head, "You said Dahok had an army?" Gilgamesh shakes his head, "Not at first. In the beginning there were just a few men, priests, not soldiers. They preached about peace and love and their one God. Many of my people were seduced by their words, their promises. They turned from Raa and our pantheon. They formed their own gatherings and took over Raa's Temples. My father asked me to put an end to it. I led my armies against them, but they were strong and they were clever. My people are good fighters, warriors through and through, and the priests used them to battle me. The battles were long lived, but eventually I won. I destroyed them all, not a one lived. I returned home with my surviving soldiers and ran to my bedroom, seeking the comfort of my wife. She was dead in my bed, blood soaked into the sheets. I screamed and ran to my children's rooms. They were dead in their beds as well, blood pooling on the floor beneath their beds. I saved my father's Temples, ridded our land of the infidels, and he repaid me by letting my family be killed in their beds, his own grandchildren." Xena scrunches her brow, "Who's your father?" She asks. He smiles at her, "Raa, King of the Gods." She nods, looking out the window. Ares nods, "So, Dahok used your own people against you? Smart move on his part. Did Dahok manifest? Or speak to anyone?" Gilgamesh shakes his head, "We never saw him, never heard him. His priests claimed they heard him, spoke with him, but no one else heard a thing." Xena turns back to him, "Is there anything else you can tell us? Anything at all?" He nods, "The call of Dahok is sweet. My people are strong in their faith. For them to turn, Dahok must have been very persuasive." She nods, "Thank you for your help. And I'm...I'm sorry for your loss. Don't lose your faith Gilgamesh." He smiles at her and takes her hand gently, "You remind me of my sister. She was lost to us many years ago." Xena nods, "Again, I'm sorry." He nods and begins to walk towards his throne. Ares calls out, "Gilgamesh, wait. Tell Raa and the rest of the pantheon to watch their backs. Failing to get a handhold in the mortal world, Dahok might attack them outright. And though he's just one being, he is powerful and he is not to be taken lightly," he warns. Gilgamesh lets out a harsh laugh, "And I care? Why? They betrayed me. Abandoned my family when they needed protection. They can all rot for all I care." Xena sighs, "Don't turn from them Gilgamesh. Without them, your lands, your people will suffer. And if Dahok attacks them, they will need you, need your people, need your faith." Gilgamesh nods, "I hear your words, Xena. But right now I can't listen to them. I will consider them when my grief isn't so strong." She nods and turns to Ares, "Can we find one of the Temple's Dahok took over?" He nods, "Let's ask the holy men," he says, leading her from the room.
Ares leads Xena from the room and finds the holy men directly outside of the door, patiently waiting. Ares turns to the men, "Take us to one of the Temples that Dahok took over. We want to examine it." They nod and begin to walk out of the Palace. "How long did it take for Dahok to grow a following here?" Xena asks. The men ignore her question. She growls, "Seriously? I think you can answer one little question I ask." One of the men turns to her, "We don't hear the questions of women," he says, then continues down the hall. She growls and motions to Ares. He nods, "How long did it take?" "One moon cycle," one of them answers. Xena's eyes go wide, "That's not long," she states quietly. Ares nods and continues following the men.
The holy men lead Ares and Xena onto the streets and the crowds part for them. The men motion to the left, "This way," one instructs. They travel for several minutes, then stop in front of a large, golden Temple. One of the men points, "This was Raa's Temple until the pagans invaded. We haven't been able to refurbish it yet." They stop at the steps, "We go no farther," one says. Ares nods, "I think we can find it from here." One of the men nods, "Would like us to wait for you?" He offers. Ares shakes his head, "No." They nod and back away, returning in the direction they had come from. Xena scowls at the men and Ares smirks at her, "Come on," he says, urging her towards the Temple.
Ares and Xena walk into the Temple and glance around. Blood covers everything and a few bodies in blue robes lay around the room. Xena curls her lip, "They just left them here." Ares nods, "What do you expect?" She shrugs, carefully moving around the Temple, walking to the altar in the center. The altar is intact with the body of a young girl laying on it, throat slit. She scowls, "Murderers." He approaches and glances down at the girl, "At least it's not the same as Britannia. We don't have another Hope to go after." She shrugs, "That we know of. Just because there's only a dead child on this altar, doesn't mean it's the same for the others." He nods, "True, but we can't check every Temple, every altar in Sumeria." She sighs, "I know. Do you think we've saved Sumeria? Saved Gilgamesh? He seemed like a good man, a good King." Ares shrugs, "Maybe. We warned him, that's all we can do. Should we go back to Greece? Or did you have something else in mind?" Xena shakes her head, "No, Greece, sounds good." He nods and takes her hand, disappearing.
Arriving in the Halls of War, Ares leaves Xena's side and approaches the altar. He fingers through the offerings and holds up a fish with a sneer, "I will never understand mortals." Xena glances at the fish and smiles, shaking her head. She approaches the altar and grabs a dagger, "More to your liking, I'm sure." He nods, "Much better." He takes the dagger from her and examines it carefully, "Shoddy, but better than a fish." She smiles, "How are Discord and Strife doing?" He scowls and opens a portal. Discord and Strife are standing in the middle of a busy market, screaming and throwing lightning bolts at each other. He sighs, "I should just kill those two and put them out of my misery." Xena smiles and grabs his arm, "Come on, let's go corral the children." He nods and they disappear.
Xena steps out of the ether and swings around, looking for Discord and Strife. Ares grabs her arm and pulls her behind him. A lightning bolt wizzes past her head. She spins around, moving from behind Ares and sends her Chakram flying. It soars between Discord and Strife, grabbing their attention before returning to Xena's hand. Both turn to stare at Xena, then grow concerned when they see Ares. Strife rushes to him, "Uncle, she started it," he says, pointing at Discord. Discord sneers, "And I plan to finish it," she says, lightning bolt forming in her hand. Ares growls and grabs both by the back of the neck, "Let's go home children." Xena smiles at the slack Gods, then grabs Ares' arm. They all disappear, leaving the stunned market goers starring at the empty spot.
Ares releases the two Gods, sending them sprawling on the floor. Discord scrambles to her feet, tugging at her clothes to straighten them. Strife remains on the floor, looking rejected. Xena smiles, standing next to Ares. Discord huffs, "You told me to go to India and find your man, that's what I was doing. Dumbass here was in my way," she says, pointing. Strife looks up, "But Uncle Ares told me to find the guy. It was my assignment," he whines. Ares glares at Discord, "I told you to join Strife in the search, not start a fight in front of the mortals. What confused you?" She looks at her feet, then pouts, "But Ares, I wanted to find him...for you." He sighs, "No, you were in a nasty mood and wanted to kick someone's ass because you got yours beaten by a mortal." Xena growls behind him, "Watch it or she won't be the only one." He smirks, then turns to Strife, "And you. What is your excuse?" Strife pops to his feet, "I thought she was encroaching. I didn't know she was following orders, I thought she was after the guy for herself." Ares turns back to Discord, "Did you tell him I sent you?" She curls her lip, "Must have slipped my mind." He growls and flings her across the room, "You are useless. Leave. And Discord, don't come back." Her eyes widen, "You're kicking me out?" He nods and she pouts, then disappears. He turns to Strife, "And you. What am I going to do with you? Not only did you give yourself away while fighting with Discord, but you let yourself be distracted from the mission." Strife looks frightened, "Give me another chance. Please Unc. I'll go in disguise and I won't get distracted. I swear," he begs. Ares nods, "You have one day. If you don't find him and I have to go to India and do this myself, you will suffer. Do you understand?" Strife nods, "I'll find him, I swear. Don't you worry about a thing." Strife disappears and Xena rests her hand on Ares' arm, "Why do you keep giving that boy chances?" He shrugs, "Between him, Deimos, and Discord, he's the only one I have any hope for. His heart's in the right place and he's loyal, he's just a moron." She smiles and nods, then yawns, "I'm going to bed. Coming?" He smiles and nods, following her down the hall.
Xena drops her armor on the floor and shrugs out of her leather tunic, letting it fall. She smiles and sits on the bed, back to Ares, "Laces?" He smiles and sits behind her, untying the laces and pushing the shift from her shoulders. She leans into his hands and he smiles, wrapping his arms around her and fondling her breasts while tracing her collarbone with his lips. She moans and turns in his arms, wiggling out of the shift and climbing onto his lap, wrapping her legs around him. He growls and captures her lips, racing his hands up and down her back. She pushes his vest off and rubs against him with a moan. He smiles against her lips and his leather pants disappear. She pulls away with a smile and a laugh, "That is a handy skill," she says, guiding him into her. Holding his shoulders, nails digging in, she rides him. He thrusts into her, holding her hips down. He growls against her lips and pushes against her, slamming her back onto the bed. She inhales sharply, holding him with her legs and grasping at his shoulders. She moans and brings a foot down to brace herself with, meeting his thrusts. He groans her name and quickens his pace, feeling her match his thrusts. She screams in release, then feels Ares join her. She relaxes beneath him, then pushes on his shoulders. He rolls, placing her on top of him, held close. She pillows her head on his chest, "I love you," she whispers. He smiles and kisses the top of her head, bringing a sheet over them, "I love you, too." She smiles against his chest and slowly drifts off to sleep. Ares struggles to remain awake, but ultimately fails.
The Fates pull Ares into their land of visions. Xena and Gabrielle stand next to a window, staring out. Gabrielle turns to Xena, "Ares...maybe he did...a God thing..." Xena turns, pointing a finger, agitated, "No." The scene changes, it's day time and Xena and Ares are in the woods. Ares speaks, "Hope is building an army of the ignorant. Incredible, are mortals so stupid as to believe Dahok will actually bring them peace? They all deserve what they get. I really don't know why you continue to protect them." Xena snaps, "Shut up, Ares. Hope must die." He nods, "Oh, my thoughts exactly, but my way. I got a lot of options, here. I can raise a combined army of all my warriors. Hope wants to fight? I'll be there-but on my terms. Not to press a point, but I could use an overall commander." A small blonde woman sits next to Gabrielle. She speaks, "We had heard about the mother of the Goddess, Hope. She's known as the betrayer, the one who selfishly killed her own daughter." Gabrielle looks stricken. A God from India, Indrajit, grips Gabrielle's neck and stares down at Eli, "I got her to cave with a simple illusion. Your disciple gave into the first temptation. Let's see how you do, Eli. You feel her pain, don't you? That's your curse. You feel everyone's pain. Eli, I could arrange it so you may never have to look on human suffering. I could surround you with joyous, happy people. Save yourself, and this girl. Join me," he says, motioning towards Gabrielle. Xena, Gabrielle, and the blonde are in a village. Men in black and red are grabbing people, capturing them. The blonde speaks, "It's happening all over the land, Xena, and you can't stop it!" Gabrielle shouts, "People are being taken as hostages?" The girl nods, "Well, that's why Hope's come back! One of her duties is to prepare the way! These people, and hundreds like them, are being chosen!" Xena sneers, "As blood sacrifices, all for the glory of Dahok." Ares sits on a throne, Xena in front of him. "I have been thinking about your heir. And who better than the one you trained?" He asks her. Eli and Gabrielle walk side by side, followed by others. Eli turns to Gabrielle, "It's hard, the Way of Love. It may not be right for you. But if you choose to follow it, you must do it with all your heart. You'll fail more than once. But don't give up hope. In the end, you'll redeem the world." Ares follows a heavily pregnant Xena and her son through Tartarus. Xena glares at him, "Look, your stalking me is not helping the trust factor any." He replies, "This is not your standard God obsession. Ok? I'm having urges that I'm not real proud of." She glares, "I'm not going to become your little Warrior Queen, Ares. Besides, you expect me to believe you'd protect a child the Fates say will destroy you?" He corrects her, "They say it'll destroy all Gods. Now, if I'm gonna be mortal, I could live out my life, with you." She turns a questioning look to him, "What are you talking about?" He sighs, looking flustered, "I have feelings for you. Ok? I care about you, damn it." She turns from him, storming off, "Aw, no, no." He interrupts, talking over her, "I see your face everywhere." She stops walking and turns to him, "Stop it! You stop it! You're so desperate, you're trying to convince me that you love me? Well, go on. Say it. Say you love me," she pauses, then continues, "The time for you and me has been and gone." He gives her an agitated look, "It was worth a shot anyway. I thought in your present condition you might be a little more gullible." She snarls at him, "I'm pregnant, not brain damaged." She storms away and Ares sighs, "I love you, Xena," he says once she is out of hearing range. Ares jerks in his sleep, trying to wake from the visions. As usual, he fails, the Fates' hold is too strong and the visions begin to repeat.
Xena wakes with a jerk. She glances down at Ares, sleeping beneath her and sighs. He's breathing heavy, sweating and turning his head from side to side. She shakes her head sadly and runs a finger down his jaw, tracing the stubble. She rests her hand there, against his cheek and places a soft kiss on his lips. She's surprised when he responds immediately, returning her kiss and wrapping his arms around her. She pulls away, rising off his chest and leaning over him. He smiles up at her, "Thanks." She nods, "Were they bad?" He shakes his head, "Not really, annoying and maybe for once, helpful." Her eyes light up, "Helpful?" He nods and opens a small portal, letting her watch the visions in silence. As they end, she nods, "Interesting. So, originally, Gabrielle killed Hope herself and Dahok found a way to bring her back. And then Hope was responsible for preparing the way for Dahok, gathering human sacrifices. Do you think we've stopped Hope? I know we killed her but is she truly trapped in the lava?" He shakes his head, "Honestly, I don't know. For now though, Hope is gone and Callisto is dead and Gilgamesh has stopped Dahok from gathering a following in Sumeria. All of that has to make a difference. And if we can stop Eli, maybe then we can prevent Dahok from entering our world." She nods, "I've been thinking about that. We know that the creature, Destroyer, kills Hope. Maybe Eli doesn't become a pawn of Dahok's until after that. Maybe that's why Strife is having such a hard time finding him. Maybe he doesn't even exist yet." Ares shrugs, "It's possible. But Dahok's creature isn't going to exist without my, uh, assistance and I'm not interested. It could force him to alter his plans." Xena nods, "There are other Gods capable of doing what Dahok needs. First though, he would have to find a way to bring Hope back. Unless he truly wants to start over." She pauses, thinking, then continues, "What if Eli is his start over, his replacement for Hope? Eli was able to channel powers to bring Gabrielle and me back from the dead. What if he were only able to do that because he were Dahok's offspring?" He nods, "Very possible. Which would mean that I have Strife searching for a man that may not exist yet. Even if he does, he could be nothing but a child. Maybe I should pull him back to Greece," he says, quietly. She shrugs, "Or station him there for a while. We know Eli eventually shows up in India," she suggests. He shakes his head, "We don't know how long this will take. I have responsibilities and with Discord being dismissed from my service, Strife is the only one I can depend on. Dahok and the visions are keeping us too busy." She scrunches her brow, "What about Deimos?" He shakes his head with a laugh, "I won't trust Deimos with a simple message, much less my followers or watching for Eli." Xena growls and shakes her head, rising from the bed and retrieving her armor. Ares watches her, then stands, clothes appearing with a thought. "Hungry?" He asks. She nods, straightening her armor and attaching her weapons. He nods and leads her from the room.
Xena sits by the fire, plate in hand with Ares across from her, silently thinking, staring into the flames. He shakes his head, "We need Dahok to manifest which means he needs the sacrifice of a Warrior Heart. It goes against everything we've been doing, but if it could ultimately save the world, we should do it." Xena raises an eyebrow in disbelief, "Just what are you getting it?" She asks, an edge to her voice. He looks away for a moment before meeting her gaze, "Let's find Dahok his sacrifice." Her eyes go wide, full of anger, "Ares!" He shrugs, "If we control how he enters our world and when, it gives us the power, control over the whole situation. We would be right there, ready for him. We could kill before he could even react." The anger leaves her eyes and she sighs, shaking her head, "It makes us no better than him." He shrugs, "It's our best move and it beats sitting on our hands until he makes a move." Xena starts to reply, then stops when Strife appears in the room, smiling, "I found him," he announces.
Ares turns to his nephew, something close to pride in his gaze, "Are you sure?" Strife nods, "No doubt about it, Unc." Ares nods, "Where? Show me." Strife opens a portal of Eli walking down a dirt path, pack in hand, "Road outside of Italia." "Italia?" Xena asks, confused. Strife nods, "I couldn't find him in India so I widened my search. Technically, the road will lead to India...eventually." She nods, impressed. Ares nods, "You surprise me, Strife. You thought for yourself and it paid off, well done." Strife beams with pride, "Thank you, Uncle Ares. Would you like me to destroy the man for you? Or capture him maybe?" Ares shakes his head, "No, not this one. I'll deal with him myself." Xena shoves him and he smirks, "I meant we. We'll deal with him." Strife's head falls, "Yes, Uncle," he says, kicking his toe at the marble. Xena points at him with a sympathetic smile. Ares rolls his eyes, "You did good Strife. As a reward, I'm putting you in charge of Greece and Rome, temporarily. I have business that might take me away for a while. Can you handle this responsibility?" Strife smiles and cackles, "Oh yes, Unc. I can handle it. I won't let you down. I swear. You won't regret this," he gushes. Ares nods and waves in dismissal, "Go on then, get to it." Strife nods and punches at the air, then disappears with a cackle. Ares stares after him, shaking his head, "He's an embarrassment to War Gods everywhere." Xena smiles, "He's a good kid." He nods, "Yeah, I just hope one day he can be a good God." She nods, "He will, with a lot of help. Once Dahok is defeated, I can help with him, if you want," she offers. He smiles and nods, "That would be nice." She shoots him a flashy smile.
Ares leads Xena to the throne room. He picks through the offerings, Xena watching. Finding nothing of interest he turns to her, "So, what's the plan?" She smiles, "Kill Eli?" He shakes his head, "We don't know what he can do yet. If he has any of Dahok's powers, we need to know before we go after him. We need to watch him and prepare ourselves." She nods, "Right, we need a strategy." He nods, "Exactly." He sits on his throne, Xena on the arm beside him and opens a portal to Eli. Silently they watch him travel down the lonely road. She stares at the portal, watching, then after a few moments lets out an agitated breath, "Seriously? This is Dahok's new pawn? He's a street magician, nothing more." Ares glances at her and shakes his head, "Something isn't right. I don't feel anything coming from him, no power, nothing. Maybe we're too early?" She shrugs in response, "Maybe we've altered things too much. Maybe Dahok changed his mind or maybe by stopping Hope and talking to Gilgamesh in Sumeria we've stopped Dahok, prevented him from moving forward." Ares gives her a doubting look, "Really? If anything he should be more pissed, I know I would be." She nods, "I don't get it though. In the visions Eli is powerful, you sense his power and here, now, he's..." She pauses, watching Eli drop his props, "Pathetic." Ares laughs, shaking his head, "Well, if Eli is Dahok's big plan, I think we have some room to breathe. Not much of a threat." Xena smiles and nods, "We'll keep an eye on him for now. I don't want to kill him if we don't have to." He nods, "Naturally. Can't kill him 'just in case.'" She raises an eyebrow at his sarcasm. He shrugs, "I remember a time when you would have." She scowls and shakes her head, "I'm not that person anymore." He nods, "I've noticed." She raises an eyebrow, "And?" She prompts. He smiles and pulls her close, "I might be convinced to like this Xena more." She smirks, easily falling into his arms, "Really? And how can I convince you?" He claims her mouth for a rough kiss then pulls away, "You'll find a way." She smiles and shakes her head, "I'm sure I will." He raises an eyebrow and she slides into his lap, blocking the portal.
Ares stares at her, snapping the portal closed, "You have my attention." She smirks, "Do I?" She asks, grinding against him. He inhales sharply, then nods, "For now." She smiles and continues to move her hips against him, "Convinced yet?" She asks, voice husky. He shakes his head, "Not even close." She purses her lips, then attacks his mouth, pulling him close and tangling her hands in his hair. His arms race around her, one at her waist, holding her hips against him, the other up her back. She pulls back breathing heavy, "Now?" She asks, breathless. His breathing matching hers, he shakes his head, "Not quite." She growls and he gives her a lusty look. Smirking she slides from his lap. He moves to follow, but she puts a hand on his chest, forcing him back into the throne, "Stay," she orders. He raises an eyebrow but relaxes back into the throne, eyes glued to her every move. She struts away from him, hips swaying and approaches the altar. Turning sharply, eyes locked on his, she removes her sword and Chakram, placing both on the altar, "An offering," she says. Fire burns in his eyes. She turns her back to him, smirking, then kneels and removes the daggers from her boots. One in each hand, she turns sharply and throws them at him. They pass on either side of him, imbedding in the wall behind the throne. She smirks, "A promise." He smiles and raises his eyebrows. She struts to him and places her hands on either side of the throne, leaning towards him, thrusting her breasts in his face. He glances down and sees the hint of metal from the hilt of her dagger. He smiles and removes the dagger, letting the tip drag against her skin. She shivers, "A surprise," she says, quickly moving away from him. He growls, twirling the dagger in his hand, before letting it fall to the floor beside the throne. She stands below the dais and unclasps her breastplate, letting it fall to the floor with a clank. He jerks, startled from the noise and she smiles. "A temptation." She reaches her left hand to her right arm and slides the armband down, letting it drop, then repeats the action on the other side. "A hint." She walks to him and raises her leg, placing her booted foot between his legs. He jerks back in the throne, smirking and shaking his head. She smiles and leans over the leg, letting her hair fall forward, blocking his view. As she stands upright, she slides her foot from the boot and tosses it over her shoulder, then repeats the actions with the other foot. He reaches for her and she swats his hand away, "Are you convinced yet?" He shakes his head, eyes full of lust, voice husky, "You're getting there." She raises an eyebrow, pursing her lips. She walks up to him, staying out of his reach and holds her wrists out to him. "A favor," she says, motioning to the gauntlets with a jerk of her head. He smiles and waves a hand over the gauntlets. They fall from her wrists and she kicks them aside. Spinning away from him and taking a few steps away, she pulls her hair over a shoulder and unlaces the back of her leather bodice. Laces dangling, she peals it from her body, letting it fall to the floor and puddle around her ankles. She steps out of it, kicking it aside and turns back to Ares, "A peak." He stares at her and begins to rise. She holds up her hand, eyes going harsh, "Sit." He snarls, but obeys. Facing him, she tosses her hair back and unlaces the back of the shift. She pauses and he raises an eyebrow. She smiles and lifts the shift up and over her head. He inhales sharply, exhaling on a growl. She smirks, "And finally...torture." He nods, "You've got that right," he says, again rising from the throne. Her eyes flash, "Are you convinced?" He smirks and shakes his head. She gives him a hard look, "Then sit down." He obeys, giving her a curious look.
Xena gives him a challenging look, then motions towards her nakedness, "Let's see what part of me you don't like so much." She struts to him, stopping directly in front of him. He reaches for her and she swats his hand away. She wiggles a finger in front of him, "Not yet." He relaxes back into the throne, adjusting in the chair. She smirks and runs her hands over his chest, pushing the vest from his shoulders and tossing it aside, then pulling away. She holds her hands in front of him, "Do you like these?" He reaches for her hands and brings one, then the other to his lips, "Very much." She smiles and takes his hand, running it up her arm, "And these?" Holding her arm and pulling her close, he nods. She jerks from his grasp and smiles when he lets out a frustrated noise. She brings her foot to his lap, letting it rest on top of his thigh. He inhales sharply, eyes traveling up her thigh with a hungry look. She grabs his hand, running it up her leg, "These?" "Very nice," he says, trailing kisses from her knee up her thigh. She spins from him, laughing to herself, delighted with her game. She turns back around and he gives her an annoyed glare. She runs her fingertips over her breasts, "These then? Maybe you don't like these." Using a finger he motions for her to approach. She obeys, stopping and standing between his knees. "Yes?" She prompts. Eyes on hers, he leans forward, tasting one peak, then the other. She moans and he smiles, returning to the first for a longer taste. Her head falls back, eyes closed and he chuckles, convinced the game is over. Her eyes snap open and she backs away from him, "Well?" She prompts, motioning to her breasts. He nods, breathing heavy, "Perfect." She beams at him, then pouts, "There must be something..." He shrugs, "Haven't found anything yet. What else ya got Warrior Princess?" She gives him an evil smile, accepting the challenge. Her hand flies to caress her lips, "Maybe these?" He stands and approaches, reaching for her. She steps back, shaking her head, "No hands." He cocks an eyebrow, but obeys, letting his arms fall to his sides. She smiles and walks up to him, leaning against him and letting him kiss her. He moans into her mouth, fighting the urge to grab her, to run his hands up her back, around her hips. She smiles against his lips and rests a leg around his hip, drawing him closer. He growls and grabs at her hips, pulling her against him, thrusting against her, showing her exactly what her little game was causing. With a gasp and a chuckle, she pulls away from him, momentarily fighting his wandering hands. She smirks and shakes her head, "No hands," she reminds him. He stares at her, annoyed, aroused, and a touch frustrated. "Convinced?" She asks innocently. He nods, "Perhaps." She doesn't respond, pretending to think and struts away from him. She leans against the wall of the Temple, "Well, there's only one other thing I can think of that you might not like..." He raises an eyebrow and her fingers feather their way down her body. He stares, mouth dry as her fingers dance between her thighs. Her head falls back against the wall, eyes closed as she touches herself with him watching and a moan escapes her. She hears him growl, then he's slamming against her, mouth pressed to hers as he lifts her and enters her in one swift move. She gasps, arching against him, "Oh by the Gods," she breathes. He chuckles, "Literally," and begins to move against her. She anchors her legs around his waist, hands clutching at his shoulders, "So, did I convince you?" She asks, clutching him with her inner muscles. He exhales harshly, "Oh yeah." She smiles in triumph, then moans, eyes closed, head falling back. He attacks her throat, then moves down to her breasts, lavishing one, then the other in attention. She arches towards him, heels digging into the backs of his thighs for leverage as she matches his rhythm. He groans against her throat, one hand on her hips, the other against the wall, above her head. He increases the speed and force of his thrusts and she gasps, nails digging into his shoulders. She screams in release, driven past the edge and he soon follows. She clings to him, breathing heavy and he leans his forehead next to hers on the wall.
There is a flash behind them and a startled scream, followed by, "Sorry, Unc, I'll turn around now." Xena scowls, "Strife." Ares shakes his head, "Not the worst thing he's walked in on," he says quietly. Her lip curls up, then she shakes her head, "Let me down." He nods and holds her hips, stepping away from the wall and letting her slide down him. Her feet touch ground and she shakes slightly. He smirks, leaving his hands on her hips. After a few seconds, she nods and brushes his hands away, "I'm fine," she assures him. He nods and waves a hand, clothing himself in his regular leather and Xena in a silk robe. She glances down at it and purses her lips. He smirks, "You went to so much trouble taking all that armor off, I couldn't bare putting it back on you." She smiles, then glances at the back of Strife's head, "We're decent," she announces. Strife slowly turns around, face red, "Uh, sorry. Should have knocked." Ares shakes his head, "Why are you back so soon? I asked you to keep an eye on Greece and Rome." Strife fidgets, "Well, I was here, in Greece and thought, 'Hey, self, check Corinth. It's always busy.' So, listening to myself, I went to Corinth. And boy was I surprised. Hercules was there, in your Temple, tossing things around and shouting for you." Strife pauses and Ares reflects back then shakes his head, "I was distracted, didn't notice. What did he want?" Strife answers, "He wanted you." Ares closes his eyes, searching for patience, "Yes, Strife. Usually if someone is in my Temple that means they're looking for me. Did he tell you anything?" Strife nods, looking nervous, "He said a few choice insults, then said he would find you himself. He's headed this way and he's mad. I wanted to warn you." Ares growls and Strife jumps back a few steps. Xena grabs Ares' arm, "Let me handle him." He shakes his head, "No, Little Brother is my problem. Anyways if he sees you here with me, he might not continue to protect your family," he says, stroking her cheek. She gives him a tight smile, "If he's coming here, then he already knows. Gabrielle probably told him. Let me deal with him. You'll just egg him on, probably on purpose too." He smirks, not denying it, then turns to Strife, "Alright, get going Strife. We'll handle Hercules." Strife nods, looking sad and turns from them. "Strife," Xena calls. He turns and she smiles, "Thank you." He smiles widely and nods, then disappears. Ares glares at her, "He's a War God, don't coddle him." She makes a face at him, "Maybe a little positive reinforcement will encourage better behavior from him," she suggests. He shakes his head, then shrugs and glances around the Temple, eyeing her scattered clothes. Xena follows his gaze with a smirk, "Clean up. I'm going to put on some clothes." He turns to her, "No armor?" She shakes her head, "It'll send the wrong message. This," she motions between them, "Isn't just business." He smiles, pulling her close, "What about Solan and your mother?" She pauses, thinking for a moment, "Hercules is a good man, he won't put my family in danger." He raises a doubting eyebrow, "You have too much faith in him." She shakes her head, then smiles, "Pick a color, not black, not red," she orders. He shrugs, "Blue, why?" She smirks and turns, strutting away, "Make sure there's blue options in the closet." He smiles after her and snaps his fingers, filling the closet and removing her clothes and weapons from where they had landed around the Temple.
Xena returns quickly wearing a blue dress and her Chakram necklace. Ares glances up from the portal he was watching and smiles, "You are breathtaking." She smiles and leans on the throne's arm, staring at the portal. "Eli?" She asks, motioning towards a dingy tavern room. He nods, "Yeah, somewhere between Italia and India. I don't recognize the land or people at all." Xena shrugs, "Has he done anything interesting?" He shakes his head, "Turned down a wench, would have been more interesting if he had said yes." She laughs, shaking her head, "Where's Hercules?" He sighs and changes the image on the portal. Hercules is in the forest, near the stables behind the Halls of War, his stride is long and sure and he's angry. Ares stares at his half-brother, shaking his head, "He thinks it's a spell or trick. He thinks I'm with Dahok." Xena growls, shaking her head, "Leave," she orders. He raises an eyebrow and glances at her, clearly saying, 'make me'. She shakes her head, "If you give him that cocky smile you're famous for, he's going to punch you. Then you'll punch back and we won't make any progress. Besides, he's my friend, I want it to stay that way. I already lost Gabrielle, I don't want to lose him too." He sighs and nods, "Fine. I need to check on Anthony anyway. But you call me if you need anything." She nods, smiling softly, "Promise." He rises and disappears, leaving Xena alone. She glances around the Temple, then sits in the throne to wait for Hercules.
Hercules storms through the doors of the Halls of War, sending them banging against the walls. "Ares," he shouts. Xena stares at him, "Hercules," she greets, rising from the throne. He stares her up and down, disbelief in his gaze, "You lied to me," he accuses. She shakes her head, "No, I'm going after Dahok. Ares is helping." He storms up to her, "I would have helped, I offered to help." She nods, giving him a soft look, "I know. But I need Ares." He scrunches his brow, shaking his head, "You don't need him." She sighs, "Maybe not, but I want him." He inhales sharply, then shakes his head, stroking her cheek, "He had one of the other Gods put a spell on you. I'll get it fixed." She growls and jerks away from him, "No, Hercules. It's not a spell. I," she pauses for a second, "I love him." His face falls, anger rising in his eyes, "How? Why? He doesn't return your feelings, he isn't capable. And obviously you don't trust him, otherwise he would be watching your family, not me." She shakes her head sadly, "We haven't stayed in one place long enough to watch my family. Hercules we've been chasing Dahok all over the known world, Sumeria, Britannia, Rome, India, Siberia, Italia, and all over Greece. How could we watch my family?" He shakes his head, "It's a trick. Maybe you've been travelling all over, but you weren't chasing Dahok. Ares is on his side." She stares at him in disbelief, "Please, tell me you don't really believe that? Dahok is seeking the destruction of all Gods, everywhere. Why would Ares side with him?" Hercules sighs, "It's what he does. Come on Xena, you know him as well as I do. Think about it." She nods, "I have. He wouldn't betray his family, not to an outside God." He growls, punching at a pillar. It shakes and he grabs her shoulders, "Listen to yourself. All he cares about is power." Her eyes go hard, "And me." He shakes her shoulders slightly, "You can't possibly know that." She shrugs from his grasp, shaking her head, "This is my decision Hercules, respect it." He growls, punching the pillar again, "He just wants you to lead his army," he says, grasping at straws. She chuckles and shakes her head, motioning at her dress, "I don't look like I'm leading an army. And if I am, where are they?" He growls, "Athens. Ares has an army in Athens." She nods, "Yes, freeing the town from Athena. She has the roads blocked by her army, she's charging tolls. Ares has his men fighting to free Athens." Hercules growls again, "Rome then. I hear he's gathering forces under Anthony." She nods again, "To eliminate Caesar and his triumvirate. They tax the people till there's nothing left. Anthony wants the money to go to the people. He's going to eliminate the corruption in Rome's hierarchy." He rolls his eyes, "And you really believe that?" She nods, "Yes, because I helped set it in motion, same with Athens." His eyes go wide, "See? He's gotten exactly what he's always wanted. You changed sides again, you joined him," he shouts, pointing towards the throne vaguely. She shakes her head, "No, Hercules. He joined me." His mouth opens and closes several times, then he sighs, head falling, "Is there anything I can say to change your mind?" She shakes her head, "No." He sighs. She shakes her head, "I'm not asking you to be his new best friend. Just respect my decision." He nods, the fight over.
Hercules glances around the Halls of War, "Where is he?" Xena shrugs, "I didn't want you two fighting." He nods, "Gabrielle said you two killed her daughter." Xena growls, "Dahok's daughter. She was trying to bring Dahok into the world. I had to stop her." Hercules nods, hands moving in a calming gesture, "I know. She's really hurt though. Iolaus is taking her back to her sister Amazons. Before she left, she told me the visions weren't yours, they were Ares' and there were more than one. Is it true?" She nods, sad, "Many more." He gives her a curious look, "You've seen them?" She nods again. He nods, "Can I? Maybe you two have missed something." She smiles, "You still want to help?" He nods, "Dahok has to be stopped. And I'm curious to see whose side Ares will end up on." She growls and gives him and exasperated look, "Hercules." He shakes his head, "I'm respecting your choice, I don't agree with it though. So, how 'bout it? Can I see them?" She shakes her head, "I don't think so. Some of them are...uh...personal." He raises an eyebrow, "Xena, if you aren't willing to show me, then you know something isn't right, that something doesn't add up." She shakes her head, "No, no, nothing like that. They're confusing and out of order, but they add up. They were for Ares and me, not anyone else." He stares at her, "Why?" She thinks back to the visions and smiles, "They jump from Dahok, to personal moments and back again without warning." "Personal?" He asks. She smirks, "In the future, Ares and I have a daughter. A few of the visions get very detailed on how that came to be." His mouth hangs open and he stares her up and down, eyes stopping on her midsection, "You're....?" He trails off. She shakes her head, "No." Ares appears behind her, "Not yet," he adds on. She turns to glare at him and he shrugs, "He's not seeing the visions, end of discussion." She smiles and turns back to Hercules, "Sorry." Hercules glares, first at Xena then Ares, "If I'm going to help, I need all the information." Ares shakes his head, "We've been doing just fine without you." Hercules begins to respond, but Xena holds up her hand and turns to Ares, "The first couple of sets weren't horrible. Show him those. They convinced me to help." He reflects back on the first two sets of visions, then nods, opening a portal for Hercules to watch. Hercules stares at the portal, then looks from Ares to Xena, "That's why you wanted me to keep Solan in Corinth?" She nods, "And it's why I wanted you to keep Iolaus with you too. As long as he stayed with you, we knew Dahok couldn't use him." Hercules nods, then asks, "Dahok uses Iolaus?" She nods and motions to Ares, "Show him the other one." He gives her an impatient look, but obeys, playing the vision of Iolaus as Dahok. Hercules watches, giving the portal a confused look. "What is it?" Xena asks, glancing at the portal. He shakes his head, "Nebula...I know her. She's a pirate. She has a good heart, but I wouldn't call her a fair maiden." Xena shrugs, "Doesn't matter. Get a message to her. Keep an eye on her. We've stopped Dahok at every turn thus far, but keeping her safe could make him alter his plans even more." Hercules nods, "I'll try. Where am I? It doesn't look like Greece," he says, motioning to the background in the vision. Xena and Ares both glance, neither having noticed before. Xena scrunches her brow, "I kind of reminds me of..." "Sumeria," Ares finishes for her, "Gilgamesh's palace." She nods, then glances up at Hercules, "Stay away from Sumeria. Dahok has already been there. King Gilgamesh fought him and won, but at great cost. He lost his family, they were murdered in their beds." Hercules shakes his head, "Poor man. No one should have to lose their family." Xena nods, sad. Hercules looks up from the portal and eyes Ares, "Xena, I would like to talk to my brother alone before I leave." She glances between the two, uneasy, then nods, "No fighting," she orders, stepping out from between them. They both nod. She begins to retreat down the hall, "I'm going to grab a bite to eat," she announces.
Both Ares and Hercules watch Xena leave, then turn to eye each other once she's out of sight. Hercules glares, "So, what's the game this time?" Ares rolls his eyes, shaking his head, "No game." Hercules stares in disbelief, "Come on Ares! You're going to destroy her and I'm going to have to pick up the pieces. Can't you just leave her in peace?" Ares laughs, shaking his head, "I tried to walk away, she wouldn't have it." Hercules growls, "Is it a spell?" Ares shakes his head, "No, she wouldn't truly be mine if I had a spell on her." Hercules nods, "Then what? She's in love with you. When you move onto the next conquest it will destroy her, not that you care." Ares closes his eyes, trying to control his temper, "Xena is not a conquest, she is the war, a war that can't be won or lost." Hercules blows out a breath, "If there is any decency in you, leave her now, before it's too late." Ares shakes his head, "I'm not leaving her," he pauses, then continues, "I love her." Hercules stares, disbelief in his gaze, then shakes his head, "Play your game. But if you hurt her, not even Zeus will be able to protect you from me." Ares nods, "I'm letting that slide because you care about her. Do not threaten me, little brother." Hercules blows out a breath, "I'm keeping an eye on you," he warns, turning to the entrance. Ares nods as Hercules leaves the Halls of War, then waves a hand over the doors, closing them behind his brother's back.
Ares heads to the back of the Temple, searching for Xena. Rather than finding her in the banquet hall, he finds her in his room, sitting on the bed, legs crossed under her and a map spread over the bed. He enters, staring down at the map, "Where did that come from?" She glances up, "Strife." He nods, "What are you doing?" He asks, eyes darting over the circles, scribbles and x's. She points, "The x's are places Dahok has been, the circles are us." He nods, then points at the scribbles, "These?" "The visions," she answers, "We still haven't tied it all together. Chin, Jappa, Eire, and the Norse lands don't fit with anything. As far as we know Dahok hasn't tried to invade those lands yet and neither of us has any dealings with them." He shrugs, then shakes his head, "I can't explain it. We could go there, check things out. Maybe we can learn something." She shrugs, "Maybe. I have ties in Chin, Lao Ma would welcome us, we could see if she knows anything." Ares stares at her, then shakes his head, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Word hasn't gotten to you yet?" She looks up at him and shakes her head, "About what?" He sighs, "Lao Ma is dead. Ming's boy had her put to death, stirred up a lot of trouble a couple of months ago." She gasps, eyes darting down. He squeezes her shoulder, "I'm sorry." She nods, swatting a tear from her cheek, "That's it then. We need to go to Chin. I need to avenge her, stop Ming Tien before he destroys Chin." Ares shakes his head, "You kill Ming Tien and who will lead Chin? The houses of Lao and Ming will be gone, that leaves, what? The marauders? Khan?" She shrugs, "Doesn't matter, I owe Lao Ma." He nods, "Alright, we'll go, if it's what you want." She nods, moving to the closet and pulling out her armor, letting the dress slip from her shoulders to puddle at her feet. He stares at her, "Now? You want to do this now?" She nods, lacing the tunic, "No time like the present." She glances at him, "I don't expect you to understand." He nods, brushing her hands aside and lacing the tunic, "She helped you when you needed it. And you weren't there when she needed you. You feel guilty." She nods and quietly says, "If I had stayed with her in Chin, everything would be different." He nods, letting her slip on the leather bodice then starts lacing it for her, "True. No Alti, no Solan, no Hercules, no Gabrielle, no us," he says the last quietly. She turns in his arms, "I made my choices, I don't regret them." He nods, then opens a portal, "Chin," he says. She watches as a man, an older version of the boy in her memory laughs and orders a peasants execution for stealing rice for his family. She nods, "He's a monster." She grabs her breastplate, fastening it on quickly then reaches for her weapons. "Xena, what's the plan?" Ares asks. She doesn't pause in attaching her weapons, "Take me to Chin, I'll deal with Ming Tien on my own." He shakes his head, "You're not an assassin." She glares at him, then sighs, "I've trained assassins and I have to do this." He nods, "Alright," he says, extending a hand to her. She takes his hand and they disappear in a flash of light.
Xena glances around the dark, dingy room, "Where are we?" Ares releases her and points, "Dungeons are that way. Throne room is two levels above us. Ming's bedroom is just south of the Throne room." She nods, "Where's Ming?" Ares pauses, then answers, "Dining hall with his advisors." She nods, "Too many eyes. I'll wait till he's alone tonight." She turns to Ares, "Come back for me?" He nods, "Are you sure about this?" She nods with a sad look. He nods in return, pulls her close for a kiss, then disappears. Xena stares at the spot where he had stood, then begins to sneak down the hall.
Carefully, she makes her way to Ming's room, staying in the shadows, using the decorations as cover. She spots Ming's room and eyes the guard in front of the door. Grabbing a rock from the pot that is her current shelter, she tosses it at a window, hitting the latch and making it swing open. The guard's head shoots to the window and he raises his weapon, approaching it slowly. She waits for him to pass, then rushes to the door and quietly opens it, letting herself into the room. She glances around the room, searching for more guards. Finding it empty, she smiles and begins to examine the room, learning about her enemy by the things in the room. Opening a chest, she finds Lao Ma's book buried under some old cloaks. She pulls it out and runs a hand over the now scared cover. She opens her mentor's book and begins to read her delicate script. She smiles to herself and lost in the words, she doesn't notice how much time passes until there is a noise at the door. She ducks behind a curtain as the door swings open. "Leave me," Ming orders. The guard salutes and retreats from the room, closing the door. Xena kneels, placing the book on the floor and draws her Chakram, eyes following Ming around the room. Ming moves to a table and begins to remove his jewelry. She steps from behind the curtain and his head snaps up. Momentary confusion flitters across his face, then he smiles, "Xena." She nods, "Ming Tien." His eyes light up, "You've returned to Chin in her finest hour." She shakes her head, "Darkest hour," she corrects. He shrugs, "I don't see it that way. My father was a sentimental fool and Lao was controlled by his wife. But me, I am a leader, the leader this country so desperately needs." She shakes her head, "You are a murderer." He nods, "All great leaders are. You taught me that, Xena." She scowls, "It would have been better if you had learned nothing from that monster I used to be. You should have paid more attention to Lao Ma. She was a good woman." He laughs, "She was weak." Xena shakes her head, "She was the strongest woman I have ever met." He cackles, "Then what does that make me? I defeated her, killed her, executed her in front of the people myself." She shakes her head, sad, "She was your mother," she states quietly. He laughs, "I know. That's why I performed the execution. I knew she wouldn't use her powers to hurt her little boy." She shakes her head, sad. He laughs again, "You should be proud Xena. Look how strong you made me," he says, pointing to his chest in pride. She shakes her head again, "No, Ming Tien. I'm not proud. I'm disappointed. You had a chance to be a better man than your father and you ruined it. I'm here to stop you, to avenge Lao Ma." He cackles, motioning around the room, "Stop me? If you kill me, you will never make it out of here alive," he threatens. She raises her Chakram and sends it flying towards him, "That's a chance I'll have to take." His eyes go wide and he ducks the Chakram and turns to gloat at her. It ricochets off the back wall and returns to slice his throat. His eyes fill with shock as blood bubbles from his mouth. Xena grabs her Chakram as it passes her and wipes it on a curtain before returning it to her side. She collects Lao Ma's book and sits on the bed, holding it to her chest, "Ares," she says quietly. Ares appears, eyes going first to her, then the body on the floor. "It's done, then?" He asks. She nods, silent. He places an arm around her shoulders, urging her to her feet. She stands and leans against him, "Take me home," she says quietly. He nods, holding her around the waist and disappearing into the ether.
Ares arrives in his bedroom and releases Xena. She makes no move. He looks her up and down, "You alright?" She nods quickly, "Fine. I took care of Ming Tien." He nods, "What's that?" He asks, motioning to the book. She glances down at the book in her arms and smiles, "Lao Ma's book of wisdom. It was her life's work." He nods and reaches for it. She releases it and he sets it on the table in the corner, flipping through a few of the pages. He nods, "Smart woman." She smiles, reading over his shoulder, "Yes, she was," she says, voice cracking. He turns, closing the book and gives her a soft look. He pulls her into his arms and her tears spill over. He rubs her back and her armor melts away, replaced by a thin silk gown. She glances up and gives him a tight smile, "Thanks." He nods and wipes the tears from her cheek, then motions to the bed, "Come on, let's go to bed. Things will look better in the morning." She nods and follows him to the bed. He lays down, pulling her into his arms. She pushes off his chest, "The visions?" He shakes his head, "Let me worry about them. Just rest." She nods, laying her head on his chest. He wraps his arms around her and feels her go lax against him. He smiles and sighs, trying to fight the Fates and their hold.
Ares loses his battle with the Fates and the visions begin. Ares talks to Athena, "Have you considered that maybe this prophecy is fulfilling itself?! Think about it. What can Xena's baby do to us? Really? Yet the more we fight amongst ourselves about the future of this one tiny child, the more vulnerable we become." Xena kneels in a field of grass, a tree standing above her, "Eli, wherever you are, I know you can hear me. I'm having a little trouble understanding your message, Eli. I'm a warrior. I have a warrior's heart and yet, you told me to, to fight my enemies with compassion instead of the sword. Well, now I find I have to kill my own daughter, my own flesh and blood. Is this what you meant when you said I must love my enemy? Show me another way." She pauses, "Where's your infinite love?" Ares and Xena stand in a forest at night. Ares says, "There is no going back, Eve has seen to that. I have a short span of time, and then," he pauses and snaps his fingers, "I'm gone." Xena gives him a sarcastic smile, "Well, you'll forgive me if I don't wear mourning." He grabs her hands, folding them in his, "The question is do you forgive me? I wanna be with you, Xena and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen, prove myself, to make you trust me." Ares stands between a scantily clad Xena and Gabrielle, both stroking his chest while a crowd watches. Dead bodies in white robes litter a forest floor. A boy lays in a puddle of his own blood, "It's from outside this world. A thing of evil. An incarnate darkness." Ares and Gabrielle sit in a dark house in front of a fire. Gabrielle says, "Ares, when you gave up your immortality to save me and Eve, that was, that was quite a sacrifice. Thank you." Ares turns to her, "If Eve had died, and Xena lost her power to kill Gods, then Athena would have killed Xena, so I was saving Eve to save Xena. You were an afterthought." Ares jerks, trying to wake and slowly opens his eyes, pulling from the visions. He inhales deeply and pulls Xena closer. She moans in her sleep and he smiles, stroking her back and slowly falling back to sleep.
Xena wakes with light poring through the window. She glares at it and pushes up, staring down at Ares. She scrunches her brow, glancing back at the window, then him sleeping peacefully. She leans forward and brushes her lips across his, then lays back down, crawling over him to lay with her back blocking the window. His eyes shoot open and he rolls to face her. A guilty look covers her face, "I didn't mean to wake you," she says quietly. He shakes his head, "It's fine. You alright?" She shrugs, "I will be." He nods. She gives him a curious look, "No visions?" He shakes his head, "I still had them. They weren't as powerful as previous ones. I woke and they stopped. I think the Fates are backing off. Maybe they're running out of things to show me." She shakes her head, "Don't say that. They'll take it as a challenge." He laughs, "You're probably right." He pauses reflecting back on the visions, "We should go to Eire, talk to the Druids." She scrunches her brow, "Why? What did you see?" He opens a portal and she watches the visions, leaning forward when the dead bodies are shown. Ares pauses the visions on the scene of the boy, "He's a druid, Mabon I think, not sure though. I don't usually deal with them." She nods and the visions begin again. They begin to repeat and Ares closes the portal. She smiles at him, "We name her Eve." He nods, "And somehow she gives you the power to kill Gods." She nods, then scrunches her brows, "Do you think it has something to do with the Light Chakram? I was able to remove it from the altar." He nods, "They're related, I'm sure of it." She nods, reflecting back on the visions, then shakes her head, "Let me eat, then we can go to Eire." He nods, rising from the bed and pulling her up behind him. Both are clothed immediately. She smiles in thanks and they leave the room, heading towards the dining hall.
Xena enters and fills a plate, then sits next to the fire. Ares follows sitting across from her. He watches her eat, "I don't have connections in Eire. We'll have to do things your way." She smiles around a bite a food and nods. Swallowing she responds, "Or you could show off and get their attention." He stares at her, "Show off? Me? Never." She smirks and shakes her head, chuckling. He watches her, "I could deal with it on my own, you know? You could stay here, rest for a bit," he suggests. She gives him a doubting look, "I'm fine." He raises an eyebrow and she scowls, "Seriously, I'm alright. I did what I had to do and I'm fine with it." He nods, "I never said you weren't. I just thought you might need a day to rest, after all you are mortal." Her jaw falls open, then snaps shut, "Are you afraid that I won't be able to keep up?" He rolls his eyes, "No, just thought I'd offer. So where do you want to arrive? Town? Shoreline? Forest?" She shakes her head, allowing him to change the topic, "I don't know. I guess a village, maybe they would be able to direct us to the Druids. What do you know of the Druids?" He shakes his head, "Not much. They're mortal unlike Gods and they live in and worship nature and represent certain qualities, peace, justice, wisdom. Eire has their own pantheon as well, but I haven't seen their Gods, just the Druids." She nods, "Do they have a War God? Someone who would be interested in helping us?" He shrugs, "Badb and I have never worked together, we've never spoken. I've never gotten involved in the affairs of Eire, Gaul is as far as I usually go." She nods, "I skipped Eire too. It was too similar to Greece, nothing but land and ocean. I didn't see any need to waste my time conquering them when they had nothing of value to offer. And Chin seemed so much more interesting." He nodded, "Maybe it's a good thing. We'll be strangers there, no grudges. Maybe they'll be more prone to help us." She nods and sets her empty plate on a side table, "Let's go." He nods and grabs her hand, disappearing into the ether.
Ares and Xena step out of the ether near a small fishing village on the coast. Several fishermen and young children stop what they are doing to stare. "Show off," Xena accuses quietly. Ares smirks, "Hey, a little respect can go a long way." A man approaches, arm extended in greeting, "I'm Bronagh." Xena takes his arm, "Xena," she jerks her head towards Ares, "Ares, God of War. We're from Greece." Bronagh stares in awe, then shakes his head, "Badb will not appreciate you trespassing, War God." Ares shrugs, "I'm not here for her. We're looking for a dark God, not of this world, Dahok." Bronagh shakes his head, "The only dark God we have here his Kernunnos and his bitch Morrigan." Xena gives him a concerned look, "What are they doing?" Bronagh starts to reply but Ares interrupts, "We're not here to get involved in their problems. We need to stop Dahok," he reminds her. She nods, "Yes, but if we can help, we should." He scowls, then motion for Bronagh to continue. He smiles sadly, "Morrigan is hunting the Druids for Kernunnos. If she finds them and kills them it will be the end of Eire." Ares gives the man a doubting look. Xena looks interested, "We heard that Dahok was after the Druids as well. Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but they're just mortals. Why are they so important to Eire?" Bronagh nods, "You are right, they are mortal like myself or any other man. They have trained their whole lives for their rolls and have been gifted with a keen understanding of the world and its inner workings. Each druid represents something, knowledge, justice, faith, if they were to die, we would lose that spirit with them unless someone else accepts that responsibility." Ares roll his eyes, "That's insane. Why would your Gods trust a mere mortal with something so important?" Barongh looks up at the sky, "It is the will of the Great One, the one above the Gods. It's not their place or ours to question His will." Ares shakes his head, "What a backwards country." He turns to Xena, "Let's find the Druids and see what they know about Dahok. The sooner we deal with them, the sooner we can go home." She gives him an annoyed look, "Morrigan's goal is the same as Dahok's. We should stop her." He scowls, "You're not going to take no for an answer are you?" She flashes him a smile and shakes her head, "No." He closes his eyes and shakes his head, then waves his hand in the direction of the village, "Alright, take us to Morrigan." Bronagh nods, "We appreciate your help, please, come, stay in my home. Morrigan attacks on a regular basis, searching for the Druids." He leads them to the village. Ares and Xena follow close behind.
As they enter the village, many turn to stare, murmuring about the new comers. By the time they have reached Bronagh's home, a trail of villagers are following them. Xena spins and stares at the people. There is fear in their eyes and hope. "We'll do what we can to help, to save the Druids. But we need their help too. Please, if any of you know how to contact the Druids, do so now," she says, before walking into the small house. Ares follows her inside, ducking under the low doorframe. Bronagh motions to the fire and a small woman with dark hair, "This is Kara, my wife. The Druid of Wisdom, Mabon, he looks in on this village often. If any of the townsfolk see him, they will bring him to us." Xena nods, glancing around the small, cramped house, "Kara, your house is lovely." The woman smiles nervously, then eyes Ares. Xena elbows him and he jerks, "Yeah, real nice." He turns to Bronagh, "What can you tell us about Morrigan?" Kara inhales sharply, then turns back to the fire, stirring something over the low flame. Bronagh rubs her back, then motions to the table, "Please sit," he directs. Once Xena and Ares have sat, he begins to answer the question, "Morrigan is a half God, daughter of Badb and consort to Kernunnos. She has powers and abilities far beyond that of a mortal. She is an amazing warrior, worthy of her mother's blood." Xena nods, "You mentioned powers, abilities, what did you mean?" He stares at his hands, shaking his head, "She can lift a grown man from his feet, send him flying like he was a sack of flour. And her speed, it's astonishing. It's impossible to keep your eyes on her. One second she's on one side of the village, the next she is behind you." Xena scrunches her brow and turns to Ares, "Transporting?" He shake his head, "No half-blood has control over the ether, it's unheard of." Bronagh buts in, "The earth in her path is disturbed, trampled." Ares nods, "I haven't seen a half blood with extreme speed, but strength isn't uncommon. Does she have other abilities? Can she make things manifest? Or levitate objects? Does she have the gift of fire? Lightening? Ice? Control over the elements?" Bronagh shakes his head, eyes going wide, "Is that possible?" Ares nods, "Possible? Yes. Common? No." Xena asks, "Does she have an army?" Bronagh shakes his head, "She has no need for one. She fights like a fiend, like she is possessed." Ares raises an eyebrow and Xena nudges him. He turns to her with a smile, but before he can respond, there is a knock on the door.
Kara leaves the fire and opens the door, letting an older man enter. Bronagh smiles at the man, "Conner, what brings you here?" The man shakes Bronagh's hand, then turns to Xena and Ares, "A Druid, Mabon, is here. He wishes to speak with you, but not here. He wishes for you to meet him in the forest. He says it is safer there." Xena nods and rises, heading towards the door. Ares follows her and turns to Conner, "Take us to him." Conner nods and opens the door. Xena turns back briefly, "Thank you Bronagh. When we're done with Mabon, we'll return to help with Morrigan," she promises. Bronagh nods, arm around his wife's waist, "May the Spirit go with you." She nods and she and Ares follow Conner.
Conner leads them deep into the forest, then turns back in the direction they had come from, "Mabon knows you are here, he will come to you." Xena nods and he leaves. Ares glances around, eyebrow raised, "Creepy." She smirks and nods, then turns sharply, sword drawn. Ares turns and stares at the boy from his visions, "Mabon?" The boy nods and Xena sheaths her sword. She stares him up and down. He returns her stare, "You are surprised." She shakes her head and he nods, "You have already seen me, why be surprised?" Ares steps forward, between them, "How do you know what we've seen?" Mabon stares up at him, "My future is no secret to me. I know my fate and yours and that of the whole world." Ares shakes his head, "The future is in constant motion." Mabon shrugs, "Maybe, War God. Or maybe not. Maybe all you have done, suffered, endured will be for nothing." Xena snarls, "Then what's the point?" Mabon turns to her, "The journey." Xena groans shaking her head. He smiles, "Thus far hasn't this journey been better than the one you witnessed in the visions?" Ares nods, turning to Xena, "The munchkin has a point." She shakes her head, then turns back to Mabon, "How can we stop Dahok?" Mabon closes his eyes, brows knitting together, then he opens them, shaking his head, "The path is clouded, murky. You have meddled in the affairs of many lands. Eire will not be one of them. Eire needs another hero, one with the blood of a God in his veins, but the heart of a mortal. He will balance the cruelty in Morrigan and bring unity to our lands. And we will heal his soul." He closes his eyes again, then opens them and turns to Ares, "You should leave now. You should let events unfold as they were meant to." Ares growls, "I don't like how things unfold." Mabon shakes his head and turns to Xena, "By siding with him now, you are preventing things from unfolding in the way that they must unfold." He pauses staring at her midsection, "You will doom us all." Xena shakes her head, "We're saving the world from Dahok and his evil." Mabon shakes his head, sorrow in his eyes, "You are doing much more than that." He pauses, then with a final sad shake of his head, orders, "Leave, Eire needs another." Xena scowls and turns to Ares, offering him her hand. He nods and takes it, disappearing with her into the ether.
Xena pulls from Ares and turns sharply, slamming her hand down on the altar, "Self-righteous brat," she yells. Ares raises an eyebrow and glances at the spilled weapons, "Feel better?" She snarls and turns to him, anger in her eyes. He stares at her expectantly and she sighs, shaking her head, "He should have let us help. If not with Morrigan then at least with Dahok. They will die." Ares nods, "They will and he knows it. Look, if you want to protect them, save them, we have to stop Dahok." She nods, going into his arms, silently. He strokes her back, "We'll find a way." She nods against his chest and pushes away, "I don't know what to do. We have no leads, other than Eli and he's turning into a dead end." He nods, "I know. I'm frustrated too. I thought Eire would have the answers." He opens a portal, the visions from the night before playing in his hands. Xena scowls when they finish, slamming her hand over his. He raises an eyebrow. She gives him an apologetic smile, "We're going around in circles, chasing something that isn't there." He nods reopening the portal and bringing up the image of Xena praying, "You're praying to Eli, to Dahok. You're going after our daughter. Something horrible must have happened." She nods, staring at the image, "I don't know what could have led me to that. I would never hurt my own child. And I would never side with Dahok and his minion." He nods, snapping the portal closed, "Maybe you didn't know Eli followed Dahok." She shrugs, "Maybe. Still doesn't explain why I'm going after Eve." He shrugs, then smirks, "Maybe she inherited some of my…nastier qualities." She eyes him, "Uh huh. So, she takes after you and I decide it's easier to kill her than to help her overcome her darker side? Makes perfect sense." He holds his hands up, "Just a suggestion." She rolls her eyes, shaking her head and scowling. She moves away from him, heading farther into the Temple. He follows her to his room and watches her sit at the table and silently start to flip through Lao Ma's book. He watches for a moment, then lays a hand on her shoulder. She glances up, giving him a questioning look. "I'm going to check on some Temples, make sure Strife hasn't screwed anything up. Will you be alright on your own?" He asks. She nods, turning back to the book. He stares at the back of her head, concerned, then leaves in a flash of light.
Xena turns to stare at the spot where Ares had stood and smiles a little. She closes the book and rises from the table, going to the closet. She removes her armor and replaces her leather with a red dress made of silk that drapes over her body. She lounges back on the bed, "Strife," she calls. The Godling appears and gives her a nervous smile, "Xena," he greets. She smiles, "Working?" He nods slowly, "Just like Unc said," he replies, glancing around the room. "He isn't here," she informs him, "You can relax." Strife's shoulders visibly loosen. "Why'd you call for me?" He asks. She shrugs, "I need to talk to Hera." Strife's eyes go wide, "Hera? Why?" He squeaks. She raises an eyebrow, "My business." Strife fidgets, "Can't Unc take you to her?" She shakes her head, "I didn't ask him, I asked you." He fidgets some more, "But Hera hates me," he whines. She scowls, "Strife," she says, in a harsh tone. He jumps, then nods, "Alright, alright. No need to get testy. Does Uncle Ares know about this?" She shakes her head, "Like I said, this is my business." Strife nods nervously and extends a hand to her, "Promise to be careful? Hera doesn't like mortals and Ares will skin me if you get hurt." She scowls, taking his hand, "I can take care of myself." He nods and they disappear.
Xena pulls from Strife's grip and glances around Olympus. He points left, "First door. I'll wait here." She nods and follows his directions, stopping and knocking on the first door. The door opens and Xena walks inside, turning sharply when the door closes behind her. "Xena," Hera greets, stepping into the light from an open window. "Hera," Xena returns, eyeing the Goddess. Hera scowls, "I should have known you were involved. Only you could distract my son for this long." Xena smiles softly, "I do seem to have a gift." Hera nods, "And what have you been doing to occupy him? As if I need to ask." She rakes a distasteful glare over Xena. Xena smirks, "We're hunting Dahok." Hera pauses, "His idea or yours?" Xena shrugs, "His, mine, ours. Dahok must be defeated and together, Ares and I are unstoppable." Hera nods, looking at Xena a little softer, "I see. And have you made progress?" Xena shrugs, "Some, but that isn't why I'm here." Hera shrugs, "I thought as much. So if not business and certainly not pleasure, then what is the nature of your visit?" Xena's hand shoots to her stomach, "Personal." Hera stares at her hand, eyes going cold, "What have you done?" Xena scowls, "Nothing the Fates didn't foresee." Hera's head shoots up, "The Fates? What do they have to do with this?" Xena shakes her head, "They don't matter. I need to know if my suspicions are correct." Hera snarls then motions to a chaise, "Lay down, mortal," she sneers. Xena gives her a dark look, then obeys. Hera places a hand over her stomach and closes her eyes. She pulls away, her eyes snapping open and gives Xena a threatening look, "You're as bad as that slut, Alcmene." Xena exhales sharply, hand returning to her stomach as she sits up. She takes a few breaths, then turns to Hera, "I love him." Hera inhales and stares at her, questions playing in her gaze. Her look grows hard, "You won't take him from me." Xena gives her a surprised look, "Take him from you? You're his mother, I have no desire to take him from you." Hera scowls, "Then what? Are you asking my permission?" She asks, with a laugh. Xena smiles, "Little late for that. No, I'm asking you to be a part of your grandchild's life." Hera scowls, "Granddaughter," she says quietly. Xena smiles softly, "I don't want you to hunt my child the way you have hunted Hercules." Hera's eyes go hard, then soften, "I know my son has feelings for you, has had them for years. When you left his service, I hoped that would be the end of it. Instead he became obsessed with you. If I turn from you and this…child, I will lose him and he is the only child that I can truly claim as mine. I love my son and would give the world for him. So, I will attempt to play nice with you," she pauses, then quickly adds, "So long as you give me the same courtesy." Xena nods and extends her hand, "You have my word." Hera stares at her hand, then clasps it gently before awkwardly pulling Xena into her arms. Xena returns the embrace, eyes wide, then pulls away. Hera purses her lips, "Congratulations, I suppose." Xena smiles, then knits her brows together, "What exactly should I be expecting?" She asks. Hera shrugs, "You've born a child before. The pregnancy and birth should be much the same. The child might develop faster, but thus far I see no evidence of it. How did you know? It's far too early." Xena shakes her head, "Just a feeling. Will Ares be able to sense the child? The way you did?" Hera nods, "Eventually, yes. But for now, unless he's looking, he won't notice. After all, he might be a God, but he's still a man, oblivious to everything," she says with a small laugh. Xena laughs quietly, then heads to the door. Hera grabs her arm, "If you leave him now, after this, it will destroy him. And then…You'll have me to answer to." Xena nods and shrugs out of her grasp, "I'm not going anywhere, not this time." Hera nods and allows her to leave.
Xena exits Hera's room and heads back to Strife. She finds him pacing the hall. Seeing her, his eyes light up and he rushes to her, running his hands over her and turning her around, "Oh by the Gods, you're alright!" Xena shrugs away from him, "Yes, I'm fine. Take me back to the Halls of War now." Strife looks passed her, eyes darting down the hall. Xena growls and he jerks back towards her, laying a hand on her shoulder and disappearing. He releases her and she glances around the bedroom with a smile. She turns back to Strife, "This stays between you and me, understand?" He fidgets, "I won't lie to Uncle Ares." She growls, grabbing a dagger from the wall and bringing it to his neck, "Between us, clear?" He holds his hands up and nods, "Crystal." She nods and moves the dagger, "Good," she says with a smile. He sighs and makes no move to leave. Xena points towards the door, "Go." He shrugs, looking nervous, "Can I at least know what's going on? I promise not to tell another soul." Xena shakes her head, "My business. Don't worry about it. Now leave, I'm going to change and if you see me naked Ares might hurt you." Strife's eyes go wide and he disappears.
Xena smiles and shakes her head. She places the dagger back on the wall and grabs Lao Ma's book from the table. She runs her hands over the cover, then pulls it close to her chest. "Rest in peace, my friend," she says quietly. She walks to the chest next to the wardrobe and opens it. Carefully she removes everything, then lays the book in the bottom, dragging a blanket from the bed and wrapping it over the book. With a sad smile, she returns her armor and the weapons to the chest, then sets the Hind's Blood pendent on top. Holding her Chakram necklace, she lets the lid fall closed. She places the necklace on the table next to the bed. Turning to the wardrobe she lets the dress fall from her shoulders. She hangs it up then grabs a silk robe and drapes it on. She glances around the room, then leaves, going to the banquet hall. She fills a plate, grabs a couple of goblets and a bottle of wine. With a smile she heads towards the baths.
Xena enters the baths and sets the plate and goblets next to the edge, then pours the wine. She inhales the dark sweet liquid with closed eyes, then sets the bottle aside. She allows the robe to fall from her shoulders and glides into the water. She adjusts herself, lounging against the edge, arms spread on the cool marble floor. "Ares," she calls. She waits a few seconds, then calls again. He arrives, "Xena, look, I'm a little…" He trails off and she smiles, "Busy?" She asks, pushing herself out of the water. His mouth goes dry and he shakes his head, "Not anymore." She smiles, sinking back into the water, "Good," she says, motioning for him to join her. He shakes his head and joins her in the water, leather melting away. She smiles and hands him a goblet. He takes it and raises an eyebrow, "Alright, so…What's going on?" She shrugs and sips from her glass before snatching at the food. He eyes her, "When I left you seemed upset." She holds up a finger, "Distracted," she corrects. He nods, "Alright, distracted, then. Everything better now?" She nods, "Much better," she says, moving the plate away from the edge and swimming into his arms, goblet still in hand. He holds her and moans when she wraps her legs around him. She smiles, setting her goblet down behind him and kissing him passionately. His goblet lands in the water as his arms fly around her, pulling her closer, running up and down her back. She smiles and he pulls away, head dipping to attack her breasts. She inhales sharply, arching against him, then shakes her head and pushes against his shoulder. He pulls from her breasts and kisses her. She returns the kiss, then again pushes against his shoulder. He pulls away with a confused look, "What? Not interested?" He asks, thrusting against her. She closes her eyes and moans, then shakes her head, "In a minute. First we need to get a few things straight." He sighs and releases her, "Go ahead," he says, looking frustrated. She smirks and returns to his arms, "So, we're going to have a child." He nods, "Yeah, I think we figured that out a while ago," he says impatiently. She runs her hands over his chest, "And things won't change. You know that right? I'm still going to fight, I'm not going to change who I am. I won't expect you to protect me, to fight my battles for me." He nods, eyes darting to her breasts, "Yup, gotcha," he says, clearly distracted. She sinks farther into the water and his eyes shoot to hers. "Ares," she starts. He sighs and runs a hand down her cheek, "I get it, you're a warrior, nothing's going to change that. And I'm the God of War, do you really think I would want you to stop fighting?" She smiles and shakes her head, "Men tend to go stupid in the head when their women are with child." He smirks, "I'm a God, we're different." She smiles, rubbing against him, "Don't feel too different to me." He growls, hands going to her hips, but she jerks from his hands and places a hand on his chest, "I'm serious about this." He nods and kisses her gently, "I know. Look, we'll talk about it later, when the time comes. No need to get worked up over it now. It's not like you're pregnant," he says with a laugh. She inhales sharply and his eyes snap to hers, "Are you?" She smiles weakly and leads his hand to her stomach, "Surprise." He stares at her, mouth hanging open, then lifts her from the water, placing her on the marble floor. She growls from the cold surface, "Ares." He holds up a finger for silence and places his hand over her stomach, eyes closing in concentration.
Ares' eyes snap open and Xena slides back into the water giving him a dirty look. He stares at her, silent. She shifts under his gaze, "Well?" "How?" He asks quietly. She laughs, pulling herself into his arms and wrapping her legs around him, "Isn't that obvious?" He smiles, then goes stiff in her arms, "The visions though. This isn't how it happens." She shrugs, "We changed things…again." He nods, then grows concerned, "The prophecy…the other Gods. This isn't good," he says, pulling away from her. She inhales sharply, "Excuse me?" He turns back to her, the concerned look growing, "They'll come after you, after her. Our focus needs to change. Forget Dahok, we need to protect you from my family." She growls, "I told you nothing was changing," she says, fists slamming into the water. He snarls, "That was before…" He starts, arms swinging wide. "That was five minutes ago," she snaps. He begins to respond, then stops, mouth opening and closing a few times. She smiles and motions for him to come near. He obeys, pulling her against him with a sigh. She tangles her hands behind his head, wrapping her legs around him, "Be happy," she says against his lips. He smiles, kissing her gently, arms sliding around her. She moans into his mouth, one hand wrapping in his hair, the other traveling down his chest, between their bodies. He pauses, pulling from her with a questioning look, "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She growls, "Oh by the Gods. This is what I was talking about. Even Gods go stupid in the head…." She trails off seeing his unamused look. She closes her eyes and sighs, "It's fine. You can't do anything you haven't already done." She returns to his lips, "Kiss me," she orders when he doesn't immediately respond. Gently, carefully, he kisses her. She growls into his mouth and rubs against him, hand once more traveling lower. He moans when she wraps her hand around him. She smiles, guiding him into her. He growls into her mouth and she chuckles, moving against him. She pulls from his lips, head hanging back, breathing heavy. He stares at her throat, eyes full of passion and attacks the skin, nipping and kissing the tender flesh. She moans, hands running through his hair, holding him close as she rides him. Close to the edge she gasps and grinds against him, inhaling sharply and exhaling with small groans. He snatches at her lips, catching them with his own, swallowing the sweet noises escaping her. Feeling her tighten around him and grow tense in his arms he thrusts against her harder. She inhales sharply, matching his motions, then screams in his arms. He joins her in release, eyes closed, peace surrounding them for the moment.
Xena lifts her head, smiling softly, "See? No damage done," she says, sarcasm dripping from the words. Ares gives her an annoyed look, then shakes his head and changes the subject, "I'm worried about my family. When word gets to them, they'll come after you, after our daughter. We need to find a way to stop them." She shakes her head, "We need to focus on Dahok first. If we don't stop him no one, anywhere will be safe, including our child." He growls and snaps a portal open. Eli walks down an empty, dusty road, "Fine then, let's kill him and get it over with. No Eli, no Dahok, no threat. Then we can focus on bigger issues." She shakes her head, impatience showing, "He isn't a threat yet. If we kill him before Dahok claims him, we risk Dahok choosing another. If we don't stop Dahok himself, we'll end up chasing random people all over the known world for the rest of our days and the visions will never end. That isn't the life I want for myself or our daughter." He nods, "Alright then, what do you suggest? I'm done sitting around waiting for the Fates to show us an answer they obviously don't have, it's time for action." She shifts from his arms and leans against the side of the pool, hand resting on her stomach, thinking. Finally she nods, "You're right, it is time for action. Dahok hasn't made a move here in Greece yet and he hadn't been to Eire either. But Sumeria took quite a beating and so did Britannia. We should go to one of those places, places he had a following, call him out and defeat him there." He gives her a questioning look, "Call him out? How? I really doubt we can just say, ‘Hey Dahok, we're ready to kill you now, come on out,' and he'll just pop up ready for us to run him through." She gives him an annoyed look, "We'll give him what he needs, a sacrifice," she says in a quiet voice. He gives her a surprised look, "I thought you didn't like that idea, it would make us too much like Dahok?" She shakes her head sadly, "I don't see another way, do you?" He thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, "No, I don't." He pauses, then continues, "This all started in Britannia, that's where we should end it." Xena nods, not happy, but resigned, "Alright. When? And who do we sacrifice?" He shrugs, "The sooner the better. After all, you're not going to get less pregnant the longer we wait." She nods again, "Tomorrow then. Still, who do we sacrifice? How do we make that choice?" She questions. He shrugs, "Does it matter? We need a Warrior Heart, I have access to plenty of warriors." She scowls, "You would sacrifice one of your warriors to Dahok?" He nods, "If it meant stopping him, then yes." He pauses for a moment, "What about using Eli? Dahok uses him in the visions, why don't we use him?" She glances at the portal still open in Ares' hand and gives him a doubting look, "I don't think he qualifies as a Warrior Heart." They watch as Eli trips and stumbles on the path. Ares shakes his head, "But Dahok found him worthy. I think it's worth a shot. And if it doesn't work, what have we lost?" She scowls, "We would have killed an innocent man," she shouts. He raises an eyebrow, "Yes, but innocent for how long?" She shakes her head, looking away, then slowly nods, "We'll give it a try. If it doesn't work, we use me. I'll be the sacrifice and when Dahok materializes, you kill him. At least then, the rest of the world will be safe." He grabs her arms and shakes his head, "Not an option." She gives him a soft look, "I don't see another way." He shrugs, pulling her into his arms, "We'll figure it out. But self-sacrifice isn't the answer. And if I think for one minute that you're going to attempt to harm yourself, I won't hesitate to leave you here and take care of things myself." She stiffens in his arms, then nods, "You're right. If sacrificing Eli to his master doesn't work, then we'll regroup here, go back to the drawing board." He nods, rising from the water and leading Xena from the baths, "Go rest for few hours. I need to return to Anthony for a bit, then I'll join you." She shrugs from his arms, wrapping her robe around herself, "I could go with," she offers. He shakes his head, "You need rest," he says, then points towards her midsection, "For the baby." She rolls her eyes, then nods, "Fine. Don't take too long, okay?" He nods and disappears.
Xena enters her room and collapses onto the bed. She tosses the robe towards the wardrobe, then burrows under the blankets. Tossing a few times she lets out an agitated breath. She rises and grabs a thin gown from the closet and drapes it on. Glancing around, she leaves the room and goes down the hall to the banquet hall. She collects a plate of food and sits in front of the fire, silently eating. Food gone and growing bored, she calls, "Strife." He appears in a flash of light and glances around nervously. "Just me," she says. He relaxes a degree, "You need something?" She nods, "Ares is dealing with Anthony, I want to join him." Strife looks around, nervous, "What does Ares think?" She shrugs, "Just take me there." Strife plants his feet, "No, I don't take orders from you." She raises an eyebrow, "Yes you do." He takes a step back and shakes his head, "I only answer to Ares." She growls, "Fine, what are you working on?" She questions. He doesn't answer right away and Xena raises an eyebrow giving him a hostile look. He takes another step back, "Overseeing offerings in Athens. The road is clear, people are offering their thanks to Lord Ares." She nods, then scowls, "Sounds boring." He looks offended, "It's important." She shrugs, "Take me to Eli then." He shakes his head, "Ares said he would deal with Eli, I'm not supposed to get involved. My job was to find him, that's it." He looks past her and his eyes darken and widen in fear. He stammers, "I wasn't doing anything, I swear." Xena follows his gaze and finds Ares standing in the doorway with a disappointed look. She gives him a small smile, "I called for him." Ares nods, "I know." He turns to Strife, "Leave. And Strife, I'm glad you know where your loyalties lie." Strife nods and disappears. Xena turns to Ares, "I was bored." He nods, "You were supposed to be resting." She shrugs, "How's Anthony?" He shakes his head and retreats from the room, "Fine. He and Octavius are on a boat to Egypt. It will take quite a bit of time for them to get there." She follows him into their room, "Do they have a plan?" He nods, "The beginnings of one. With Cleopatra's navy and backing they will have enough men to threaten Rome. With my backing and some extra men they should be able to eliminate the triumvirate with very little collateral damage. It all comes down to negotiation and patience." She nods, "More waiting." He nods, "Yeah, more waiting." He leads her to the bed and pushes on her shoulder, urging her to rest. She nods and lays down. He strips off the leather and joins her, pulling her into his arms. She relaxes in his arms and is soon asleep.
Ares slips into dreamland and at first there are no visions, then the Fates interrupt his peaceful slumber. He stands in a building with villagers all around and Xena and Gabrielle standing in front of him. Xena's heavily pregnant and looking annoyed. He smirks at her, "You, on the other hand, have been keeping yourself busy. I wish I'd known you were lookin' for a father." She glares at him, "I'm not." He raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Well, somebody clearly got the job." She smirks, "Yeah, Gabrielle," she says, jerking her head at her companion. Eli stands in front of Xena, a white light spread behind him, "Thank you Xena, for keeping my cause alive." The vision pauses and stutters, then Xena has a shocked look on her face, "It was you along? You gave me this child?" Again the vision pauses and stutters then Eli responds, "Love is the way." Xena stands in front of him in his Temple in Amphipolis. She gives him a look, "Olympus is doomed. Zeus is dead. And whatever happens here, their reign is over. Look, you want immortality? A child is immortality, a legacy, a lineage. You help me save my daughter and you will be her father. Through her, we can live forever." There is a brief clip of them standing in a dark Temple, facing the three Fates, Xena wearing a white dress and carrying flowers. It changes and they are standing on a tree branch watching armies approach. Ares speaks, "I'm more than willing to fight beside you, be a father to Eve, and to a child, of our own." Xena glares, "That's your game. Now that you feel you're checking out, you want a child to carry on your line." He shrugs, "I know it's not real immortality, but it's better than nothing. Besides mortals do it all the time. Why not me?" She snaps, "Because you're a conniving bastard! That's why not you." He responds, "Only because you never believe me when I'm trying to be sincere." "Sincere?" She questions, disbelieving. "I'm trying, OK?" He responds, then continues, "Every God on Mount Olympus is targeting you. Even now, three Temple armies are closing in. Now, all I'm asking, is your word we will be together, have a child, and I'll make all this go away. I swear." Ares jerks in his sleep and wakes. He glances at Xena, sleeping in his arms and rests a hand over her stomach, returning to sleep.
Ares wakes to the sun beating down on his back. With an agitated sigh the blinds snap closed over the window. Xena shifts in his arms, rolling to face him. She brushes her lips against his, "Mornin'." He deepens the kiss for a moment, then retreats. He gives her a dark look, "There were more visions last night." She sighs, saddened, "Were they bad?" He shrugs, "The child isn't mine, it's Eli's, Dahok's." She curls her lip up and retreats from his arms, sitting up, "What?" She asks, disgust in her voice. He sits next to her and opens a portal, "See for yourself." The visions begin to play and as they do Xena's face darkens. They begin to repeat and she waves her hand, scowling, "This makes no sense." He shrugs, closing the portal, "If the child was supposed to be Eli's, then we really have changed things, probably for the better." She nods, then shakes her head, "Mabon said we had doomed us all. I'm assuming that has something to do with my pregnancy." He nods, "I guess Mabon sides with Eli. Maybe he doesn't know Eli is Dahok's pawn." She gives him a doubting look, "That little brat knew I was pregnant and he knows the future, I'm sure he knows Eli works for Dahok." He throws his hands up in frustration, "Yeah, well, I don't have any other answers." She thinks for a moment, "The Knights of the Pierced Heart spoke of a child of the dark and a child of the light. Both would come into this world in a similar way. We know Hope was the child of darkness, evil. What if I was supposed to carry the child of light?" He nods, "It's possible. But still, the child would be a pawn of Dahok, capable of bringing him into this world." She nods, "I can't explain it. It doesn't matter now anyway. This child is yours and Eli will be dead by the end of the day, hopefully Dahok with him." Ares nods, "You still think this is the best approach?" She shrugs, "Not really, but I can't come up with another option and I won't have my child growing up in constant fear." He nods, "Alright, let's get going then. No time like the present." She nods and rolls from the bed, tossing the silk gown towards a chair in the corner. He stares up at her, "Or it could wait a few minutes," he says, giving her a hungry look. She smirks and shakes her head, then goes to the chest and begins pulling on her leather. He sighs and stands, leather appearing with a thought, then reaches into the chest and pulls out the Hind's Blood and the Stone of Creation. They both eye the items for a minute, then he tucks them into his vest.
Xena enters the banquet hall and begins to fill a plate. She sits in front of the fire and Ares sits next to her watching. She gives him a curious look, "There was a scene of us facing the Fates. There weren't any words or anything, but it looked important." Ares nods and brings up the visions in a portal, pausing it on the one she spoke of. He smirks, "That is a marriage ceremony, in front of the Fates. It's eternal and unbreakable." She nods, "I thought as much. It's…Interesting," she finishes quietly. He stares at her, eyebrow raised, "Interesting? I was thinking it was a good idea." She pauses, food midway to her mouth, then gives him a small smile before continuing her meal. He watches her, unsure, and shifts uncomfortably, "It would set a good example for the baby. And prove to Hercules and Gabrielle that we are serious. And it would give you and the baby some measure of protection from my family." She nods, still smiling a little and eating her meal, silently. He stares at her, "Say something," he orders. She purses her lips, "Are you asking or justifying? Because it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself." He smirks at her, "If I were asking?" She shrugs, "I don't play with what ifs. Ask and find out." He looks her over, searching for a clue to her answer. She purses her lips giving him a daring look. He smirks and pushes the plate from her hands, sliding from his chair to his knees in front of her and taking both her hands in his own, "Marry me?" He asks. She smiles and slides to kneel in front of him, nodding her head and biting her lips together. He smiles and claims her lips in a passionate kiss. She responds, then pulls back, "After we defeat Dahok." He nods, "Of course. Although the battle would be easier and less risky if you were already a Goddess." She pauses, inhaling sharply, "Goddess?" She questions, returning to her chair and grabbing her plate. He nods, "Yeah. You make that sort of bond, commitment to a God and there are perks. The bond is eternal which means you will need to be eternal, immortal." She begins to look nervous, "I've never wanted to be a Goddess, we've been through this before, more than once." He scowls, returning to his chair, eyeing her, "Just what did you think I was asking for? I want you to be with me forever, not just the few years that mortals live for." She nods, "I know, but I have friends, family. What about Mother and Solan? Gabrielle?" He places a hand over her stomach, "What about our daughter? Should she have to lose her mother when there is another way? And think of all the good you could do as the Goddess of War. Look at what you've done with Athens and Rome. Think of how much you could help with Strife and maybe with your help Deimos can be a God that I don't try to hide in a closet. And you could protect the people you love." She inhales sharply and sits silently, thinking and eating. He opens a portal of the visions. Xena is dragging a bleeding Gabrielle and has Eve hanging on her for support, "This wouldn't happen." He changes it to one of Xena resting in the ice coffin, "And neither would this." He changes it again to the one of Xena in the robes of a Shamaness, screaming over a funeral pyre, "Or this. You would have the power to stop it all." Xena watches the images, then nods slowly, "Not now though. I don't want to go into battle with powers I can't control. And I want a chance to talk to my family first." He nods, "But you are saying yes? To the whole thing?" She nods, flashing a bright smile, "I'm saying yes. I'm yours for eternity." He sighs, releasing a breath he'd been holding for a few minutes, then curls his lip, "I'll have to break the news to Mom and Zeus." She chuckles, "Should be an interesting conversation. But when they hear that we've defeated Dahok, together, they should take the news of our marriage pretty well." He shrugs, "Zeus will, I'm not sure about Mom. She might view you as a threat. I'm all she has, Zeus has seen to that." Xena smiles, thinking back to her conversation with Hera, "Give her some credit. I'm not stealing you away from her. I'm giving her a daughter and a granddaughter. And who knows? Maybe more." He gives her a hungry look, "More, huh?" She shrugs, "Eventually." He smirks, then points at her plate, "Hurry up, we have an evil God to stop." She nods and returns to her meal.
Meal finished, Xena rises and turns to Ares, "Alright, let's go." He shakes his head, "Not quite yet." He turns from her, "Strife, meet us in the weapon's locker." He turns back to Xena and extends a hand, "Come on, let's pick out some new toys. The death of the Great Ultimate Evil deserves a special weapon." She fingers her Chakram, then takes his hand. They appear in the weapon's hall and Strife takes a step back. "Uncle, Xena," he greets, nodding to each. Ares releases Xena and she begins to pick through the weapons, drawing a few to examine their blades and give them an experimental twirl. Ares watches her, then turns to Strife, "We're going after Eli and Dahok. I want you to stay here and take care of things. We shouldn't be long, but you have to keep an eye on Athens. Athena might try to rise against us in my absence." Strife nods, "Right, Unc. Got it. Don't worry about a thing." Xena passes them and Ares grabs her arm, forcing her to his side. She glares at him. He turns back to Strife, "From now on, her orders are to be treated as if they came from me, understood?" Strife nods. Ares glances at Xena, a question in his gaze, then his eyes dart to Strife. She rolls her eyes, but nods, "If he can keep his mouth shut," she says. Ares nods and turns back to Strife, "Can you?" Strife nods, eager to learn the secret. Ares gives him a warning look, "I'm serious, Strife." Strife nods again, "Lips are sealed." Ares nods in return, "Xena has agreed to be my wife and the Goddess of War and-" Xena interrupts him, "I'm pregnant." Strife's eyes go wider with each word, then he smiles and realization shoots into his eyes, "That's why you wanted to talk to Hera!" Ares turns sharply to Xena, "You went to my mother?" She nods, "I wanted to make sure I was pregnant before I told you." He gives her a dark look, "That was risky, too risky. She could have…" He trails off and Xena places a finger over his lips, "She didn't. We came to an understanding." He nods and she removes her finger, then turns to Strife with a harsh glare, "That was supposed to stay between us," she reminds him. He shrinks under her look, "Sorry. I'll do better next time," he says, looking like a scolded puppy. She nods, "You had better," she warns. Ares turns to him, "Leave now. Remember to check on Athens and keep your mouth shut." Strife nods and disappears. Xena stares at the spot where he had stood, "He's going to take a lot of work and patience." Ares nods, "Yeah, but we've got nothing but time." She smiles and motions around the room, "I grabbed a few daggers, but really there's nothing I need other than my sword and Chakram." Ares nods and walks to a small table, opening a decorative box and pulling out a gorgeous dagger with stones decorating the hilt. "Years ago, a King left this as an offering in one of my Temples, it had been passed down through his family for generations. He had no sons and not wanting it to go to his undeserving brother, he gave it to me. What he didn't know is that the dagger originally came from me, so many generations before his time that it had been lost to history. It is one of Hephaestus' daggers, very beautiful, very powerful. It was going to be yours till you left me. I've never found another worthy. Now, I think it's fitting that we use it to stop Dahok, together." She takes the dagger from his hand and examines it, then nods, "It's perfect." He nods, agreeing with her then offers her a decorative sheath. She sheaths the dagger then clips it to her waist, opposite her Chakram. She glances around the room, then turns to Ares, "Ready?" She asks. He nods and takes her hand, taking them both through the ether.
Ares steps out of the ether, Xena behind him, on a dirt road. Eli walks ahead of them, dragging a trunk behind him. Xena steps out from behind Ares and starts to approach Eli, taking careful steps, not making a noise. Ares follows her lead, approaching Eli on the opposite side. Xena approaches behind Eli and silently puts the pinch on him. He collapses to the ground, gasping, reaching for his neck, eyes wide, "What?" His eyes dart around, landing first on Ares, then Xena. Fear fills his gaze, "What do you want?" He chokes out, blood beginning to drip from his nose. Xena releases the pinch, "Now that we have your attention, we're here to stop your master." Eli sags to the ground, breathing heavy, hands rubbing his neck, "My master?" He asks with a weak voice. Ares nods, "Dahok." Eli looks up at him, "Dahok? I've never heard of him. You must have me confused with someone else. I'm just a magician, honest, I use illusions to bring people joy." Ares scowls, drawing his blade. Xena places a hand over his, "Wait," she says, then turns to Eli, "You haven't heard of Dahok?" Eli shakes his head and Ares advances, "He's lying," he says, then turns to Eli, "We saw you working for Dahok, we know you side with him." He begins to advance again, but Xena grabs his arm, "What if that hasn't happened yet?" Ares shrugs, "Doesn't matter, this has to done. We have to stop Dahok." Xena nods and draws her sword. She closes her eyes briefly, then shakes her head and scowls, "Not here. Britannia, like you said." She grabs Eli and holds her sword to his throat, "Don't move," she warns him. Ares sheaths his sword and places a hand on Xena's shoulder, whisking them to Britannia through the ether.
They arrive in the ruins of Dahok's Temple in Britannia. Eli falls to his knees, stumbling on the rubble. Ares stares down at him and shakes his head, then drags him to his feet by the shirt collar and ushers him to the remnants of the altar. He forces Eli to stare down into the depths of the hole and the man begins to shake in fear. Xena follows, "I hope this works," she says quietly. She draws her sword and nods towards Ares. He releases Eli and takes a step back. Eli remains in place, staring into the deep darkness, shaking in fear. Xena closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, "Here it goes," she whispers on an exhale. She raises her sword over Eli's neck and scowls at the sky, "Dahok, here me. With this sacrifice of your servant, I demand your presence. With this sacrifice of a Warrior's Heart, I let you into this world." She opens her eyes and with a harsh look brings her sword down over Eli's neck, severing head from body. His body slumps, blood spewing to the ground and the head falls down into the pit. Xena and Ares both wait and watch, eyes darting around, looking for Dahok. Finally, Xena's shoulders fall and she wipes her blade on Eli's robes, then sheaths it, "We were wrong, this isn't going to work." Ares gives her a dark look, eyes still darting around, "Patience, Xena. Something isn't right, something is changing." She unsheathes the decorative dagger from her hip and reaches into Ares' vest, removing the Hind's Blood and smearing it onto the blade, then returns the pendent to him. He removes the stone, curling his hand around it, keeping it hidden from sight. Both grow tense, ready for battle, ready for anything.
The skies of Britannia grow dark and the sun is blocked by a red moon. Xena's gaze darts upwards, "This happened when Hope was born." Ares nods and moves to stand closer to her, drawing his sword and looking around. Eli's body begins to glow on the ground and his head reattaches, appearing from nowhere. Slowly, he rises from the ground and brushes himself off, the blood flying from his form with the wave of his hand. He turns and a hideous sneer covers his face, "You," he growls, eyeing both Ares and Xena. Xena smirks, "Dahok," she greets coolly. He walks towards her, eyes raking over her, then he smiles, a cold wicked smile, "You're with child." He turns to Ares, "This must be your doing. Pity, I had such plans for you, Olympian." Ares shrugs, "Plans change, Dahok." Dahok gives a harsh laugh, "Now that I have human form, you can't stop me. I will take over the world, one land at a time. When I am done no one will stand against me. And I will start here, with you two." He moves towards Xena and Ares tosses the stone into the air, hovering it above Dahok, then forces the darkness in the sky to crack so a single light shines down on the stone. A blue light flies from the stone and Dahok falls to his knees, breathing heavy. "Weren't expecting that, were you?" Ares asks, breathing labored from the effort of holding Dahok's darkness at bay. Dahok screams, a mad angry scream then laughs, "It doesn't matter. The stone can only hold me for a time, then I will be free and there is nothing you can do about it. Xena points the dagger at him, "Want to place a bet on that?" She asks, letting him see the red liquid on the blade. For a moment, fear invades his eyes, then cockiness replaces it, "You won't kill me in cold blood. It isn't your way." Xena sneers, "My way changes when the people I love are threatened," she says. Fear returns to his gaze and he eyes her hand holding the dagger. "I can give you greatness, anything and everything you want," he offers. She scowls, "You can't offer me anything I haven't already gotten on my own." She shoots Ares a small smile and he returns it, then he turns to Dahok, "What else have you got, Oh Great Darkness?" Dahok shrieks and turns to Ares, "You could rule at my side," he offers. Ares laughs and shakes his head, "I'd rather rule at her side," he says, motioning to Xena. She smiles, then gives Dahok a dark look, "Leave this world and never return. If you do, we'll come after you, no matter where you are or when it is." Dahok gives a cruel mocking laugh, "Puny mortal, threatening a God older than the world. And how do you plan to chase me through time, mortal?" She smirks, "Dahok, meet the new Goddess of War. What's a little time to an immortal?" Fear clouds his eyes and he begins to struggle against the hold of the Stone of Creation, jerking from side to side. Ares brightens the light shining through the stone and Dahok stops moving, held in its beam. He turns to Xena, "It's time to end this." Xena nods, "For the future and for children everywhere." She stabs Dahok in the heart with the Hind's Blood coated dagger, then pulls away. At first, nothing happens and Dahok lets out a laugh. Then blood bubbles in his mouth and he chokes, spewing blood everywhere. Ares and Xena back away as the darkness of Dahok fades from the sky and the Stone of Creation falls to the ground and the blue light holding Dahok fades away. Dahok rolls on the ground and tries to pull himself to them, uttering words in another language. Then the light in his eyes fades, the blood spewing from his mouth turns into a sluggish trail and he freezes in place. The wind picks up, attacking them and Dahok's still form. It whips Xena's hair around her and as they watch Dahok he disintegrates and blows away, disappearing before their eyes. Ares stares at the spot Dahok had been, nothing remains now, not even the blood. He picks up the Stone of Creation and tucks it into his vest, "It's over," he states, not quite believing it. Xena turns to him, beaming, "It's over," she repeats, then stares at the dagger in her hand. Where there had been Hind's Blood and Dahok's blood mixed on the blade, it is now clean. She shows it to Ares and he smiles, wrapping her in a tight embrace. She pulls away and sheaths the dagger, "Let's go home," she says. He nods and pulls her close, kissing her and melting into the ether.
Xena pulls from Ares' arms as they arrive in the Halls of War. She glances around, then sighs, "I can't believe it's over," she says quietly. Ares nods and runs a hand down her arm, "Dahok is defeated, but it isn't over. We still have to deal with my family, the Twilight, our daughter." She gives him a small smile and shakes her head, "I don't think so. The child that was going to bring about the Twilight was Eve, Dahok's child of light, not our daughter. I think she might be safe." He gives her a worried look, then offers her a hand, "Let's talk to the Fates, see if they can give us a straight answer for a change." She nods and takes his hand.
They arrive in the Fates' Temple, the Loom of Time shining in the middle of the room while the three Fates group around it. Clotho turns to them and gifts them with a rare smile, "You have done well, War God." Ares nods, "It's done then? No more Dahok? No more visions?" Lachesis nods, "For a time." Xena scowls, "A time?" Atropos smiles widely, "A long time, Warrior Princess or should we call you Goddess of War?" Xena gives the three a hard stare, "If you know about that then you know I'm pregnant." They nod and her hand drifts to her midsection, "Is this the child of prophecy? The Bringer of Twilight?" There is fear in her voice, fear and worry. Ares pulls her against him, offering her both support and comfort. The three sisters smile at each other, then Clotho shakes her head, "You have saved us all. Not just from the dark one, but the God of Love as well." Lachesis butts in, "Everyone, everywhere owes you their thanks. You truly are the savors of the world." Ares sighs and squeezes Xena's shoulder. Atropos approaches and lays a hand on Xena's stomach then smiles, "Strong girl," she says quietly, "Like her mother." She removes her hand and stares at it, "And stubborn," her gaze shifts to Ares, "Like her father." Ares smirks and shakes his head, "I'm not the only stubborn one," he mutters. Xena elbows him and he chuckles. Clotho comes near, stopping in front of them, "There is a favor you wish to ask of us," she states. Xena nods, "Later we want to be wed, here, by you," she says, motioning to the three. Clotho nods, "It shall be done. Return when you are ready, but know that once this commitment is made, neither of you can break it, ever." Xena and Ares smile at each other and Ares nods at the Fates, "That's kind of the point," he tells them. Xena smiles then turns from the Fates, "Ready to go?" She asks Ares. He holds up a hand, "In a minute," he tells her. He turns to the three Fates, "Thank you. You didn't have to give the visions to me or answer any of my questions, you did and I'm grateful. If you ever need us, we're yours." Lachesis gives him a kind smile, "We will hold you to that, War Gods." He nods and offers Xena a hand, "Home?" He asks. She shakes her head, "Olympus." He inhales sharply, "A stop off first, then," he says, whisking her through the ether.
Xena glances around their bedroom in the Halls of War, then turns a questioning look towards Ares. He removes the Hind's Blood pendent, now mostly empty, and the Stone of Creation from his vest and places them in the chest. "Change," he orders, motioning first to her armor then the closet. She rolls her eyes, "Seriously?" He smirks and approaches her, "Yeah, seriously. This," he says, pointing from himself to her and back again, "Is not just business," he tells her, repeating her words from the other day. She smiles and chuckles, then begins to strip off the armor, leather, and weapons. He watches her, eyes darkening with lust. She notices and shakes her head, "Stop or we'll never make it to Olympus." He sighs and nods, relaxing onto the bed, watching her strut naked to the closet. He watches as she thumbs through the gowns in the closet, "Are you sure that you want to talk to my family first?" She grabs a burgundy dress from the closet and slips it on over her head, pulling it down to flow around her, "Yes, I'm sure. If any of them are going to cause us problems, I want to know now so we can make a plan to deal with them." He glances at the chest, "We've always got the Hind's Blood," he says casually. She glares at him and shakes her head. He shrugs, "Just a thought." She puts the Chakram necklace on, then turns to him, hands held up, "Well?" He nods and points at her waist. A sash appears, wrapped tightly, above her hips, "Attach the dagger, it's best to be armed around my family." She grins and slips the sheathed dagger into her waist band. Another wave of his hand and her hair piles on her head in an intricate display, "There. You look like a Queen." She struts into his arms, "But do I look like your Goddess?" He pulls her close and brushes his lips over hers, "Oh yeah, most definitely." She smiles against his lips, "Good, let's go." He nods and wrapping an arm around her waist, they disappear.
Cautiously Ares exits the ether and glances around Olympus, then pulls Xena out behind him. She immediately moves to his side, giving him a dirty scowl, "Don't try to protect me." He turns to her, anger in his eyes, "Right now, here, I will protect you and you will accept it. My family can be dangerous and unpredictable on their best days," he warns. She nods, "Alright, fine." She glances around, taking in the bright lights and the golden walls, "Where do we start?" He shrugs and closes his eyes, searching the ether for the majority of his family. Opening his eyes he points down a hall, "Main hall. They felt Dahok exit our world, they're waiting for us, well for me, but if there's a time when they'll welcome you, it's now." She nods and follows him down the hall. Ares stops at a large golden door. His hand goes to the lever, then he pauses and looks at Xena, "If any of them make a wrong move, I'm getting you out of there. Understand?" She nods, "It will be alright, don't worry so much." He growls, then shakes his head and swings the door open.
As they enter the room, there is applause that ends with shocked murmurs. Aphrodite continues to clap, then rushes and grabs her brother by the neck, swinging around him, "You rock, Bro," she squeals, then glances at Xena, "Nice job, Warrior Babe." Xena smiles and chuckles while Ares untangles his sisters' hands from around his neck. Aphrodite releases him, then turns to the rest of the family, "Like, wow, I thought we were gonna celebrate. What's with all the harsh vibes?" Athena steps forward, "Ares, why is your pet here?" Xena's eyes flare and she starts towards Athena, but Ares grabs her arm, pulling her back to his side and shaking his head. "Knock it off Athena," he orders. Athena scowls and moves to stand at Zeus' left. Hera, on his right, walks from the dais and pulls Ares into her arms, "Well done," she says quietly. He nods and wraps an arm around his mother. She pulls away and to the shock of all gathered, pulls Xena into her arms, "You are risking much," she warns. Xena nods against her shoulder, "I love him," she quietly replies. Hera turns to Ares, keeping her voice quiet, "What are your intentions here?" She asks, eyes darting from him to Xena and back. He leans close to his mother, "She's carrying my child. We're getting married, in front of the Fates. She's going to be my Goddess." Hera inhales sharply and turns a questioning look to Xena. Xena smiles, "I told you I wasn't going anywhere." Hera smiles and lets out a bark of laughter, making others in the hall jump, "That you did." She turns back to Ares, "You have my blessing." She eyes Xena and offers her hand to her, "Welcome to the family," she says. Xena takes her hand gently, then together with Hera and now Strife following them, they approach Zeus. Aphrodite comes to Ares' side, "I'm not sure what's going on, but you have my support, Bro." He nods and stares up at his father. Zeus looks down at him with pride and anger in his eyes. Zeus turns his harsh look to Xena, "She helped defeat Dahok that is the only reason she still stands." Ares growls and starts towards his father, but Xena grabs his arm, shaking her head. Zeus watches them, intrigued, "There is more here than meets the eye. What is going on…Son?" Ares raises an eyebrow, "So, now I'm your son?" Xena elbows him, "Play nice," she warns him quietly. Again Zeus gives them a curious look, "Well?" Ares inhales deeply, "What do you know about recent events?" He asks. Zeus exhales heavily, "Dahok is gone, defeated by your hand with the mortal's help." Ares nods, "The Fates sent me visions of a horrible future. A future where Dahok won and we were all dead or dying. They said I couldn't defeat Dahok alone, they were right. I asked for Xena's help, she didn't disappoint me. Now, Dahok is gone, we are all safe and Xena and I will continue to work together as the God and Goddess of War. I'm not asking permission, I'm telling you what will happen." Everyone in the hall erupts, talking over each other, eyeing Xena, some in wonderment, others with violence in their gazes. Ares shifts closer to her, taking her hand and preparing to pull her into the ether. Zeus stares down at them, anger in his eyes, and something else, something not definable.
Zeus waves a hand over the hall, "Silence," he orders and everyone stops talking, turning their attention to Zeus. Zeus points at Xena, "Approach, Mortal." She moves towards him, but Ares doesn't release her. Hera puts a hand on her sons arm, then leads Xena by the shoulder to Zeus. Zeus looks her over, noting Hera's protective hand still resting on her shoulder. "You are impressive, for a mortal," he compliments. She gives him a small smile. He extends a hand to her and she takes it, moving closer to him. Behind them, Ares shifts and Hera holds up a halting hand. Zeus smiles, "You are aware that once this is done, it cannot be undone? Once you are a Goddess, his Goddess, there is no going back. You will lose all your mortal family, friends. Are you prepared to give all that up?" Xena's free hand goes to her stomach, then she turns and looks at Ares. She smiles and turns back to Zeus, "I am." His hand follows hers to her stomach and he gives her a shocked look, "You carry the blood of Olympus within you." He pauses and glances at Ares, then turns back to Xena, "No wonder he's so protective." He releases her and turns to Ares, "Approach," he orders. Ares climbs the dais steps and stops next to Xena, placing a hand on the small of her back. He gives Zeus an expectant look. Zeus nods, "You have my blessing, on one condition." Ares scowls, "Name it." Zeus smiles, "You have to stop going after Hercules." He turns to Hera, "Both of you." Hera and Ares scowl and share a look. Hera gives a small nod and Ares turns to a beaming Xena. He chuckles, shaking his head, "Like she would have it any other way?" He says, motioning towards Xena. Zeus smiles and hands him a small satchel, "When the time is right. But do it before the babe is born." Ares nods and tucks the satchel into his vest. Zeus rises from his throne and motions for them to turn around. They obey and look out over the gathered Gods and Goddesses. Zeus makes a grand gesture with his arms, "Meet the soon to be Goddess of War, Xena. She's part of the family now, welcome her." He eyes Athena and Discord, "Nicely," he adds. Discord throws her hands up in disgust and Athena curls her lip. Everyone else stares and begins to quietly talk amongst themselves.
Finally the talk dies down and Aphrodite rushes up to Xena, wrapping her in a tight hug, "Kick ass!" She exclaims. Xena smiles and nods, eyeing Ares, hoping for an explanation. He shrugs, "Thanks, Sis." She looks between them, "I really wish I could take credit for this. This is like, the hookup of the century." Xena chuckles, "Yeah, well, no offense, but I'm glad you had no part in it." Aphrodite huffs, then wrinkles her nose, "I guess this is better," she admits. Athena pushes her way passed Aphrodite and approaches Xena, "I hope you have plans on how to tame him," she says, eyes darting to her brother. Ares scowls, but Xena grins, "I have many skills, Athena." Athena rolls her eyes, "You must to keep his attention for more than it takes to-." Ares cuts her off, "Athena," he warns. Her eyes dart to him and she smirks, then turns back to Xena, "Welcome to the family and good luck." She walks away muttering, "You're going to need it." Xena raises an eyebrow at the retreating Goddess and gives Ares and questioning look. He shrugs, "That's Athena being nice." She curls her lip and nods. Discord approaches next. She grabs Ares' arm and hangs from it, "Ares, if I play nice with the new toy, can I come back? Please? I'll make sure you won't regret it," she says, giving him a lusty once over. He removes his arm from her grasp, but before he can answer, Xena grabs the back of her neck, forcing her head back. Discord glares at her, then goes slack in her grasp. Xena releases her, "Leave quickly," she warns. Discord huffs, "You need lieutenants!" Xena turns to Ares. He shrugs, "We have Strife and Deimos. We don't need you." Discord's eyes go wide, "Deimos?" She shrieks. Ares nods, as the Godling in question approaches, looking surprised and a little scared. Xena looks him over, not impressed, then turns to glance at Strife. She turns back to Ares, "How do you tell them apart?" Ares looks the two over and shrugs, "Wardrobe, laugh, aura, you'll figure it out pretty quickly." She nods and they turn back to Discord. Ares scowls at her and takes a threatening step forward, "You've been dismissed Discord, get a new life, a new God to follow around and annoy." She huffs and storms away. Several other Gods and Goddesses approach, most just curious about Xena, a few genuinely happy to welcome her to the family. Xena smiles and goes along with it all, growing more and more tired. She leans against Ares and he looks over at her, then smiles and wraps an arm around her. He turns to his family, holding Xena against him, "Sorry to cut the party short, but we, uh, have our own party to get to." Many present giggle, including Aphrodite. She waves at them, "Have fun." Ares shakes his head and holding Xena close, disappears.
Xena sighs and falls onto the bed upon exiting the ether. Ares looks down at her, amused, "Tired?" He asks. She nods, "Very. Between Dahok and your family…" She trails off and he nods, "Yeah, they're something, that's for sure." She smiles and sits up, "That didn't go badly. You had me prepared for a battle." He smiles at her and sits, unlacing the back of the gown for her, "Yeah, well, we caught them on a good day. They were all relieved and grateful that we had stopped Dahok. Any other time and things might not have gone so pleasantly." He slips the straps from her shoulders and she stands up allowing the dress to puddle at her feet. Slowly she bends and picks it up, hanging it in the closet and retrieving a short, thin, black gown made of silk. She puts the gown on then smiles when she sees Ares watching her, lust in his gaze. "Food?" She prompts. He points at the table in the corner and a plate with meats and breads appear. She goes to the table, grabbing the plate and returning to sit on the bed. A bite of food in her mouth and another on the way, she points at his vest, "What's in the satchel?" He removes it from his vest and opens it, letting her see the contents, "Ambrosia." She stares at it and he holds it out to her. She shakes her head, "Not yet. I want a chance to talk to Mother first. I don't want her finding out about this the wrong way. She's found out about so much in my life the wrong way." She pauses, then asks, "Why does it have to be done before the baby is born?" Ares answers, trying not to make a face at the way she's shoveling food into her mouth, "As long as you become a Goddess before the baby is born, she will be born a Goddess, otherwise she'll be a half breed like Hercules. It's no way to live." She nods, then pushes the empty plate aside. Ares glances at the plate and it disappears. She smiles, "Thanks." He nods and shrugs out of his vest, then tosses his belt and sword towards the chest. He lays down and she curls into his arms, pillowing her head on his chest. She shivers and a sheet appears over them. He runs a hand through her hair, "Rest, we'll be dealing with your mother in the morning." She chuckles, "You have no idea," she says quietly. He smiles and holds her close, falling asleep when her body goes lax in his arms.
Ares wakes to Xena propping her head up on his chest and smiling down at him. He leans forward and brushes his lips to hers. She smiles and deepens the kiss, then pulls away, "Not a bad way to wake up." He nods, "Sleep well?" He asks. She nods, "And you? Are the visions truly over?" He nods again, "They're over. So, I know you want to talk to your mother, anyone else?" She smiles, "Well, we will be in Corinth and I should let Hercules know that we defeated Dahok. Maybe you could try to make peace with him," she suggests. He glares at her and shakes his head, "That's not going to happen anytime soon. I said I would leave him alone, not make peace with the mongrel." She lets out an aggravated sigh and rolls off his chest, opening the closet and thumbing through the gowns. He raises an eyebrow, "No armor?" He asks, sounding disappointed. She smiles and shakes her head, "Wrong message," she explains, simply. He nods and rises from the bed, grabbing his vest and belt from on top of the chest. She grabs a green dress and steps into it, pulling her hair to the side and turning her back to Ares. His eyes follow the length of exposed skin, then meet her impatient look. He smirks and begins to lace the dress, "Alright so you're going to talk to your mother and I suppose Hercules, what about Gabrielle and Solan?" She glances at him, "First, we are talking to my mother and Hercules, not just me. Let's see how it goes with Mom, then I'll decide if it's time to tell Gabrielle." He eyes her, "And Solan? As a Goddess you can protect him. You could be a part of his life." She looks down, sad, "He has a family, I can't take that away from him. Maybe I should tell him, maybe," she pauses then shakes her head, "I don't know." He wraps his hands over her shoulders, giving them a tight squeeze, "Come on, let's get going." She nods and he pulls her into the ether, taking them both to Corinth.
A surprised screech greets them as they step from the ether. Xena glances around and sees that they had arrived in the middle of the gardens, directly in front of her mom. She shoots Ares a look, "Show off," she accuses. He smirks. Cyrene smiles and rushes to hug Xena, then pulls away and eyes Ares before turning her attention back to her daughter, "Xena, it's so good to see you. And you look lovely, what's the occasion?" Xena smiles awkwardly and leads her mother to a bench, "You should sit down." Cyrene sits and Xena sits next to her, holding one of her hands. Ares stands in front of them and Cyrene glances up at him nervously. Xena eyes him and scoots closer to her mother, "Sit," she orders. He sighs and sits next to her an arm casually draping around her shoulders. Cyrene takes notice, then eyes Xena, "What's going on?" Xena's eyes dart to Ares, then return to her mother, "We stopped Dahok, it's over, you can return home." Cyrene smiles brightly, then her brow scrunches, "We?" She asks, eyeing Ares. He nods and Xena squeezes her mom's hand, grabbing the woman's attention. Cyrene nods, "Oh, the two of you? Together?" Xena nods, "Yes, together." Cyrene nods and she stares at Ares' arm, still draped around her daughter. She returns her attention to Xena, questions in her eyes, "Xena, has something happened?" Xena nods, "You could say that. Mom, remember when we were getting ready for dinner and you asked if there was a man in my life?" Cyrene nods, "A good man, I specified a good man, Xena." Ares scowls, "Well, isn't this going great?" Xena elbows him and shakes her head. He squeezes her shoulder, then looks at Cyrene, "I'm not that bad," he assures her. She gives him a disbelieving glare, "Oh, I'm sorry, but the last time I saw you, you were trying to convince my daughter to kill me." He shrugs, "Not my finest moment." Cyrene begins to respond and Xena holds a hand up between them, then turns to her mother, "We're getting married," she announces. Cyrene inhales sharply and her mouth hangs open, "Married?" Xena nods and takes her mother's hand, leading it to her midsection, "I'm with child," she adds. Cyrene's hand shoots to her mouth, covering a surprised gasp. She gives her mother a moment to take it all in, then gives her a concerned look, "There's more." Cyrene looks unsure, "More?" Xena nods, "Our marriage will be an eternal bond. I'm going to be the Goddess of War. Your granddaughter will be a Goddess." Cyrene doesn't react, just stares at Xena's stomach. Xena squeezes her hand and places her other hand on her mother's shoulder, "Are you alright?" She asks. Cyrene inhales sharply, suddenly nodding her head. She gives Xena an unsure smile, "This is what you want? He will make you happy?" Xena smiles and nods, "Very happy." Cyrene nods, eyes cast off to the side and remains silent for a moment. Finally she meets her daughter's eyes, "Alright. I want to talk to my new son-in-law," she pauses, then adds, "Alone." Xena nods and rises, "I skipped breakfast, I'll be in the kitchen." Cyrene nods and Ares eyes her, looking like he had been thrown into the lion's den.
Both Ares and Cyrene watch Xena until she fades from sight, then Cyrene turns to give Ares a dark look, crossing her arms over her chest. He eyes her crossing his own arms, "Yes?" She glares, "You hurt her," she accuses. He starts to object, explain, but she holds up a hand, "She doesn't speak of it, but I've heard the stories. I know I'm just a mortal but if this is some scheme, some new way to hurt my daughter, I will come after you. Am I making myself clear?" He eyes her, trying to hide a smile, "Crystal." They sit in silence for a moment, then he continues, "It's not a scheme. I love her." She nods, "You had better," she warns. She stays quiet for a moment, then her look softens a degree, "Xena has always been difficult." He chuckles and she continues, "It's made her life hard and miserable at times. If being with you can make her life better, make her happy, then I support you two in this." He nods, "I appreciate that, she will too." She gives him a questioning look, "Will I get to be a part of my granddaughter's life? I mean will that be allowed?" He laughs lightly, "Xena would have it no other way, I'm sure." She smiles and laughs to herself, shaking her head, "You're going to have your hands full with her," she warns. He nods, "I know." He eyes her for a moment, "How did you survive?" He questions, looking her up and down. Cyrene smiles and laughs, patting his arm, "Lots of patience and maybe a little luck," she confides. He laughs with her for a moment, then motions towards the Palace, "If you're done threatening me, we should find Xena." He rises and offers her a hand up. She smiles and accepts his hand, then allows him to lead her into the Palace.
Xena looks up from her plate and sees Ares leading her mother into the kitchen. She smiles, "Everything alright?" She asks, eyeing each of them. Cyrene smiles and rushes to her side, wrapping her in a tight hug, "Congratulations." Xena smiles, returning her mother's embrace, "Thanks, Mom." Cyrene pulls away and eyes Xena's midsection for a minute, then shakes her head. "So," she starts, "The wedding, when? Where? Am I invited?" Xena glances at Ares and he gives a small shake of his head. Xena turns back to her mother, "It's a private ceremony, in front of the Fates. It'll just be us." Cyrene looks disappointed, then shrugs, "Well then, the wedding feast will be at the inn and I will not take no for an answer. Is that clear?" Xena nods, eyes wide. Cyrene turns her stare to Ares. He holds his hands up, "No argument from me." She nods, "Good. Speaking of my inn, I need to be getting back to it. I'll go pack." She turns her full attention to Xena, "Hercules is upstairs, main hall, last I saw. Talk to him." Xena nods, "Alright, Mom. How long do you need to pack?" Cyrene shrugs, "Not long. Queen Rena supplied most of my clothes while I've been here, so mine stayed packed. I only unpacked a few personal items." Xena nods, "Come on down when you're done. We'll take you home." Cyrene pats her arm, then leaves the kitchen. Ares stares after her, "She's a scary woman, for a mortal. I see where you get it from." She smirks at him, then grabs a biscuit and leads him from the kitchen.
Hearing a noise in the hall, Hercules pokes his head out of a sitting room and smiles at Xena, then scowls seeing Ares at her side. Xena squeezes Ares' hand, then releases him and rushes to give Hercules a hug. She pulls out of his arms and beams at him, "We did it," she says excitedly. He stares at her, mouth agape, "Defeated Dahok?" She nods, "He's gone, for now. He'll be back eventually, to try again, but it will take him quite a bit of time." Hercules smiles, "Congratulations, that's amazing. How did you do it?" Xena glances back at Ares, "With help." Hercules follows her gaze and eyes his brother, unsure, "You followed through? I'm…Surprised, pleasantly so." Ares rolls his eyes and shakes his head, refraining from stirring up trouble, "Yeah, well, I'm just full of surprises, huh Little Brother?" Hercules growls and takes a step forward. Xena's hand bolts out and halts his progress, "Enough," she orders in a hard voice. Hercules turns to stare at her surprised. Ares gives her lusty look. She smirks at him, then turns to Hercules, "We all need to talk. Let's sit down," she says motioning to the room behind Hercules. He nods and opens the door widely, allowing them to follow him in. Xena glances back at the door, then her eyes dart to Ares. He nods and waves a hand over the door, making it close on its own.
Hercules sits on a couch and Xena sits opposite him. Ares begins to walk behind Xena, intending on standing over her, but she grabs his arm and urges him to sit next to her. Hercules eyes her hand, resting on his brother's arm. He scowls, "So, this is still going on?" He asks, pointing back and forth between them. Ares chuckles, "You could say that." Hercules growls and Xena holds her hand up, motioning for silence. Ares relaxes into the couch, draping one arm around Xena and resting the other on her thigh. Hercules eyes the hand, then looks up at Xena, "Can we speak, privately?" He asks, eyes darting to Ares. She shakes her head, "Not this time." He scowls, "Xena, you need to listen to me. I know my brother." She feels Ares tense and places a hand on his leg, giving a small shake of her head. She squeezes his leg, then returns her attention to Hercules, "We're getting married." His mouth falls open, then snaps closed with an audible clack as his teeth hit. He scowls, "Over my dead body." Ares chuckles, "That can be arranged." Hercules starts to respond, but again Xena throws her hand up, "Enough," she says, slightly exasperated. She eyes Hercules, "You have no say in this, understand?" Weakly, he nods, eyes cast down. "The wedding will be in front of the Fates, you know what that means," she continues. His eyes shoot up, first looking to her, then Ares, "It's eternal, unbreakable." Quietly he adds, "To betray your spouse is to betray yourself." He gives Ares a questioning look, unable to find an argument. Ares smirks at his confused brother, "I have a thing for her." Hercules scowls, then turns his attention to Xena, "Your mortal, how does that work?" He questions. She gives him a small smile and starts to answer, but Ares beats her to it, "She's going to be my Goddess, Hercules. How did you think it would work?" Xena elbows him and he smirks, turning to her, "What? He asked a stupid question." She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, "Tact." He shrugs and they both turn to stare at a silent Hercules. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, then sighs and eyes Xena, "A Goddess?" She nods, "Yeah." He turns a dark look to Ares, "I suppose that was your idea?" Ares nods, "It's the only way." His hand moves from her thigh to her waist, "She's with child. If she's going to be my wife and the mother to my child, then she should be my Goddess as well." Hercules stares at her midsection, then his eyes dart up to Xena's, "You're with child?" He asks softly. She nods. He sighs, "Have you really thought about what this will mean for you? For your child?" She nods, "I've made up my mind. And maybe things won't always be easy and we won't always agree, but that's okay. We love each other and we're going to be a family. That's all that matters." Hercules sighs and closes his eyes briefly, "There's nothing I can say to change your mind?" He questions, eyeing Xena. She shakes her head, giving him an annoyed look. He nods, then extends a hand to her, "Congratulations." She beams at him and takes his hand. He shakes her hand briefly then releases it and turns to his brother. He offers Ares his hand, "Congratulations, Brother." Shocked, Ares takes his hand, "Thanks, Hercules." Hercules nods and adds on, "Hurt her and I will chase you down and make you suffer for eternity." Xena chuckles and shakes her head. Ares just smiles at the possibly not so idle threat.
From the door Cyrene smiles and laughs, "Well, that's a start." They all turn their attention to her. She enters the room, carrying a couple of bags. She sets them down and sits on a chair, looking concerned. Xena gives her mother a look, "What is it?" Cyrene's look turns guilty, "Xena, I've been talking to Solan. I told him that I'm his grandmother." Xena's eyes turn dark and distressed, "Mother! You promised." Cyrene's hands shoot up in a calming gesture, "Now, now. I didn't tell him that you were his mother. I told him you were his aunt and that my younger, deceased daughter was his mother. I couldn't come up with a reason for the interest you and I were showing in him without admitting a family tie of some sort. He wants to live with me in Amphipolis. He's a good boy, doesn't want his grandmother living alone, taking care of an inn all by herself. Kaliapus is fine with it, feels that it is a good move for him. Are you comfortable with it?" Xena sits for a moment, taking in a deep breath, thinking, then nods, "That's a wonderful idea, Mother. I don't like you being alone either. I wish you would have discussed this with me first though." Cyrene lets out a deep breath, "Would you like me to tell him?" Xena shakes her head, "No, I'll tell him myself. Where is he?" Cyrene points in the direction she had come from, "His room, packing, I'm sure." Xena rises and so does Ares. She glances at him a question in her gaze. "I need to talk to Kaliapus real quick. Let him know it's safe to return home and that you will be the new Goddess of War." She nods, "Of course." She glances back at Hercules, "Do me a favor?" She asks. He nods, "Anything." She smiles, "Get Argo ready for me." He nods, "Of course." She smiles, "Thanks Hercules." She turns to her mother, "We'll be back real soon, then we'll take you and Solan home." Cyrene nods, "Sounds like a plan. I'll be in the kitchen, packing a meal to go." Xena nods and leaves the room with everyone following her, then heading in their separate ways.
Xena makes her way up the stairs and knocks on Solan's door. There's rushing behind the door, "Just a minute," she hears. She smiles, then the door opens. Solan's eyes go wide. "Xena!" He shouts then throws his arms around her. She smiles and returns his embrace. "Solan! It's great to see you." She releases him and ushers him back into the room, "Are you all packed and ready to go?" He shakes his head, "Almost." He gives her a nervous look, "So, um, I know the truth. I hope it's okay." She smiles and nods, "I wanted to tell you myself. I just didn't know how, sweetie." He nods, "It's okay. I understand. Can I call you Aunt Xena? Is that okay?" She nods, "It most definitely is, Solan." He smiles at her and moves to the closet, opening it wide and tossing his items into a bag, "Did you save the world? Has Dahok been defeated?" She nods and smiles, "Yes, Ares and I defeated Dahok, the world is safe now. Solan there's more. Could we sit down for a moment?" He nods and sits on the bed. She sits next to him and gently takes his hand. "Aunt Xena, what is it?" He asks, giving her a concerned look. She smiles at him gently, "Ares and I are getting married. I'm going to be the new Goddess of War and I'm going to have a baby." He smiles happily, "That's great!" She smiles, "I might need a babysitter once in a while." His eyes widen, "Me?" She nods, "If you're up to it?" He nods, excited, "Oh yes!" He looks down for a moment, then glances back up at her, a question in his gaze. Xena gives him a concerned look, "What is it Solan?" He asks, "Can I visit you? On Olympus?" She smiles, "I'm sure we can arrange something." He smiles, happy and excited, "That would be great." She smiles back, then motions to the closet, "Alright, go ahead and finish packing. I'm going next door to talk with Ares and Kaliapus." He nods and rises from the bed returning to the closet to finish packing and Xena exits the room.
Xena heads next door and knocks on the door. In swings open and she finds Ares and Kaliapus standing in front of the fire conversing quietly. Ares smiles and motions for her to approach. As she does the door closes behind her. Kaliapus nods at her, "I hear that congratulations are in order." She smiles at him, "Thanks." Her look turns cautious, "About Solan…Are you alright with this? With him going to Amphipolis and living with my mother?" He nods, "I love Solan and will miss him a great deal, but life with the Centaurs isn't for him. Our world is too small for him. It is time for him to live with his own people. And your mother is a good woman. How she raised a hellion like you is beyond me, but I think she'll do well with Solan." Xena smirks at him, "Mom tried her best with me, but I was…difficult on my best day." Kaliapus smirks in return, "I can imagine." She laughs lightly and Ares rests an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. Kaliapus watches, eyeing them oddly, then shakes his head, "That's a sight I never expected to see." Xena nods, "Same here." She extends her hand to him, "Thank you for everything you've done over the years." He clasps hands with her and nods, then turns to Ares, "You have my allegiance War God, as always." Ares nods, then leads Xena from the room.
Ares leads Xena down the steps and outside. They find Hercules holding Argo's reigns and resting a hand on Cyrene's arm, talking quietly with her. Solan kicks some rocks around in the dirt off to the side. Xena smiles, "Mom," she greats. Cyrene and Hercules quiet, both turning and waving at her. Xena takes Argo's reigns, "Thanks Hercules." He nods, "Anytime." Cyrene reaches her hand out to Solan, "Ready, dear?" He nods and takes her hand, "Ready, Grandma." She smiles happily and extends her free hand to Xena. Xena takes her hand and turns to Ares, "Ready?" He nods and rests his hands on her shoulders. She glances at Hercules, "Where are you heading?" He shrugs, "I'll probably catch up with Iolaus. He was taking Gabrielle back to the Amazons. Would you like me to tell her about your plans or will you do it yourself?" Xena inhales sharply, "I'll talk to her myself. Just as soon as I take Mom and Solan home. And maybe after lunch." Ares gives her an odd look. She shrugs, "I'm hungry, okay?" He shakes his head, "Sure." She growls, "Let's go." He nods and in seconds they disappear with a flash of light and a squeal from Cyrene.
Cyrene releases Xena and pulls Solan to her chest as they arrive in Amphipolis. She's breathing heavy and her eyes are closed tight. Solan looks around, slightly embarrassed by her extreme reaction. He pats her back, "It's okay Grandma. We're okay." Xena rubs her mother's back, "Mom, it's over. You're home now." Ares glances over and takes Argo's reigns from Xena, "I'll hold Argo, help your mom get settled in." She nods her thanks, then returns her attention to her stressed mother. Cyrene finally relaxes her hold on Solan and allows the boy to retreat from her arms. Solan smiles and rubs his arms, then takes Cyrene's bags, following Xena into the inn. Cyrene enters and a young woman rushes to her pulling her into her arms, "Oh Cyrene I'm so glad you're home. We have all missed you so much. How was your vacation?" Cyrene smiles and hugs the woman back, "It was wonderful Marian. This is Solan, my grandson. He'll be staying with us for a while to help out." Marian smiles and offers Solan her hand. Shyly Solan takes her hand. Marian begins to lead him upstairs, "I'll show you to the spare bedroom and your grandmother's room." Cyrene watches them go, "Thank you Marian." Marian waves at her, already talking to Solan about how things work at the inn. Xena smiles after them, then motions around the inn, "Want me to stay and help for a bit?" Cyrene gives her a horrified look, "And scare off my cliental? I think not. Now go. You have a wedding to prepare for and I have a feast to cook for. How many should I be preparing for? And how long do I have?" Xena shrugs, "Not many. Gods don't eat and I don't have that many friends, probably fewer when all this is said and done. Let's say a dozen or so. My guess is Ares will want to get this done and over with pretty soon, a couple of days, max. Does that give you enough time?" Cyrene nods, "Plenty, dear." Xena smiles, "And Mom." Cyrene raises an eyebrow. Xena smiles wider, "Thanks." Cyrene smiles and gives Xena a quick hug, "Alright, get going now." Xena nods and leaves.
Xena finds Ares standing in the streets of Amphipolis holding Argo and looking rather lost. She smiles at him and walks into his arms, "Thank you," she says quietly. He shakes his head, "For what?" She motions towards the inn, "For taking care of my family." He nods, "Yeah, well, they're my family too, now." She smiles at him, "I guess so." He glances around at the growing crowd, "We're attracting attention." She follows his gaze and nods, "We should probably leave." He nods in return, "Where would you like to go? The Temple here? Halls of War? Olympus?" She gives him a look, "Olympus?" He shrugs, "It will be your home, might as well take a look around." She nods, "Alright, what about Argo?" She asks, resting a hand on her horse. His eyes dart to the horse, "Olympus has fields too. Where do you think my horses live? I certainly don't keep them in stables all the time." She nods, "Alright, Olympus then." He nods and wraps an arm around her waist, holding Argo's reigns in the opposite hand. In the blink of an eye they are gone leaving the people of Amphipolis wondering if they were ever really there.
Xena glances around the stable, so like the ones on the mortal plane that she couldn't swear she was actually on Olympus. Ares motions to a stall, "Untack her. I'll be right back. I want to get your stuff from the Halls of War, bring it here to our quarters." Xena turns to him sharply, "Our quarters?" He nods and she smiles, "I like the sound of that." He smiles, "You better. I'll be right back." She nods and begins to untack Argo as Ares disappears. Xena removes Argo's gear and begins to brush the horse down. "Hey girl. Things are going to be different now. No more living on the road. We're going to have a home and three square meals a day and a safe place to sleep at night. We'll still go on adventures though. I promise. And hopefully we'll get to see Gabrielle again. I know she's not your favorite person, but she did grow on you, didn't she?" Argo tosses her head and neighs lightly. Xena smiles and strokes her nose. Xena glances at the door, "Come on girl. Let's go outside and see if we can find some new friends for you." Xena rests a hand on Argo's shoulder blades and guides her out of the stable. Outside, the sun shines brightly, casting an unearthly glow on everything. The grass radiates and looks far more green and healthy than anything seen on the mortal plane. The stream gurgles and the blue of the water is crystal clear in color, cleaner than anything she'd ever seen before. She looks around and gasps. Several other horses travel around in small groups, grazing and socializing. A chill goes up her spine and she smiles, "You're back." Ares rests a hand on her shoulder, "I brought you something," he says. She turns and finds her young stallion from their trip to Siberia approaching her. She smiles and runs a hand over his nose, "Hey boy. Argo, this is," she pauses, looking the horse over, "Odysseus," she finishes. The two horses look each other over, then run off to play and graze together. Xena watches them with Ares at her side then turns to him, "Show me around?" She asks. He nods and takes her hand, whisking her off to their quarters.
Xena glances around what will soon be her home. She turns to Ares and smiles, "Very nice," she compliments. He waves his hand over a table in the corner and a tray of meats and breads appears, "You said you were hungry," he says motioning to it. She nods, grateful and snatches at the food, "So, once I eat the Ambrosia, will I still be hungry?" He shrugs, "You're pregnant, so probably, at least until the baby is born. I seem to remember Aphrodite eating when she was expecting Cupid. It takes a lot of energy to grow a little Godling." She smiles and nods, "That explains it all, I guess. I don't remember being this hungry with Solan. I wasn't this tired either." She yawns and gives him a tired smile. He nods, "It all comes with the territory." She nods and drops the gown from her shoulders, then glides onto the bed, lounging and staring up at Ares with a soft smile. He smiles down at her, "Xena, what are you doing? I thought you wanted to talk to Gabrielle?" She nods, "I do, after a meal and a nap." She points at the plate, "Bring that," she orders. He smirks and brings her the plate. She grabs a few more bites of food. Talking around a bite, she asks, "So how will the ceremony in front of the Fates work? Is it anything like a mortal wedding ceremony?" He shrugs, "I have no clue what a mortal ceremony is like, but the ceremony in front of the Fates will be simple. You can wear a dress or not, your choice. We can exchange jewelry or not, again your choice. Other than that the Fates will ask if we accept each other for eternity in the name of Zeus and Hera." She nods, "And it will take place in their Temple?" He shrugs, "If that's what you want. Gods are flexible. The ceremony itself is the important part, not the location." She takes another bite from the plate, thinking, then says, "Alright, I have a few requests then." He nods, "Go ahead." She smiles, "I want Hephaestus to make us matching daggers to exchange." He nods, "Anything else?" She nods, "I want it to take place in your Temple in Amphipolis. That's where all of this started." He smiles at her and nods, "Alright, fine. I have a request as well." She raises an eyebrow, "Really?" He nods. She smiles, "Go ahead then," she says, grabbing another bite from the plate. He grins, "Two things. First we do this sooner rather than later. And second, wear a dress, maybe that pretty navy one you wore in Corinth or maybe you could find something new." She nods, "Done and done. You talk to Hephaestus about those daggers while I take a nap. Then I'll talk to Gabrielle and we can get this show on the road." He looks her over, "Do you honestly think I'm just going to let you crawl naked into my bed and not do a single thing about it?" She gives him a small smile and nods, "I believe there's some old saying…hmm…oh yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder." He growls and shakes his head, "That's not funny." She smirks, "Funny or not, doesn't matter, I'm tired and taking a nap. Go, give me an hour or two." He nods, "You sure?" He asks, looking her over, eyes lingering. She nods and pulls a blanket over her, "Good night." He nods and disappears from the room.
Ares arrives in Hephaestus' forge and glances around with an admiring eye. Hephaestus stops pounding on a shield and waves him over to the forge, "Ares, good to see you. Need some new weapons? Armor for your warlords? Temple decorations?" Ares smirks and waves his hand in dismissal, "No, no, nothing like that. I need something special. Very special. Xena and I are getting married." Hephaestus nods. Ares continues, "Xena wants us to exchange personal daggers at the ceremony. Think you can come up with something?" Hephaestus nods, "Of course I can. Weapons are my life, Ares. How soon?" Ares shrugs, "How long do you need?" Hephaestus looks around the forge, "Keep Aphrodite off my back and I can have them done in a few hours. I love that woman more than life itself but she needs constant attention." Ares smirks and nods, "Alright, it's a deal. Where is she?" Hephaestus closes his eyes briefly and wrinkles his brow, searching the ether for his wife, then opens his eyes, "Her quarters, trying on dresses, but she's getting bored." Ares shivers, "Great. A bored Aphrodite is a very, very dangerous Aphrodite." Hephaestus nods in agreement. Ares glances around, "Alright, get to work and I'll distract her for a few hours. Xena's going to need a dress anyway. Might as well have Aphrodite come up with something." Hephaestus gives him a wide eyed stare, "You are a brave man." Ares laughs and waves at him, disappearing into the ether.
Ares arrives on Olympus and sneers at the too bright lights. He walks to his sister's rooms and knocks on the door. A small girl with a dark complexion opens the door with a shy smile. Ares waves her aside. Aphrodite looks away from her mirror, "Ares? What are you doing here?" He smiles at her, "I need a favor." She looks him over and giggles, "Ha! You still owe me for helping you get the Hind's Blood from the other dimension." He shrugs, "Yeah, so what if I do? You'll enjoy this one, I promise." She looks intrigued, "Alright, I'm listening," she says, turning back to the mirror. He waves at the mirror and it clouds over. She pouts turning back to him, "Ar!" He gives her an expectant look, "I need your full attention Aphrodite, this is important." She huffs and waves a hand, "Fine fine, go on," she says, flouncing onto a chaise. He stares down at her, "Xena needs a dress for the ceremony in front of the Fates." Her face lights up, "A dress? Really? Warrior Babe wants a dress? That's fabulous! I love it! What kind of dress? Where is she?" She rises and begins to look around the room, checking first behind him, then under a few pillows and behind the mirror. Ares watches her, shaking his head, "She's sleeping. You have to do this without her." She wrinkles her nose, "Sleeping? Why's she doing that?" Ares pauses, debating the logic of telling his sister anything of a delicate nature, then smirks, "She's pregnant." Aphrodite's eyes go wide, "Bro!" She squeals and leaps at him, wrapping her arms around him and hanging from his neck, "That's awesome." She pauses for a moment, "So the dress has to hide the baby belly, huh? That might be tricky." She releases him, moving back to the chaise, deep in thought. Ares shakes his head, "The ceremony will be soon, nothing to hide yet." Aphrodite sighs, "Oh good. I was getting really worried for a minute. Almost ruined the whole thing." He shakes his head, then smiles at his sister, "What do you need?" She shrugs, "Nothing really. Anything is particle Xena wants or doesn't want?" Ares shrugs, "I don't know," he snaps, then adds quickly, "No pink." She gives him an obvious stare, "She's going to be your wife. I'm not about to put your wife in pink, Ar. Give me some credit, damn." He chuckles, "Alright, let me know when it's ready." She nods, and waves a hand in dismissal, staring at a naked dummy in deep concentration. Ares shakes his head, then eyes the naked dummy, "Xena's taller than that and her, uh, assets are larger," he informs his sister. Aphrodite nods following his sightline to the bust of the dummy and smiles broadly, "Thanks, Bro. Anything else?" He shrugs, "No heels," he says and disappears lest he distract his easily distracted sister any more than he already had.
Ares returns to his room in silence and stares down at a sleeping Xena. Sliding into the bed next to her, his leathers melt away. Carefully he gathers her into his arms, trying not to wake her. She rolls to face him. "Sorry," he apologizes. She shakes her head and smiles a little, "It's alright. How long have I been asleep?" He shrugs, "An hour or so. Hephaestus is making us a set of matching daggers and Aphrodite is making you a wedding dress." Her eyebrow shoots up, "Aphrodite is making me a dress?" He soothes a finger over her eyebrow, "Don't worry. This is her thing. Have a little faith in her. I gave her a few guidelines." She gives him a soft smile, "If you trust her, then I guess I can too." He brushes his lips over her forehead, "Go back to sleep, you need your rest." She closes her eyes, then opens them and gives him a concerned look, "You're staying?" He nods, "You want me to leave?" She shakes her head, "Of course not, but don't you have more important things to do? Temples to check on? Wars to take care of?" He shakes his head, "I'm right where I need to be," he says, tightening his arms around her. She smiles and burrows against his chest, "Alright, just another hour or so." He nods, running a hand up and down her back.
Ares' eyes pop open when there's a knock at the door. Xena makes an agitated noise and her eyes squint open, "Who is it?" She asks, sounding cranky. He shrugs and pulls the blanket around her tightly, then sits up, pants appearing, "Come in." Aphrodite appears, "Bro, Warrior Babe," she greets. She eyes them, then her eyes go wide, "Oh, wow, sorry. I'm like totally interrupting. So sorry. I should have known. When I was pregnant with Cuppie all I could do is have sex constantly, only thing on my mind, remember Ar? Oh, sorry again. Probably shouldn't have brought that up. Uh, leaving, now." Xena gives her a raised eyebrow look, sitting up and wrapping the blanket around her chest, "Oh you were interrupting something alright. My nap." Aphrodite turns around sharply, "Your nap? That's just as bad. Sorry, Xe. Can I call you Xe sense we're like gonna be sisters and all?" Xena nods and Aphrodite smiles, "Bitchin." Ares stares at her, "You wanted something?" Aphrodite stares at him looking lost, "What? I did? Oh yeah! Right. I finished the dress. Want to see it?" Ares looks over at Xena and she shrugs. She returns his gaze to Aphrodite, "Go ahead." She smiles and wrinkles her nose, then snaps her fingers. A dummy appears in front of her wearing a shimmery light silver dress with a light metal breastplate. The metal work was intricate over the breasts and trailed lightly over the ribcage. There were matching arm cuffs. The dress itself was formfitting with no sleeves, relying on the bodice to keep it in place. There was a very high slit in the front of the dress, almost too high and the dress hung low enough to brush the floor. A pair of silver sandals were on the floor with laces that would tie up to the knees. Aphrodite gives Ares a guilty look, "Hephaestus says it will take him a couple more hours to get the daggers done. He had to pause to do the medal work on the dress." Ares nods, "I see." Xena walks around the dress, giving it a critical eye, then smiles at Aphrodite, "It's beautiful. Thank you." Aphrodite squeals, "I'm so glad you like it. I racked my brain to come up with the perfect dress for our future Goddess of War. I have one more thing for you, if it's okay with Ares," she says, eyeing her brother. He nods and a box appears in her hand and she extends it to Xena, "On loan only," she says, releasing it into Xena's hands. Xena opens the box and gasps, "It's amazing," she says, removing the crown. Aphrodite smiles and nods, "Hephie made it for me before we got married. I had actually given up on love and he gave me hope again, gave me faith in myself. I wore this when we married in front of the Fates and I let Psyche wear it when she married Cupid and I want you to wear it when you marry Ar. Please?" Xena nods, "Of course, Aphrodite, of course I'll wear it." Aphrodite sighs, "Oh good. I was worried you would say no. Okay, well, do you need anything else?" Xena glances at the dress then looks at Ares, a question in her gaze. He shakes his head and she turns back to Aphrodite, "I think we're all set. Thanks for everything." Aphrodite pulls her into her arms, "No problem, Xe. Good luck and Congrats." She turns to her brother and pulls him into her arms, "Congrats, Bro. Let me know if you need anything. I'm here for you." He nods against her, "Thanks for everything, Sis. I'll return the crown after the ceremony. We'll keep it safe," he assures her. She nods and pulls from his arms, "I know you will, Bro." She waves at them, "Tootles," she says and disappears.
Xena's eyes go from the pink sparkles still falling to the ground to the gown in the middle of the room, "You were right. She did very well." He smirks at her, "Yeah," he says, then waves his hand over the dress, moving the dummy to the corner of the room. Xena sets the box containing the crown on the table next to the bed, "That was very sweet of her." Ares nods, "Yes it was. She must like you." She smiles, then drops the sheet and begins to rummage through the closet. Ares watches her, "Ready to talk to Gabrielle?" Xena nods, not turning around, looking between a gown and her armor, "Where is she?" Ares opens a portal, "She hasn't made it to the Amazon's yet. Iolaus is with her, but Hercules hasn't caught up." He pauses and eyes the bard, "She doesn't seem as upset as when she left." Xena turns and glances in the portal, "Yeah, well, I'm sure that will change the second she hears our news." He nods, "Probably," he agrees, then snaps the portal closed, "Want a snack before we leave?" He asks, eyeing her as she continues to debate her clothing decisions while standing naked in the closet. She gives him an annoyed look, "What do you think?" She asks, little patience in her voice. He raises an eyebrow and a plate appears on the table next to her. She eyes it and snatches at a piece of nut bread, shoving it into her mouth with very little grace or dignity. Ares eyes her. She returns to eyeing the closet then sighs and collapses onto the bed, looking frustrated. Ares sits next to her, resting a hand on her shoulder, "What's wrong?" She motions at the closet, "If I wear my armor Gabrielle will see that I am still me, but I'm worried that she will think that you are only after me as a warrior. If I wear a dress I'm worried Gabrielle is going to think that it's a spell or that I've lost my mind." He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head, "She already knows we're together. What's the big deal?" She grabs another piece of bread, talking around it, "This is so much more than just being together, Ares. This is marriage and a baby and me becoming your Goddess, the Goddess of War. It's going to be a lot for her to take in. I want it to go smoothly unlike with Hercules. She's already so upset about Hope, I don't want this to add to it. Gabrielle means too much to me, I can't lose her." He moves his hand in a calming motion, "Okay, it's okay. It might take some time, but you won't lose the brat." She shoots him a dirty look and he smirks. Her attention returns to the closet. His gaze follows hers and he sighs, "Wear a dress, carry a sword at your waist, maybe a few daggers in your boots and hidden in other, more…creative places," he says eyeing her cleavage. She smiles at him and gives him a quick kiss, "Aren't you the clever one?" She asks, bouncing off the bed and rushing to the closet, pulling a crimson gown from the closet. Ares watches her pull the dress on then laces the gown for her. She smiles and latches the Chakram necklace around her neck. She grabs her sheathed sword then glances at Ares, "Sword belt?" He nods and places a hand on her waist. When he removes it a sword belt rests on her waist. She attaches her sword to one side and her Chakram to the other. She pulls her boots on and slides a dagger into each. Then taking Ares' advice she slides a dagger down the back of the dress and one down her cleavage. She turns to Ares, "Well?" He nods, "Very nice, Warrior Princess." She smiles and gives him a quick kiss. "Ready?" He asks. She exhales loudly, then nods, "As I'll ever be." He nods and takes her hand, pulling her into the ether.
Xena shoots her hand out and grabs the staff as it swings at them. She smiles at Gabrielle, "Nice move." Gabrielle wrinkles her nose, "Sorry, reflex." Her eyes move to Ares, "Hi," she greets, sounding a little lost and almost shy. Ares nods at her and motions to Iolaus, "Let's take a walk. They need to talk," he says, motioning to Xena and Gabrielle. Xena gives him a grateful smile and nods a greeting to Iolaus. He nods in return and squeezes her arm while walking past her, following Ares away from the two women. Gabrielle stares down at her feet, "I know you did what you had to do. Hope had to be stopped, I understand that. Did you stop Dahok?" Xena nods, "We stopped him, he's gone." Gabrielle gives her a tight smile, "That's good. Look, I, uh, I still want to return to the Amazons. I'm not ready for us to return to traveling together. When I look at you I still see you killing my little girl." Xena holds up her hand, silencing her friend, "I'm not returning to the road, Gabrielle." "What?" Gabrielle asks sharply. Xena gives her a soft smile and points to a fallen log, "Let's sit down." Gabrielle nods and sits next to her, eyeing the dress for the first time. "Xena what's going on?" She asks. Xena smiles softly, then bites her lips together, searching for the delicate way to tell her friend the news, "You're always the one good with words, not me." Gabrielle begins to grow concerned and takes Xena's hand, "What is it? What's wrong? Did Ares do something to you?" Xena laughs lightly, "Nothing is wrong, Gabrielle. I'm getting married." Gabrielle drops her hand and blinks a few times, "You're…You're getting married? To who?" Xena stares at her, "To Ares. I'm going to be his Goddess. I can do a lot of good as his Goddess. I can temper his actions, protect the innocent, keep them out of the line of fire. Have you heard about Athens?" Gabrielle nods, silently, still digesting what Xena has told her. Xena smiles and nods, "That was us, working together. This will work, Gabrielle." She grows quiet for a moment, then catches Gabrielle's eye, "There's one more thing." Gabrielle looks up and nods, "Okay, go on." Xena gives her a gentle smile and places her friend's hand on her stomach, "I'm pregnant. It's a little girl." Gabrielle pulls her hand away with a sharp inhale, "Pregnant?" She repeats, shocked. Xena nods, "I want you to be a part of her life. You are the most pure thing in my life, I want my daughter to know what that's like." Gabrielle stares at her lap, then gives Xena a small smile, "Of course." She gives Xena a small hug, "Congratulations," she says quietly. Xena hugs her back, "Thanks," she pauses, then continues, "Hercules is catching up with you. Why don't you and Iolaus turn around? Mom is going to host a wedding feast at the inn, it would mean a lot to me if you were there." Gabrielle smiles and pats her arm, "That sounds wonderful. I'll join my sisters after the feast. I should send a note to Ephiny, she would want to be there too." Xena smiles and nods, "That's a great idea." Gabrielle grows quiet and a concerned look covers her face. Xena takes her hand, "What is it?" She looks up, "What about Solan?" Xena smiles and chuckles, "Mom has that under control. She told Solan that I am his aunt. He's living with her for a while, taking care of her. It solves a lot of problems. I was beginning to worry about Mother living alone." Gabrielle gives a half smile, "Well, it isn't the truth, but at least he's with family now. Cyrene will take good care of him and he'll take good care of her." Xena nods in agreement, "Mom needed someone to take care of." Xena rises from the log and offers Gabrielle a hand up. Gabrielle takes her hand and pushes up using her staff, then wipes the dust off of her skirt, then giggles at the back of Xena's dress. Xena glances at her, "What's so funny?" Gabrielle shakes her head and swipes at the back of Xena's dress, "You should stick with leather, it doesn't attract as much dirt." Xena smiles, "Yeah, well, we thought it would send the wrong message." Gabrielle nods, then scrunches her brows, "We? Ares agreed?" Xena nods, then her head jerks towards the path and she smiles as Iolaus and Ares walk towards them. Iolaus looks her over, eyes darting to her midsection then meeting her eyes. He smiles a broad smile, then rushes to embrace her, "Congratulations," he says, pulling her into his arms. She smiles, "Thanks," she responds, embracing him back. Gabrielle eyes them, then turns her attention to Ares, "Um, listen, you take good care of my friend, hear me?" He stares at her, then nods, "You have my word." Gabrielle nods, "Okay, then, good." She turns back to Xena, "You better get going. You have a wedding to get ready for and we have quite a journey if we're going to make it to your mother's in time for the feast." Xena smiles and Iolaus perks up, "Feast? At Cyrene's? Count me in. That woman can cook." Xena nods, "Alright, we'll see you guys in a couple of days, Hercules will meet you guys somewhere on the road between here and Corinth, not sure exactly where." Gabrielle nods and waves, "Bye for now." Xena waves and backs away. Ares places a hand on her shoulder and pulls her into the ether.
Ares arrives in his quarters on Olympus and releases Xena's shoulder. She steps from his grasp and grabs a piece of nut bread from the tray still resting on the table. Ares smiles at her, shaking his head, "Anyone else you want to talk to?" She shakes her head, "I have other friends, but no one that I feel needs to hear the news directly from me. Maybe after the baby is born, Mom and I can visit Toris, introduce him to Solan and the baby, give me a chance to meet his wife and child too." Ares nods, "That's a good idea. And just think, you won't have to travel by foot, won't that be nice?" She smiles, "Yeah. That will take some getting used to." She glances away, brows scrunching together. He approaches, resting a hand on her shoulder, "What is it?" She turns back to him, "Is it difficult? Traveling through the ether? Controlling all that power?" He shrugs, "At first, it can be. But, you will get used to it and I'll be with you every step of the way. You won't be going through this alone, I promise." She smiles and kisses him gently, "I know." He runs the backs of his fingers down her cheek, "The first few days will be the worst. Your powers will be unstable and you won't be used to them. Little things can turn into big explosions and big explosions can turn out as little poofs. Traveling through the ether can be risky, you could get lost or even stuck. Strife ended up in a wall for two days, no one could find him. Once you get a feel for your powers it will get better, easier and you will stabilize." She nods, "After the ceremony then. I'll eat the Ambrosia after the ceremony. I don't want my powers to accidently hiccup in the middle of our wedding ceremony and I don't want to push it off too much longer. I'll send Mom a message, let her know that the feast will need to be in three days, gives us a couple of days to get my powers under control. Sound good?" He stares at her for a minute, "You're talking about doing the ceremony now, aren't you?" She nods, "If you're up to it, yeah I think I am." He pulls her into his arms with a sigh and nods, "I'll talk to the Fates and Hephaestus and get the priests to clear out the Temple. I'll talk to your mom too. You have enough to worry about. Do you want Aphrodite to help you get dressed or can you manage on your own?" She takes a step back and gives him a dirty look, "I do not need Aphrodite's help getting dressed. But, I wouldn't mind talking to Hera again, if that's okay with you?" He inhales sharply, then nods, "I'll see if she's available and in a decent mood." She smiles and retreats from his arms, eyes glued to the plate. He chuckles and shakes his head, "Have Mom send you to my Temple in Amphipolis when you're ready, alright?" Nut bread in mouth, Xena nods and Ares shakes his head, disappearing into the ether.
Ares arrives outside his mother's chambers and before he can knock the door opens. Hera stands in the open doorway giving him an expectant look, "Ares," she greets. He gives her a gentle hug, "Mom." She sighs, "I haven't felt Xena join our ranks, are things not well?" He shakes his head, "Things are fine. She wants to be in control at our wedding ceremony." Hera nods, "Of course. All that power, it will be a lot for her to handle. She's a wise woman to wait." Ares nods, "She is. Hephaestus is finishing up some daggers for us, then we're meeting the Fates in my Temple in Amphipolis." Hera gives him a harsh look, "You can't see her till the ceremony. It's bad luck. Someone else will have to bring her there." He smiles at his mother, "Actually, that's why I'm here. I was hoping you would bring her." Hera nods, "Usually the bride's mother would be with her till the ceremony. In these circumstances, that isn't possible. I suppose it's acceptable for the groom's mother to stay with her. And there are a few things that I should explain to Xena, woman to woman." Ares gives his mother a raised eyebrow look, "Mom, she's already pregnant, I don't think you need to explain what happens on the wedding night." She growls and swats at the back of his head, "Insolent child! Have you explained the blood bond to her?" He gives her a curious look, "Blood bond?" Her face falls, "Your father never explained? No, of course he didn't. The vows you take in front of the Fates are eternal and unbreakable. However, you can also chose to share blood with one another, this is actually the reason Hephaestus was charged with making weapons that could pierce the veil of immortality. If you chose to do this, it will bind your Godhoods, your immortality together. If one of you dies, so does the other, however one of you can also keep the other alive. The two of you already share a deep connection, correct?" He nods and she continues, "It would become deeper, stronger. Your emotions would be shared, all of them. Anger, fear, love, lust, hate, everything. In times of battle, the blood lust would be all consuming. And I know I'm your mother so bear with me for a minute, but the sex is amazing. You would feel everything that she feels and she would feel everything that you feel." He squirms a little, uncomfortable with the intimate nature of the conversation, "Why hasn't anyone told me about this before?" Hera shakes her head, "This is a father, son talk. I suppose Zeus hasn't seen it as necessary because you've never shown any serious interest in a woman before. This is the first time you've ever spoken of marriage, Ares. Even as a hormone driven teen you never tried to run off with any one girl, you just kind of slept around a lot, like your father and Apollo and a young Aphrodite." He nods, "Alright, I guess this is the woman to woman talk you wanted to have with Xena?" Hera nods and Ares nods in return, "Talk to her, I guess. This can be done at any time, right? We don't have any time constraints?" She nods again and he continues, "Good. I'm going to talk to Hephaestus about our daggers and grab the Fates and clear out my Temple. You'll be okay dealing with Xena?" Hera chuckles, "My dear boy, I think I can handle one mortal woman. I am after all the Queen of the Gods." He laughs in true amusement, "Yeah, well, I wouldn't underestimate her, Mom." She gives him an amused smirk and waves in dismissal. He gives her a small hug then disappears.
Ares arrives in Hephaestus' forge and approaches the God cautiously. Noticing nothing, Hephaestus continues to pound on the sword blade he is working on, humming a tuneless melody to himself. Ares taps him on the shoulder and the man spins sword in front of him, held out like the weapon it would one day be. Ares raises his hands in surrender and backs up a step. Hephaestus smiles and lowers the blade, setting it aside, away from the heat of the forge, "Ares, I didn't hear you." Ares nods and points at the forge, "Wonder why?" Hephaestus laughs and motions off to the side, "The daggers are done. I would have had them finished earlier, but Aphrodite needed me to work some medal for a wedding dress," he says, giving Ares a curious look. Ares nods, "Yeah, her idea, not mine. The woman is a genius when it comes to her craft though." Hephaestus nods, "Yes she is. But if she hears you say it she won't ever let you forget about it." Ares follows Hephaestus to the table and gives a sharp inhale when he removes the cloth covering the sheathed daggers. "Very nice," he compliments, unsheathing a dagger and running a hand over the blade, eyeing the hilt studded with red stones. Hephaestus nods, "Some of my best work, I'm almost sorry to see them go," he pauses for a moment, then asks, "I suppose they're for the ceremony?" Ares glances at him, slightly agitated, "Does everyone other than me know about this blood ceremony?" Hephaestus raises an eyebrow, "You didn't know? Ah, well, neither did I, not till my wedding night. Boy was I surprised when Dite came at me with a knife. I must have leapt twenty feet, squealed like a girl, too." Ares raises an eyebrow and Hephaestus shrugs, "Wouldn't you be terrified if she came at you with a knife in the bedroom?" He nods, "Alright yeah. Was it worth it?" Hephaestus' eyes roll back a bit, "Oh yeah. If you go through with it, just uh, give yourselves a couple of days to acclimate. Every little touch will get something started." Ares inhales sharply, raising his eyebrows, "Well, that's something to think about. And it's eternal?" Hephaestus nods, "It weakens if you don't continue to share blood once every few years and if you don't have sex often. I'm sure the bond between Zeus and Hera is barely existent at this point. One of them could probably die and the other wouldn't even be effected, it's been so long sense they've been together in any way. Me and Dite on the other hand, we have a very…healthy relationship." Ares curls his lip a little, "Yeah, thanks for that image. On that note, I should leave. I need to gather the Fates and get my Temple cleared out." Hephaestus stares at him, "You're getting married now? So soon?" Ares nods, "Xena wants now. What the woman wants, the woman gets." Hephaestus nods, "Don't I know it? Alright, well, good luck." He clasps hands with Ares then returns to his forge, grabbing the sword and thrusting it into the fire. Ares collects his daggers, wrapping them in the cloth and disappearing.
Xena jumps a little when there is a knock at the door. Carrying her plate of nut bread with her she opens the door and smiles at Hera. Hera gives her an amused look, "Dear girl, if you expect to fit into your wedding gown, you will need to stop eating everything in sight." Xena swallows the bite in her mouth and the smile falls from her lips, "It takes a lot of energy to grow a little Godling," she says, repeating Ares' earlier words. Hera nods, hand resting on her own stomach, "Mhm, I remember." She sweeps into the room and her eyes land on the gown. She lets out a small gasp, "Well, Aphrodite has outdone herself this time." She returns her attention to Xena, "Come now, time to get dressed and we have business to discuss." Xena closes the door and sets her plate down, then begins to fight with the laces of her dress. Hera brushes her hands aside, "Stop that. Sit down," she orders. Xena obeys, sitting stiffly on the bench at the end of the bed. Hera stands behind her, gently unlacing the dress, "I've never done this, you know? I don't have any daughters of my own. Just Ares and Hephaestus. And really Ares is the only son that has ever really been mine. This is all very new to me." Xena nods a little, "Me too. I was…a difficult child. My mother and I weren't exactly close." Hera shakes her head, "Such a shame. I'm not close to Hephaestus. My fault though, not his. I was ashamed of him. I regret that now, but it's too late. I've asked for his forgiveness, he won't give it, I probably don't deserve it." Xena reaches and rests her hand on top of Hera's, patting it gently, "You have Ares and me and soon you'll have a granddaughter." Hera squeezes her fingers then pulls her hand away, "Alright, stand up." Xena obeys and the dress falls away. Hera stares her up and down and inhales sharply, "My my, now I see what caught my son's eye." Xena smiles and begins to move towards the gown, but Hera holds up a hand, "Allow me." She retrieves the dress and holds it, allowing Xena to step into it. Xena holds it in place while Hera laces the top, pulling it tight to make sure it stays put. Laces tied, she begins to hook the metal breastplate in place.
Hera places her hands on Xena's shoulders, "Sit," she orders, urging her down. Xena obeys, starting to grow a little grumpy with taking orders. Hera reaches around her and hands her a plate of fruits and cheeses, "Have a snack, dear, the baby is hungry." Xena takes the plate and turns slightly to give her a curious look, "How do you know?" She asks. Hera shrugs, "Call it a mother's intuition." She gently takes Xena's head in her hand and turns it back around then begins to drag a brush through her hair, "Has my son explained the ceremony to you?" Xena tries to nod and finds her head trapped by the brush, "We'll stand before the Fates and swear ourselves to each other for eternity. It's an unbreakable vow. We're exchanging daggers made by Hephaestus and it will take place in Ares' Temple in Amphipolis. It will just be the two of us and the Fates. At the end of the ceremony I will eat the Ambrosia and become a Goddess." Hera nods, "And has he explained what that will be like?" Again Xena tries to nod, then growls in frustration, "I won't have control at first, but in time and with Ares training me, I'll learn to control my new powers." Hera nods, and begins to finger through Xena's hair, separating it. Xena holds her hand up, "Wait, Aphrodite loaned me something to wear. It's on the table by the bed." Hera glances at the box and it appears in her hand, she opens it and smiles, "Hephaestus' work, no doubt. Amazing." She sets the box on the bed and returns her attention to Xena's hair, "There are other things to consider, things Ares didn't know about until a few minutes ago. The two of you will need to discuss them further but you should go into the discussion with a working knowledge." Xena's brows scrunch together and she places her empty plate on the bed, "What is it? Should I be concerned?" Hera lets out a bark of laughter, "Oh no dear, nothing to be concerned about. Certainly not." Hera pulls a section of hair from each side of Xena's face, braiding them, then working them into a single braid trailing down her back to mix with the rest of her loose hair. She ties it with a thin piece of leather. She sits in front of Xena and pulls a few strands out to frame her face then places the crown on her head. She places her hand on Xena's cheek, "Lovely," she compliments. Xena smiles, then scrunches her brow. Hera nods, "There is a second part to the ceremony. It's optional. Zeus and I discovered it long ago. It is the reason we commissioned Hephaestus to create weapons the pierce the veil of immortality. If you and Ares wish it, you can share blood. The rather odd connection you already have will become deeper, stronger, your Godhoods will become connected and there are other…benefits." Xena stares at her, mind trying to catch up, "Our Godhoods will be connected?" Hera nods, "Yes, meaning if one of you dies, the other will as well. However, it also means that there is a chance that one of you can keep the other alive as well. It all comes down to your strength as a God and how strong your bond is. Zeus and I have a blood bond but it is very weak at this point. If I were to die, I'm not sure he would be effected." Xena's brows scrunch, "So it isn't permanent?" Hera shrugs, "It is, but it isn't. It should be, but for it to remain strong you would have to share blood once in a while and continue to have sex on a regular basis. Zeus and I do neither ever and haven't sense Hephaestus was born and Zeus accused me of shaming him." Xena nods, "You said our connection would become stronger. Do you know how? In what ways?" Hera shrugs, "There's no way to know for sure. I know you can sense Ares when he's near. And I know he can pick up on you when you're in trouble." Xena's head jerks towards her suddenly and Hera smiles and nods, "Yes, he knows when you're in trouble. I'm the only one who can tell that he gets edgy and impatient, wanting to drop everything and open a portal to check on you. Don't let on that you know." Xena smiles a little, "Our little secret." Hera nods and continues, "Other than that, my guess is you'll be able to read each other's emotions easier. You might be able to access each other's powers and read each other's minds over greater distances." Xena nods, seeing the benefits, "You mentioned other benefits?" A bit a rosy color comes to Hera's cheeks, "Sex, my dear. It's a very different experience. With the blood bond you would feel what he is feeling and he would feel what you are feeling. It's intoxicating. The battlefield would be much the same and would probably lead you two to the bedroom." Xena chuckles, "What are the down sides?" Hera thinks for a moment, "The first few days after sharing blood are rough and will be each time you share blood. It's best to free up those days. You'll have exactly one urge and it's best to just give into it and not fight it." Xena nods and smiles, "Anything else?" Hera shakes her head, "Not really. It's the most amazing, most pure bond you can have with someone so long as they truly are the one for you. I chose wrong, Hephaestus chose right, though rumor has it Aphrodite didn't tell him anything about it first and just came at him with a knife," she says, laughter in her voice. Xena joins her in laughing, "That's what nightmares are made of." Hera calms, "If you two decide to bond, do it right away. Get used to the bond while your powers are stabilizing. Ares' strength will be rushing through your veins, offering you the stability you will need to find balance within yourself." Xena nods, deep in thought. Hera takes her hand, "One thing though." Xena looks up. Hera continues, "Do it in private. The first thing you will want to do after bonding is rip each other's cloths off. The Fates don't need to see that." Xena laughs and nods, "Right. Don't want to scar the poor girls." Hera nods, "Exactly. And please remember to stop and eat once in a while, for my granddaughter's sake." Xena smiles and nods.
Xena rises from the bench and fingers the Chakram necklace around her neck with a smile. Hera notices and smacks her fingers aside, "From Ares?" Xena nods, "When I went to Corinth a couple of weeks ago to get my mother and son settled and in." Hera nods then looks Xena over, "Put the sandals and armbands on, dear," she orders. Xena obeys, glancing around the room looking for something. Hera notices, "What is it?" Xena shakes her head, "I should have had Ares show me where he put all of my weapons before he left." Hera points at her sword and Chakram resting on a weapons rack next to a chest. Xena shakes her head, "No, not those. When I was in Corinth, I had to go to this dinner with Hercules and his brother King Iphicles. Anyway, Ares showed up while I was getting dressed, gave me this necklace and placed a gorgeous little dagger on my thigh. It was perfect and fit tight enough against my skin that you couldn't see it through the material. I thought it would be a nice surprise." Hera shakes her head, "War Gods," she mutters, then closes her eyes and scrunches her brow. When nothing happens she sighs and places her hand on Xena's forehead, "Envision the dagger, please," she orders. Xena obeys and the dagger appears in Hera's hand, complete with the belt used to hold it to her thigh. Xena smiles and snatches it away, placing her foot on the bench and hiking the dress up, "I'm going to be able to do that," she says quietly. Hera watches Xena attach the dagger, then sighs, "Mortals have a tradition I believe: Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Am I correct?" Xena nods, then shakes her head, "I don't need to follow mortal traditions. It's okay." Hera waves a hand, "I insist. Now Aphrodite gave you the crown so that is borrowed. Hephaestus made the daggers, so they are new. That leaves old and blue for me to come up with." She pauses then smiles and closes her eyes and loosely holds her hand closed, "Is it alright if it is old and blue?" Xena nods, "Of course." Hera nods and sits on the bench, motioning for Xena to join her. "This belonged to my mother, Rhea. I had hoped to pass it to my daughter on her wedding day, then I was cursed with boys. Now it is yours and one day you will give it to your daughter and she to hers." Xena opens her mouth to object then closes it when Hera opens her hand and spills a delicate silver and blue beaded bracelet into her hand. She stares in wonder at the stones that shift color from dark blue to light as she moves them in her hand. She smiles softly and looks up at Hera, "Thank you," she says quietly. She motions to the bracelet, "Do you mind?" She asks, then motioning to her wrist. Hera nods and places it on her wrist, giving the bracelet a fond smile. They sit side by side, silent for a moment, then Hera inhales deeply, "Alright, stand up, give us a twirl." Xena lifts her lip, "I don't really twirl." Hera glares at her, "This once, for me, you will twirl." Xena stands and, this once, for this woman who had been so kind and generous, she twirls, trying not to snarl as she does so. Hera chuckles, "Stop making that face, Ares will think he is marrying a Gorgon." Xena laughs, "Do I look alright?" Hera motions to a wall that she has transformed into a mirror, "Look for yourself, dear." Xena turns and stares at her reflection, shocked and delighted by the sight that greets her. She turns back to Hera, "I'm ready." Hera nods, "Yes, you are. I just hope Ares is, though I doubt anyone can be prepared for you." Xena laughs lightly and extends her hand to Hera. Hera takes her hand and wraps it around her arm, holding it gently and disappearing.
Ares arrives in his Temple in Amphipolis and glares at the priest, "You have about ten minutes to get everyone out of here for the rest of the day. This Temple is going to be closed to the public until tomorrow." The priest, eyes wide, falls to his knees and mumbles, "Yes, My Lord," then begins to crawl away. Ares watches priests, priestesses, warlords, and other random followers exit the Temple, then disappears only to reappear a few miles away inside Cyrene's inn. Several patrons screech, a few go for weapons that Cyrene forces them to leave at the door. Cyrene herself looks up from the bar with a nervous smile, "Ares," she greets. "Cyrene," he responds. She glances around behind him and he shakes his head, "Sorry, just me. Xena's a little busy getting ready for the ceremony. I'm running errands. The feast will need to be pushed back a little. We're thinking maybe three days or so. It's going to take her a couple of days to get her powers under control, we don't want to risk an accident that could lead to someone getting hurt." Cyrene nods, "Of course. I understand. But does she have to change so soon?" Ares nods, "It's best for the baby. If she changes now while the baby is so young it will put less stress on the baby, fewer chances of something bad happening. Even Gods have to worry about complications." Cyrene nods, "Of course, the baby. We can't risk anything happening to the baby. Well, then I guess I'll be seeing you two in three days. Should I plan on anyone from your family eating or drinking anything?" He shakes his head, "No, not really. On a dare maybe someone might eat something, maybe. If the wine is good, we might drink it, but mostly, we bring our own. And don't expect my family to stick around for long. Most won't even show up. Don't take it personal. They don't like me much." Cyrene nods slowly, "Okay, well, good to know, I guess. If you get any clue on numbers, send me a raven or whatever it is Gods send." He chuckles, "I'll send Strife," he pauses and turns away, "Strife," he shouts. Cyrene jumps a little and gives him a dirty look. Strife appears, "What's up, Unc? Oh, mortal digs? Retro." Ares shakes his head and points to Cyrene, "This is Xena's mother. You will show her respect and take orders from her if I send you to her. Understand?" Strife nods and salutes Ares, then takes Cyrene's hand and places a sloppy kiss on her knuckles. Cyrene smiles, then wipes her hand on her skirt. Strife turns back to Ares, "That all Unc?" Ares shakes his head, "Tell the Fates to get to my Temple. I'm getting married today." Strife lets out a very ungodly, excited noise and disappears. Ares turns back to Cyrene, "I would apologize for him, but there just aren't any excuses for that boy. He's a moron, but he is obedient and Xena thinks she can help with him." Cyrene shakes her head, "If anyone can it's her." An awkward silence falls between them. Ares glances down at Cyrene, "I should be going. If I'm late Xena will get pissed." Cyrene smiles up at him and raises to her tiptoes to brush her lips to his cheek, "Good Luck. And please take good care of my baby girl." He squeezes her shoulder, "I will, you have you word," he says, then disappears.
Ares appears in his empty Temple and glances around, assuring himself that no one was lurking. He approaches the altar and thumbs the offerings, taking an interest in one sword, sending it to the weapons locker in the Halls of War and sending the rest to a back room in the Temple to be looked at later by the head priest. Figuring that Xena wouldn't want blood as a decoration for their wedding, he waves a hand over the Temple and removes the blood left over from the morning sacrifices, also removing the odor that went with it. Eyeing the rest of the Temple he smiles and moves a few of the tapestries around, making her the focus around the altar and trying to avoid the ones that were likely to agitate her. He waves a hand over his throne, making it glide back into the corner for the time being and with another wave of his hand the altar and tapestries move to the top of the dais. He eyeballs it, relieved that no one was around to watch him setting things up for the wedding. A flash behind him grabs his attention. Clotho, Atropos, and Lachesis stand behind him. He smiles at the Fates, "Ladies, thank you for coming." Clotho smiles at him, "We are the ones grateful to you, War God." Atropos continues, "We are happy to bind you to the woman you love." Lachesis adds on, "For all eternity." Ares nods, "Yes, eternity. Will you three be comfortable standing behind the altar?" They nod and file behind the altar, standing in order of age. Ares stands in front of them, trying not to fidget and give away just how nervous he is.
Hera appears with Xena at her side. She eyes her son and releases Xena's hand, "Good luck," she whispers, urging Xena towards Ares. Xena glances around the Temple, taking in the minor changes. Her eyes land on Ares, standing by the altar, looking almost lost, eyes glued on her, two daggers resting on the altar next to his hand. She smiles brightly at him and his eyes travel up and down her body, lust burning in his gaze. She approaches slowly, giving him time to drink in the sight. She stops next to him and he takes her hand, "You are absolutely breathtaking." She smirks and he rubs his fingers against her wrist then glances down at the bracelet. He meets her eyes, "Mom?" She nods and he gives her a surprised look. He turns to the Fates, "We're ready." Clotho nods, "We have been called here today, to witness the union, of this God, Ares, and this mortal woman, Xena," she pauses and Atropos continues, "The union which, Ares and Xena, are about to enter into shall be eternal and unbreakable by Gods or mortals. Any breach of their vows will result in anguish for both." At her pause Lachesis turns to Ares, "In the name of Zeus, do you, Ares, God of War, take this mortal woman, Xena, for your eternal partner?" Ares stares at Xena, "Yes. Yes, I do." He raises his eyebrows, giving her a relieved look. Lachesis turns to Xena, "And in the name of our mother, Goddess Hera, do you, Xena of Amphipolis take Ares, God of War for your eternal partner?" Xena smiles at Ares and nods, "I do." Atropos nods, "It is done, are you exchanging jewelry or," her eyes dart to the altar, "Weapons?" Ares reaches for the daggers but Xena places her hand over his, "Let's hold off on those till we get home." He gives her a curious look but nods and turns to the Fates and shrugs. Atropos nods, "Well then, kiss the bride." Ares pulls Xena into his arms claiming her lips in a passionate kiss. She throws her arms around his neck, tangling them in his hair, plastering her body against his, moaning into his mouth. They hear the Fates disappear as Ares lifts her onto the altar and her legs wrap around his waist and suddenly they're both very grateful that the slit on the dress was almost too high. He tears from her lips to bury his face in her cleavage and her head falls back with a gasp. His hand travels up her thigh and lands on the dagger hidden there. A groan escapes him and she chuckles, then pushes on his shoulders, "We should go home, there are a few things we need to talk about." He lets out a frustrated noise but stops attacking her cleavage and nods. She scoops up the daggers and wraps her legs tighter around his waist. He lifts her easily, "Yeah, this is so going to lead to talking." She chuckles and latches onto his shoulders, "Come on, take us home," she orders. He brushes his lips to hers and disappears.
Xena gasps as her back hits the bed and Ares lands on top of her, his weight on his hands. He leans forward, trying to devour her in a kiss. She responds, hands moving against his chest, under the vest. Slowly her hands travel to the sword belt and she begins to fight with buckle, smiling to herself when she wins the battle and it clanks to the floor. Ares pulls from her lips and looks the rather complicated dress over, "Yeah, this might actually take some time. Plus Aphrodite would never forgive us if we destroyed her creation." Xena smirks and chuckles, then pushes against his shoulders. He sighs and rises, pulling her up with him. She goes to the dresser and removes the bracelet, necklace and crown, placing the crown back in the box. She hands the box to Ares, "Send that back to Aphrodite," she orders. He nods and the box disappears. She slides the armbands off and unties the piece of leather from her hair, releasing the braids and letting her hair fall naturally. She sits on the bench, unlacing the sandals and tossing them aside. Standing she motions to her thigh, "Think you can help me out a bit?" He eyes her thigh then sits on the bed and motions for her to approach. She obeys and he lifts her leg, placing her foot on his knee and running a hand up her leg. She shivers as his fingers unhook the belt and drag the sheathed dagger down her leg. He eyes the dress, "So, how do you feel about cheating?" She smirks, "You read my mind," she says with a chuckle. He laughs a little and waves his hands down her body replacing the gown with a thin black silk gown that falls to her mid-thigh. Xena glances at the dummy and finds her gown has returned to the dummy. Ares tosses his vest to a chair and retrieves his sword and belt from the floor, hanging the sword on the weapons rack and tossing the belt on the chair with the vest.
Ares grabs the pouch with the ambrosia from the chest and returns to the bed holding it in his hand. Xena sits next to him, eyeing the pouch, "What does it taste like?" She asks, trying not to sound nervous. He shrugs, "It's sweet, sugary. It's going to pack one hell of a punch though." She smirks at him, appreciating his attempt to ease her nerves. He runs the backs of his fingers down her cheek, "If you're not ready, we can wait a little bit." She shakes her head and reaches for the pouch. He releases it to her. She removes the red, fleshy fruit and eyes it. She sniffs it and wrinkles her nose. Ares watches her. Her eyes dart to him and she gives him a challenging look as she puts the Ambrosia in her mouth. She chews the too sweet food of the Gods and swallows. Ares watches her, then smiles when she starts to glow. Xena inhales, eyes closed as she feels strength rise within her and a power that she had never felt before. It was building quickly, filling her with a warmth and a feeling of security and ultimate power. She opens her eyes and finds Ares staring at her, lust mixed with the worry in his gaze. "I'm okay," she assures him, not sure if she was being honest or not. "I can feel the power coming off of you," he informs her. She smirks and closes her eyes, reaching out to him, trying to see if she can feel him as well. Then her eyes snap open as she not only feels his strength but also the passion and love coming off him in waves. Resisting the urge to throw herself at him, she licks her lips and reaches for one of the daggers still resting on the bed, "Hera mentioned another part of the ceremony," she starts. Ares shakes his head, "Xena, you've done enough. We don't have to do that too. Don't worry about that." She gives him a disappointed look and unsheathes the dagger admiring the blade, not meeting his eye. He feels her disappointment and raises her chin, "You want to?" She shrugs and gives him a small lusty smile, "We're in this for eternity, let's go for the blood bond too. It sounds…fun. And it sounds safer. Hera said that if we're strong enough we could keep each other alive if something bad happened, you know if someone tried to kill us." He nods, "Yeah, on the flip side, if we aren't strong enough we both die, leaving our child an orphan." Her hand flies to her stomach, then she shakes her head, "We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen," she says, grasping the dagger in her hand and dragging the blade over her opposite palm. Ares stares at her bloody palm, then smirks and shaking his head draws the other dagger and slices his own palm, "I'm getting the feeling that you will be getting me into a lot of trouble," he says offering her his palm. She smirks and clasps his hand, "You know it," she says with a gasp.
As the blood soaks into their wounds and they heal, Xena and Ares remain silent, staring at each other, feeling each other in a whole new way. Ares reaches out and strokes Xena's cheek. She closes her eyes leaning into her touch, then snaps her eyes open and sheathes her dagger, handing it to Ares, "Wouldn't want any accidents." He nods, sheathing his own dagger and making them disappear only to reappear on the weapons rack. Xena eyes them, then her attention returns to Ares when he runs a hand down her arm. She crawls toward him, cat-like, claiming his lips before climbing onto his lap and wrapping her legs around him. Pulling her against him and thrusting against her he moans into her mouth and she lets out a groan deep in the back of her throat. His lips travel from hers down her throat to her cleavage and her head falls back while her hands tangle in his hair. His hands travel to the hem of her gown and begin to lift it, but she shakes her head, swatting at his shoulder, "Don't." He lets out a frustrated noise, pushing away from her cleavage to give her an agitated stare. When he stares up at her he finds her concentrating and he smiles. A few seconds later not only does her gown disappear, but so do his leather pants. She smirks at him and raises her eyebrows, "Your mother was right." His expression falls, "Just what every guy wants to hear on his wedding night. Thanks Xena." She chuckles, "No, Hera said your strength would help stabilize me. She was right." He nods, "Yeah, well, that's great and all, but could we please stop talking about my mother? It's a mood killer." She grinds against him, "Better?" She asks, a little breathlessly. He nods, "Oh yeah," he says, lifting her slightly and entering her quickly. They both inhale sharply, pausing and staring at each other in shock. He smirks, "Well, that's…" She nods, "Something," she finishes. He nods and thrusts against her. She moans, grinding against him, delighted when his breath catches slightly. He attacks her breasts, going from one peak to the other, then claims her lips, quickening his pace, making her moan, making himself moan. Xena matches his pace, nails biting into his shoulders, heels digging into his lower back. She pulls back slightly, pulling on his shoulders and he obliges, slamming her back on the bed, landing fully on top of her. She lets out a gasp of delight and he groans, eyes closed for a moment. One leg wrapped around him, the other on the bed for leverage she matches his thrusts till they are both sweating and close to the edge. Feeling just how close she is to the point of no return, Ares grabs her hips, holding them close to his and quickens his pace, pounding into her mercilessly. She lets out a quick little scream of surprise, then a few moans, wrapping her legs around his waist, devouring his lips with her own. Then a white hot feeling of release building inside her, she rips from his lips and screams his name, sure that all on Olympus had heard her. Seconds later Ares growls her name and collapses on top of her then rolls placing her on top of him and dragging a sheet over them both.
Breathing almost normal, Xena props her chin up on Ares' chest and stares down at him, "That was different." He nods, "Definitely different." She eyes him, "Better though?" He raises an eyebrow, "I don't know. I wasn't paying enough attention." She smacks at his shoulder and shakes her head. He leans forward and begins to nibble a path from her shoulder to her collarbone. She sighs, then tries to distract him, "We need to start my training." He makes an affirmative noise, "We have. You removed our clothes very well. I am really impressed actually," he says, then returns to her collarbones. She closes her eyes, falling into his touch, then shakes her head, "Ares, I'm serious. We only have three days before I'm going to be around the most important people in my life." He jerks away from his nibbling, "I thought I was the most important person in your life," he says, pretending to be hurt. She rolls her eyes, "Mortals, Ares. People I can hurt." He smirks and gives her a quick kiss, "I know, love. Don't worry so much. Right now your powers are jumping around in your body, getting used to you just like you are getting used to them. Give them time to settle before we start any real training. Anyway at this point your powers are so new, so fresh, if we do any real training, you'll get drained real fast." Concern still in her gaze, she nods. He runs a finger down her cheek, "How about if I send Strife to your mom and tell her four days instead of three, just to be safe? Would that get you to stop worrying about it and focus on more important things?" She raises an eyebrow, "More important things?" He moves against her and feeling him harden inside her she moans and nods, "Yeah, four days, definitely four days." He nods and pulls the sheet tighter around her, "Strife." She shoots him a dark look and he shrugs, "To put your mind at rest." Strife appears and stares wide eyed before spinning on his heel, "What's up Unc? Uh, never mind, I can guess. What do you need? I'm really not comfortable joining in. It's kind of you to think of me and all, but it's not my thing." "Strife," Xena snaps. "Shutting up," he responds. Xena inhales sharply in frustration and gives Ares a dirty look before returning her attention to Strife, "Go to my mother's inn and tell her the wedding feast will be in four days instead of three. We need some extra time to get my new powers under control. I can't risk hurting someone." Strife turns sharply and stares at her, "You DO look different. Welcome to the ranks, Aunt Xena!" He extends his hand, then quickly pulls it back, "Right-O, talking to Cyrene. Hey, am I invited to the wedding feast?" Xena smiles, "Of course." He shoots his fist into the air, "Bitchin. Catch ya later," he says disappearing. Xena stares after him, shaking her head, then turns to Ares, "That boy is going to take a lot of work." He nods, then runs a hand down her arm, "You know, maybe we should have told him five days. I'm thinking I could keep you right here for the next five days at least." She sinks onto his chest, wrapping her legs around his, "Really? I don't think you can." He smirks at her, "Is that a challenge Goddess of War?" She smiles bringing her lips a breath from his, "And what if it is God of War?" He captures her lips, then pulls away, "A good War God never backs away from a challenge." She returns his kiss briefly, "Mhm, well, we'll just have to see about that won't we?" He chuckles and grabs her hips, thrusting against her. She moans, closing her eyes, then jerking to a sitting position and smiling down at her War God and eternal partner, knowing that whatever the future holds for them they will be there to conquer it together. As long as they first live through her mother's wedding feast of course.
-The End