Gifts of War
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I do not own any of the following characters, with the possible exception of Mictus, a character of my own brain. All the rest belong to the great gods of TPTB - may the Xenite gods smile down on them always for giving us such a wonderful show for six roller-coaster years. They only payment I receive from this story is your feedback, so please don't sue me (puppy eyes). Do, however, leave feedback if the story so moves you to. Thanks and enjoy!
PAIRING: Xena/Ares shippertext
RATING: R for violence and implied sexual encounters.
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Thunder cracked in the skies above, loud and ominous. A few streaks of lightening snaked quickly through the gray clouds, and illuminated all below. Rain pelted the earth, the wind whipping it into a fury.
From the window of a hut, Xena looked out at the storm and sighed softly. The storm would buy her some time, but she didn't think it would be enough. She and Gabrielle hadn't had enough time to make plans…precious plans to save an entire race.
Behind her, Tydus the centaur approached and put a firm hand on her shoulder. She turned to look the centaur leader in the eye.
"This storm won't guarantee us the time we need," she said after a moment. "Mictus and his army will stop for the night, but as soon as the storm stops, they'll come."
"I'd expect nothing less," Tydus replied, his gravelly voice hardened. "So what do we do?"
"I don't know yet."
Xena looked at the centaur a moment. He was a wise leader, his thick, full beard flecked with gray and showing his age. But his beard was offset by the strong, bulging muscles of his chest and arms, the result of many years in battle, Xena instinctively knew. His tail flickered up to swat at a fly that landed on his deep brown back.
"Xena, I got the weapons stored in Roctus's barn like you asked," came Gabrielle's voice, as she entered into the hut, dripping rivers on water onto the floor. She grabbed up a few baskets of supplies and then headed back to the door. "I'm going to help the others finish up with the hospice. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Okay, and thanks," she replied, and then moved to the table in the center of the room. She sat, and rested her head in her hands for a moment. "Okay," she said finally. "Let's think about this again. Mictus wants to eliminate the centaurs because they are loyal to Corinth and King Iphicles. When Mictus tried to over throw Iphicles last summer and take over Corinth, the centaurs came to Iphicles' aid. Mictus was defeated but vowed revenge. Plus, his brother Tandros was killed in that battle by a centaur arrow. Now, the scouts that we sent out said that Mictus is coming from the north, through the mountain pass. If we can stop them from getting through the pass, we can prevent them from surrounding the village before we can set up some defenses."
She pointed to a large map that was spread on the tabletop. At the southern end of the mountain pass, the land opened into a wide, flat area, the centaur village near the middle and slightly off to the west. The entire perimeter of the plain was flanked by thick forest barely sliced with roads just wide enough for travelers to drive their wagons on. On the other side of the forest, Corinth stood. But Xena knew that Corinth could not help them in this battle. Hard times had fallen on the kingdom after the war the previous year, and all of Iphicles' efforts were focused on getting the kingdom back up to its' former strength, as it rightly should have been.
"Most likely they'll surround us from the north, east, and south and try to push our forces into the woods to the west," Tydus said, looking at the map and tracing his finger along with his words. "He knows that if we are pushed to the forest, we'd be no match for an army of men in those thick woods. Within a day's time his men could wipe out more than half of us."
Xena nodded solemnly, her eyes fixed on the tan, parchment map and the dark inked images that covered it. Finally, she spoke. "If we could somehow buy some time…Tydus, gather your strongest men and centaurs and assemble them into a team. Tell them meet me here first thing in the morning."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to seal up the mountain pass. I would do it tonight, but I'm afraid that we wouldn't be able to see much of anything in this storm."
Tydus could see now that the storm had doubled in intensity. In truth, not even the closest huts were visible in the torrent of rain.
"For now, I'm going to head back to my hut. If Gabrielle comes back from getting the hospice set up, tell her where I got to."
"Sure thing Xena."
Xena left the hut, hurrying back to her own. She entered and stoked the fire to stave off the cold and to dry off. Facing the heat of the fireplace, she stripped off her wet leathers down to her cotton shift and slipped on a robe that Tydus had left for. Suddenly, she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Turning sharply back towards the window, she could see a figure materializing.
"Ares…what do you want?"
"I want to talk to you."
"I'm busy."
"Xena, look, I know why you're here."
"And you want to stop me from taking down Mictus."
"No. I want to help you."
"Help me?" she replied with a sneer, not believing him.
"Mictus has fallen from my protection. He's eaten Ambrosia and after he takes out the centaurs, he's going after the gods."
Xena snorted, trying to hide her surprise. "I've beaten gods before Ares."
"Not like this. This was among the store of the First Ambrosia, more powerful than the one that Velasca and Callisto ate. And he's got the Hind's Blood."
"How did he get a hold of this? That dagger was destroyed after I used it on Callisto."
"I don't know. I only heard about it this morning from Zeus."
Xena shook her head. "That still doesn't mean that I should have any reason to need your help. Besides, why should I believe that you are willing to risk your life to stop him?"
"Because if I don't, I die anyway. He'll come after Olympus. Damn it Xena, let's face it. You and I need one another to come out of this alive. He's only just discovered the extent of his powers, but he's getting them under control fast. I need you because of your mortal blood and your fighting ability. You need me for my powers."
Again she shook her head. "No, I'll handle this my own way."
"I'd think that over again if I were you," Ares replied, his
voice lower and more menacing.
With a wave of his hand, he opened a viewing portal before Xena's eyes.
"Take a look Xena. That's the mountain pass. Sealed at both ends tighter than a tomb. All done in a single instant. I'll leave this as a freebie – but consider my offer!"
With a flash of blue light, he was gone. Xena was alone again for a moment, before Gabrielle came through the door.
"Xena, hi. Everything's all set with the hospice. The gods willing, we won't need it all of the supplies in it."
"We'll see."