Disclaimer: The characters of Ares, Xena, Argo, Aphrodite, Gabrielle, Joxer, et. al., belong to USA Studios, Renaissance Pictures and other copyright holders of the syndicated television series Xena Warrior Princess. No copyright infringement is intended. The story idea (such as it is) belongs to the bard.
Violence: Some - this is Xena after all - but nothing graphic.
Subtext/Sex: No/No
Language: A few scattered minor words.
Notes: If the thought of Xena and Ares being romantically involved is offensive to you, you may not wish to read this story. Have a nice day.
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~~~ The End of the Beginning II ~~~
The gems magnified and refracted the radiance of the afternoon sun as he turned the ring over in his hand. So beautiful… the ripple of light was mesmerizing as it splashed and played across the setting - the palest of blue diamonds spitting fire over the tints of blood red rubies. He turned it over once and again watching. A gift worthy of a god, he mused, unique and distinctive; a gift from a god, he remembered. Flames flared from the diamonds again and he saw her once more in its depths - sky blue eyes bright in the heat of battle, dark hair flowing over her shoulders, sword flashing in an ageless dance of deadly grace; laughing eyes teasing him - sending unknown emotions stabbing through the heart that had once known only the fierce passions of war; eyes dark and limpid in the flush of love, silken skin glowing from his caress. His body tensed and betrayed his yearning even as his mouth drew a thin line and his fist tightened over the ring in frustration.
His eyes closed and he pictured her as he had seen her last; no, not last - that was too painful even yet. He selected a picture from not too long before that - a full dozen thugs had her in their circle believing she would back down and let them have what they wanted. A smile curved his full lips as he remembered the smile that had traced its way across her features then; a fierce beautiful smile that said she was going to enjoy the exercise - the smile of a warrior finally pinning their prey. The fools never realized what hit them as they picked themselves up from the ground in her wake; all they really knew was that she had just taken all the fun from an afternoon's raid on some hapless travelers. Ah… the satisfaction of just watching her at work was… invigorating. He felt again the blood pounding through her veins as the muscles stretched and contracted. He leaned his head on the tall back of the throne he sat in and relived it - the joyous adrenaline flowing, coursing, pounding…
The whisper of sandals on stone floor broke the spell; his eyes snapped open and riveted the interruption in rage. How dare… !! Deep brown eyes blazed his fury at the hapless priest stumbling to a frightened halt. "WHAT do you WANT?!"
"My Lord, I have a report from the front in Thrace." He swallowed hard and wondered if he was about to pay Charon's toll. These last months had been precarious at best; his Lord had never been the most approachable of gods - but ever since she had gone…
**************
**************
This day the dark God of War and his Warrior Princess had seen fit to spend in leisure on the banks of the Peloponnese. These months since they had renewed their vows had been the best they had ever shared and Ares sensed that now Xena might be more inclined to become his goddess than she had been before. The years lost before this bliss… how had he lived through them? He had known the joy of her as his warrior though there was always something more he wanted of her that he could never quite put his finger on; the pain of her loss from his domain had been devastating. They were finally reunited as god and chosen, but no day, no span of days, had equaled these when she finally opened her heart and loved him the way she had wanted to so many years ago and didn't know how - the way he had never been able to let her; had never been able to let himself. Even as he thought these things, his fingers slipped into a hidden crevasse and fingered the ring - a ring so perfect it was fit to become a gift from a god to his future goddess. His mind whispered encouragement as he waited for the right time and prayed he wouldn't over wait the moment.
His back against a tree, Xena's head nestled in his lap as she gazed into the depths of the summer sky watching the clouds shape and reshape in idle amusement. His fingers brushed gently along the smooth ridge of her jaw to turn her face toward him as he marveled yet again at how beautiful she was and how changed he had become. Her blue eyes were soft and inviting as she raised herself to capture his lips with hers in a kiss that seemed to suspend time. His hand tangled in her long hair and as he raised his head, he clutched her hard to a heart so painfully full he thought it would burst from his chest. Gods! This pain of loving! It was almost worse than the pain he had borne when he lost her!
"By the Gods, I am glad you're mine," he breathed as he slackened his grip and she sat back on her heels to look at him. "Otherwise…" he raised an eyebrow teasingly.
Her brow rose above a wicked smile in return. "Otherwise?"
"Otherwise I'd have to make a complete ass of myself all over again to get you back," he grinned.
She chuckled at his inanity. "Shouldn't we be checking on that war in Thrace? I know it was going well, but I don't trust that Mendelus - he's a bit too high handed."
Ares tossed his head back and roared his laughter at the remark. "Like someone else I know!" They deserted their comfortable spot by the river to appear in the warlord's tent.
Xena listened to Mendelus report to his lord as she studied the map he referred to. "Fool!" she growled under her breath. When Ares turned and raised an unamused eyebrow in question, she pointed at the map with impatient gestures. "Had he stationed troops here…. and here as we discussed before, he wouldn't have put your army in this position. Having them come through that pass gave Athena's troops the perfect ambush. I think there might be time to turn it around though…." She paused in thought. "If we moved some of the men over this way and around behind this hill…."
Ares bent over the map beside her. "I see. Yes, that may do the trick." He turned to the disgruntled warlord.
"But my Lord! She doesn't know what she's talking about! If we…"
"Silence!" growled the war god. "She knows whereof she speaks."
"But Lord Ares! A woman?!"
Ares caught the man by the throat. "You dare question my judgment?! If I say that Xena's call is correct, who are you to question?" He shook the impertinent one and tossed him sprawling to the ground.
"Xena…?" he whispered hoarsely as he rubbed this throat. "I thought Xena -"
"You thought wrong," snarled Xena. She swept her hand toward the map in disgust. "Maybe you should try not to think so much - apparently it's not your strong point."
Ares turned to her and grinned wickedly. "We have a battle to win. What do you say we give it a hand?"
"We're going to have to if you're to win this one. He's really put your army in a spot." She shook her head and looked down at Mendelus where he still lay on the floor of the tent. "Get up! It's time to join your men."
**************
Swords clashed and clanged in deafening rings around them as Xena and Ares flowed naturally into the flood of fighting, fallen, and wounded men. Back to back and side by side they fought in effortless ease; each complimented the other - one an extension of the other's fluid motion. Slowly the men attacking became fewer and Mendelus' men inched up to join them in the center of the battlefield. Ares paused to watch the raging beauty before him as she blocked and turned and slashed wickedly at the enemy troops - never a wasted motion; perfect harmony of mind, body and steel. A final kick to pull her sword from a dying body and there were no more to face her. She turned to Ares with face flushed from the battle and eyes gleaming victory to breathe deeply in an attempt to calm the raging blood flow and slow the adrenalin rushing hard through her veins.
Her long dark hair was wildly tangled; her armor bore blots of blood and her skin shone brightly in sweaty sheen - but to Ares there was only one time in the world when she was more beautiful. He stepped forward and knelt before her; his eyes looked up imploringly as he found the ring in his hand - the ring he had had made for her with blood red rubies for the bond they shared and tiny pale blue diamonds for victory encompassing them. She looked down at him in bemusement.
"Xena…" he took her hand and placed the gentlest of kisses on her fingers. "Be mine; stay with me always," he begged softly.
The touch of his lips and soft caress of his voice sent the blood rushing again through her veins but she caught herself. She stared down at him. "Ares, I …" She looked at the blood and carnage around them and sighed sadly. "I cannot. I am sworn to you as your Chosen; I will fight for you; I will love you; but you ask too much of me when you ask that I join you further."
"Do you not understand all of what I am asking? I want you to become one with me - immortal, a goddess - sharing my throne and my life. There is no other for me, Xena. This I know well after all that we have been to each other."
She knelt to face him. "So you are asking even more than I had thought - you ask me to watch my family and friends grow old and die while I live on also. I don't know if I can do that." She hung her head.
He pressed the ring between her fingers while his hands covered hers. She raised her head and he leaned forward to brush a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'll wait. At least I have you now - and you may change your mind."
She drew her hands from his and looked in wonder at the ring. "It's beautiful," she breathed. "Where did you find this?"
"I found an artisan with uncommon skill and he made it for me. This is no stolen bauble or discarded offering - it is my offering to you."
She slipped it on her finger and watched the sun's dying rays play across the stones in brilliant display not quite knowing what to say.
**************
Restlessness for the adventure of wandering Greece with her friends burned in her for the first time in many weeks and Xena took leave of Ares to spend time with Gabrielle. The two friends greeted each other with warmth and talked and laughed far into the night to get caught up on the more interesting highlights of events during their separation.
"I thought Joxer would never get over the way that girl just left him flat, poor man," Gabrielle told Xena sadly. "He deserves so much better than that."
"I agree," nodded Xena as she studied her friend carefully as though trying to read something in her face, but if there was something there, it was hidden well. Had the two finally reached an acceptance of each other? She couldn't tell.
First light saw them on the road to Amphipolis with Joxer by their side as of old. The day was sunny and brilliant in its autumn display and a light breeze played over their skin as they rode forward in companionable silence. "I see the world anew," Xena mused to herself. "Can you hear me when I think of you Ares?" she thought wistfully. "If you could, I might tell you how beautiful it is here and how I wish you were sharing it with me, but…" she smiled ruefully at herself, "it's probably better that you aren't here until I get a better idea of how Gabrielle sees you now."
A chuckle drifted through her consciousness and her eyes grew momentarily wide before she chuckled softly in return. "I should have known," she smiled. "Of course I can hear you, Xena; did I not tell you that all you had to do was call my name?" whispered sensuously through her mind and wrapped her in a gentle hug.
"Xena. Xena?" Xena turned and found Gabrielle smiling at her. "Daydreaming?" the bard laughed.
Absently Xena's palm slid across her abdomen as she straightened and laughed in return. "How about we stop for some lunch? I'm sure you must be simply starving by now."
"Sounds great…. Oh, look - over there." She pointed to where the trees overhung a peaceful site next to the stream. "That do?"
"Sure."
**************
I stopped in to pay my brother a visit only to find him lounging carelessly over his throne gazing in the mirror at a familiar figure - an impish grin plastered all over his face. My brow raised in curiosity, I just had to ask. "So… what's up, Ares?"
He turned to me with laughter warm in his voice. "Just teasing Xena a little, sister. What can I do for you?"
"Then there isn't a problem with the two of you?"
"No -" he smiled. "She's just off paying a visit. She was thinking of me and… " He grinned mischievously and I just had to laugh.
"Actually I just hadn't seen you in awhile and I just thought I'd say Hi. I was going to ask Xena if she wanted to join me at the beach, but… oh well. I'm taking a couple of days and leaving Cupid in charge since it's been so quiet lately."
His brow rose in the old mocking manner. "Quiet, huh? No special projects going on?"
"Well… no… not really…" I replied with exaggerated innocence while he laughed heartily. I waited for the news I was sure he would give me - gave him as much opportunity as I could but it just didn't seem to be forthcoming. "Surely he would tell me," I thought, but as we exchanged a bit more banter, I realized that he either wasn't going to tell me - or he didn't know. How could he not know? Had she not told him? I mentally shook my head and departed his company.
**************
The days had grown in number to a fortnight when Gabrielle found herself seriously concerned for her friend. She had discussed possibilities for the changes in Xena with Joxer but he had no more idea what could be wrong than she did. Xena wasn't quite as alert as she should be and proved to be more often distracted with what Gabrielle could only call daydreaming. She fought with her old precision and grace but that seemed a little more aggressive than it had previously been. But it wasn't until they were attacked by a dozen wayward thugs and Xena dispatched them with an vigor previously unknown to the bard that she finally made up her mind to ask her friend a few questions at the next opportunity they were away from Joxer; as they rode into Corinth, she thought that evening after they had gone upstairs to their rooms would be perfect.
The horses were stabled and a quiet meal enjoyed by the hungry travelers in a small inn. They sat on in the pleasant atmosphere of farmers and herders relaxing after their day in easy camaraderie much later than was usual. Gabrielle was beginning to give up on getting Xena alone at all when she finally stood up with a languid stretch of her well-toned body.
"I'm all in - what say we get some sleep?"
Gabrielle nodded and looked over at Joxer dozing over his mug of ale. She laughed softly as she shook his shoulder a little to wake him enough to get him up the stairs. "Come on Joxer - let's go."
He roused enough to realize she wanted him to get up and smiled at her. "I was just…. resting my eyes," he grinned.
"Yeah, okay," laughed the bard as she helped him up. His arm wrapped over her shoulders to steady himself as they headed toward the stairs.
Her armor in a neat stack on a chair, Xena leaned back on the bed to think about the day and her unreasonable rage when they had been attacked. Her hand idly smoothed the leather over her abdomen as she wondered just what had gotten into her recently. Why had she so angry? It didn't make sense. She stood and walked toward the window to gaze out half sitting on the sill; a knock came at the door.
"Xena? Are you awake?"
"Come on in, Gabrielle," she called from the window as she slid a mask of indifference over her face. She looked back out of the window for a moment before turning her head to watch Gabrielle walk through the door. "Something on your mind?"
Gabrielle stood looking at Xena in dismay. She had planned the words to ask her friend but somehow they didn't seem right now judging by the closed look on Xena's face. "Looks like a comfortable room," she said lamely.
Xena's eyebrow rose. "It's okay."
"I mean it seems nicer than ou... my room anyway."
Xena slid around to fully face the obviously stumbling Gabrielle. "Our room?"
"I meant our rooms, my room and Joxer's room," she stressed the plural carefully. She turned and went to sit on the bed. "Xena… during that fight today… you seemed… different."
"Different?"
"Well… you just seemed so … so angry. It's not like you. You're usually so in control. This doesn't have anything to do with…" she took a deep breath to steady herself. "…with Ares, does it?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Xena replied coolly.
Gabrielle's hands folded and refolded a corner of the blanket on the bed absently as she hung her head and tried to think of the words to tell her friend. Gradually it dawned on her that Xena was being deliberately evasive. She raised her head and her eyes locked with cold blue ones. "Xena - you were more aggressive than you needed to be with those bandits and your temper has been shorter than I've ever seen it. What's going on?"
Xena stood up and casually stretched her lithe form as she pondered her answer. "Nothing, Gabrielle. I guess I'm just a little tired and snappish lately. Maybe going from one realm to another does that to you," she smiled reassuringly at the bard.
Though she was far from satisfied, Gabrielle realized she wasn't going to get any information out of her - at least, not now. Whether Xena herself knew or didn't know what was happening to her, she was apparently not prepared to talk about it just yet. She cocked her head and smiled at Xena. "Ok Xena. If you want me, you know where I am," she said as she stood up and stepped close to the warrior. She smiled to herself as she hugged the dark haired beauty - the way to get Xena to open up was through overly easy acceptance she was sure; Xena's mind would start wondering what she was up to and it wouldn't be too long before she told all. Xena smiled a little to herself as she saw Gabrielle's ploy for what it was but she hugged the bard in good form.
"Good night Gabrielle."
"Good night Xena."
Xena shook her head and almost chuckled out loud as the door closed. She strolled back to the window to reclaim her seat and gazed out at the endless stars. She did seem more tired of late - that much of what she had told the bard was true. It was as though she wasn't sleeping enough, yet she knew she'd been sleeping as much as she ever had. She sighed and leaned her head against the sill with her eyes closed, absorbing the sounds and smells of the night. Something was different about her body but she couldn't quite determine what. Her eyes remain closed as she sought out the various parts of her body with her mind - probing and questioning each joint, muscle and bone - but could find nothing she could pinpoint.
Her quest was abruptly abandoned as thickly muscled arms drew her close to a warm hard body. "I've missed you, minx," whispered a husky voice in her ear and she turned a warm smile to the one embracing her.
"I missed you too," she breathed as his lips hungrily claimed her own.
**************
Her senses came groggily awake in the predawn chill but the arm thrown over her body was warm and strong and her foreboding eased. She smiled a secret smile and moved closer to the man sleeping at her back. The coming of the sun would bring the inevitable separation, but for now she would enjoy his nearness. Her body relaxed and drifted back to sleep.
**************
The rising sun filtered through the window to find Xena lying on her back while Ares lay on his side facing her. His hand idly stroked her hair and traced the features of her face as though he were memorizing them. A small smile played over Xena's lips as she lay still to enjoy the gentle caresses.
"Xena…" Ares said softly, "Don't go to Amphipolis yet."
She arched a lovely brow in curiosity. "Why not?"
He let his fingers thread through the long glossy locks without answering for a moment. How was he to answer that wouldn't send her directly where he didn't want her to be and wouldn't end with bitter words? "I'd just prefer you didn't just yet. Wait a week or so."
Suspicion covered her like a shroud and her mouth drew into a frown. "Why?"
He sighed heavily. "If I tell you, you'll run directly to Amphipolis. You only have so many lives, Xena. Eventually your luck will run out."
She sat up with a growl. "I can take care of myself, Ares. You taught me after all."
He sat up beside her, swinging his long legs over the edge of the bed, and looked at her imploringly. "Don't go to Amphipolis just yet. Wait a bit. A few days."
"But you won't tell me why."
He gazed toward the window and sighed once more. "Athena is waiting for you at Amphipolis. If you wait a few days, I should be able to get her to leave you alone." That much, at least, was safe to tell her.
"But as your chosen, she can't harm me."
"She wouldn't do it directly, of course. But if one of her generals were to take you and …? Who's to say he wasn't acting on his own?"
"Look at me," she said, turning his face toward her with an impatient hand. Her sky blue eyes bore hard into his deep brown ones. "What makes you think he could do anything to me anyway? How many battles have I fought? How many cities have I taken? How many of your own plans have I beaten? Do you think I've become soft?"
He stood and paced restlessly to the far side of the room and back to halt before her. She could see the frustration in his eyes and her jaw tightened in determination. What was he not telling her? "What are you so worried about, Ares?"
"I'm not worried. Concerned. Athena doesn't always play fair despite her title of 'honorable warfare'. I don't want to lose you again… Never again."
Despite her misgivings, she forced a wane smile. "If it means that much to you, I'll wait a day. But no longer. I want to see my mother."
He smiled weakly in return. "Fair enough," he said. He took her hand and pressed a gentle kiss on her fingertips that tore strangely at her heart. "Until later, Xena. I love you." Shards of blue light enveloped his frame… and he was gone.
**************
Joxer joined Gabrielle at the table to break the fast across from the lovely bard. He couldn't think of a better way to start a day than with Gabrielle's green eyes smiling at him. "Where's Xena?" he asked as the serving maid set food down in front of him.
"I haven't seen her yet, but I'm sure she'll appear soon. She's probably over at the stables getting the horses.
His smile faded to a more somber look. "When are you going to tell her?" he asked slowly.
She looked down at her plate guiltily and swallowed hard. "Soon. I'll tell her soon. I was going to tell her last night but… she wasn't much in the mood for talking."
"So you told me," he said. He reached across the table and placed a pair of fingers beneath her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Are you ashamed, Gabrielle?"
"No," she said firmly. "No, I'm not ashamed. I'm just waiting for the right time. She seems so distracted lately. I wish I could tell what's going on with her."
He took her hand and squeezed it affectionately before turning back to his meal. "I'm sure we'll find out when the time is right. Maybe she's waiting for the right time to tell you!" he teased.
Gabrielle chuckled as she returned to her own plate. Why on earth would Xena feel the need to wait to tell her something? This same woman sprang the truth of her relationship with Ares on her out of the blue after all. What news could be so earth shattering after that?
**************
"What do you mean we aren't going today? I thought you were anxious to get there?"
"I am, Gabrielle, but… well, Ares asked me to wait for a day or two and I agreed to wait one day before going on."
"Ares?" the bard fought with a suspicious frown. "Why did he want you to wait?"
"Something about Athena," Xena shook her dark head distractedly. "I'm not sure. But I gave my word so we don't go until tomorrow morning. So… what would you like to do today?"
"Well, we could go to the market place and replenish some of our supplies. And we could use a new frying pan. The old one has a dent in it from when you…"
Xena held up her hand with a grin. "The market place then!"
**************
As Gabrielle shopped for a frying pan, Joxer was given a list of herbs to find. Xena strolled the market in alert nonchalance, gathering gossip and news as she paused at one vendor and the next. Suddenly she began to study some throwing knives with unusual intensity.
"…took a hostage. Says she won't release him unless Xena gives herself up."
"She calls herself the Goddess of Honorable Warfare. How is this honorable?"
"It's not right. Xena must have done something…"
"She helped Ares defeat her army in battle a little while back. I suppose this is her way of getting back at her."
"But to kidnap her brother? Why in the name of … Oh! Hello! May I help you? These knives are handcrafted by the best…"
Xena cut him off with a quick wave of her hand as she smiled at the stall keeper. "No thank you. I was just looking," she told him before she strolled rapidly away in search of Gabrielle and Joxer.
She found Joxer at a vendor with several of the herbs he'd been in search of and caught him by the arm. "Where's Gabrielle?" she asked urgently.
"Over there I think - " he gestured several stalls over. "What…?"
"I'll explain on the way," she said. "Gabrielle!" she shouted cheerfully as she spotted the bard looking their way, "Time to go!"
A puzzled frown sketched across her features briefly at the summons but she quickly concluded her purchase and made to intercept Xena and Joxer as they started toward the inn.
"Xena? What…?"
"I'll explain later. Right now… Joxer, you come help me get the horses ready. Gabrielle - you gather our things from the inn. We're leaving - now," she instructed. "Damn Ares to Tartarus," she snarled so low that they nearly didn't catch it.
Gabrielle handed Joxer her purchases as they exchanged worried glances then hurried off behind Xena.
**************
It was two days ride to Amphipolis and no purpose would be met in running the horses into the ground, thus it was they traveled at a slower pace though steadily bypassing places they would normally have stopped to relax.
"What's this all about, Xena?" Gabrielle finally got the chance to ask.
"Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Honorable Warfare, has taken Toris hostage until I give myself up to her. Apparently Ares was wrong."
"Why take Toris? What's Ares got to do with this?"
"When he asked me to delay going to Amphipolis, he hedged about telling me why - all he would say was that Athena was waiting for me and he hoped to convince her to leave me alone. He must have known this all along, damn him to Tartarus."
"But why would he not want you to go if Athena had Toris? What does Athena want with you?"
"I can only guess; but Ares and I defeated her army when she was trying to take over Thebes a while back. Why Ares wouldn't want me to go… I don't know; but I will find out," she snarled in a tone that sent shivers down their spines.
**************
Xena's back went suddenly rigid and she held her arm up in a signal to halt her companions as she and Argo stopped. "Ares," she said in flat disdain. The God of War blazed into solid form on the road before her; one hand rested casually on his sword hilt as though to belie the stiffly postured stance that betrayed his anger but his features were schooled into a mask of cool superiority.
"You said you would wait," he said carefully.
"You know why I'm here," she lashed coldly.
"My plan has not yet had time to bear fruit," he accused, looking daggers at her companions. If only they would disappear; if he could talk to Xena… make her understand…
Xena dismounted and stepped before him. "I asked you why," she said harshly as her raging blue eyes riveted his unyielding brown ones.
"And if I had told you all, you would have come running with some foolish notion of negotiation. I won't have it. You can't win, Xena; not this time," he spat.
"So I find out from villagers gossiping in a market!" Her arm shot straight from the shoulder to his face only to find her fist captured in grip of steel before it met its mark. She tried to pull it back but he was having none of it. Her other fist found his stomach with a vengeance and he released her as he stumbled back a few steps.
"You can't just walk in there and take him!" he ground out as he straightened. "I will get him back; I just need time."
"I want Toris released unharmed."
"He will be. You have to be patient - and you can't be seen by Athena or her men."
Her arms crossed as she thought this over. "What do you intend to do?"
Her head came up sharply as she heard the imperceptible sound of a footstep. She clawed for her sword and Ares swiftly drew his to take up position beside her as Gabrielle and Joxer scrambled from their saddles and the road flooded with hard looking men.
A rugged looking warlord stepped before Xena's defiant posture and laughed at her dark look. "Athena will be pleased!"
A flash of white light revealed the goddess herself. "You have done well," she smiled viciously. An eyebrow rose above the glinting eyes in question as her head tilted slightly to one side. "So you killed Xena yourself?" she sneered in Ares' face. "How well you look even in death, Warrior Princess!"
"Take her!" she commanded. "You - I will deal with later," she threw at Ares as she disappeared in mocking laughter.
**************