This story is written as a response to the XOC 4th challenge.
No character is mine.
Thank you Anca for beta reading…again
Enjoy guys!
XENA, my warrior princess
The flow of blood, the massacre, the decimation, the physical suffering, the pain in general and everything in between was Him…he was WAR in the most literal, possible way…and he loved his job. He did, his victims knew that better than anyone but after living for so long, -we are talking about at least a million years here- sometimes the sparks that used to come with the joy of the kill refused to show…it was pathetic really, he thought…
He was getting bored lately and it seemed that nothing could make him come back to live, bring back the sparkles. The God of War needed action, not the one that his ditsy sisters could provide cause women he had had more than his share- whenever and whomever he wanted- but the one that only a warrior could bring- the ultimate warrior-, the feel of that adrenaline rushing through his veins again…he missed that.
He was becoming more and more irritated with each day that passed; his warriors weren't good for anything. He quite frequently asked himself how he ended up choosing them, and if he was either blind or drunk when he did that…
For quite some time now he had been looking for that perfect warrior that his heart was longing to find but it was quite a difficult task given the fact that no one actually managed to seize his eye- they were all a bunch of fools, thinking that having the favor of the God of War and some battling skills was enough…well they were wrong. War was more than that…you had to have a brilliant mind to come up with all the possible ways to win a battle and eventually a war…and to do that you needed to had strategic skills cause planning was a big part of it too, not to mention having a sharp enough mind to also think about plan B…His warriors were like sheep though -without a shepherd-…most of them knew how to follow orders yes, but the initiative was made by the wrong people and that because he had good for nothing generals and back to square one again…
He sighed in annoyance…the days were getting by him and he couldn't even watch a decent battle anymore anywhere in Greece…
"There you are Uncle!" Strife appeared, with his always present smirk on his face.
"What do you want?" Ares asked him, irritated and bored.
He was sitting on his throne, a portal in front of him open, just in case…He didn't even cast a look up at his nephew cause he knew that the dumb godling had never good news for him, just bubbling stupid things.
"Glad you asked that Unc!" he popped the last letters out his mouth.
"Well…?" Ares exasperatedly added seeing that no response was ever going to come out otherwise.
"Whaddya watchin' there?" Strife tried to peek into the portal.
Ares's fiery eyes wandered over his nephew for a few seconds. Strife gulped nosily and not wanting to receive a good beating he started talking.
"I think I fou…"
But that very moment Ares silenced him brutally with his hand and his gaze turned to the portal that was showing a battle. Strife frowned-sometimes it was difficult to read the God of War especially when he was in a bad mood like he had been all those days- but he kept observing his uncle who was really concentrating on that portal of his.
"Ohh the battle of Corinth." Strife babbled catching glimpses of it.
"That's what I wanted to tell you…" he continued.
"Would you shut up now Strife?" the God of War growled. Sometimes the only way to shut the godling up was to wipe the floor with him but now he finally saw something that he liked.
How could he have skipped this? Ares thought…Corinth was going to be taken and it was like he had nearly missed his own party, he saw the missiles being ready to fire towards the big city. It was like he had just woken up in the middle of a war.
"Why did I not know about this?" he casually asked, starting to enjoy what he was seeing…cause he knew that the next stop of the person who was the head of this operation would be Athens...Corinth was just in the way. His Sister would lose it when she found out about this. He started laughing.
"Unc…I'm happy to see you in such good…" the godling didn't had time to say anything more cause Ares's fireball collided with his chest.
"Don't you have anything better to do? I think I was clear with you…keep an eye on that stupid army in the west." Ares commanded, his eyes flashing towards his nephew for a moment.
"Auuuuch…" Strife complained and disappeared quickly blabbering about something.
Ares shook his head in disappointment…What did he do to deserve that?
The God of War turned his head towards the portal again, now being alone, he could channel all his attention on the battle at hand. Armies were crashing down, the earth was feeding with their blood - just like it was indirectly feeding him…
"I have to know who had this magnificent idea, not to mention the food poisoning…That's a brilliant thing to do…trap them inside…killing them slowly." he congratulated the person even if he did not see anybody in that portal that could fit into that description.
And the God of War didn't have the chance to see her because the warrior had just given birth to her son- which was also the only reason why the battle died too soon and Corinth survived her attack.
Seeing that everything was dying out, Ares was pissed off…first off all he couldn't understand why had the plan failed, it had all the chances in the world in his eyes to succeed– and who was a better judge than him right? He was the master of War and this was exceptional.
But unfortunately he didn't receive all his answers cause the portal closed seconds after the battle ended, leaving him with the biggest question of them all. Who did this?
xxx
After that day, the God of War's mind drifted many times back to that moment, he needed to find out who that brilliant man was, who had managed to come up with that master plan. He finally had something to chase and he wasn't going to let it go so easy.
"Strife!" he yelled.
"Strife!"
"Yes…yes…" the godling materialized a second after answering his uncle.
"Drop whatever it was you were doing. I need you to help me find somebody."
A wide smile appeared on Ares's nephew face.
"Anything Unc, anything…just name it and you can consider it's done…I will…"
"Shut up Strife!"
The younger god nodded.
"The battle of Corinth." Ares started, so proud about what he had just witnessed but Strife's smile disappeared.
"Unc I'm sorry ok? I did not know."
Ares gave him a confused look.
"I mean it was stupid of me…I should have told you, I know …How could I, I mean…? I don't even know how it happened…please forgive me? "
Ok…this the God of War did not expect. What had his dumb nephew done this time?
"And just what was in your head may I know?"
"Rocks?" Strife answered half heartedly, hoping that the answer was humiliating enough for his uncle not to question him any further…Ohh he could see it coming. His uncle would surely punish him. How could he think to present him a…ohh he shuddered.
"Care to explain?"
"Not really Unc, it's better to not know, really…It's just me not wanting a beating…."
Ares's gaze remained petrified on his nephew's face…
"Tell me!" Ares demanded.
"It's about the battle of Corinth…They…uh…lost."
"I know that…but why?" Ares's mind drifted back to it, it was stuck in his brain.
Strife gulped…He knew why….
"I want you to find the leader." Ares continued.
"You don't want to know."
"So you do know." Ares's eyes caught life when all the pieces clicked in his brain. He came towards his nephew, his hands gripping him gently by the neck.
"Tell me what you know."
"It's…it's a…w…woman. A woman." the godling closed his eyes, for sure expecting a fist in his face but instead of that, Ares released him.
"A woman…"
Fascination was written on the God of War's face. Of course sometimes the best man for a job is a woman….
"Are…are you not upset?" Strife asked, still fearful.
"Upset?..." Ares laughed. "Tell me her name."
"I don't know …I only saw her once…an unfortunate coincidence...you know, giving orders and that..." he tried to remember. "Black hair, long, very long hair…blue …blue eyes, she was really beautiful…and…" he stopped for a second before adding disappointed: "…pregnant."
"What?" the God snapped , irritated that he had been so brutally pulled out of his dreamland just by the description that Strife processed; his mind could very accurately project her but that one word made his dream collapse. He couldn't afford to have a warrior with a baby after her.
"Yeah, heavily pregnant."
"Don't say that!" Ares yelled.
How could his nephew always manage to do one thing good and then, the second after that with just one single word destroy it all?
"This is an inconvenience." Ares added to himself starting to pace the ground…he needed to find her and find a way to get rid of that baby.
"Find out her name for me and when you do, you deliver it to me immediately, understand?"
"Ok Unc…"
"Ok what?"
"I totally understand."
"Good, now get out of my sight."
The God of Mischief vanished in a black smoke.
xxx
Nonetheless, the God of War didn't actually rely on his nephew's searches- since he knew how incompetent he came out to be most of the time- so he did it himself but even if his wishes were so great he didn't have anything on her, just some simple physical description. It was as if she had gotten underground, hiding from him for weeks now.
"Fuck!" He yelled when the portal showed him one more time another brunette warrior that was definitely not her, he could tell. He fired an energy bolt in the portal and destroyed it…well no real damage there since he could always create another.
As he was thinking about what other ways there were so he could find the woman in the end, a black smoke started to take shape in the room. Ares intense gaze was on his nephew.
"Ohhh hi Un…"
"Did you find her?" Ares asked anxiously.
"I did. I was…"
"I don't care how you did find her, tell me where she is and what's her name."
"She's assembling a new army since most of her men perished in the battle of Corinth."
Great, the God of War thought, he will give her his armies, everything she wanted if she agreed with what he had in mind for her.
"Her name is Xena."
"Xena…." the God of War whispered, even her name sounded right.
"For once you did your job correctly." Ares congratulated Strife who was by now all smiling.
"Thanks Unc!"
"Now retake your previous job, you may do what you want it's your army now, this as a reward."
"Yes!" Strife jumped from happiness.
"Ok, now get lost, I'm busy here."
Very contented, Ares's nephew vanished from the room.
As soon as he was alone, he magically made a new portal appear before his eyes and let her name roll of his lips.
"Xena."
Slowly, an image started to take shape on the surface of the portal. It showed a camp, warriors –not many but enough to form a small army- they were going through their drills, exercising, some were drinking water he supposed and some were still finishing their meal.
"But where is she?" he was becoming more agitated by the second.
And then when he took a closer look, he saw a set of bright blue eyes looking straight into his soul. She was sitting at the base of a tree, a bit further away from the camp, eating some chicken and keeping an eye on her men.
"By the gods…" was the only thing that Ares could only say, not quite believing how beautiful she was, and not just that but she was a warrior and what a magnificent warrior!
Those eyes were like the sky and her raven hair was so black and so long that he instantly felt the urge to caress those silky strands. But against his strong desires he decided to remain on Olympus that day, watch her first before he came up with his proposal …He needed to make sure that she was indeed the one that he had been looking for.
It wasn't necessary for him to wait too much either, because when she was done with her lunch she rested a little for some half hour before she challenged one of her soldiers.
She fought with him and beat him every time but that didn't satisfy her though, -for her being just a mere play- so she challenged them all at the same time, she wanted a real fight, not one for kids so she got herself one.
It is useless to mention that by that time, Ares could hardly believe how good she was. She wasn't just a warrior, she wasn't just a beautiful woman, she was phenomenal: those flips, her skill with a sword in hand and the pinches…where did she learn that? Ares asked himself, since that was a new one for him…And of course there was her war cry, that did him every time. He was conquered indeed and he couldn't wait to have her by his side.
Forgetting all about needing to wait before he met her, instead, the very next second he materialized in her camp, watching her from a close distance, but still invisible for human eyes. The sight of her in real life rapidly surpassed all his expectations.
She was still fighting her men- at least the ones that were still standing on their feet and she was still winning…That made him grin of course cause she was so but so good. Then, all of a sudden, she stopped and looked around. What was she doing? The question rang in Ares's mind.
One of the soldiers launched himself at her but she parried his sword but still she wasn't focused on the battle anymore but at something else. That made Ares think and he only ended up reaching a conclusion that he immediately tested but still with doubt in his mind…no mortal could do that…
He marched forward so that he was now standing at just a few meters away from her. His actions made her even more unguarded which meant just one thing: she was able to feel him. The God of War was dumbstruck, how could a mortal do that? However, this was a plus punt for her in Ares's eyes. She was everything he had ever wanted and more.
That negligence cost her though, for seizing the opportunity one of her men that was getting up from the ground charged forward. She sensed the attack but it was a bit too late- just enough so that a dagger -that the soldier had found on the field- cut her palm.
"I…I'm sorry!" the man uttered, being awfully afraid now.
They all knew how ruthless she could be, but he had never thought that he would even get his weapon near her let alone touch her skin.
"It's…nothing, just a superficial cut. Get back to work!" she added, her mind still drifting back to that sensation. She could swear that someone had been watching her all this time. She shook her head and started making her way to her tent.
She didn't let it show, of course she never did but she was not calm…the warrior was more angry at her than at anyone else; how could she had let that happen, even her little 10 year old self could have better parried that sword. What the hell had happened to her?
Xena ripped furiously a cloth from her bed and soaked it in a basin, to clean her wound first. As she was busy with the rag, she suddenly felt the hair on her arms rising up, her skin crawling. She took a good look around the room but she was all alone, she knew that even before checking it out. Was she going insane?
She shook her head, letting it all go by. She must have been…she was completely alone.
Going back to her work, she waited to fasten the cloth on her palm and that's when she felt those sensations again but even stronger now, her spine riling…Right out of nowhere, a warm breath was on her neck. She closed her eyes for a moment wanting to make it disappear, cause it was driving her crazy.
Needing to put a safe distance between whatever was happening at that moment, she tried to ignore that heat, that raw darkness that was slowly engulfing her body and soul and by that meant reaching to that rag again just to discover that there was no cloth on the counter anymore.
"What the…?" she murmured, not quite believing it.
Her hand was swiftly immobilized by an unseen force and when she took a better look at it seconds after, both the blood and the cut on her hand were gone.
"Seeing that it was my fault…." a smooth, sexy voice whispered to her before she even uttered her question.
Before she knew it, a faint blue light submerged in her tent, and for a split second her eyes closed just so that when she opened them again, her blue moons met the melting brown of the one that owned that velvety voice. Her mind was still in some sort of fog but she came back to her senses soon enough.
"Most people would have been forever grateful for that miraculous healing." Ares's eyes never left her face. She was stunning and he was curious about her in every possible way. It was just something- a force- that it drew him to her like two magnets.
She retracted her hand from his and looked suspiciously at him. She wasn't stupid, he must have been a god of course since only that could have explained what had happened to her hand and his sudden appearance but what did he want with her?
"Who are you?" she simply asked trying to be indifferent. But she was curious.
"Who am I?" the God of War repeated after her. "Who do you think I am?"
Ares was more than willing to share that information with her but he couldn't restrain himself from playing a bit with her. One more thing though that he liked about her, she seemed to be always right to the point.
"You may be just some other pervert that broke into my tent. What do I know?" she replied nonchalantly but her reply was delivered to him to make him understand that she didn't like at all that some stranger was in her hut just because he felt like it.
"Auch…" he falsely added. "That hurt…"
"Good. Maybe you want to deliver yourself out." she wanted to turn away from him but she stopped when she heard him.
"I have a proposal for you." he was serious now, his playfulness gone. And truth be told, he was even a bit unnerved by her dismissing tone. She didn't even hear him out but he would make sure she did and she wouldn't be capable to refuse him.
"Oh yeah?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yeah…pretty sure you would want to hear that." he added confidently.
"What makes you think that?" Xena now focused on him.
Ares closed in the distance between them so that now he was directly in her face. Those blue eyes looking straight at him. He breathed once more before he started talking.
"Because…I want what you want." his eyes bore into hers but she didn't avert her gaze even if she felt like she was melting by the second but she wouldn't be the one to give up first, oh noo…and for sure not in front of a stranger.
"How do you…"
"…know what you want? I've just watched that battle Xena…"
She frowned. Was this guy stalking her? And what had he really seen? Her baby Solan? What if he knew something? When she gave her son up to the centaurs she had hoped for a good life for him, and that meant never knowing who his mother was so that no one could find him. She was starting to be a little nervous.
"…the battle of Corinth." he added closing his eyes, memories invading both their minds.
"You were exceptional. You could have destroyed that city- despite the fact that for reasons unknown to me you didn't." And now that he thought about it…where the hell was her baby? His nephew had mentioned it, but maybe it was all a mistake, gods knew Strife was a genius in doing those.
"Why?" he pushed.
"That's none of your business." she answered coldly, finally taking a step back from where she stood and breaking their gaze.
"It doesn't matter now, anyway…What matters is that we both want to conquer Athens." he shrugged. That was no lie as long as nobody was standing in his way to have her as his perfect warrior.
Xena's eyes widened at that statement.
"Well…it wasn't hard to guess. It was the most logical move to make after Corinth had fallen…But now with my armies, my power, you could be invincible."
She gulped dryly. Ohh… he knew how to make her pay attention alright. She was so easy in that aspect from her point of view but that didn't mean that she would simply allow herself to be controlled by some god.
"What do you mean?" the warrior asked.
"Don't lie to me or yourself." he once again found himself inches away from her but this time he was behind her. Ares brought his hands and caressed her arms gently.
"Feel that?"
She only nodded when warmth starting to spread into her skin.
"You can have it all Xena, I will give that to you…power, the power of war."
She closed her eyes in pleasure at just the thought alone.
"You are drawn to War like a moth to the flame."
He turned her around so that now she was facing him.
"War…" she only repeated, the power…his power still surging into her body, filling all her insides.
"Yes…Now look at me."
Those words made her realize that she had been drifting into oblivion for the last seconds so she snapped her eyes open and librated herself from his arms, trying to regain some sense in her.
"Stop playing those games and just say what you want from me?" she demanded.
"Wasn't I clear?"
"Not enough." she challenged.
"Very well. I want you to be the God of War's warrior. To lead my armies to victory, to fight in my name. To be my perfect Warrior."
The God of War. She was in awe by him since she had always wanted to…no scratch that, she was just curious about how he looked like. And he was gorgeous…tall, dark and handsome, not to mention that raw power, that mysterious aura that was all around him every time he talked. It was a dangerous terrain to her, she knew that.
"So?" he asked, starting to lose his patience.
"What makes me so worthy to lead you armies?"
The God of War started to laugh.
"You're kidding me right? You have some skills there Xena…but I could teach you so much more…. Together we would be invincible."
"Well today I didn't make quite an impression, didn't I?"
"I would gladly take that blame…however, you can't let yourself get distracted so easily."
"I'm…"
"This is for free. Let's just say your first lesson." he added seductively against her lips, before he vanished in his usual blue light, leaving nothing but the echo of his voice behind: "I'm willing to wait for your answer… 3 days from now, Xena…after those days, I will start looking for somebody else."
As soon as he left, Xena wanted to slap herself to come back to reality. She furiously filled her bathtub with hot water to get herself to relax cause she could still feel the tension in her muscles. She hadn't considered his offer at all; she didn't need some god to guide her even if it was about Him, the absolute god in the art of war. No…nope…She shook her head, stripped naked and sunk in the water, thus filling her mind with all sorts of motives of why she didn't want to do this, and about half an hour later, perfectly content with the fact that she had convinced her inner self to not think much over this topic, she took her robe next to her, dried herself clean and laid down on her bed.
Sleep came late since all she did was to force the images of her at the head of Ares' armies, images of her conquering all in her path…and him, out of her mind, of them together, invincible as he had said. No, there wasn't a him, just her. She strained herself to remember, there was always her. And finally, when she drifted to sleep, the dreams about him didn't ceased…in fact it proved to be even worse than while being awake; she felt attracted to him and that attraction pushed into her mind, and elaborated itself into dangerous fantasies.
When morning came, she knew what she needed to do. She couldn't afford this closeness with the God of War given that only a few minutes spent in his presence led to some pretty intense dreams. He was dangerous in every possible way. No…she would not take up on his offer, she would gather an army herself and once she had it she would also have Athens conquered, but without him.
That's what she told herself though but she wanted something else…
During those remaining days before time would expire, she made up her mind countless times but she always reached the same conclusion…to not go. She was torn. What made her choice final was in fact seeing her men train…to be sure, those weren't trained warriors, not in the way she would have wanted – Corinth had only left behind the cowards or so it seemed- she couldn't conquer Athens with them and after all, she had never chosen the safe move to make. She liked danger, she constantly lived from the thrill of it and that's what she should do, she told herself.
Her mind once again changed, she left the camp late in the night, looking for the closest temple dedicated to the God of War.
xxx
It was the end of the time that Ares had given to the warrior that he knew was meant to lead his armies to victory and it was driving him crazy seeing that it was so late at night without hearing one word from her.
From the last time he saw her –three days before- he resisted his need and want to look through a portal to see her. It may had to do with the fact that he didn't like where this was going…gods she was stunning and he was just way too busy to think about her as well. He couldn't help it though, his mind refused to obey him and that wasn't normal in his mind…This was definitely the first time that this was happening to him. Of course, he had had in the past very good warriors- male and female - but never before had his mind been so occupied at thinking about them day in and day out – they did their job and he was satisfied.
It was almost midnight and he was still pacing back and forward in the throne room in the Halls of War thinking about ways to make her accept his offer now that the time had almost expired – he had said three days and he couldn't take his words back. He needed to find another way.
Enraged by the fact that she wasn't mending in his will, he threw the statue next to him down, smashing the master piece. Seeing that the gesture had somehow made him feel a little better, he started using his powers at destroying the place.
Pillars soon started to fall, curtains were on fire but at one moment, despite that mess around him, he thought he heard something…he stopped and indeed it was his name…he could recognize that voice anytime, anywhere…Xena calling him… A grin spread instantly on his face.
His first instinct told him to go running straight to her, but thinking better about it…he had waited quite some time for her, she could as well wait a little longer for him. He totally ignored the heartbeat in his chest that was just getting stronger and stronger with each call of his name from her lips.
xxx
"Ares…" she tried for the last time.
Ok…apparently the god was occupied or the time had expired and he just wouldn't show up anymore. Great Xena! She congratulated herself, you've just lost this chance, and for what? She shook her head at her own stupidity for having waiting so long to come here.
At least she tried right? Getting ready to leave the place, hands on the knob of the huge doors of the temple, she pushed at them but right at that moment, a blue light appeared just before her very eyes…
"You took quite your sweet time…" his velvety voice spread into the room and even if he was making efforts to conceal the fact that he was upset with her timing- which was usually a very easy thing to do- she did notice that subtle flicker of emotion invading his eyes – the same eyes that were now relentlessly traveling up and down her body until they found her blue ones…She literally gulped when she saw the fire in his eyes, as if wanting to burn her.
"I…uh" she faltered for one brief instant, punching herself mentally for that flash of weakness.
"I needed to weigh up the pros and cons…." she answered, sounding very sure of herself.
"Cons?" He asked, a bit startled. "I don't see them." A small smile spread across his perfect features.
"You don't but I do." she replied shortly.
"I guess it was a very unbalanced scale since you are here." he passed her as he talked and she turned away from the doors, now forgetting all about leaving.
"Maybe…" she teased. His grin only got bigger.
"May I assume then that it's up to me to show you that there aren't any negative aspects at making this choice that you have clearly already made?" He approached her again. Since he got to know her, he could swear that he was doing that unconsciously, his head losing itself somehow when he was around her.
A very small smile breached through her always cool appearance. He had made her smile for the first time and he suddenly felt like something new, unknown spread inside his chest, making it constrict for a little while.
"So do I get my army now?"
"I like this about you Xena…one of the many qualities that you have, I'm sure but…"
He was now directly in front of her, a very little distance between their bodies. He could almost sense that her heart may gotten a little bit on the run.
"First…" He launched his hand towards her and she bowed her head… "It would be nice to introduce ourselves."
"I thought you know who I am…you did call me by my name, remember?"
"Xena…indulge me."
She rolled her eyes and clasped his hand. It felt incredibly warm to her senses.
"I'm Xena…of Amphipolis…" she said slightly amused.
Amphipolis? Gotcha, now he knew why he had laid his eyes on her for the very first time, he had this feeling of familiarity…She was the daughter of one of his followers from that town- Atrius was his name and if he remembered correctly, the girl had been doomed to die…family affairs if he recalled it right. It was a good thing she hadn't perished…That was not something he could tell about her father though, cause one day he simply found himself without his loyal follower…and well, that was the last time that he had occupied himself with the people in that town…After all, they were more devoted to Athena. But now he had before him the most amazing of warriors. That town delivered him an incredible beauty, so they were almost pardoned.
"I'm…"
"I know who you are Ares…God of War."
"So you know my name too…"
"Who doesn't? I'm a warrior." she disentangled her hand from his and he cleared his throat, breaking their gazes as he increased the space between them a bit.
"Good point my dear."
"Well…when will I get that army?"
"Impatient, I see…but as I said, this is something more than you being just another warrior that follows me…You accepted my offer - which includes some special…how can I put this into one word...favors."
"Like what?" she asked, narrowing her eyes, not really liking where this was going.
"Ohh…don't be so suspicious…I will show you in the morning since it's late now."
She didn't have a choice than to agree.
"Ok."
She made her way to the doors of the temple that were leading outside, wanting to leave but once again he materialized in front of her, preventing her to go.
"As I said it's late…and since you are the one that I chose…you have a place here in my temple where you could rest."
"Here?...But…"
"Shhh…" His fingers caressed her cheek and then took her hand in his, vanishing the next second with her in another room.
"Ookk…that was new." Xena said, referring to that new way of transportation. She was a little bit dizzy.
"So what do you think?" Ares asked enthusiastically, looking around and making his way towards the armoire…
He had decorated the room just for her; it took him one full day since he had changed the color scheme a million times before he decided on what it was to be seen now: a big bed in the middle of it, soft dark sheets covering it, two red pillows in the center of the bed, mahogany furniture, a big table on one side of the room, books in a library and beautiful curtains hanging around the huge windows.
"It's beautiful." She said and he turned just in time to see her admiring the sword on the table. She was definitely not talking about the room.
"I'm glad you like it."
His smile was warm. He was certain that she would like that, that was precisely the reason why he had asked Hephaestus to make it for him three days before.
She raised her gaze and there he was, again invading her space, making her shiver…He clearly couldn't care less about respecting someone's privacy.
"It's yours."
Her eyes widened.
"Are you sure? I mean this is a very fine sword…and…"
"The perks of being my Chosen."
Another smile was forcefully brought on her face for the second time that same day, more than a day in fact, just some minutes.
"Thanks."
"Tomorrow, more will follow…but for now, just rest."
He then materialized a silk black dress in his hand and handed it to her.
"Do you want to take a bath too?"
"No…it's fine." She took the piece of cloth from his hands and put the sword back on the table.
"Well…then, I'll let you to…sleep. Until tomorrow!"
"Yes…"
The next second he was gone and she could now finally breathe again. Her eyes found once again the sword than looked at the dress and around the room, seeing every luxurious thing that was in it. Indeed beautiful…That was the last thought on her mind before drifting to sleep much, much later that night.
xxx
It all started with that impulse- an impulse that gradually turned into a very serious decision that followed by her very first night spent in His temple. Of course, it wasn't the last one, it was just the first from many to come. It was the beginning of a passionate, burning flame of love that threatened to engulf them both.
The Warrior woke up with the God of War in her room, watching over her – and though it innerved her at first, in time she got so used to it that she actually missed when he wasn't there for her to see first thing in the morning.
He chivalry excused himself for being there so early and wake her up but said that he had a surprise for her. Wide were her eyes when she spotted the round weapon that he was now holding in his hands before her. She looked into his eyes and then back at the weapon, taking it with great care and studying it.
"It's beautiful…"
"…and unique, just like you."
She smiled.
"How does it work?"
He told her everything about the weapon, and how no mortal alive could really use it since it was too sharp and difficult to catch. Xena on the other hand took this like a challenge, being rather impressed with the rare weapon and was determined to make it work, to make it her trademark.
Ares was more than delighted to see her so happy about it, but he had so much more in store for her, this was just the beginning. He proceeded telling her that he would take her to another temple – the one in Crete because he was planning on personally training her, so when they would return from there, should would have to be prepared for anything and thus give her the army that she deserved. She didn't welcome this with much enthusiasm but she could learn so much from the God of War so she accepted in the end.
The temple that was to become her home for many months to come, was impressive. Not a very big construction itself but definitely not little either, but what blew her away was in fact the ground around it…so many acres, she just lost the count because she couldn't even see that far…so green and just the perfect territory to train indeed.
"I take it you approve…"
"I sure do…but what will happen with the army that I had?"
"Don't think about it, I will personally see that they will be prepared for your return if you still want them but…I did promise you an army, a big one and you shall have it the moment you set your foot back in Greece."
"Ok."
"Do you need anything? Food is inside, there's only one person here, the cook, so just order whatever you would like to eat…For the moment, I have something to do but I will see you later alright?"
Xena nodded.
xxx
That day set everything in motion. She was living there in the temple now, training every day, alone and with Ares wherever he was around- and he was pretty regularly, especially in the mornings. She was starting to like this routine, and how easy everything seemed with him…They had so much in common and he was always praising her, encouraging her…She felt that she could be herself with him cause he never judged her. She was relaxed with him…and she liked it.
But one training changed everything for both of them. It was about two month after her moving to Crete, to his temple. He was going through some drills with her, showing her some new techniques to get to her opponent.
"So…that punch must hit me straight in the neck…you must block my windpipe from the force of your punch." Ares explained while taking her fist in his hands showing her what he means by it.
"Like that, your enemy will be dead before he knows it."
Xena nodded.
"Ok…Now… care to try?"
The Warrior started before she even gave her consent but Ares was used with her spontaneity, he loved that about her, like many other things. Everything that she knew, she had this habit to surprise him in the most delightful ways.
They fought with their hands, without armor for good minutes before Xena saw the opportunity to use his new technique against him but we are talking about the God of War here, so of course he saw it coming and blocked it. After trying and trying she just got pissed at him. She could tell that he was playing her, letting her spot that chance to put in practice the new move he showed her, only to take it away from her just as fast.
"How am I supposed…" she said between punches… "…to hit you when you don't even let me touch you?" she shouted.
"You will in the end…" he teased.
"I want it now!"
"It's not like your enemy will ever allow you to do that…just for the sake of your pretty eyes…"
She punched harder, but his arms were blocking her again. It was like she was beating a sack, not a human body…well godly body.
"No…but you aren't my enemy."
"Am I not?" he asked and the words puzzled her, making her lose her focus for just a second.
Ares punished her for that mistake by sweeping her legs from under her with his, making her hit the ground fast but the moment she felt unsteady she caught his arm and they both stumbled in the grass. She fell on her back and Ares's body covered hers entirely.
She started laughing, but the position in which they were and that little action that it was named innocently laughing wasn't helping him really…her breasts meeting his bare chest from once in awhile, her body shaking lightly under his, her breath on his face, her lips so near his, all that mix was turning him on. Not to mention the fact that he was doing all the effort in the world every time he was with her not to kiss her or just take her but he repeated to himself over and over again almost every day that they had a professional relationship…that was all. But who was he kidding, he wanted so much more from her…. He wanted her for himself.
She was still giggling when he took the courage to look at her. He smiled at seeing her like that and his gaze started to get so intensive that she felt his body stiffen. She stopped and looked back at him. At that very moment she finally realized in what a compromised situation they really were, how close he actually was, how his body sheltered hers, how he felt like…those muscles over her. For good seconds only their breaths could be heard and felt by the rising of their chests. She was absorbed by his deep, intense gaze, and those chocolate orbs were just getting a darker shade by the second and even if she had wanted to move her blue eyes from him she couldn't, she was kept under some sort of spell, his spell…and to make matters even worse, he was moving towards her, getting closer, lips almost touching…
"Ares…" she said his name and he stopped of course bathing in the feel of her breath on his lips. He was so intoxicated with her that he hadn't even heard what she was saying.
"…ok…?" she asked after ending her phrase, her eyebrows rising.
"No…" he only said before his lips descended on hers. She was taken aback by his impulsive move and she initially wanted to protest but by that time his tongue was already seeking entrance into her mouth and she opened herself to him, her mind shutting down for those little moments, giving into his passion, kissing him back, her hands going to the back of his head, feeling his strong legs restraining her body and his hands moving into her hair. She had never been kissed like that before, not with such burning passion…She felt possessed by him and she loved it and hated it all the same.
"S…" she wanted to say something, to make him stop but it proved to be an impossible thing to do it since she wanted him just as much probably…but she did promise herself that this was just business.
"Stop!" she said decisively, her fist going to his neck and finally getting to exercise that punch on him.
By the impact of it his breath, he stopped and he got off her. Good he is a god. Seeing him struggling to breathe she got a little worried.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
Xena was now up on her feet and he was still down wrestling with getting air in his lungs again.
"Yes…"
His hands gripped his neck and a light started to show before it faded again and he started laughing.
"See…?" he said while getting off the ground too, facing her again. She was still so tempting- with her raven hair blown by the wind, messed by his hands, her lips thoroughly kissed by him- now that he looked at her again.
"I told you you'd get that chance sooner or later…"
"Yeah…Ares I hope you do know that what happened…" she pointed to the ground referring to the kiss. "…is never going to happen again." she added.
"Are you sure?" he seductively asked while closing the distance between them again.
"Very…sure. Now I need to rest. See you tomorrow!" she dismissed him and turned around leaving for the temple.
"Xena…that next kiss will happen only when you'll ask me too."
"…That's never." she yelled back to him to hear her.
Ares just smiled, cause he knew that she had enjoyed their kiss just as much as he had, certain that this sweet experience will have another shot sometime, -soon enough, he hoped- but Xena was stubborn and he wouldn't force her. He wanted it to come from her, to have her want it too just with the same passion that he had burning inside him. He guessed he just needed to give her some time.
Unfortunately for the God of War, he was right about her and her stiff neck, because during the months that followed she never brought something like that into discussion, every time he played around the subject she would change it into another one and the worst part about it was that she was keeping her distance from him ever since that day.
Ares was getting to have regrets about the fact that he had taken that one chance and kissed her and that seemed to have ruined it all. He felt her distant not only physically when they would train but even a bit cold and that bothered him to no end. He guessed he was going to just need to live with the fact that she may not be asking him soon for the thing he desired most from her.
xxx
Another four months passed and Ares saw it fitted to give Xena what he promised her from the very beginning. He considered her ready, she had learnt every single thing he showed her and he did showed her many and now he felt that the time had come. She was ready to lead him to victory.
"Xena!"
He materialized in the garden where she was, of course training again. These past few months, this was the place where he used to leave her in the mornings and found her at night.
It was almost time for lunch and she didn't expect to see him that day. He had told her a day earlier that he was busy but there he was, in all his glory. She felt her heart taking a small flip but as always, she ignored it. She exhaled deeply, sweat pouring down her chest. She had done a very intensifying workout.
"What are you doing here?" she finally asked when her eyes found him.
A whossh was heard through the trees and the next second the chakarm blew towards her and…
"Xena…duck!" Ares yelled, preparing himself to do something to prevent herself getting injured, but the warrior simply caught the weapon into her hand.
He was blown away since she was working on this for months now and just the previous week she was still struggling with catching it but now she had done it. He was so proud of her and now he knew for sure that the time had come.
"You did it!" he exclaimed with pride in his voice. He could let her hear that because he was the one that repeatedly praised her with his own words.
"Have you ever doubted I would?" she teased in her original way. He loved that about her.
"You can pretty much do anything…"
She just smiled contentedly. She had achieved so much on this island and it was really good to hear it from his mouth…
"You have the skills, the focus and now …an army that's waiting for you back in Greece."
"What?"
Had she heard him right?
"Yep…everything's ready Xena. I think you are too." He extended his arm for her to take.
"Where are we going?"
"We've known each other for six months now, is this the little trust you have in me?"
She took hold of his arm and he vanished with her the very next second.
"We are back in Greece." Ares added the moment they materialized in this new place.
"It's the Halls of War." he explained.
Xena was in awe. She had lived in a little paradise in Crete. Now she could definitely see that she was in a dark, dangerous company…skeletons were everywhere in the room, a dark aura was in the air that she breathed…this place was something else, his imprint was everywhere. She liked it but she still didn't understand why he had transported them here. Wasn't she supposed to meet her new army?
"I know I said everything's ready and it is…But first, we need to make this…" he pointed to the space between them… "official."
"Aren't we official enough?"
"I'm afraid not. As I said, you aren't just some follower, you are more than that…you are my Chosen. And as my Chosen we share a bond, a bond that goes beyond anything."
"What do you need of me?" she asked puzzled and a bit nervous.
"Tonight there is a ceremony for us, up on Olympus."
She gasped.
"You are going to meet my folks."
"The Olympian gods?! All of them?"
"Pretty much. Come with me."
He extended his hand to her and she took it.
In a blink, they were in a new room, the same temple though.
"This is your room, when you are not leading my army this is your home Xena, you are always welcomed."
Home…Xena thought. That word was strange to her hearing. For a flash, she involuntarily thought about her mother, how she probably hated her for what had become of her, for who she was.
Ares saw her suddenly saddened face. Wasn't she happy that she had a place to stay? Was it because of him or was she nervous about tonight?
"Hey…" He approached her, his hands gripping her shoulders softly. "Everything will be alright tonight if that's…"
"I'm not afraid of some gods Ares." she pulled back from his arms.
"Good then." Ares answered coldly.
"I want you to wear this" – a moment after he said the words, a red dress appeared in his hands, holding the piece of clothing before her-
"Do I really need too?" she complained. She hated dresses so much, she wasn't comfortable in them and especially not in this one…Her hand caressed the soft fabric.
"Yes…I'll see you later. If you want anything, the place is full of priestesses…or you …you can simply call me."
"Ok…" She didn't even answer properly that he was gone.
Now that was a sign. Ares had always treated her as a gentleman – and one wouldn't usually say that about the God of War- but he was like that with her and even considerate which she thought was strange at first but she got used to it. The fact that he had left her standing there just like that –she got to know him enough in this time they had spent together- to tell that she had upset him. She knew that she was being a bitch sometimes and for sure these last four months after their kiss but she thought that she didn't need anything from him apart from that new army which now she had. But Xena was wrong cause simple things like those were disturbing her and she knew they shouldn't, but they did.
A knock on the door brought her back to reality.
"Yes?"
"My Lady!"
The door opened to reveal a petite brunette standing there.
"My Lord informed me over your temporary staying here."
"Temporary? It's not temporary."
Was he so upset that he didn't want her there anymore?
"…As you say. I'm here to ask you if there's anything I can do for you."
Xena looked at herself realizing that Ares had brought her there from her middle of her workout…the sweat had already dried on her skin but she needed to get clean.
"Yes…I would want to take a bath…and eat something."
"Come with me." the priestess offered, and Xena followed.
"For how long have you been around here?" Xena asked on their way to the bathroom.
"Ever since I can remember…Since I was little if I recall well, my Lady."
"Why?" the warrior found herself asking out of curiosity.
"I was abandoned on the steps of this very temple. My Lord Ares brought me in and the woman that cooks here took me under her wing. She's like a mother to me."
The word mother unsettled Xena. How was her son? What was he doing? Was he alright? Was he sick maybe?
"Here we are." the priestess announced.
"Ohh…yeah…Ok…"
"What would you like to eat?"
"It doesn't matter, anything…I'm famished."
"Alright my Lady! I will be right back." She ran right away.
Xena took a nice, hot bath and relaxed in the tub for awhile but not too long since she wanted to eat. She took a robe and wrapped herself in it. On her way to her room she studied the fine decorations on the temple, she liked being there…she liked it too much.
"My Lady!" The priestess gasped when the door to Xena's room opened to show her coming in.
"I'm sorry for my intrusion. I was just bringing the food."
Xena didn't mind her, she just saw the meal on the plate and started eating…those grapes were delicious…and that cream on her potatoes was to die for.
"Excuse me my Lady!" the priestess said before leaving.
After being saturated, Xena laid down on the comfortable, large bed and closed her eyes and being tired sleep took over her right away. Lately she had dreamt often about him, and he was constantly on her mind- six months were enough for him to occupy so much of her unconscious state of mind, but this time around there was no dream…She didn't know how much she had slept but suddenly she felt reinvigorated and his unmistakable presence…her spine riled up with excitement and her eyes opened instantly without her conscious consent.
"Good to see you are up, Sleeping Beauty!"
A timid smile spread on her face. She spotted him staying on a comfy chair just before her bed. She rolled on her side to see him better.
"It's time?"
"Yes…but you aren't even prepared."
"Ares…" she started serious and got up from the bed, securing the robe on her body. "I'm not sure this is a good idea."
"You don't need to worry…about anything. It just needs to be done." he spoke on a calm tone. He wasn't upset anymore, maybe it wasn't her the one who had troubled him earlier after all.
"I understand that but…me and a dress, it's just not a good combination."
"Come on Xena, it's just a mere dress. Don't you like it? There are plenty you could choose from …"
"No, it's not that…it's very beautiful" she looked at the bright red on the nightstand "but…I'm far away from a…you know…a princess."
He raised an eyebrow in challenge.
"I agree…cause you are my warrior princess."
Maybe Xena had missed it or she was too impressed with him or she just didn't want to think at what his words implied but Ares had definitely pointed out the word my. In his mind, she was already his and nothing could take her away, not even herself.
"Take it this way…are you going back from a dare?" Ares knew that with this he had her.
"You are daring me to wear a dress?"
"And dance with me cause that comes with the dress."
"I never go back on a dare."
"I figured."
They both laughed and he waved his hand and a flash later the blood red dress was on her perfect body. He stood there staring at her with a long appreciative gaze… she was stunning…The dress was simple really, but made out of the finest silk. The corset brought out her full, round breasts- her sharp intakes of breath at seeing him just glare at her with those hungry eyes made it even more evident. The second part of the dress was long going to the ground. It was a strapless dress, her hair cascading loosely on her shoulders.
"What?" she asked.
"You look amazing." he only answered still in awe of her. She was splendid.
"It's just that…It's missing something…" he closed in the distance between them and set a red rose in her hair.
"There…now it's perfect."
He let her see herself in a mirror and she gasped. The reflection that looked back at her was something new for her, she didn't remember to ever have been so beautiful before. She then saw his hand in the mirror waiting for her. Xena nodded and put her hand in his…it was warm and it calmed her down. She may have lied a little about the fact that she wasn't nervous at all for getting to know his family…it seemed such an intimate thing to do, something that they as business partners weren't suppose to do.
They materialized in a long white hall, a large door before her.
"Xena…my family isn't perfect. Be careful who you talk to…they can be really smart asses."
"Dealing with that my whole life."
He appreciated her saying that cause he knew how his family could be and he didn't want for them to scare her off. He waved his hand and the doors opened.
The white almost blinded her. It was a huge ballroom…everyone was eating or dancing …some were kissing…it was a party…in which she was the guest of honor.
"Our time will come a little later. I see the Fates aren't here." he said.
"The Fates?"
"Yes…do you want to drink something?"
"Yeah, sure."
A cup with a red liquid was in a second in his hand. He gave it to her while he made another one for him materialize in his other hand.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
They both drank.
"Do you like it? It's Bacchus specialty. Don't drink too much though. I want you rational."
"Bro!" Aphrodite yelled from the other side of the room the minute her eyes found his brother in the company of the superb, blue eyed woman.
"Ares!"
She came and hugged him hard.
"Aphrodite!" He stressed.
"What?"
"This is…Xena."
His ditsy sister looked really good at the raven haired woman in front of her. She liked her. Not to mention the fact that Ares came accompanied, that said at least a million things about her.
"Xena…I'm glad you made this hunk of a god coming to our party."
"I thought it's something you guys do frequently."
"We do…I mean I'm the supreme party girl but this one…" she pointed to her brother talking as if he wasn't even there, hearing her.
"He just loves his work…but now that he found you…This…" she pointed to them both. "…it's something else, I can feel it…You are the first girl that he brought home."
"Aphrodite!" He yelled. "You don't know what you are saying."
"Yes I do…it's the truth…you never bring mortals on Olympus, you just watch them trough you stupid portals and…"
"Ok…enough…just leave…"
He threatened her with the tone of his voice. He was feeling so embarrassed now….
"Just saying, you know…?" she giggled before leaving but she never peeled her eyes of them.
Next thing she knew, Ares invited Xena to dance with him. They were close and in all appearances he had just reached his hands at the small of her back – Aphrodite noticed- bringing the woman even nearer to his body. The Goddess of Love had a great feeling about this, her brother was just melting at every touch that Xena produced voluntary or not. Maybe the girl didn't know how much power she had over him but his sister saw it as clearly as day light.
"So…" Xena started… "Why am I the first that…"
"You are my very first Chosen."
"Ohhh…" She was disappointed cause deep down she had been hoping for another explanation.
"Your sister is…"
"Crazy I know…"
"Maybe…but I wanted to say alright."
"Her, alright?" He almost bursted in laughter. "Nooo, she doesn't know what normal is…she's a pain in the ass, especially mine but…she's the only one I trust from this family."
The dance continued, Ares was basking in having Xena so close to him, her breath warm on his neck, her body rubbing against his in the most sensual ways…She on the other hand was trying to deny every reaction those rhythmic friction brought inside her. When Zeus stopped the music she felt relieved and Ares disappointed.
"Everyone I need a bit of attention. Ares, my son is going to present you his new Chosen…" Zeus said, taking the knife from the table near him and pointed towards Ares. The God of War took Xena's hand and led her in front of his father.
"A woman?" Zeus asked disappointed.
"Are you having a problem with it, father?" Ares spitted it out. He knew they would judge him for having picked a woman to be his Chosen but he didn't give a damn about what they all thought.
"You have your priestesses to fuck …why would you…?"
"It's my choice, my right to have who I want and I want her." he raged.
"Very well then…" Zeus gave the knife to his son and then took a sit on his throne.
The Fates took the place of Zeus, standing now in front of Xena and the God of War.
"Xena of Amphipolis…" The younger from the three Fates started.
"…do you willingly accept…" the mother followed
"… to be the Chosen of the God of War? " the last one ended.
Xena spotted behind Ares the blonde sister that had saluted them first, she was all a big smile and then took a look into the room…They were all glaring at her, not quite believing that their brother was really doing this…She wasn't welcomed.
"Xena!" Ares caught her hand and her gaze fell on him. The warmth that she found there reminded her why she was here.
"Yes…I accept to be his Chosen."
"Ares, god of War…"
"…do you take this mortal…"
"…to be your Chosen?"
"Yes." Ares answered without delay.
"May your bond never be broken." the Fates added.
Ares brought the knife to his right hand and cut himself. Xena was surprised to see drops of blood trickle to the ground. He then took Xena's right palm in his, holding it open and brought the knife over her hand. Before he cut her, he gazed into her eyes and she nodded. Her blood started to flow too, now. Ares brought his cut hand over hers, their blood mixing before both cuts healed themselves.
Seeing that it was over, the Fates left and Zeus gave the start to the music again.
"Congratulations!" Aphrodite came giggling towards them both giving them a short hug.
"Thanks Sis!"
Xena only nodded.
"You are not much of a girl talk are you?" the Goddess of Love asked.
"I guess not."
"She's my Warrior Princess!" Ares added proud that it was all over. He had her.
"I like that Bro, its original."
"Hi Ares!" Apollo said, coming towards them.
"She's lovely!" The Sun God eyed the beauty at his brother's arms.
"And my Chosen." Ares reminded Apollo.
"Ohh, don't be so defensive. I know she's untouchable now but I was just saying. Care for a dance?" He directly asked Xena.
"I fear not. I'm really tired."
"Another time then!" he said and left.
"What did he mean by untouchable Ares?" Xena asked.
Hearing her addressing his brother with only his name made Dite smile even larger.
"Just what you heard. Every God has a Chosen –you are my first… in my long life- that means that they can't harm you directly."
"Hi Xena!"
The Warrior turned to the woman's voice.
"I don't know what he told you but…don't trust my brother."
"Thena!" Aphrodite roared, not quite believing that her sister would say that.
"Xena this is my beloved sister Athena!" Ares introduced the Goddess of Warfare. "She's sometimes forgetting to introduce herself, looking always for a way to degrade me in everybody's eyes."
Xena smiled.
"You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into!" The goddess ignored her brother and addressed Xena again hoping to save the girl from Ares's clutches.
"I think I do…Your brother is delightful." Xena replied. "Not to mention dangerous…I love that about him."
"You are playing with fire."
"It's my business if I get burn or not."
"You are right." Athena last said before giving Ares a nasty glare and leaving.
"Sorry about that!" he whispered to Xena.
"Well… I should get back to my husband. It was nice meeting you Xena!" Aphrodite said politely.
Xena nodded and Dite left.
"So…are we going to still linger here?" He asked her softly.
"I think I got enough of your godly family."
"Me too…"
He specifically took her right hand in his, looking for the injury –knowing that it shouldn't be there- but still he wanted to check it out. Seeing that no cut had been left on her flawless skin, he kissed her palm before they vanished from there.
"Let me show you around!" He said once they materialized outside Olympus, in a great garden that surrounded the house of the gods.
"It's impressive…do you guys have something with white? It's all just so white."
"Zeus…he loves that so we are all stuck with the bland, pure and innocent color…It's ironic really…we are everything but what that color suggests we are."
"You don't really get along with your father or your siblings for that matter, do you?"
"Nope…very observant my dear."
Looking at her…gods she was beautiful, even more in that white landscape behind her- and seeing her tremble a little, he put a cloak on her.
"Thanks!" she said when she felt the warm coat on her shoulders.
A tense silence fell upon them both while walking into the garden…
"Xena…"
"Ares…"
They said simultaneous turning to each other.
"You first!" He added.
"I…I think we should go back to…you know the mortal plain."
"Ok…"
The Halls of War was their next, definitive stop.
"What did you want to tell me?" she asked while taking the cloak of her.
"Tomorrow I will present you to your new army. I have a mission for you…I want you to take Torrence, than we move on with Athens…but in fact what I want is to try something right now."
"What?" She was confused a little.
"You are my Chosen now…we should be able to…Do you trust me?"
Xena thought about that for a moment. Did she really trust him, a god? She shouldn't, she knew, he was after all a god but she did. She didn't even realize until now that he had gotten under her skin so easy and so fast.
"I think so…"
"Close your eyes then. Come on, do it…"
She was nervous, she didn't like this, being vulnerable in front of him, not in control…it was scary for her.
"Can you hear me?"
She snapped her eyes open in that second.
"Did you say something?" she asked.
"Can you hear me?" He repeated what his mind had just asked.
"What's this?" She pulled her hands from his as if being burned.
"We are connected now…in all the ways possible, even our minds…It'll work when you let me in…Like that, I can always be there for you, wherever you are…on the battlefield, in your bed, in your dreams."
She was puzzled at first, even angry for not having told her this literally before she accepted doing this, but still, it was power…power that she craved for…She wanted it, even if she denied it, she desired what he could do and what he was offering to her and worst of all she had resisted to that temptation for months but now it was all heightened, she could feel it from the moment his had blood started flowing through her veins…His nearness was killing her, his darkness engulfing her with all that he was and she felt thirsty for him in all the thinkable ways, not only his power but him…
She gulped noisily, that hunger that she was now feeling for him, she couldn't resist it…She heroically had, for all those six months but it was all she could take, it was just becoming an impossible thing do and she knew that it would only get even worse in the future. They were linked to each other forever, she couldn't break that even if she had wanted it which she didn't.
Xena's eyes remained connected with his and she slapped him, as hard as she could before giving it all to him…She opened her mind to him and finally asked what she had been craving for months now.
"Kiss me!"
"Xena…you let me in…"
"Are you going to kiss me now or we're…?"
The very next second, his hungry mouth was on hers. He had waited too long to have her, he had desired her as he had never desired a woman before…In the haze of their kiss he transported them in his room…She only smiled when she saw where they were.
"Ares…I'm not…is this bond unbreakable…?"
"Yes…" he answered in his mind, never stopping kissing her, his hand roaming over her perfect body.
"We can only shatter it together…but I ain't gonna do that…It's a promise Xena…I will never let go of you."
He let the straps of her dress fall over her shoulders, finally releasing her mouth, kissing the way to her neck where he felt her pulse going mad.
"Don't…don't ever let go of me." she echoed possessively.
He stopped – he had never heard that tone in her voice before- looking her in the eyes, the longing in her azure moons made him even harder if possible…he was going to eat her alive. He brutally kissed her again, his hands founding her firm, round breasts.
"I won't…you are mine now, only mine."
