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Hephaestus grinned and began to squeeze the life out of the girl." HALT." Zeus shouted and he stopped but as her feet were off the ground she was still choking. Zeus turned to Xena, now he was happy, he had the Warrior Princess completely in his power she would do as she was told. With Hephaestus were Athena the brothers Phobos and Deinos and Discord and Moros." You can watch your little friend die so give up now and save youself the trouble." Zeus said and Xena grimace" I wont sell Lysippe out to you and that girl is awaiting trial for treason so why should I care what you do with her." she growled and Hephaestus dropped Iphito and gave her a look of disgust. Zeus formed a lightning bolt and threw it. A hut exploded and two Amazons flew. burning and landed dead. Then there was a huge blinding flash of light and Apollo, Demeter, Persephone and Hermes appeared with balls of fire at the ready. Zeus yelled at them." Get out of the way or face the concequences." Demeter called back." No Zeus this has to stop what your doing is wrong." He threw another and a hut went up in flames. " You`ll se fire to the whole forest." Demeter cried then Zeus turned his bolt to the goddess but he hesitated to throw it then he noticed the sky was getting lighter. The sun was riseing. " Your too late, Helios has reached his chariot Zeus and Lysippe is with him." Xena said. Zeus couldnt believe it, he`d been completely foiled by a mortal woman and a few disgruntled gods. He threw the bolt inro the ground in frustration and shouted with wordless hurt. The shock wave sent the gods staggering and Xena to the ground and when the cloud cleared Zeus was gone. There was a frosty exchange of looks between the gods and then Athena signaled and the group dissapered." He cant stand being bested by a mortal and you`ve done it more than once to him so watch out he`ll be in a worse mood now. He`s probably gone to try and halt the sun`s path so we had better go after him." Apollo warned and Xena nodded. How worse can it be? Then we had better leave too, if we stay the Amazons will be even more of a target. She thanked the gods and they vanished and the Amazons appeared to put out the fires as Artemis and Gabrielle and Aphrodite joined her. Xena told the goddess`s what Apollo had said then Tia ran in bleeding from the head." She clobbered me and got away." she cried pointing to Iphito who was laying hopeing she had been forgotten. Xena walked over to her hauled her up and dragged her to the post and tied her. Ephiny looked at the girl." Now you`ll stay there." she said furiously and then she turned to Xena and Gabrielle. " What shall we do with her?" she said indicating Iphito with her thumb and then there was a sudden wail from the bushes to their left." WHAT ABOUT ME?"
A man with a shock of brown curls stood up and shouted." Typical, he promised me a bride and brought me here and now I`m abandoned and it was all a pack of lies." he yelled to the surprised women." That`s Tiamiedes, he`s certanly had the runaround poor man." Ephiny said with a laugh and Xena had a sudden wicked thorght. She untied Iphito shoving her toward him." NO, you cant I dont want to." Iphito yelled realising her fate. Xena grabbed a handful of shirt and hissed into the girl`s face." It`s him or me and you really dont want it to be Me." Iphito blanched and Xena launched her at Tiamiedes." You want a bride then take her, she`s yours. Now get out of here." she said and Tiamiedes took hold of the girl and led her wriggling and squrming away more than happy with the deal." XENA!" Gabrielle exclaimed looking shocked at what she had done." I couldnt have thorght better myself." Ephiny muttered with a grin. Aphrodite and Artemis turned to Xena." We`re off back to Olympus Xena, but I wanted to leave you with a present for all the trouble I really didnt mean to course you." Aphrodite said with a mischeivious look and she blew them a kiss and her tinkling laugh echoed as the goddess vanished then Artemis saluted before going . Gabrielle harrumphed, not very pleased." Some present." Then she suddenly felt a wave hit her so strongly that she began to feel very` hot,` suddenly. She looked to see if she were the only one and saw that everyone was glowing and it wasnt just because the sun was on them. Xena looked and smiled, all their rancour and anger seemed to vanish instantly and she grabbed Gabrielle before she swooned in a faint. The two women felt the wave wash over them again and it was almost too much." Oh Aphrodite what have you done ! Xena?" Gabrielle groaned and Xena grinned." Some present huh." she said barely able to keep herself from ripping the girl`s clothes off right there in front of everyone, though it looked as if everyone else were thinking the same thing, Ephiny and her lover were in a close hug and others were going off to their huts. Even Joxer had his arm round a busty young woman." What`s happening to us? " Gabrielle asked." I think it`s Aphrodite`s way of bringing us all back together. C`mon I` ll take you to your place. That is if you want me to." Xena said suddenly thinking she might not want her to. Gabrielle smiled weakly." Want you! I`ve been wanting you since we got here." Xena laughed. They were the most beautiful words Xena had ever heard.
They didnt talk at first and looked at each other afraid to start and then Gabrielle began. " Xena I know now, I mean about you and Ephiny, I didnt like it but I`m ok with it, really." Her face was tight with emotion and she found herself falling into Xena`s blue eyes." You said you were waiting for me." Xena said her heart was beating like a drum in her chest Gabrielle smiled sheepishly." Xena when are you going to realise that I love you, even though you dont always see it." Gabrielle said sadly. Xena took her by the shoulders and kissed her gently. " I will try to I promise. Your the best thing to happen in my life, your the one I want in my life." they kissed again and felt their passion riseing and they hurridly stripped off their clothes holding each other not dareing to let go.
It wasnt just sex there was something more to it than that. It was as if Aphrodite had suspended the climax for them and their passion went on riseing as if they could go on forever. Xena felt sensations never experianced before and Gabrielle groaned, marveling as she responded to feeling sensations as Xena brought her to heights never experianced before . It was an endless wave after wave they enjoyed, never reaching an end until exhaustion brought them to a stop. and they lay panting but not satisfied. Xena rolled off the bed and walked to the table and brought back two cups brimming with wine. Gabrielle couldnt take her eyes off the naked woman. Her tanned back, buttocks and legs excited her again and when she turned and saw the breasts and the dark triangle between her legs Gabrielle groaned. Xena smiled and handed her a cup and they drank then Gabrielle cupped one of Xena`s breasts in her hand." So lovely." she murmered and began to kiss the nipple. " You want more?" Xena asked and moaned with pleasure and Gabrielle nodded. Then they began again. The whole village was under the spell too and lovers who had parted in anger came together again and joined with the same need. All that lovemakeing was makeing Ares feel sick as he wandered through empty street, every where he went it was going on, not that he didnt like sex he did, but he wasnt getting it and worse he wasnt getting it with the woman he wanted. Damn the bard she had got there before him. Normally he would have enjoyed watching Xena in the throes of passion but Aphrodite had put something else into the mix and the scented air smelt too strong of roses for him and he left the Amazon village in disgust. He would catch Xena when things were more to his taste he thought.
The next morning Xena was at the stable and she gently put the cover over the horse`s eyes and led her out slowly and waited. The horse needed to adjust after the enforced darkness and the sun`s glare was hash and painful even to her. She saw Gabrielle and Joxer coming toward her, Joxer didnt look very pleased." Why do we have to leave now? just when we`re having fun." he moaned. He had enjoyed an unbelievable night with the unattatched young women. It had been little short of orgiastic until Xena woke him to say they were leaveing. " Zeus will come back and he will use the Amazons for target practise if we stay and we dont want that, Do we." Xena said and he shook his head but looked no happier about it. He felt sorry he had to go just when things were looking up for him and he had kissed the girls goodby sorry that he had to. Gabrielle put her scroll bag in place on the saddle and Xena carefully removed the cover and began to lead Argo. They moved on toward the Amazons waiting by the village boundary and as they drew near Gabrielle greeted Ephiny warmly. " As I`m going I give you all rights as Regent as before." she said formally, they hadnt had chance to talk out the issue over Xena and it was still painful to Gabrielle but her tone with Ephiny showed she wasnt going to start a row with her. Ephiny saluted and leant close." She loves you and there is nobody else for her but you." she whispered and Gabrielle nodded, takeing her meaning. They said their goodbye`s and moved on and suddenly there was a cry. " Joxer." and a gaggle of young women began waveing and blowing kisses to him. Xena groaned thinking Joxer was going to be insufferable now. Gabrielle nudged her." I wonder if we return in nine months how many little `joxers and joxettes ` there will be?" Xena stared at her." Dont go there Gabrielle." she said remembering what she had seen with a wry grin.
The day wore on and they reached the forest boundary by the middle of the day and they passed devistated fields and olive groves. The land had obviously suffered the recent events and Xena wondered with so much going wrong if she shouldnt stay around. There were bound to be bands of warriors around picking on the weak for winter provisions but a second thorght reminded her that the gods would also be a problem for the peasants. She called a halt and they settled for lunch. The Amazons had generously given them provisions for their journey and they sat down and ate some bread and cooked meat." So...Where are we going then?" Gabrielle asked round a mouthful of bread. Xena shrugged." Dont know, where do you want to go?" and Gabrielle thorght." I dont want dark dank forests anymore I want plenty of sun and space." she said. Plenty of space, just right for lightning bolts Xena thorght grimly, well she did ask." Right south it is. You ok with that Joxer?" She saw he wasnt listening, probably dreaming up a new verse for his song she thorght." JOXER." he jumped at her shout and said." Yeah fine." without actually knowing what it was he was saying yes to. They rested for a little while and then moved on, this time going south. At least they could see which way Xena thorght, yes she was happy to be moving again even though things were far from sorted with the king of the gods. She wondered how long it would be before Zeus came at them again. It was obvious that he would and quite soon too and she had to be ready for it. Where could they go? Another country might be a good idea but it would just be putting things off and he would wait until they returned. She had to think of something better than that.
Eventually the sun wore down it`s way across the sky and Xena picked a spot to make camp as the evening drew close. Gabrielle made a fire and Joxer went off to a nearby stream to fetch water. Xena unsaddled Argo and let her crop the grass and then she joined the bard. " Back on the road, it`s going to be awfully hard getting used to the ground again." Gabrielle said with a sigh." Beds are too soft for me." Xena said mused as she took off her armour and sat down. She watched as Gabrielle poked a stick at the flames." Wasnt it wonderful to have a proper day again." Gabrielle yawned tiredly." Wonderful." Xena said. The previous day had been so unusul she still wasnt sure if Gabrielle was really over it." Gabrielle if your still mad at me." Gabrielle shook her head." No I`m not." she said and then their lips met in a kiss and then Joxer crashed in to the camp and they parted as he dropped the water skins in front of them. Xena gave him a look that made him step back hurridly and he went to his bedroll and played with his sword and pretended to sharpen it. Gabrielle sorted food into three and then called him to eat. After clearing up and laying out their bedrolls they sat back and enjoyed the evening, telling stories, laughing at jokes and then Joxer took his bedroll a little way off to give them some privacy. Soon he was snoreing loudly. Xena and Gabrielle laid down on their bed and contented Gabrielle rested her head on Xena`s breast." Everyone should have such a pillow." she sighed.
Predawn and Xena woke from an odd erotic dream and a need to relieve herself. She crawled out fron under the covers and sprinted for the bushes then came out and stopped to admire the sun as it rose above the horizon. Gabrielle was right it was beautiful. Then she felt the heat rise down below, the arm round her waist and the hot breath on her neck. " What do you want Ares?" The god turned her round." I keep telling you but you keep saying no." Xena grimaced. " Maybe for good reason." she felt a sudden wave of arousal and he took a deep breath." What do you think you are doing? Out here I found you easily, against Zeus you`ll have no chance." Xena grinned." Well we had a vote and decided we didnt like forests anymore." Ares shook his head." Madness at least find some cover. Your gonna need me soon cos Zeus isnt going to let it go." Xena shook her head." He`s going to have his hands full with the other gods Ares. He`s not going to be interested in little me." she said. " Dont be so sure of that he dosnt like been made a fool of. Your gonna need my help believe me." Ares carresed her face and then vanished.
Xena walked back to the camp and shook Gabrielle." It`s time we got going." she said then she went to Joxer and nudged him with her boot." C`mon wake up." She walked to the fire and began to douse it with the remains of the stale tried to think. First Apollo now Ares warning her about Zeus but the god of war`s behaviour had been quite unexpected unlike anything she knew of him, Ares wasnt known to be emotional, that wasnt his way and yet his face had looked... concerned for her, even loving. Then she went to the stream and filled all the skins with fresh water. He was more dangerous than Zeus she thorght and when she returned Gabrielle was up and Joxer was just wakeing." What`s the hurry." Gabrielle asked." Ares just paid us a visit." Xena said and Gabrielle frowned." Oh great just what we need, more trouble. So what this time?" she moaned as she packed away the last of their things." A hint of trouble and a couple of crazy suggestions that`s all." Gabrielle eyes widened and Xena sighed." No I`m not considering them." she said and pulled on Argo`s reins. The three moved on across the land, it took them all the morning until they came to a village and Xena saw in the distance the high peaks of a mountain range to the east and she suggested they stop for a rest and they went to the tavern. Joxer soon joined the barflies and started with the stories and she stopped listening and she walked to the bar." Keep his cup filled and let him sleep it off in one of your guest rooms." Xena said rolling a couple of gold coins in front of the widening eyes of the barkeep. He took them and said." That`s all ? you want me to kill him? " Xena said dropping another smaller coin." No just let him sleep it off now give us a wine and a cider." He set two cups down in front of her." Are you here for the monster?" Xena stared at him." The one in the mountains, a real firebreather Warriors have come but none have returned." he said looking at her Xena said nothing and took the cups. " Have you set him up?" and Xena looked horrified." Who Joxer? no just letting him enjoy himself. While we go on. I dont want him caught up in this anymore, he could get killed." Gabrielle looked at her." Zeus? " Xena nodded but she was thinking of what the barman had said." We can move faster without him." They sat and watched Joxer getting more drunk and when they knew he had completely forgotten them they left the tavern and Xena mounted Argo and pulled Gabrielle up behind her.
She set the horse off at a canter and began to eat up the miles. They went on as the sun slowly rode across the sky in front of them and began to drop down and change colour to a glorious red. That was when Xena decided to stop and make camp. There was little cover and they were quite exposed as Gabrielle lit a small fire and cut pieces of meat into small squares and added them to the pot of soaked tubers and onions which she had she put to boil. Xena leaned back and put her hands behind her head and looked up at the emergeing stars. She had always liked the night where others saw it as frightening but now she had the feeling it could be hideing terrors and dangers she had hitherto not thorght of. She expected Zeus or one of the other gods to appear at any moment and she felt on edge." Gabrielle tell me all you know of the legends and myths about the gods. There must be something that tells of their weaknesses, anything I can use against them." she said. Gabrielle was dishing up and she looked at Xena." Oh yeah I forgot about that. There`s quite a lot of it you know." she said as she handed Xena a bowl." There must be something in there somewhere. To fight a god I need the power of a god." Or a monster, she thorght. Gabrielle fished out a blank scroll and began to write." If I write it I can sort it in my mind." she said. Between mouthfuls she wrote and all Xena could hear was the quill scratching on the scroll. Xena looked up, there wernt many clouds scudding across the sky and the stars began to shine brightly over her head. Damn Ares he was the ultimate bad boy, just the type of guy she liked and was drawn to and sex with him was great, but the consequences were anything but, she had become a monster under his influence. Gabrielle had saved her and Xena knew it was by a hair`s breadth but she was just as susecptable to him now as she had been then. He was definately trying to seduce her again but that look had been different somehow and she didnt know what it meant. Xena looked over at the bard, without Gabrielle she was lost, just a kick ass warlord without care of who she hurt and with Gabrielle she wasnt afraid to fight for good and put bad, wrong and evil where it belonged.
Gabrielle sneaked a look at Xena when she thorght she wasnt looking. At times like these she could feel Xena`s tension and and knew Ares was at the heart of it. That bastard was pulling her string she could sense it and knew it wound Xena up. They had been lovers once and the god of war could push Xena`s buttons very easily. By the look of her he had already started. She might try to hide it from her but Gabrielle could feel it even if she hadnt witnessed it. Great, Ares was trying to pull Xena. Seduce her into his bed and into doing something bad like he had before. Was it always going to be like this for Xena, bounceing from one to the other? Her and Ares, good and bad and it tore at Gabrielle`s heart. She had felt a pang of jealousy toward Ephiny and Gabrielle had come to terms with that but she was still hurt but Ares was always a whole different propersition. For one he was a god and who wouldnt want to bang a handsome god sometime. She even fancied doing it herself, but since the very first time they had consumated their love under the cover of the bedroll they shared Gabrielle had thorght she had won the unspoken war with the god, but now she wasnt so assured, the situation with Ephiny proved that. She could imagine it and see it in her mind, Xena and Ares together enjoying each other, kissing him makeing love to him, him makeing love to her and Xena climaxing on him. The thorght made her boil Gabrielle put down her quill and put her writing things away." Finished?" Xena asked and Gabrielle came over and snuggled down beside her." Do you miss not haveing a man? you know, a man`s...thing." she asked coldly. Xena stared at her in surprise and laughed." What made you ask that? do you? you had Perdicus before me remember, do you miss him or his thing as you so delicately put it." Gabrielle shrugged and thorght for a moment." I guess it`s him I miss more." she said thinking of her dead husband and her all too brief and enjoyable experiance of sexual love with a man. " What`s all this about anyway?" Xena`s eyebrows rose and Gabrielle shrugged again and didnt want to say but Xena wouldnt let her off." Come on spit it out." " Ares." " What do you mean ? Oh I get it, you think cos he`s hitting on me I`m going to jump into his bed. Oh Gabrielle. Thanks, dont you trust me? Gabrielle he does that all the time." Gabrielle reddened." I`m not jealous. Ok I know but, he`s Ares. Were you thinking of turning the tables on him, so to speak?" Gabrielle gave her that look, the one of suspision she knew only too well and Xena put her arm around her." Look, I dont love Ares. It`s you I love Gabrielle." Xena said looking seriously at her and Gabrielle smiled and looked a little shamefaced then settled down and hugged Xena." I`m sorry just being silly I guess." she said and buried her face into her chest and hid the anxiety she still felt. it wasnt just about love, Xena had it all Men, Women, Gods if she wanted and to her it didnt seem to matter it was just sex. Gabrielle felt a hot wave go through her, she was jealous she wanted Xena all to herself and she didnt want to share her with anyone else male or female, god or mortal and she suddenly wanted her now as if to chase the threat of Ares away. Xena stared up at the stars. How in all Tartarus could she have known she was thinking of trying to seduce Ares? She didnt care for herself if she played the whore but Gabrielle wouldnt take it, not after what had happened with Ephiny so close in the bard`s memory. If she could find another way she would do it but Xena feared playing Ares was going to be her only option. She felt Gabrielle shift beside her and she put a comforting arm around her. But there was something about Gabrielle, It was an odd feeling and she couldnt put her finger on it and she fell asleep not feeling as assured by Gabrielle`s words.
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