Chapter 7

Xena tended the fire; a young hare rested, skewered, roasting over the flames, filling the night air with the scent of roasting meat. Ares had offered a banquet fit for the gods but Xena had turned it down. She preferred to cook her own meals, and his wine always made her feel more than just a little tipsy. Ares stood just outside the ring of light that afforded Xena more than just a small measure of comfort. He watched her from the corner of his eye, the fire casting it's flickering glow onto her skin, causing her scars to shimmer like orange moonlight on her skin. He could name just about every battle that lay etched into her once flawless body; worse scars puckered her back, which lay exposed by the outfit she wore. One such scar was of his own doing, he had caught her off guard when he threw a fireball at her; it left a star shaped discoloration on her back. None of them seemed to impede her motion, but he watched her even when the rest of the world turned a blind eye, she was not young anymore and all of that abuse was slowly catching up to her.

"Staring is impolite Ares." Xena said without looking up as she cut a piece of the rabbit off and nibbled at it. Ares simply grunted and turned his back fully on Xena.

"Get some sleep; we need to be riding at dawn." Xena rolled her eyes. He spoke as if this was the first time she had undertaken some time-sensitive quest. Still she did not argue her body ached in ways that had grown far too familiar. She ate her fill and buried the rest of the rabbit in the ashes of the fire pit, the smoke would keep away bugs and without the smell of a fresh kill, predators were less likely to pay a visit to their small camp. Xena hissed softly under her breath as her knee popped, the sharp pain raced up her leg nearly sending her back down to the ground. Ares watched quietly, he knew if he attempted to help her she would push him away, but the need to soothe away her pains caused him to ache as well. He watched as she grabbed her sword and used it like a makeshift cane. Ares had told her to use his bedroll as well; he was a God and did not need to sleep. Xena did not question it; she simply laid his roll onto hers and curled under the warms pelts, her body and mind slipping quickly into the still waters of sleep.

Ares stroked her hair once her breathing had evened out completely and she snored softly. Her face had smoothed out some but there was still that smallest furrow between her brows that showed all that coursed through the warriors mind, even as she slept. Ares whispered a few words, barely audible above the rustling grass but Xena mumbled a sleepy, unintelligible response. Ares sat beside her stroking her hair through the night, whispering softly to her.

Dawn rose with the vibrant colors of fire, turning all of the burnt grass into molten gold. Xena stared in awe at the sea of gold that danced ahead of her, her joy turned bittersweet as she wished for Gabrielle to see the splendor laid out before her. She shook her head and sighed, no use in wishing for things that could not happen, they would reunite soon enough and Xena could describe everything for Gabrielle and maybe she could use it in a scroll or two. The dark haired woman urged her horse forward at a relaxed pace.

"Xena?" Ares called.

"Hm?"

"Do you know why Athena wants you dead?"

"I destroyed her temple in Athens, by accident mind you, but I ruined it and all of the offerings inside."

"You really think Athena is hunting you over a building collapse?"

"She is petty." Xena stated bluntly.

"True, most of the goddesses are petty, but really, why would Athena be after you? You're home village worships her and you even helped set up a temporary shrine in Athens till the new one could be finished."

"If not that, then no, I have no idea why she would want me dead." Ares could taste the lie as it slipped from Xena's lips. He said nothing, Athena had put the bounty out, but she had not said why. Xena was wanted dead and the prize for doing so was ambrosia and with it Godhood.

Ares suddenly reached forward and pulled Xena backwards, bending her over the horses rear as an arrow whizzed through the air. Xena flipped off the horse and drew her sword in a single smooth movement as Ares remained seated, his sword drawn as well. Xena smacked the flank of her horse sending him running away from the sharp sting. Xena's blue eyes watched the tall grass for movement. Another arrow flew toward her; she caught it with a practiced hand, her eye's narrowing as she saw the feather that decorated the shaft.

"Artemis!" She called out, flinging the arrow to the ground and taking a fighters stance. A flash of silver several feet in front of her burned Xena's eyes but she refused to look away.

"Xena, what a pleasant surprise." The young huntress cooed. Her bow rested across her back as she placed with the tip of one of her arrows.

"What do you want Artemis?"

"I want to know what you are doing running errands for my brother here." She pointed the arrow at Ares who had sheathed his sword and was watching the two women with a bemused smile on his face.

"I'm not running errands for him." Xena stated smoothly.

"Really? Then tell me what possible reason you could have for being in his company for so long?"

"Because your sister is insane and won't back off." Artemis cocked her head to the sized, her face pulled into a tiny, confused pout.

"Athena?" Artemis' eyes lit up. "Oh yes, she did mention wanting you dead…now what did she say it was for again?" Artemis tapped the tip of the arrowhead against her chin, her face scrunched up in a mockery of deep thought.

"Why don't you go pester your Amazons Artemis?" Ares barked from atop his horse, his bemused smile replace with a hard, cruel look.

"My Amazons don't need looking after, unlike your pathetic group of mercenaries." Artemis bit back, her eyes narrowed as the honey colored orbs flickered with anger.

"Really? You will just ignore their cries for help as my armies raze their forests and sell them into slavery." Artemis let loose a yell that mixed her frustration and rage as she loosed an arrow from the bow that was suddenly in her hand. Ares caught the arrow easily and burned it to ash between his fingers.

"Temper sis, now why are you following us?" Artemis straightened and schooled her features back into a smooth mask of benevolence.

"Don't worry Ares, I won't stop your little adventure, just remember brother your little protégé has to return home at some point." Artemis disappeared and Xena relaxed her stance. Ares held a hand down to Xena and pulled her up on the horse behind him, hers had galloped off and they did not have the time to hunt it down. Ares secretly relished the feel of Xena's hands on his hips as they rode along.

Their shadows grew long ahead of them and the faint sell of salt drifted toward them.

"We're close; we'll go on foot from here." Ares helped Xena dismount before dismounting himself. They walked until the sky had turned shades of purple and blue. The sound of surf was almost deafening but a cliff face rose ahead of them and Ares stopped walking.

"You're on your own from here Xena." He did not look at her but he spoke softly his hand white-knuckled on the hilt of his sword as Xena started toward the only cave on the cliff face.