Dedication: Xentrya, thanks for working with me on this. You made it all the more better! :) xx
"I'm really glad this is over Xena."
"It's never really over is it?" the Warrior Princess said, putting an arm around her friend.
"No, I guess not. Hey, but you know what's strange?" the Bard replied gazing inquisitively towards the blue eyed beauty.
"No, but I bet you'll tell me…."
"That Ares hasn't shown up…You'd think he'd have come to 'visit' you….."
Xena looked down almost sadly, offering no answer in return, a reaction that it only took one second for the petite Blonde to notice.
"Xena? What's wrong?"
"Nothing…"
"Come on…I saw that look"
"What look?!" the Warrior Princess inquired craftily avoiding her friend's eyes and focusing instead on brushing lightly Argo's thick feather.
"That look that you usually have when you're trying to avoid some sensitive subject ….like Ares….So just let me in on it…..what did the Bastard do this time…..?."
"Calm Down Gabrielle. He hasn't done anything."
"Well just so we're clear, the mere fact that he didn't try to kill us lately doesn't count, ok?…He might have done something else…"
"Why don't we drop the subject and talk about your scrolls in return? Have you written anything new lately?."
"See? That's what I'm talking about Warrior Princess…..And before you say anything else, I know that this is all about that twisted past you two share….I can tell….."
The Warrior, who had started to walk, stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Gabrielle with wide eyes, momentarily stunned by her words.
" What makes you think that?"
"As I said…..I'm a Bard…Bards are tender-hearted people Xena…when love is involved, we're the first one to notice…after Aphrodite of course….."
"Love?! Who said anything about love…..?!"
"Well one has to be blind not to notice how tense you get each time he's around…..You obviously have "unresolved issues" if you know what I mean" Gabrielle said carefully studying Xena's expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about Gabrielle" she mumbled, staring ahead.
"Right…I wasn't expecting any other answer. But I still think that the two of you should talk about it, even if I kinda hate his guts. It does wonders for the troubled spirit you know. Homer said that himself….." the Bard said, taking Argo's reins from Xena's hands and walking ahead. "And if you wonder what I'm doing, I'm giving you some space…"
The Warrior Princess was dumbfounded. She had never suspected Gabrielle out of all people to be so…observant….She always seemed way to plunged in a world of her own to pay mind to anything else…
When her friend was far enough though, after a few more minutes of thought, she decided to give Homer's wise advice a fair chance and call the War God…..
"Ares!" she yelled, her voice clear in the evening air. 30 second of precious delay and a blue light formed in front of her and then disappeared, revealing in it's place the leather-clad God of War himself.
"Yes Princess?" He asked a bit irritated by her call.
"What were you trying to say the other day?" she demanded, wasting no time with greetings.
The War God looked her in the eyes and took a few steps closer until he could almost touch her but just far enough for her to have to make the final move and close in the distance.
"What? What are you trying to say?" she asked again on a more demanding tone this time.
"You know what I'm trying to say..."
"No, I don't, so tell me."
Instead of a proper reply though, Ares pulled her abruptly towards him, planting a long, bruising kiss on her lips.
"You know what they say... a kiss is worth a thousand words," the God said when they finally broke apart. Xena was breathless as she gave her reply:
"No, I don't think I've ever heard of that one."
"Ask Aphrodite."
Xena couldn't restrain a bemused chuckle.
He just grinned back at her, "So, please tell me, you know I'm not your father."
Xena looked shocked, "Oh but, my Lord, I thought you were!" she joked and then added in all seriousness : "I guess I couldn't have fallen for that one right…?"
"Good …..so uh….Am I forgiven and everything…..?" he asked wrapping his arms around her waist kissing her again.
"I don't know about that…Maybe you should try to make it up to me for once…." she whispered back, smiling devilishly, her eyes sparkling with glee.
"Hmmmm…and just what does my beautiful Princess have in mind?" he replied on an equally seductive tone.
Suddenly yelling could be heard, breaking the spell of the moment and the Warrior Princess pushed herself out of his arms and listened intently, ready to help whoever was in trouble.
"Xena, Xena!" the Bard screeched running like a lunatic their way.
Both the God and his Chosen rolled their eyes.
"There's a small army plundering the village ahead!"
"I guess I'd better let you work…I'll see you later," Ares murmured in Xena's ear. She simply nodded, offering him an affectionate smile.
"Lets go," she told the still huffing and puffing Bard, drawing her sword, getting ready for action.
"Xena…?"
"Yes Gabrielle…?"
"He will try to convince you to be his Warrior Queen again, rule the world and all that, you know….."
"No he won't….." the raven beauty replied very sure of herself while scouting on ahead. "Things have changed…"
FIN
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