CHAPTER TEN

When Bart blinked his eyes against the dust flying around from the battlefield, he almost missed the sword swipe at his head, but ducked and spun on his heels just in time. With a continued fluid motion, he met the foe's sword in the air with a loud clash. When they met face to face their eyes caught, eager to interpret the others next move.

The sweat poured down his back as he heaved his sword into his foes and carried on into a figure eight attempting to extricate the sword from his hand.

When the attempt failed, they both stepped back away from each other breathing hard. Then with a brash yell, the rival sprinted towards him. Ignoring the fatigue plaguing his body the captain dropped to his knees and plunged the end of his sword into the belly of his adversary.

The warm blood splattered onto the captain's face and oozed out over his hands. He cringed as he jerked the sword out of the foe's belly and the opponent fell to the ground dead. [

Then the captain stood to his full height and wiped his blood stained face with the sleeve of his shirt.

Bart's eyes wandered the small battlefield outside the castle gates, seeing just maybe a handful of soldiers still fighting. Then his sight fell upon a couple of soldiers standing near the buildings where they were before the battle. With a puzzled look on his face, he took a deep breath and looked to some soldiers nearby and signals them to storm the castle were he had seen their general heading.

With that done the captain headed towards the two soldiers, he spied earlier. As he got closer, he also took, in fact, that their uniforms looked crisp and clean.

He cleared his throat as the two soldiers saluted him. "Ok, let's get this mess cleaned up and head to the castle."

Xxx

Xena landed against the desk and then pushed off it and into Ares, they fell together against the wall. She hugged the God tightly with her arms. "Ares!" she yelled at him. "I'm pregnant with your baby!" and then she slid to the floor at his feet.

Xxx

The couple laid in their bed in each other's arms. Perdicus hugged her tightly to him and kissed her on head.

"Aren't you afraid of getting sick too?" Gabrielle asked as she snuggled into his chest.

"Not at all. I'm going to make sure you stay in this bed until your well." He chuckles and rests his chin where he had recently kissed.

Xxx

"What!" the dagger made a loud ringing noise as it hits the floor. Ares' released the tight hold he had on the king's hair as he turned towards her. "What did you just say?"

Xena sat back on her legs, brought her hands to her face, and wiped away the tears running down her cheeks. She cupped her hands over her mouth and looked up at him. She squeezed her eyes shut making more tears run as she quickly nodded her head. Then she reopened her eyes now wet with moister she held his eyes with hers and smiled behind her hands.

Xxx

"Are you disappointed that I wasn't pregnant?" Gabrielle asked as she wrapped her legs around his.

"Yes, truthfully a little. But we have plenty of time to try again after your better." He chuckled again and laid his head back on the pillow. "But now let's get some rest, ok."

She nods her head in agreement and then closed her eyes too.

Xxx

"Wha…what, a baby? Our baby?" He also fell to his knees in front of her and grabbed her wrist. He watched her face and peered deep into her eyes looking for any deception that might be present. When He was positive none was there, he let go of her wrist and tightly wrapped her safely in his arms.

Xxx

The king tripped over his-self trying to crawl away from the pair as fast as he could. A sound at the door drew their attention as soldier after soldier rushed into the room. However, never the less the couple on the floor paid no mind to it as this happy union ended with a drawn-out wholehearted kiss.

Xxx

The King made it over to his desk and pulled himself up to his feet. He brushed his robes off and placed his hand over the wound on his neck to stop the bleeding. A soldier nearby handed him a piece of linen. The king took it, wiped off his hands, and then placed the linen back on his small wound.

Phillip glanced around the room at all the soldiers crowded around him. Then his eyes sparkled green with envy as they fell upon the couple still huddled on the floor. His eyes connected and locked with the God of War in a silent standoff.

A Sly smile crossed Ares face as the King averted his eyes elsewhere.

Then the King rolled his eyes and thinks to himself. "It's not that easy war God!" he dabbed the blood running down his neck. "I won't let her go, especially to someone like you."