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Offer of Ares Part 1

The disclaimer has been cut from the federal budget

It was midafternoon before Xena finally stopped Argo. They had reached the glen where she had left Gabrielle and Joxer, but there was no sign of the bard. Hercules' heart sunk when he too noticed that there was no sign of Gabrielle.

Xena wasted no time in confronting the warrior wannabe, "Joxer, where is Gabrielle?"

Joxer stared into the dirt, refusing to meet the warrior's eye, "I'm so sorry. I failed."

"What do you mean you're sorry? For what? Where is Gabrielle?" Xena asked, trying to keep the worry in her voice from surfacing.

Joxer looked up, struggling to keep from sobbing once again, "Ares came and made her an offer. She rejected him and he left. Then suddenly he came back and took her after she refused him again."

"That bastard!" Hercules shouted. "How could he? Ares!"

Xena was stunned. Out of all the gods, she didn't expect Ares to do this. Hera, yes, maybe even Zeus, but what did Ares want with Gabrielle? She took a deep breath, calming herself. If she knew anything about the gods, she knew that Ares must have some sort of angle to play. That slightly relieved he because she knew that Ares wouldn't kill Gabrielle, but she was still very angry at the actions of the god of war, "How long ago was this?"

"This morning, a couple of hours after we woke," Joxer replied sadly.

"Fine," Xena responded. "Ride with Iolaus. We are going to the halls of war. We will get her back."

8

Gabrielle awoke on a very soft bed covered by a warm thick black blanket. She was warm, and felt very content on the strange bed, which was quite possibly, the most comfortable thing she had ever slept on in her life. She looked up to see Ares standing to the side. He was holding a try decorated with a glass of ice tea, several lush fruits, fresh bread and a generous portion of roasted beef. Gabrielle was tempted as the delicious smells entered her nose. Unable to resist she grabbed the still-warm bread, tarring off a chunk and instantly devouring it.

Ares smiled seeing the bard take such delight from something as simple as bread. "Wonderful, isn't it?"

Gabrielle paused, remembering how she got there. She looked up at the God of War as he sat down on the edge of the bed, and carefully balancing the tray between them. "Drink the tea. It's delicious," Ares, offered, lifting the cup to the bard's lips in an effort to assist her.

Gabrielle eyes suddenly narrowed, she used her forearm to cast the tea to the floor. Ares lost his smile as the tea poured into a tiger skin rug at the foot of the bed. Finally he placed the plate of food on a nightstand as he pulled in closer to her.

"Where am I?" demanded the bard

Ares reached out to grab Gabrielle's shoulder, and in an attempt to avoid contact the bard found her back against the wall.

"somewhere safe," Ares said.

Gabrielle scoffed as she swatted at his hand, "Take me back. I don't want to be here. I told you no."

Ares answered with a smile, "Does it matter? You're safe. No one will hurt you here. They would not risk crossing the God of War."

Gabrielle demanded, "Take me back Ares."

Ares shook his head, but before he could continue, a priest came through the door.

The priest fell to the ground, trembling, "Lord Ares…"

Ares replied, "Well, out with it you worm!"

"Someone is here to see you, Lord Ares," the priest insisted.

Ares grunted in irritation. "Tell them I'm busy!"

The priest trembled. "Um, she won't be put off, Sir."

Ares grunted as he relented and got up to walked out of the room. He locked the brass door behind him leaving Gabrielle inside. Once outside he instantly recognized his sister, Artemis.

"Sis? What brings you here?"

"What gives you the right to take one of my Amazons against her will!" Artemis returned.

"Take her? Dear sister, I am protecting her. Gabrielle needs to be safe from mother. Surely you can understand."

"This is no concern of yours, brother. My Amazons will protect her. I demand that you release her at once!"

Ares coldly eyed his sister, "What protection can your Amazon's offer against Hera? They couldn't stop Velasca. Who is going to protect your precious Queen? You? I think not. You know you won't stand up to mother. No, if she is among the Amazons, Hera could and would strike at will, and you would just stand there, watching helplessly as you have for the past five hundred years while your Amazons die in your name, growing fewer and fewer in number. It is your inaction gives me the right to take her!"

Artemis charged at Ares, bringing themselves within inches from each other, "I'm going to appeal this to Zeus," she challenged.

Ares scoffed, "Fine, talk to the old man. He didn't lift a finger while Hera personally struck down Hercules' children before. I'm sure he'll be a lot of help."

Artemis growled as she disappeared. Ares smiled, he'd enjoying showing his sister who was boss. Course he knew his words were true. Perhaps only he himself would be able to convince Hera not to kill the child of Hercules. Turning the kid into a servant of war would help seal the deal.

He turned attention back to Gabrielle and returned to her room. Opening the door he caught a staff with his hand and easily disarmed the bard. "I like that, but you need to stop that."

Gabrielle demanded, "Release me!"

Ares looked at the bard intently as he smiled. He put his hand on her shoulder as he stared into her green eyes, "No."

"Xena won't take kindly to this she will…"

"I am well aware of the skills of Xena," Ares cut her off. "I trained her, I created her and I'm not worried about her. She's powerless to stop me. Besides after what I am going to show you, I think you are going to have a change of heart."

"There is nothing you could show me that would change my mind about you, Ares," Gabrielle spat in annoyance.

"We'll see. Come, we are going to pay a visit to the fates," Ares invited, putting a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.

Gabrielle removed his hand off of her shoulder, "Why?"

"You need to see for yourself what your choice means."

Gabrielle gut reaction was to resist, but her curiosity got the best of her. If her child was going to be part god, then the fates would have information which could be vital. With a nod, she agreed. "Alright, take me."