Title: The Olympian Gods Series 1: Ares Flame
Author: Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
URL: destinysgateway DOT com
Couple: Ares And Xena
Rating: M 15+
Summary: Xena and Gabrielle come across an unconscious girl on the road, who is not exactly what she appears to be. Ares is up to his old games it seems, but the destruction of the world is at stake this time. The darkness is rising, a nameless person who will bring chaos to the world...but who is it? Who is the Messiah that is the only one to save the God's and Mortals alike, to claim the flame sword Caeralon. Xena and Gabrielle are joined by Hercules, Iolaus, Joxer, Salmoneous, Athena, Zeus, Cupid, Aphrodite and even Ares as time runs out for them all...
Chapters: 12/19
Status: Completed
Year Completed: 1999

Comments: Hi everyone! Here is the next Chapter.


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Princess Destiny


The Olympian Gods Series 1

ARES FLAME

By Princess Destiny


Chapter Twelve


"You bet I do...!? What is SHE doing here?" she shrieked, almost running into the next room and Ares was out of his chair so fast he was a blur. He reached the bed just as Aphrodite got there and stared down at Aurelia.

"Don't touch her" Ares warned and Aphrodite gave him an incredulous look.

"Why is there a MORTAL in your bed...on Earth okay, but here on Olympus?" she looked at him and a sickly-sweet smiled crossed her face as he looked at her from his dark eyes. "Having trouble with Discord, sweetie?" she asked and he looked down at her, eyes blazing with sudden anger.

"Discord and I are over..."

"Sure you are, Hon...but that's not what she's been telling everyone" the Goddess of Love purred, staring down at the mortal.

"WHAT?!" Ares roared and she winced prettily, surprised that the Mortal girl hadn't even stirred at a noise that had shook the rafters.

"She's really beautiful" Aphrodite murmured in surprise, studying the perfect features under the caked blood, the long dark hair... "No as beautiful as ME of course and she IS rather dirty...And bloody" the Goddess continued, frowning down at the form. Ares sighed, wondering why he hadn't strangled his sister centuries ago.

"She came straight from battle" he explained and she wrinkled her nose, smelling the dirt and fire she could smell coming from the girl. And the blood, eewe!

"She smells it! And that blood, Ugh!...tell you what, sweetie, why don't I take her to the baths?" Aphrodite coaxed and Ares nodded abruptly, watching the Goddess with a faintly malicious expression that she couldn't understand. She leaned over Aurelia and shook her awake, till the girl groaned and her eyes opened. They widened in shock and she shrank back slightly as she saw Aphrodite.

"Aphrodite wants to take you to the baths, Aurelia" Ares said, stressing her name and she shot him a slightly venomous look then got up. She winced and Aphrodite reached out the help her stand, because she seemed to weak to do it herself.

"How nice of you" Aurelia said to Aphrodite, a slightly ironic look on her face. Ares watched them leave, a sardonic smile on his lips. If only Aphrodite knew that she was helping the very girl that had injured her...there would be...quite an explosion...

Aurelia was helped by the Goddess through amazing halls of marble and silk, tapestries lining the walls of spectacular colour. And the gardens! Like nothing that she had ever seen before.

"This way, just a little farther...you know, I think you'd look a lot better in, hmm" Aphrodite considered Aurelia as they made their way into the baths and past the tall oak doors that were opened by a mere though of the Goddess.

"Green, maybe red" she concluded and Aurelia smiled.

"Just my colours" she said, looking down at her once white cloak and dress and Aphrodite giggled, releasing Aurelia so that the girl could look around the place.

"Ta da! This is the place that no Mortal has ever seen, you're very privileged, Sweetie" Aurelia was told and she smiled at Aphrodite, realizing that if they had not fought...they might have been friends.

"It's wonderful" she said truthfully, looking around. There was one huge bath with another two smaller one's flanking it on either side...all in white marble. There were silken hangings on the wall and rainbow-hued candles around and in each corner and the roof...

"Wow" Aurelia said, gazing upwards at the mural on the roof. There was the most perfect place that she had ever seen. Green fields and great blue mountains. Birds and animals of all kinds and the sky so deep a blue. The painting fairly scream serenity and Aurelia was impressed.

"The Elusian Fields" Aphrodite said, her head cocked to the side as she looked at it. It was the look of one who had seen something a million times, but still saw it as if for the first.

"Ah" Aurelia breathed. "So this is heaven" the Goddess turned to her, a slight frown between her brows.

"Heaven?" she questioned, trying the strange word. Aurelia frowned herself as she thought about it and finally came up with the simplest explanation.

"Different civilizations have different name for the place they go when they die, Hell and Heaven, Tartarus and the Elysian Fields...and so on" Aurelia said, walking towards the largest of the baths and looking longingly down into the visibly steaming water.

"Oh, what a quaint idea" Aphrodite yawned, already bored with the conversation and Aurelia smiled. She took off her bloody cloak with distaste and dropped it at her feet, then sat down on a soft-cushioned chair and began to remove her slippers. She putt them to the side and then reached back to undo the clasps on her white dress. She had a little trouble and realized that there had been a silence from the Goddess. Aurelia looked up and saw that Aphrodite was watching her narrowly, a calculating look in her eyes.

"Not use to dressing yourself, are you Sweetie?" she said, coming forward. Aurelia realized her mistake almost immediately, but could think of nothing. She nodded and Aphrodite smiled, a thoughtful look on her face. She snapped her fingers and all the clasps on Aurelia's dress fell open rapidly, one by one.

"Thank you" Aurelia said simply, slipping her dirty shift off and then stepping down into the water. It slid over her skin like warm silk and she sighed in pleasure, feeling her tense muscles unwind slowly. Then she remembered the blood on her face and scrubbed at it, feeling the caked stuff falling away. A second later, Aphrodite slid in beside her and floated, her hair in an immaculate bun. Aurelia's hand went to her hair and she looked around for some soap, then a jug was thrust into her hands and the brunette peered into it's contents. Inside was a green liquid, smelling like mint and perfume.

"It's something new, Athena found it." Aphrodite said with a shrug, she peered in also and sniffed delicately. "It smells wonderful, doesn't it? Can you believe it's made of soap but it's made for the hair alone?"

"Mmm hmm" Aurelia said, pouring some into her hair and then rubbing it in, it lathered almost immediately and spread so that she found that small amount was all she needed. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed, agreeing with the Goddess, who looked rather smug.

"Well, you clean up nice at least...I can see why Ares wanted you over an immortal" Aphrodite murmured, voice muffled as she drank from a cup that had miraculously appeared. Aurelia looked at her enquiringly and the Goddess shook her head warningly.

"Oh, no. There's like NO way you're drinking THIS, Hon" Aphrodite said with a light laugh. "It's Ambrosia" she continued, as if it explained it all. But Aurelia still looked perplexed and the Goddess gave her an incredulous look.

"Ambrosia?" Aurelia said uncertainly.

"Yeah, you know, it makes Mortals immortal if they eat it" Aphrodite said, flapping a hand expressively and Aurelia's face cleared, though her eyes still showed puzzlement.

"Oh. Strange" she murmured back, not seeing the strange look that the Goddess gave her, a Mortal not interested in Ambrosia? This was rare, so she was either pretending or...

"Who's your friend?" a voice inquired softly and Aurelia looked up from where she was washing her shoulders. The woman standing there had long dark hair, like Aurelia's own and she was wearing a long whit dress that brushed the floor and was held at either shoulder by a golden clasp.

"Athena, join us!" Aphrodite called, her eyes lightening and the woman undid her dress. It slid to the floor and she stepped into the large bath with a sigh, her golden eyes curious.

"So...?" Athena pocked her sister on the shoulder with one finger and Aphrodite gave her an annoyed look.

"This is...Hmm, Ares never mentioned your name...oh wait, Aurelia he called you!" she murmured, a slight flush coloring her cheeks until she abruptly remembered.

"Aurelia, a beautiful name and such a beautiful mortal too...no wonder Ares chose to bring you here" Athena said, leaning back and resting one arm on the side of the bath, her chin thoughtfully on her hand.

"Thank you...buts Ares didn't bring me for the reason you th..."

"Oh, come now Sweetie, you can tell us" Aphrodite coaxed, interrupting Aurelia's hasty words. Aurelia didn't know what to say, but she was rapidly feeling as if she wanted to be anywhere but there. They were nice and all, but far too prying!

"There's nothing to tell" Aurelia said, shutting her mouth tight and rinsing out her long hair. It floated out behind her and she floated for a moment, feeling as if she were on air. Her green eyes opened and looked up at the mural on the roof again, while she listened to Aphrodite and Athena talk and her mind wandered.

"Don't look at it too long, it has a depressing affect upon you" Athena's voice whispered near Aurelia's ear and the girl shot up in surprise.

"Really, but it so beautiful" she stammered, trying to cover the fact that she had almost forgotten that the Goddess' were there. Athena gave her a gentle look and resolutely turned Aurelia's head from the mural.

"It is, but you start to wish you were there, with all that peace and tranquillity..."

"Yuck! Give me a tubular party anytime and I'm there!" Aphrodite's disgusted voice broke in on them and they turned to face her, Aurelia noticing with surprise that the Goddess was fully dressed in pink again.

"Mmm hmm, a party! What an idea" Athena agreed an excited look in her eyes. Aphrodite put her hands on her hips and studied Aurelia.

"Maybe later, Athena. But for now, come one out Hon, I've got JUST the dress for you!" she told Aurelia, a wicked smile about her perfect mouth and Aurelia had a sinking feeling. What had Ares gotten her into now?


"WHAT is Ares up to?" Gabrielle demanded of Xena, looking up at her friend. Xena never looked down from her perch on Argo's back, her thoughts far away.

"Who can say, Gabrielle. But I can safely tell you it's trouble" the Warrior Princess said with a slight grimace. Since Ares had so abruptly disappeared, there had been no peace, all her companion's trying to figure out what his game was.

"And that girl, the one from the battle near his Temple" Gabrielle continued and Xena looked down at her sharply. "Aurelia, she said her name was"

"Aurelia...it sounds Roman" Xena said with a dark look, her teeth clenched and Gabrielle touched her legs gently.

"She doesn't look Roman, Xena" the blonde reminded her friend and Xena relaxed a little. Gabrielle was right, but anything that reminded her on Caesar...

We ought to stop for the night" Celeste called back, pointing at the rapidly darkening clouds. The sky had grown darker, the wind more fierce as Xena had deliberated and she had been so distracted she hadn't noticed!

"Yes, let's make camp for the night" Xena agreed with a sigh, she had a feeling it was going to be LONG night.


Aurelia glared darkly, her eyes on the mirror in the corner. She was stuck in Ares room, doors locked. They had been since Aphrodite and Athena left her there to go to a party of theirs...but first, they'd played dress-up with her! HOURS, that's how long it had taken them to be satisfied with what they'd done to her. The prefect dress, Aphrodite had said. But no, that dress didn't become anyone without golden hair and Aurelia just had to try on 100 more before they found one!

"Arrgggggggh!" she muttered, placing her chin on her hand and watching the mirror as Xena and the other's set up camp for the night. Ares had not been there when she got back and she'd been some-what anger and just a little disappointed. Then she'd seen the mirror in the corner and remembered that Ares used them to spy on the Mortals, it had not taken her more than a moment to figure out how to use it...and a moment more to find Xena and the others.

"Now, what?" she asked the room as Xena and the others settled down and she lifted her eyes to above them to watch the storm approach. Aurelia had always loved storms, even as a child and when she was angered it caused them. Like when she and Aragon were fighting...that was something she had to talk to Ares about. He'd seen so much...TOO much!

"Having fun?" a voice asked her and she spun around, what was it about Olympus that stopped her from sensing the Gods approach? There was a woman there, with golden hair like Aphrodite's, but this one's beautiful face was solemn. her eyes were rather hard also and she wore a short dress folded in pleats...almost like a toga. Golden sandals with the straps woven half-way up her calves and a bow in her hand.

"No really" Aurelia said, after a moment of looking the Goddess over. "Are you...Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt?" Aurelia said hesitantly, seeing a faint crescent moon on the woman's collar-bone. A scar perhaps...or, and more likely...an affectation of some sort.

"Yes. Also of the Amazons" the Goddess said, coming closer and sitting beside Aurelia. They both looked into the Mirror and the approaching storm, then Artemis gestured and the mirror moved in till it was on Gabrielle's sleeping face.

"Gabrielle. My Amazon Queen" Artemis said simply and Aurelia gasped.

"She's an AMAZON QUEEN?" Aurelia said incredulously and Artemis smiled.

"Yes, it's her I wanted to talk to you about." she looked at Aurelia fully. "I've been watching you...and I know almost as much as Ares does"

Aurelia opened her mouth, but nothing came out, so stunned was she. "You know?" she questioned and Artemis nodded.

"I know you disguise yourself as a peasant girl and call yourself Meryll...and that you are a great swords-woman" the Goddess said and Aurelia hid her sigh of relief, then the Goddess did not KNOW that she was a sorceress!

"You, won't tell anyone will you...Aphrodite wants me dead I think" she said thoughtfully and Artemis smiled.

"If she knew who it was that she had been so friendly with today, I don't think she'd react very well" Artemis said with a faint threat and Aurelia smiled.

"You really care about Gabrielle, don't you...all right, what is it that you want?" Aurelia said, getting to the point and Artemis straightened.

"Not much, I only want you to watch her" the Goddess got to her feet and walked over to the mirror, studying Gabrielle's face. "She's so innocent, she's different from the other Mortal's I've met"

Aurelia looked at Gabrielle's face and nodded. "Just watch her, Xena can't always be there" Artemis said abruptly, then she disappeared and Aurelia stood there thoughtfully.

"What's so special about Gabrielle?" she thought about it for a while and then shrugged, going towards the doors. She touched them and felt the tingle that went up her arm, there was some kind of barrier there to stop her from getting into the rest of the place. It had never stopped her before though and she stepped back, pulling in her power and holding her breath. It was foolish to translocate in a place like this, but she had not choice in the matter.

"Here goes!" she said loudly, then blindly translocated and hoped she didn't reappear in the ocean! Second's later, she appeared somewhere and her feet touched a solid surface. She peeked open one eyes and the other and tried not to gape...she was in someone else's room!

"Ooops!" she said, blushing slightly as she looked around at the obviously masculine room. The canopied bed, the room in hue's of light blue and dark. And there was a window, she ignored the rest of the place and stepped up to the window, looking down. Her mouth fell open at the view...so Olympus really was above the clouds! Everything was fluffy and white, but there were buildings and gardens up there as well. The room was up above the other's and she stepped backwards as she saw people moving in a garden far below. She crashed into someone's back and whirled, startled. Her face hit a warm muscled chest and arms came up to surround her in a tight grip.

"What are you DOING here?" Cupid demanded, looking down at her and she flushed slightly. He didn't release her however and she looked down at his necklace, refusing to meet his eyes.

"I blindly translocated...I'll leave" she told him, trying to leave, but found that his arms were as immovable as rock.

"Not yet, tell me what you're doing on OLYMPUS!" he asked her, more impatiently and she shot him a dark look.

"Ares brought me here, I was injured in battle" she said defiantly, incredulity followed anger as he heard Ares had brought her there.

"Battle? What battle...if Ares got you mixed up in...!" Cupid started angrily and she put a finger over his lips.

"He didn't it was...well, my fault really..." she trailed off and his lips moved beneath her fingers, she grew embarrassed as she realized she had not yet removed them and struggled away from him. He let her go this time and she walked to the window, then paced away from it towards the bed. Aurelia studied it more carefully and noticed the bow's hanging on hooks above it, her mouth twisted ruefully. She should have known it was Cupid's room!

"All war's are Ares fault" Cupid said dryly, leaning against the window-sill to watch as she walked gracefully from each of his possessions to another. he'd never been so shocked in his life when he'd come back to his room and seen her there at the window! She'd been in his thought's since the cave and now...here she was on Olympus.

"I have to go...I was just curious" Aurelia said sharply, seeing a strange look in Cupid's eyes that made her heart thump crazily. He looked startled, but nodded, walking towards her.

"I'll walk you back" he said and she shook her head swiftly.

"No, better not to walk, Ares locked me in his rooms so I wouldn't wander off" she smiled briefly, touching a hand to her elaborately braided curls and Cupid's blue eyes followed her movements. "You know what they say about curiosity!" she chorused, then disappeared.

Cupid watched her go with a strange feeling in his heart. "Oh, yes, I know what they say" he murmured and a sly smile crossed his lips, his eyes mischievous. "But satisfaction brought it back"


"Wake up!" Aurelia stirred, but did not open her eyes, instead, reaching out her mind. It was Ares, a very angry Ares and she sighed. "Wake..."

"I heard you the first time" she said tiredly, slitting her eyes open against the bright light illuminating the room from the fireplace. Ares was sitting in a chair next to the bed, legs crossed and an indecipherable expression on his handsome face. "Don't you ever sleep?"

He laughed, raising an eyebrow and she sat up, pulling the covers with her. "I don't need to, it's a human affectation" he told her arrogantly and she smiled.

"Mmm" she agreed, not telling him that she thought he was missing out on something great. To not dream, meant that he never dreamed either.

He frowned at her, drumming his fingers impatiently on the arm of his chair and his dark eyes seemed to gleam in the firelight. "I have questions" he said. Aurelia raised her brows and threw the covers back, sliding out of the bed and almost winced at the feel of the cold floor on her bare feet.

"Oh?" she said noncommittally. walking over to the table and picking up the silken wrap from the back of a chair-a present from Aphrodite, as was the dark green night dress she was wearing-and slipped it on. She felt Ares eyes on her, but ignored him, pouring a cup of warm wine from the jug on the table.

"I want answers, girl" he began, crossing his arms, his eyes boring into her and she felt a chill at the look. He was deadly serious. Aurelia sank into a chair and watched him cautiously.

"I suppose you're wondering why I was in another time?" she asked him and he nodded, face expressionless. Aurelia sighed and took another sip of the wine, leaning back into the chair and drawing her feet up under her.

"It's a long story, suffice to say that it was where I was born. There are 5 kingdom's of a place called, Mirylanta and I am it's guardian. I have been since I was a child." she paused, watching for his reaction, though there was none.

"And? Why were you fighting that Mortal?" he said, eyes giving nothing of his feelings away and she was frustrated. That he had referred to Aragon in that way meant that he still held the opinion that she an immortal.

"Aragon. He's been the enemy of Mirylanta for generations and it was my responsibility to keep him from taking it. While I was here, 4 of the 5 kingdoms fell and in desperation, King Darek used sorcery to take me back home." she hesitated, looking at him uncertainly. "Once I was there though, I realized I had no way of getting back here and so I used the battle to draw you...I knew that since you are The God of War..."

"I would feel the battle, no matter what time it was in" Ares finished fort her, frowning thoughtfully, though there was a gleam of admiration in his dark eyes for her quick thinking. "True, I'd felt something...then you called out to me" he looked at her penetratingly.

"Yes" she stammered, not liking what she saw in his eyes then.

"Why call me...why not, say...Cupid?" he asked silkily and she blinked at him, not comprehending.

"Cupid? Why would I call him, I barely know him" she said, frowning. She swallowed down the rest of the wine and looked away towards the mirror on the wall, staring fixedly even though it was blank at the moment.

"Really?" Ares purred and she turned her head to look at him, suspecting finally, what he meant.

"Yes, really!" she snapped, getting to her feet and placing her hands on her hips haughtily. "I don't know what you are insinuating, but..."

"Oh, calm down" he told her coldly. Aurelia glared at him and walked closer, gown trailing slightly behind her.

"Why should I? I don't have to take this" she told him and translocated out of his rooms, reappearing in the gardens. They were even more stunning at night, the roses gleaming like a thousand stars. And the moon...

"Don't take it personally Hon, Ares is just like that" a voice said from behind her and Athena came to stand next her and look at the moon also.

"I can believe it" Aurelia said darkly, then her mouth fell open slightly. Athena looked at her sideways.

"Oh, don't look so shocked, nothing on Olympus is secret...especially from me" the Goddess said thoughtfully and Aurelia glared.

"Were you eavesdropping?" she demanded and Athena shrugged delicately.

"If you want to call it that...but you were rather loud towards the end"

"Oh" Aurelia said, fuming slightly, then blushing. If everyone could hear, then chances were that Cupid had too. "Did you hear ALL of it?"

"Well" the Goddess frowned, recalling. "I heard enough, so...what was that about Cupid?" Athena wanted to know and Aurelia's blush increased. The Goddess caught it on her face and a slow smile spread over her lips.

"Ah, it's like that is it?" she said knowingly and Aurelia glared, eyes flashing.

"No!" she yelled. But Athena went on unheedingly.

"So THAT'S why Ares was shouting, he must be furious that you like Cupid instead of HIM" Athena said gleefully and Aurelia's glare intensified, then she paled rapidly as she saw someone standing next to the bushes behind Athena. Cupid.

"It's not like that at ALL!" Aurelia said desperately, trying to signal the Goddess with her eyes and Athena got the hint almost immediately. She turned and saw Cupid there and a brow rose.

"Well! I thought I was the only one around here who eavesdropped" she said laughingly as Cupid stepped forward into the moonlight, his face expressionless.

"You are...I decided to take a walk in the Garden and heard voices" he said shortly, but his eyes continued to swing towards Aurelia and she didn't know where to look.

"How fortunate" Athena said dryly, looking at them both. "The Fates must have planned it"

"Maybe they did" he said, moving to stand beside them and Aurelia lifted her chin, restraining the urge to back away from his presence. He opened his mouth to say something but Aurelia couldn't take anymore and drew in her power.

"WHAT!?" Athena said as she felt Aurelia's power for the first time and then the girl disappeared, much in the way that they themselves did. Cupid slammed a hand into a marble support and it cracked, though they both ignored it. "How did she do that?" the Goddess demanded and Cupid shrugged, glaring darkly at the moon.

"I have no idea, she did it once before" he said absently and didn't notice Athena's interested look.

"Oh, so you've met her before then...before Olympus?" she questioned lightly and he stiffened, realizing he had almost given too much away.

"Get your gossip from another source, Athena" he said in disgust, walking away and a delighted smile spread across Athena's face.

"This just gets better and better. Cupid, and Ares little Mortal!" she squealed in delight and almost ran out of the Gardens, towards Aphrodite's rooms.


Aurelia opened her eyes slowly, not sure of what she would see. There was darkness everywhere and fear seized her heart, a moment before she realized it was only night. She had been afraid she had translocated herself somewhere unknown...but no, there was a fire a few meters away into the tree's. She reached out her mind and swept over all gathered there, finding Xena immediately, then the others.

"Thank the God's!" she breathed. Her powers were becoming stronger, the more she used them. She looked out over the moonlit forest, the tree's eerie and yet somehow comforting...peaceful. But not for long, once Ares discovered that she had fled Olympus without telling anyone. She gestured briefly, assuming the illusion of Meryll and then walked slowly towards the fire. Xena would hear her, probably knew she was there already.

"Who's there?" Xena's voice came, almost as if she had read Meryll's mind and Meryll smiled. She came closer to the sleeping group and took a deep breath, Xena's sword was already out and at the ready.

"It's me, Xena. Meryll" she called out, making sure there was a tremble in her voice. Xena immediately came forward, sheathing her sword as she came. She reached out and grasped Meryll's shoulders almost painfully.

"Where have you been?" the warrior demanded harshly, but her eyes conveyed her relief that Meryll was safe.

"It's a long story" Meryll sighed, shaking Xena's hands off and moving towards the fire. She knelt and warmed her hands over it for a moment and felt the presence of the Warrior Princess at her back.

"You just disappeared" Xena said, more quietly and Meryll restrained the urge to grimace.

"And so I should have..." Meryll's voice trailed off as she realized with horror, she couldn't think of what to tell Xena!

"Well?"

"Hmm, maybe we should wait till the others are awake" Meryll hedged, not turning, but she felt the anger emanating from Xena.

"Now, Meryll" she ordered and Meryll spun around, her eyes flashing. It was astonishing in such a mild girl and Xena was momentarily taken aback.

"I'll wait" Meryll said sharply, getting to her feet and walking to the opposite side of the fire so that she faced Xena. Her feet were next to Gabrielle's head and the blonde stirred. Meryll didn't want them awake till she could think of an excuse, so she concentrated briefly and Gabrielle fell into a deeper sleep. Meryll looked up and found the warrior's eyes on her narrowly, almost slits as she watched the peasant girl.

"I'm tired" Meryll said, faking a yawn. She walked further away from the camp and sat down against a tree, watching as Xena woke Hercules for the next shift.

"Is it time already?" he murmured, not seeing Meryll yet. Xena looked in Meryll's direction and he followed her gaze, eyes widening.

"Meryll? Where have you been?" he demanded and she groaned. Surprisingly, Xena intervened as Hercules was striding over to the peasant girl. She put a hand on his arm.

"She wants to tell everyone in the morning, let her sleep" Xena murmured, softly, but firmly and he relented. Though reluctantly.

"Fine" he said rather snappy and Meryll smiled, her teeth glinting in the firelight. Then she closed her eyes and let her mind drift, sleep claiming her soon after.


Ares stormed around his room, occaSionnally blowing things to bits as his temper got the better of him. Aphrodite watched, an amused smile on her face as she watched her brother fume.

"Feel better?" Aphrodite inquired as he finally slumped into a chair and glared darkly.

"No" he yelled, staring at her as if she were an idiot. She smiled brightly and moved to his side, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

"If you were a mortal, I'd say this was a temper-tantrum" she cooed sweetly and he jerked his head away from her.

"Get out" he ordered quietly, but she stayed there, hands on hips.

"Geez Ares, it was only a mortal...a beautiful one I'll grant you. But hardly worth all this trouble"

Ares glared at her. "Really? And what would you know?" he demanded, turning away from her and she sighed.

"You're being a drag!" she told him.

"So go" he said, making a shooing motion with his hands and this time SHE glared. Then a smile lit up her beautiful face and a mischievous gleam entered her eye.

"What was so special about her that got THIS reaction, hmm sweetie?" she asked him, leaning against his chair and he stared broodingly into the fireplace. Should he tell her?

"Something...exceptional" he murmured and her eyes widened.

"Really? And what would that be?" she demanded, suspicion in her eyes.

"Enough, I have work to do" he told her curtly, disappearing in a flash of silver light. Aphrodite mused over his words.

"Exceptional hmm, this I HAVE to see!" she exclaimed, a gleam in her eyes and a moment later, she too disappeared.

"And who said eavesdropper's never heard anything good?" Athena said, appearing and her eyes were wide with anticipation. "Cupid will want to hear about this!"

Ares stared thoughtfully into his mirror as Athena left, and a slight smiled was about his mouth. They were so easy to manipulated, all so many players in his game. Now for the hard part.

"You don't get away so easily girl...and this way, I can keep an eye on Xena too" he murmured. Ares looked hard at his reflection and slowly it shimmered, he became slightly shorter, his beard and mustache faded away and his clothes became those of a peasant. He had to change his looks naturally, or Xena would know immediately. But being an ugly peasant was out of the question so he merely altered his features slightly and became a very handsome mortal man.

"Perfect" he grinned, studying his face and then glanced down at his clothes. He grimaced. "Definitely not"

He gestured and the peasant clothes turned to that of warrior garb, the leather he so loved but not in a style that Xena would recognize. Also, he made himself a little younger, about Xena's age and then stood back to admire the handy-work.

"Not bad"

It needed something though...something to attract Xena's attention. A fight perhaps, something that Xena's aid would be in need of. "What shall I call myself, hmm?" he questioned himself. A wicked smile crossed his mouth.

"Why not?"

To Be Continued...


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