Usual disclaimers apply.

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Chapter 29

I had left Daria as quickly as I could and in my panic was riding aimlessly towards the edge of Amazon lands. Finally slowing Mavri, I tried to clear my head, but found it impossible. Stopping completely at the last border marking I allowed Mavri to cross. I needed to speak to someone and the only person I could think of was Auntie. Guiding Mavri towards the closest temple that I knew about, I gave him his lead as we finally found a road.

I had passed few travelers on the road and those that I had encountered had the good sense to leave me alone. Mavri and I were now resting near a small brook. I had finished a snack and filled my water skein while trying to calm down. I was just getting ready to resume my ride when I felt the familiar tingle. "What do you want, Ares?"

"You sound more and more like your warrior mother every time you say that," he purred.

"I am not in the mood for games, Ares. Tell me what you want." I demanded angrily.

"I just want to talk my little warrior," he stroked his beard. "Though I think you're almost beyond being a little warrior aren't you, Sam? What you did today," he smirked at me. "So like your mother back in the day. Though I'm not sure she would have stopped."

"So you came here to gloat or did you really want something?" I growled.

"No gloating, Sam. I just wanted to commend you for a job well done. Not only did you disarm those men, you avenged the damage done to your sister. You should be proud of the pain you caused that man. You were victorious and I can guarantee you that he will always remember the young woman who almost killed him. You, my dear Samina, will be legendary. The story of what you did will proceed you and I'm sure none will dare harm your sister after they hear what you almost did at the tender age of fifteen."

"I don't want that kind of recognition," I argued.

"Come on, Sam. Tell me it didn't feel good. Knowing that you held that man's life in your hands, the power you wielded today…it felt amazing, didn't it?"

I took a deep breath and shook the thoughts from my head. I wanted nothing to do with Ares, with his type of power. Mounting Mavri I turned and looked down at him. "I don't want that kind of power, Ares. Go and sell your wares someplace else." Giving Mavri a hard kick we took off towards Auntie's temple. I knew it wouldn't be the last time Ares would try to turn me to him, but I prayed that I always had the strength to resist.

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I had stabled Mavri in the facilities provided next to Auntie's temple and had then moved inside the temple as quickly as I could. A few worshipers were leaving things on Auntie's alter and I quietly moved towards the back of the temple. Seeing the priestess I merely waved at her when she looked at me curiously.

"May I help you?" she finally asked.

"No," I answered honestly. "I'm waiting for the worshipers out front to leave so I can contact Aphrodite on my own."

"You think that you'll be able to contact Aphrodite?" The blonde rolled her eyes at me. "Dressed like that?"

I finally managed a small smile. "Trust me, I'll be able to get her show up just fine."

I waited for what seemed like forever for the worshipers to leave. The moment that they did I kindly asked the priestess to leave. She refused and I rolled my eyes at her. "Fine. Auntie! Auntie I need you!" I called into the air.

The smell of roses surrounded me and I smirked at the priestess as Auntie materialized in a shower of pink hearts and golden birds. "You rang, my little warrior bard?"

"I did," I ran to her and buried my face in her neck. "I need to talk and I don't need witnesses," I whispered.

Looking at the priestess Auntie smiled at her, "You need to leave now. My chosen and I need to have a heart to heart."

"You actually called her," the priestess shook her head. "I can't believe it."

"Yeah, yeah, this girl is pretty amazing. Just like yours truly." Auntie led the young woman towards the door and practically shoved her through before closing it and waving her hand. "Now, we're locked in and safe and sound. What's up?"

"Could we get a little more comfortable?" I asked. "I have a lot to tell you and I think some comfy chairs and maybe a pizza would help."

A snap of her fingers caused a wonderful couch to appear along with my favorite pizza. A pitcher of juice sat on the now present coffee table with the pizza and Auntie took my hand and led me to the couch. Another snap of her fingers had me in sweats and a t-shirt and I smiled at her for the first time. "I am keeping these clothes."

"Of course you are, they are your color." Auntie then changed from her usual bikini into a tank top and boy shorts causing me to shake my head.

"That outfit is totally you," I offered before falling into her arms once more.

"Alright my little warrior bard, spill. What has got you so upset? My auntie mojo is telling me that something really major happened."

I snuggled into Aphrodite and took a deep breath, "I almost killed a man today, Auntie."

"In self-defensive of course," Auntie supplied.

"No." My tone brought her gaze into mine. "For revenge. It was the man who hurt Eve that day in the woods. If Daria hadn't stopped me I think I would have let the pinch do its job."

"Oh my little warrior bard." Auntie's arms came around me and I finally allowed myself to release the emotions that I had held inside. "And the worst of it is," I sniffed. "Ares visited me on my way here."

"Oh I am so going to give that brother a piece of my mind," Auntie stroked my hair. "What did he say?"

"Nothing that wasn't the truth," I admitted. "It felt so good holding that man's life in my hands. I liked the power I held, I like that he will never forget me. That he will never again look at someone my age the same way again." I shuddered. "It scares me, Auntie. It scares me so much because I finally understand how Mama turned to Ares. It makes complete and utter sense now. There's a peace with the idea of giving in to him, into those feelings." I looked up at her once more. "And that scares me most of all."

Auntie was quiet as she held me. "I can understand that, Samina." Her voice was soft. "But why come to me? Why not go to your warrior mommy?"

"Because you're love," I replied simply. "If I am truly your chosen then who better to go to when saying no to war?"

"I knew I made the right choice when I chose you," Auntie replied. "You have so much of both of your mothers in you, my little warrior bard. Gabrielle brings you towards love while Xena pushes you towards war." She stopped and took my chin in her hands. "Yet, as much as that is the truth, the whole truth is that Xena also brings you towards love while Gabrielle pushes you towards war."

I dropped my gaze from Auntie's face and then moved to lay my head on her lap. "The warrior who loves, the bard who battles. Balance."

Gentle fingers combed through my hair, "You are so smart, my little warrior bard. Just like that blonde mommy of yours. You can see all sides because you understand and know all sides. You will be tempted again, but because of the balance…"

"Because I have both love and war within me, I will resist," I whispered.

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Daria looked around on the road and groaned in frustration. She had lost Sam's tracks and wasn't sure which way to go. Wishing she hadn't told Xena not to come the young warrior leaned her forehead on Haven's forehead. "Any idea which way we should go, girl?"

"I'd suggest south," a deep voice replied.

"Xena?" Turning around, Daria hugged the warrior. "How did you get here without me noticing?"

"I'm Xena," Xena shrugged.

Daria shook her head and chuckled. "That you are. So, any idea where your daughter is heading?"

"I do," Xena replied. "Want to ride with me?"

"I'd love to," Daria sighed. "I'm sorry that I failed to get to her first. I really thought me talking with her alone would be for the best."

Xena guided Haven off the road slightly and whistled bringing Argo to the road. "Mount up and you and I will head out."

Doing as she was told Daria was quiet as they began to head down the road, south, as Xena had suggested. "Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for not letting me do this alone. I really have no idea what to say to Sam."

"The fact that you'll be there for her will be better for her than any words you can speak, Daria. Sam is probably scared right now and wondering exactly why she felt the way she did when she put the pinch on that man." Xena took a breath before continuing. "I know from experience that just having Gabrielle with me when I'm feeling that way, when the anger is making me feel so good, is worth more than anything she could ever say to me. You have that effect on Sam, Daria. Gabrielle and I have seen it and as young as you are, we know how you and Sam will end up eventually."

Daria's brown eyes looked at Xena closely. Looking once more to the road Daria responded, "You know, I don't know that I've ever heard you say that much at once. It might be a new record, should we write it down someplace?" Xena's grin was Daria's answer and they continued on in comfortable silence.

The silence between Xena and Daria stretched for half a candlemark before Daria spoke again. "Xena where exactly are we going?"

"Aphrodite has a temple another half a candlemark or so from here. I'm pretty sure that's where Sam is heading."

"How can you be so sure?" Daria asked.

"I know my daughter," Xena shrugged at the look Daria gave her. "And I know me. If I was Love's chosen I would go there for answers as well, especially if war had come to me."

"You think Ares came to Sam?"

"I know he did," Xena shrugged again. "I know Ares as well, Daria. I'm sure that he approached her and tried to sway her."

"Do you think she'd ever go with him?" Daria asked.

"I hope not, Daria. My first instinct is to say she wouldn't, but she has too much of me in her for that to be a certainty."

"She has the queen in her too," Daria's voice was soft. "I know our queen can kick ass when she wants to, but her first instinct is still to see the good in others. I think Sam hears that voice telling her to think things through as much as the other voice telling her to kick ass."

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I had finished my fourth slice of pizza and was now simply enjoying the peace of being with Auntie in her temple. I wondered if anyone would be coming after me and decided not to worry about it as I finally put my pizza plate down and leaned into Auntie. "I'm stuffed."

"Too stuffed for chocolate?" she asked.

"Well," I hedged. "Too full right now, but I could eat some in later, I'm sure."

Auntie clapped her hands and kissed the top of my head, "Oh goody, we can have a slumber party with popcorn and chocolate."

"Sounds good," I agreed sitting up as heavy pounding on the temple door from the stables allowed itself to be known.

"Aphrodite open this door or I'll have Argo kick it down," Mama's voice finally was heard and I shrugged at Auntie.

"I guess you'd better let her in," I suggested. "I'd hate for Argo to have to do so much work tonight."

Snapping her fingers Auntie nodded, "There, all open for your warrior mommy."

Hearing two sets of footsteps I looked towards the back of the temple and wasn't surprised when Mama came into the main part of the temple followed by Daria. I remained quiet and never moved as Mama quickly made her way to me. Sitting on the couch next to me she opened her arms and I fell into them without a word.

I felt Auntie move off the couch and was never more thankful for her love of entertaining as she addressed Daria. "It's so nice to see you again, my little Amazon. Let's go in the back and I'll make you a special Auntie pizza along with some killer juice."

"Sounds good, Auntie," Daria's voice replied. "I'll talk to you later, Sam," she added as Auntie led her from the room.

Leaning into Mama I buried my face in her neck and allowed myself the feeling of comfort from her arms. I finally composed myself enough to pull away from her neck. Leaning back against the couch I moved so that I had my head in her lap. "Ares came to see me, Mama."

"I know." Gentle fingers ran themselves through my hair and I managed to begin to relax.

"I turned him down." I shuddered briefly as the remains of my crying moved through me. "He was right though, Mama. It did feel good holding that man's life in my hands. Knowing that man will never forget me or what I did to him."

"I know." Mama continued to run her fingers through my hair and we sat in silence for a long while. Finally Mama spoke again, "Do you know what happened, Sam?"

"Not really," I admitted. "I just know that one minute I was backhanding him for what he'd done to Eve and the next Daria was yelling at me that I was killing him. I finally came out of my haze, released him, told Daria what to do and then left."

"I know," Mama said once more.

"Is that all you're going to say to me?" I finally asked.

Mama chuckled and continued to run her fingers through my hair, "No little one. I have other things to say, but I want you to know that I understand what you went through today. How you felt, the allure of Ares, and I want you to know just how I proud I am for you coming here to find your answers instead of turning to Ares."

"I hope I can always say no to Ares, Mama." I slowly sat up and looked at her. "It was so tempting to turn to him, to allow his words to wash over me. I understand now why you turned to him. Why he wants you back so badly."

"And why do you think he wants me back so badly?" Mama asked.

"Because you complete him," I looked at my hands and back to her. "The same way he would complete me if I allowed him in when my anger is at the highest."

"How do you know that, Sam?"

I shrugged. "It's just a feeling that I get, Mama. Giving in would be so easy and I would feel complete briefly." I looked into her eyes and sighed heavily. "But I know that the feeling wouldn't last and in order to feel it again I'd have to continue down the path with Ares. That price is too high for me."

Mama pulled me into her as much as she was able and kissed the top of my head, "I am so proud of you for recognizing and understanding that, little one. It took me so much longer, and not before I made many, many mistakes."

"The Destroyer of Nations," I whispered. "I know, Mama. I know."

"Yeah," Mama shook her head. "I was so proud of that title. I loved the look of fear people gave me. That is something I never want for you, Samina."

"It's not something I want to experience either, Mama," I admitted. "I want to be known as something more than a bringer of war. I want to unite our tribes and insure the Amazons survival." I sighed. "And I want to enjoy the rest of the time I have before becoming a full warrior and a bigger part of leading the nation. I'm not ready to be grown up all the way."

"And your mother and I aren't ready for you to be grown up yet either, Sam." Mama kissed my forehead. "We are so proud of you, Sam. We know that you will be an amazing leader one day, but I am glad that you aren't in any hurry to take over tomorrow."

"What now?" I asked quietly. "I almost killed someone for revenge. What do we do now?"

Mama was quiet for a long moment and pulled me into a side hug. Allowing myself to relax I felt my eyelids closing, "We talk some more," Mama finally said. "And then the three of us decide what we need to do to help you not lose control again." I nodded slowly at Mama's words before finally allowing myself to drift off to sleep.

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I hope everyone enjoys the update. I know it's short- for me- but I wanted to get it posted before RL got too hectic again.

Thanks once more for all the PM, follows, and reviews.

More Sam soon.