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His eyes glowed as he laughed softly and caught her to him. His whispered "I love you" in her ear sent shivers of pleasure racing through her. Her hand pressed against his chest to move him back slightly so that she could see into his face; see the truth radiating from his eyes - feel that truth coursing through her. Her lips parted to speak but his face changed before her eyes - it elongated and sharpened as his eyes narrowed and hardened. "And now Xena, to prove your love for me you must take the village in the next valley. Leave no one alive," he laughed cruelly…
Xena sat up sharply, her mind ripped from the dream world into the realm of the real with a suddenness that left her disoriented for several moments.
The sun wasn't quite up yet but she could see it would be soon. She dressed and took her sword into a clearing she had found the day previous not far from camp. The dance against imagined opponents began slowly, warming her blood and stretching her limbs as she reached and skewered, turned imaginary blades and braced imaginary blows. Faster came the steps as she whirled and jabbed and parried with a grace far belying her mortal existence. She flipped up and over to kick out and land sure footed, a light sweat glistening her skin in the rising morning sun. She turned and slashed - her sword met another! Never missing a step, she swung the blade swift and sure for the opening that would disarm and disable her no longer imaginary foe. Minutes flashed on silvered wings as the dance became yet faster, more urgent and precise. Finally she focused on the face of her enemy to find Ares grinning broadly in the heated exercise. She took a final leap out of the range of his blade and stopped to lower her blade and breath deeply to slow the pounding of her heart.
"Ares," she laughed. "I should have guessed."
His smile was wide as he approached her; she was the best of the best and the workout had been most... invigorating.
"Good morning! Well played - there just isn't anyone like you, Xena."
For all that the god was being pleasant and cheerful, she remembered her dream and she took a step back as he got closer. A puzzled look crossed his face before he hid it behind the guise of a smile again, but she saw it none-the-less and felt mildly guilty.
Her breathing slowed and her chin lifted in an attitude of wariness. He took a step forward; her body visibly stiffened.
"Xena… what…?"
Her chin raised a notch higher in a defiant gesture. "What are you doing here?"
"I just stopped in to see what you were doing and if the bard had recovered her sense of humor," he answered attempting to hide his concern for her reactions to him. His eyes narrowed. "Is there… something bothering you?" He cast quickly about in his mind for anything that he might have done.
"Xena! NO!" They both whirled at the ready only to find Gabrielle stomping angrily toward them. "What do you want, Ares?" she sneered as she got close. "I suppose you're trying to convince Xena that you love her again. Well she's not gonna buy it!" She stopped in front of Ares to glare up into his face. "She's not going to listen to you."
Now here's a puzzle, thought Xena in distant bemusement. She stepped up beside Ares. "What's this all about Gabrielle?"
"I know what you told me last night, but I just don't believe it. This is Ares after all and we both know what he's like."
"What did…" Ares began, but Xena silenced him with an impatient gesture.
Xena frowned at her friend. "I'm not sure you do know what he's like," she said quietly.
"Xena! After what he's done to you? After all we've…"
The warrior cut her off. "Enough Gabrielle. This is my decision to make."
"But Xena..."
Xena faced Ares. "I need to talk to her," she said. He nodded grimly. Just when he was gaining ground... He wondered what chance he would have after the bard talked to Xena.
"Later Xena." He disappeared in a flash of blue light.
Xena folded her arms, her mouth set in a grim line and her eyes glittered dangerously. "Now… what's this all about?" she spat.
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"We'll just have to convince him to give you up!"
"Gabrielle, I…"
"No Xena! I heard what you said last night. I know you think he loves you; but he can't! He's the God of War, remember?"
"Gabrielle…"
"I know you have a hard time resisting him! I've seen you when he's around - it's like you can't help yourself; you're drawn to him. But he's bad for you. He really is."
"Gabrielle."
"He'll lead you back to your dark side! You don't want that, do you?"
"Gabrielle!!" Xena roared, "Stop! I don't want..."
Gabrielle stopped with her mouth still open to deliver another argument. She waited as the silence stretched into minutes.
"Gabrielle…" Xena sighed as she leaned over and placed her hands on Gabrielle's shoulders. "I know you think you are saving me from myself, but there's no saving to be done here. I will make my decision one way or another. I've lived through all of this and it's up to me whether I can live with him or not. He's wronged me - and I've wronged him."
"But I do know he loves me." She felt the telltale tingle of Ares' return but didn't release the bard.
"Xena. It's wrong. It's all wrong."
"Gabrielle. Wasn't it you that said that even the God of War could have a Chosen? Didn't you tell me that it was possible that the God of War could love?"
"Yes, but…"
"No buts! The God of War does have a Chosen, and he never had one before this one; that much of the story is true." She glanced over her shoulder by reflex as she felt Ares presence leave them. Why had he left?
"Never?"
"Think. Think about the story about the God of War. Start at the beginning. Doesn't it start 'Many millennia had passed with the gods choosing their hearts from among the mortals, yet the God of War never chose, thinking himself above that which even the lowest of other gods claimed to feel; For feeling had no place in the mayhem of war and battle and the warriors of the field were better off without it. Then came a day...'"
"'...that the god looked upon a mortal woman and found her fair. Dark was her hair and skin golden from the sun with eyes the color of the clear skies. A warrior of the field was she with fire shooting from her mouth with every command'," finished the bard in wide-eyed awe. "You! You're the one in the story!"
Crashing blue light disolved into the God of War. "Indeed she is the one from the story," he frowned ominously at Gabrielle. "And my Chosen still." His dark eyes shifted to Xena. "The only one I ever had in all my existence."
Ares had come to me in a rush to find two more gods or goddess though he didn't say why; he just said to hurry and meet him at Xena's camp. I managed to round up Athena and Artemis, promising them favors if they would accompany me. Neither was overly pleased when we materialized behind Ares, but were curious enough to attend - as was I for that matter. Why Ares wanted three gods to attend him on a visit to Xena we couldn't begin to guess.
Ares turned to us with thunder in his brows. "I, Ares of Olympus, God of War, call on you, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare; you, Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt; and you, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, to bear witness in this time when I renew my vow to my Chosen, Xena of Amphipolis - to cherish her; to be ever on her guard; to answer when called upon; to teach and to arm in knowledge, strength, and weapons. Never shall I choose another while she lives. Do you bear witness as I attest?"
"I do," swore Artemis as she bent her knee and bowed her head before Ares. "I bear witness that on this day, Ares, God of War, does renew his vow to his Chosen."
"I do," I knelt and bowed my head in turn. "I bear witness that on this day, Ares, God of War, does renew his vow to his Chosen.
"As I do," Athena knelt beside me with her head bowed. "I too bear witness on this day that Ares, God of War, renews his vow to his Chosen."
"Behold the vow is renewed and witnessed!" Ares thundered as he turned back to the stunned Gabrielle and quietly watching Xena. He caught Xena's eyes with his own for a moment that stretched into eternity. "And will you, Xena of Amphipolis… will you renew your vow on this day?" he asked quietly.
She stood there as though frozen in the snare of Ares' eyes; mesmerized as the snake by the charmer. Ares' head had begun to droop in disappointment when she suddenly strode forward and knelt at his feet beneath his astonished stare. Her voice came strong and true. "I, Xena of Amphipolis, do renew my vow as Chosen to Ares of Olympus, God of War. To love him, to fight for him and to do his bidding in all things he leaves to me. Never shall my faith falter or my loyalties roam. I call on you, Gabrielle, Bard of Potidaea; and you, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare; and you, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, to bear witness in this time. Do you bear witness as I attest?"
Gabrielle stood silent in stunned disbelief. How dare Xena just up and renew her vow to the God of War? Did these last years mean nothing to her? Was she so under Ares' spell that she could see nothing? She stood her ground. "I, Gabrielle, Bard of Potidaea, do not bear witness," she ground out between her teeth.
Xena looked over at her, eyes bright with unshed tears. "I wanted to include you, Gabrielle. Does it have to be this way?" she asked softly. "I do this by my own choice."
Gabrielle hung her head and her shoulders slumped in defeat. After a moment she looked back at Xena, then knelt beside her and felt Xena's arm go across her shoulders in a light hug. "I, Gabrielle, Bard of Potidaea, do witness on this day that Xena of Amphipolis does renew her vow as Chosen to Ares of Olympus, God of War."
Athena and I made our witness also and thus the vows were renewed and the bond between god and Chosen was strengthened. I will never forget Ares as he reached down to grasp his princess by the shoulders and lift her to face him - his eyes shown of faith and love that I've never seen the like of before or since. And Xena… having found her heart to still be true, her face glowed with her commitment and the reflection of Ares love.
No one noticed the bemused faces of Artemis and Athena as they exchanged glances and disappeared in much awe of the realization that War could indeed love. No one noticed Joxer as he stood at the tree line with his heart full for his friend and with hope that, someday, perhaps Gabrielle would find solace in him the way that Xena seemed to find it in Ares and Ares in her. And as Ares' lips found Xena's, as their bodies clung together in the first full rich taste of love untainted by old angers, arguments, and battles, Gabrielle went unnoticed but by one as she walked slowly back to their campsite; she not noticing Joxer's forlorn eyes as they followed her every step —
I'm not sure I'm up to another project as trying as this one just now though.
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