Transgressions: Forbidden Fruit
Xena woke early and left the house before anyone else roused from their slumber. After the incident with the thugs, she wanted to double check the farm's outer perimeter. Methodically, she made a 360 degree circle around the farm. Scanning the ground for any foot prints, cart tracks, or any other details that might indicate that the bandits had been part of a larger group. She had nearly completed the circuit when she got a telltale whiff of a nearby campfire.. Xena took to the trees, climbing a towering oak. When she was about thirty feet up, she could see the fingers of smoky tendrils rising through the foliage and drifting off with the wind.. Xena quickly scrambled down the tree and walked nimbly toward the smoke's source.
Using the dense brush as converge, Xena was able to stay hidden even when she was within a a couple of meters of the encampment. She counted three tents and four bedrolls laid out in the open air. She could see boots peeking out from two of the tents. Only one of the bedrolls was occupied. Two ruffians worried over a pot that was perched on a rock inside the fire ring, presumably breakfast. A third good stood at the other edge of camp taking a leak.. Xena did her math. Two men were missing. If her hunch was correct then those two men would never be returning to camp.
"Come and get it," the taller of the two men at the cooking pot called and clanged a metal spoon against the iron kettle. Xena slinked quietly back into the brush, in case there was a look out that she hadn't factored in. She could still hear their conversation as clearly as she'd heard Aleta's screams the night before.
"Fuck you," The guy from the bedroll called as he reluctantly sat up and stretched. "Hey, did Thalen and Karkrates make it back last night?"
"Haven't seen 'em," the cook answered, "more grog for us and I'm claiming Thalen's bedroll," he laughed.
So, her assumption had been right. Those bandits who had attacked Kam and Aleta in the woods had been with this nasty little troop. Xena hoped they were just passing through the area. Maybe they were deserters from some army or mercenaries looking to join up with one of the many warlords that had popped up in Thrace. Either way, Xena decided that they definitely needed to beef up security at the farm, just to be safe.
Xena slinked away from their camp until she was out of earshot, then she broke into a full run, making fast for the farm.
When she made it back to the farm, she was surprised to see that Ares was already hard at work building a perimeter wall, almost as if he'd read her mind. Kam and Aleta were working alongside him. Xena jogged over to the trio.
"What story are you going to give the stonemason next time you need to buy blocks?" Xena asked when she realized that he was using the stones that he'd bought for his house to build the wall.
Ares looked at the bricks and shrugged. "I'll worry about it when the time comes, but what you said last night about these guys possibly being part of a larger group of bandits concerned me. I thought that your safety and the baby's, took precedence"
Xena swallowed a couple of times trying to work the lump out of her throat. "Can I talk to you a minute?" Xena nodded her head toward the stables, indicating the conversation should be a private one.
"Sure," Ares turned to Kam, "you got this kid?"
"Yes, Sir," Kam's spine straightened a little at the question. Last night's events had left his confidence more than a little shaken. To see that Ares still respected his abilities as a builder helped offset some of his anxiety.
"Good, be back in a bit," Ares wiped his hands on his pants and gestured that Xena should lead the way.
Once in the stable, Xena couldn't help but to nuzzle against Argo's snout. The horse had always brought her comfort, even in some of her darkest hours. Understanding her need to be with her four-legged companion, Ares grabbed a brush and joined Xena next to the mare. He ran a couple of strokes through the golden mane, waiting for Xena to reveal what she'd called him there here for. He sensed hesitation in her so waited to let her speak first.
Putting one hand on her hip like she often did when she was bracing for a showdown, Xena started."I hesitate to tell you this because I don't want you going off half-cocked and murdering people again."
Ares stopped brushing halfway though Argo's mane. "Xena, they were raping that kid. They would've killed him had we not come along."
"I know, but you could have shown mercy."
"Like they showed?" He sneered.
"That's what separates us from them, Ares."
"You forget, I am them." Ares tossed the brush aside and paced away from Xena.
"You are not. You are not an opportunist. You're not a thug. You're not a rapist. You are so much better than them." She argued, moving to follow him.
"I encourage that kind of ruthless behavior in my camps everyday, Xena. It's what I do."
"I know. But that is war. It's different."
"Is it?" It was a question Ares had never bothered to contemplate before.
"It is. Look, Ares, we can have a philosophical discussion later, right now, I need to tell you that there are five more out there. I found their camp this morning."
"Is that where you were coming from? You went looking for them? Without me?" He asked, displeased.
"Yes."
"For Zeus' sake Xena what are you trying to do?" He yelled.
"Make sure we are safe," she stated what she thought was obvious.
"You could have been killed. The baby." He moved in and was on her before she knew it. He laid his palm flat on her belly. "They could have hurt the baby."
"The baby's fine, Ares. And I am still a warrior and still capable of taking care of myself and the ones I love."
Ares took a deep breath. He knew how capable she was. He knew that pregnancy only made her even more fiercely protective. What he hated was the fact that she had disincluded him. "Five more, huh?" Ares asked with a murderous gleam in his eyes.
"Now see, that's why I didn't want to tell you. No more murders. Do you hear me? As far as we know they may be on the move and out of the valley by sundown. We are not going after them. But, we do need to be prepared for them, just in case."
"Why isn't this place better defended in the first place? Didn't your grandfather understand the need for basic protection?"
Xena smiled. "My grandfather was a pacifist."
"No," Ares gasped. "Not Atreus' father?"
"No, my mother's father."
"So, Cyrene got her spitfire from her mother?" Ares asked.
"Oh, he was a spitfire and he stood for what he believed which my mother definitely learned from him. He just didn't believe in war. In fact, I am sure he rolled over in his grave a little bit at the thought of you living here."
"Wonder what he thinks of me putting it to the granddaughter?" Ares dimples popped as he waggled his eyebrows..
"You can be so crass sometimes, you know that?"
"Yeah," Ares grinned lasciviously but it was just out of habit. His mind had already shifted back to Xena's safety. "So now what? You tell me there is a group of marauders nearby and I'm just supposed to sit around and twiddle my thumbs and hope they just go away?"
"No, we do exactly what you are already doing. Build some walls, maybe a few trip wires at the perimeter and train the kids in basic defense."
"Ooooh, I get to watch you make that boy a warrior!" Ares wet his lips. There was nothing more glorious than watching Xena mold an inexperienced young boy into a lean mean killing machine.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I said defense. I was thinking staves not swords."
Ares frowned a bit dejected but then brightened. "Staves and maybe a bow?"
"Maybe, he does need to learn to hunt after all," Xena agreed.
"My thoughts exactly," Ares lied.
"Uh-huh, sure. Come on. We have a wall to build." She pulled him by the ear out of the barn.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
They'd spent all day, with the exception of the midday meal, working on the defensive perimeter. Xena was beyond pleased with the progress they'd made in one day. Still, when Ares reminded her of the date they'd set for the evening, Xena was reluctant to leave Gabrielle and the kids at the farm by themselves.
"What if I could guarantee their safety?" Ares asked as leaned against the edge of the farmhouse. Xena could almost allow herself to believe that he leaned against the building for support because he was tired after a day's hard work but in reality she knew he'd never tire, no matter how many bricks he lifted. He was divine and if he leaned against something, it was to show an air of ease, an air of casualty.
"What do you mean?" Xena asked as she looked away from him into the window. Gabrielle was cleaning up the dinner dishes. Corina stood beside her, drying the plates. Aleta and Kam were cozied up together next to the fireplace. Xena had watched the young couple all day. Their courting seemed so natural and innocent. There were no games, no deception. She envied them. It was all fresh and new to them, there was no bad blood, no painful memories, no betrayals. Even the traumatic events of the night before had somehow brought them closer together. They kept checking in on each other as if they had an even greater understanding of life's fragility. It was a beautiful thing to watch and she realized that she was just a bit envious of the girl.
"What if I gave Gabrielle a direct line to me? That way if there is any danger, she could call out and we'd return immediately." Ares pushed himself off of the wall and started dusting brick debris from his arms.
"What does that mean, a direct line?"
"I can leave open a channel of communication to her. That way if she calls out in distress, I'll hear it."
"Do you do that with me?" Xena wondered if he spied on her often.
"No, I generally appreciate that you can take care of yourself. There have been times, however, that you've shown that my faith in you ought to be questioned." He gritted his teeth.
"I'm still kicking aren't I?"
"In large part to me, my dear, but who's keeping score?"
Xena squinted her eyes at him. "Fine, I'll tell Gabrielle to call you, if there is any danger. Give me some time to get myself prepared for you. I'll see you in a couple of hours."
"Til then, dear Xena, til then." Ares took her hand and made a great show of kissing the back of it. When he disappeared into the aether, he went in shards of silver light. One of the light tendrils curled its way around her ring finger, a bead of diamond sharp light twinkled on top of it before it all evaporated and Xena was left standing in the yard with her hand hanging awkwardly in the air.
Xena shook her head at his theatrics but smiled to herself. She looked back into the house and found Gabrielle smirking at her through the window.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
Artemis' orb glowed brightly in the black night when Ares returned for her. She'd been waiting in the front yard, scanning the perimeter once more before their departure. When he found her, she was wearing the purple dress from the market as he'd requested. Her hair was down and curled softly over her shoulders. Gods she was a beauty!
He moved in behind her, inhaled the scent of her intoxicating hair, and ran his hands along the length of her torso, His hands splayed out over her ribs, sending shivers of anticipatory delight straight to her core.
"Any requests, my love?" he whispered.
"Yes," Xena turned toward him and kissed his bearded jaw line. Ares treasured her kissing him like this in the open, in her space, on her farm. It was the borderline, he knew. The space between reality and the game that they were dancing on. But at times like this when she devoured him before he whisked her off, he knew the borderline was shifting. He just had to have a little patience and maybe one day the line wouldn't exist at all. Maybe he would be her reality and the game would be a distant memory. "Take me to our place."
"I told you, I destroyed it."
"You haven't been back?"
"No, I can't bear it."
"We can bear it together." She entwined their fingers togethe.
"Why do you want to go there? I'm sure nothing is standing. I was pretty thorough." Ares warned.
"The island is still there, no?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then we can make love on the black sand beach for all I care, but I miss our place, When we are there, it's like no one else exists for a few hours. I can concentrate fully on you, I prefer that, you know. Being able to focus on just you, you and me."
"Then that's what you shall have." She closed her eyes waiting for the thrill, he didn't disappoint. Ares scooped her off of her feet and they soared through the aether.
When they re-materialized, they were standing in the middle of the stone courtyard. Which to Ares' surprise had been mostly spared of his destruction. Allthough, it was blackened with soot, the statue, the fountain of Xena's likeness, and the frieze along the wall all stood proudly amid the charred rubble. The enchanted apple glistened in the moonlight. Ares sent a silent prayer to the Old Gods that somehow their survival meant that his and Xena's destinies were indeed entwined and that one day she would be his eternal dance partner.
"See, it's not a total loss," Xena smiled as she watched the wonder dance across his face. "There's always hope."
With the wave of his hand, Ares made a plush couch appear next to the fountain which still gurgled with spring water. "Lay down, Xena. Lay down, and lift that pretty dress."
Xena's breath caught. When his voice dropped like that, low and demanding, it was her undoing. "Yes, Sir." Xena reclined back onto the couch and pulled the folds of her dress up, revealing herself to him. His eyes met hers and the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.. He was going to fuck her right here. Right here, in sight of that tempting apple. Xena didn't know if she could handle it.
"Ahh, good girl, no panties. I should reward you for that, shouldn't I?"
Xena nodded.
"And what is your favorite reward?"
"Your cock, Lord Ares."
Ares ran his hand over the front of his leathers. "You want this?"
Xena nodded, her mouth now slightly parted with desire.
Ares moved toward her, standing above her, "Show me how badly you want it, Xena."
Instantly, she knew what he meant. Xena spread her long legs apart, ran a finger through her inner lips and wet it. Xena held the finger up to show him. Ares took the digit into his mouth and cleansed her oil from it. "You may unsheath me, my sweet warrior."
Xena made quick work of his belt and pushed his pants down roughly. She took his godhood securely in her fist and began coaxing his head with her mouth. Her hunger had him surging quicker than he liked. But he wasn't about to reward her so easily. He'd seen her looking at the apple. He wanted to tease her in the game as she teased him in life, It's what she deserved for making him wait and wonder at their fate. Ares pulled his cock away from her mouth. He nudged her legs open even further and slid down her so that he could work her off instead. Ares tenderly lapped at her labia and circled her tender nub until he felt her fully coiled beneath his tongue.
"Xena, I want you to look over my shoulder, at the apple."
He watched her eyes and waited until she did as told.
"You want that apple don't you?"
"Aresss," she growled as he moved his body in between her legs. She looked back into his eyes wide and dark with desire.
"Look at the apple, Xena. Do it!"
When he was satisfied that her eyes were indeed focused on the succulent fruit, he took his cock in hand and slid himself deep inside her. "It could be yours, Xena, I could all be yours. The apple, the power, me." Ares let a surge of his godly energy course through her as his cock reached her innermost depth, butting against her wall. A deep moan ripped through her as she gave into him, coming over and over as he warred inside her, seeking his pleasure. Xena didn't finish until he emptied himself, then finally, she collapsed beneath him, her eyes transfixed on the forbidden fruit.