Chapter 7

For a time, Gabrielle rode fast and hard, blinking the tears out of her eyes. She finally slowed down in order to cool down her horse. 'By the Gods,' she thought, 'I have no right to think of him. He's everything I want... but he's immortal. I'm only a child to him.' She continued to think of all the reasons why it was so impossible--- all the way to where her brothers waited.

Ares rode beside Gabrielle, invisible to her, and his new-found heart was breaking for her. He didn't know what she was thinking, but he knew she was in pain. He tried to send a mental message to her. 'I love you, Gabrielle. I just want to take care of you.' She looked up as if she had heard something, but kept on riding.

Upon arriving at the stream, Gabrielle dismounted and gathered her brothers around her. She piled the vests on the ground and threw them around over her brothers' heads. She had already wrapped a blanket around their legs. One by one, the swans turned back into the handsome princes they had once been. They each changed in odd ways. Marcus, the eldest, bounced into the air and came back down as a man. The twins, Virgil and Julius, vanished into the ground and popped back up with simultaneous yells of "Yippee!" Iolaus turned a bright shade of gold and then his feathers all fell out. For a few minutes, he was busy picking feathers out of his hair. Joxer bounced up into the air but unfortunately, he got caught in a tree. He had to climb down with Gabrielle's help.

The reunited siblings hugged and then Gabrielle said, "I only have one horse, and you aren't dressed properly. Wait here and I'll go get clothes and horses for you."

Ares took this opportunity to appear, materializing with his horse and riding into sight, so as not to startle Gabrielle and her brothers. Gabrielle was still thrown off balance, and asked, "Ares, did you follow me?" Sheepishly he nodded. "Yes... I did follow you. I wanted to make sure you were all right. Can you forgive me?"

"Yes, I can forgive you. I guess you saw what happened."

"Yeah, I did... A curse was it? That's why you needed my vests?"

"Yes," said Gabrielle. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you."

"That's okay. Enchantments are like that. I'd like to help you now if you'd let me."

"You don't have to. I'll just go buy what we need."

"Please, Gabrielle, I want to do this. I don't often get a chance to help people... that is... I never thought it was important until I met you."

"Alright... Thank you, Ares. You've been very kind to me."

Ares smiled at her and with a flick of his hand and a nod of his head, the princes had full sets of clothing and everyone was instantly transported to Hercules and Xena's castle, Gabrielle's horse. Gabrielle shook her head and grinned at Ares. "I wish you'd give a little warning, Ares. Joxer looks a bit green after your mode of transportation."

Ares apologized for the suddenness, and gave Joxer a spoonful of Olympian stomach medicine. He put it back in his pocket and looked up to see the other siblings staring at him. "What?" he protested. "My motto is 'Be Prepared'." As Gabrielle giggled at this statement, Ares winked at her and whispered, "And also, 'I like a certain girl that makes me smile.' " Gabrielle quickly looked down at her boots, avoiding Ares' dark eyes. They were now interrupted by the sounds of joy and laughter from Hercules and Xena. Indeed, the occupants of the entire castle turned out to welcome Gabrielle and the princes back home. Wanting to introduce Ares to her parents, Gabrielle quickly turned to find Ares gone. The tears that ran down her cheeks were thought to be tears of joy, but she knew better... She would never be the same...

- - - - - - - - - - -

A lonely figure watched over the castle that night. 'She doesn't know what she does to me,' he thought, as silent tears rolled down the cheeks of War......

-TBC-