Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to whoever owns the rights to Xena:Warrior Princess.
A Special Place
Chapter 1
(The scene opens on Gabrielle and Xena having a conversation on a dusty road a couple of miles from Ares' favorite temple.)
"Why me?" asked Gabrielle.
"Because," said Xena, "Ares likes you."
"You're nuts, Xena."
"No, he really does. He gets this goofy smile whenever your name is mentioned."
"Maybe its indigestion," suggested Gabrielle.
"Gods don't get indigestion," retorted Xena.
Gabrielle sighed, and shook her head. "I still think you're nuts, Xena, but what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Whenever I see him, he's always in a hurry. You know how he likes to irritate me. He's never too busy for that. I want to know what he's up to"
"And how am I supposed to find that out?"
"Use your wiles."
"My wiles?"
"Yeah, you know you can do it, Gabby. Use that pretty smile, those big green eyes, flip your hair around..."
"I refuse to act like that, Xena. I'll try to find out what he's doing, but I am not acting like ... like a barmaid."
"Whatever ... just find out. Not knowing is killing me."
"Yeah, sure Xena... Who would have thought ... Xena ... the former warlord... greatest warrior... is also the biggest gossip."
"Hey, I resent that... Just because I told Autolycus about seeing Salmoneous in a dress..."
"Going now... good-bye Xena."
"Bye, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle continued walking the rest of the way to Ares' favorite temple. The temple seemed to be deserted, so she thought, 'Good, maybe I can find out something with nobody else around to distract Ares."
Gabrielle went inside the temple and stood in front of Ares' throne. "Um... Hello, Ares? I've come for a visit." She thought, 'Well, that sounds lame, and you call yourself a bard, Gabrielle?' She decided to leave, and had just turned towards the door when she heard her name called. She turned around quickly and saw Ares standing in front of his throne with a disappointed look on his handsome face. "Hi Gabrielle... Where are you going? I thought you came to visit me."
"I thought you were busy... that I shouldn't bother you."
Ares moved closer and smiled down at the little blonde. "I would never be too busy for you... besides, for you I'll take the day off."
"You will?" asked Gabrielle in amazement.
"Of course," said Ares. "Strife and Discord can take care of things for today. Come on, Gabrielle... Let's go have some fun..." With that statement, Ares took Gabrielle by the hand and whisked her off in a flash of blue light.
-TBC-