Secrets of the Past

DDR

Xena awoke with a start. She'd been having one of those dreams again, one of those about her past. She hated those. She wiped her face on her blanket, it was wet from crying. She looked around, everything was blurry from her misty eyes. The fire was a heap of flickering embers and on the other side of the embers laid Gabrielle, snoring softly. Xena would have liked to go back to sleep, but the crisp morning air kept her awake. It was near sun-up anyway so she thought that she'd might as well go catch breakfast.

About midday Xena and Gabrielle were passing through a village and decided to stop for lunch."Is something wrong, Xena? I mean, you've been really quiet today." Gabrielle asked concerned Xena took a bite of her meat "I'm fine." She said. In truth, she was exhausted. That dream that she had had, had definitely worn her out. She might as well of relived that day. "I just can't wait for tonight. We'll be in Thebes and I can slow down and take a bath." Gabrielle smiled. "Yeah, it'll be good to catch-up with Hercules and Iolaus again."

The sun was sinking below the horizon and the grey of nightfall surrounded them as they reached Thebes. Gabrielle followed Xena and Argo to the far end of town. They had made arrangements ages ago to meet Herc and Iolaus at Hercules' mother's old house. As they passed through the stone fence they could see candle flames dancing in the windows of the flower covered house. Xena let Argo loose and her and Gabby approached the door. Xena knocked. The door creaked open to reveal Hercules standing there and Iolaus' face poking around the corner grinning. "Hello Hercules." Xena said Hercules smiled brightly. "Hi! Why don't you come in?"

The four friends spent about an hour catching-up before Xena excused herself from the room.

Xena let her clothes fall to the floor than sank into the welcoming warm bath water. She closed her eyes and her mind started to clear. Today hadn't been a real good day, but the bath felt great. She wanted to drift off to sleep. Her soul felt completely drained. She tilted her head back in the water but stopped.She knew he was there.

"Hello Xena." chimed a very familiar voice. She turned around. Behind her, in the water was the god of war. She didn't move. "Ares." After a long moment of saying nothing Xena asked, "What do you want?" Ares laughed. "What makes you think that I don't just want a bath?" Xena moved to the other side of the tub. "You always want something." she said glowering at him. Ares sighed. "I know you've had a rough day after that dream that you had, so why don't you let me help you relieve your tension." Xena knew what Ares had in mind and it definitely wasn't going to happen, especially not here in Hercules' mother's old house. "Why have you been eavesdropping on my dreams, Ares?" She questioned Ares shrugged. "Just hoping that I was in them. Instead of me, your dream was about your past, and one of the secrets that you've managed to keep hidden from everyone, including Gabrielle and Hercules. Personally, I think that they both have a right to know, especially Hercules." Xena's eyes widened she already knew what he was going to say next. "In fact, if you don't tell them, I think I will." Xena tried to looked unphased by this remark. "Ares…" she warned "Of course, we could make a deal." His voice taunted her. It was probably the same old deal as always, become his queen, give him a child, sell him her soul… She'd rather tell the gang about her past, but first she'd hear him out. He moved closer to her and brushed his arm against hers under the water. "What kind of deal?" she asked His touch gave her shivers even in the warm water. "I could send you back to the past. You could change what happened." Xena bit her lip, this was a tempting offer. "All you have to do is make sure that the child you conceive is mine and not Hercules'. If you fail and history repeats it's self, then we end up right back here and Hercules will be devastated knowing that you gave up his daughter." Xena frowned, the offer had twists that she didn't like, still it was better than seeing the hurt on Hercules' face when she told him. "One condition." Xena said Ares seemed surprised. She went on. "If I change my mind at anytime, in any time, you will bring us back here, to this moment, in this time." Ares searched her eyes for signs of deception. Clearly, Xena was desperate to get rid of this secret. "Agreed" they were silent for a long moment, then Ares said "Is it a deal?" Xena's jaw clenched, somehow, she knew that this was both the right and wrong thing to do. "Yes, Ares, it's a deal." On those words Ares grabbed Xena by the shoulders and kissed her lips. Xena felt like she was suffocating. Then she was extremely dizzy and lost consciousness.

DDR