There was no sign of Gabrielle, she observed as she looked around trying to figure out where they were. 'Maybe there's a town near by, maybe I could find some help', she said to her self as she slowly stood up.
"It's okay baby, everything's going to be okay" She whispered in Eve's ear as she rocked her.
If she'd hope to survive this she would have to start moving, staying in one spot wouldn't help the matter. But it seemed as if Mother Nature had a different plan. With the wind so strong and the coldness so intense, Xena found herself falling her knees, not being able to take the weather any longer.
Eve's wails had reduced, and all Xena could do was hold her tighter.
"No, please, no" She cried, but her tears quickly turned to ice before they even fell from her eyes.
Xena could feel the heat leaving her body and Eve's. She began shivering unable to hold it in, and slowly her eyes began closing. No longer could she fight back, in her mind it was pointless.
Suddenly Xena could feel a warmth covering her body. She opened her eyes to find two arms wrapped around her. Looking up she realized it was Ares.
"Ares" she whispered.
"Shhh" The god replied, and smiled as the ether consumed them.
Xena closed her eyes and fell unconscious.
Ares appeared in the chamber of one of his temples, with Xena and Eve in his arms. He laid Xena gently down on the bed, and took Eve from her. At first he held the small child like a doll, unsure whether to hold her with one arm or two. 'I can do this', he said to himself, shifting her position over and over until she lie in the crook of his arm. The small child's skin was still cold to the touch. He looked at her fragile body and thought to himself, how easily he could crush her. How he could just end it all right here, if he so chose to.
Slowly Eve's eyes began to flutter open, the heat from his body had warmed her, bringing her to. The small child stared at him with sleepy eyes, as a smile appeared on her face. She was so tiny and oblivious to what was happening around her, he thought, how could she possibly pose a threat to any god or man for that matter.
Ares couldn't help but stare into her bright blue eyes, which reminded him so much of her mother's. He knew, he could have easily taken her life and possibly ended it all, but he also knew that would have destroyed Xena. She would hate him forever, with every fiber of her being. And to him that wouldn't be worth it. He cared of her so much it hurt at times, and often he replaced that pain with anger.
However as he looked at the smiling baby in his arms he did something he would never admit to, he smile back at her. It was strange the feeling he had while holding her, as if all that was important was the little life in his arms.
"You look just like her, you know" He whispered to her, as he sat down in a chair.
"You'll probably follow in her foot steps and become a warrior princess, kicking butt, saving lives and all that other stuff" He continued to whisper as if someone might hear.
Eve let out a yawn as he slowly rocked her back and forth.
"Here I'll make you a promise, if you be a good girl and put in a good word for me to your mom, I promise to grant you a wish. Now this isn't some crappy genie kind of garbage Oh I wish for a thousand wishes B.S. it's a one time use only. What do you say?" He asked, as her eyes were closing. She opened them up again then closed them and fell asleep.
"I'll take that as a yes" He said, making his way to the bed and softly placing her down. As he was doing so he noticed she was covered with specs of dirt, and with a wave of his hand she was all cleaned up.
He turned to Xena; she had cuts and bruises on her arms trailing to her back. He repositioned her on her stomach and with a thought all her armor and clothing were moved to the chair near the bed. Only a sheet covered her lower half. Bottles of antibiotics and badges appeared on the nightstand beside him. He began cleaning her wounds the best he could, then badge them up when he was finished.
A black silk nightgown materialized on Xena; Ares shifted her so that she was now lying on her back. He moved a strand of hair that covered her face, behind her ear. Immediately he remembered that the bard was probably still at the camp covered in tears. With a sigh he gazed at Xena a moment longer before vanishing.
He found Gabrielle on horseback racing in the direction of Mt. Etna. The war god couldn't stop himself from laughing. Did she really think she could get there quickly, he thought, maybe he should leave and not tell her. Though the idea was rather pleasant, the fact that she looked like she was about to fall off the horse was kind of pathetic.
"Hey blondie" Ares yelled as he materialized on Xena's horse, which was running along side Gabrielle's.
The bard's heart practically skipped a beat as she watched him appear beside her. Swiftly she pulled on the horses' reins to make them stop. After a minute or so they had come to a complete halt.
"Are they alright?" The bard asked, her heart pumping with every breath.
Ares lifted his finger to his lips as a signal for her not to say anything. For all they knew Discord and Deimos could be listening to them right now.
The god gave her a slight nod. He grabbed her arm and soon an ether surrounded them as they were transported to a chamber in a tavern inside the village nearby.
"What now?" Gabrielle asked, somewhat confused.
Ares just smirked and vanished, leaving behind a sack of dinors and a note.
"No wait!" She replied, but by then he was already gone.
The note read: 'They're fine. Trust me?'
"Trust me" Gabrielle laughed. "That's easier said than done"
She wasn't sure whether are not to believe Ares. For all she knew Xena and Eve could be dead, but then why would Ares bother coming to her. Was he just playing with her mind or was he telling the truth. Gabrielle felt as the exhaustion finally took over her body. She tired tofight it back butno longer had any strength left,witha loud sighshe collapsing on the bed. Tomorrow she thought, tomorrow she would figure out what to do next.
When Ares returned to his chamber he found Eve whimpering in her sleep. Some how she had gotten to the edge of the bed, Ares slowly picked her up and rocked her back to her peaceful slumber.
"This isn't so hard" he said, still rocking her in his arms.
He then sat down in the chair near the bed and watched the sleeping child.
"Eve" He suddenly heard Xena mumble in her sleep.
She twisted and turned in the bed as if searching for the child in her dreams. The god stood up and walked towards her, wondering what he should do. An idea popped into his head 'Minus well, what do I have to lose' he said with a smirk. With a thought he had changed from his leathers to a pair of black silk pajamas. Gradually Ares slipped into the bed beside her. With Eve in one arm he slowly wrapped his other arm around Xena, hoping this would somehow stop her nightmare. Slightly stroking her arm, he held her against him. At first Xena fought against the object that was holding her, but soon she settled down and it seemed as if the nightmare had passed. But she still called out Eve's name in her sleep.
Placing the small child on his chest, Ares grabbed Xena's hand and laid it on Eve's back. Xena's hand wondered up and down the child's back, until resting on her shoulders, as if checking to make sure it was her.
Ares looked down at his sleeping warrior princess, and could swear he saw a smile on her lips. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, he was certain only a few people had ever seen her look so calm and serene. He wished they could stay like this forever, but tomorrow would soon come, and no doubt Xena would quickly be on her way out once she awoken. Although in the morning he will once again lose her, for now he had her and everything seemed right.