"What on Tartarus was that about?" He practically yelled at the goddess.
"What's wrong Ares? Do you disagree with us killing the bard?" Athena questioned with an brow raised.
"It was not necessary" He replied, calming his voice reminding himself that he did not want to draw unwanted attention.
"Discord believed it was. What's wrong? Worried your little girlfriend won't talk to you any more?" She taunted.
"Shut up. Killing Gabrielle was low even for you Athena" Ares retorted.
"That may be true, however I will do whatever it takes to ensure our future. Whether you like it or not" She had walked up to the god and now stood barely a foot away from him.
Ares stared back at her, his eyes filled with rage and hatred. He was about to respond but decided against it and vanished. He would not waste his time with the likes of her.
Back in the cave the warrior princess sat unmoving as she trembled from her tears. Eve had fallen asleep from fatigue, and had started shivering from the wet clothes she still wore. Xena gently laid Gabrielle back down on the ground. Her friend's face was a ghostly pale and had dried up blood trailing down it.
"This is all my fault" She said, trying again to hold back her sobs. "You never would have been exposed to this life if it wasn't for me. Right now you would be home living a peaceful and happy life. I took that away from you" Xena knew that Gabrielle would disagree with what she was saying, but the guilt she felt was too strong.
"Gabrielle, I don't think I can handle this alone" She said looking at the child in her arms. "I need you here with me, I feel so lost right now" Xena closed her eyes trying to fight back the one thought the kept crawling into her mind. The thought that Eve was doomed to share the same fate as Gabrielle.
Suddenly an image arose in her mind. It was of the morning after Ares had saved them. She sat holding Eve in her arms fearing that they were fighting the inevitable. It was then that Gabrielle looked at her and said, "One day she will be safe from the gods, she will be happy and secure. I know this because I can see it in her eyes. Those little sapphire eyes are all the proof I need to know that everything will be alright" And with that it seemed all of Xena's doubts and fears had vanished.
"You were right" She said in a low voice. "Thank you for never letting me think to give up" And with that she vowed to herself that no matter what she would not rest until Eve was finally safe and Gabrielle was back in their lives.
She stared at the wall as she tried to gather her thoughts. But it was no use she was exhausted and the day had taken it's toll on her. She felt as if she couldn't move a single muscle, nor did she have a single tear left to shed.
After a while she began sensing his presence. For all she knew he could have been there the whole time, but she didn't care. She ignored him at first and waited for him to leave like before. However this time he did not leave and finally she lost her patience.
"Why won't you just leave us alone? Don't you think you've done enough?" She yelled.
But he did not respond, he simply continued to stay invisible.
"You know, you almost had me fooled. For a second there I actually thought you had a heart. Foolish me" She said in a sad tone but then her voice turned hysterical. "And that whole thing with saving Eve and I, that was priceless. You probably had this all planned didn't you?" She let out a sad chuckle before continuing. "Of course you did. Oh and I can't forget that little act in the rain. Wonderfully done bravo, it was one of your best performances thus far" Xena said slightly swaying from side to side, as she felt insanity creeping into her mind. She felt like she was just one step away from finally snapping.
He then appeared behind her and kneeled down beside her quivering form. She felt as his hands gradually slide down her arms, instantly warming her. His right hand touched Eve's head, drying her small body. With his arms wrapped around Xena he laid he head in the crock of her neck. She closed her eyes as a single tear rolled down her face. Releasing a breath she slowly leaned into him.
Neither spoke and Xena could feel herself getting lost in his embrace. However the fear and worry was still there, refusing to leave her mind. And in a desperate state she did the only thing she could, it was something she rarely did but at the moment it seemed right. She cleared her thoughts and began to pray; speaking in her mind to who ever was listening, pleading to them to help her find a way out of this nightmare.
Once she had finished, she opened her eyes and only hoped for a miracle. She stayed awake for an hour and still she did not say a word. Ares too had waited in silence fearing that if he said something, she would pull away from him and realize perhaps she had made a mistake. It wasn't until hours later did sleep also capture the warrior princess. By this time the storm had ceased, and the sun was beginning to rise.
It was then that Xena heard a voice calling for her. She opened her eyes to see the archangel Michael standing before her.
"Michael?" She said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" She stood up but as she did so it felt strange. It was as if she had gone straight through Ares' arms, and when she gazed down she was no longer holding Eve. Xena looked behind her and saw herself asleep in Ares' arms with Eve. "What is this?" She asked, a little bewildered.
"You're dreaming in a sense. This is real but at the same time it isn't" As the angel spoke a golden light surrounded him and his feathered wings seemed almost the color of his sandy blonde hair. "You called and I came" He replied.
"What are you talking…" Xena stopped once she realized what he was referring to. "What can you do to help us?"
"Eve is the key to the destruction of the gods" He looked from the sleeping child and back to Xena.
"I've heard that before, but that doesn't help me in figuring out how" She said with impatience.
"Eve is destined to become the messenger of Eli, and with that bring about the end to the gods. She does not possess the power, but instead you will be given the power through her" Was all he said. He pointed towards Eve and a shower of light fell upon her, then within moments it had disappeared.
"Power? What kind of power?" Xena asked in confusion, but he simply smiled and vanished. "Wait! What did you mean?" She yelled out.
Suddenly an untouchable fire encircled her, its heat was warm and inviting. Xena was motionless as she stared into the blaze mesmerized by it. Then just as quickly as it came, it was gone.
Xena blinked and found herself back in the arms of Ares. She released a gasp as she felt her mind going frantic trying to make sense of what had just occurred.
Ares, it seemed had also been sleeping and awoke with a start to find Xena practically breathless.
"Are you alright?" Were the first words he spoke.
She only nodded in reply.
"Bad dream?" He asked guessing.
"No, something else" She answered unsure how she could explain it to him. Then decided it would take too much time, which was something they didn't have. She pulled away from his grasp and stood up. "Ares listen to me this needs to end now" She said as the coldness had returned to her eyes.
"And how are you going to do that?" He questioned, as he was caught off guard by the sudden return of anger in her eyes.
"I'm not exactly sure but it has something to do with Eve. I can't explain it right now, you'll have to just trust me on this" On her face were hints of irritation as well as pleading.
"But what if it doesn't work, then you'll be a sitting duck" He countered.
"You can either help me or not, it won't change the fact that I'm going" She turned around and kneeled down beside Gabrielle's body. She touched the ice cold skin of the bards face before whispering to her. "I'll make them pay, I promise you I will" She then grabbed Discord's dagger off the floor, the one she had found sticking out of Gabrielle's chest.
Ares watched as Xena clutched the dagger tightly as if almost trying to crush it with her hand. She slowly got off the floor and turned back to him and waited for his answer.
Ares thought for a moment and knew that it was pointless arguing with her. "Fine. What's the plan?" He asked.
"Give me a second" She said to him. Xena looked at Eve's sleeping form in her arms and began reciting to herself what Michael had told her. And as she was doing so she realized the answer to her own question. "I have the power to destroy them" She said above a whisper.
"What'd you say?" Ares questioned.
Xena froze uncertain whether or not she could trust him with this.
"What ever it is you can tell me" He stated with a genuine expression, which seemed strange on him but at the same time it didn't.
"I can kill gods" She said, knowing what his reaction would probably be.
"You're kidding right?" He asked laughing, then suddenly stopped when he realized she was serious. "Xena do you know what your saying? It's impossible"
"Nothing's impossible remember" She replied, with a smirk.
"Xena would you listen to what you're saying. This is crazy and it's not going to work" He walked closer to her, and now stood less than an arm's length away. He was worried and his face showed it.
She had, had the urge to reach out and touch him since she awoken but was afraid to. However now as she stared into his eyes she felt that fear disappearing. Without hesitation she reached for him gently touching his face with the tips of her fingers. "Don't worry, it'll work"
"If you're so sure about that then show me" He said with an almost devilish grin.
Later that day on Mt. Olympus Athena, Discord, Deimos and Hades had all gathered to decide what the next course of action should be. They were all caught by surprise when the god of war materialized in front of them.
"Ares, I'm amazed you showed your face" Athena remarked.
"Well I thought I could give you some interesting piece of information" He replied, wearing a mask of arrogance.
"Is that so? Then tell us oh brother what is it you have to share with us" Skepticism was apparent in her features.
"Xena has absolutely lost it, I mean totally crazy. She wants a fight to the death against all of you"
"I knew it would happen sooner or later" Athena now had an all too pleased smile on her face.
"But wait you haven't heard the best of it. She actually thinks she has the power to kill gods" He said, and they all roared with laughter.
"You got to be kidding. Has she really gone insane?" Hades questioned.
"Yes and then some" Ares replied.
"See Ares I knew you would choose to live in the end. Like I told you, you're just that type of person" Discord said, with a cocky smirk.
Ares did not respond, instead he paid no attention to her.
"This is the opportunity we've been waiting for. Call for Hephaestus and Artemis and tell them to meet up with us. We will finally bring an end to Xena and that wretched child" Athena declared.
As if by a chain reaction they all disappeared one by one, leaving only Ares behind. The god smiled to himself, relieved that in their happy state none of the other gods had noticed his slightly swollen lip and the subtle bite mark on it.