Ok, so a problem shared is a problem half solved - or that's what I've always liked to think- and indeed, this statement proved to be true for my brother given that only minutes after our conversation, Draja was already knocking at the Bard's door. Without her knowing it, she was going to unleash all Tartarus on earth…..I could now focus on solving the other half….

Within seconds, all my energy shifted on opening a different portal as the other two closed…..This was a special portal, a very special one…the kind of which I often used whenever I wanted to spy on my favorite couple without getting caught….It required a special technique, lots of skills, and quite a lot of energy….but I just knew it would be worth it….As always, a wise voice in my head told me not too, but the little harpy sitting on my left shoulder kept whispering into my ear what a fabulously romantic scene I would be missing if I had the nerve to pretend that I didn't care about their dramatically unfolding love story…

The instant the image cleared, I let out a loud, silly squeak. Once again, I was right….He hadn't wasted one moment and went straight to her….That sure said a lot….

For once- in almost a year I'd say- I felt the urgent need to sit down. I could see him getting closer and closer to her bed….Damn…this was going to be too good to simply observe it from afar. I just had to be there….!

I quickly considered my options. With the speed of light, I entered the vortex and hurriedly wrapped myself in the thickest invisibility cloak I could find….I was not going to miss out on anything….not one single breath!

As I silently materialized in one of the distant corners of the room, I stood still for a few seconds, not flinching one muscle, waiting to see if he could detect my presence despite the extra strong shield I was using….Once I came to the conclusion that I would be safe from harm no matter what, I cautiously reduced the distance separating us, barely breathing, and definitely barely controlling my jelly like legs from tripping over an amphora or something…..I was well aware what the consequences of such unfortunate imprudence would have been, and let's just say that I was ready to do right about anything to keep myself out of trouble…

I finally ended up leaning against a nearby wall, watching my brother's every gesture with wide, spellbound eyes as he took a seat on the dark armchair near the bed. For a few seconds, he kept looking at her, asleep as she was, not daring to do anything but watch, as if one single move could have stolen her away from him for good…..My pupils must have dilated when I saw him biting his lower lip and arching that ever so naughty eyebrow as she moved in her sleep, twisting a bit so that now she was lying on her back, her face slightly turned to him….

I instantly felt a shiver running down my spine….There was an immeasurable hunger gleaming in his mesmerizing, amber eyes- an intoxicating energy that could have fueled my powers for millennia to come! I could distinctly sense it, radiating from his body, waves and waves of dark, maddening desire , untamed passion that had absolutely nothing in common with that ordinary feeling that most mortals I know- such as my ridiculously innocent and clueless Bard friend- would stupidly mistaken for love- when in fact they don't have the slightest clue about how real, pure love even feels like.

At that point, it was virtually impossible for him not to touch her and I could easily tell it by that barely perceptible twitch in his fingers…He ached to feel her and through their connection, she was just screaming for his nearness….Even in her sleep, her unconscious mind was longing for him- an irresistible attraction that her numb brain couldn't possibly deny . It was a sight to see…

Almost of its own volition, Bro's hand reached to touch her cheek, the tips of his fingers stopping just a mere inch above her skin, freezing there while a brutish, soul engulfing battle was fought inside him. He gulped nervously and his breath caught in his throat as he rapidly withdrew his hand, rubbing it feverishly with his other one as if it hurt, as if someone had just been on the verge of cutting it off. …

Despite the overly melodramatic scene- which kinda was my specialty- I couldn't help frowning at the suddenly angry tears in his eyes….He looked…helpless….yeah, that was the word…..

" Aressss…"

I totally jumped at her hardly audible whisper, my alarmed eyes immediately searching for my brothers', wanting to make sure that he had heard her too, probably looking for a confirmation that her ghostly voice hadn't been just a figment of my imagination…..

I smiled victoriously at the liquid warmth now shimmering on the surface of his visibly troubled moons…His entire being was unwillingly vibrating with the exhilaration of knowing that he was still there, haunting her dreams, that despite the time and the distance and definitely despite of their painfully disturbing past he hadn't left her heart…

"Come on, touch her….touch her, Bro'….She just needs to know that you're here for her…" I had to fight with myself not to shout at the top of my lungs, burning with the need to get once and for all that indubitable confirmation that the possibility of a real chance at being together again wasn't as far fetched as he believed it to be…

With a teasingly slow, reluctant gesture, his hand lifted into the air again, but to my boundless frustration, it was not to her face that it was headed, but to his own, completely covering his mouth for a few moments and then rushing up towards his forehead- that he soon started massaging as if some well hidden, impossible pain could somehow cause his head to blow up….

I had been indeed right back in the throne room, I finally realized to my own tragic disappointment….He was scared….Not even scared, more like terrified….Terrified of having her again, only because having her meant that he could as well lose her at any time, and needless to say, the mere idea of something like that ever repeating was inconceivable...He still hadn't managed to come to terms with their current situation...

In a moment of cowardly, overwhelming panic, I saw him jump to his feet, rapidly turning his back at her, ready to leave….

"Noooooo!" I exclaimed on a mute, but heartbreaking, desperate note.

It was not my utter despair that stopped him nonetheless, but the Warrior Babe's thick, sleepy voice.

" Ares?"

She was awake. My heart skipped a beat, and I was pretty sure my brother's did the same.

XXX

Privacy! At last! Seeing that my friend was still fast asleep dear Papyrus, I finally allowed myself to lie down and catch my breath for a few moments. I can't believe the nerve those stupid women had! Implying that Ares and I could ever…My skin still crawls only thinking about it! Like I would ever allow that disgusting pedophile jerk to touch me!

"….And I couldn't care less about how big his cock is! I don't even care if he has one or not! As long as he can keep it in those sleazy leather pants, I don't really give a damn! "

A very persistent knock on the door pulled me out of my fiery, vehement speech , and that's when I realized that once again I had been saying all that out loud….That can't be a good sign huh?…Have I told you dear Papyrus, that I once heard that talking to yourself is the first medical indication of schizophrenia? …It surely makes one think twice before articulating something….anything…

" Come in!"

" Good afternoon, Gabrielle. I was wondering if you need anything…Are you hungry by any chance?" she asked, and I could see how uncomfortable she felt around me, for no reason at all, really…

"Actually Draja…" I started, frowning a bit at the name itself. It sounded incredibly tough and….imposing and, believe it or not, it kinda reminded me of the Amazon tribes….Draja…It did have a very particular sonority...

"Yes?" she softly continued, seeing that I had simply stopped speaking and frankly , I was so absorbed in my own vast ocean of thoughts that I almost forgot I hadn't finished that sentence.

" Could you sit down for a second? I'd like to talk to you about something…"

She cast an almost frightened gaze my way, as if I were about to cut her head off….

"Actually, I was a bit in a hurry…I have a million things to do till sunset…" she mildly protested, in some sort of excuse.

" It won't take long…I just have a question for you…." I insisted, and I could see by the way she fidgeted nervously, shifting her weight from one leg to the other that she could already anticipate what my question would be, and she wasn't comfortable with it…not by a long shot.

" You said earlier, in the yard, that Xena might have changed, but that Ares surely hasn't…. What did you mean by that….?"

She immediately turned around to leave, but I firmly grabbed her hand, keeping her in place…She wasn't going anywhere…not until I had found out everything ... every dark little secret, no matter how insignificant...

"I need to know…." I added in a softer, convincing tone. " Please. It's very important to me. Xena's my friend…."

"Xena could never be anyone's friend!" she sharply spat, tears in her eyes, and to my boundless shock, I saw so much pain on her face that I just had to ask myself again….were we really talking about the same Xena?!