Chapter 14
Xena and the rest of Athena's warrior's were camped in a dense forest a day's ride from Athens. They were headed to Egaleo, about a three days ride from Athens, with orders from the Goddess to stop some bandits from wreaking havoc on that town. Xena gladly welcomed the distraction this new assignment would give her after the previous night's events.
She sat in front of the warm fire sharpening her sword as she thought about what had happened the night before. She hoped that Apollo would finally let it sink in that they were never going to be together. Her mind unwillingly drifted to the other God that had captured her full attention. She was shocked that it had been Ares. All those years of trying to figure out a way to get the War God's attention so she could be a warrior like her father and when time came, he just showed up, at a party for Athena of all places. She knew the two siblings had never got along and were always looking for a way to wreck each other's plans- if she were to believe what the other girls were saying. Though now that she thought about him, he had shown up way before then. She didn't know why she had never made the connection before, but that was his army they were fighting yesterday.
Now that she knew she could feel when he was near, she knew that it had been him that was on the battlefield with her. That thought made her realize that it had also been him who stopped that arrow. But why would he do something like that? He would have had so much to gain if she had died. She knew she had to be careful when he was around with the fact that his mere presence could distract her like nothing else and she couldn't afford that. Twice she was put into situations that could have been avoided if he had not been around. She didn't like the fact that he seemed to overpower her senses. She didn't like to appear weak and when he was around he made her forget everything else and the world just seem to fade away. But when she looked into those deep brown eyes of his, it was so easy to forget. Her mind replayed the way he touched her when they danced. How her body fit perfectly against his.
Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she tried to shake those thoughts from her head. He was the enemy and she couldn't afford to get affected by his overall charm no matter how tempting it was at the beginning. He was a distraction she needed to keep at bay. She was suppose to hate him since he was Athena's biggest enemy but somewhere inside her she knew that she didn't. Thinking that it was not likely that she would ever see him again, she tried to put him out of her mind. She laughed to herself as she thought that he wasn't even around and he was still distracting her. Trying to get her mind off of the War God she looked around at the other warriors. Some had already turned in for the night while others were practicing some drills near a river a few yards away from camp. Her eyes fell upon Astra and saw that she was being a little more aggressive than usual in her movements as she went through the drill with Flora. She could see that Flora was barely able to block her blows in time before she was already on the attack again. She got up to intervene before things got out of hand.
Flora was desperately trying to fend off Astra's attacks. She didn't understand why she was being so out of control. This was supposed to be a simple training drill. Astra once again thrust her sword towards her and she barely moved her sword to block the blow in time. She stumbled back a little to try and put some distance between them but she just advanced, never giving her time to retaliate.
Astra continuously slashed her sword at her opponent. Seeing that Flora was slowly wearing down, she went in for the defeat. She slashed at her sword once more then kicked her in her midsection. Seeing her lose her balance she went to strike with her sword once more but suddenly someone halted her arm. She turned her gaze towards Xena and narrowed her eyes at her.
"I think that's enough drills for tonight." Xena stated as she released Astra's arm. Astra just glared at Xena for a moment. Knowing that she was not going to win this one, she just gave her a hard look and turned to walk back to the camp.
"Thanks Xena! I don't know why she was being so fierce tonight." Flora said with some relief for the interference.
"We should all get some rest so that we could be able to move out at first light tomorrow." Xena said as she looked at all the warriors, making sure she they had understood her.
Xena watched as they all headed back to camp. She stood there a moment to make sure none of them were going to cause any problems for the rest of the night. She was just about to make her way back to her own bedroll when she felt that tingle again. A gradual warmth began to fill her as a flash of blue light illuminated the small clearing and Ares appeared before her. She didn't expect to see him so soon-or at all for that matter-. She silently wondered why he was there and she kept her eyes on him as he walked around her.
"Now why did you go and spoil all the fun?" he said with a tease. "It was just starting to get interesting." he remarked, giving her a mischievous grin. Xena shook her head at his comment.
"Aren't there enough wars in Greece? Why would the God of War settle for a simple squabble? Are you bored? " she said in a playful tone. She felt at ease with him but she was not about to let her guard down around him for that matter. She had done that too many times already.
Ares smiled big at her playfulness. He found that he liked it and he once again felt something stirring inside him. He still couldn't figure out what it was, but he knew she was the cause of it.
"What can I say I like variety." he said, keeping the same playful tone as he let his gaze fall up and down her body.
Noticing his staring, Xena became a bit self conscious.
"Is there a reason for this visit?" She tried to hide the effect his gaze had on her.
"Last I checked, we weren't on speaking terms and I would think the God of War had more better things to do… like coming up with a decent battle plan that would actually ensure a victory." she said, taking note of how he slowly closed in the distance between them as he continued to circle her like a predator stalking their prey.
She knew all about the War God in front of her. His infamous rage that would make the hardest of warlords cower in fear, his ruthlessness and his lust for battle. She knew he was dangerous, she could feel it rolling off of him in waves with the power that he possessed. But that fact alone made the blood rush in her own veins. He brought out a feeling inside herself that she had only ever felt when she was in the heat of battle. Everything about him exuded war because he was War and she belonged to him whenever she was in the midst of a fight, no matter how big or small. He was the one making her feel complete.
Ares smiled at her attempt to get him move on to the point of his visit. He noticed of course that she was studying every move he mad, as if she was trying to put the pieces to some unknown puzzle together. "Actually I came to see you."
She looked shocked by words.
"Now why would you do that?" she asked him a little curious at what his answer would be.
Ares stepped closer to her. He reached out his hand and picked up a strand of her hair and began to twirl it around his finger.
"Can't a War God just admire a warrior's battle skills?" She regarded him for a moment.
"I see. There is just one thing wrong with that scenario, though." she replied, and a sly smile formed on her face as a puzzled one formed on his face. "…we are not in a battle." she continued in a teasing voice.
Ares smiled at her again and the fact that she had blown his excuse to pieces only made him even more intrigued with her personality.
"Well, we were involved in a battle and your skills are magnificent. Although, I am fairly certain that you cheated."
Xena chuckled at that.
"Cheated? You can't blame me for the fact that the army of the almighty Ares couldn't come up with a winning strategy."
She looked him up and down before she continued. "Actually, come to think about it , the army only executed their God's orders…So you should be to blame for their failure. " she said in the same teasing tone as a smirk began to form on her face , waiting for him to respond.
Ares laughed softly, completely charmed with her bold attitude. Needless to say, he was surprised himself, in the way he was letting her talk to him. If it had been anyone else they would have been reduced to a pile of ash by then.
He casually dropped the strand of hair he had been playing with and started to walk around her again, watching as she stayed on the defense, as she was struggling to anticipate his every move. He came to stand behind her and he started to caress her shoulder as he moved his mouth close to her ear.
"You seem to have had me at a disadvantage." he said in a seductive tone.
She tried to suppress the shiver that his touch had caused and the way his voice sounded in her ear. Hearing his soft chuckle though, she knew she had failed in the attempt and felt him pull back from her.
"Having Ares at a disadvantage? Not many people can brag about that"
She turned around to look at him, but she hadn't expected him to be that close. "Hmm what is a girl to do?" she kept on with the teasing, not wanting him to know the effect he had on her.
Ares was amazed at all the things this woman was extracting from him. She was just playing with him and he felt like it was the best thing in the world. When she turned to meet his eyes, he couldn't help but be taken aback by her expressive blue ones staring back at him. Oh yeah, she had him at a disadvantage alright.
"There is a fire that burns inside you with the essence of war." he simply stated. "It yearns to be unleashed. Athena hasn't managed to at least scratch yet the surface of what you are capable of. Your future is bright, Xena and you are destined for greatness." he exclaimed with a passion, looking deep into her eyes to make sure she was following him. "With the right God by your side, there wouldn't be anything you couldn't accomplish."
"The right God?" she questioned. "Meaning you?"
"I can help you fulfill your destiny. There are things that you could never learn with Athena. There is a power that surrounds you and I am willing to help you tap into that power. Think about the possibilities. All you need to do is call out my name, Xena and I will be there."
He desperately wanted her to accept his offer but he didn't want to push her. He wanted her to come to him willingly.
He reached up and tucked a strain of her hair behind her ear and slowly began to caress her cheek and Xena's mind drifted back to the night before. His touch, the way their bodies moved together. They seemed mesmerized by each other. Neither one knew who had started it, but they both felt the pull towards the other and soon found themselves moving closer to each other. They both stopped mere inches away from the other and pulled back a little to look into the other's eyes. They searched each other's eyes for something but both were not quite sure what they were looking for. Slowly, they began to lean in again.
"Xena there seems to be.." Astra stopped her musings at the sight of the pair before her. They had been standing close, very close when she came up to them. She seemed to have startled them with her approach as they both moved back from each other. She looked from one to the other noticing that she had clearly interrupted something between them. Never one to pass up an opportunity to make Xena's life miserable, she began to poke around for information.
"Who's your friend Xena?" she asked as she looked the man up and down. Now that she could get a clear view of him she was liking what she saw. Seeing that Xena was not to happy with her appreciative gaze she decided to take it further. It wasn't fair that Xena got to keep him all to herself.
Xena didn't like the way she was looking at Ares. With the way she had that mischievous glint in her eyes she knew that she was up to something.
"Is there something you need Astra?" she tried to hide the hint of annoyance. She watched as Astra completely ignored her and walked closer to Ares. She looked on as she saw her reach out and place her hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Wow you have such a big sword!" she purred as she started to caress the hilt and then slowly ran her hand up and down it. "I bet you are very skilled with it." she whispered, bringing her other hand up to his chest, starting to caress his pendant. "The way you probably slide it in every so slowly until you have penetrated completely must be...pleasurable."
She gave him a seductive look and batted her lashes at him. Ares let out a low groan at her advances. He glanced at Xena for a moment and saw rage in her eyes. He brought his attention back to the eager woman in front of him as she began to run her fingers over his chest.
Xena wanted to gag at the way she was practically throwing herself at him. She knew exactly what she meant by her words and she didn't like it. Not giving her anymore time to try and seduce the War God, she walked up to them and grabbed Astra by the arm pulling her back from him. She planted herself between the two of them.
"Is there something that you need?" Xena asked again and her voice held a threat in it.
Astra smiled to herself seeing that she had managed to unnerve her. Despite the fact that she was always the one in control, Xena let her facade slip. She didn't know who this man was to Xena but she could tell when someone was marking their territory and she was definitely marking hers. She was excited at this new turn of events cause now she had something else to use against Xena.
"I can't seem to remember." she said as she faked innocence. She gave one last lustful look at Ares as she bit a lower lip and proceeded to head back to camp.
Ares was amused by the whole situation and snickered, despite the fact that he was once again denied the chance at a kiss with her. How could something so simple be so elusive to him? It shouldn't have bothered him as much as it was but he found that it did.
Xena heard him laugh and turned around to face him. "What's so funny?" she had an edge to her voice.
"Oh nothing at all." he had a sly grin on his face as he closed in the distance between them. He could see that she was upset and seeing that the moment they had was lost he lifted her right hand and brought it up to his mouth and kissed it.
"Until next time Xena." He let go of her hand and disappeared. Xena could still feel the warmth on her skin from where he had kissed it. She shook her head knowing that there would probably be a lot of next times with the God of War.