Chapter 17
Xena made her way to the baths. She couldn't wait to soak her aching muscles in the warm water. Once she got inside she made her way over to the scented oils that she spotted on a shelf, and, looking for the one she wanted she took it off the shelf and made her way over to her waiting bath. She uncorked the cap and poured the lavender oil into the water, and, giving the oil a chance to seep into the water she began to undress. She took off her armor and placed it neatly on a nearby chair. Walking back over to the water, she slipped off her shift and slowly sunk down into it.
She could feel how good the warm water felt on her tired muscles. She began to wash herself and when she was done she started to work the lavender oil into her skin. Once she finished that she just rested against the side of the bath. Automatically, she brought her hand up to the back of her head and began to feel for the scar that she knew she was not going to find. That was the first time she had ever been healed by a God before. Sure, she had seen Athena do it before but she had never sustained an injury that required the Goddess to heal her like Ares did. She was still shocked that he would do something for someone that wasn't even his warrior.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a flash of pink light appeared before her. After it vanished, to her boundless surprise, she found that she was now sharing her bath with someone else. At a second glance, she noticed that it was the same blonde from the other night. What she wasn't particularly thrilled about though, was that she had chosen to show up when she was in a vulnerable position. She looked to where her weapons laid and could see that they were too far away.
Aphrodite noticed that she was on guard the moment she appeared, and she saw her look in the direction of her weapons. 'Why is everyone on the defense around me lately?' she asked herself.
"Chill out Warrior Babe." she held her hands up in surrender. "I just came to talk." She added, giving her a big, bright smile.
Seeing that that this woman was no real threat, Xena allowed herself to relax a little. "Talk about what?"
"Oh….. you know a little girl talk."
The Love Goddess proceeded to have her own bath.
"I don't do girl talk." Xena simply stated.
Aphrodite gave her a shocked expression. She was just like Ares…. never one for gossip, this was going to be harder then she thought.
"Now that can't be true. Surely you must unload all your problems and feelings on someone that you trust."
"No, I don't share."
She looked the woman over in front of her as she continued to indulge herself in the bath, that she had initially created for herself, without a care in the world. "And who are you again?'
"Why I'm Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love." she giggled out. "You, Warrior Babe need to look no further. I am willing to be the shoulder that you can lean on."
"First off, let's get one thing straight. My name is Xena, not Warrior Babe." she mentioned, seeing her nod her head in agreement. "Second, I don't need any shoulder to lean on."
"Awe, that is so sweet." the Love Goddess clutched her hand to her heart. "You are trying to put on the brave front. There is no need for that, come on tell Aunt Dite all about it. Surely there must be something you want to get off your chest."
Seeing that she needed to get Xena to let her guard down she decided that she needed to take baby steps with her. If she didn't push her, she just might find out all she needed to know.
"Do you know what this bath needs?" she questioned, without waiting for Xena to respond. "Bubbles!" she exclaimed, and one snap of her fingers was all it took to fill the surface of the water with them.
Xena couldn't help the small chuckle at how easily amused the Love Goddess was at this simple addition to the bath she now shared with her. She had to wonder what could have brought on this sudden visit from her. There had to be more to this visit then her wanting to be her confidant.
Aphrodite heard her laugh and knew she was on the right track. Now if she could just keep the good mood going, then everything would fall into place.
"So, Xena, tell me what made you join Athena?"
Several hours later, both women were now sitting side by side as they shared stories of their lives. Aphrodite had told Xena all about the different Gods and Goddesses on Olympus and all the affairs some had gotten into throughout their long lives. Xena in her turn had told her about her decision to join Athena's warriors and what had motivated her to do it. Aphrodite noticed that every time she had mentioned Ares name or would hear her say it that Xena's heart would beat a little faster. Being the Goddess of Love she could pick up on matters of the heart. She could also sense that Xena had no idea what that meant.
Moving to really drive home what she thought, from the moment she found Ares pacing his temple, she tried to see if it happened at the mention of anyone else.
"So Xena, you said you had two brothers?"
"Yes, Toris and Lyceus." she smiled as she said her younger brother's name. "Toris always thought I was wasting my time and sided with mother every chance he got. That is only because he knew I was better than he was with a sword and he didn't like the fact that he could get beat by a girl. Lyceus on the other hand, supported me no matter what I did. It was actually at his urging that got me to try out for Athena in the first place. Otherwise, I probably would not be here today."
The Love Goddess paid close attention to Xena as she mentioned her brother's names. She had still yet to get the same reaction out of her that she got from another's name. "Well, they kind of sound a little like my brothers." she knew this was it and she was going for it. "Apollo can be a bit spiteful when he doesn't get what he wants immediately." She felt the hatred that had arisen in Xena the moment she mentioned his name.
"Yeah, well sounds like a spoiled brat to me." Xena spat out, cutting hatred reverberating from her voice.
Aphrodite wondered what could Apollo have done to get such a strong reaction of hate from her. Sure, she had witnessed the whole scene that happened at Athena's party with him but there must have been something more to cause such strong reaction at the mere mention of his name. She got the same reaction from Ares earlier. Not wanting to dwell on unpleasant subjects, she moved on.
"Ares on the other hand...how can I put this...he's just misunderstood if you ask me."
Her heart skipped a beat the moment she got the reaction she was looking for and unwillingly smiled to herself. "Everyone always treats him like the black sheep of the family because he's war. That all he lives for is destruction and blood and hate but that is like so not true. There is so much more to him but no one will give him the chance to show them otherwise. They don't see what I see."
Xena had smiled to herself when she mentioned his name. As she had listened to the Love Goddess' endless stories about him, she learned that they really weren't that different from each other. Both had a family that judged them and couldn't see past what they did. But on the other hand, they both had at least one person who understood them. She came to see that Aphrodite was to Ares what Lyceus was to her.
"But of course, he can be so stubborn at times. Don't let what you hear about him make you cast him in a dark light. He may hide behind that macho facade but deep down he's a big softy. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about." she made sure to add, giving Xena a soft nudge.
"I don't think he would appreciate you revealing such guarded secrets about him." the Warrior Princess responded, but she couldn't help the smirk that came across her face. "What would his warlords think if they knew?"
"That's why this is going to stay between me and you. If Ares knew I was telling you this he would have my head. That is what girl talk is for."
She didn't think her big bro would mind too much in the end.
"Ok, enough of this boring sibling talk." She moved to her side so now she was facing Xena. "Tell me, is there anyone special?"
Xena should of known that this was going to be brought up sooner or later. She was after all talking to the Goddess of Love. "No, there is no one."
Not taking NO for an answer, because she could feel it coming off of her even if she didn't know it, the Love Goddess tried to get more.
"Now, now! You can tell me."
She looked on as Xena continued to shake her head disapprovingly at her previous statement.
"There must be someone that calls to your heart. Someone who gets the blood rushing in your veins. I mean look at you warrior babe, those blue eyes, that rockin' bod, you must have someone that you have your eye on or someone who has his eye on you."
Trying to get her to admit something, the Love Goddess continued her rant without giving Xena a chance to answer her. "That's it isn't it. You got your eye on someone but he hasn't noticed you….. That's a classic! Perhaps he just needs a little nudge in the right direction, maybe he just hasn't seen you for who you are to him yet, do you want me to hit him with a spell or something?" the Love Goddess kindly offered, and she could literally see the wheels turning in her mind. She was going to spill, she could feel it.
Xena appreciated the small gesture that Aphrodite was trying to offer but she didn't like her meddling in this topic. She didn't need to be reminded of the fact that she was alone. She got enough of that from her mother and she didn't need to hear the same thing from the Love Goddess herself. She had had several relationships in the past but nothing ever seemed to work out, it just didn't feel right. No, that topic was not open for discussion.
"Like I said there is no one." She put more force behind her words to make sure that she understood. "And if you don't mind it is rather a personal subject and I would rather that it remained just that, personal."
Aphrodite could see that she had hit a sore spot for the warrior babe. She could also tell that she was in complete denial about there being someone. Not wanting to ruin all that she had gained she decided to drop it for now.
"Alright, if that is what you want then I will let it go. But you must promise me that when you do meet tall, dark and handsome Stud, I will be the first to know."
"You never give up do you?" Xena couldn't help but smile.
"Never." she answered, watching her nod her head in agreement. "Perfect, now it is really late and I have kept you long enough. Please allow me to transport you back to your bedchambers as I couldn't live with myself if something were to happen to you at this late an hour."
"I'm perfectly capable of getting back on my own."
She could take care of herself. Plus, no one would be stupid enough to attack her. They all knew who she was in Athens.
"Nonsense, I can't have my best gal pal wandering around by herself this late at night, it is settled then."
She didn't wait for her to respond as she transported her with all of her clothing back to her bedchamber. Plus, she didn't think Ares would take to kindly to her if something had happened to the warrior he now had his sights on because of her. Spending half the night with Xena she could see why she had captured her big bro's attention so easily. She was something that's for sure. She also noticed how alike the both of them were and how in denial they were that something else was going on here.
Never one to pass up a challenge, she was ready to take this one on. The Warrior Babe was just what Ares needed, someone who could give it just as much as he could. Xena wasn't afraid to speak her mind, Aphrodite learned that the hard way throughout their little conversation. She wouldn't be afraid to knock the War God down a peg or two and she knew, from the way Ares was taken with her, that he would let her. Satisfied with all that she had uncovered she patted herself on the back for a job well done. She vanished from the baths back to her own temple and she called for one of her priests.
"Yes my Goddess." the man said as he bowed to her.
"I need you to clear my schedule. Something major has just come up."