AN: I am so, so, so, sorry for the extremely long delay. I've been getting my muse back after all this time. Who knew watching 'Xena' re-runs would bring it back. Lol. Either way, I hope to update more and I hope this new one will bring some things together. Alright well enough babbling from me… Music that I listened to while writing this was 'Written in the Stars' by Tinie Tempah. Some of the words clicked with me while I was trying to bring about the "fate's prophecy" ^_^ Enjoy!
AXAXAXAX
Xena sighed, shaking her head, "Seriously, Ares… I really am in no mood to deal with you right now. Whatever you have to say isn't going to bring me back to you or anything." With that she turned around and started walking in the other direction trying to focus on everything around her. Just as she rounded another corner she nearly went face first into Ares' chest.
Ares held his hands up in mock surrender. "I totally understand how your pissed at me because of what happened all those years ago. But I really need you to listen to me. I…" Ares sighed and mumbled under his breath.
"What could you possibly have to say to me. After what you did to me… I about trusted you. I thought you were loyal to me. And then you go and sleep with that tramp who thinks she's better than me because of who she was born to. And it's not even all that… Why should I listen to you?"
Ares tilted his head back a moment looking at the near dark sky before looking straight back at Xena. "Look, I understand, I really do. But with everything that happened that night. It just set things into motion that can be really, really horrible for all these mortals you claim to care about. And not only that, but I really need to explain myself about what happened that night."
Xena shook her head and sheathed her sword. "Fine, if I listen to you will you go away. I'm tired of you following me around. It's getting really old." Xena leaned back against a tree near by allowing more distance than was really necessary between them. Crossing her arms she raised her eyebrow waiting for him to start.
"Okay, I'll leave you alone if that's what you want. But you really need to think about everything I tell you now and take into serious consideration on what you are causing to happen here. I said it before, whatever you decide after this… affects all those mortals that you help. As well as you and I as we know it. Okay first off, I want to apologize for what happened that night… I never wanted what happened that night to happen. But apparently Discord has been going behind everyone's back and found something that can drug someone, immortal or otherwise, into not remembering something after a certain point with capabilities of mind control to put it simply."
*Flashback – 5 Years prior*
"I was sitting around my favorite temple that day. I was anticipating that night with you. I've waited awhile for it to happen. I actually was thinking of proposing to you that night, despite how little of time we've been together. I knew I wanted you since the moment I saw you defending your little village all those years ago. It just took me awhile to realize it at the time. I was sitting in my throne, watching over various battles like I usually did. Discord dropped by telling me she wanted to congratulate me on our one year anniversary. I didn't get any vibe about the danger that lay ahead. Discord brought with her two goblets and some one that was off the alter in the front room of the temple I was in.
"Hey Ares… I just wanted to come by and congratulate you on your…er…anniversary. I'm…uh…happy for you. I wanted to also apologize for the problems I caused throughout this time for you." She held up the two goblets filled almost to the brim with red wine.
Ares waved away the portal he was looking through, "Why should I believe anything you say Discord. I trained your lame ass, so I know how you work. I know you're not happy that Xena and I are still together after all this time." Ares looked from the goblet in Discord's hand to her face and back again. "I know I messed up royally before. And being the one who gave me the title I now own I thought I would make it up to you by celebrating what I know is your one year anniversary with Xena." Discord said keeping her mask in place to hide her disdain about saying that harlot's name aloud.
Ares finding no deceit in her facial expressions or her tone decided to accept the offer of the wine and grabbed the offered goblet. Raising it in the air he saluted her and said, "To the first of many years to come!" With that he tilted his head back and downed the wine. Discord watching him pretended to drink from her own before putting it down and waving it away. "Well I know you're busy so I'll leave you to it." Discord smirked at Ares and disappeared back to her own room on Olympus opening a portal on Ares to see what he was doing. A table with an open book atop it appeared right next to the open portal where she was standing. The words at the top spoke of mind control. Discord looked over the words and began the small chant that was listed after the wine was to be drunk. Once done she looked back into the portal to see Ares sway a bit in his throne before slumping over in a comatose state.
"Perfect. Now to bring about the next plan…" She disappeared and went to Darphus' tent, finding him still reading up on Xena. "Alright mortal, it's your turn to get Xena to Ares' temple in 2 candlemarks time. I need her to see this happen before she's taken out." Darphus rolled up the scroll before standing to face Discord. "It will be done. I'll just make up some excuse about a message from Ares' priest or something." Discord held up a hand with a scroll that looked really close to Ares' personal stash used specifically for Xena. "This might help to make it convincing just make sure Xena sees it and goes. I need to put the rest of the plan into action." With that she disappeared from the tent as quietly as she appeared.
Re-appearing in Ares' temple she saw that he was still slumped over. She tapped him on the shoulder, making her face look as innocent as possible. Ares awoke with a jerk before seeing Discord standing there. "What do you want? I'm still trying to find the perfect warrior to lead the mortal world in my name." Ares made a portal appear with several battles going on at the moment. "I know that Ar, I just thought we could have a little fun right now. Maybe get rid of the tension if you know what I mean…" Discord winked at Ares, waving away the portal he was watching. Ares grinned, "You never could get enough of me." With that Ares stood and they went to the bedroom that was there. After about half a candlemark into their activities Xena walked in on them. Ares snapped out of whatever haze he was under and noticed Xena standing in the doorway yelling at him. He looked around and noticed him and Discord naked. "Xena! No! This isn't what it looks like! I wouldn't betray you like this…" Ares tried to get up and run after her.
Discord just pushed him back down, "Why go after that harlot who obviously has nothing on me. Clearly you chose well tonight." She smirked, leaving him to get up, and disappeared into the aether.
By the time Ares got up, trying to disappear finding he couldn't, wondering why and what the hell was going on he tried to find Discord, who appeared back in a moment later. "Oh, shoot… did I forget to tell you that the drink I gave you earlier takes away your powers for the night…" She pretended to smacked her head like she forgot that information, smirking afterwards. "That will teach you to choose some mortal harlot over me, a goddess." With that she left again, leaving Ares yelling after her, wondering why he just screwed up the best thing in his immortal existence.
*End Flashback*
"I had no intention of messing anything up with you. Back then and even now… I… I… Still care for you. Everywhere I look around I still see your face." Xena looked down and sighed before looking back up at Ares. "I need time to think before I do anything I may regret. I just want you to know that I could never go back to being your warlord though. Not with the path I'm currently on." With that she walked away from him back to where she had left Gabrielle.
Ares sighed and slumped back to lean on a tree. "I love you Xena…" he muttered quietly. The words that were always hardest for him to say. Ares shook his head and disappeared back to his temple near the Aegean. The one place where they had their first date. Ares made a few portals appear, watching a couple battles before switching over to Discord. After the fuck up she caused that night and the night she tried to kill Xena, Zeus put her under Ares' command to set her straight. What he saw made him pause for a second before going into the aether to Discord's location. Staying hidden he saw her and Darphus talking in what used to be Xena's tent at one time.
"Why would I go after Amphipolis? Everyone knows that's Xena's home village! She'll murder me on sight if she sees me or this former army anywhere near there." Darphus paced back and forth in the tent. "I don't give a rat's ass what she does or does not do to you. I want her gone! You were supposed to finish her all those years ago yet you let her escape!" Discord growled angrily from her perch on the table. "What was I supposed to do? She went through the gauntlet and survived. None of the men would touch her. There was nothing I could have done!"
"Either you go after that stupid little village or I fry you on the spot! If you have forgotten it has been me that has saved your ass from being found from her after all these years! Now I want that bitch gone and you're going to do it! That is final!" Discord left in an angry roar of thunder. Darphus just muttered before calling in the generals.
"Change of plans… We're going after Amphipolis. Get ready to move out by morning." The generals saluted him and left. Ares having seen and heard enough left back to his temple. Ares paced back and forth trying to think of a way to break the news to Xena. While contemplating what to do he heard his name being called and teleported to the summoner. Finding Xena's the one who called him.
"I've thought over some things and I wanted to tell you that I'm still having trouble believing you." Ares held up a hand before saying, "I know and I can understand that. But there's something I must inform you of. I thought Discord was done with you after what happened. I've found out that she's plotting to take out your home village. I want to assure you she's not doing this in my name. She's working with one of her lackey's whom I'm sure you will remember very well…"
Xena squinted her eyes before muttering, "Darphus… I knew that moron was still alive. I just thought someone would have taken him out by now. I need to leave right away…" Xena started to turn around and walk away when Ares appeared before her. "I'm not trying to stop you, but I want to show you that I'm devoted only unto you. I'm going to send 3 of my best armies along with you to Amphipolis to help you defend your village. I will not interfere more than that. I'll inform them they are to listen to your commands as if I gave them." Ares bowed his head slightly trying to look into her eyes. Ares held open his hand and a small bag appeared. "I meant to give this to you before that night so long ago. I could never find the courage. You don't have to open it now. Just when you're ready." Ares pressed the bag into her hand before disappearing back to his temple.
Xena looked at the small bag before putting it inside her breast plate for later and headed back of to the camp to start packing her sleeping blankets. The noise woke up Gabrielle who sat up with a start. "What are you doing, Xena?" She got up and started packing up her own. "We need to leave now. Mother is in danger and I have to go protect her and the village."
"How do you know this?" Gabrielle replied before packing everything away into a bag. "Ares told me. I don't know why but I know I can trust him. Either way I still need to protect them." Gabrielle paused for a second before asking, "But how do you know you can trust him. After all he's done to you." Xena tightened a strap on Argo's saddle before coming to stand in front of her. "It's not whether I can trust him or not. I just need to make sure Mother is safe. Trust me ok?" Gabrielle just nodded and started to saddle up her own horse.
To Be Continued…