Thank you for the reviews once again, they are very much appreciated.

This fic is now rated M for sexual situations and violence.

Enjoy ;)

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Xena opened her eyes slowly, feeling the strong, warm arm wrapped around her naked middle, fingertips brushing lightly against her stomach as she breathed steadily. She glanced up, becoming aware that Alcandor's body still lay a few feet away, his form now looking rigid and stiff, his skin an almost translucent white. A pool of congealed blood had formed upon the ground, seeping from the wound she had inflicted, but his eyes, thankfully, were closed, she couldn't have stood waking up to his brown cow eyes staring at her. She curled her lip, noting mentally that she would have to get it moved before it began to rot, bloat and become pungent.

She heard Ares sigh and his body shifted as he finally awakened from his short sleep by her side. She pursed her lips in thought, a sly humorless smile curling her mouth.

Xena felt his lips press against her shoulder in a morning greeting, and in return she nudged him firmly in the ribs, not enough to hurt but enough to startle. He gave a low grunt of surprise; she smiled at the noise, enjoying the fact that she had unnerved a God - if only for a second.

"What was that for?" he asked sulkily.

Xena rolled over; her movement causing the fur covers to slip from his body, revealing his nakedness beneath.

"Where did you go last night?" A smirk played lightly upon her lips as she asked the question.

Ares looked at her, startled once more, knowing that all the time she had been awake, listening, watching… fooling him.

He chuckled, "I had business to take care of: I am the God of War." He brushed her cheekbone gently with his fingers, marveling in her striking beauty, in the ruthlessness behind her eyes. "Although I would like to stay by your side," he smirked, his eyes speaking plainly of desire, "I have certain obligations."

Xena regarded him coolly, a cruel disinterested look narrowing her eyes. She turned her face away as if she were bored of him. Ares furrowed his brow, her normal proud ways angering him once more, how he wished to break her… to have her beg for time with him, to call out his name in an impassioned fury as he thrust into her. He knew only too well why she gave herself to him; it was for her army, for gain, for power… for herself. Yes, she enjoyed their lust, their carnalism; but she never lost herself completely, she was always in control of how far she would let herself go, he wanted that barrier broken, decimated. His lips twisted into a bitter grin as he tried to push the feelings away.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked, his wolfish grin seeming a little forced.

Xena laughed roughly, pushing herself onto her side and pulling the furs further around her bare breasts, hiding them from view.

She narrowed her eyes at him, their depths telling him she felt nothing for him, that in some ways she loathed him… tired of him.

She raised her gaze, meeting his dark glare. "Never" she whispered with a sly smile.

Ares' face fell into annoyance and Xena's smile widened, her steely eyes glinted, knowing she had wounded him a little. Ares noticed her look and couldn't help a grin appearing upon his face, she was callous and cruel, even to him, but he knew her fate lay within his hands. Once he had finished bringing her to her knees and making her obey, he would mould her once more into his Warrior Queen; she would be devoted, unrelenting and beautiful as the darkest despair… and his.

Xena took his expression to mean that she would not be able to rile him any further today and lay back down unperturbed.

He chuckled under his breath and joined her, molding his naked form to the outline of her body that lay beneath the furs.

"Will your army need you soon?" he asked, nipping at the skin of her exposed collarbone.

Xena glanced at him, her azure eyes meeting his, smiling seductively at him.

"It's only just past dawn; I have a few hours yet." His mouth was upon hers within a split second of the words leaving her. She gave a small, deliciously throaty snigger against his lips as they burned into hers, his tongue demanding entrance to her mouth, caressing her tongue in slow, gentle kneads. His hands snaked their way down her body, his fingertips brushing the curves and contours. He broke from their kiss and let his lips roam over the soft skin of her neck and shoulders, lingering upon her exposed throat. He roughly pulled the furs away in an almost violent gesture, wanting the barrier between their flesh gone, and set his mouth to work upon her breasts, causing low moans to escape her lips.

His hands moved lower, nudging her legs apart, gaining easier access as his fingers parted soft folds and slipped inside, a silken warm welcome awaiting them, she moaned lowly losing herself for a moment in the pleasure. Before she could turn the tables and take control as she always tried to do during their love-making he removed his teasing fingers and buried himself fully inside her, causing her to gasp in surprise.

He moved quickly, his thrusts rough and powerful, giving her no chance of protest, the force stilling her would-be struggles. She bit down upon her lip as pleasure racked her body, suppressing the sounds that wished to burst forth and make her lose her normal composure. Ares felt her hands snaking up his sides, a small smirk appearing at the side of her mouth, and he knew she would attempt to gain full control over the situation any moment. He wouldn't let her, not this time, this time he would have her as he wanted instead of bending to her whims and humoring her wants. He grabbed hold of her wrists aggressively and held them firmly above her head, stopping her little game. She opened her eyes, her lips parted in annoyance and desire as her ice blue gaze connected with his.

Ares didn't halt in his thrusts, but gained in speed, becoming rough, cruel. Xena's mouth twisted, fully understanding the little power struggle he was playing with her. She made a sudden violent movement in an attempt to free her wrists but he held them in an iron vice grip. Realizing that her endeavor would not work upon the God, his strength was too great; she wrapped her legs around his waist. He gave a guttural groan, thinking for a moment that she had submitted, offered herself fully to him… and then Xena squeezed, her thighs contracting as the muscles pressed unrelentingly around his sides, tightening more by the second, pressing harshly against his ribs, aiming to crack, to break. A cruel smile had wound its way to her lips as Ares tried to continue, but even a God felt pain. He winced, trying to keep his wits about him as pain melded with pleasure, his face turning a flush shade of red with the effort.

Finally, with a savage cry of triumph, Xena pulled him from her with the sheer strength of her legs. She was quickly upon her feet, her naked body covered in a slight sheen of sweat from the effort; her eyes spoke of hatred, annoyance and anger. Before he could move from the bed she had grabbed a sword within her grasp and plunged forward, a high pitched cry bursting from her lips as the sword slid into his chest, reappearing through his back. Ares let out a grunt as the pain seared through him. Xena stepped back, admiring her handiwork, as the God looked down at the shining object protruding from him.

There was a brief silence before Xena began to laugh harshly.

Ares stood, his eyes narrowing at her before slowly pulling the sword out with a sickening sucking sound. His wound healed within seconds and he tossed the weapon to the ground where it landed with a sharp clatter.

"Very funny" he said in a deadpan voice, glaring as Xena's laughter finally subsided into a mocking smirk.

She slowly walked towards him, her fingers sliding seductively over the place the wound had been, he couldn't help but shiver with desire at her touch, her breasts lightly brushed his chest causing him to close his eyes as lust clouded around him once more. She glanced up at him, knowing his thoughts, his craving, and before he could utter another word she smiled teasingly, viciously, pushing him back onto the bed and straddling his body. This time it would be on her terms and she knew he would not protest. She gave a smile that looked more like a snarl; he shuddered as she slid herself down roughly, taking full possession of the God of War.

--

The slave lay spent, curled into a ball beside him, her breaths no more than rasping pants. He slipped his fingers into her hair distractedly, letting the silken strands caress his skin. Caesar stared unseeingly across the room, his thoughts in a strange mindset, not really thinking, but not blank… just empty. He gave a sadistic smile, the corners turning up sharply as his thoughts finally fell upon something solid. He'd nearly broken his favorite slave girl last night; he could still hear her cries of protest ringing deliciously within his ears as he took her again and again, unable to quell the lust that burned all consuming within him. Ares' appearance, the mere mention of her name had brought back his obsession tenfold.

Of course, the slave's objections had been lukewarm, no more than sobs and pleas… she knew she had to serve Rome... and she did so willingly most of the time, now that he kept her chained that was. Her frequent attempted escapes had amused him at first; her unquenchable thirst for freedom had entertained him immensely. No matter how many times he told her that he would never allow her to leave him, she still tried, her resolve fascinating. He remembered almost fondly her proud stance as he hurled humiliating words at her, her unwavering dignity as he made her scrub and clean on her hands and knees as punishment, she reminded him of Xena in some small way and this was why he kept her as his pet.

But… perhaps he had been a little too rough towards her, last night had been the first time he had heard her protest… heard her cry out, and despite his selfish heart, Caesar cared a little for her, after all she brought him pleasure and he so enjoyed things that pleased him.

He glanced down, his cruel smile gone, replaced by a look verging upon concern, but the pride still shone in his dark, sweet eyes.

Slowly he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. The young girl gave a low groan of horror, believing that he wanted her again, but Caesar just held her, pulling one of the raw silk sheets over her, covering her sore naked body. He stroked her head softly and kissed her neck, he felt her stiffen against his touch.

"Hush," he cooed, "sleep. I will have food brought for you later and a bath drawn…" He hesitated. "I did not mean to hurt you" he whispered, so softly that she thought she had misheard his words.

He quickly rose from the bed and dressed in a long white robe and red velvet cloak clasped at the shoulder with an ornate gold brooch. He poured himself a cup of wine and drained it in one go, he wiped his hand across his mouth before placing the golden head-dress upon his head and slipping into his gold threaded sandals. He walked from the room without looking back, his head held high, all thoughts of gentleness gone.

Gabrielle slowly sat up in bed, wincing at the ache she felt all over her body. She rubbed her arms gingerly, seeing small finger-shaped marks blooming in purples and blacks upon her skin where he had clutched on to her during his lustful aphrodisiomania. She pulled the silk further around herself and tied it at the front, creating a make-shift dress, before pushing her body clumsily to the edge of the bed and getting unsteadily to her feet.

She pulled the heavy gold chain behind her as she walked up to the ornate shelf with the large gilded mirror hanging above it, she reached out and picked up a golden brush and began to tease the tangles from her hair, wiping at her tear-stained cheeks as she performed the task.

How she detested this place and all its gaudy grandeur, it sickened her to even look at it. She curled her pink rosebud lips into a look of disgust; her thoughts roaming freely back to her home, back to her village, her family. She smiled at the remembrance of the quaint ways of the farmers and merchants, how quiet it had all been, how peaceful, how perfect… until Caesar had come with his great army, ransacking all that stood in his way, killing men, women and children and taking those that caught his eye as his slaves. Gabrielle's eyes filled with tears as her mother's and father's faces reared in her mind, the cries of her younger sister as fire began to burn all around them, destroying their home.

Gabrielle blinked, dispelling the tears that threatened to spill onto her cheeks, she did not even know if her family still lived. Caesar's soldiers had found her cowering in one of the outbuildings after she had fled her burning home with her family, the chaos outside confusing her into running the wrong way, losing them. She glanced up at her reflection and studied the pale, sad creature that met her gaze. She supposed she was lucky she had survived, that she should feel lucky that she had… but she did not. She longed for the peace death would bring, she knew he'd never let her go. Her face crumpled, the resolve melting from her as no one was there to see her breaking, and she fell into a heap onto the cold floor, letting her tears fall freely.