My Immortal XXV

Gabrielle had spent three days poring over the law tomes in Athena's offices, searching for any defense that might save Ares from the executioner's block. She hated the look of disappointment that flitted across Xena's face every evening when she returned to Ares' Olympic estate, where the two were staying, at least until the trial was over. Eve had excused herself from the domain of the Greek gods. She had told Xena that she needed to pray and that she was having a difficult time hearing the will of the God of Eli on the mountain which was overrun with other deities. Gabrielle was sorry to see Eve go, but she did notice that her departure had put many of the gods and goddesses at ease.

A beautiful young servant brought Gabrielle a fresh pitcher of water. She took a minute to appreciate the girl's graceful movements. Her youthful innocence reminded her a little of herself before she had embarked on her life-altering journey with the Warrior Princess. She wondered if the girl was purely mortal. She guessed not by the ethereal glow of her flawless skin. Probably a demi-goddess that had been given the honor of living on Olympus and serving the gods. Honor my eye, the bard thought. For the most part, the Olympians were selfish, pompous asses, including the one she was defending. But, Xena loved him, and Gabrielle would do her damndest to make sure that her friend got the outcome she wanted. Gabrielle turned her attention back to the scroll, she'd been studying.

"Aha," she announced with such exuberance that the fair girl nearly dropped her serving tray.

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Xena made her way down the dimly lit cavern path. It hurt her every time she came here. The urge to bust heads and break him out hadn't gone away. She could imagine a life as a fugitive with him. He knew places they could go, places where the Olympians had no powers. She didn't understand why he wouldn't just let her bust him out. Once he was free of the damned chains, he could materialize them anywhere in the world. Hell, he could probably send them to a completely different universe. Why was he being so impossible?

The guard snickered to see her coming again. She hadn't missed a day. And she stayed as long as the guards would let her. Spending nights alone in their bed was killing her. She could smell him, see evidence of his presence around the room, and if she closed her eyes and tried really hard she could almost hear his warm, sultry voice. Still, she couldn't feel his touch. She craved his hands on her. And, although the bars separated them, he could reach out with his energy and caress her. That, if nothing else, would have kept her coming back day after day. He'd always filled her senses. She hadn't realized how much a part of her that he was, until he'd been ripped from her. First, by his death and now, by those damned enchanted chains. She felt unbalanced, off-kilter. When she stood at the bars in front of him, she could see him, smell him, hear him, and feel his magical hands on her, but still she couldn't taste him. And, she needed desperately to taste him, to have all her senses healed. She wondered if she could convince the guards to let her in the cage with him.

"Hello," she smiled at the greasy guard.

"Afternoon, you think you'd get tired of coming down here everyday. That's a long walk for a mortal."

"It's worth it."

"If you say so," the guard muttered as he undid the bolts and pushed the door open.

Ares stood upon her entrance and moved as close to the bars as he could. He didn't even wait for the guard to close the door. He reached out and touched her as soon as he saw her. She felt his hands on her face, his thumb across her lips. She closed her eyes and just felt him, for a minute. When she opened her eyes, the guard had closed the main door and the other two guards eyed her like she was a maniac.

"Time's wasting, you gonna visit with him or stand here between us all day."

Xena shook her head and walked toward the cage. After a few steps, she halted her progress and turned to the burly guard, who was clearly the one in charge. "What would it take for you to let me visit inside the cage?"

"That's only allowed on the night before execution," he answered.

"I see. But, he's not exactly a condemned man, yet. He's only awaiting trial."

"But he's a god and you're a mortal. I'm not stupid, Xena. If I let you in there, you're gonna free him from those chains and then he'll just disappear, taking you with him. There's a reason they keep him out of reach."

"What if I promise not to free him."

"Pssh, you'd say anything. It ain't happening," he answered then turned to his comrade, "she thinks I'm a complete idiot."

"What if I let you chain me? Hands behind my back, Leg irons, the whole nine yards. You can even put me on a leash, just as long as you put me close enough to him that I can touch him. Five minutes, that's all I ask."

Ares wasn't liking the idea of these goons chaining his woman. Once she was tied up they could do whatever they liked with her. And he was helpless to stop them.

"Xena, no," Ares called.

"Shut up, Ares," Xena ordered, she could see the guard was actually giving her suggestion some thought.

"What's in it for me?" The guard asked.

"Well, I won't screw you, if that's what you're asking?"

"No offense, you're a hot chick, but I'm motivated by more metal desires."

"Money, gold, is that what you want?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt," he grinned.

Xena untied the coin purse that hung about her hip and tossed him the whole bag.

The guard loosened the cord and pulled the soft leather apart. Peering down into the bag he grunted. He fished inside for a coin, then bringing it to his mouth, he bit into the disk to check its purity.

"You let me in there for five minutes, and it's all yours. I'll bring more when I visit tomorrow."

"Gronk, I'm not sure that's a great idea," the other guard could see that his boss was caving.

"You shut up, Dandelus, she's got a point, he ain't condemned yet and as long as she's chained what can she really do?"

Gronk pocketed Xena's coins and held up a pair of handcuffs, "Come here."

A few minutes later, Xena heard the cage clang shut behind her. Gronk had taken her up on the neck collar idea. He gave her enough room to reach Ares but then secured the other end of the chain to the cage bars.

Ares and Xena walked toward each other, taking each other in. When the were only inches apart. Xena raised up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Finally, she could taste him and feel him, really feel him. She plied his lips open with her tongue, he didn't resist. Soon, they were devouring each other's mouths. Xena pressed her torso up against him trying to get as much bodily contact as she could but their respective leashes kept them from sinking fully into each other. Xena broke the kiss and sought out his salty neck. She suckled along the vein that ran down the side of his neck.

"Xena,' Ares whispered. He had to stop her, she was getting a rise out of him. He didn't want to be standing there with a hard on when she walked away.

"Shhh, I'm tasting you. I need to taste you Ares."

He still wore nothing but the purple skirt from their wedding. His chest was fully exposed. Xena continued licking and kissing him. She couldn't resist swiping her tongue across his tightly pebbled nipples.

"Well, look here, Dandelus, were even gonna get a free show," Gronk growled.

Xena looked at the disgusting guard outside the cage, he squeezed the crotch of his pants with his fat fist.

Xena closed her eyes. She wasn't about to give these pigs the pleasure of watching her devour her god. Xena stepped back away from Ares in frustration. She wanted him, needed him, but not like this. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Xena, none of this is your fault, come here."

She walked back to him and they just stood there, chest to chest. She rested her head on his shoulder. She felt his hands on her belly. It felt so real that it surprised her when she looked down and his hands were still bound.

"You feeling okay? Getting plenty of rest?"

"I'm fine, why don't you let me break you out of here?" she whispered.

"We've been over this, it's not worth the risk to them," he patted her abdomen.

"Alright, five minutes are up, hope it was worth it," Gronk announced as he tugged on her chain pulling her away from Ares.

Ares glared at the guard. He couldn't wait until he was free from his bindings. He was going to make that bastard pay for every cent he'd taken from Xena. And not in gold!

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