Chapter 4:Do we have an agreement?
Ares POV
I rapidly materialized us back in my bedchambers and I placed her on the bed. She was conscious but weak and frighteningly cold. Her color wasn't better than before, of course.
"Gabrielle..I..need to check her pulse...", she was barely managing to articulate the words..
"Sweetheart, I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to help her...She didn't look... alive ...I mean that fall...There's no point in fooling yourself that..."
"..Ares please..." she whispered lowly while using what was left of her strength to get up without too much success...
I gazed at her a bit exasperated by that totally uncalled for stubbornness but those pleading eyes held something that as much as I wanted, I couldn't refuse.
For a couple of seconds, I delayed my answer, but we both knew that the desperation in her voice were enough for me and that the decision had been made from the moment she parted her lips to speak. Gods knew I had no idea when I started making her the center of my life but by Zeus, she was not my slave as she should have been given the fact that I was her patron God...No...I was pretty much hers.
"You just can't take no for an answer, can you? How good I taught you that?" I said shaking my head disapprovingly.
She just smiled widely and tried to get up again, confident in her victory.
"Oh no! Don't get me wrong, that's definitely not what I meant..." I rushed to say, while gently pushing her back on the bed. When I noticed the panic in her eyes , I just added:
"I'll bring her here for you, ok? And for the life of me you'll stay in that damned bed! Do we have an agreement?"
Her eyes widened.
"But.."
"Don't worry, you don't owe my anything. So just do me the favor and relax for now...Rest..we both know that you don't feel splendid. I will be back in a few minutes, I promise. Rest for now! "
She did wanted to say something, to protest, but in the end she had no choice but to agree.
"That wasn't so hard now was it?" I said caressing her hair.
"Don't push it!" she growled on her normal tone now, anxiety still reverberating from her tone.
"Aaah and uh...before I leave..I will send a priestess to look after you."
"What..? I don't need a babysitter.."
" Of course you don't...Don't worry, she'll just give you something to feel better.."
She rolled her eyes.
"Now don't do anything stupid." I said before going out.
I needed to be quick about this.
"Myra!" I yelled.
"Yes. My Lord... you are here!"
"Obviously!" I frowned annoyed by her stupidity.
"I have a task for you. My Chosen is here, she's not feeling well. I need you to take care of her… make a her a tea or something. Keep her company and most of all keep a eye on her."
"Yes My Lord, as you say."
"Now Myra.." I insisted right before she entered the bedroom.
" I don't need to warn you do I?"
"No, my Lord... she will be safe with me."
"Good.."
The beach was isolated. There was no one there except for the irritating Blonde's body and for that dumb looking guy traveling with them now and then on the road.
He was saying his last goodbye to the blonde, probably the secret love of his life judging after those desperate sounds he was producing.
"Hey !" He didn't hear me first when I called him because he was so into his blond and speech.
"You!", he exclaimed with so much fury as if I were a five headed Gorgon.
"Yes, me."
"Xena, where is she?...I saw you when you took her. Was it not enough what your family did to them?"
"Blah blah blah...ok...Nice talking to you but I'm afraid I don't have much time at my disposal. And I need the Bard's body..."
"What do you mean?"
"What are you deaf or something? I said I need Blondie's corpse. "I said nonchalantly to while bending down to take her but the silly Joxer just popped in front of me to scare me of.
"What are you some kind of freaking pervert? You're not taking her away!"
"Oh really ?!" I retorted with a grin. Within a blink I was gone, leaving him to go on blabbering like a complete idiot.