Chapter 13:Giving everything up

Xena POV

My mind and body felt numb for what seemed to last more than an eternity ans suddenly time appeared to be standing still as my life started flowing out of my body while flashes of my past rushed to invade the space before my eyes.

Seconds later though, right out of nowhere, there was a special warmth filling me again and my senses came gradually back as my blood began flowing again…I was alive …

"Xena!"

Voices could have been heard, but I couldn't distinguish them…not yet.

"Xena wake up, please wake up!"

According to the note of desperation reverberating from that voice, that must have been Gabrielle but it was still difficult to open my eyes….to hard to do it…I was so unbelievably tired.

What I could distinctly feel was the cold ground on which I was probably lying….Strangely enough, my body was dry despite having a pretty clear memory of having fell in the water….Nonetheless, for the love of the Fates, I couldn't put the details together….What had happened? Did something happen or was I just imagining things? Was Gabrielle the one to find me right in the nick of time? And my baby…

I didn't get to finish that thought though, cause, as if some magic, supernatural power was creeping inside my bones, I was regaining my strength….and fast…I instantly opened my eyes to see Gabrielle leaning over me.

"Xena..by the all gods, I was so scared!"

My hand was in hers as she embraced me as hard as she was humanly capable to.

I was slowly starting to remember…..We were on my bedroll after having set camp and as always, Gabrielle was cooking. I had placed Eve on a blanket and went to take a bath, telling Gabrielle that I would be back soon….

My thoughts were unexpectedly interrupted by another hand caressing my hair. I instinctively turned my head in the direction of the caress to see Ares gazing at me , obvious concern in his eyes.

"What happened?..Where's Discord?"

An idea occurred to me the moment I uttered those words… He must have had something to do with it…

"Did you send her Ares?"

He stared at me in shock, unable to believe that I could ask that….I don't really know why I did it.

"I gave everything up for you….How can you even ask me this? Do you actually believe I wanted you dead? You..my son? And if I did are you that naïve to believe that I'd be that coward as to ask Discord to do it? "

He sounded furious….and he was…

"Xena are you ok?" Gabrielle finally asked me trying to calm the waters.

"Not really..How's Eve? Did she see her? Did she see you?"

"I don't think so.."

"Eve is right here Warrior babe.."Aphrodite decided to speak , approaching us with the little girl in her arms…

She was alright, playing with some strands of my hair now.

"So how comes that Discord came after me?" I questioned, looking Ares in the eye.

"Well..that's actually my fault Xe.." Dite replied guiltly. "She heard me talking about your son and she just burst out her fury on you…She was really jealous…you saw her.."

"By the Gods! My baby!" I suddenly exclaimed covering my stomach with my hands…

"He's alright..Ares saved you both." Dite retorted happily and my gaze fell upon him.

Was he on time who got me out of the water then?

"Xena..I should have been there for you and I wasn't.." Gabrielle's voice snapped my out of the trance.

"It's ok…it's ok.." I muttered while giving her a hug.

"No it's not." , Ares spoke up, hate in his voice. ."I trusted her with you..with my son…and I found you dead Xena…dead in that freaking river…"

His voice was thundering with pain and anger. "Discord will pay alright..I will make her pay but her.."

"Don't you dare touch Gabrielle.." I threatened him.

"Xena..he is right..without his help..you..you'd be.."

She couldn't finish it.

"I will always be grateful to you Ares…what you did is beyond words…" my friend added sincerely.

"I don't need that from you..."he barked back at her.

Hearing him, I turned my gaze, ready to jump in Gabrielle's defense but my heart nearly stopped when I noticed a fine line of blood trickling down his hand….He had been gripping that sword real tight…My heart ..Gods don't bleed.

"How…?..What exactly did you do,Ares?" I asked, bewildered by the event.

"Nothing much….Just gave up my goodhood so that you and my son could live…" he answered quickly, trying to make it all sound unimportant.

"You are mortal?"

"I'm still me.."

I was shocked…..he did that for…me?! Out of his own will?!"

"Ar…..what now?" Dite inquired wordily. "Wouldn't it be better to go back to the fortress? It would be safer for…all of you…?"

"No…..not any more…Without my powers that place is worthless…..Take us all to Xena's mother….Discord wouldn't look for us there…."

I nodded absently my acceptance, my mind still trying to find a reason for what he did.

"Transport us there."

"Okey doky.."

Seconds later we were in my mothers's tavern, in the large old kitchen, all eyes on us.

Needless to say that we nearly gave Cyrene a heart attack ….

"Xena, baby!"

She rushed to embrace me and Gabrielle, taking Eve in her arms and hugging her real tight.

"Gods Xena' she looks so much like you when you were her age!" she exclaimed, a wide smile on her lips.

I just rolled my eyes….It was embarrassing. ..

"Now who are your friends?" she casually inquired, her jaw almost dropping to the ground when she finally noticed Ares.

"What is he doing here Xena?"

Her voice was full of resent…and she had all the reasons to feel that way…The last time that she saw Ares he was trying to kill her using me.

"Xena…I need to talk to my sister for awhile.." Ares said, taking Dite and disappearing the next moment…..

Was he afraid of my mom? I smiled at the thought and I could see that Gabrielle was smiling too.

"That's rude!" Mom observed, hearing his line….. " And what Sister was he talking about?"

"Aphrodite…." I stated, a notet of amusement in my voice.

"You know the Goddess of Love too?! "

Gabrielle chuckled softly.

"We kinds know….everyone….."

"Well never mind….Would you mind explaining what are you two doing in such bad company? He tried to kill me, Xena!"

"It's kinda complicated Mom…I'll explain everything later…."

I took a seat on a nearby chair, my mind feverishly working at a defense against Discord. Pretty soon, Ares and Dite were back.

"Xena, I will go see if Athena knows anything about you, Gabby or little Eve.." Dite anounced professionally.

I could definitely see that it was his doing.

"Why does that matter, again? " I asked, unable to see the importance of such detail.

"Well, if she doesn't know it means that Discord is working alone, and that there's no real danger , since she'll be rather easy to defeat….It they work together…well, if they work together , then we have a problem…." Ares clarified.

I could finally see where he was coming from….

"So uh…..I guess you and Bro could use the time to go someplace quiet and talk things over…? Dite sheepishly suggested before vanishing into thin air.

I just nodded imperceptibly, still a bit overwhelmed by those recent events, and before I knew it the walls around us were dissolving and we were being sucked into a diamond sparkling tunnel.

Seconds later, me and Ares were back in Macedonia….I sighed loudly…I could see it coming.