Chapter 16: Feeling good

Xena POV

One side…the other side..turning and turning again. By all the Gods, it was as if my eyes were refusing to close….and all that because of our little conversation in the garden.

"That's pathetic Xena!" a voice in my head yelled to me…It was probably my troubled conscience.

Was it right to tell him that he had so much control over me back then even if he didn't knew it at the time?

He was still him after all…Although…something had changed inside him along the way…Just how something had changed inside me too the moment I found out what he did for me. …I guess the real problem was that now, he was finally reachable for me, and I was terrified..

"STOP! You need to get some sleep!" the voice insisted, and I knew it was right…My body was desperately screaming for some rest… "With a bit of luck, the dreams would soon come "

….And they did, sooner than expected. Pure beautiful dreams for once, instead of nightmares with my victims….Short but vivid dreams of my life….of how my life could be…with Eve…with him by my side….

That night I saw everyone I loved: my family, Gabrielle, Solan, my brothers…and there was his face, also present there, during every important moment of my life…

When morning light rushed through the window, I almost jumped from the bed, unnaturally startled by a tad on the door...I hesitated when answering though, somehow fearing that it was him. He couldn't see me like that, so completely transformed by those absolutely delightful images still so alive in my mind….I was aware of how utterly dangerous that was for me….how weak I really was.

"My Lady!" a priestess's voice could be heard, and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yes" I answered raggedly.

" Breakfast is ready..My Lord asked me to announce you.. He is in the dining room."

"Ok..Thank you!" I said politely.

I jumped out the bed the following second, wondering what to wear….I finally went for the battledress, given that in the bottom of my heart I hoped Dite had news…I was tremendously anxious to go back..I missed Eve so much!

Once I was ready, I left the room, and for the love of the Fates, that knot in my stomach was absolutely unbearable.

I tried to empty my mind before pushing the large wooden doors aside to enter the dining room…As I walked in, I could see a large table placed right in the middle, filled with every delicacy one could think of.

Ares was seated at the head of the table, exactly in front of me.

I gave him a courteous smile before taking a few steps in his direction.

"You' re awake..!" he casually remarked, pouring himself some wine. "I hope you're hungry…"

"Not that hungry!" I snorted, lokking at the table again.

"Well…..it's not like you have to eat everything…." he added calmly while getting up to offer me a seat next to him.

I smiled again while he began filling my cup with water, aware that I didn't like to drink alcohol so early in the morning.

Some very tense minutes passed before I opened my mouth to say something-requiring a information that I really wanted to know.

"Do you happen to know whether Dite resolved anything with Athena or not?"

"Not really.."

"What do you mean?"

"She came but I didn't see her..She left a gift for you though."

"A gift?!.That's odd. She knows how much I "love" gifts."

"I know, I know. But I bet you're gonna like this one though given that it isn't precisely her standard stupid girlish gift."

"Think so?"

"Oh yeah! So...finish eating and you'll get the chance to see it. It's waiting for you in the stables."

"In the stables? "

Unconsciously, my smile widened even more.

"How long has passed since you've last seen Argo?" he calmly inquired, winking at me.

I couldn't believe it! Could it be? Was Argo really there?

Needless to say I left all eating intentions aside and rushed out the doors, eager to see if he was telling the truth or not.

"Ares if you're lying…" I threatened right before I entered the stables, aware of course that there was no actual reason for him to lie.

Hardly had I finished my sentence though, that a shriek of joy left my lungs. There she was….as splendid as ever…My four legged friend…

"Argo.." I murmured, my eyes beaming with happiness. At the sound and feel of me she instantly neighed. I guess that was her way of telling me that she loved me too.

"Missed me?..Yeah..I know girl..Sorry for that..The last thing I wanted was to leave you behind…That's not gonna happen again, I promise.." I answered, still caressing her head.

"Thanks.." I added taking a glimpse of him. He was enjoying himself and call it a wild hunch, but I was absolutely sure that was more of his doing than Aphrodite's.

"Are you up for a ride..?" the enthusiastic question immediately left his lips, already anticipating my answer before I even got the chance to utter it.

"You bet I am..! "

As soon as Argo was ready, he got up his black stallion and we took off.

The cold wind was mercilessly slapping our faces, but we didn't mind. Plus, personally, I was so happy to have my horse back that nothing else mattered.

"Hey! Not so fast!" he yelled behind me after a few hundred yards.

"What? Can't keep up, War god?" I stang, laughing at him.

He just gave me a smile once he reached me.

"You're pregnant remember? Take it easy…"

"I feel fine..I don't have those atrocious pains anymore…"

"Yeah, well that doesn't mean you have to force yourself like that."

"Trust me, I'm fine…Come on..I'll race you to that tree.." I devilishly persuaded him, not waiting for one second for his line.

I won of course, but the ride back to the fortress was won by him this time.

"Well it's a good thing I won too.." he pointed out as soon as we were in front of the stables again.

Later, we laughed and laughed and laughed. I couldn't believe that I was able to enjoy his company so much….It was just like in the beginning, when I was a teenager. Just being around him was so incredibly good…It was an indescribable sensation that we belonged together, and no matter how hard my reason was fighting to deny it, my heart knew better.

Everything fell apart though the moment we returned to the throne room and we parted….My whole world seemed to crumble to pieces when hearing what I heard…