Chapter 30:Reliving the nightmare

Ares POV

I couldn't tell how much it lasted…Just like I didn't know if another day had begun or it was the same one….A very long day I guess….Anyway, I was pretty sure that I was about to wake up on the banks of the Styx.

All those nasty, burning sensations inside my chest and the soreness of my body could have very well be there because I was roasting in the depths of my uncle's realm….I wasn't sure…

I was about to find out soon though…My mind and body were feverishly fighting to come back from the darkness …Still, my physical torment seamed to last for more than a lifetime.

Before I finally opened my eyes I relived everything that had happened to me…How upset and hurt I left the inn, my little chit chat with Dite, my return to the tavern only to find out that Xena was gone….

I could still see it : I was at the table talking with Cyrene and playing with Evie when someone burst into the tavern looking for my Princess.

"Is Xena here?"

"No but I am…Why?"

The skinny farmer gazed me in the eyes hopelessly.

"We're all gonna die!" ..."he burst out, fear reverberating from his voice.

I gave Eve to Cyrene.

"Raiders…I heard that Xena the Warrior Princess was in town...I…We need her or they will wipe us all out! "

"Xena isn't home right now…but I might help you."

I stopped for awhile to think about the words that rushed out of my mouth without thinking... Helping someone was certainly a new one for me...And I sure didn't give a second thought to the fact that I was mortal….I could die…

I guess what relay motivated me was the fact that I knew how proud Xena would have been….That would surely show her that I had indeed changed. Plus, there was no way in Tartarus I was going to let her fight. Not with our son on the way….

I faced Cyrene and Evie next.

"Don't tell Xena anything. She is pregnant and…I will come back soon so…If she asks, lie to her."

Cyrene nodded, too shocked to even consider the possibility of contradicting me.

"Mommy always tells me to not lie…" Eve interrupted innocently.

"That's correct…you shouldn't lie Evie…never…But these are special circumstances… Do you know what a white lie is?"

She shook her head, giving me an inquisitive look.

"Well grandma Cyrene is going to explain it to you. Daddy has to go now, ok Darling?"

I kissed her briefly on the forehead and left.

The farmer had a horse outside, so we rode to his town, two hours distance from Amphipolis.

"They said they would come back this afternoon…so we don't have much time left." The farmer informed me, fear still in his eyes."They will burn everything…take our sons and daughters and…"The man started to cry…again…

"How many are they?"

"A dozen…maybe two…"

"Go inside…"

The farmer left and I scanned the place…There was no one around, except for the deserted houses and a couple of fearful eyes watching from the tavern's windows inside. They had all taken refuge there, counting on the thick brick walls of the building to protect them.

After some more minutes two dozen men, well armed, appeared into the clearing…

"Who are you?"Their leader asked.

"Me? Just a worried citizen…You?"

"Your upcoming death." he hissed to the amusement of his men. "Clear from my path or we will…"

"What?...Kill me?" I laughed, trying to hide my nervousness.

"You have no idea who I am, do you?!"

I laughed at that too and I got my sword out.

"You don't know who I am either…so that kinda makes us equals."I challenged and the following second, all the men came towards me, some on their horses, some on foot.

For some more minutes I was really doing alright, the rush of the adrenaline, ohh how I missed it but then everything stopped when a 10 year old girl passed through the clearing and one of the idiots put a knife at her throat.

"Let that sword down or the girl dies."

I wanted to say that I didn't care but for some reason the girl's blue eyes and her scared cries made me think of Eve…so I did as they said.

"Now let her go."I said slowly but I didn't had time to do anything more. The girl fell crumbling to the ground blood dripping from her neck. I remained there like a stone…looking at her now lifeless body…time had frozen for me…

"You have no idea what you've done."I threatened, hate in my voice.

All Tartarus broke loose soon afterwards.…It was a blood bath…I killed them all, all of them, no one was standing when I finished not even the last one…the smell of blood dripping down my sword was invigorating.

Minutes later I finally noticed the frightened farmers staring at me in awe. And second later I heard those heartbreaking cries of a mother loosing her child. I was trembling…

…The little girl had the same eyes.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry..!"I repeated on my way back from the town with the image of the girl dying on the ground still in my mind.

My legs, arms…all my body was aching and somewhere near Amphipolis I found

myself again surrounded by another troop but of tags this time. I can't seem to recall exactly what happened, only the burning sensation of the sword that came from behind me is still fresh in my mind…I saw my blood than dripping from my body and my face found the ground really fast...The tugs run…If they only knew who they had brought down!

Now, I don't remember anything else, just bits and pieces with Gabrielle talking to me but I couldn't recall the words, Xena's voice in my head and that's all.

After I began to regain my consciousness I felt something very warm next to me and I forced myself to open my eyes and look in the direction where I felt that pleasant sensation…It was Eve, sleeping next to me, her hand on my shoulder, her respiration regular..I was alive…I really was.

The door cracked open and my gaze shifted. It was Gabrielle. She smiled but didn't say anything, she just signaled me to look to the other side of the room. My heart nearly stopped when I saw a sleeping Xena with our son in her arms.

I forced myself to sit up but the fact that I was alive and out of the danger zone had nothing to do with the still present wound that still hurt like hell…

It took only the bed to creak from my movements that her eyes softly opened and looked straight to me.

Hi guys, now you all know what happened with poor Ares. Next chapter you will meet someone special, well I guess you know what I'm talking about.

So I will be taking a short break due to holidays but in january I will come back.

See you soon enough!

Happy holidays for you all!

Thanks once again for all of you, who read, followed and reviewed my story so far. Love you!