Gabrielle was throwing the kitchen scraps out the back door when Xena and Ares came walking up the footpath that led to the river. The only other time she had seen Xena that relaxed around Ares was during his too brief stint as a mortal, it unnerved her. Gabrielle understood the reasons Xena had restored him to his godhood but she didn't like it. As soon as he had gotten his goodhood back, he went right back to his old tricks, playing the Romans off against the Amazons, all in an effort to win back a few worshippers. Why couldn't he just accept that the hegemony of the Olympians in Greece had come to an end?
As they got closer, Gabrielle could see that Xena was smiling and that her hair was still damp from bathing in the river. Ares had her towel thrown casually over his bare shoulder. Like Xena, he was smiling and it served to soften his otherwise hard features. She nearly gasped out loud when she realized that Ares' hair was wet too. Well, Well, Well, what had the Warrior Princess been up to this afternoon? She shook her head trying to jar the carnal images that flooded her mind.
"Gabrielle," Xena called as they closed the last ten meters between them and the bard, "how long til dinner?"
"Just finishing up, I just sent Iason over to let the others know."
"You're in for a treat, Ares, Gabrielle is a magnificent cook. She does wonders with fish. And she makes these delicious little dumplings."
"No dumplings tonight. Wait, he's staying for dinner?"
"I hope that's not a problem," Xena glared at Gabrielle.
"I promise, I'll be on my best behavior, Blon - - er - Gabrielle," Ares stammered.
"And, if he's not, he can take his ass back to Olympus," Xena warned.
Ares threw his hands up defensively, "Look ladies, I said I promise. What do you want? I'll swear on the head of Zeus."
"That won't be necessary. Come on you can help me set the table," Xena said as she patted him on the bicep. She gave it a tender squeeze, allowing herself a brief indulgence.
"Don't you have any slave girls for that?" Ares knew Xena was luxuriating in the feel of his strong body. Her hand on his warm skin sent a jolt through him but he let it slide without comment.
Gabrielle had also noticed the physical interchange. Xena was insane if she thought she was fooling anyone. It was subtle, Gabrielle would certainly give her credit for that. To the untrained eye, it could have looked like a friendly pat but Gabrielle knew Xena and she picked up on the firm squeeze of his muscle and noticed the way Xena let her forefinger run the length of his upper arm before she pulled away. Gabrielle wanted to let herself believe that it was just Xena being an imp and teasing the god of war but the longing in Xena's eyes betrayed the truth.
"What do I need slave girls for when I own you?" Xena had said it in jest but everyone in the room knew the naked truth behind the statement.
"The napkins are still hanging with the wash, I'll grab them off the line," Gabrielle said to break the tension in the room and to give herself a graceful excuse to exit the situation.
"You know, if you didn't want me to stay, you didn't have to invite me."
"I'm sorry, it didn't mean it like that, I shouldn't trivialize your feelings for me. Forgive me?"
"Done."
"Good, now take these out to the altar," Xena handed him six mugs.
"The altar?"
"We converted it to a dining room table."
"You converted the altar, my altar to a table? To a table that people eat off of?"
"Well, moving it wasn't much of an option, it's kinda set in place. Don't worry, I cleaned it, thoroughly!"
He wondered if she had been more worried about ridding it of the residue of animal sacrifices or if she had been more concerned about washing it clean of any traces of their sexual trysts. How was he going to sit across from her at that altar and fight off the vivid memories of feasting on her body?
Xena followed behind Ares carrying a stack of plates. "I'll grab some more mugs, we'll need at least two more and that's if Mikal doesn't decide to join us. We may have to pull the couch over here for more seating. Or you could bring some chairs from the entry hallway."
"So it's come to this?" Ares muttered to himself when Xena was out of earshot, "the god of war doing menial work in his own temple." What surprised him was that he was doing it willingly just to be in her presence!
After they had set the table, Xena told Ares that his vest was downstairs if he wanted to go get it. It was interesting, he thought, that she would have taken it down there. He was tempted to visit their secret lair, after all, it had been a while and the room evoked so many pleasant memories! He briefly considered whisking them both down there and seducing her but remembered that he had promised to behave. He materialized a new vest, identical to the one he usually wore and slipped it on.
"How's that? More presentable for dinner?"
"Yes," Xena answered with a dry mouth. When he flaunted his powers in her presence it always turned her own which embarrassed her. It was ridiculous really, I mean he was a god after all, how simple it must be for him to manifest something as mundane as a vest out of thin air. But perhaps it was the effortlessness with which he did it that attracted her. There had been a time when she craved and sought such powers, albeit for more sinister ends.
The dinner party was larger than Xena had expected. In addition to the four children that stayed at the temple, Dalin had come over when he heard they were having fresh fish. Xena knew that Malkus would be joining them for dinner but she was pleasantly surprised that Lysa had decided to come along. The young woman secluded herself too much for Xena's liking. She realized that Lysa had lost her entire family to the plague but Xena didn't think that avoiding human contact was going to help her heal. By the time the fish hit the table their party numbered ten. Xena thanked Malkus again for the fresh vegetables. The carrots and baby potatoes complemented the trout well. Xena wasn't sure what spices Gabrielle had used to season the swimmers but it was yummy. Xena noticed that Ares had even cleaned off his whole plate without a grimace.
After dinner, the children talked Gabrielle into regaling the group with a story about the Warrior Princess. The bard instructed everyone to arrange their seats in a semi-circle. Malkus and Ares lifted the couch and set it in down so that it created the arc of the half-circle. Ares sat on the end of the couch with the raised back and the skull embellishments. He hoped that Xena would choose to sit beside him. As she started walking toward him, Lysa shyly sat down beside him. Ares thought it would be rude to show his disappointment so he just nodded at the woman and smiled. Xena had had every intention of sitting by the god but she wasn't about to ask Lysa to move. Instead, she took the seat next to the couch on Ares' end. Gabrielle lit a couple of more candles to read by and sorted through her scrolls trying to decide the appropriate story to tell. Once she had settled on the tale, she cleared her throat and turned to her audience.
Just before the bard began to speak, Daria darted across the circle and climbed into Ares' lap. He froze. What was he supposed to do? He looked to Xena for help. She only grinned, taking pleasure in seeing him at a loss for what to do with the small child. He looked to Gabrielle, maybe she'd save him. Gabrielle just rolled her eyes. Finally, he looked at Daria who was beaming at him with those big blue eyes. He sat back against the couch and tucked her into the crook of his right arm.
"Aww," Lysa gushed at the sweetness of the gesture. She could use a man like him around now that her husband had passed. She hoped that she would be able to get to know him better.
Xena noticed Lysa's appraisal of Ares and had to swallow the jealous bile that threatened to spill from her mouth. She didn't want to think about where the jealousy had come from. She certainly had no claims on him! He was free to indulge himself with whomever he chose, mortal or immortal. And indulge he had! Discord, Mavican, Eve!
Ares could feel Xena staring daggers at him. He turned his head to look at her. What had he done? His eyes begged for an answer, all she gave him was a sneer.
"I sing of Xena, the mightiests of princesses," Gabrielle started.
"Are you a real princess?" Kallias asked wondering if she were somehow related to royalty.
"No," Xena answered, "and don't interrupt the story."
"Hmph," Ares expressed his disagreement at Xena's answer only to receive another withering glare from his warrior.
"Xena had just given birth to her daughter Eve, she and her companion, Gabrielle, the Battling Bard of Potidea," Gabrielle ignored Ares chuckle at her moniker, "were being pursued relentlessly by the Olympian gods. The battle eventually came right here to Xena's hometown."
"The siege of Amphipolis," Mikal exclaimed with glee.
Gabrielle nodded and continued, "Athena was set on destroying Eve because Xena's child was prophesied to bring about the Twilight of the gods."
Xena felt guilty. She looked to Ares, knowing that this story would be painful for him to hear. Why did Gabrielle choose this story?
He was listening attentively, Daria had fallen asleep against his chest.
"Ares, seeing an opportunity, tried to use the situation to his advantage. He attempted to pressure Xena into joining him, into giving him a child of their own," Gabrielle continued to recount the events.
Ares leered at Gabrielle, she would never share his vision where Xena was concerned but he wished if she were going to tell a story about him that she would have at least told one where he had acted more nobly.
Xena had quit listening to the story She couldn't take her eyes off of Ares and Daria. The child had already fallen asleep. The brown-haired girl looked so peaceful laying in his arms. She wondered what he would be like as a father. Oh, she had toyed with the idea when she was a warlord but that was all about a legacy. For the first time, she contemplated what it would really be like to raise a child with him. Was he capable of fatherly compassion? Daria trusted him implicitly. Ah, the innocence of youth.
"Xena cut a deal with Ares," the words brought Xena back to the story, "if he saved Eve then she would be his. Ares agreed and fought against Athena ultimately defeating the goddess. When Ares realized that Xena had only been using his own manipulative tactics against him he left and Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve were safe for the time being. But in his parting words he had asked Xena if she had felt something for him when they had been alone in the temple. Stoically, Xena responded that she had felt nothing. Ares disappeared into thin air and only then did Xena admit that she had felt something."
Xena sat in stunned silence. Why had Gabrielle revealed that? She had said it in trust. It wasn't something that was meant to be shared, certainly not with him. She could see Ares looking at her from the corner of her eye. He wasn't smiling. If anything, she thought he was as upset as she that Gabrielle had chosen to disclose that particular aspect of the story.
"I sing of Xena, the mightiest of princesses," Gabrielle said in closing.
The bard knew that Xena was going to be furious but it would not have been true to the scroll to have left it out.
The audience clapped but they all cast awkward glances in Xena and Ares' direction.
The clapping stirred Amyntas and he started bawling on the nearby pallet. Thankful to have something to do, Gabrielle scooped the baby up and tried to soothe him.
Gabrielle's story had caused Lysa to have second thoughts about Ares, he seemed like a manipulator. And more, if Xena had feelings for him, she certainly didn't want to get on the Warrior Princess's bad side. So, she bid them all a good evening and asked Dalin and Mikal to walk her back to her place.
Iason offered to help set Malkus up a temporary sleeping cot in his room. Kallias and Cyrena broke into an impromptu re-enactment of the fight between Athena and Xena with Kallias taking the role of her great-aunt.
"Which room is hers?" Ares asked Xena indicating Daria with a nod of his head..
"Two doors down from mine. Her cot is the one with blue blanket."
As Ares headed down the hallway with Daria, Xena confronted Gabrielle, "What in Tartarus was that about?"
"Xena, I didn't think it through when I started it. I was trying to find a story that the children would relate to. And since it took place here in their hometown. . ."
"You couldn't tell the one about Draco!"
"I have to re-write that scroll, you used it as a diaper last week!"
"I could have told that one by heart," Xena spat.
"Look, I'm sorry."
"Well, you could've left some stuff out don't you think?
"Xena, I'm a poet, I don't edit to make things more comfortable for you."
"It's not me I'm worried about."
"Oh, Ohhhh, you're worried about his feelings."
"He had to sit and hear how I manipulated him, Gabrielle, played him for a fool, that couldn't have been easy. And, in front of all of those people, people he barely knows. It was cruel."
"Xena, I didn't mean it that way. Do you think it'll help if I apologize?"
"I can't hurt," Xena responded and took the cranky baby from her friend. "Where's that bottle?"
"In the kitchen but good luck, he doesn't care for it.?\
"He's gonna have to get used to it. And, Gabrielle, tell Ares not to run off, I want to see him before he leaves."
Gabrielle padded softly down the hallway to the girls' room. Ares was pulling Daria's covers over her sleeping frame when Gabrielle walked into the room.
"You gotta minute?" She asked and thumbed toward her own quarters.
He nodded and followed down the hallway..
It was so strange for him to see the acolytes' room converted into a nursery. He had never considered that a child might be raised in one of his temples. Leave it to Xena, he thought, she was always making the impossible happen.
"Ares," Gabrielle turned to face him, "I may have used poor judgement in choosing that story. If it hurt you in any way, I want you to know that I am sincerely sorry . . "
"Gabrielle, it's okay," he felt embarrassed by her apology.
"No, it's really not. You know that I think you are a colossal ass but that doesn't mean that Xena doesn't have feelings for you. . .and you for her, no matter how misguided I think those feelings are. Do you think we can really get along? For Xena's sake?"
"Colossal ass, huh, well since you put it so nicely. . . my turn, you know that I think you are an irritating little back pimple but that doesn't change the fact that Xena thinks the world of you, so yes, for Xena's sake we can try to stand each other's company."
Gabrielle extended her hand, Ares did likewise and the two clasped arms in a tentative truce. Although the truce had been spoken they eyed each other with distrust.
"Just one thing, Gabrielle,"
"Yes?"
"Did Xena really admit to you that she had feelings for me then?"
They were interrupted by Xena entering the room with the wailing baby.
Xena was bouncing Amyntas gently and singing a soft lullaby but to no avail.
"You're right, he won't take the bottle! And, I think he may be teething, he keeps putting his fist in his mouth."
"Maybe he wants to eat it," Ares offered.
Xena gave Ares a sarcastic smirk which let him know what she thought about his input.
"Here, quit bouncing him, sway with him like this," Gabrielle took the baby and began rocking her body side to side. Amyntas quit wailing long enough for Gabrielle to give Xena a satisfied smile. Then, he started bawling even louder than before.
"Oh for Hera's sake, give him here," Ares took the baby.
Both women stood with their hands on their hips, fully expecting him to fail as they had done. Ares cradled the baby in his strong hands and began to exude a golden glow. He pulled the baby into his chest and began to murmur and ancient Archaic chant. Within minutes, Amyntas was fast asleep in the god's arms. Without gloating, he laid the infant quietly in the crib that Xena and Mikal had built for him.
He turned to the stunned women, "He was hungry and his teeth hurt, I took care of both, but you are going to need a wet nurse. That's not going to cut it," he pointed to the bottle Xena was holding.
"What did you?. . .Nevermind, I don't even want to know," Gabrielle shook her head.
Xena wondered if he would ever cease to amaze her. She had been certain that he would have made the child cry even more, after all what comfort could a babe expect in the arms of the god of war. She wondered about the chant he had used, she had never heard him use that dialect. Some of the words were familiar but she couldn't make out all of it. She was reminded that the god standing before her was centuries old.
"Can I see you, in my room?" Xena asked softly?
He responded with a single nod, the delicate timbre of her voice was a rare treat. It filled him with hope.
They walked wordlessly down the hallway. Xena had forgotten to leave a candle burning in the room. When she opened the door it was pitch black. She grabbed a sconce from the hallway and began lighting the sconces in her quarters, as well as the bedside candles.
Determined to let her set the pace, Ares waited patiently for her to open the discussion.
"Would you like to sit down?" She gestured to one of the two chairs that occupied the far corner of the room. It had served as the head priest's reading nook. Xena didn't read that often but she liked the feel of it and it was a good spot for her and Gabrielle to enjoy their evening mead after the kids had turned in, so she kept it in place.
Ares took a seat.
"Drink?" Xena asked.
"I'll pour my own," Ares materialized a clear glass amphora filled with honey-colored nectar and poured it into one of the goblets that occupied the table.
Xena raised and eyebrow as if she were unimpressed but he knew better.
He filled Xena's goblet from the wine decanter. A few red drops sloshed over the side of the cup and onto the table.
"I was going to have mead but thank you," she sat down in the chair opposite from Ares.
"Call it a compromise, If I had it my way you'd be imbibing this nectar."
Xena smiled sweetly, "you never give up."
"Not on your life," he languidly sipped from his cup. His eyes watched her over the rim of the goblet.
Xena picked up her own vessel and swallowed a mouthful of Bacchus' gift. She felt its warmth spread through her chest. His intent gaze caused warmth to spread to other places. She knew she'd have to be mindful of just how much she was drinking with him in the room. She could smell the nectar, she had smelled it on his breath countless times before. The lure of it was more intoxicating than the wine. His gaze,however was the most intoxicating of all.
Xena sat her goblet down and cleared her throat.
Here it comes, he thought, I'm about to find out what she brought me in here for.
"Did Gabrielle get a chance to talk to you?"
"She did, we reached an agreement of sorts," he confided.
"How's that?"
"Let's call it an armistice," he smiled and took another drink of his viscous amber treat.
"An armistice?"
"Well, it's not really a peace since nothing has really been resolved. So, it's really more like a cease-fire."
"I see," Xena ran her finger along the rim of her goblet. "What were the terms?"
"We've agreed to be amicable to one another out of respect for you."
"So, you've manage to broker a deal that works in your favor, I suppose that shouldn't surprise me, you are the god of war after all," her voice dripped with desire.
"How so?" he knew she was right but he wanted to hear her take on the situation.
"You think if Gabrielle is okay with having you around then you can spend more time with me and chip away at my defenses."
He pursed his lips and nodded his head subtlely, she knew him well. He downed the last dram of the divine liquid.
"Sounds like as good a plan as any, Xena. But, I really am trying to be sincere here. I can't help that an agreement between Gabrielle and me works in my favor."
"True," Xena ceded.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Xena finished her drink and Ares picked up the decanter to pour her another. She held her and over the top of the goblet.
"One's enough for tonight,"
He knew she was going to ask him to leave. All in all, he thought it had been a good night. They had spent a wonderful afternoon together. Dinner was bearable, Gabrielle's story had even led to an understanding of sorts. And, he had capped the night by having drinks with his goddess.
"As you wish," he responded.
"Ares that story. . ."
"It's okay Xena, I was being a colossal ass, Gabrielle's words, trying to manipulate you into coming back to me. When you come back, I want it to be because you want to." He stood up.
"When?" Xena rose and walked toward him, "A little over confident aren't we?"
"Hopeful," he answered honestly.
"Well, I would show you out but you don't exactly have to use the front door, so let's just call it goodnight," She closed the space between them and kissed him tenderly on the corner of his mouth.
"Thanks for tonight, Xena. It meant the world to me. Can I see you tomorrow? I want to bring you something."
"Ares, I don't need gifts, you know you can't buy me."
"I do, you've never been that kind of girl. Anything you want, you get on your own. It's a surprise and it's not just for you."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, then," she agreed and kissed him on the corner of the mouth again.
"Careful, or I'm gonna think you like doing. . .," he teased.
The move of his thick lips was too much, she couldn't resist. She slid her mouth over his and cut off his remark. She could taste the remnants of the nectar on his tongue. He had told her years ago that those trace amounts would not affect her mortality, although in those days she had hoped desperately that they would. He pulled her into him and deepened the kiss. The crush of his body against her threatened to open her flood gates and she knew she had to stop things and fast. She pulled back abruptly. Her eyes watered with sheer delight.
"See you tomorrow," she panted.
"Count on it," he shattered into shards of silver light.
Xena stood stock still attempting to compose herself after he left. A couple of deep breaths. A couple more. Oh fuck breathing exercises! She threw a couple of kicks in the air and shadow boxed and imaginary opponent.
The workout did little to cool her off, she knew there was only one thing shy of throwing the god of war down and fucking him senseless that would ease her tension. She lay on the bed and began pleasuring herself. She didn't care that it was going to be fast and furious. She rubbed her clit vigorously with the forefinger and middle finger of her right hand while she massaged her left breast firmly, rolling her nipple between her forefinger and thumb. She was so excited, she was becoming more frustrated instead of reaching her release. She glanced back over to the nook where they had been sitting. She half expected to see him sitting there with a self-satisfied grin but she knew he was nowhere around, she couldn't sense him. She eyed the goblet from which he had been drinking. She quickly grabbed the bronze cup, she looked into the bottom, a single drop of nectar pooled there. The temptation to partake of the immortality-giving substance had never been stronger. She brought the goblet back to bed with her. Using her long middle finger, she dipped into the cup and scooped up the droplet. The nectar ran slowly down her finger, Xena brought her hand to her face and inhaled, gods it smelled like his hot breath. She resisted the urge to lick the sweet wine of the gods and instead went back to work massaging her clit. The thick liquid tingled as she worked it wildly over her nub and through her folds. Visions of him in the water with her earlier in the day filled her head. She could feel him washing her as she crashed in waves of rolling orgasm.
"Areeesss," she cried as she finally found the relief that she sought.