The Promise

"It's been a week are you sure she's not dead?" Daniel asked Solan. Solan nodded.

"Yes, she snores." They listened and could hear her snoring soundly and laughed.

"Hey you two don't you have work to be getting too this morning?" Xena asked shooing them away from the door as she came up with a tray of breakfast, she was sure the girl would wake up today.

"But we wanna see her wake up," Daniel told her.

"No, she doesn't need two little boys around her making noise. Now I'm giving you today off from training and your studies I suggest you enjoy this great weather we've been experiencing." They both grinned at each other.

"Swimming!" They exclaimed. Xena smiled at them as they headed for the stairs.

"Hey where's my kiss." They ran back up and gave her kiss.

"Sorry," They apologized before leaving. Xena entered the room quietly noticing that the girl had stopped snoring.

"You're awake," Xena commented.

"Xena?" The girl asked opening her eyes. Xena could see that although she could see her eyes searched for her anyway before she found her.

"Yes, you have reached the end of your journey it would seem." Niobe nodded as Xena set the tray down and helped her sit up.

"Any particular reason for seeking me out."

"Yes, it is about your son Daniel."

"Yes, what about Daniel?" Xena asked curiously.

"Ares killed my father three years ago. We were on our way to warn you of the prophecy," Niobe spoke quietly. Xena listened intently. "I was getting the horses ready when he appeared in the house, he killed my father. I'm afraid my father may have told him of your son so he would not kill him. As well as the rest of the prophecy."

"Tell me the prophecy now." Niobe recounted it.

"Xena if you die, we are all doomed, but if you fight Daniel will be good. You must not fail or he will be evil. He needs your guidance now more than ever. Ares prepares to strike soon. He has gotten around his sister's protection of your presence and only wants you to relax before he strikes." Niobe fell silent and quietly slipped away from life. Xena covered her with a sheet and took supper back downstairs.

"Was she still out?" Cyrene asked. Xena shook her head as she recounted the prophecy to her mother.

"He's just been bidding his time mother."

"Xena, stay calm you can't lose your cool if you are to defeat him."

"No."

"What?" Cyrene asked.

"She warned me, she told me, she said he was waiting for me to relax." Xena grabbed her sword and chakram running for the river where the children were likely to be swimming.

"Danny, solan!" Xena called slowing down to register her surroundings. She heard laughter and splashing. She slowed down to a walk in relief that they were okay, but than she felt him. The all to familiar tingle went down her spine. She flipped up into a tree and hurried towards her children.

"Who are you?" A boy asked curiously at Ares as Solan stopped splashing along with Daniel.

"You two," Ares said looking at Solan and Daniel. If neither of them looked like their mother than he wasn't a god.

"Who are you?" The boy asked again. The other boys also stopped playing to watch him. Ares shot a ball of lighting at him sending him flying into the river. Solan and Daniel's instincts sent them under the water for the poor boy as the others ran away from Ares in complete fear. When them came back up, they dragged the boy to the opposite bank shouldering him easily Solan told Daniel to run away as he followed.

"Strong boys, I like that," Ares commented. He naturally assumed that there was more than one child, one being taller than the other made no difference, the other would catch up soon enough when he eliminated their mortal side.

"Run Daniel!" Solan yelled giving him a kick. That put Daniel into motion as he ran. Ares started to disappear after them, but a very familiar war cry stopped him as they disappeared into the forest.

"Xena," Ares said as she landed gracefully in front of him. It made no difference that she was in a beautiful blue dress, he could see her form was still just a lethal.

"Ares."

"I see you haven't changed much, still quick as ever."

"Always."

"Before I kill you, you want to tell me why you never delivered my sons to me?"

"They aren't your sons."

"They are mind and I want an explanation."

"You already know why I never brought Daniel to you."

"That does not explain the other one."

"I told you he's not yours, I had Solan thirteen years ago."

"Ah the one who made you give it all up. Well than I'll just make sure I kill him right along with you."

"You had better not touch a hair on either of their heads."

"I will touch every last bit of hair on their heads. I am going to bath in your son's blood right in front of you. I'm only going to keep you half alive long enough for you to see all my dreams of power come true through my son."

"He's not your son, just go away Ares. Let Daniel live his life in peace."

"Never, he is the son of the God of War and he will act like it. Not the little bitch you've turned him into."

"I didn't turn my son into a little bitch, I'm turning him into a real man. Now I know how much it hurts to know my son is more of a man than you'll ever be, but you're just going to have to live with that." Ares pulled out his sword and swung with such force that sparks flew. Xena and Ares were both surprised her sword held true.

"Give up Xena, you can't win," Ares taunted. "Now come on why don't you be a good little whore and obey me."

"You know what that's the thing all these years, you kept thinking that I was just your little whore, but in reality you were my bitch," Xena told him. She delivered several swift and hard kicks to his stomach that made even him double over before sending a kick to his face that would have drawn blood and or killed any mortal.

"Bitch," Ares groaned getting up.

"Ares you've been warned stay away from my son or else." He laughed rubbing his jaw. He eyed her suspiciously wondering why she could cause him physical pain.

"Oh Xena this party is just getting started, just getting started." He disappeared. When she was sure he was gone she relaxed only a little before flipping to the opposite bank of the river in search of her boys.

"Solan, Danny!"

"Mommy," Daniel ran to her and hugged her. She kissed his forehead.

"where's Solan?"

"I'm here," Solan said poking his head out. He carried Daniel's friend out. He was still alive, but just barely.

"Come on let's get back home." They nodded. Xena lifted the young boy into her arms and Solan called to the others that it was safe. They all hurried back to the village. Xena put the boy in the room Niobe had occupied and proceeded to save his life with help.

"where's the woman?" Solan asked as Daniel sat sadly next to his friend's bedside.

"She died of exhaustion," Xena answered him sadly.

"Oh, did you find out why she wanted you?" Xena nodded. "Why?"

"Hey go find his mother in all the chaos I completely forgot to send you for her, she must be hysterical with worry now."

"Xena we have a litter ready to take him home," Cyrene told her coming up. "His mother will want him home."

"Did you send someone to her?"

"That's what I forgot!" Cyrene exclaimed.

"Its fine we'll just take him. Solan come help me." They went inside the room to carry him out on a sheet.

"Mommy will he be all right?"

"He's going to be just fine," Xena told him. "Trust me I've seen much worse wounds by the Gods survived." Daniel nodded trusting in her completely. Solan and her gently carried him downstairs to the litter before Cyrene gently covered him a warm blanket and they carried him to the village.

"Mario!" His mother exclaimed running towards him.

"No, no wait!" Solan and Xena exclaimed just barely getting her to pause.

"My baby is dead!" She cried. "Don't tell me not to touch him."

"No, no its not that," Xena told her. "He's wounded and you lying on him would really hurt him." They could see her body slump with relief after a few moments.

"Will he live?" She asked. Xena nodded.

"With proper care, I'm sorry we didn't send someone to tell you earlier our thoughts were of his survival not of notifying you."

"I don't care you saved his life," She told her grateful. She kissed her son's forehead before turning away to wipe her tears. "Please come in." She opened the door and her husband who had been silent and still was helped them get Mario into his own bed.

"You'll have to change his bandages every four hours and reapply this special poultice, you can't get it from the healer so I'll bring some more by tomorrow morning. I made enough to last you through the night." They nodded before thanking her immensely.

"No really you owe us nothing, its what we do, we help people. You owe us nothing," Xena told them knowing that the grateful attitude would disappear when they realized Daniel was the reason Ares had shown up causing Mario to be attacked by the God of war.

"Its Daniel you should be thanking," Solan told them. "He's the one that dived under the water and saved Mario from drowning before carrying him away." Daniel looked at his brother from his place behind his mother. Solan didn't look at him though.

"Thank you Daniel you're a true friend."

"Thank you, but it was..."

"A miracle you didn't freeze like me," Solan put in. Xena remained silent.

"We have to go," Xena told them. They nodded finally letting them go.

"Why?" Daniel asked. "I only helped you find him in the water, but you saved him."

"Odd I remember you doing the saving," Solan told him. "Must have been the rush that's making you mix up events."

"Mommy did I?"

"You definitely had a hand in saving him," Xena answered. Daniel just continued to look confused before he just agreed with Solan assuming he would know better because he was older.

"Any particular reason?" Xena asked Solan later as they worked in the forge to pass the night. Xena couldn't sleep and Daniel was playing Mehen inside with Cyrene and the others.

"I was hoping to get Daniel to feel good about saving someone, its an intoxicating feeling and I don't want him to forget it. Mother he doesn't talk to you as much anymore, but he wants so badly to believe that he's good, to know that nothing could ever make him disappoint you by becoming ares' Pawn." Xena sighed.

"I know, I just don't know what to say to him, its not as simple as it use to be. He doesn't take me at my word as much as he use too on this particular matter. I think today was a wake up call for all of us." Solan nodded.

"He loves us so much and he's so afraid that he'll hurt us all."

"Next time he brings it up tell that his fear of hurting us is what separates him from Ares. He's less likely to do it."

"Are you sure mommy?" Daniel asked. They hadn't even heard him he was as quiet as Xena.

"Yes, very sure," Xena told him as she put down her hammer. "Besides you also have a few things Ares will never have."

"What's that?" Daniel asked.

"A family who will love you regardless of your actions. You know how to receive love and reciprocate love. And that is the fatal flaw of Ares, he can't. You can. "

"Doesn't that also make me more dangerous?" Daniel asked.

"No from love comes compassion and mercy. Love is what separates the Heroes from the Warlords. I know from experience." Daniel leaned against her as she put her arms around him in a familiar comforting manner.

"Mommy would you kill me?" Daniel asked.

"What?" Xena and Solan asked at the same time. Solan had stayed out of the conversation letting Daniel confide in Xena like he needed.

"if you had too would you kill me?" Daniel asked.

"What do you mean if I had too?"

"If I attacked you before I took over the world, would you kill me?"

"I can't answer that Daniel, I don't even want to think about ever making that choice."

"But I want you to promise me to do it, if I disappoint you."

"Honey I told you, that's impossible for you to achieve."

"No, no promise me please mommy." He looked up at her with blue eyes that mirrored her own and so full of sadness. Solan was just shocked to disbelief. "You have to promise me please."

"I c...c...can't Daniel you're my baby boy."

"Promise me mommy, I have to have your promise. I have to know that you will live even if I have to die."

"Daniel why are you asking me to kill you and than live with myself as if hurting you wasn't the worse thing I could ever do."

"Because I don't want you to die ever," Daniel cried. "I'll never forgive myself."

"Well than if it ever came to that maybe its for the best I die and you came to your senses."

"No mommy, I heard the woman about the prophecy in her sleep, if you die than the world is doomed. I don't want to kill you, I'll suffer for eternity without you if you die." Xena took a deep breath disgusted with herself as she knew the next words out of her mouth.

"Okay."

"Promise me, you never break your promises. Solan you promise me too if I come after you."

"I promise to spare mother from doing it if I can," Solan told him. Xena had told him about the prophecy before they had both fallen silent and she asked why he had told Daniel he'd been the one to save his friend when he hadn't.

"Mommy promise me, don't just say okay. You must stop me. I just know he'll want me to get rid of you first."

"I promise I will stop you by any means necessary. But you have my promise that I will exhaust every thing else before I ever consider killing you."