Sweet Surrender: Transgressions
Chapter XVII: Crossroads
Argo whinnied as she watched Xena pat down the hay and settle into her weathered bedroll.
"Just you and me tonight, girl." Xena cooed to her trusty mare. The horse neighed and bobbed her head around, clearly enjoying the attention from her mistress. Xena stretched out flat on her back. Crossing one leg over the other, she stared upwards at the rafters as she lazily rubbed her belly. She was finally coming to terms with her pregnancy. Although she still had lingering fears about the child's nature and about her ability to amicably co-parent with the God of War, Xena had already developed an undeniable bond with the child within her. She would love the child even if it was born with all of her and Ares' worst qualities. And, love was the strongest power on Earth, Xena assured herself. But her niggling subconscious reminded her that love had not been enough to save Hope. Xena frowned but continued to stroke her abdomen. "It's not going to be like that. Not for you. You're not Hope or her monstrous child. You can overcome your father's darkness. He's not pure evil. You were conceived in love, not as a tool of destruction and world domination."
"I'm not Dahak," Ares called as he walked into the barn.
Xena wondered that she hadn't felt his presence but she brushed it off as a result of being preoccupied with talking to the baby. "I know that you are not Dahak," Xena said as she sat up on her bedroll and watched him lean casually against the center barn support. Something about his nonchalant posture irked her. He never worried about their demons like she did. "But you didn't hesitate to jump in league with him, did you?" Xena sneered.
"I've already told you what a great mistake that was on my part. Still, the truth stands, I am not evil, Xena. Dark, manipulative, deceptive, and often wrathful but I don't live for the utter annihilation of mankind. In fact, I am quite smitten with some of you mortals. As I've always said, I only seek to see the human race flourish through the force of arms."
"That's just it, Ares. Humanity will never flourish through war, it's only in peace that we will realize our greatest potential."
"It seems as if we are at another philosophical impasse, my Dear."
"The crossroads of our lives." Xena agreed.
"It would seem," He walked closer to her. "Do you mind?" He gestured at the ground next to her.
A little shocked that he asked permission, but pleased by the fact that he chose to do so, Xena scooted over to give him room on her bedroll.
Argo nickered. Xena looked over at her mare and could almost see amusement in the animal's big eyes. Xena rolled her own baby blues then lay back down.
Ares lay down on his side and propped himself up on one elbow. He ran his forefinger down the length of her nose. "You are so beautiful, Xena. Even when you are simultaneously annoyed and turned on. And you were right earlier, this child was conceived in love."
"Eavesdropper," Xena charged but her voice broke, taking most of the accusation out of it.
"Guilty as charged." Ares leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. When Xena didn't protest, Ares moved his mouth over her ear. With hot breath against her skin, he whispered. "Are you sure you want to wait until tomorrow night because I am not sure I want to." Ares pressed himself against her hip. She could feel the heat of his need against the flesh of her outer thigh where the force of his thrust had forced her dress aside.
"Mmmmm," Xena moaned. "I was ready in the alley. It was you who decided we would wait. Remember?"
Deciding that he had made them suffer long enough, Ares took mouth with his own. He could taste the red wine that they'd shared at dinner on her tongue. Xena's whimpers as he kissed her threw his need into overdrive. His cock flared to full hardness. He didn't want to waste another minute outside of her. Driven by the fire inside of him, Ares roughly palmed Xena. Finding her soaked through her panties, he ripped them open.
Matching his fervor, Xena worked desperately to take off Ares' belt. With a clang the buckle of his belt clashed against her chakram as Xena tossed it in the pile with her armor. Xena reached into his leathers and took him into her hands, unable to wait for him to get his pants off. She needed to feel him. The velvety hardness that for her was the mark of the God of War. Only he could be so rough and gentle at the same time.
Xena was so lost in the anticipation of feeling him enter her that she almost didn't hear the terrified scream coming from the yard. She put a stalling hand on Ares' chest as he moved atop her, finally having managed to get his pants below his hips. Ares pressed his head into her. "Ummmm,noo,mmmm, stop," Xena pushed Ares off and rolled away from him. She smoothed down her dress and grabbed her sword and chakram. Watching her jolt into action, Ares heard the screams for the first time. Fearing trouble, Ares snapped his fingers and they were both fully dressed and armed.
.Xena almost tripped as her boots appeared suddenly on her feet but she adjusted after a beat and sheathed her sword and attached her chakram to her waist as she surveyed the danger. It was dark but Xena could see a figure running from the treeline. As the figure ran frantically closer, Xena's sharp eyes could see that it was Aleta. Her night dress was torn exposing her breast which bore angry bite marks. Xena caught a glint of metal from the woods from where Aleta had run.
As Aleta neared, Xena finally understood the words that had only been incomprehensible screams moments before, "Kam, they've killed Kam."
Xena looked at Ares. Fury ripped across his face. Xena knew that Ares had developed a fondness for the boy.
"Where?" Xena grabbed Aleta and held her still with both hands.
"Down by the river, we were, we-uh-we, we sneaked out."
"It's okay, I understand. But I need to see if he's still alive."
Aleta was shaking her head back and forth. "He was trying to protect me from them. He told me to run. But they ran him through and came after me."
"Where by the river?" Xena shook her gently forcing her to look her in the eyes. "Focus. Think." Xena ordered.
"Near the rock outcropping." Aleta responded in anguish.
"I know the place." Xena confirmed.
Gabrielle came bounding out of the house, also roused by the yelling in the night.
"Gabrielle, tend to her. Ares and I are going to find Kam, Aleta, how many?"
"Two, but they are armed."
"Xena, be careful," Gabrielle warned with a glance to Xena's belly.
"I promise," Xena smiled and turned to Ares. "Let's go."
Xena started to sprint off but Ares grabbed her arm. "This is no time for your mortal stubbornness."
They disappeared and re-materialized near the rock outcropping. Xena could hear cries of pain accompanied by malicious laughter.
"Your whore got away," one of the thugs called to Kam. "Oh well, you have an ass, don't you?" he called as he worked to untie his pants.
"Thalen, hurry up, will you. I wanna piece of that while it's still warm, nothing worse than a cold fuck."
"Oh you're gonna know cold alright," Ares called as he grabbed both bandits in a chokehold using his powers.
"Ares, Ares," Xena called. She knew he was going to murder them. "Put them down."
"They are scum, Xena, and they deserve no less."
She knew he was right but it was against her new path. She needed to see that these men were brought to the proper authorities.
Kam writhed in pain. Xena knew she needed to tend to his wounds.
"Fuck it, Xena, you can hate me if you want to." Ares dropped the men, pulled his sword and before they could even stand, he'd decapitated them both. Their heads rolled down the bank, into the river, and bobbed along with the current. Ares ran to Kam's side.
"Aleta?" Kam choked out.
"She' safe, the girl is safe." Ares answered.
"Good," the boy called and collapsed in Ares' arms."
"Nooooooo," Ares bellowed. He quickly ran his hands along the boy's torso searching for the wound. He found it and concentrated all of his energy there. His hands started to glow and soon, Kam's body was irradiated from head to toe.
Xena had to step a few feet back. His power was intoxicating. She didn't want to get lost in it.
Within minutes, Kam's eyes fluttered open and he was as good as new.
Ares extended his hand to the boy and helped him off the ground. "Next time, just sneak into the girl's room. It's too dangerous bringing her into the woods at night."
"Yes, sir," Kam looked down at what had once been a gaping wound. He looked at Ares with awe. "We were afraid we'd make too much noise."
Ares looked Kam over for any other wounds. Satisfied that the boy was out of mortal danger, Ares nodded and unclenched his jaw. He looked at the dead violators. "I am going to have to teach you to use a sword. You need to be able to defend yourself against thugs like these." Ares kicked their bodies into the river.
"Thank you, I owe you my life," Kam hugged Ares.
Ares awkwardly accepted the hug. "You owe me nothing."
Ares turned out of the hug and faced Xena.
Her lips curled in disgust. "Would've been nice to question them, at least."
"What for? We caught them in the act?" Ares defended his actions.
"Still, it would have been nice to know if they are part of a larger group of bandits in the area, or if they were out here alone."
Ares nodded, she had a point. If there was a group of marauders nearby, they'd need to work on securing the farm a little better. For the first time, he realized that his anger and care for the boy had caused him to act rashly. Was her way better? Was justice delayed, still justice?
Xena turned to Kam. "Let's get you back to the farm. How do you feel?" Xena asked.
"Incredible. Whatever he did. That was amazing." Kam looked at Ares with a new reverence.
"I let you bask in my full power while I healed you. You were lucky that the cut hadn't nicked any vital organs, that would've been beyond my capacity. Deep as it was, you won't even have a scar."
"Is that what it feels like to be immortal?" Kam asked.
"No, that's what if feels like to be a god." Ares grinned at Kam then cut his eyes to Xena.
Xena closed her eyes, remembering the feeling of his power as he'd healed the boy. All she had to do was ask and it was hers, all of it. Xena looked at the bloodstains on the ground at Ares' feet. She didn't deserve that kind of power. Never would.
