HOW ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF INTRIGUE, X/A FANS?
She had never been a fan of the rain. The simple fact that everything had to stop for awhile while water did its thing (getting drenched to the skin was out of the question-she hated that too) was beyond irritating to her. The mere sound of it would always bring back deeply buried memories of Lyceus and her- sitting on the porch back at the tavern or running through a flower field, anxious to get home, laughing their heads off, while, through the thick rain they caught glimpses of each other- precious moments that she missed with all her heart but that brought along with nostalgia, an infinite amount of suffering and grief.
It's no wonder that now, in the middle of the battle, as the first drops made their way towards the blood covered ground beneath her feet, she couldn't help those low, surprisingly explicit curses that left her lips.
Suddenly, she was in quite a hurry to slaughter what was left of that gods damned village- a few meaningless, rather young and stupid peasants that were still giving their best despite the fact that they were pretty much looking death in the eye at that point, as if there was still something left to defend, anyway- and call it a day.
She hadn't seen Ares at all since dawn. She could only assume he was in over his head with the latest battles between Sparta and Athens- a conflict he had wisely decided to keep her away from, much to her revolt. There she was, getting her sword dirty from the blood of a bunch of desperate villagers while history was being written by his troops, not very far actually from where her men had been camped.
''Chosen of War, my ass!'' she muttered in protest as she coldly beheaded the rabid young man running towards her . "Why in Zeus' name did he even look my way if he doesn't trust my fighting skills ?'' she hissed, wiping her blade clean on the ragged vest of the freshly dead body at her feet and frowning as she looked up at the now heavily pouring rain.
''Perfect! Just what we needed!'' she huffed. ''Kill the rest of them and sack the village!'' the emotionless order left her lips , followed by a long whistle asking her horse to come. In no time, she was ready to strike down yet another one of those wretched men left standing when, out of nowhere, a cold, sharp unusually thin blade ran through her flesh, piercing her back and exiting right below her left breast .
As the metal was drawn from her body, anticipating a second strike, young Xena turned around to defend herself but all she could see was a dark, hooded figure galloping in the opposite direction. She briefly considered chasing it but before she could act on those reckless thoughts, she could already sense the devastating effects of the attack-in the form of a crushing pain spreading through her entire back- and for a moment she even felt like vomiting. She hastily grabbed the horse's reins and asked it to take her back to camp. Much to her surprise, the animal- although perfectly trained- bluntly defying her request, headed full speed across the hill, straight towards Ares' temple instead.
''You're heading the wrong way, boy.'' was all she managed to whisper right before she gradually began to lose contact with reality. She had been cut before but there was something different about this one ….Whoever her attacker had been, he knew precisely what he was doing, where and how to plunge that sword ….
As the horse jumped over a small ditch, the Warrior Princess gnashed her teeth as the uncommon sensation of her burning wound ripping apart even more left her breathless for a few seconds and though she knew it was just a signal her body was sending her in order to keep her awake, thus maximizing her chances to stay alive, she couldn't help thinking that passing out -although a luxury she was well aware she couldn't afford- had never appeared like a more attractive option.
Behind her, a mix of blood, water and mud left an incontestable proof that something dramatic enough had happened. Moments later, another cloaked figure could be seen riding towards her, this time on a pitch black stallion , and as it finally reached her horse, he grabbed the reins, urging the loyal animal to stop.
''It's ok, boy, it's ok, It's me! '' he exclaimed, patting the horse as he descended his own, grabbing the Warrior Princess' limp body and vanishing in a flash of blue light .
From behind the trees, for one meaningless second, a dark red flash could be seen leaving the premises.
XXX
Felling the intense distress coming from the special connection she shared with her brother, Aphrodite instantly vanished from the fancy nail salon in Mycenae where she had decided to spend at least half of her day, hoping to get that perfect shade of pink she had been dreaming about for the last week . No matter how hard she tried, she could never get it right, but maybe a professional nail tech could ….It was literally her last hope.
''Stud Muffin?'' she slowly uttered as she materialized in the room where she could feel her brother's energy. ''What happened?!" she barely voiced, the moment she noticed the Warrior Princess's body, all covered in blood, lying on the bed.
''Not a good time, Sis. Get out...''he dismissively retorted, on a tone that she immediately realized she had never heard him use before. He had definitely sounded off, she couldn't help thinking but as he turned around, probably ready to yell his previous order in her face just to make her understand what he had obviously failed to do the first time, what she saw in his eyes made her heart stop for a few seconds. Fear, despair, guilt and rage, were all floating on the liquid surface of his amber moons.
''Can I help in any way ? I would do anything… ''she offered, right as he was ready to snap at her.
'' Unless you have healing powers I know nothing about, I don't thin k so….''
Taking a few cautious steps towards the bed, the Love Goddess gently touched Xena's forehead.
''She's dying …..'' she murmured, casting a worried glance back at her brother.
'' You think?! '' he countered, pointing at the crimson bandage from which fresh blood was once again oozing.
'' What if we combine our powers, Ar? Daddy doesn't have to know and I won't tell a soul , I promise…..''
''It's no use. It's too deep and she has already lost too much blood…''
''Well... what other options are there ?!"
''That was precisely what I was trying to figure out when you showed up, so shut up already and let me think!'' he yelled this time, making his sister flinch.
''What if you do this the old fashion way and ask Thena for help….? " Love innocently suggested." I mean she is your Chosen…She wouldn't refuse ….''
''Are you kidding me ?! That bitch would rather lose her right arm before she lifted a finger to heal Xena !''
''It's worth the try ….Ares….she doesn't have much time…''
One full minute of pacing back and forth, and the son of Zeus was out of the room. Dite was right .That was his Princess' only chance and although the mere thought of having to demean himself to the point where he actually had to ask for Athena's intervention sickened him, he was desperate enough to do it ….
XXX
''Courtesy call, dear Brother ?'' the Goddess asked, dismissing her priestesses , but without actually making eye contact with him. She was way too pissed for the audacity he had to launch yet another attack on Athens . His brutes had butchered almost half of her finest men…and yet, there he was….standing in front of her throne as if nothing had happened.
''Not in this lifetime…..'' he barked back, making a real effort not to jump at her throat. He already suspected what had happened on that battlefield and it had his sister's name written all over it..
''Why are you here then? To ask for mercy, maybe?'' she laughed. A bitter laugh, obviously, as the War God himself could easily tell.
''Mercy ? Are you out of your freaking mind ?! I'm winning! ''
"For now….How's your precious Xena, by the way ? Rumor has it she's dying….''she nonchalantly interrogated, a glorious smile spreading on her face at his reaction.
''If I ever find out that you had anything to do with it, Athena, I swear it on the Styx…''
''Save your breath. I didn't ….I couldn't care less about your inexperienced Chosen. She's obviously no match for my warriors given that you cowardly decided to keep her on the sidelines these days ….''
There was a short pause in which both gods eyed each other menacingly …..Still, a few seconds later , the wise daughter of Zeus continued:
"So what do you want? Why are you here?''
Another pause. This one longer, and way more uncomfortable for Ares.
'' I 'm willing to make you an offer …''
" Oh ? '' she inquired, mockingly feigning surprise.
''I might feel generous enough as to allow your troops say…. a week to regroup. Enough time for you to rally your defenses, receive some supply, build some new alliances if needed, yadda , yadda, yadda ...''
''A truce…. You don't say ! And all this generosity comes with …what price ? Wait…don't tell me ….Healing your Chosen ?"
Ares' noisy gulp made her burst into laughter-no trace of bitterness in it, this time.
''Are you that desperate as to actually believe that I will personally help you sharpen the weapon that would make all our heads fall -according to every single legend known out there ?"
''You're the Goddess of Wisdom Sis. I somehow doubt you take for granted all the mambo jumbo you read….or hear….'' he fought back, trying to keep his composure and play his hand as well as he could.
'' Come on Ares! One doesn't even have to be too bright to realize what you'd be up to if Xena were to survive …''
''How do you even know about that, by the way ?''
''What can I say ? Good news travel fast…'' she stang, her eyes glistening with mischief. She was definitely enjoying their little banter.
'' So ? Interested? '' he pushed, eager to get an answer already .
''As useful as your offer would be to me, Father would never forgive me if I sacrificed Olympian lives in exchange for the ones of my soldiers – cause that's exactly what will happen if I heal her….''
''What makes you so sure ? You don't know the first thing about her.''
''Oh, but I know you. You're so blinded by your lust for power that you wouldn't think twice about sacrificing your own keen to get it, let alone her ….And that is something I would never allow as long as it's up for me to stop it- and today is that day….Plus….I kinda enjoy seeing you hopeless….defeated like this…..You more than deserve it brother. Remember Diomedes? ''
''It was a fair fight….''
''Not in my book! '' she venomously spat, glaring daggers at the War God .''It's high time you paid for that! ''
'' Is it me or you have just admitted your involvement in…?''
'' Cut the crap Ares! I would never risk my position in Olympus for a mortal whore!''
''Oh, I'm gonaa…''
''Did you hear that ?!'' she swiftly interrupted him , narrowing her eyes, seemingly focused on something that wasn't supposed to miss.
He just frowned slightly, failing to understand what she meant.
''Tick tock , brother !….It's a good thing you're always wearing your mourning attire…This way, you're all set for the main event. '' she mocked and vanished from the place before the energy ball that Ares threw at her full force, hit her throne, blowing it to smithereens..
