THE PLOT THICKENS, X/A LOVERS !

For the following week, all interactions between Xena and her patron God took place on the training field. The anger had gradually dissolved from his dazzling hazel eyes, but now, instead of fire, a thin sheet of ice appeared to be covering their bewitching surface and although they did talk and they still changed smart repartees whenever an opportunity presented itself , something was missing….something that she longed for with all her heart, no matter how many times she told herself at night as she went to bed that her decision had been the correct one. She was desperately trying to convince herself that their so called relationship had been doomed from the very beginning- after all, she was young, inexperienced, he was an Olympian God that had the world at his feet….and yet….everything inside her yearned for his tender ministrations, for his hot breath on her lips, for that naughty gaze scanning her from head to toe like a hungry animal….

She also missed the power she had over him, the subtle way in which she used to bend his will, in which he would allow her to control him to a certain extent…She missed those flames burning in his eyes whenever their swords would collide and now that the first leaves were falling, she couldn't help thinking that she felt empty on the inside…She felt lonely…..

As for Ares, he had some time to do some soul searching during those long, weird days in which she had preferred to keep her distance from him. Now you might laugh, but every now and then, even the God of War himself felt the need to reevaluate his life ….and believe it or not, it didn't take him eternity to realize that the unusual mix of feelings that were drilling holes into his heart- like worms- had nothing to do with the midlife crises his aunt Hestia had suggested he was going through when she laid eyes on him one day up on Olympus and when, asking him if everything was ok – a pretty standard question that doesn't really require a very elaborate answer- the God replied that the bloody silence of that place was driving him crazy…

Actually it was his Princess the one driving him crazy, with every new encounter on the training ground, when, during their daily confrontations , she was just one tempting inch away from him, teasing him with her subtle jasmine perfume, allowing him to touch her soft skin for a brief second before she skillfully escaped his grasp, unconsciously creating situations in which he would have the upper hand only to get the chance to immobilize her for a few moments, their bodies like magnets, unable to stay away from each other for too long …..

What drove him even crazier though, were most likely those absolutely torturous moments, right before she went to bed, when, through their bond he could literally feel her longing, he could sense her strangling need to have his arms around her as she drifted to sleep…and though she had actually found a temporary replacement meant to comfort her and to cast the dark shadows of the night away ( his pillow) she still talked in her sleep….and countless times he had heard her calling his name…..For the love of Gaia, that always did a nasty number on his heart – it was almost worse than the disappointment in her had been…..And by the nine muses, was he disappointed !

To see her shamelessly flirt with a mere peasant, right there in front of him….defending him against all odds….It was not the humiliation itself that she had made him go through that had bothered him beyond reasoning, but more like the awareness that he had probably expected too much from their relationship….He had literally tried his best to be patient with her, to give her some space when she needed it to, to be his best version whenever he was around her-for her- and yet, it didn't seem to matter since she had allowed the first man to enter that accursed temple to get his filthy hands on her….

A whirlwind of emotions had hit them both full force in such a short amount of time-and still, there they were, formally holding hands again as they entered Artemis' temple, walking in silence towards the western wing, where, in a large garden, the Seasonal Banquet of the Chosen Ones was being hosted by the beautiful goddess of Chastity, Hunting and the Moon.

''So what exactly are we supposed to be doing here, again? ''she finally inquired, although he had already informed her the night before about this absolutely ridiculous but efficient celebration.

''You are supposed to unwind and have some fun for a change. Make friends, get drunk, chat with the other Chosen , enjoy the music, swap tips about how to get on your patron God's nerves…..Something along these lines…'' he answered on his old jocular tone that Xena had missed so much hearing. For nothing in the world would she have been able to stop that beaming smile from stretching the corners of her mouth….And it proved to be a contagious smile too since in no time it was being reflected on the War God's face as well, making his eyes shine just as bright, melting the ice for a few seconds.

A light kiss on the forehead, followed by a barely felt caress on her hand as he showed her to the comfortable corner in which most of the Chosen ones had already gathered- a place full of colorful sofas, accent pillows, small tables that instantly made one think about the mysterious lands from the far east that fishermen and merchants usually spoke about.

''Aren't you staying?'' she mustered the courage the inquire, tightening her hold the instant he intended to withdraw his hand from hers.

''I'll be right over there with my priceless relatives. Oh, the joy!'' he chuckled, his attitude making her instantly burst into laughter. He just couldn't stand his family and every single moment spent with them was like an aeon locked into the deepest pits of Tartarus- his words, not hers- and well…the dramatic expression painted on his face pretty much said it all.

''Why the…separation?'' she just had to ask, almost slapping herself when she realised how it actually sounded out loud and truth be told, the God did consider offering her a brutal enough reply to cut her soul open , but then again, the last thing he wanted was to ruin that night for her…..

''Well, this type of event is usually organized in order to allow you to know each other…'' he explained, pointing at the other Chosen. ''…which might prove quite useful in the long run…''

''What do you mean?''

''I think I'll let you discover that on your own …'' he replied, courteously kissing the back of her hand and heading towards the opposite side of the garden, where the Gods were joyously chatting about something.

The moment the Warrior Princess turned around, ready to mingle, she was shocked to see that literally all eyes were on her. But unlike the Olympian Ball they had attended some time earlier, Ares was no longer there to hold her hand and make her anxiety go away. She would have to deal with this on her own…..

XXX

''My, my! If it isn't the Chosen of War herself!'' a silvery voice could be heard from somewhere to her right, and as she identified its possessor, Xena could also detect the disdain that the previously used tonality had for some reason failed to convey but that could be easily noticed in the eyes of a tall, dark haired young woman who appeared to be visibly bothered by the Warrior Princess' clothing- judging by the ironic smile she displayed while she took her sweet time to scan her adversary.

''And you are? '' Xena simply demanded to know, unimpressed by the veiled aggressiveness of the woman's words.

''Illyria of Thebes…''she briefly introduced herself and instantly, cockiness replaced disdain, aware that her name would have been enough for any living being on the face of Zeus' green earth to bow their head in ultimate respect. She was a fierce warrior and her courage on the battlefield had helped her make a name for herself.

Xena had indeed heard stories about her, but she was well aware that more than half were mere exaggerations, so her reaction was not exactly the one that the famous champion had initially expected.

''Athena's Chosen…''

''They very same. ''

''I kinda thought you were taller…'' Xena stang, returning the smile and suddenly she could hear a constant murmur and low chatter amongst the other Chosen. Hardly had she arrived there and she was already stealing the show.

''That's what they all say right before I kick their sorry asses….'' came the equally caustic reply.

''Whoa there, ladies….This is a banquet, remember? In our honor if you can believe it! I mean how rare is that ?! Let's just enjoy it, shall we?'' a young man urged, courteously offering the Warrior Princess a drink.

''It is a pleasure to have you amongst us, Xena! You are even more gorgeous than the legends describe you!'' he praised, a charming, genuine smile playing on his lips.

Xena arched an eyebrow at him, trying to guess who was the god he had pledged allegiance to….He was a rather thin, curly man, in his thirties, and apart from those lively brown eyes and curly blond hair, he appeared to have an extremely pleasant personality.

''Alcibiades, my Lady. I serve Dionysus- good of ….''

''Wine '' she filled in the dots.

''And outrageously wild parties, if I may…Admirer of good looking women and fine men – he doesn't like to discriminate.''

''No one does when they're drunk…'' she sneered, much to the man's amusement.

''You do have a sharp tongue. Just like Ares. '' he remarked. ''I guess you can call it an occupational hazard, huh?''

''Guess so….''

''So why don't you allow me to give you a tour ? Let me introduce you to this noble assembly.'' he invited, offering her his arm, which she reluctantly accepted.

They first headed to a group of four girls who were still chatting quietly next to an olive three. They were all young and beautiful, but very simply dressed- a basic, white tunic- as Xena had previously remarked.

''This is Semele, Artemis' Chosen, Alcibiades began, taking another sip from the coup he had almost forgot he was still holding. ''….and here we have Melissa , Aphrodite's Chosen…''

''I am Dione. I serve Hestia .'' the third girl introduced herself, swiftly glancing at the intricate silver necklace decorating Xena's neck.

''And my name is Ino.'' said the fourth, in a slow, even voice.

''It's good to meet you all. I'm ….''

''Xena of Amphipolis – Chosen of War. We all know who you are- we all attended the Olympian Ball, remember?'' Semele cordially reminded, eyeing her curiously.

''So what exactly are we supposed to be doing here?'' the Warrior Princess decided to ask, hoping to divert their attention from her persona for once. She was starting to feel uneasy.

''Have some fun, chat, gossip about our patron gods….'' the man chuckled, already waiting for the backlash he was certain he was going to get from the women.

''That's a sin, Alci!'' Ino was the first to correct him, in a firmly raised voice.

''By Gaia herself , can't you help yourself for once? " Dione added almost simultaneously.

''Don't mind him. He's drunk .'' Semele explained, rolling her eyes at the wobbly Chosen of Dionysus.

''He's always drunk. '' Ino additionally stressed, giving Alcibiades a long, harsh stare.

''That's obviously an exaggeration. And trust me, they do gossip. That's all they ever do!'' he commented, ignoring the fact that the four women were standing right there in front of him, looking utterly displeased, too.

''Why don't you fetch us something to drink, my dear Alci? There's no one as skillful at picking a high-quality wine as you are ! '' Melissa , the Chosen of Love asked, sensually caressing his forearm.

''Anything for you, dove! '' he agreed, his heart almost bursting with joy. ''I'll be right back, my Lady.'' he made sure to let Xena know, winking at Melissa as he passed by her. ''I'll leave you in good hands!'' he added, glancing longingly at the object of his desire.

''What was that all about ?'' the Warrior Princess just had to ask, barely stifling a laugh.

''He's in love …''Semele explained, gracefully brushing her thick black hair with her fingers.

''Every season it's a different crush though….''Melissa made sure to mention, smiling widely at the girls. ''Last season it was Dione, right?''

''Yeah . and the season before that, it was Ennius. ''Ino intervened.

''Who's that ?''

''The tall young man over there." Melissa uttered, pointing in the opposite direction.'' He's Poseidon's Chosen ''

''Oh….''the Warrior Princess simply replied, frowning a bit at the awareness that these people must have been incredibly open minded when it came to their sexuality.

''So Xena….you have to tell us!''Ino was the first to start the conversation that was about to turn into a half an hour interrogatory. ''What's Ares like as a patron God ? I mean you are his first and only Chosen after all….''

'' I can't really compare it to anything else…..''she began, but it was obvious that the four women were not about to let her speak without interruption. They were just too anxious for that.

''Is it THAT good? ''

''Is he good in bed?''

''Is he a generous lover?

''Is it true that he's a real beast when it comes to sex?''

''Does he spend time with you outside the bedroom?''

''Is it true that he's impossible to satisfy ?''

''I heard that he can be very violent with women!"

''Has he taken you to an orgy thus far?"

''What?!'' the Warrior Princess inquired, frowning instantly upon hearing that last question- the only one that did managed to actually register her bombarded mind.

''He is definitely famous for those…'' Illyria made sure to add as she joined the bubbly group. ''Word has it he wouldn' t be able to keep it in his pants if his life depended on it….''

''That man would literally fuck everything that walks the earth….'' Semele laughed.

''Yeah but in his self defense, he's soooo handsome, girls! ''Melissa joined in the conversation .''It would be a crime against humanity not to share what the Fates have so generously endowed him with!'' she giggled, blushing at the mere thought.

''You tiny little slut!'' Semele jokingly exclaimed. ''You have been fucking with him behind our backs, haven't you ?'' she asked, all of them acting as if the Warrior Princess weren't even there.

''Just once or twice. The second time I was kinda drunk and I don't really remember much, but by all Gods and Goddesses, that first encounter ended with a phenomenal, as hot as Tartarus ride! I'm telling you I have never been so well fucked in my life, and as you all know I did have my share of men! I mean, I couldn't walk properly for days!'' she revealed, suddenly aware that she had been sharing way more information than she would have had too, and as she looked to her left, she finally noticed Xena's ice blue eyes literally drilling two holes inside her skull. ''Just so we're clear, that was before you came into the picture….Please don't tell Aphrodite! She'd kill me !''

''So it is true. He is good in bed!'' Ino concluded, biting her lower lip while her imagination started to run wild.

''He's a low scum that has no respect what so ever for women. He treats them all like old rags - fucks them and leaves them. That's the pattern . ''Illyria snorted, unable to believe her ears. Were these bimbos actually attracted to his type?

''You're wrong. He has treated me with nothing but respect from the moment I became his Chosen. And he's kind, gentle and considerate- extremely well mannered….''Xena contradicted, finally tired to listen to their ranting.

'' Wait till you know him better. He can play Prince Charming perfectly in the beginning but do keep your eyes wide open for the disaster that's probably already heading your way... '' Dione warned, obviously having some information of her own.

''Anyway, why don't we change the subject? Ares will be Ares regardless of your personal opinion of him ….'' Xena suggested. '' What's it like to be a Chosen Dione ? Do you like it? Is this the life you wanted for yourself?''

''It's not a bad life if that's what you're asking . But it can be pretty boring and…''

''It sure can be if you spend most of the time at the temple worshiping Hestia !'' Semele scolded her friend.

''….I just miss my family so much sometimes….''Dione ended her line, sadness in her eyes.

''Well why don't you pay them a visit…?'' Xena asked, a normal question that made everyone burst into laughter though.

''Hestia would never allow that. They never do…''Dione explained, reading the Warrior Princess' confusion .

''What ?Why ?''

''She says that in order to be a good Chosen I must leave my past behind -my family included….And she does have a point, but…sometimes I would give anything to feel my mom's arms around me again…..'' she barely whispered, looking away. There were tears in her eyes…

''That's ridiculous!'' Xena exclaimed. ''Ares would never forbid that!''

''Yeah, right!'' Illyria intervened, once again shaking Xena's confidence to the ground. ''Have you asked him?''

''No. But that's only because I don't get along well with my family…..''she explained, and she would have added a few more details to that when Alcibiades showed up with the drinks …..

''Still alive, my Lady? Haven't these jealous harpies eaten you alive yet ?'' he inquired on the same humorous tone as before, but this time, the Warrior Princess didn't feel like laughing…..

''Maybe it's time to introduce you to the guys…..'' he suggested, offering his arm again. ''I swear they are a way better company …''