Chapter 11: Changes

The sun's rays filled the balcony as Xena tossed and turned in her bed. Soon, she knew it would be time for her to get ready. She was excited about today now, however, she felt uneasy, nervous, if you will. She knew that today was not about her, but something just didn't feel quite right. It was almost like going into battle. The calm before the storm. She looked at Gabrielle who was asleep with her mouth open, not a care in the world. Why couldn't she feel this relaxed. Who was she kidding, she knew exactly what the problem was. Ares! The bastard was still in the palace and not only that, he was going to ride with her and Ulysses during the parade through the kingdom. She hoped that part wasn't true however she felt like it was.

A soft knock at the door disturbed her thoughts. She rose from the bed to answer the door. To her surprise, stood Zephyra, Lysandra, Olympia, and Melaina. Their hands were full of items. Zephyra spoke first,

"My lady, we are here to help you and Gabrielle get ready." Xena looked back at Gabrielle, who was still snoring.

"I don't think we're quite ready. We still need to take our baths."

"It's no problem, my lady. We still need to get setup. We will be here when you get back." Xena opened the door wider so the women could enter with all their supplies. Xena watched them carry in her and Gabrielle's dresses, jewelry, makeup, and other girly items she had no intention on wearing. She slowly walked over to Gabrielle and woke her up. Gabrielle squinted her eyes and looked around the room at the women moving about, getting their things setup. She let out a sigh as she rose from the bed.

"I guess it's that time huh?"

"Yep."

Both of the women walked out the room together, heading towards the bathhall.

Xena sat on the edge of the marble tub while her fingers traced patterns on the water's surface. Despite the warmth enveloping her, a chill of unease lingered in her heart. The soft sounds of water filled the room.

As the steam from the bath rose around her, Xena couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at her. The thought of Ares accompanying them in the carriage tightened her chest, stirring old memories she'd rather forget. She tightened her grip on the edge of the tub as her muscles tensed with anticipation. Beside her, Gabrielle hummed a cheerful tune, oblivious to Xena's inner turmoil.

"Are you alright, Xena?" Gabrielle's voice broke through Xena's thoughts. Xena forced a fake smile.

"Just preoccupied with the festivities, Gabrielle," she replied, though her tone lacked conviction. She hoped Gabrielle wouldn't see through her. With a deep breath, Xena pushed herself upright. The water cascaded off her skin as she stepped out of the tub. She wrapped herself in a plush towel. The fabric was soft against her damp skin. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she steeled herself for the day ahead.

Zephyra, Lysandra, Olympia, and Melaina were busy helping Xena and Gabrielle get ready for the festivities. Xena sat at the vanity while the women put jewels and accessories on her. Zephyra smiled as she fastened a sparkling necklace around Xena's neck.

"There, now you'll shine as bright as the stars," she said with a smile. Melaina carelessly caused Xena's head to jerk while she curled her hair.

"Easy on the curls, Melaina," Xena interjected, wincing .

"Sorry, my lady," Melaina replied sheepishly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Beside her, Gabrielle stifled a laugh.

"You'll get used to it, Xena," she teased. Once the women were done, they led Xena to the floor length mirror. The women eyes sparkled, proud of their work.

"She looks like a queen," Lysandra whispered.

"No, she looks like goddess," Zephyra corrected. Gabrielle laughed at Xena's bemused expression.

"You're not used to all this fuss, are you?" she teased. Xena shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips.

"Definitely not my usual attire," she admitted.

"Well Xena, you look amazing. I bet you Ulysses' eyes are gonna pop out his head." Then she leaned in closer to Xena's ear,

"Ares' too." Xena rolled her eyes at that reminder.

Ulysses paced at the front of the palace, glancing frequently towards the corner where he knew Xena would appear. The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the courtyard, and the sounds of preparations filled the air. He fiddled with the edge of his cape, trying to calm his racing heart.

His mind raced with thoughts of the day, seeing his people, and of one moment he had been anticipating above all others. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and then he heard a faint rustle and the soft click of sandals on the stone path. He turned, and there she was.

Xena rounded the corner, her red and gold dress catching the light in a way that made her seem to shimmer. Her hair was styled elegantly, cascading in waves that framed her face perfectly. She moved with effortless grace, and her eyes met his with a warmth that made his heart skip a beat.

For a moment, everything else faded away. The noise, the people, the day's worries—all of it disappeared as he took in the sight of her. She took his breath away. He felt as if he was seeing her for the first time, all over again.

"Xena," he whispered, his voice barely audible, even to himself.

She smiled at him, a radiant smile that made his heart swell with emotion. She walked towards him, and as she got closer, he could see the small details—the sparkle of the jewels, the delicate curls in her hair, the way her dress flowed around her. Ulysses couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot, completely captivated by her presence. When she finally stood before him, he found his voice again, though it was thick with emotion.

"Xena, you... you look incredible," he managed to say, his eyes never leaving hers. She blushed slightly, a rare and beautiful sight.

"Thank you, Ulysses. You look quite dashing yourself," she replied, her voice soft and genuine. He reached out, taking her hand gently.

"Are you ready for today?" she asked, though she knew he was. He nodded, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"With you by my side, I'm ready for anything." Ulysses felt a surge of love and admiration for her. He took a deep breath, letting the feeling fill him completely.

"Let's go, then," he said, leading her towards the awaiting carriage. His heart was still racing, but now it was with the excitement of the day and the joy of having Xena with him. He led Xena to the grand carriage, its open top allowing everyone to see them as they made their way through the city.

The carriage gleamed in the afternoon sun. He climbed in first, then turned to help Xena inside. Once she was settled, he pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her waist. She laid her head on his shoulder, finding comfort in his embrace.

"Ready?" Ulysses asked softly, his breath warm against her ear.

"Ready," Xena replied, her voice calm despite the fluttering nerves in her stomach. However, just as the carriage was about to set off, a commotion drew their attention. Melaina appeared, leading Ares towards their carriage. Xena tensed immediately, her eyes narrowing as she watched him approach. He was the last person she wanted to see, and he knew it. Ares smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"I hope there's room for one more," he said, his voice smooth and confident. Ulysses frowned slightly but nodded.

"Of course, Lord Ares," he said. Though his tone was polite, there was a hint of reluctance.

"Join us." Ares climbed into the carriage, settling himself across from Ulysses and Xena. His gaze lingered on Xena, who pointedly looked away, her jaw tightening in frustration.

"Isn't this a lovely scene," Ares remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Yes, Lord Ares, the turnout is quite surprising." Xena ignored him, focusing instead on the feel of Ulysses' arm around her and the steady beat of his heart under her ear. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that this day was about Ulysses and his homecoming.

As the carriage began to move, the crowd's cheers grew louder. Ulysses waved, smiling warmly at his people, while Xena managed a polite smile, though her thoughts were far from the celebration. Ares continued to watch her, his presence a dark shadow over the otherwise joyous occasion. Ulysses, misinterpreting Xena's tension, leaned down to whisper in her ear,

"Don't be nervous. You're doing great, and the people are accepting to see you by my side." Xena forced a smile, though inside she was seething.

"I'll try," she murmured back, focusing on the feel of Ulysses' arm around her. Ares watched from across the carriage, his eyes fixed on Ulysses and Xena. The crowd's cheers were a distant roar compared to the silent battle waging within him. He couldn't tear his gaze away as Ulysses' hand moved slowly and tenderly along Xena's waist, then up to her shoulder, and down to rest on her thigh.

Each touch was a deliberate gesture of affection, and Ares felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest. He tried to dismiss it, chalking it up to annoyance, but the feeling only grew stronger with every caress Ulysses bestowed upon Xena.

Ulysses' hand lingered on Xena's thigh while his fingers gently traced circles through the fabric of her dress. Xena leaned into his touch; her eyes closed for a moment as if savoring the simple intimacy. Ares' jaw clenched, a strange heat rising within him. He didn't understand why it bothered him so much, why the sight of them together sparked this deep-seated frustration. Ulysses began to stroke Xena's hair,

"Is everything alright?" he asked her softly, his eyes full of concern.

"Yes," Xena lied, managing a small smile for his sake. "Everything's fine."

Ares watched with low eyes as Ulysses leaned into Xena and captured her lips. Rage ignited inside him, and his fingers sparked, threatening to unleash a fireball straight into Ulysses' chest. The way Xena smiled at Ulysses when she pulled back made him want to throw one at her too.

Xena noticed his annoying stare, the intensity of his gaze like a burning brand against her skin. She tried to stay focused on the crowd, waving and smiling at the cheering people, but the searing burn of Ares' eyes kept drawing her attention back to him. She could feel his frustration and anger radiating toward her, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.

Ares clenched his fists, the fire within him barely contained. His eyes followed Ulysses' hand as it moved slowly and tenderly, massaging Xena's waist and thigh all over again. Every touch made Ares' blood boil. He didn't understand why he felt this way, only that the sight of them together was unbearable.

Ulysses leaned closer to Xena, whispering sweet words that only she could hear. Her laughter, soft and genuine, was like a knife twisting in Ares' gut. He tried to look away, to focus on anything else, but his eyes kept drifting back to them. The way Ulysses' fingers brushed against Xena's arm, the way she leaned into him, it all made Ares feel a surge of possessiveness and anger.

His powers crackled under the surface, threatening to break free. Xena tried to ignore Ares as she leaned into Ulysses, drawing comfort from his presence, but her mind kept drifting back to Ares. What did he want? Why was he so focused on her?

Ares' thoughts were a storm of confusion and jealousy. Why did it matter to him who Xena was with? However, seeing her with Ulysses stirred something primal within him, a feeling of loss, of something slipping through his fingers that he never realized he needed.

Xena could feel the tension rising higher and higher, to the point to where it was almost suffocating. She glanced over at Ares, meeting his eyes for just a moment. The raw emotion she saw there was startling, and it made her heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away, focusing on the crowd once more, but the image of Ares' intense stare was burned into her mind.

Ares' frustration grew with every passing moment. He watched as Xena tried to focus on the crowd, but her eyes kept flickering back to him. He saw the unease in her gaze. The carriage ride seemed endless, each moment stretching out as he battled with his own feelings.