Chapter 13: Connection
Xena felt that familiar tingle that had exhilarated her life countless times before. She wrapped her covers tightly around her body, not wanting to expose any of herself to him. Ares appeared, sitting on the bed next to her. With a wave of his hand, he locked the door with a loud click. Xena's head swiftly turned towards the lock, her eyes narrowing as it clicked into place. She turned her back towards Ares, still clutching the covers around her body way too tight. She made an irritated sigh and asked,
"Why are you here, again?" Ares leaned back, propping himself up on one elbow.
"Can't a god visit an old friend?" he said with a smirk. Xena rolled her eyes, still not looking at him.
"Cut the crap, Ares. What do you want?" He sighed,
"I wanted to talk to you, Xena. About your... decisions."
"My decisions?" She turned slightly, just enough to catch his gaze.
"You mean Ulysses?" Ares' jaw tightened.
"He's not right for you, Xena. You know that." She scoffed.
"And you think you know what's best for me? You think I should go back to being your warrior, carrying your banner?" Ares shook his head, a spark of frustration in his eyes.
"It's not just about the battles. You are wasting your potential. You were meant for greatness, Xena. Not to be some mortal's wife." Xena's eyes flashed with anger.
"And what if I want to be more than just a warrior? What if I want peace, love, a family?"
"Peace?" Ares' voice was incredulous.
"Look around you, Xena. The world is never at peace. You thrive in chaos, in the fight. That's where you belong." She turned fully to face him, her grip on the covers loosening slightly. Her voice was softer, even vulnerable,
"Maybe I don't want to belong there anymore. I've had enough of the bloodshed, the pain." Ares leaned in closer, his voice softening.
"You think Ulysses can give you what you want? A quiet life, a peaceful one? That's not who you are, Xena. You'll grow bored —restless. You'll start craving the thrill, the challenge. And when that happens, he'll never understand." Xena looked down, as she considered his words for just a moment.
"And you think you do? You think you know me better than I know myself?"
"I do," Ares said firmly.
Melaina was getting ready to knock on the door until she heard Xena's voice. She was whispering. She could also very subtly hear another person's voice, a man maybe? But what man could be in there? Ulysses was still celebrating with the guests, and she had seen Gabrielle dancing with the prince right before she left. She placed her hand on the doorknob and it was locked. She leaned her ear closer to the door, but it was too thick to hear what anyone was saying. She walked away and pondered what was going on.
"I've seen you at your best, your strongest. You're not meant to fade into the background. You're a force of nature, and you need to embrace that." She looked up at him, her eyes searching his.
"So what do you want me to do? Leave him and run away with you? I'm not going to become your little warrior queen, Ares." Ares shook his head.
"I want you to remember who you are, Xena. Think about it. Is this really the life you want? Or are you just afraid of what it means to stay true to yourself?" Xena's mind raced, torn between the life she wanted, and the reality Ares was forcing her to confront.
"And what about you, Ares? What does any of this have to do with you?" She took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing at him. He looked off.
"This isn't about me at all, is it? It's about you and your pride. You can't stand the idea of me choosing a life that doesn't include you." Ares' expression hardened,
"Think what you want, Xena. But remember, you're the one who has to live with your choices." With that, he disappeared, leaving Xena alone with her thoughts, the echoes of his words lingering in the air. She lay back, staring at the ceiling, her mind clouded with doubt and confusion.
Ulysses had thanked his guests again as he told them farewell. They were still enjoying the festivities in the palace, but Ulysses couldn't stay up any longer. He looked in one corner and saw the prince and Gabrielle asleep, snuggled together on a pile of blankets. He smiled as he continued to make his way towards his love.
He figured she was probably asleep by now; the sun would be coming up in a few hours, and she had been left, exhausted. However, he just had to see her, even if she was asleep, just to lay his eyes on her before he closed his.
Melaina saw the king heading towards Xena's room. She slowly stopped where she was going, curious to see if there would be anyone in the room. Ulysses knocked softly on the door. No answer. He turned towards Melaina and asked,
"Do you know if Xena is in here?" Melaina nodded,
"Yes, she is." She was anxious to see him open the door. Ulysses opened the door, and the room was dark. He looked back at Melaina, who was leaning her head over, trying to see into the room. Ulysses smiled gently,
"That's all I wanted," before closing the door quietly behind him. Inside, he could barely make out the form of Xena under the covers. The room was filled with a peaceful silence, broken only by her soft breathing. He moved silently to her side, sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked so serene, so unlike the fierce warrior he knew. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, whispering,
"I love you, Xena."
For a moment, he just watched her, letting the quiet of the room soothe him. Then, feeling his own exhaustion creeping in, he rose and made his way to his own room, satisfied with the glimpse of her that would help him sleep soundly through the night. Xena could feel Ulysses' presence next to her as she slept. She peeped through her heavy eyes and saw him leaving.
"Ulysses," came her raspy voice. He stopped and went to her, sitting back down on the bed. She grabbed his hands,
"Don't you want to stay with your queen tonight?" Ulysses' heart almost beat out of his chest.
"Of course," he said eagerly, his eyes wide with surprise and joy. He went to the door and called for Melaina since she had been curious about what was happening with Xena.
"Yes, my king?" she asked.
"Bring me a pair of sleep clothes," he instructed. Xena interrupted,
"You won't need any of that." Ulysses grinned,
"Disregard," then closed the door. He walked back to Xena and began taking off his homecoming attire. Xena watched him, her eyes full of affection and amusement.
"You look exhausted," she murmured. He laughed softly,
"It has been a long day, but like I told you, you were the best part about it." He finished undressing and climbed into bed beside her. Xena unwrapped the cover from around her naked body and he pulled her into his arms. She nestled against him, feeling the warmth of his body and he pulled the covers back around them both.
"I'm glad you stayed," she whispered.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," Ulysses replied, kissing the top of her head. The room was dark and quiet, lit only by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. The events of the day had been overwhelming, but in this moment, everything else faded away. Ulysses looked into Xena's eyes, his hand gently caressing her cheek.
"I love you, Xena," he whispered, his voice full of emotion. Xena smiled, her heart swelling with affection.
"I love you too," she replied, her voice equally soft. He leaned in and captured her lips with his in a tender kiss. Their kiss deepened, filled with the passion that had been building between them. Ulysses' hands roamed over her body, exploring her curves with desire.
She responded eagerly as her hands traced the muscles of his back and pulled him closer. Their breaths grew heavier as the intensity of their connection increased with each touch. He stared into her eyes, and she stared back at him. She turned up the corner of her mouth, encouraging him onward.
"Are you sure?" Ulysses asked, his voice a husky whisper. Xena nodded, her eyes shining with love.
"Yes," she said simply. She guided him to where she wanted to feel him most, her breath catching as he settled between her legs. Ulysses leaned down and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His hands roamed over her body as he explored every curve and contour, eliciting soft moans from her lips.
He moved slowly, his touch gentle yet firm, building the anticipation with each caress. Xena's fingers tangled in his hair as she pulled him closer, their bodies pressed together. She felt the heat radiating from him while the desire in his touch mirrored her own. Ulysses paused for a moment, his eyes meeting hers again.
"I love you, Xena," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"I love you too," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
With a slow movement, he began to enter her, their bodies joining in an intimate dance. Xena gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders as he filled her completely. The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and love that left her breathless.
They moved together, their rhythm slow and sensual, each thrust deepening their connection. Ulysses kissed her neck, his lips trailing down to her collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Xena arched her back, her body responding to his every touch, her senses heightened.
"Ulysses," she moaned. He responded with a groan, his pace quickening as their passion intensified. Xena wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. The room was filled with the sounds of their lovemaking, their breaths mingling in the quiet night.
As they neared the edge, Ulysses reached down, his hand finding hers as their fingers intertwined. They locked eyes as the world around them faded away, their focus solely on each other. With one final thrust, they reached their climax together as their bodies trembled in unison.
Xena cried out, her nails digging into his back as waves of pleasure washed over her. Ulysses followed, his own release a powerful, overwhelming sensation that left him breathless. They clung to each other, riding the waves of ecstasy until they were spent.
Xena laid beside Ulysses while her breathing was still heavy from their lovemaking. The room was silent except for the sound of their breaths gradually returning to normal. She could feel Ulysses' hand tracing gentle patterns on her back, and the warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't just the physical connection that lingered; it was the sense of belonging and of finally being understood.
For a while, neither of them spoke because they were content to just be in each other's presence. But as the minutes passed, Xena's mind began to wander, and Ares' words echoed in her head, planting seeds of doubt. Was she truly meant for this life? Could she ever be satisfied with peace, or was she destined for the chaos Ares spoke of? Ulysses seemed to sense her inner turmoil. He shifted slightly while propping himself up on one elbow to look down at her.
"What's on your mind?" he asked softly. Xena hesitated because she didn't want to spoil the moment, but she knew she couldn't keep her thoughts from him.
"Do you ever wonder if we're... if I'm making the right choice?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ulysses' brow creased as he considered her question.
"What do you mean?" Xena took a deep breath while trying to find the right words.
"I've spent so long fighting, leading armies, and making enemies... and now, here I am, trying to build a life that's completely different from everything I've known. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm cut out for this. If I can really find peace, or if I'll just end up hurting you, hurting us."
Ulysses listened intently, and his heart ached for the woman he loved. He reached out while cupping her face in his hand and forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Xena, I love you for who you are, not just for who you've been. I know you've had a hard past, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a future filled with love and peace. We'll build that future together, and if the world tries to take it from us, we'll fight for it. Together." His words brought a lump to Xena's throat, and she found herself blinking back tears.
"I want to believe that," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. For the first time, there were no strings attached, no powerplay, no manipulation, no condition. She looked up at Ulysses,
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?" Ulysses asked, his eyes soft and tender.
"For loving me," she replied. Ulysses smiled, his heart swelling with affection.
"I'll always be here, Xena," he promised. "Always."
