Chapter 1: Farewell

The Halls of War echoed with the distant clamor of soldiers sparring, sharpening weapons, and preparing for their next battle. Xena lay stretched across the oversized bed draped in black and red silks, a symbol of Ares' domain. For a decade now, she had held the title of Ares' Chosen, a name that once brought pride. But lately, the weight of that title felt more like a chain than an honor.

She stared up at the stone ceiling. Her body was tense despite the warmth of the bed. His army roared outside, but it wasn't her name they called. It wasn't her banner they flew. No, it was always his. She had spent years leading his forces, winning his wars, but it was Ares who stood tall in the eyes of the soldiers, receiving the glory. She had become a god's puppet, his chosen warrior, doing all the dirty work while he reaped the rewards.

Xena stretched lazily, her arms reaching above her head, feeling the muscles in her body pull. Ares shifted beside her. His amber eyes watched her, and he leaned down to kiss her. His lips brushed hers, and for a moment, that familiar fire ignited in her chest. It was the kind of kiss that made her blood run hot, the kind of kiss that used to make her forget everything else.

But now it was different. That fire came with something else: annoyance. The passion was still there, but underneath it was a bitter frustration. She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. His smug grin was still there, as if he could read her every thought, though she knew he couldn't see the growing storm inside her. His hand slid down her arm, possessive and confident, but she no longer cared for the way he tried to hold her so close.

"You've been quiet lately," he said, his voice low, rich, and full of that dangerous charm that once made her knees weak.

"I have nothing to say," Xena replied, her tone sharper than usual, though she kept her words simple.

He chuckled, brushing her hair from her face. "No more complaints about my army?"

Xena narrowed her eyes. His army. It was always about him, wasn't it? She had led that army into every battle, shed blood alongside those men, and yet it was still his army.

She pushed him back gently, sitting up and wrapping a sheet around herself as she looked out toward the large doors of the hall, where the faint sounds of chanting still carried. She could hear them shouting his name, praising their god of war. They should've been chanting her name, waving her banner, but somehow, somewhere along the way, she had become little more than his tool.

"It should be my name they call," she muttered, barely loud enough for Ares to hear, but she knew he did.

Ares smirked, standing beside the bed, his muscular frame casting a shadow over her. "They fight for me, Xena. Always have."

"They fight because I lead them," she snapped, her voice rising. "But when the dust settles, it's always you they praise. I'm tired of it, Ares."

His smile faded slightly, and he knelt in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. "You've always had the strength to stand on your own, Xena. But together...together, we're unstoppable."

Xena's jaw clenched as she looked down at him. Together, maybe. But she had started to realize that, in this partnership, she was the one who had done most of the work. He leaned down to kiss her again, but this time she turned her head, his lips brushing her cheek instead.

He paused, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something other than his usual arrogance—a spark of vulnerability, perhaps. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced with his familiar smirk.

"Don't forget who gave you this power, Xena," he whispered, his tone growing darker. "You're mine."

She met his gaze, her eyes hard. "I've never forgotten. But maybe you should remember who made you strong enough once they accepted this cursed title."

There was a tension between them now, thicker than the smoke that often hung in the air after a battle. Ares' eyes darkened, but he didn't reply. Xena stood and let the sheet fall to the floor. She swiftly got dressed and moved towards the door. The chants grew louder as she approached, and she couldn't help but feel that familiar pull—the desire to lead, to conquer, to claim the power she had earned.

But with every step she took, the chains that bound her to Ares felt heavier. She had fought long enough in his name. It was time for her to fight for herself.

Xena's boots hit the cold stone floor as she walked towards the door. Ares watched her, his eyes narrowing. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her back, but she didn't slow down. She was tired of this—tired of him. Her hand hovered on the door. It wasn't just the battles that weighed on her. It was everything. She'd spent so much of her life fighting, being Ares' chosen, but what did she have to show for it? She had power, respect, and fear—but love? A future? Someone who saw her as more than a weapon? Her heart was heavy.

She had dreams once. She wanted more than to just survive each fight. She wanted to live. To love. To be with someone who loved her for who she was, not for what she could do on the battlefield. Maybe even have children one day. She'd imagined a life where she wasn't constantly under Ares' control, where she could choose her own path. A life filled with more than just war.

But with Ares, there was no room for that. His hold on her was suffocating, always pulling her back into the fight, into the chaos. She wasn't sure if it was love he offered her or just his way of keeping her bound to him. And now, it felt like that future she wanted, the life she longed for, was slipping further and further away.

She wanted to break free, to find something real, something that was hers. She deserved that, didn't she? To have someone who could love her without trying to control her, who would stand with her after the battles were over, who would see her as more than just the warrior? Her fingers gripped the door handle, but she didn't turn it yet. She needed to stop pretending that this was enough.

"Where are you going?" Ares asked, his voice low, filled with irritation.

"Out!" Xena didn't bother to look back. She didn't owe him an explanation. Not anymore.

"You're not done here," he growled, standing up from the bed, his temper flaring.

"I wasn't finished with you." Xena's jaw tightened, and she stopped just shy of the door, her hand resting on the cold iron handle. She turned her head slightly, enough to glance back at him over her shoulder.

"Oh, I'm done, Ares," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've been done for a while now."

Ares was next to her in an instant, his godly speed letting him close the distance with ease. He grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not painful—yet.

"You think you can walk away from me, Xena? Me?" His tone was possessive, and his eyes were dark with anger. Xena turned fully now, pulling her arm from his grip. She wasn't some scared mortal, not even close. She met his gaze with a cold, defiant look.

"I'm not your toy, Ares. I'm the one who spills the blood, breaks the bones, takes the victory—but it's your name they shout. It's always about you, isn't it?"

Ares' nostrils flared as his temper rose. "You think you've been doing this alone, Xena? You wouldn't have gotten this far without me. I gave you this power, I made you who you are."

"You used me," Xena spat, stepping closer to him, her eyes blazing with fury. "And now, I've outgrown you."

Ares' hands clenched into fists, and for a moment, Xena thought he might strike her. But she didn't flinch. She welcomed the challenge, the fight. It was what made her feel alive.

His jaw tightened. "Outgrown me? You think you can just walk out of here?" Xena smiled, but it wasn't the kind of smile that held warmth. It was cold, the smile of someone who had already figured out her next move.

"Watch me." She turned to leave, but before she could take another step, Ares appeared in front of her, blocking the doorway. His expression was darker now, his temper rising.

"You're not leaving until I say you can." Xena met his gaze, her own temper rising to match his.

"Try and stop me." For a moment, they stood there, inches apart, locked in a silent battle of wills. Ares was a god, powerful and relentless, but Xena was a warrior, and she had never backed down from a fight. Not with him, not with anyone. Finally, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk.

"You think anyone else can handle you, Xena? You belong to me."

"I belong to no one," Xena shot back, her voice sharp. "Not anymore."

She pushed past him, her hand shoving his chest as she moved toward the door. He didn't try to stop her this time, though his eyes burned with anger and something else—something darker, something possessive.

"You'll be back," he called after her. "You always come back." Xena didn't respond. She didn't need to. She had heard his empty threats before. She had no intention of turning back this time. As she stepped out into the cold corridor, the heavy door slamming behind her, she could feel the weight lifting from her shoulders, but there was still a fire burning in her chest.

Inside her own chambers, she moved swiftly across the room. She threw open her wardrobe, yanking out her belongings and shoving them into her bag without care. She wanted to leave this temple behind, to get away from the suffocating feeling of being nothing more than Ares' weapon. Dresses, armor, trinkets—all things he had given her over the years—tossed into the bag without a second thought. She walked to her dresser and swept her perfumes and jewelry into the mix.

When she bent over to close the bag, she felt him before she saw him. The air in the room shifted, and she didn't hesitate. Xena pulled the dagger from her breastplate and threw it at him with deadly force. Ares dodged the blade effortlessly, not even flinching as it embedded itself into the wall behind him.

She straightened up, glaring at him. His eyes went from the dagger to the bag at her feet, and a smug grin crept across his face, the kind that made her want to punch it off.

"And where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. He took a step forward, closing the space between them with ease.

"I told you—I'm not through with you." Before she could move, he grabbed her, yanking her towards him roughly. Xena spat in his face, her eyes blazing with anger. Immediately, he slapped her across the face with the back of his hand. The force of it sent her head snapping to the side, pain radiating from her cheek.

But she wasn't afraid. She slowly turned her head back to face him with a cold expression. If looks could kill, Ares would have been dead on the spot. She braced herself for the next strike, but instead, his grip tightened on her shoulders, pulling her in close to him. His lips hovered near her ear, and she could feel the heat of his breath on her skin as he leaned in.

He kissed her neck softly, his fingers trailing down her arms. A familiar, burning desire ignited in her chest. Despite herself, her body responded to his touch. She hated how he could still make her feel this way, hated how her defenses crumbled whenever he was near. But she kept her body stiff, refusing to give in completely.

"You can't leave," Ares whispered, ensuring his lips grazed her ear.

"You belong to me, Xena. We both know it." Xena closed her eyes briefly, fighting the urge to melt into him. She didn't answer. Her mind was racing. Ares wasn't wrong—he knew her better than anyone, knew the dark hunger inside her, the thirst for power and bloodshed that they both thrived on. But she was tired of being in his shadow, tired of always playing second to a god.

He moved his hand down to her waist, pulling her even closer. Her pulse quickened. But then her eyes opened, and the fire inside her wasn't one of desire anymore—it was pure fury.

Before she could make her move, Ares grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down onto the bed with a force that knocked the air out of her. He was on top of her in an instant, his body pressing her down into the soft blankets, caging her in. He leaned down, his lips finding her neck again, tracing the familiar path that always made her blood boil.

Xena didn't react. She laid stiff beneath him, her jaw clenched, her mind racing. But no matter how hard she tried to keep control, she couldn't deny the effect he had on her. The heat inside her was growing, her pulse quickening, and Ares knew it.

He always knew it.

His hands roamed over her, his touch light at first, teasing. Slowly, his fingers slid down her body until they reached her center. He paused for a moment to look into her eyes. Taking his time, his fingers ran along her, feeling the unmistakable wetness there. Her body betrayed her, and she hated it.

Hated him.

Ares laughed, a deep, low sound that sent a shiver up her spine.

"Your mouth may lie to me," he murmured against her skin, his voice thick with smug satisfaction, "but your body never does."

Xena's eyes flashed with rage, but she still said nothing, her body torn between fury and burning desire. She knew he was right. He always knew how to push her, how to break down her defenses, and it infuriated her more than anything.

Her body tensed beneath him as her heart pounded in her chest. She hated how he always knew—how her body betrayed her every time. But as his fingers teased her center, she could feel her control slipping away. He had always had this power over her, and tonight was no different.

His lips found her neck again, kissing and biting gently, sending shivers down her spine. Xena squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the sensation down, but it was no use. The heat between them was building fast, and no amount of resistance could keep her from the inevitable.

"You may want to resist me, Xena," Ares murmured, his voice dark and thick with satisfaction, "but we both know how this ends." His fingers pressed harder against her, drawing a sharp gasp from her lips. She could no longer hold back the moan that followed.

Her body arched beneath him, her hands gripping the sheets tightly as the need for him took over. She cursed herself for giving in, for allowing this to happen again. But in the heat of the moment, that part of her that always fought Ares fell away, leaving only the desire that had been smoldering.

"Damn you," she whispered, her voice low and breathless, full of anger and need all at once. Ares grinned down at her.

"You can hate me all you want, but you'll still beg for more." And he was right. Xena reached up, her hands finding the back of his neck, pulling him down into a rough, hungry kiss. Ares responded immediately, his mouth claiming hers with a raw passion that mirrored the fire building between them. His hands roamed her body with growing intensity, gripping her hips as he pressed himself harder against her.

Xena moaned into his mouth, her anger dissolving into pure heat. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer, urging him on. Ares growled in approval, one hand sliding up her body to cup her breast, squeezing firmly as his mouth left hers to kiss down her neck and collarbone. His lips were everywhere—greedy, hungry, as if he couldn't get enough of her.

The tension between them snapped like a bowstring, and Xena surrendered completely to the wild passion she had tried so hard to suppress. She pushed him onto his back, taking control for a brief moment, her hips grinding against his with reckless abandon. Ares' hands gripped her thighs, his eyes locked on hers as they moved together, a tangle of limbs, heat, and desire.

"More," Xena demanded, her voice thick with need. She leaned down, her lips brushing against his as she whispered,

"Give me everything." Ares flipped her back over in one swift motion, pinning her beneath him again with a low growl.

"Oh, you'll get everything, Xena," he promised, his voice dark and dripping with raw power. And then, with one fierce thrust, he was inside her, filling her completely. Xena cried out, her nails digging into his back as their bodies moved together in a wild, frenzied rhythm. There was nothing gentle about it—no softness, only the raw, untamed passion that had always existed between them.

The room roared with the sounds of their breathless moans, the slap of skin on skin, the creaking of the bed beneath them as they pushed each other to the edge and beyond. Xena's body responded to him with an intensity that surprised even her, every nerve on fire, every touch igniting a new wave of pleasure.

Ares' pace quickened, his grip on her tightening as they moved faster, harder. Xena's back arched, her body trembling as she felt herself reaching the brink. She gasped his name, her voice straining with need and desperation, and that was all it took. Together, they shattered, the world around them disappearing as they found release in each other.

For a long moment, neither of them moved, their bodies tangled together, slick with sweat, their breathing heavy and uneven. Ares collapsed beside her, pulling her against his chest as they laid there, the heat of their passion still lingering in the air.

Xena closed her eyes, her mind racing with the plan she had been waiting to spring on him. Now that they had indulged in each other, she thought she could use this moment to finally get what she wanted from him. She shifted slightly, opening her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word, Ares turned to her.

"I know what you're about to ask," cutting her off before she could even begin. Xena froze, caught off guard. She narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to play it cool.

"Do you, now?" Her voice shook just a bit. Ares smirked, brushing a strand of her hair from her face.

"You think I don't know when you're plotting, Xena? You're always scheming something." She remained silent, waiting for him to continue. Ares leaned in, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered the words that made her blood boil.

"And the answer is no." Xena's jaw clenched in frustration, her body tensing again, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"You don't even know what I was going to ask." Ares laughed, clearly amused by her reaction.

"Oh, I know. You think I'm so distracted by this"—he gestured between them—"that I'll just give in. But I won't." Xena pushed herself up from the bed, rising to her full height and meeting his gaze.

"You think you know me? You don't understand what I want, Ares. You only see your side of this!"

"Oh, I see it perfectly," Ares shot back, rising as well. He raised an eyebrow, a cocky smile on his face.

"I know what you want. You want my army for yourself. You want them shouting your name and carrying your banner." He leaned back down against the headboard, watching her with interest.

"But you forget, my sweet, you're my chosen. Everything you do, you do for me." Xena's frustration boiled over as she slipped into her warrior outfit.

"I'm tired of being your doll! I want to be recognized for my own power, not just as your plaything!" Ares laughed, his voice low and teasing.

"You really think you can just take what's mine? You've always needed me to win battles and lead troops."

"I don't need you!" Xena snapped, pulling on her leather armor and strapping on her weapons. Ares swung his legs off the bed and stood.

"You'll come back, Xena. You always come back. You can't just walk away from this." With her bags now in hand, she shot him a fierce look.

"I'm leaving, Ares." As she turned to walk away, Ares called after her.

"Oh, like you left after you met Hercules?" His words were like a dagger. Xena spun around, her eyes blazing.

"You sent me to kill him!" His voice rose, sharp with anger,

"I didn't tell you to open your legs for him!" Xena's jaw clenched, her eyes darting away in irritation. Ares took a step closer, his words dripping with frustration.

"You let him feed you lies. He made you believe you could be some kind of warrior fighting against evil and look what happened. You came crawling back—just like I knew you would." She didn't say anything in response. She gave him a hard look and headed back towards the door.

"See you tomorrow, sweet." But she didn't look back. She had made her choice, and she was ready to fight for her own destiny, no matter what it took.