Outside the temple Ares waited impatiently. It had almost been twenty
minutes now and they hadn't returned. His first thoughts were of anger.
He had things to get done and they were taking up his time. However, the
more he thought about what they could be doing the more he began to get
worried. The task shouldn't be taking this long, something was wrong.
Ares hesitated for a second, not wanting to think of the worst. He had to check though, so without a second thought he made his way quickly to the doors of the temple.
As he reached to open the large doors a wave of terror swept over him. He entered the dark room and there was silence. The first thing he spotted was Gabrielle's still form lying on the cold tile. Ares suddenly felt a wave of horror, he would never admit it but he actually cared for the bard...a little.
Ares ran to Gabrielle's side and started shaking her frantically telling her to wake up. He was in a hurry not just because he wanted to make sure she was alright but because he needed to start looking for Xena.
A few more seconds later Gabrielle's eyes slowly opened.
"You ok?" Ares asked her holding her head up. Gabrielle squinted.
"I'm fine, where's Xena?"
Ares eyes filled with concern. He didn't answer Gabrielle. He forgot all about her when his eyes began searching the room and he discovered Xena's body laying by the altar.
Ares immediately stood and ran with huge strides to where his beloved lay.
Gabrielle was still adjusting and her surroundings seemed blurry, but she could still see enough to tell what had happened.
Ares took Xena in his arms and held her taking two of his fingers and pressing them gently on her neck searching for a pulse.
Gabrielle quickly ran over to his side and held Xena's hand, tears threatening her eyes.
"Is she..."
Ares looked over to the young bard. "She's alive...for now."
Gabrielle pursed her lips trying her best remain calm. "Can you help her?"
Ares grew a determined stoic face and he rose from the ground with Xena in his arms as if she weighed nothing. "She's not going to die."
Gabrielle grew more confident as well. She knew Xena was too stubborn to die and that Ares loved her too much to let her.
Gabrielle took the Bonus Sword from the floor and they left the temple as quick as possible. As soon as they were out, Ares transported them back to where they had left.
Ares looked to Gabrielle urgently.
"Take the sword to the Athenians, help them."
Gabrielle hesitated. She didn't want to leave Xena not now, not when she was like this. Usually she would be cautious of leaving Xena alone with Ares especially in that condition, but for some odd reason she felt comforted that he was here, that he would take care of her. Gabrielle just wanted to be there to take care of her as well. She knew she had to do the right thing though. Helping Athens came first. It's what Xena would want her to do.
Gabrielle slightly nodded to Ares in thanks. She stepped close to him and looked at Xena who was still in his arms and kissed her forehead gently. A tear almost fell from her eye and before Ares could see it she turned from him and ran.
Ares watched her leave and then he disappeared.
Ares laid her down gently onto his large bed in his chambers at the Halls of War. When he pulled his arms slowly out from under her, his hands were covered in her blood. She had lost a lot of it and if he didn't stop it soon she would die. He carefully and slowly rolled her onto her stomach so he could care for the wound. Luckily, the sword hadn't penetrated all the way through, and it was off to one side and hadn't seemed to hit any main organs, if it had she would be dead already. With a snap of his fingers everything he wound need to mend the wound was on a table next to the bedside where he kneeled beside her.
The first thing he had to do was remove her clothing, with out injuring her any worse then she already was. If this had been any other situation he might have found this arousing. He didn't have time to think about how beautiful she was right now. One look at the naked wound and he started to work faster. The more blood seemed to flow from it every time he wiped it away. Ares tried his best to cleanse the wound using every healing ointment he could think of. When he was finally sure it was clean enough, he folded a sterile white cloth into the shape of a square and pressed it against the wound. He then took a long cloth and wrapped it tightly around her torso. The presser would hopefully stop the bleeding.
All Ares could do right now was make sure she was comfortable and wait.
The room was silent and dark. Ares wasn't much for colors, especially bright ones. All of the décor in his temple was either black or dark red, even the bed that Xena was still fast asleep on. She had been like that for two days now and Ares hadn't left her side once. Suddenly none of his wars, none of his armies meant anything to him. He didn't want to leave Xena alone, not until he knew for sure she would be ok. He had been keeping an eye on Gabrielle and how she was doing. Yesterday he had a messenger tell her how Xena was holding up. He told her she was fine. He didn't want to tell her to much, didn't want her to worry.
Now he was asleep next her. Gods rarely ever get tired but he was drained from everything that had happened lately. So last night he pulled up a chair next to the bed after he had finished changing her bandages and fell asleep with his head in his arms on the bed next to Xena.
There were no windows in the room, scenery wasn't Ares style. But it was probably going on the third day. Xena's wound had stopped bleeding and would start healing soon.
Xena felt warm, a little uncomfortable. All her muscles were tight and sore. She shifted in bed but soon remembered why she was lying in bed. The guard at the temple at stabbed her. Now where was she? Xena slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She recognized this place. It was the halls of war. The place made her uncomfortable especially since she wasn't warring any clothes. But she was thankful she was here and not in the afterlife. Ares had tended her wounds with expert care. Ares? That's when she spotted him. Fast asleep at her side. He looked so peaceful, almost like the mortal Ares.
Xena reached out to him. She didn't mean to wake him but as soon as she touched his arm he flinched and his eyes shot opened.
"Xena!" He smiled. He had waited almost three days for her to wake up.
Xena smiled back at him, his smile was contagious. She tried to shift in the bed to make herself more comfortable but a sharp pain rushed through her body and she tried not to wince. She didn't want him to know that it hurt so much.
"You know, this is the third morning in a row that I've woken up naked in your bed."
Ares smiled at her again and took her hand gently in his. He always had appreciated her sense of humor. He adjusted her pillow for her.
"How are you feeling?"
Xena offered him a crooked smile and closed her eyes. "Oh...like I've been stabbed in the back."
Ares frowned at her. "Your in pain," he sated simply with out a doubt and tired to help her get more comfortable.
"How do you know how I feel," She felt invaded. She could never keep things from him very well, and this time she thought she was hiding her pain well.
Ares smiled. He was always surprised at how shocked Xena was when he knew something she didn't think he knew. He knew her better then she thought.
"Because I know you only make lame jokes when you're in pain."
He was right. Xena wasn't angry that he knew this though. It actually made her feel good. She appreciated that he knew her so well.
It was silent. Xena suddenly forgot all about her wound when she thought about Gabrielle. What had happened to her friend? The last thing she could remember was Gabrielle lying unconscious.
Xena sat up quickly and winced in pain.
"Where is Gabrielle, is she alright?"
Ares took Xena in his arms and lowered her back onto the bed. He couldn't risk the wound opening again and bleeding more.
"Xena, Gabrielle is fine, you don't have to worry," Ares said as calmly as possible. He didn't want to upset her.
Xena tried to sit up again. "I have to see her!" She demanded.
Ares grew frustrated. Xena was in no condition to leave this bed and she knew it. He took her once again and held her on the bed.
"Trust me! She is helping the Athenians, their wining."
Xena realized she was acting silly. She had no reason to not trust Ares. Xena finally relaxed in his arms and he released her. He had done a lot for them already. He helped save Athens and he saved her life.
"Thank you, you didn't have to do any of this, especially after..."
She didn't want to bring it up, but she did want him to know she was grateful. After what had happened she was surprised he would ever speak to her again.
Ares sighed and looked at her lovingly. Xena was taken by how soft his brown eyes could be.
Ares was sad to see that Xena still didn't get it.
"I was angry with you Xena, pissed actually, but I could never just let you die, I do care about you, I whish you would believe me."
Xena did believe him. Now she did.
"I thought you were up to something," Xena said tiredly.
Ares looked exasperated "even after I assured you that I wasn't?"
Xena realized now why she had gotten so angry with him. Because she had finally let her self open to him and trust him. She believed him and then the thing with Gabrielle happened and she was hurt.
"That's why it hurt so much, because I believed you, and then the next morning, I thought you had lied to me."
Ares shook his head sadly. He knew he could never erase the bad things he had done to Xena, but he wanted her to trust him now.
"Xena, when I told you I loved you, it wasn't because I wanted something from you or because it was a trick. I say I love you because I do. Everything you do everything you say. The good and the bad. I love who and what you are."
Xena was silent and still. Her eyes were glistening with moisture. She wanted to take him and huge him and never let go. She had been with many men in her life, all claimed to have loved her and she would usually just accept it but with Ares she wanted to embrace it. His love was rare and she knew it was real; and she didn't want to loose it.
Ares searched her eyes. There was love there. He loved her so much but he didn't know how she felt. Was she just sympathizing for him or did she really care too.
"That night," he stopped. The God of war was suddenly terrified. The last few years he had spent trying to convince Xena that he loved her. He was now going to find out just how she felt about him. He continued. "Was the most amazing night of my entire immortal existence..." he stopped once more. She was starring him in the eyes and it terrified him.
"What did it mean to you?" He asked her in almost a whisper.
Xena lost eye contact with him and looked down. A small tear ran down her check. She was crying. Ares throat was tight. Her silence was killing him. She didn't love him. That's why she was crying because she didn't want to say no and make him look like a fool. Ares grew desperate.
"I need to know Xena..." She looked up at him again. "Yes or no, do you love me?"
Xena was holding her breath and she was sure Ares was too. Of course she loved him, but she was as afraid as he was. Ares had been her enemy for so many years. He still was technically. She had always had feelings for him but fought them knowing that they could never be happy. She also knew that she had never tried though. The Amazon Queen Cyan, Xena had befriended in her warlord days once told her to risk everything or gain nothing. She had to be with Ares, even if it would end in disaster she had to try, it was worth it.
She smiled trough her tears and reached up and stroked Ares check gently. He was hopeful now. This could go either way. Ares you're a nice guy but.... Or Ares I love you I'm yours! He held his breath.
"Ares, I think I could wake up like this every morning, I do love you."
He smiled back at her almost laughing as he leaned over capturing her lips in his.
Ares hesitated for a second, not wanting to think of the worst. He had to check though, so without a second thought he made his way quickly to the doors of the temple.
As he reached to open the large doors a wave of terror swept over him. He entered the dark room and there was silence. The first thing he spotted was Gabrielle's still form lying on the cold tile. Ares suddenly felt a wave of horror, he would never admit it but he actually cared for the bard...a little.
Ares ran to Gabrielle's side and started shaking her frantically telling her to wake up. He was in a hurry not just because he wanted to make sure she was alright but because he needed to start looking for Xena.
A few more seconds later Gabrielle's eyes slowly opened.
"You ok?" Ares asked her holding her head up. Gabrielle squinted.
"I'm fine, where's Xena?"
Ares eyes filled with concern. He didn't answer Gabrielle. He forgot all about her when his eyes began searching the room and he discovered Xena's body laying by the altar.
Ares immediately stood and ran with huge strides to where his beloved lay.
Gabrielle was still adjusting and her surroundings seemed blurry, but she could still see enough to tell what had happened.
Ares took Xena in his arms and held her taking two of his fingers and pressing them gently on her neck searching for a pulse.
Gabrielle quickly ran over to his side and held Xena's hand, tears threatening her eyes.
"Is she..."
Ares looked over to the young bard. "She's alive...for now."
Gabrielle pursed her lips trying her best remain calm. "Can you help her?"
Ares grew a determined stoic face and he rose from the ground with Xena in his arms as if she weighed nothing. "She's not going to die."
Gabrielle grew more confident as well. She knew Xena was too stubborn to die and that Ares loved her too much to let her.
Gabrielle took the Bonus Sword from the floor and they left the temple as quick as possible. As soon as they were out, Ares transported them back to where they had left.
Ares looked to Gabrielle urgently.
"Take the sword to the Athenians, help them."
Gabrielle hesitated. She didn't want to leave Xena not now, not when she was like this. Usually she would be cautious of leaving Xena alone with Ares especially in that condition, but for some odd reason she felt comforted that he was here, that he would take care of her. Gabrielle just wanted to be there to take care of her as well. She knew she had to do the right thing though. Helping Athens came first. It's what Xena would want her to do.
Gabrielle slightly nodded to Ares in thanks. She stepped close to him and looked at Xena who was still in his arms and kissed her forehead gently. A tear almost fell from her eye and before Ares could see it she turned from him and ran.
Ares watched her leave and then he disappeared.
Ares laid her down gently onto his large bed in his chambers at the Halls of War. When he pulled his arms slowly out from under her, his hands were covered in her blood. She had lost a lot of it and if he didn't stop it soon she would die. He carefully and slowly rolled her onto her stomach so he could care for the wound. Luckily, the sword hadn't penetrated all the way through, and it was off to one side and hadn't seemed to hit any main organs, if it had she would be dead already. With a snap of his fingers everything he wound need to mend the wound was on a table next to the bedside where he kneeled beside her.
The first thing he had to do was remove her clothing, with out injuring her any worse then she already was. If this had been any other situation he might have found this arousing. He didn't have time to think about how beautiful she was right now. One look at the naked wound and he started to work faster. The more blood seemed to flow from it every time he wiped it away. Ares tried his best to cleanse the wound using every healing ointment he could think of. When he was finally sure it was clean enough, he folded a sterile white cloth into the shape of a square and pressed it against the wound. He then took a long cloth and wrapped it tightly around her torso. The presser would hopefully stop the bleeding.
All Ares could do right now was make sure she was comfortable and wait.
The room was silent and dark. Ares wasn't much for colors, especially bright ones. All of the décor in his temple was either black or dark red, even the bed that Xena was still fast asleep on. She had been like that for two days now and Ares hadn't left her side once. Suddenly none of his wars, none of his armies meant anything to him. He didn't want to leave Xena alone, not until he knew for sure she would be ok. He had been keeping an eye on Gabrielle and how she was doing. Yesterday he had a messenger tell her how Xena was holding up. He told her she was fine. He didn't want to tell her to much, didn't want her to worry.
Now he was asleep next her. Gods rarely ever get tired but he was drained from everything that had happened lately. So last night he pulled up a chair next to the bed after he had finished changing her bandages and fell asleep with his head in his arms on the bed next to Xena.
There were no windows in the room, scenery wasn't Ares style. But it was probably going on the third day. Xena's wound had stopped bleeding and would start healing soon.
Xena felt warm, a little uncomfortable. All her muscles were tight and sore. She shifted in bed but soon remembered why she was lying in bed. The guard at the temple at stabbed her. Now where was she? Xena slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She recognized this place. It was the halls of war. The place made her uncomfortable especially since she wasn't warring any clothes. But she was thankful she was here and not in the afterlife. Ares had tended her wounds with expert care. Ares? That's when she spotted him. Fast asleep at her side. He looked so peaceful, almost like the mortal Ares.
Xena reached out to him. She didn't mean to wake him but as soon as she touched his arm he flinched and his eyes shot opened.
"Xena!" He smiled. He had waited almost three days for her to wake up.
Xena smiled back at him, his smile was contagious. She tried to shift in the bed to make herself more comfortable but a sharp pain rushed through her body and she tried not to wince. She didn't want him to know that it hurt so much.
"You know, this is the third morning in a row that I've woken up naked in your bed."
Ares smiled at her again and took her hand gently in his. He always had appreciated her sense of humor. He adjusted her pillow for her.
"How are you feeling?"
Xena offered him a crooked smile and closed her eyes. "Oh...like I've been stabbed in the back."
Ares frowned at her. "Your in pain," he sated simply with out a doubt and tired to help her get more comfortable.
"How do you know how I feel," She felt invaded. She could never keep things from him very well, and this time she thought she was hiding her pain well.
Ares smiled. He was always surprised at how shocked Xena was when he knew something she didn't think he knew. He knew her better then she thought.
"Because I know you only make lame jokes when you're in pain."
He was right. Xena wasn't angry that he knew this though. It actually made her feel good. She appreciated that he knew her so well.
It was silent. Xena suddenly forgot all about her wound when she thought about Gabrielle. What had happened to her friend? The last thing she could remember was Gabrielle lying unconscious.
Xena sat up quickly and winced in pain.
"Where is Gabrielle, is she alright?"
Ares took Xena in his arms and lowered her back onto the bed. He couldn't risk the wound opening again and bleeding more.
"Xena, Gabrielle is fine, you don't have to worry," Ares said as calmly as possible. He didn't want to upset her.
Xena tried to sit up again. "I have to see her!" She demanded.
Ares grew frustrated. Xena was in no condition to leave this bed and she knew it. He took her once again and held her on the bed.
"Trust me! She is helping the Athenians, their wining."
Xena realized she was acting silly. She had no reason to not trust Ares. Xena finally relaxed in his arms and he released her. He had done a lot for them already. He helped save Athens and he saved her life.
"Thank you, you didn't have to do any of this, especially after..."
She didn't want to bring it up, but she did want him to know she was grateful. After what had happened she was surprised he would ever speak to her again.
Ares sighed and looked at her lovingly. Xena was taken by how soft his brown eyes could be.
Ares was sad to see that Xena still didn't get it.
"I was angry with you Xena, pissed actually, but I could never just let you die, I do care about you, I whish you would believe me."
Xena did believe him. Now she did.
"I thought you were up to something," Xena said tiredly.
Ares looked exasperated "even after I assured you that I wasn't?"
Xena realized now why she had gotten so angry with him. Because she had finally let her self open to him and trust him. She believed him and then the thing with Gabrielle happened and she was hurt.
"That's why it hurt so much, because I believed you, and then the next morning, I thought you had lied to me."
Ares shook his head sadly. He knew he could never erase the bad things he had done to Xena, but he wanted her to trust him now.
"Xena, when I told you I loved you, it wasn't because I wanted something from you or because it was a trick. I say I love you because I do. Everything you do everything you say. The good and the bad. I love who and what you are."
Xena was silent and still. Her eyes were glistening with moisture. She wanted to take him and huge him and never let go. She had been with many men in her life, all claimed to have loved her and she would usually just accept it but with Ares she wanted to embrace it. His love was rare and she knew it was real; and she didn't want to loose it.
Ares searched her eyes. There was love there. He loved her so much but he didn't know how she felt. Was she just sympathizing for him or did she really care too.
"That night," he stopped. The God of war was suddenly terrified. The last few years he had spent trying to convince Xena that he loved her. He was now going to find out just how she felt about him. He continued. "Was the most amazing night of my entire immortal existence..." he stopped once more. She was starring him in the eyes and it terrified him.
"What did it mean to you?" He asked her in almost a whisper.
Xena lost eye contact with him and looked down. A small tear ran down her check. She was crying. Ares throat was tight. Her silence was killing him. She didn't love him. That's why she was crying because she didn't want to say no and make him look like a fool. Ares grew desperate.
"I need to know Xena..." She looked up at him again. "Yes or no, do you love me?"
Xena was holding her breath and she was sure Ares was too. Of course she loved him, but she was as afraid as he was. Ares had been her enemy for so many years. He still was technically. She had always had feelings for him but fought them knowing that they could never be happy. She also knew that she had never tried though. The Amazon Queen Cyan, Xena had befriended in her warlord days once told her to risk everything or gain nothing. She had to be with Ares, even if it would end in disaster she had to try, it was worth it.
She smiled trough her tears and reached up and stroked Ares check gently. He was hopeful now. This could go either way. Ares you're a nice guy but.... Or Ares I love you I'm yours! He held his breath.
"Ares, I think I could wake up like this every morning, I do love you."
He smiled back at her almost laughing as he leaned over capturing her lips in his.