Any Other Way

Chapter 8

Ares had expected the barbarian queen to be impressed, maybe even a little frightened. What he hadn't expected was the look of pure disdain.

She arched one black eyebrow, "As you can see, I am preparing for an attack, so, what do you really want?"

Ares was more than a bit miffed that she wasn't falling at his feet. He wondered if perhaps he was losing his charm. Xena had just rebuffed him and now this woman was acting as if he were a pesky little mosquito. "Let me explain something to you, sweetie. When the God of War approaches and speaks of an alliance. . ."

"Firstly," she interrupted and for the first time he realized she was speaking Greek beautifully, "You aren't my war god, and secondly, I don't need an alliance with the likes of you."

"The likes of me?"

"Let's just say your reputation precedes you," she sneered.

Ares grinned. "I suppose I am somewhat of a. . ."

"Conniving bastard," she offered. Hadn't he heard Xena use that exact phrase. He let himself indulge in a wicked fantasy of being sandwiched between them.

"Fair enough. I think you should consider my offer, though."

"Go ahead," she decided to hear him out.

"My men are headed this way, shortly. I could help you defeat them, if - - - if you were to pledge your allegiance to me." Ares leaned in seductively. He was staring at her full lips.

"You really are disgusting," she pushed him away. "You would sell out your own men. For what? New worshippers?"

"Can I help it if spreading into new territory excites me?"

"You're a Greek god," she emphasized the Greek.

"Oh see, that's where you are mistaken. I am a god, the Greeks pay homage to me. They are loyal to me, there's nothing that says I must return that loyalty. I am a god, my favor is at my own discretion. And right now, you have my attention."

"How can I trust what you tell me is true? You could be deliberately trying to mislead me. To ensure your troops a victory."

Ares considered her. She was right, of course. She would've been a fool to trust him. And, she clearly wasn't a fool. The idea of seeing her and Xena go toe to toe was looking more entertaining by the minute. "You any good with that?" Ares pointed at the sword.

"Better than you've ever seen," she boasted.

"Oh, I doubt that. Care to demonstrate?" Ares pulled his blade.

"I really don't have time for this," she shook her head but then prepared to spar.

Ares hadn't seen anyone as naturally gifted with a blade since Xena. As he parried another thrust, he realized that she might even be better than Xena. For the first time since he encountered the girl, fear came over him. What if she beat Xena? Could he watch Xena die? If the girl bested her did Xena deserve to die? Had he finally found Xena's replacement.

The idea didn't excite him. It saddened him. Worse, it distracted him and the girl caught him on the thigh. He winced as he felt the flesh tear.

"You're no god. You're a phony! Get lost before I kill you."

Ares stared at her unbelieving. Was she already a goddess? What was she? Who was she?

"I think it's you who's the liar here. Who are you?"

She held her sword at him again. "I said leave."

Ares dematerialized in flashes of silver light.

When he returned to Vinalus' encampment he found Xena sorting through the men. He stayed invisible but came up behind her. "We have a problem," he whispered in her ear. He enjoyed watching her flesh break out in goose pimples and her muscles quiver at his nearness.

"Very good, men. You know your assignments. We march in twenty." Xena headed for the command tent.

Ares was happy to see that Vinalus wasn't there. They would be able to speak in private. He appeared in corporeal form. "Xena, she's immortal."

"What are you talking about?"

"I went to their camp. The barbarian queen."

Xena looked at him like he was the vilest serpent that had ever crawled the Earth. "You are playing both sides. You conniving bastard!"

"That's what she said!"

Xena punched him dead in the face. "I'm done. I'm done with your little party." She hoofed it toward the exit. But something stopped her. Xena whipped around. "What did she look like?"

"How old is she?"

Ares didn't understand the line of questioning but he'd answer if it had the chance of making Xena stay. "About your age. Beautiful. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes, my type, I suppose," he smiled.

"You keep your filthy hands off of her."

"You forget you don't get to tell me who I can sleep with and who I can't Xena. You gave up that privilege."

"She wouldn't make an alliance with you?"

"No, doesn't trust me."

"Well, at least she has good instincts."

"Yeah, you're right about that. Best swordsman I've ever seen," Ares pointed at the rip in his pants. Xena noticed it for the first time and saw the tell-tale brown smear of drying blood.

"She cut you?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you. If you take men in there it will be a wholesale slaughter. She clearly an immortal or a goddess in her own right."

"I'm not so sure about that, Ares. Take me to her."

"I'm not sure that's a great idea. Do you have a plan? A plan to kill her?"

"Are you afraid?" Xena looked at him derisively.

"I'm not fond of being injured," Ares answered defensively.

"Oh cry me a fucking river," Xena rolled her eyes then ordered, "Take me to her."

Ares extended his hand. "As you wish, but when she kills us both, don't say I didn't warn you."

Xena closed her eyes preparing for the rush through the aether.

When they landed on the ridgetop, Xena could see the proud warrioress in the distance. The woman halted her archers who had taken aim. "Wait."

She walked slowly toward Xena and Ares.

"I told you to lose yourself, Ares," the woman called. "And who are you?" She looked threateningly into eyes eerily similar to her own.

"Xena, some call me the Warrior Princess of Kalmae."

The warrior's eyes grew as big as Ares' fists. "That's impossible. You're too young.

And everyone knows the Xena turned good. She wouldn't be caught dead with the likes of him," she pointed at Ares.

"It's a long story. But you have a birthmark, in the shape of the crescent moon, it's on your lower back." Xena moved forward slowly. It looked to Ares as if she wanted to take the warrior into her arms.

"Anyone could've told you about the birthmark," the warrior backed away from Xena. 'You're both liars or he's a liar and you're an imposter. I'm warning you to leave. And, if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your men out of my valley. Now go, both of you."

The woman had made it all the way back to her troops and Xena had just stood and watched her. Ares looked at the archers, they were still ready to fire. He decided that it was best to get Xena off the hillside. He transported them to a nearby copse of trees.

"Are you okay? What was that about?"

"She's our daughter. Mine and yours." Xena smiled sadly. "That's why she was able to cut you, don't you see? The flesh of your flesh, bone of your bone. I had to hide from you. The wasn't any other way. You would've used her."

Ares was only half hearing Xena. It couldn't be true. They had a child? A living breathing child. No, a grown woman. A grown woman he'd tried to bed. He rounded on Xena. "I could've slept with her! And, it would've been your fault."

"Did you see the way she looks at you? I don't think there was any danger of you getting inside her. Apparently, her tastes are more advanced than her mother's." The a horrible realization dawned on Xena. Aeetes had known all along that the barbarian queen was her daughter. Yet, he'd willingly let her march off to war against her. She could've killed her own child. She needed to see Aeetes!