@Xenite Country
Dark Revelations
By Skkye Blue
|
Shipper Fan Fiction @Xenite Country Dark Revelations |
|
Webmaster Note: To make this story load a little easier in your browser, it has been split into several web pages. You will find the link for the part of the story below at the end of each page. Dark Revelations (Chapters 59 thru 61) CHAPTER 59 Aphrodite’s eyes were already misty with tears when she stood before the entranceway of the cave. The goddess of love was not dressed in her usual attire of skimpy pink lingerie. In its place, she wore a white silk shirt, tan leather pants and calf-length brown boots. This was her riding outfit for the journey she would be making with the others. There was a somber look on the goddess’ face as she quietly entered the cave. She walked past the beds containing her comatose family and headed for the beds containing her son and her husband. Willing the tears not to fall from her eyes, she sat in a chair between the two beds. She took a hand from each god into hers, brought them up to her lips, and kissed the backs then held them against her face. "I can’t lose you two." Aphrodite looked around at the other occupied beds. "I can’t lose any of you." She released Hephaestus’ hand and turned to face Cupid. A faint smile was on her face when she ran a hand through his blond hair. Softly, she planted a kiss on her son’s forehead. Aphrodite turned towards Hephaestus. She lovingly ran a hand down the side of his face. "Oh Hephie how I miss you so," she sighed. "I have to go away for awhile but I will be back." Aphrodite lowered her head and claimed the smith god’s lips with a soft kiss. A servant woman stopped nearby and placed the towels she carried on a table. She smiled with empathy when she saw the goddess. "Please take good care of them," Aphrodite requested. "Of course," the servant woman said with a nod and a smile. Aphrodite rose to her feet and quietly proceeded to leave. On her way, she produced a pink handkerchief and wiped away the tears that had begun to roll down her cheeks. ********** "Now Ephiny, I know you are becoming an old pro at these raids on Dahak’s lava plant facilities but please remember to take care of yourself." Gabrielle embraced her Amazon friend in a tight hug. "Don’t worry, with Solari watching my back, I will be just fine." Ephiny assured. "Me and all my Amazon sisters will make sure nothing happens to her," Solari assured while embracing Gabrielle in a hug. Jason, King Iphicles and Nemesis stood on the sidelines watching the Amazons say good-bye to one another. "I want all of you to be careful," Gabrielle embraced the other three as well. With good-byes and well wishes having been said, Gabrielle watched her friends depart the throne room. Now alone, her thoughts drifted back to another recent good-bye and the promise she had made... The sun was making its ascent into the sky, its golden rays causing the early snow in Macedon to appear orange in color. The other three search parties had already been sent to their prospective borders of the Olympian realm, to begin their journeys for pieces of the Holy Saber. The only group that remained was Xena’s. Cyrus and Joxer had already said their good-byes and had mounted their horses. Xena was still in the process of saying good-bye. She stooped in front of the twins and simultaneously embraced them both in a big hug. "I love you two so much!" She kissed each on the top of the head then gazed into their faces, letting her hands caress the cheek of each child. "Be good for your Dad and Gabrielle." "We will," they said in unison with sleepy voices. Once more, Xena embraced the twins in a hug then with some reluctance let them go. She rose to her full height and moved to stand before Ares. His right hand brushed back a strand of black hair, putting it behind an ear. Then it moved on to her face, caressing a cheek. "You take care of yourself." "You do the same." Xena took hold of his hand caressing her cheek and held it there a few moments, each staring into the other’s eyes, conveying emotions not ready to be spoken. The last person Xena said good-bye to was Gabrielle. The warrior woman embraced her best friend in a tight hug. "Be careful Xena." "You know I will." When Xena pulled back, she let a hand play with the thick curly auburn ponytail hanging down her friend’s back as she stared into her face. "Promise me, you will take good care of my babies." "Oh, you know I will Xena...just as if they were my own." Xena smiled gratefully as she turned from her friend and mounted Argo. Gabrielle watched, along with the twins as Ares waved a hand, sending all three riders and their horses to the northern borders of the Olympian realm... ‘Promise me, you will take good care of my babies…’ Xena’s parting request echoed in Gabrielle’s mind. She nodded in silent acknowledgement while heading for the receiving hall. Since Ares was dead, Gabrielle was implementing Xena’s instructions and whisking the twins away to Persia so Dahak could not grab them. Years ago, Dahak had suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Persian god Ahura Mazda and would not dare follow them there. The Amazons, the Corinthian army and the Centaurs would continue to fight Dahak in Greece while she, Aphrodite and Cecrops accompanied the twins to Persia. When Gabrielle reached the receiving hall, she quietly walked inside. The children were standing before a stone coffin. Aphrodite had zapped it up, decorating the sides with carvings of the rune of war. She had also cleaned up Ares’ body---zapping away the blood and dressing him in a pristine leather outfit. If one disregarded his ivory complexion, the war god appeared to be asleep as he lay in the coffin. Both had their heads bowed in a somber gesture and were oblivious to Gabrielle entering the hall. For the last two days, the twins had spent the majority of their time in the receiving hall, gazing at their father’s lifeless body, as if hoping for some type of miracle resurrection. They only left the hall when Gabrielle or Aphrodite would drag them to their rooms to get some sleep. And neither had eaten anything since that tragic day their father was murdered. Gabrielle was really starting to worry about them. They were immortal just like her but they still had to eat. She feared they would make themselves sick if they didn’t eat something soon. When the bard stood behind them, she gently laid a hand on the shoulder of each. "Okay you two, it’s time to leave for Persia." "I don’t wanna go." Lycus poked out his bottom lip in a pout. Lysia shook her head in protest. "Me neither." Gabrielle sympathized with the children but for their own safety, they could not stay in Greece any longer. She bent down to where she was closer to the height of the children and wrapped an arm around the shoulders of each. "We had a discussion this morning and you both understood the reasons we have to go. It is not safe for you to stay here, so we must go to Persia." "But I don’t wanna leave Daddy," Lysia said. "Yeah, he’ll be here all alone," Lycus said. "We have to stay and watch over him." Both had their eyes fixed on the stone coffin. The children were obviously still in denial and this made Gabrielle’s eyes get misty. "Your father won’t be alone. The servants will be here and they will watch over him." "No! We have to watch him…it has to be us," Lycus said in a firm tone. Lysia nodded in agreement with her brother. "Why does it have to be you?" Gabrielle asked out of curiosity. "’Cause it what Daddy wants," Lysia replied. "So, you two would do whatever your father wanted?" Gabrielle asked. "Uh huh," Lycus nodded. "Well, your father wanted you to go to Persia. He and your Mom agreed that if anything happened to him, I was to take you there. So, if you don’t go, you would not be doing what he wanted and that would have made him unhappy and very sad. You don’t want that do you?" "No," Lysia softly replied. "Then you both will come with me, your Aunt Dite and Cecrops to Persia?" There were a few moments of silence. "Yeah," both children finally replied in unison. "Good." Gabrielle had a relieved smile on her face as she pulled the twins closer for a hug. "When your Mom returns from Scandinavia, she will join us there." With Ares now gone, Gabrielle knew the twins would need Xena more than ever. "Now it’s time to say good-bye to your father." She released the children from her embrace as she rose to her full height. First she lifted Lysia above the side of the stone coffin. "Good-bye Daddy." The little girl bent down and softly placed a kiss on her father’s forehead. Gabrielle lowered Lysia to the floor and repeated this action with Lycus. Once both children had said their good-byes, Gabrielle held each by a hand and proceeded to lead them from the receiving hall. The three were halfway across the receiving hall when the mighty fortress began to tremble. "Oh boy," Lycus groaned. He quickly glanced at a wall---the swords and shields displayed upon it were trembling too. "It’s an earthquake!" Lysia wailed with fear. Gabrielle immediately led the three to the massive stone archway for the safety of its sturdiness. There they stood, the children holding tightly onto Gabrielle, watching with fear as the hall now violently shook. Swords and shields hanging about the walls fell to the stone floor with a loud clang. The shaking loosened the closed shutters, allowing strong winter winds to burst through the window and whirl about the room, leaving a trail of snow on the floor. As abruptly as it started, the shaking ceased. Gabrielle ran her hands down the children’s backs. "Are you two okay?" "Yes," Lysia replied. "It was just like that day at the temple…when Dad…" Lycus didn’t say anymore, as his crystal blue eyes got misty. It was too painful and the worst day of his young life. "It’s okay," Gabrielle assured in a soothing voice while running a hand through the little boy’s curly black hair. Rays of the setting sun poured through the window, falling on the top of the stone coffin. Gabrielle shivered from the chill now filling the room. "Before we go, I better close the shutters." She removed herself from the children’s grasp and started towards the window. The twins stood in silence watching her. Gabrielle was almost at the window when an intake of breath was heard. She looked towards the twins who still stood in silence---it hadn’t come from them. Slowly, she turned to look towards the stone coffin. "No…it couldn’t be…" "But it is!" The twins excitedly yelled in unison. They immediately ran back over to the stone coffin. Gabrielle forgot about the window and quickly joined them. Standing on the tips of their toes, the children gazed down into the coffin. Their little faces instantly brightened with large smiles over what their eyes saw. Sunrays shrouding the top end of the coffin shined down on Ares’ face, giving him a golden glow. His eyes were still closed but his chest repeatedly rose and fell under labored breaths indicating he was indeed back among the living again. The twins turned their gaze from their father to look at each other. "He’s alive!" They said in unison. The children were so overcome with joy that they started jumping up and down while they shouted "HE’S ALIVE.! HE’S ALIVE!" over and over again. "Well, I’ll be..." Gabrielle shook her head in amazement. Since her travels with Xena began, the bard was no stranger to resurrections but she couldn’t deny that they were always an awe-inspiring event. She moved closer to the coffin. The twins had stopped jumping up and down and now stood on tiptoes so they could observe Gabrielle’s inspection of their father’s condition. The bard pulled apart the black, silver studded vest. "Amazing!" She breathed; her eyes fixed on his bare skin. Gone were the injuries caused by the arrows and the blade of Dahak’s sword. Even the blistered wound on his right side had vanished. "WOW!" "AWESOME!" The children ran small hands over their father’s bare, unblemished skin. Slowly, Ares opened his eyes. His vision was unfocused as he stared up into nothing. His lips began to move as he tried to speak. Gabrielle moved to the head of the coffin. "Ares...Ares can you hear me?" The war god turned his head to the side he had heard the voice. His blurred vision steadily cleared and he now gazed into the beautiful face of a young woman with curly auburn hair and green eyes. His voice was hoarse from lack of use when he finally spoke. "Wh...who are you?" "I’m Gabrielle." The war god stared at her with no recognition. Gabrielle waved a hand in the direction of the twins. "And these are your son and daughter...Lycus and Lysia." Ares still had that stare of unfamiliarity on his face when he looked at the two children. The bard quickly glanced at the twins who stood beside her. Their joyful faces were now etched with concern. "There is nothing to worry about kids," Gabrielle assured. "After what your father has been through it is perfectly understandable that his memory would be a bit hazy." The bard’s words made sense to the children and did give them a modicum of relief. "Once we get to Persia, we can make sure he gets the proper care and he should be his old self in no time." Gabrielle placed a hand under the god’s neck and rose him to a sitting position. Not only was Ares disoriented but he was too weak to stay in that position so Gabrielle moved a hand to his back to keep him upright. "Now, I have to get you out of here." Footsteps could now be heard heading towards the receiving hall. "Oh thank Elysia you guys are okay. That earthquake was…" Aphrodite stopped mid-sentence as she stood in the archway of the receiving hall. Her blue eyes were wide and her mouth hung agape due to the sight before her. Cecrops stood behind the goddess, a similar look graced his immortal face. "Oh, by the gods, Ares!" The goddess squealed with joy. Aphrodite quickly made her way over to the stone coffin. When she stood before her brother, she embraced him in a tight hug. "You have to tell me what happened. Did you or the kids do something?" Cecrops inquired as he stood beside Gabrielle and watched the reunion between brother and sister. "We didn’t do anything," Gabrielle replied. "In fact, we were heading for the stables when the earthquake hit. When it stopped, we saw that Ares was alive again." "Amazing!" Cecrops shook his head in wonder. "I am on such a high right now!" Aphrodite was grinning from ear to ear. "I gotta do something!" The goddess snapped her fingers and instantly, red and pink rose petals began to rain down on the hall and its occupants. The others couldn’t help but laugh at the goddess’ display of her joy while Ares looked at the raining rose petals in wonder. "You certainly weren’t kidding when you said you were on a high," Gabrielle chuckled as she let a hand catch some of the falling rose petals. "That’s right!" Aphrodite was still grinning from ear to ear. She looked towards her niece and nephew. "You two have to be as high as me." "Uh huh!" Lycus shook his head, a giant smile gracing his face. "Yeah, this is the best EVER!" Lysia added, extending a hand and catching a rose petal. "It sure is." Aphrodite agreed. "And I was so bummed out after visiting the caves and seeing Hephie, Cupid and the others lying in comas and then I came up here and WOW! With Ar coming back from the dead---Hephie, Cupid and the others can most definitely be saved too. Then we’ll show Dahak he messed with the wrong gods." Once again she looked towards Ares. "Oh, it is so good to have you back!" She squealed with delight while pulling her brother once again into a tight embrace. When she broke the hug, Aphrodite finally took notice of how unresponsive Ares was. "Hey stud muffin, are you okay?" Ares looked at her with confused eyes and frowned. "Wh…who are you?" "Who am I!? What do you mean?" Aphrodite turned from Ares and looked at Gabrielle and the twins with a questioning gaze. "For the moment, Ares doesn’t seem to remember us," Gabrielle said. "Oh, that’s crazy, Ar could never forget me." Aphrodite placed her hands on Ares’ broad shoulders and stared into his face. "Okay Bro, take a good look at my face and then say my name." Ares stared intently at his sister’s face, his brow furrowed with thought. A few moments later a defeated sigh escaped his lips. "I-I don’t know you." Upon hearing her brother’s words, Aphrodite ceased the shower of rose petals. Sadness filled her eyes. "Oh Ar, what has Dahak done to you!?" Gabrielle placed an arm around the shoulders of the love goddess in a comforting gesture. "There is no need to worry Aphrodite. This memory loss is probably temporary. Once we get Ares to Persia, we can properly care for him and I am confident he will be his old self again in no time." The bard’s words brought a faint smile to the goddess’ lips. "Speaking of Persia, I think it’s time we be on our way," Cecrops said. "You’re right, but first we must get Ares out of this," Gabrielle gazed at the stone coffin in which the god still sat. "That’s no problem." Cecrops easily lifted the weakened god into his arms. "Now, let’s go." The former lost mariner led the way as the twins, Aphrodite and Gabrielle followed him to the stables located on the ground floor of the Macedonian fortress. When the group reached the stables, Zethus was still there and Troilus had joined him. Both men stared with stunned disbelief when they saw their lord whom they were told was dead very much alive. Seeing their reaction, Gabrielle addressed the men. "Yes fellas, this is a welcomed miracle. Don’t ask for the details because we don’t know them. But when we return, we will be sure to tell you all." That was good enough for the two men as they relieved Cecrops of their weakened lord. Each man had the god’s muscular arms draped over their shoulders, holding him upright. Cecrops mounted Pegasus, the recent acquisition to Ares’ stables. After the fall of Olympus, Ares had his father’s white winged stallion brought to his Macedonian fortress. Aphrodite lifted Lycus onto Serpico’s back then mounted herself behind the child. Gabrielle lifted Lysia onto Blade’s back then she got aboard. The four now watched as Zethus and Troilus lifted the weakened war god. From his position atop Pegasus, Cecrops helped seat the war god behind him. And considering Ares’ disoriented state, Zethus got some rope and tied the war god to Cecrops to make sure he stayed seated atop the winged horse. "Okay Ares, wrap your arms around my waist and hold on tight." The war god did as ordered. "If everyone is ready, let’s split," Aphrodite declared. Zethus and Troilus watched from the sidelines as the Goddess of Love snapped her fingers instantly shrouding the three winged horses and their six riders in a pink light before they faded into nothingness. The group materialized on the Olympian realm’s border with the kingdom of Lydia. All three lead riders urged their winged mounts to take off into the air, headed southeast towards Persia. The sun had completed its descent so nightfall was upon the land. Gabrielle had figured and Cecrops agreed that it would be better for their group to depart Greece at night so Dahak’s minions could not possibly spot them. The swooshing of large wings broke the silence of the night as the flying horses carried their riders to their destination in Persia. "Wow Aunt Dite, this is so cool!" Lycus’ crystal blue eyes sparkled with wonderment as he gazed at the many stars painting the blue black sky that could be seen in the distance. Aphrodite smiled as the night winds blew upon her face, whipping up blonde tresses behind her. "It sure is sweetie, but you know what’s even better?" "What?" Lycus turned to look at her. "Surfing the ocean on a giant seashell. When this mess is over, I will take you some time." "Cool!" Lycus turned from her and went back to his stargazing. Lysia ran a small hand over blade’s gray warm neck while brushing aside the animal’s mane blowing in the night winds. "Hey Cecrops, how’s my Daddy doin’?" She asked from her position in front of Gabrielle. The pair rode in front of the lost mariner’s mount. "I’m afraid he has passed out honey," Cecrops replied. Gabrielle ran a hand through the child’s curly raven locks. "Your Daddy will be just fine," she assured. "I know," Lysia replied with strong confidence. "When we get to Persia, Vashti and Bithia will take care of him---make him as good as new." "That’s right sweetie." Gabrielle wrapped an arm around the little girl and held her close. Since Aphrodite took considerable distance off of their journey, it didn’t take long for the traveling party to reach Persia’s capital, Persepolis. "Ooh, the city looks so pretty from up here," Lysia declared as their winged horses flew over the massive stone buildings. It was still early evening so candles flickered in many windows throughout the city. While she gazed downward, Gabrielle felt herself grow dizzy from vertigo and quickly raised her gaze to the black night sky. She would be relieved when she was standing on the ground again. The horses flew towards the outskirts of the city, where Cyrus’ palatial estate was located. When the horses began to descend, Gabrielle felt her stomach rise. ‘It won’t be long now…and I’ll be on the ground again.’ She mentally assured herself. The winged horses landed just inside the gates, in front of the stables. Braxton came charging out of the stables, a pitchfork held securely in his hands to be used as a weapon against trespassers. When he saw the twins sitting on two of the winged horses, he lowered the pitchfork. "Master Lycus, Miss Lysia, what are you two doing here? And where are Lord Cyrus, Xena and Joxer?" The stableman asked. Gabrielle took it upon herself to speak on behalf of the twins. "The children are back in Persia because there is grave danger in Greece. Cyrus, Xena and Joxer are in Scandinavia and from there should be joining us here." The stableman looked to the children who nodded their heads in confirmation of the bard’s words. He turned to look at the others present. "My name is Braxton, I’m the estate’s head stableman." "I’m Gabrielle. That’s Aphrodite, Cecrops and Ares." After greetings were exchanged, Braxton helped the twins dismount then the two women. The stableman went over to where Pegasus stood with Cecrops and Ares still upon his back. Cecrops removed the rope tying him and Ares together. Lycus approached the stableman. "Hey Braxton guess what? Lysia and I aren’t orphans. Xena is our Mom and that’s our dad." Braxton looked at the unconscious man he held upright atop the horse as Cecrops dismounted. The full moon provided the only light that allowed Braxton to get a glimpse of the unconscious man’s face. He couldn’t deny the resemblance to the boy standing next to him. Once Cecrops dismounted, he helped Braxton remove the unconscious god from the back of Pegasus. Cecrops draped one of Ares’ arms across his shoulders to hold him upright. "There’s a stretcher inside the stables." Braxton disappeared inside the stables. A moment later he exited, carrying a stretcher under an arm. He laid it on the ground then helped Cecrops lay the god upon it. That done, they each got an end and lifted the stretcher. The twins led the way to the palace followed by Cecrops and Braxton carrying Ares on the stretcher. Gabrielle and Aphrodite took up the rear. The group was walking along a snakelike stone path that led to a back entranceway of the palace. The Goddess of Love began to feel faint and stumbled along the stone walkway. Gabrielle reached for an arm and prevented Aphrodite from falling to the ground. Concern was in her eyes when she looked at her friend. "Are you okay?" "I’m just a little weak," Aphrodite replied. "My bod has to adjust to being in the Persian realm and not having any powers." "You better hold onto me." Gabrielle wrapped an arm around Aphrodite’s slim waist and helped the goddess proceed down the stone walkway. When the group finally reached the palace, the first person who saw them was the estate’s overseer, Bithia. "Lycus! Lysia! This certainly is a surprise. What are you doing back so soon? Where is your Uncle Cyrus, Xena and Joxer?" Before the children could respond, Braxton addressed the white-haired woman. "Bithia, we have a sick man here who needs immediate care." "Oh my!" Bithia immediately went over to the stretcher. She placed a hand on the forehead of the unconscious god. "He’s burning up. Follow me, I will show you where to take him upstairs." Bithia quickly led the group through the estate’s large kitchen to the back stairway. When they reached the second floor, Bithia led them to a room at the end of the hall. Just like all the rooms in the palace, it was beautifully decorated. A Persian rug covered the stone floor. Situated about the room were a few beautifully carved tables and chairs from the finest wood. Adorning the stone walls were several pieces of artwork that Cyrus had collected during his countless centuries upon the earth. Bithia went over to the bed and pulled down the plush blankets and silk sheets. Braxton and Cecrops transferred Ares to the bed. Aphrodite had seated herself in one of the chairs. Gabrielle and the twins stood nearby. The old overseer looked to the stableman. "Go find Selene and Vashti. Tell them to bring lots of towels and a couple of basins filled with cold water." Braxton quickly departed the room to carry out Bithia’s instructions. Bithia turned her attention towards her patient. "There is something about this young fellow that seems so familiar. Who is he anyway?" "He’s our dad," Lycus replied. "Yup." Lysia nodded her head in agreement. The old overseer had speculated the children would learn the truth about their parentage during their trip to Greece. And Lycus’ comments made that pretty obvious. This greatly pleased the old woman that always thought they had a right to know. "Of course...now I remember. I got a brief glimpse of him when he came here looking for Xena before you two were born," Bithia recalled. "Oh, what a temper he had. He really went off when Cyrus refused to let him see her. But wait a minute, I thought he was a god and couldn’t be hurt. What happened to him?" "Another god injured him...in fact killed him," Gabrielle started. "Ares was dead for two days then right before we left for Persia he came back to life." "Well, I’ll be..." Bithia stared at the unconscious war god in amazement. "He’s got a high fever so he’s still not out of the woods yet. And this leather won’t help to cool him down." The old woman began to remove Ares’ silver studded black vest. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Cecrops asked. "Me too," Gabrielle moved towards the bed. "Nah, you all should rest after your long journey." Bithia looked at the twins. "Lycus, Lysia, there are three empty bedchambers across from yours. Go show them where they are." "Okay." The twins exited the bedchamber with Gabrielle, Aphrodite and Cecrops following them. The children made a left turn down the hallway as they led the three adults. They came to a stop outside their own bedchambers. "Those three doors over there are for the empty bed chambers," Lycus said. "You can pick who gets which room," Lysia added. At that moment, everyone heard the fast pitter patter of tiny feet heading towards the turn in the hallway. Soon after, everyone saw a brown, black and white small ball of fur heading in their direction. Its big brown eyes focused on Lysia as it began to excitedly bark. "Mei Jin! Come here girl!" Lysia commanded with a excited smile. When the small dog reached the little girl, it jumped into her waiting arms and playfully began licking her face with its pink tongue. "I’m happy to see you too girl," the child giggled as the dog continued to lick her face. "For yous who don’t know, this is Mei Jin." Cecrops and Gabrielle came over to pet the small dog. "Aunt Dite, don’t you wanna pet Mei Jin?" "That’s okay honey, I’m not really into furry creatures." Aphrodite tried to hide the distasteful smirk on her face. "I think it’s time we all got some rest, especially you two." Gabrielle gazed at the twins. "Neither of you has had a good night’s sleep in the last two days." "Can I get somthin’ to eat first? I’m really hungry." Lycus said. "Me too," Lysia added. The children wanting to eat brought a relieved smile to the bard’s face. "I will speak to Bithia about having some food brought to your rooms. In the meantime, go in your rooms and change into your bed clothes." "Okay" the children grumbled. The three adults watched as the children entered their bedchambers, closing the doors behind them. With the children in their own rooms, the three adults quickly decided who got which room and disappeared behind a closed door. ********** Bithia was pulling off Ares’ leather boots when Selene and Vashti entered the bed chamber carrying towels and two large basins filled with cold water. "Braxton told us the twins are back." Vashti set the basin and towels she carried on a bedside table. "Yes they are but you will have to wait until you are done here to go see them," Bithia replied. Selene gazed at the unconscious man lying on the bed. "Who is he?" "He’s Ares…Lycus’ and Lysia’s father," the old woman replied. "THIS is Ares!" Vashti let her brown almond shaped eyes wander over the unconscious god lying on the bed before her. He was naked down to his waist, revealing powerfully built arms, granite like stomach and a broad muscular chest covered with downy black hairs. Looking up at his face, Vashti could certainly see why he had caught Xena’s eye---the shoulder length curly black hair, the chiseled cheeks, the full mouth---the war god was indeed handsome. Right along with her friend, Selene was staring too---admiring the god’s beautiful form. Bithia gazed at the young women with an annoyed smirk. "Are you two just going to stand there all night, because I could really use some help getting these leather pants off of him." The words of the older woman instantly broke the two out of their trance. Vashti and Selene quickly moved into position to help Bithia. It took the three women awhile but with Vashti and Selene each grabbing a hold on a pant leg, they did eventually get the leather pants off with a few strong tugs. Vashti’s eyes widened when she took in the sight of the unconscious god’s groin area. "Oh, by the gods!" An impressed grin graced Selene’s face as she too got a glimpse of the god’s lower body. Bithia quickly placed a towel over Ares’ groin. "I want you two young ladies to keep your minds on the job at hand, so it’s best to cover up that part of him." The old woman put a towel in the cold water, wrung out the excess, then brought it over to Ares whose heated skin she began to cool with it. With disappointed looks on their faces, Vashti and Selene did the same. ********** For the first few days after arriving in Persia, Ares was plagued with a high fever. No one knew the cause for it and deduced it must have had something to do with his mysterious resurrection. When the fever did finally break, the twins and Aphrodite were relieved to know that Gabrielle’s assumptions about Ares had been right for his memory had fully returned. The worst of the ordeal was behind him and he was now on the road to recovery. Ares was propped into a sitting position with plush silk pillows behind his back. A white silk sheet covered him up to his waist. His brown eyes intensely focused on a salmon colored jug setting atop a table on the far side of the bedchamber. The jug began to tremble before it slowly moved an arm’s length across the table, coming to stop near the edge. Ares took a deep breath as he deepened his concentration but the jug remained planted at its new position. "Damn it! I hate this!" He growled while slamming a fist against the mattress. "Okay Ares, what is wrong now?" Gabrielle wearily asked having heard his outburst, when she came through the bedchamber door. Over the last few days, the bard had reached the conclusion that the war god was her worst patient ever. An annoyed smirk appeared on Ares’ face upon Gabrielle entering the room. "I can’t even make that jug of wine come to me," he complained. "Ares, you are not in the Olympian realm," she reminded him. "Aphrodite has no powers and she is handling it just fine." Gabrielle went over to the jug of wine and moved it back to the center of the table. "You should concentrate on this second chance at life you were given and not worry about the loss of your powers. They will come back when you return to Greece." "Y’know, your bedside manner really sucks. You obviously didn’t learn that from Xena." Ares glared at her. "At least Bithia, Vashti, and Selene show some sympathy for what I am going through." "That’s because they don’t know you as well as I do," she smirked; now standing by the bed. Ares was about to issue a harsh response when the bedchamber door burst open. "Daddy!" "Dad!" Lysia and Lycus ran over to the bed, plopping down on the sides. Both had on their bedclothes. Ares’ whole demeanor changed upon the arrival of the twins in the bedchamber. He had a smile on his face. Arriving a few moments after the children, Mei-Jin came running into the room, barking away. The little dog leapt onto the bed and stood beside Lyisa. It was still barking while its pom-pom tail wagged about. "Shut up fur ball!" Lycus snapped. "Don’t talk to her like that." Lysia wrapped her arms around the still barking dog. "Silence Mei-Jin," Ares ordered. Instantly the little dog stopped barking as it sat down beside Lysia on the side of the bed. "Now, what did you two come to see me about?" "Vashti says we have to go to bed now, so we came to say goodnight," Lysia replied. "Yeah, tomorrow is our first day back at school," Lycus smirked. "I was tellin’ some of the other kids about ya so if you’re feelin’ a whole lot better, could ya stop by the schoolhouse tomorrow?" "Ooh yeah can ya Daddy?" Lysia looked at him pleadingly. "Of course, I’ll be there." "COOL!" Lycus had a beaming smile on his face. Lysia was smiling too as she hugged Mei-Jin to her. "Okay, you two, say your goodnights and then off to bed," Gabrielle reminded them. "Goodnight Daddy." "Goodnight Dad." The twins simultaneously hugged their father goodnight. Ares returned the hug as he planted a kiss on the top of each child’s head. He was smiling, as was Gabrielle when the twins and Mei-jin left the bedchamber. "Pour me some wine and bring it over here," Ares ordered. "I could use something to drink a lot stronger than water." "That request was worded wrong. If you want some wine, you will have to rephrase it." Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest and looked at him expectantly. Ares rolled his eyes and sighed with annoyance. "Please pour me some wine." "That’s better," Gabrielle was now smiling as she unfolded her arms and headed over to the table. "Y’know, it’s amazing…you are a completely different person when the twins are around. Why can’t you be like that all the time?" "What do you mean?" "You are a kinder, gentler God of War." Gabrielle stood before the table and proceeded to fill a goblet with some of the wine from the jug. "When you are with them or even when you are just talking about them, it is so obvious you adore those two children and they absolutely adore you. When I think of how they grieved over you...if two little children could love you that much...then you are not so bad after all." When Gabrielle stood before the bed, she seated herself on a side facing Ares and offered him the filled goblet. "Wow! A compliment coming from one of my harshest critics. Tartarus must have frozen over because I never thought I would ever hear such a thing from you." Ares took a big gulp of the wine. "Hey, when I make the wrong assumption about someone, I am a big enough person to admit it," Gabrielle said. "Tell me something, exactly how many children do you have?" "Let’s just say lots. Why do you ask?" "When Jason and Iphicles came to your castle, they brought Nemesis with them." Ares disgustedly rolled his eyes. "And what did she say?" He asked with a grumble as he downed some more of the wine. "I was talking to her about all the things you do with Lycus and Lysia. Nemesis had a hard time believing we were talking about the same war god. She told me about the son you two have, Evander---she said you tried to take him from her and raise him with hate for Hercules." "We had a deal…she agreed to give me a son. I was within my rights taking the boy," Ares said. "Nemesis should be happy I let her keep him." "But is what she said true? You only wanted to use him in some scheme against Hercules? He’s your son…you must have feelings for him that go beyond what he can do for you." She gazed at him with a probing stare. Ares didn’t know why he suddenly cared what the bard thought of him but he was overcome with the need to explain the situation to her. "It’s not that I don’t care about Evander or the other children for that matter. I do...in my own way," he started. "It’s just that Lycus and Lysia are different." "How are they different?" Ares had an uncomfortable look on his face as he drained the goblet of the last of the wine. "They just are." Gabrielle decided to forge ahead with a speculation she had made some time ago but had never shared with Xena. "Could it be that their mother is the only woman you have ever loved?" Except for a minute twitch in his right cheek, Ares maintained a cool facade. "I feel many things for Xena – but love…" he slightly chuckled. "You forget Gabrielle, I am the God of War, the only passions I am allowed to feel are for battles and conquests. Xena was my best warrior that’s all." "Oh, I’m sure that’s what it was all about in the beginning, after she walked out on you and her warlord life," Gabrielle said. "You couldn’t let such a valuable possession slip through your fingers." Ares did not like where this conversation was going. He feigned a yawn of fatigue. "Y’know, it has really been a long day for me, so I think it’s time I got some rest." Ares shoved the empty goblet into Gabrielle’s hands, fluffed the pillows behind him and lay back down. But his actions did not dissuade Gabrielle from continuing. "But then it changed, didn’t it? You started to feel things you never did before and it scared you…" Ares feigned a much louder yawn as he rolled over onto his side with his back now facing Gabrielle. He was hoping she would finally get the message that he was in no mood to continue this conversation and leave already but he had no such luck. Gabrielle rose from the bedside and now stood over him. "So the scheming and the mind games took on a whole new purpose that you didn’t even understand…they gave you a chance to be around Xena. But all you ended up doing was pushing Xena further away. And then you discovered the twins and you thought you had found a way to keep Xena tied to you forever." "Look, I would like to get some sleep, so why don’t you take this *fiction* of yours and write it down on a scroll...in your OWN room!" "I know all about the two nights Xena spent in your bedchamber since the *truce* you two called. She deserves more than…that, Ares. She deserves to be with someone who loves her and is willing to show it. And if you do, you’ll have my full support." Gabrielle thought this would get an honest reaction out of him but that didn’t happen, and she went on, "After everything you have done, don’t you owe her that?" The war god pulled the silk sheet over his head. He softly cursed under his breath. "If I had my powers, I could silence her speech with the wave of a hand...and leave her like that until Xena returned." "Don’t forget Ares, I am immortal now so I will be here for an ETERNITY...which means that I can annoy you FOREVER, until you admit your true feelings..." With an angry growl, Ares removed the sheet covering his head as he rolled over to face Gabrielle. "Okay…I’m in love with Xena." He stared at her for a moment and then added, "Of course, we both know that I only said that to get you to shut up. Right?" With a huff, Ares rolled over, turning his back to the bard. "Sure Ares…anything you say." A triumphant smile appeared on Gabrielle’s face as she took the empty goblet and left the bedchamber. CHAPTER 60 It was unseasonably chilly morning in the Greek city state of Chalcis. The large Market Square of the ancient metropolis should have been bustling with life but instead there was an eerie silence. Autumn winds whipped through the emptiness, churning up dust and dry leaves that littered the city streets. Any weary traveler who entered Chalcis would have thought he had come upon a ghost town. But the residents of city were indeed alive. They were tucked away in their homes wondering why the gods of Olympus had forsaken them and left them all prey to the merciless whims of the One Great Evil. Dahak brought darkness that shrouded Chalcis like a thick fog---burying what little hope was left and replacing it with despair. Out of the eerie quiet of the morning, the rhythmic sound of horse hooves trotting down the main dirt road of the city could now be heard. As the sound steadily got closer, residents cowered in their homes. Hands were clamped over ears to block out the sound of doom and eyes were tightly squeezed shut. Mothers held onto children---husbands held onto wives---knowing that this was the last time their families would be together. For when the day ended, not a home in Chalcis would be left unscathed by great sadness. On the backs of the horses sat men in black armor, their faces hidden behind metal masks. The only one in the group not wearing armor was a man riding on a horse at the head of the long procession. He wore a blood red robe. The large hood covering his head obscured his face from view. A horn was secured to the saddle, which he removed, put to his lips and in a deep ominous voice said... "PEOPLE OF CHALCIS, TODAY YOU WILL SHOW YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD...DAHAK….BRING FORTH THE CHOSEN SACRFICES!!!" With great reluctance, the doors to the homes of Chalcis slowly opened as the person who had chosen to give up his life for the household stepped into the street. Softly weeping, people with tear streaked faces stood in their doorways and gazed at their love ones for the last time. Soldiers who had dismounted from their horses ushered the chosen sacrifices to steel cages setting atop several wagons scattered throughout the procession. Some of the residents were defiant and kept their doors bolted shut, refusing to send out a sacrifice to Dahak. Moving like machines, soldiers kicked in locked doors and dragged out a sacrifice of their own choosing. One soldier exited a house carrying a young boy as he proceeded to one of the steel cages. "NOOOO!" A woman screamed as she ran from the house. When she caught up to the soldier she grabbed a hold of the boy, trying to pry him from the man’s grasp to no avail. "Please DON’T take my baby! Take me instead." The woman’s face was streaked with tears as she looked up at the soldier with a pleading gaze. The only indication the woman even had that she was indeed addressing another human being was the man’s shallow breathing that was muffled by the mask he wore. The soldier was indifferent as to who was chosen to be this particular household’s sacrifice so he set the boy on the ground and grabbed the woman. "Mama!" The small boy sobbed. He reached out a small hand to grab onto his mother but only felt air as the armor clad, faceless soldier proceeded to drag her towards one of the steel cages. Having collected a sacrifice from each of the households along Chalcis’ main street, the long procession proceeded onward to the side streets. But before that could happen, Amazons and Corinthian soldiers jumped from rooftops to land on soldiers driving cage covered wagons---tossing them to the dirt of the city’s main road. Captives in the cages looked on in surprise, as did the residents of Chalcis from the windows of their homes. More men and women jumped from rooftops to battle Dahak’s faceless soldiers. "Quick, in here!" Aurora shouted above the sound of clashing steel. She and another Amazon stood in front of the doors to a public stable. They hastily directed the caged wagons, driven now by their comrades into the large structure. "Wait! Aren’t you going to let us out of here!?" One of the captives asked when he saw that his rescuers were going to exit the stable and leave them in the cages. "We will free you once the fighting is over. For now, it is safer for you to stay here," a Corinthian soldier replied before he quickly followed his comrades from the stable. Now that all the caged wagons were safely inside the stable, Aurora and her Amazon sister bolted the large door shut then joined their comrades in the battle against Dahak’s armored minions. "KILL THEM ALL! The unbelievers and all the residents of Chalcis!" The robed man shouted from atop his horse. Leaping from a rooftop, Ephiny and Jason landed on the ground in front of him. Their sudden appearance startled his horse that whinnied loudly as he stood on his hind legs, knocking the robed man from his back and to the dirt road. The man was rising to his feet when Ephiny came upon him, delivering a hard right to his jaw, knocking him into unconsciousness on the ground. Jason retrieved the horn lying beside the man and tossed it to Nemesis who was heading towards him. The former goddess took off down a side street using the horn to warn the city’s residents… "PEOPLE OF CHALCIS...KEEP YOUR DOORS LOCKED AND DO NOT VENTURE OUT INTO THE STREETS." The people of Chalcis did as Nemesis ordered and remained in their homes, watching from the windows, the fierce battle between Dahak’s faithful and their heroic rescuers. "Y’know, I’ve seen these medallions work countless times," Aurora shouted above the clashing steel while pulling her sword from the chest of one of Dahak’s flaming-eyed minions. "But it still amazes me that these little things not only protect us but can actually detect demons." With a high kick to his steel mask, she sent another opponent flying backwards. "Yeah, me too!" Jason shouted back while throwing a dagger into the neck of metal mask wearing man about to attack a comrade from behind. As the man fell to the ground, an orange cloud cluster of tiny seeds burst from his body. Frantically, it began searching for another host, as did the demon dispatched from the body of Aurora’s opponent. The air around Chalcis was rapidly filling with displaced demons as the Amazons and the Corinthian soldiers killed host body after host body. A man watching the strange spectacle from a window, yelled in terror when an orange cluster headed for his home. He quickly dropped to the floor by the window waiting for the strange presence to enter his residence but it never did. With caution, he rose to his feet and looked out the window again. The orange cluster cloud had vanished! He breathed a huge sigh of relief and resumed watching the battle. ********** While a fierce battle was being waged against Dahak’s forces in Chalcis, a contingent of Amazons, Corinthian soldiers and Centaurs were sent to destroy the lava plant facility just outside of the city. Solari and her Amazon sisters were finishing up the task of dousing the dry wood walls of an old barn with oil. "Okay everyone, get back!" Iphicles warned. Those standing around the old barn did as commanded while a centaur stepped forward and touched an oil soaked wall with the large lit torch that he held. Instantly an orange flame crawled up wood. From a safe distance, those in attendance watched the old barn quickly turn into a blazing inferno. Thick black billowing smoke rose into the air mixed with a multitude of fist sized orange clusters. They tried to move past the burning barn, to reach those watching the spectacle but the silvery liquid soaking the ground around the old structure prevented them from going anywhere. A bound priest of Dahak had his gaze fixed on the burning barn before turning to glare at his captors with a mocking smile. "You fools, destroying this barn has unleashed the demons on the people of Chalcis, ensuring our victory." Solari stared at the priest. The medallion around her neck did not reveal any red flames in his eyes indicating he was free of demons. Although the man was evil in his own right, he would be taken to a holding facility instead of being killed. Solari thought this was most unfortunate as she approached the man and got in his face. "You’re wrong priest! The demons aren’t going anywhere. Take a look at that silvery liquid lining the perimeter around the barn." The priest glanced at the ground around the burning barn and saw the liquid to which the Amazon referred. "It’s made from this." Solari fingered the medallion hanging from her neck. "Just as this protects us from demon possession---its liquid form can keep the demons from leaving the barn and doom them to oblivion." "So you stopped the demons from leaving the barn. You couldn’t have done the same thing with the city. Its residents will be hosts for the demons you displace there." The priest said with confidence. "Sorry to burst your bubble but you are once again you are mistaken. The city of Chalcis is protected by the same liquid metal surrounding this barn," Solari said. "Before sunrise, right under your noses, we marked every door post, wall and roof in the city with this metal. So, if any victory is ensured, it’s OURS!" The priest said no more and now silently seethed with rage as he turned his gaze once again to look at the burning barn, a testament to their loss. ********** Quickly, the warrior princess unfolded the sheet of parchment and read its contents... Xena, The Olympian gods have fallen to Dahak. As you instructed, I have taken the children to Cyrus’ estate in Persia. We will wait there for your arrival. Gabrielle "Well, what does it say?" Talon impatiently asked while trying to read the message over Xena’s shoulder. "It’s from Gabrielle...Dahak has defeated the Olympian gods. She and the children have fled to Persia. I am suppose to meet them there." "It’s a good thing this bird was able to track you down. Now we will have to change our traveling plans." Talon, along with Xena watched as Ares’ vulture Ibycus flew off into the clear blue sky. "What do you mean a change in our traveling plans?" Xena turned to face Talon; her brow was furrowed with confusion. "I thought you said we are suppose to go back to Greece and meet up with my father." "We were but that was before Gabrielle’s message about the children being in Persia," Talon replied. "Dahak needs those kids so we will have to go to Persia and get them." "Why does he need the children?" "Hey, beats me." Talon shrugged his shoulders. "But getting them back shouldn’t be a problem. You are their mother after all, so no one will question you taking them back to Greece." Xena nodded in agreement. Talon glanced at the three empty water skins he held in a hand. "I better go fill these so we can be on our way." Xena watched as Talon headed off to a nearby river to fill up their water skins. The traveling trio was about a day’s journey from the northern border of the Olympian realm. But now, instead of heading back to Greece, they would be heading towards Persia. After Talon’s departure, Xena made her way over to Cyrus who sat bound in front of a tree. "I heard what you and Talon are planning to do Xena. You can’t turn the children over to Dahak," Cyrus said. Ignoring his words, Xena hauled Cyrus to his feet. "C’mon you, it’s time to go." Leading him by his hands that were bound in front of him, she ushered him over to where the horses were tied. Cyrus stared at her incredulously. "I know you said you loved the evil you have become but some of the new Xena has still got to be in there." His hazel eyes searched her face. "The one that LOVES her children and would NEVER do ANYTHING to hurt them." The pair stood before the horses and Xena was about to haul Cyrus onto his mount, Xerxes. Her face appeared to be a mask of stone, not the least bit affected by his words. Cyrus shook his head in disappointment. "If I can’t get through to you then maybe Gab..." "There is no need to worry Cyrus, I am not turning my children over to Dahak," Xena firmly said cutting him off. Cyrus did a double take. "What did you say!?" "You heard me. I am not letting Dahak get my children." Xena smiled at him, the stony, cold expression gone from her face. Cyrus smiled back as realization set in. "You took my advice and have been fighting the evil that has filled you." "I have been fighting ever since that night when Talon told me what he had been doing to my water supply. I had to let him think that I was evil again, so I could get information out of him." "Were you able to find out anything?" "No," she smirked with disappointment. "For someone who claims to be a close pal of Dahak’s he certainly hasn’t been let in on the important stuff. The only thing that I managed to get out of him was that Dahak discovered what really became of the destroyer, which means that Gabrielle could be in grave danger. That’s why we must get to Persia as fast as we can and make sure she and the children are all right." "What about Talon? We can’t take him with us." "I’ll deal with Talon long before we get to Persia," Xena said with a hard look "I am baffled as to why these medallions didn’t alert us to the demon residing in Joxer’s body." Cyrus fingered the silver object dangling from his neck. "I wondered about that too," Xena confessed. "I just hope this doesn’t mean that the others fighting Dahak’s forces in Greece will have a problem. They could be in some serious trouble." Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen causing her to slightly double over. "Xena, what’s the matter!?" Cyrus’ face was riddled with concern as he tried to reach out to her with his bound hands. "Ooh," she groaned while closing her eyes and resting her head against the side of Xerxes’ large gray body. "I’ll be okay in a sec," she breathed. When the pain subsided, Xena opened her eyes and stood up straight again, facing Cyrus. She immediately noticed the worry in his eyes. "That was just one of the side effects of fighting Dahak’s blood...tremendous pain." She gently ran a hand over her abdomen. "I’ve been able to dull it with certain pressure points but that won’t last much longer." "Which means that you won’t be able to fight off the evil of Dahak’s blood much longer either?" "That’s right." She slightly bowed her head. Xena had come so far and Cyrus was not about to let his friend be consumed by evil again. With bound hands, he reached out to touch her chin, raising her face to look at him. "Since we are now going to Persia...this just may have worked out for the best. In my laboratory there, I should have something that I can use to flush out the addition of Dahak’s blood in your system." He let a faint smile cross his lips. "Then Persia it is." Xena smiled back at him. Over Cyrus’ shoulder, she could see their traveling companion was headed their way with the filled water skins. "Talon’s back." Cyrus quickly placed his right boot into a stirrup. "Okay, up you go." Xena hauled him onto Xerxes’ back. "Here’s your water Cyrus," Talon said when he stood before them. He gazed up at the man now seated in the saddle on Xerxes back, his eyes glancing at his bound hands. "I’ll just secure it to your saddle since you can’t do it yourself." A devilish smile graced his lips. Cyrus remained silent and only smirked at him. Talon was still smiling when he handed Xena her water skin. "And here’s yours, my dear." "Thanks," she softly replied as she proceeded over to Argo and mounted the golden palomino. When the group resumed their journey, Xena led the way while she held onto Xerxes’ reins so the horse would follow behind Argo. Talon riding atop Otis took up the rear. ********** Xena’s eyes quickly snapped open as she raised her bowed head. "Oh gods, I must have dozed off." She rubbed her eyes before she took in her surroundings. The warrior woman still sat atop Argo as the golden horse stood in a grassy field in the middle of a lush green forest. Xerxes and Otis were there too but their riders were missing. Xena couldn’t deny that fighting Dahak’s blood that threatened to turn her completely evil was draining her strength but she had never fallen asleep in the saddle before. She was certain that Talon had spiked her water supply again. She dismounted from Argo and went in search of her two traveling companions. Whatever Talon had drugged her with had left her senses foggy. So, being as alert as she could be, given the circumstances, Xena cautiously made her way through the forest. ********** "Now, *Mr. Goody Two Shoes* you are going to know first hand what I and the others had to suffer through for millennia!" Talon gazed down at the man dangling over the end of the cliff. Still bound by his hands that were now above his head and tied to a long rope, Cyrus gazed downward at the bubbling pool of lava far below him. "Your words don’t frighten me, Talon. I am prepared to face whatever you’ve got in store for me." Evil chuckles escaped Talon’s lips. "Oh, you’ll be singing a different tune when the lava eats away your body and your essence is doomed to wander the earth’s heated core for eternity." He unsheathed the sword at his side. Holding the hilt with both hands, he raised the blade above his head. "So long Cyrus." He brought the blade down to swiftly cut the rope from which Cyrus was hanging over the cliff. Suddenly, a whizzing sound could be heard. Talon looked around just as Xena’s chakram connected with the blade of his sword right before it made contact with the rope. The weapon was knocked from his hands and fell over the cliff, into the waiting lava below. He turned to look at the chakram’s owner as she stood on a hill just beyond the cliff. Xena caught the round weapon when it came towards her and put it back on her waist. Her crystal blue eyes were glaring at him. "Talon, WHAT are you doing!?" "Well, you see Xena, ol’ Cyrus here has out lived his usefulness," Talon stated as a matter of fact. "I was ordered by your father to imprison him in the lava just like the Creator did my kind so many millennia ago." He removed a dagger that hung at his side and began to twirl it in a hand. "Why did you drug me? I would have missed you doing away with him and I so want to watch." She flashed him an evil grin. "Cyrus is an old friend of yours and I couldn’t take any chances that you would get cold feet about imprisoning him." Talon sank to his knees. "I figured it was best if you sat this one out." He playfully ran a hand over the rope lying on the ground. "But now that you are here, you most certainly can watch." Using the dagger he held in a hand, Talon began sawing away at the rope to which Cyrus was tied. If anyone had outlived his usefulness it was Talon. The warrior princess ran forward. "Yiyiyiyiyiyi," she cried while executing a somersault and landing on the ground in front of Talon. The man had no time to react as she delivered a kick to his midsection that knocked him and his dagger away from the rope. What Xena had to do next pained her greatly, but in order for Joxer’s soul to find peace, his body had to be killed. Talon lay on the ground, shaking his head, trying to clear the stars from his vision. Xena was moving slowly in her follow up attack which gave Talon enough time to rise to his feet and charge her, knocking them both to the ground. Now the pair violently rolled about the dirt, exchanging blows. "If you kill me Xena, you will be killing your friend Joxer," Talon evilly sneered while delivering a punch to her midsection. "You killed Joxer when you took over his body." Xena’s right fist connected hard with Talon’s jaw as she brought a knee up to his midsection knocking the air out of him. "Now I must kill his body, so you will DIE." Xena rolled the pair over, putting her in the top position. She wrapped her hands around Talon’s throat and viciously banged his head on the hard ground until he stopped squirming beneath her and appeared to be unconscious. His face and hair were covered with dust as a trail of blood trickled from the side of his mouth where her fist had connected with his jaw. Xena still had a hand around Talon’s throat when she removed a dagger from her person. She raised her hand wielding the weapon. "I am so sorry Joxer," she whispered while bringing it down to plunge into the beating heart inside her friend’s body. Suddenly, Talon’s eyes flew open. "Xena, DON’T!!!" She immediately halted the descent of the dagger as she looked into the face of her friend. Gone was the evil countenance that had shrouded his being ever since Talon had made his identity known. "Joxer?" Her eyes stared at him incredulously. "Yeah...it’s me," he huffed trying to talk through the tight grip Xena maintained on his throat. When she saw his difficulty speaking, she loosened her grip. "Talon lied...I’m not dead. You have to...find a way...to get him...out of my body...please Xena!" Joxer started convulsing. "I will Joxer, I WILL." Xena assured. Her eyes were getting misty as she removed the hand from around his throat and let it caress his face. "He’s too strong for me Xena...I can’t hold him back any longer." Joxer’s mouth hung agape as a dark countenance fell over his being again, indicating Talon was back in control of the body. In one swift motion he raised a hand throwing the dirt it contained into Xena’s eyes. "Ahhh," she yelled while quickly snapping her eyes shut Talon knocked the dagger from her hand as he roughly tossed her off of him and rose to his feet. He stared down at Xena who was now in a kneeling position. Her eyes were rapidly blinking while she tried to remove the dirt from them. "I will NEVER leave this body, Xena so you will have to KILL me and your friend, HA HA HA..." Talon took off into the forest his evil laughter echoing in his departure. "Xena...Xena, what’s going on!?" Cyrus shouted from his position dangling over the cliff. Wearily rising to her feet, Xena went over to the edge of the cliff and gazed down at her friend. "Hang on, I will have you up here in a few minutes." She grabbed a hold of the rope tied around a boulder and began to haul Cyrus up onto the cliff. When he finally lay before her, she went over to him. "What happened up here, Xena? And where’s Talon?" "We had a fight." Xena kneeled before Cyrus and using a dagger cut the binds from his hands. "He managed to get the best of me and took off into the forest." She rose to her feet, pulling Cyrus up with her. "We must find Talon. As long as he is walking around in Joxer’s body, his soul will never be at peace." Cyrus started for the forest but Xena grabbed an arm halting him. "We can’t do that." He quickly whirled around, disbelief over her words in his eyes. "Why not!?" "Because Joxer is not dead. During the fight, he took possession of his body again and told me I must find a way to free him from Talon." "Xena, it couldn’t have been Joxer. It was just Talon using your love for your friend to halt your intentions of killing his body." He raised his arms to touch her. But she pushed him away. "Cyrus, it wasn’t Talon." Her tone was filled with unwavering confidence. "How can you be so sure?" "Hey, don’t look at me. You’re the demon expert. All I can say is that I KNOW my friend and it was indeed Joxer who spoke to me. Maybe him still being present in his own body is the reason the medallions didn’t detect Talon’s demon presence." "You may be onto something there," Cyrus confessed. "All right Xena, I will help you free Joxer." A grateful smile appeared on her face. "In his present state, it will be a struggle trying to get him to Persia so we will have to tranquilize him." Xena nodded in agreement. Cyrus glanced around at their surroundings. "We are in northern Lydia. I should be able to find in these forests the herb I need to create a tranquilizer that will keep him immobilized until we get to Persia." "While you work on the tranquilizer, I’ll track down Talon." Xena quickly made her way towards the forest with Cyrus following right beside her. When they reached the clearing where the horses had been left, only Argo and Xerxes were there. "Talon must have come back here, got Otis and took off," Cyrus surmised as he mounted Xerxes. "He doesn’t have much of a head start so it shouldn’t take long for me to find him," Xena mounted Argo. She let out a yell as she kicked the mare’s flanks urging her to take off in a quick gallop. Cyrus and Xerxes took off in another direction to find the herbs he needed to make the tranquilizer. ********** Xena brought Argo to a stop after they made their way through the forest and stood on a hill overlooking a lush green valley. There, in the distance, she could see Talon sitting atop Otis as the animal waded through a fast moving creek that cut across the valley. She kicked Argo’s flanks and the horse took off down the hill, headed into the valley. "C’mon you stupid horse, we’re almost there," Talon grumbled. Unfortunately for him, the creek was far deeper than he had calculated. The water was up to the animal’s chest so Otis was taking his time crossing it. There were just a few more yards to go before they reached the banks on the other side of the creek, when Talon heard the fast-moving hooves of another horse. He quickly whirled around in the direction of the sound. "Damn it!" He cursed when he saw Xena atop Argo quickly making her way towards them. He urged Otis to move faster. The seconds felt like minutes as Otis cumbersomely made his way to the edge of the creek and out of the water. While they stood on the banks of the creek, Talon turned towards Xena. He tipped his head to her in a gesture of farewell, then kicked Otis’ flanks hard, urging the large animal to take off quickly. As they got closer to the creek, Xena’s eyes scanned the water searching for its shallowest point. When she detected it, she urged Argo in that direction. In half the time it took Otis, Argo was across the creek and resumed galloping through the valley. Once again, Talon turned around when he heard horse hooves behind them. "Oh shit!" He growled when he saw Xena behind him once again. He urged his steed to gallop even faster. Xena did the same with Argo as the distance between the two horses became less and less. Soon, the golden palomino had caught up to the brown gelding and now the two horses galloped neck and neck. Talon tried to urge Otis to go even faster but the horse had reached its maximum speed. With the horses still galloping side by side, Xena leapt from Argo’s back, landing on top of Talon and knocking both from Otis’ back to the lush green grass below. They rolled a few yards before coming to a stop. Both took in labored breaths as they rose to their feet and prepared to square off against each other. ********** Cyrus’ hazel eyes quickly scanned the foliage before him. "Ah, there it is." A relieved smile graced his face when he found the herb he needed to make the tranquilizer. He grabbed a handful of the purplish colored leaves. Dropping to his knees, he removed a cloth from his person and laid it out upon the grass. He took the leaves and roughly rubbed them over the cloth, leaving purple stains behind. Once the cloth had a good coating of the leaves, he folded it up and tucked it inside his shirt. Cyrus mounted Xerxes who stood nearby and urged the large gray horse to gallop off through the forest. ********** Xena blocked the punch that Talon just threw and delivered one of her own that connected with his chin, knocking him away from her. From his new position, Talon rubbed his chin and moved his head around a bit. An evil chuckle escaped his lips as he set his gaze on Xena. Though she tried to suppress it, her face was somewhat contorted in pain while a hand rested on her abdomen. "You foolish woman, all this time you have been fighting Dahak’s blood." Talon shook his head in amazement. He approached where she stood and the two began to circle one another. "It’s a losing battle Xena, even YOU can’t resist forever...Dahak’s evil is just too strong." "I would have Cyrus KILL me before I ever let that happen," she hissed, her eyes hard and never leaving his person. "Oh c’mon Xena, do you really think Cyrus would be able to kill you? It would pain him too much. Just like killing Joxer would be for you. But that’s just something you will have to endure because it’s the ONLY way you will get me out of his body." ********** Galloping at top speed, Xerxes raced across the valley and began to slow down when he approached a creek. Cyrus’ hazel eyes quickly scanned the water, looking for the shallowest point. Time was of the utmost essence. Fear for Xena filled his being. In her weakened condition he didn’t know how long she would be able to last against Talon. Saying a quick prayer to the Creator, Cyrus took an educated guess then urged Xerxes to cross the creek. ********** Another spasm rippled through Xena’s body that didn’t go unnoticed by Talon who lunged at her, wrapping his hands around her throat. "Stop fighting it Xena and just give in...GIVE IN!!!" He yelled. Xena tried to pry his hands from her neck but she had grown too weak. She looked over Talon’s shoulder and could see Cyrus atop Xerxes who was galloping at top speed towards them. Mustering the little strength she had left, Xena raised her hands up to Talon’s neck and applied the pinch to his carotid arteries. He immediately released his hold on her throat as he fell to the ground. Exhausted, Xena slumped to the ground beside him. Talon’s eyes were wide with surprise while he struggled to speak. "Wh-what...d-did you...d-do...to m-me!?" Blood began to trickle from a nostril. "I cut off the flow of blood to your brain." Cyrus brought Xerxes to a stop before the pair and quickly dismounted. "I found the herb I needed and made the tranquilizer." "Good, now apply it," Xena said. Cyrus removed the cloth he had earlier tucked away inside his shirt. He came over to the immobilized man and knelt beside his head. For the first time, Talon’s eyes displayed fear as he watched Cyrus put the cloth over his mouth and nose. While this was going on, Xena removed the pinch from Talon’s neck. After a few moments had elapsed, Cyrus removed the cloth from Talon’s face. His eyes were closed as his chest softly rose and fell. "Well, he’s out cold and should stay that way until we get to Persia." A sigh of relief escaped Xena’s lips. "Oh, and I found something that should help ease your pain." Cyrus handed Xena a large green leaf shaped like a teardrop. He quickly glanced at the sky before returning his gaze to her. "Chew on that until sunset and it should keep the pain away until daybreak. I will give you another leaf at sunrise." Xena put the leaf in her mouth. Its taste was bitter but she ignored that as she began chewing it. She looked at Talon’s unconscious form. "Now, we better get him on Otis’ back so we can get to Persia." Cyrus nodded in agreement while helping Xena to her feet. CHAPTER 61 Rays of the mid-day sun poured through the oblong windows creating a homey atmosphere in the large kitchen of Cyrus’ palace. Usually bustling with cooks who prepared the food for the estate’s many residents, the kitchen today, had the distinction of being empty except for one. Vashti picked up a ceramic bowl and dumped its doughy contents onto the floured surface of a table. Rubbing some flour onto the palms of her hands, she began to knead the dough. "Here you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere." Selene strolled into the kitchen, making her way over to her friend. She watched as Vashti sprinkled more flour over the surface of the table. "What are you making?" "It’s pita bread." Using a knife, she cut the dough into smaller portions. "Lycus and Lysia love these stuffed with lambs meat and curry rice and I promised them I would make some for dinner." "Y’know, my mind is still reeling over the fact that they have parents that are alive." Selene rooted through a nearby basket filled with vegetables, snatching up a carrot as a snack. "Before the children went to Greece, they started asking a lot of questions about their parents that I was not allowed to answer, so I am glad the truth is now out in the open." Vashti placed the smaller portions of dough on a square heating brick. A crisp snap was heard when Selene bit off the tip of the carrot. She watched Vashti place the dough into a fiery brick oven. "Now that their parents are back in their lives, you do know that the children will probably be going to live with them?" "Yes, I know." Vashti went over to the hearth where two caste iron pots were simmering. She removed the lid from one of the pots. Grabbing a spoon hanging above the hearth, she stirred around its contents of curry rice before placing the lid back over it. Then she lifted the lid of the second pot. Selene watched Vashti take a piece of lamb’s meat from the pot and put it in her mouth. "You are being a good sport...I just don’t know if I could be." "Um, needs a bit more pepper," Vashti mumbled to herself. She turned to face Selene. "Could you bring the pepper mill over here and what are you talking about?" Selene got the pepper mill off a table and brought it over to her friend. "Vashti, you have been the only mother the children have known and from what you told me, it was suppose to stay that way. Now, all of a sudden, Xena is back in the picture and wants to be Mommy." "When the children were born, Xena was a warlord and saw no hope of ever escaping that life so she left them with Uncle Cyrus and me." Vashti gently turned the crank of the pepper mill ---it’s contents slowly falling into the simmering pot over the hearth. "But she did abandon that life and now wants her children back. I can’t say I blame her." "But where does that leave you?" "Look Selene, I’ve never made it a secret that I am not the twins real mother." Vashti began to vigorously turn the crank of the pepper mill. "So they have always been curious about their birth parents. Now those parents are back in their lives and I am happy for the children. But I can’t deny that my heart will break the day I have to say good-bye to them." Vashti stopped using the pepper mill as her brown almond-shaped eyes got misty. Selene frowned with guilt while gently placing a hand on Vashti’s arm. "Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you." "No, it’s okay." Vashti pulled out a towel hanging in the pocket of the apron she wore and quickly wiped the brewing tears from her eyes before they could streak her face. "I am doing my best to put my pain aside and enjoy the time I have left with the children before they start their new lives with Xena and Ares." She returned the lid to the pot of lamb’s meat and made her way back over to the table. "Ooh yeah, we certainly can’t leave out Ares." Selene now stood on the opposite side of her friend at the table. A lustful look was in her eyes as a devilish grin spread across her face. "Yummy." Vashti knew full well that her friend’s last remark had nothing to do with the carrot she was eating. "Selene!" She playfully slapped the young woman’s arm with the towel. "Oh c’mon Vashti, I’ve seen the way you look at him. You think he is HOT just as much as I do." "Okay, I do," Vashti confessed. "Xena described him to me years ago --- but the impression I got just doesn’t do justice in the flesh." "Oh, I’ll say." Selene started to giggle when she thought about the night the war god arrived at the palace and she helped remove his clothes. Vashti knew what her friend was thinking about and started laughing too. In between giggles she spoke. "There’s something I must tell you that I know you will appreciate." Vashti leaned her hands on top of the table. "The other day, I brought some clean towels and fresh water to Ares’ bedchamber. He was still sleeping so I made sure I didn’t wake him. But when I turned to leave, there he was, standing right behind me…NAKED!" "No way!?" Selene’s mouth hung open in shock as she let the partially eaten carrot slip from a hand and land on the tabletop. "Yes." "Tell me more!" Selene leaned her hands on the table, her eyes sparkling with piqued interest. "Ares asked me what we had done with his leathers. But all I could do was stand there and stare at his body…and what a body it is!" "Oh, I know!" Selene smiled as she remembered rubbing a wet cloth over the god’s muscular arms to cool him from a high fever. "When I finally answered him, I stammered like an idiot. Gods, I was so embarrassed…I know my face must have been beet red. And he just stood there with this big grin on his face…totally enjoying what he was doing to me. I finally gave up trying to speak, found the leathers for him and got out of there as fast as I could." "Gee, all the great things happen to you." Selene shook her head with envy. "So, did you get a look at what Bithia always kept covered whenever we were in the room?" "Yeah, I did," Vashti confessed bashfully. "I’ve seen naked men before but none of them were ever so…so…" "Well endowed." Selene finished for her friend. "Yeah, that’s it exactly." "It probably has something to do with him being a god." Selene leaned across the table and spoke in a hushed tone. "This makes me wonder why Xena doesn’t walk funny." "Selene!" Vashti gasped with shock before bursting into chuckles. "The things you think about." Selene chuckled along with her friend as she shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, I can’t help it…I have a curious nature." "Do you think Ares and Xena are involved again?" Vashti asked when the two finally stopped laughing. "Oh of course. The way he kept calling out for her when he first got here…" "But he was delirious from the fever. Besides, he mentioned a lot of other names too." Vashti picked up a knife lying on the table. "But Xena’s got mentioned the most," Selene reminded her. She looked at her friend curiously. "Why are you so interested in whether Ares and Xena are back together?" "I just want to know for the children’s sake," Vashti quickly replied as she turned her attention to a nearby basket and began inspecting the tomatoes it contained. "And there is no other reason…like maybe being interested in Ares yourself and wanting to know if he’s available?" "No, that’s not it at all." Vashti decided on a tomato and proceeded to slice it with the knife. "You have always been a lousy liar, Vashti." "I am not lying." "Yes you are." Selene said firmly. "I’ve seen the way you look at him. He’s cute and could charm the dress off a Hestian virgin but he is all wrong for you, Vashti. Leave Ares to Xena." Vashti stopped slicing the tomato and stared at her friend. "How can you be so sure Ares is wrong for me?" Before Selene could answer, Bithia poked her head in the kitchen doorway. "Ah Selene, here you are…I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You are needed in the schoolhouse right away." Selene looked towards Vashti. "We’ll have to finish this talk later. But you just remember what I said." Vashti’s eyes were fixed on Selene’s departing form as she pondered the advice she was given. Slowly, she resumed her task of slicing the tomato. ********** Ares re-adjusted the green colored parchment onto its wooden frame. When he was satisfied with his work, he handed it to Lycus who was standing before him. A grateful smile crossed the little boy’s lips before he turned to face his three friends who stood next to him. "See fellas, I toldja my Dad could fix it," he proudly said. "Yeah Lycus, your Dad is the best!" One of the boys said. The other two echoed his sentiments. Ares raised his hands in a halting gesture. "Whoa kids...as much as I like the praise why don’t you guys see if the griffin will fly for you?" "Okay." Carrying the kite in his hands, Lycus along with his three friends, headed for the grassy field down by the pond. When the boys were in the center of the field, Lycus handed the parchment griffin to one of his friends as he held onto the ball of string tied to the end of it. Then, Lycus took off running. When he was at a far enough distance, his friend let go of the griffin. It was caught on a passing breeze and started rising into the air. Lycus stopped running and watched as strong winds caused the green object to soar into the clear blue sky just as if it were a true griffin actually flying. The boy was smiling with delight along with his friends. From his position on a marble bench, Ares watched the boys entertain themselves with the kite. Their enthusiasm brought a smile to his lips. But the smile quickly turned to a scowl when he saw Gabrielle approaching him. He immediately rose from the bench and proceeded to head towards the palace. Gabrielle quickened her pace, bypassing him and came to stand blocking his path. "No need to flee on my account." Ares came to an abrupt stop, his brown eyes glaring at her. "I wasn’t fleeing!" he snapped. He softened his tone before continuing. "There’s something I must attend to in the palace." "Oh c’mon Ares, is that the best you can do? You’ve been avoiding me ever since that night when you admitted you are in love with Xena." "I only said that to get you off my back." Ares moved closer to her as his tone of voice got lower and more threatening. "So, don’t even think of trying to hold that so called *confession* over my head." Gabrielle stepped back from him. "That was not my intention at all." "It better NOT be! And don’t breathe one word of this to Xena." He stepped around her and resumed his walk towards the palace. "Oh, I won’t tell Xena," Gabrielle followed and immediately caught up with him. "But I think you should." Ares curiously glanced at the young woman now walking beside him. "Y’know, I don’t get it--- you have hated me for years...never thought I would ever be good enough for Xena. Now you’re suddenly a red-headed version of Aphrodite." "Like I told you the other night, I’ve had a change of heart. I’ve seen the way you interact with the twins and now the children of the orphanage. Being with them is bringing out the human in you." An exasperated sigh escaped the war god’s lips. "No need to insult me." "There is no shame in being human," Gabrielle said. "I know you gods have tried to hide that part of your ancestry but it’s always going to be there." "Ah, let me guess it was Cyrus who told you about the true origin of the gods." Ares shook his head with disgust. "The other pantheons won’t have to worry about Dahak toppling them with good ol’ Cyrus informing the masses about the human blood flowing through their veins." "Oh quit exaggerating. Besides Xena, I am the only other person he has ever told and I’m not telling anyone." "Just make sure it stays that way." Ares quickened his pace. "Hey wait! I wasn’t finished." Gabrielle followed after him. "I was, we have nothing more to discuss." "Ares, you have to tell Xena how you really feel." Once again Gabrielle walked alongside him. Ares rolled his eyes with annoyance as a weary sigh escaped his lips. "Okay, hypothetically, let’s say my confession was real and I am in love with Xena. Why would I want to admit this to her? She would never believe me and probably laugh in my face." "No she wouldn’t, Ares." "And how can you be so sure?" An uncomfortable frown appeared on Gabrielle’s face. "You are the last person I would want to admit this to but since you made a confession to me, I now owe you one." Ares raised an eyebrow in piqued interest while he waited for her to continue. "I watched Xena that night we all had dinner with the children. She was so alive...so chatty. I think it was the first time I have ever seen her at true peace." The war god’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing her words. "What I mean is that Xena has had happy times with me. She even told me that I brought so much joy into her life and gave it meaning. But what I bring her doesn’t even compare to what I saw in her eyes when she was with you and the children. That’s why you must tell her how you really feel...it would mean so much to her." The pair slowly shuffled to a stop and turned towards each other, glancing up at the same moment. Each quickly averted the other’s eyes as an awkward feeling fell over both. Gabrielle wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t in a dream and had actually told her worst enemy that he and Xena belonged together. Ares tentatively gazed at the young woman standing before him. For years she stood in the way of him getting Xena back. Not that long ago he had plotted her death and here she was now---the irritating, annoying chatterbox---telling him to confess his love for Xena. Gabrielle seemed to be so sure that Xena would welcome his confession. If that were so, did it mean that Xena loved him? If anyone had insight on such feelings, it would be the bard. Ares parted his lips to voice this question. Suddenly, a young voice broke the awkward silence between them. "Daddy! Gabrielle!--- Mommy, Uncle Cyrus and Joxer are here!" Lysia excitedly announced while running past them and heading towards the grassy field to inform Lycus. Ares lost the nerve to voice his question. "Um…we better go to the palace." He absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair. "Uh…yeah," Gabrielle said, still feeling uneasy about what she had said. The two fell silent again and quickly made their way to the palace. When they got inside, they found Xena standing in the foyer. "Oh Xena, I am so glad Ibycus was able to find you!" Gabrielle embraced her best friend in a tight hug. "We were just about to re-enter Greece when he showed up." Xena had a big smile on her face while returning Gabrielle’s hug. But her eyes were locked on Ares’ form, his face in particular. The shoulder length raven locks he had the last time she saw him were gone and replaced with very short hair. The long sideburns were gone too. Ares had his muscular arms folded across his broad chest while leaning against the doorframe and silently watching the reunion between best friends. He saw Xena staring at him, taking in the changes he had made to his appearance. Did she like what she saw? He couldn’t help but stare back. It was her beautiful face that he constantly saw those first few days after his mysterious resurrection---when he was shrouded in delirium from a high fever. Seeing her face was the only thing that brought him comfort during that time. It filled him with regret that he had died without telling Xena how he really felt about her. And now he wondered how she would have reacted to his death. Would she have cried? Would she have missed him despite the things he had done to win her back? What were her true feelings for him? Ares’ attention returned to the conversation taking place before him. "So, where is this piece to the Holy Saber?" Gabrielle asked. "Cyrus has it. He and Joxer are in the library." "Oh good! After looking at drawings of it countless times, I can’t wait to see the real thing." Holding onto Xena’s right arm, the bard was about to escort them both to the library, but the warrior woman remained planted where she stood. "Why don’t you go on ahead Gabrielle? I will be there in a few minutes." She quickly glanced at Ares, who still leaned against the doorframe. Gabrielle couldn’t help but notice her friend’s sideward glance at the war god. She also felt the tension between the two. "Oh, okay." Gabrielle let go of Xena’s arm and quickly made her way down the hall, headed towards the library. After Gabrielle’s departure, Ares left the doorframe and moved to stand before Xena. "Yours is the first search party to arrive in Persia. Let’s hope the others were just as successful, will get their messages from Ibycus and arrive here soon." Xena moved closer to Ares. "I see you decided to change your look." She ran a hand through his short hair then let it rest against the side of his smooth face. "Do you like it?" Ares asked. "Yeah I do." "Then it’s unanimous because the kids like it too," Ares said with a smile. Xena smiled back at him as her hand gave his cheek one final caress before falling at her side. "When I got Gabrielle’s message that Olympus had fallen...I thought it meant you were dead." "Oh, I felt the sting of Hind’s blood but it wasn’t enough to keep a god like me down." Ares rolled his broad shoulders. "What do you mean?" Xena asked. "It’s a long story that I will have to tell you later." Ares raised a hand and let the fingers play with the raven tresses falling over her shoulders. "So, when you thought I was dead, did you cry?" "No, I didn’t cry," Xena replied. "But you were sad, right?" "Yes, I was sad." Xena gazed at him curiously. "What’s with the questions?" "I’m just interested in finding out how people really feel about me. After what I’ve been through, stuff like that becomes very important." "Oh it does, does it?" Xena smiled at him. "Yeah." Smiling too, Ares moved closer to her. "So, how do you feel about me?" Before Xena could answer, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the foyer followed by the quick entrance of the twins. "Mommy!" "Mom!" Xena’s smile was now beaming as she turned around, squatted down and held her arms wide open for the twins to run into her waiting embrace. "Oh, you don’t know how much I missed you two!" She planted a kiss on the cheek of each child. "We missed you too, Mommy," Lysia said. "A whole lotta stuff happened while you were gone," Lycus added. "Yeah, the snakeman killed Daddy!" Lysia said. Xena’s eyes widened upon hearing this news. "But he came back to life right before we came to Persia," Lycus added. "Your father told me something about that…" Xena glanced up at Ares. "But not so vivid." "We had to fly on Serpico, Blade and Pegasus to get here," Lycus said. "We flew over a bunch of houses…they looked so small…just like my dollhouse," Lysia added. Lycus’ face beamed with excitement. "Ooh and ya have to check out the new kite I got! It looks like a griffin." Xena couldn’t help but laugh while the children bombarded her with excited chatter. She glanced up at Ares who was stifling his own chuckles. Once more the hall echoed with hurried footsteps as three small boys – Lycus’ friends Darek, Jamal and Omar – burst into the foyer. "Lycus…Lysia, ya havta come to the stables…Samira is foalin’!" Jamal said. In his hands, he held the parchment griffin that he handed to Lycus. "She is!?" Lysia asked with excitement. Samira was one of the many horses that Cyrus owned. "Uh, huh." Darek nodded. "Braxton, came from the stables and told us so we came to get ya," Omar said. "So, c’mon," Darek said. Lycus and Lysia had uncomfortable looks on their faces. "But we were in the middle of tellin’ our Mom what happened while she was away," Lycus said. "But ya said ya wanted to be there when Samira had her baby," Jamal reminded the twins. "Why don’t you two go on with your friends?" Xena rose to her full height. "But we didn’t finish tellin’ ya all the stuff that happened," Lysia said. "I’m not going anywhere so you can tell me the rest when you get back." Xena laid her hands on the children’s shoulders. "And you can add what you see at the foaling. Watching a horse give birth is really amazing…you don’t want to miss it." "Are ya guys comin’ or what?" Omar asked. Lycus looked at Lysia who nodded. "Yeah, we’re comin’," Lycus said. "Then let’s go!" Jamal said. Xena and Ares watched as Lycus and Lysia ran off with their friends to the stables. "We better get to the library," Xena suggested after the children’s departure. Her face was now riddled with worry. Noticing the change in her demeanor, Ares asked, "All did not go as planned while getting the saber piece, did it?" "No. Something happened to Joxer." "What is it?" Ares actually had a look of concern on his face. "A demon has taken possession of his body and now we must get it out," Xena replied with a grim frown. ********** Gabrielle cautiously moved around the large mahogany table. Green eyes widened in disbelief as she examined the massive chains binding the unconscious man. His face appeared gentle and familiar as ever. She hesitated, then ran slender fingers through his short brown hair…were such restraints necessary? She’d known him for years – he’d never harm anyone. Would he? Cyrus’ words gave lie to the peaceful image… ’Joxer’s body is possessed by a demon.’ Gabrielle thought back to the night at the castle in Macedon, when Joxer had made a pass at her. It all made sense to her now. She knew Joxer would never act like that and knew it had to be this demon named Talon. A chill went through her when she thought about how he had kissed her...his tongue invading her mouth while his hands explored her body. Gabrielle was startled back to the present when she heard a groan escape the bound man’s lips. She moved away from the table. When she looked at his face, his eyelids fluttered before finally staying open. The brown orbs appeared to be disoriented at first as they stared up at the ceiling. He tried to move but was restrained by the chains holding him in place. Sensing the presence of another he turned his head to the side. "Oh, thank the gods, Gabrielle it’s just you," he breathed with relief. "Listen to me, I know Xena and Cyrus have told you that I’m possessed by a demon but they are lying." "They are?" Gabrielle’s tone was filled with suspicion. "Yes. Cyrus is not the good watcher he claims to be. He is one of Dahak’s cronies and he has been poisoning Xena’s mind with evil. I found out and tried to get to Persia to warn you but they caught me and now want to kill me." He strained against the chains holding him in place. "That’s why you have to get these things off of me so I can get us both out of here." "Nice try...Talon, but I don’t buy one word of it." Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest. "I am not Talon, I am Joxer and what I’m saying is the truth," he insisted. "Cyrus came back to Persia so he and Xena can get the kids, take them back to Greece and turn them over to Dahak. He also told Dahak about Hope putting you in the destroyer’s body. That’s why I must get you, me and the kids out of here." The bard stood in silence, absorbing what he had just said. "You’ve got to remove these chains…we don’t have much time before Cyrus and Xena come in here." He struggled against the restraints holding him in place. "Please Gabrielle!" He pleaded sounding so desperate and his brown eyes filled with sincerity. Gabrielle’s face was riddled with conflict. Were his words true? She did know Joxer much longer than Cyrus? And what did she really know about the former Watcher? She approached the table and gazed down at the man she considered a dear friend. She couldn’t detect any deception---he appeared to be for real. "Hurry Gabrielle!" He wiggled some more in the restraints. With hesitation, she laid her hands on the chains. Suddenly, the sound of clapping filled the library. Both looked towards the library door. There they saw Xena clapping her hands---Ares stood beside her. "I must admit Talon, you are very good," Xena said when she stopped clapping. "I can certainly see how you fooled us all into believing you were Joxer." Xena and Ares started walking towards the table. Gabrielle stepped away from the bound man. Talon stared at Ares, his eyes widening in shock. "YOU! You’re suppose to be dead!" "Yeah, that is what your ol’ pal Dahak wanted but I had my own plans," Ares said with a cocky grin. Gabrielle shook her head in amazement. "Oh gods, I was actually starting to believe him and was going to set him free." "But you didn’t," Xena said. "Talon is a master of deception but we will be free of him soon enough," she glared at the bound man. "The only way you will be free of me is to kill this body and doing that will kill Joxer too…HA-HA-HA…" "If I am going to stay in here, he’s got to shut up." Ares grabbed a rag hanging from an empty torch holder then headed over to the table where Talon laid bound. When he stood over the laughing man, he roughly shoved the cloth into his mouth, instantly silencing him. "Xena, what if Talon’s words are true and destroying him kills Joxer?" Gabrielle’s face was filled with fear. "Don’t let what Talon said get to you. Cyrus will find a way to rid the body of him and bring Joxer back to us." "I’m no fan of Cyrus’ but he is very smart and if there is anyone that can find a way to save Joxer, it is him," Ares admitted. "I just hope you two are right because I don’t like the thought of having to kill one of my friends," Gabrielle said. "It won’t come to that," Xena assured, putting an arm around her best friend’s shoulders in a comforting gesture. "So, where is the piece to the Holy Saber?" Ares asked. "It’s over here." Xena walked over to another table set in the corner of the library. Ares and Gabrielle followed her. When all three stood before the table, Xena picked up a gray satchel and pulled out the contents. "Here it is." She held up a three-inch shard of metal, dull and partially stained with dirt. "It just looks like an old hunk of metal to me." Gabrielle smirked with disappointment. "That’s because it’s been lying in dirt for millennia," Xena said. Ares took the hunk of metal from Xena’s hand. "With a little polishing this metal will shine like the sun." He held it up to the light and inspected it. "You just wait until the others get here with the remaining pieces. Then you’ll see the saber in its full glory." Ares smiled with delight as he got a vision of himself holding the saber---his body absorbing the power contained within it as the other Olympian gods, including Zeus, bowed at his feet because he was now the most powerful god on earth. At that moment, Cyrus, carrying a very large old book and a jar, came through the library’s back door. Following him were, Aphrodite, Cecrops, Bithia, Jasper and two other servants, one carrying a large bucket. "You will all be pleased to know that I found a passage in this very book that details the ritual needed to be performed to exorcise Talon and restore Joxer," Cyrus announced to the gathered group. "Oh, thank the gods," Gabrielle breathed with relief. The others shared her sentiments with smiles. "From here on out, no one is to leave the library. Both doors have been bolted shut and the posts coated with the metal of light," Cyrus said. "Now I’ll secure the inside of the library." Cyrus laid the book he carried on a table before taking the bucket from the servant. "Is there anything we can do?" Xena asked. "Yes, you all can light the candles scattered around the room," Cyrus replied. While Cyrus prepared the library for the exorcism, the others set about the task that he had given them. Still silenced by the cloth stuffed in his mouth, Talon turned his head this way and that, watching the activity going on around him. "Okay, everyone must join me around the table," Cyrus ordered when he had completed securing the room and all the candles were lit. He stood before the table where Talon lay bound. The thick drapes blocked out the setting sun but the library still beamed with light provided by many candles scattered about the room. The scent of melted wax permeated the air as all in attendance gathered around the large mahogany table. "Join hands," Cyrus ordered. "During the ritual, everyone must remain silent." From his bound position atop the table, Talon cautiously eyed those now standing around him. His cocky bravado was gone as fear shown plainly on his face. All joined hands, and stood in silence with their eyes fixed on Cyrus. His eyes were closed and his head was bowed as he whispered a prayer in his native tongue---Celestic. A few moments later the prayer ceased as he raised his head and opened his eyes. Cyrus broke from the circle, joining together the hands of those on either side of him as he stepped towards the table. He raised his head towards the ceiling and in a loud voice said, "Creator of light and purity, I your humble servant Cyrus, call on you to restore my powers so I may free a trapped soul from this creature of darkness." Suddenly, a stream of white light came through the ceiling and engulfed Cyrus’ body. One servant slightly jumped before gazing at the phenomenon unfolding right before his eyes. The multicolored robe and the other clothes Cyrus wore were transformed snowy white. A cry of pain escaped his lips then his body began to tremble. Those gathered stared with wide eyes filled with fear---with awe as they watched wings slowly sprout from his shoulder blades and flow down his back, stopping mid-thigh. Cyrus now had an ethereal appearance having taken on his form as a watcher again. Talon had been watching the transformation too. His brown eyes were wide with fear while muffled screams of terror managed to escape the cloth shoved into his mouth. He violently struggled against the chains while Cyrus moved to stand over him. He removed the cloth from the bound man’s mouth. "STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!" Talon shouted, the veins in his neck bulging while his body strained against his metal binds. "DON’T TOUCH ME!!!" Cyrus ignored the struggling demon as he dipped an index finger in a jar of liquid metal he had earlier set on the table and marked Talon’s forehead and cheeks with the star of light. "AHHHHHH!" Talon howled as if his flesh had been burned. Xena felt Gabrielle tighten the grip on her hand as she stood next to her. The warrior woman stole a glance at her friend’s face. It was riddled with agony. But what was being done was necessary to destroy the demon and restore their friend. She gave Gabrielle’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Moving lower, Cyrus ripped open Talon’s shirt and painted a large star of light on the man’s bare chest. "NOOOOO!!!" Talon yelled while lifting his torso off the table, straining against the chains binding his arms and wrapped around his legs. Cyrus waved his hands over the man’s body and in a loud voice said, "BY THE POWER GIVEN TO ME BY THE DIVINE CREATOR, I COMMAND YOU DEMON TO LEAVE THIS BODY!" A white light flowed from Cyrus’ hands that slowly engulfed Talon’s body. "NO-NO-NO-AAAHHH!!!" Talon screamed when his body was completely shrouded by the light. Those around the table stared with fascination. "UGGHHH!!!" Talon screamed. With all his might, he pulled against the chains holding him in place. "I WANT TO STAY!!!" Talon roared as an entity began moving throughout his body. Its journey was in plain view to all as it violently poked against the bare skin of Talon’s chest and arms. Some couldn’t watch and turned their heads away. When it reached his face, its frantic movements contorted the shape. "AAAHHH!!!" Talon yelled at the loudest decibels, straining his vocal cords. Then abruptly, he fell silent. His eyes were glazed over with the stare of death while his mouth hung agape. Those watching looked at him fearing the worst. Gabrielle’s eyes started filling with tears. Had the exorcism failed? Was her friend dead? One of the servants couldn’t hold back a gasp when all saw an eerie black cloud pour from Talon’s opened lips. Fearing what he was seeing, Jasper pulled his hands away from those on either side of him and started backing away. "NO! You can’t break the circle!" Cyrus yelled. But the frighten man’s action was just what the displaced demon needed. It instantly whipped around him. "No…get away from me!" Jasper shouted as he frantically flailed his arms trying to swat away the demon. Xena wanted to offer the man assistance and made a move towards him. "NO XENA! Stay at the table! All of you stay there and keep holding hands!" Cyrus ordered. He headed over to where Jasper now lay, rolling about the floor, his body now shrouded in the eerie mist. Jasper gazed up at Cyrus when he stood over him. His eyes now had a red glow. "Get away from me, Watcher!" he hissed. Cyrus fell to his knees and laid his hands on the head of the fallen man, engulfing his body in white light. "AAAHHH!" Jasper yelled as his body began to convulse. A few moments later, a black mist burst from his mouth. It flew around the room, frantically searching for another body to inhabit. Those standing at the table followed its desperate movements. It whipped around them, trying to frighten another into breaking their link of hands but they stayed firm. Faster and faster it zipped around the room until its movements became a blur then it evaporated into nothing. "Talon has been destroyed," Cyrus declared before collapsing to the floor beside Jasper. Xena started towards him but came to a stop when his fallen form was engulfed in a blinding burst of light. She had to shield her eyes, as did the others. When it finally dispersed, all uncovered their eyes. Cyrus still lay on the floor beside Jasper but he was once again dressed in his multicolored robe and other clothes---the wings were gone. Xena immediately went and knelt by his side. His eyes were open and his breaths were labored. "Are you okay?" Concern showed in her crystal blue eyes. "Yeah, I’m just a little winded." Cyrus touched the man lying beside him. "And what about Jasper?" Xena asked. "He will be okay too. He just needs some rest." "We’ll take him to his room." The two other servants came over to Jasper, lifted his body and proceeded to carry him out of the library. Bithia and Selene followed them. Xena helped Cyrus and the two headed over to the table where the others were removing the binds from Joxer’s body. His eyes were still closed as his chest gently rose and fell. Gabrielle stood by his head running slender fingers through his short brown hair. "Joxer, can you hear me?" Slowly he began to stir and his eyelids fluttered before staying open to reveal brown orbs. He stared up at the ceiling before letting his gaze fall on those standing around him, fixing it on the woman caressing his hair. "Gabrielle?" he asked with a hoarse voice. "Yes Joxer, it’s me." Gabrielle smiled with relief while running a hand over his face. Joxer looked towards the warrior woman. "Xena?" "Welcome back Joxer," she said with a smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. "How do you feel?" "Just awful," he frowned with discomfort. "Don’t worry young man. We will have you well in no time," Bithia announced as she re-entered the library. "Cecrops could you carry him to a room, please." "Sure." Cecrops effortlessly lifted Joxer into his arms and carried him from the library. Bithia and Aphrodite followed them.
Webmaster Note: To make this story load a little easier in your browser, it was split into several web pages. |
 |
|||
| Shipper Fiction Home | Fan Fiction Home | Xena Home | Tributes to XWP |
 |
|||
This is a fan web site, not-for-profit, and is not meant to infringe on the copyrights of MCA Universal, USA Studios, Renaissance Pictures or anyone else that may hold rights.
