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~*~

KARSUTHA: DAY THREE

The next morning Xena didn't bother getting Ares up. Instead, she just headed outside to wander around. Yesterday she hadn't seen everything that was out there because she and Ares had walked beyond the festival before they checked it out.

There were targets set up for archery, tracks outlined for running, a field for throwing the discus and competing with javelins, and a ring for combat with weapons of choice. Xena looked beyond the combat ring and saw numerous large stands set up next to each other, all containing things that only one person could ever think up.

"Salmoneous!" Xena said, walking over to the salesman. "Who invited you here?"

His eyes lit up when he saw her and he smiled. "Xena! Hermes brought me along! Hey, would you be interested in a 'Chosen' mug? Or how about an 'I've been to Olympus!' T-shirt? Huh? Whaddya say?!"

Xena shook her head. "I think I'll pass. See you around, okay, Salmoneous?" She walked away.

"Hey! Wait! I haven't even told you about the sculptures of Mt. Olympus! And the golden sandals! And..." Seeing that she was long gone, he sighed, and started looking around for a new customer.

~*~

Ares woke up hours after everyone else did. He looked around, and realized everybody was outside. Turning himself around, he put both feet on the floor and sat, hunched over, head in his hands. Unlike the first time, he remembered everything about last evening.

He rubbed the sides of his head, wishing he didn't have such an awful headache. Wishing he hadn't gotten drunk. Wishing he hadn't made such a stupid move and pissed off Xena again.

Rising from the couch, he walked out into the statue room, and then cautiously out the door, squinting in the sunlight. He wanted to find Xena; try to talk to her. He walked around to the back of the temple, and then scanned the area. Off to the left he saw the Warrior Princess walking near the combat ring. He made his way over to her.

Xena saw him approach, and stared straight ahead, walking right past him. Ares turned around and walked by her side.

"Xena? Come on, Princess, I didn't mean to do that, okay? It was a stupid move on my part. I'm sorry."

She shook her head, not looking at him.

Ares grabbed her arm in an iron grip and turned her around. "Listen to me, damn it! I said I'm sorry! What else do you want from me?!"

"Nothing!" Xena declared, raising her free hand in exasperation. "Absolutely nothing! I want you to leave me alone!" She tried to wrench her hand away from him and walk away, but he only tightened his grip, pulling her roughly to him.

Without warning, a familiar voice he hadn't heard in years cut through the air, and his words directed to his Princess died on his lips.

"Hello Ares."

Ares' whole body went stiff and he released his grip on Xena, hand falling to his side. Mouth ever-so-slightly hung open, he turned around.

There SHE stood.

Her wavy black hair cascaded down her back, stopping at her waist, and made a beautiful contrast to her silver battle-dress. Vibrant green eyes stared at her old flame, and her full blood-red lips formed a small smile.

Ares was beyond stunned. If he were mortal, he would have died from heart-attack. His eyes ran over the woman's perfect body, noticing that her skirt was even shorter than it was before. Gaze finally meeting her eyes again, he tried to speak, but found he couldn't.

The goddess's smile grew wide as she saw his shocked expression. She walked over to him, letting her own eyes roam for a moment. When she reached him, she ran her hand up his chest, and then his face, settling at the back of his neck. She stepped closer to him, pulling his head down as she tilted her own upwards, lips meeting his in a feverish kiss.

Xena watched as Ares kissed this strange woman, anger boiling inside her, but she kept her face cool. She took a step back, trying to suppress the urge to beat this person to death.

When the goddess pulled away, both parties were breathless, and she grinned slyly at him. "It's been a long time, lover."

Ares breathed heavily, trying to gain control of himself. When the current events finally processed through his still somewhat foggy brain, he looked behind him, finally remembering Xena. The Warrior Princess looked at him, eyebrow rose. He mouthed the words "don't go anywhere" to her and she shrugged in reply. He turned back to the goddess before him.

"Eos, what are you doing here?"

She pouted. "Aren't you happy to see me? I just returned from the East...and you're the first person I wanted to visit."

Ares looked at her incredulously. "Me?! What makes you think I'd welcome you back with open arms?"

"Well...you seemed to be quite happy with that kiss, didn't you?"

"But you *left* me, Eos, and didn't even tell me! I had to hear about it from Hermes!"

"I didn't leave *you*," Eos said, "I left *Greece*. I wanted to see what else was out there."

Ares looked at her for a moment, those words echoing in his ears. Had he not heard those same words years before? His thoughts went to Xena. *She* had left him for the sea. To see what else was out there. Was this becoming a trend?

"You could have told me," he said finally.

"Well, you know now, so I don't see what the problem is."

"The problem is that I'm not with you anymore. In two hundred years, things can change," Ares said, and stepped aside, revealing Xena.

Eos rose a brow and regarded the warrior with her head tilted to the side. "She looks like me, Ares. That why you chose her?"

Ares shook his head, anger in his eyes. "I chose her because I love her!"

Both the goddess and the Warrior Princess were taken aback by this.

"Love? Love? Ares, what did you feel for me? You loved me!"

"Loved? How could I have loved you? I was your toy, your way of making people angry. You were a rebel and I was bad, so you wanted me. Anything to cause disruption. I might have grown to care about you, Eos, but I never loved you. I never will."

The Goddess of Dawn looked at him with a frown on her pretty face. "We'll see about that." She disappeared in a flash of silver.

Ares looked over to Xena, and then stepped closer to her. "Xena..."

"I don't love you. I don't. Please...just...don't." She turned away from him, making her way back to the temple.

The God of War ran to catch up with her. "You know that's not true! You love me!"

"I don't want to love you!"

"But you do! Get used to it!"

Xena shook her head. "I won't let myself give into you. I *may* love you but I don't have to act on it!"

~*~

Why didn't Ares ever chase after her? A part of her thanked him for it, but another part of her wished that he'd come after her once in awhile.

She turned the corner to walk down the hallway, and Eos appeared beside her. Xena ignored her, walking on ahead. The goddess followed her though, a wicked smile on her face.

"You know, he doesn't really love you. He uses every woman he can get his hands on. I know; I was with him for over a hundred years. He'll fuck you a couple times and when he's got his fill he'll leave. He doesn't need a mortal whore like you. The same tongue that slips into your mouth when he kisses you is the same that has screwed *me* thousands of times. The same-"

Xena looked up to the ceiling, then back, turning around to cut off the goddess's remark.

"Ares has fucked so many women that I don't care anymore! Listen, Bitch, you might have been with him hundreds of years, but I've done things with him that you can't even begin to imagine! I have pleasured him for days on end, I have brought him release that has shook the earth! I lost my damn virginity to him! If he knew me back when he was with you, he woulda dropped you without a second thought!"

Eos growled deep in her throat, wanting to rip this mortal to shreds. However, she didn't get the chance, for Ares came walking down the hall.

"Get the fuck outta here, Eos!" he yelled, and the rage in his eyes was evident. The goddess shrunk back, knowing what he was capable of doing to her. She disappeared.

Ares glanced over at Xena and then turned away from her, going through the door opposite of theirs. He slammed it shut, leaving Xena alone in the hallway.

~*~

Aphrodite's head shot up as the door to her room closed loudly. Ares stood there, a scowl on his handsome features.

"Bro? What's wrong?" the goddess asked.

"Oooh, judging by the look on his face his Warrior Princess has been giving him trouble," Cupid volunteered from his chair across the room.

"Yep, I agree! So, what she do this time, Stud? Talk to us, we're listenin'."

"I hate her! I fucking hate her! Why?! The bitch says that yeah, she's in love with me, but she doesn't have to act on it! She doesn't want to be with me! She doesn't want me to touch her! She just wants me to be there when she's being chased by an army and has a broken leg, or when -"

Cupid cut him off. "Dad -"

Ares stopped in mid sentence and looked over at his son, not used to being called that.

"What you need to do is convince her that she needs you."

"I can't. I've tried. By all of Olympus, I've tried! She doesn't want to love me..." No one said anything. "Should I let her go?"

"Do you love her, Ares?"

He gave his sister a look. "You know I do."

"Then she's worth it," Cupid said. "You really never loved anybody like that before. You lusted after people, but you've loved none the way you have loved Xena. The past twenty-some years you have known her...you've changed. You've loved, you've become mortal, you've felt disgust for your actions, you've felt heartache. I say -- and I know Mom agrees with me -- that what you two have is something that hardly anyone else finds. True love for a god...it's rare. I know it...I love Pschye. And there's Mom and Hephaestus. And Hades and Persephone. I can think of no more pairs. Four. Four out of so many. Ares...you've found her. Don't let her go. Fight. I know you can do that. Fight to the end and I promise you'll win, Dad."

Aphrodite wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh, Cupie...that was so beautiful."

Ares stared at his son for a moment. "Thanks..." he said finally, and offered his hand to the god.

Cupid looked surprised for a moment, not used to being civil with his father. He took his hand and shook it. "Anytime."

Ares walked over to Aphrodite, who was still crying over Cupid's speech. He grinned down at her. "Your eyes are getting all puffy, Dite."

She gasped, and a handkerchief appeared in her hands. She daintily dabbed at her eyes.

~*~

A large bonfire was set outside that night on one side of the temple. Everyone was out there, sitting on blankets and drinking. Some that were already intoxicated were dancing around the flames. Xena sat a few yards away, staring down at the blanket in deep thought.

Gabrielle walked up to her best friend and sat down beside her. "Xena?"

Xena snapped out of her trance and finally noticed the bard. "Oh...Gabrielle."

"Can we talk?"

The Warrior Princess nodded.

"Well...did you see me and Joxer last night? I mean...he came up and kissed me...and I enjoyed it. When he took me away from Athena and we were alone he told me how he felt. He said that he loved me. And that it hurt when I called him an idiot, and when I laughed at him that time that I was in love with him because of Bliss's arrows. And how he was so disappointed when I got mad at him for buying that necklace. And...now...I don't know why I just realized it...but I think I love him too."

Xena nodded. "Good. He's been in love with you ever since the first day he met us."

"But...how should I tell him?"

"Just come out and say it. 'Joxer, I love you'."

Gabrielle pursed her lips. "What will he do?"

The Warrior Princess smiled. "Well, I can't tell you for sure. But he'll probably take you in his arms, kiss you, tell you how much he loves you, and how he wants to spend every waking-" She stopped abruptly and blushed. "You get the idea."

The bard laughed. "Looks like someone has something on their mind. Wanna talk about it?"

"No. No, it's alright. I think you should go tell Joxer you love him now, though. He's right over there." Xena pointed.

"Alright..." Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

~*~

Ares sat on the other side of the fire, watching the flames. As he looked past the fire to Xena, he heard Eos sitting herself behind him.

"She doesn't want you, ya know?"

The God of War didn't even look at the goddess. "She loves me, she wants me, but she won't let herself have me."

"Exactly. She won't let herself be with you, so why not take things where we left off?"

"Because, Eos, even if I were to give up on Xena, I would never go back to you. I'd sooner condemn myself to Tartarus."

Eos ran her hand down his arm, moving her body closer to him. "Ares, I was with you for one hundred and seventy three years...didn't any of that mean anything to you? Didn't you care about me?"

"I cared about you, and I still do. But if you cared about me, you'd let me be with the woman I love."

The Goddess of Dawn looked confused for a moment, seeming to question herself in her mind. A moment later she disappeared.

~*~

"Joxer?"

The man turned around, and upon seeing Gabrielle he looked down at the ground. Before she could say another word, he spoke. "Gabby, I'm so sorry about last night. I was drunk...everything that happened...I'm sorry...I...said stuff that you weren't supposed to hear..."

"But was it true?" Gabrielle asked gently.

Joxer was silent for a moment, and then sighed. "Yeah, Gabby, it was."

"I love you too, Joxer."

The warrior's head shot up and he looked at her, unbelieving. "You-you what?"

She stepped closer to him. "I love you too."

His eyes were wide as she tilted her head up to kiss him. He hesitated a moment, and then leaned down and kissed her softly. She was the one to deepen it, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. When they parted, he looked down at her. "Oh Gabby..."

The bard silenced him with another kiss.

~*~

Drunken gods and goddesses thrashed their bodies around the bright bonfire in a insane dance, some rubbing up against each other in vulgar movements and some ridding themselves of unnecessary clothing, which Xena found led them to removing some rather *very* necessary clothing. She looked past the intoxicated "all powerful beings" to watch the God of War.

Light of the flames flickered across his handsome face, making him look more breathtaking than she ever thought she had seen him. He sat on a black blanket, barely visible in the night's darkness, with his legs out and his arms slightly behind him, holding himself up. The god stared deeply into the flames, with his head tilted to one side in a pose that Xena had to admit was very sexy. Startling the Warrior Princess, Ares' eyes suddenly found her staring at him, and she quickly averted her own in time to see Apollo approaching her.

She didn't give him any notice until he sat down beside her, and she looked at him with a bored expression. "Apollo?"

He smiled at her - a smile that she found she really didn't care for in the least. "Xena, Xena, Xena. Might I take this moment to say that you look beautiful tonight?"

And she did look beautiful, but she of course already knew that. She wore a red dress on which Ares had complimented her on many an occasion. He seemed to enjoy taking it off more than he enjoyed her wearing it though...

"Why thank you, Apollo. Might I take this moment to say that you look just as obnoxious and witless as usual?"

His eyes had left hers shortly after speaking, and now settled on her easily seen cleavage. He didn't look up at her when she spoke, but the corner of his mouth rose in a half-grin, and he nodded.

"I suppose I deserved that," he said and finally looked at her. "But really, Xena, why not forget everything that's happened between us and start again?"

When she didn't say anything, he continued.

"Maybe I could join you for a few drinks...we could dance...then go to my room..." He rose a hand, taking a lock of her raven hair and twisting it around his finger, waiting for a response.

She smiled sweetly, leaning her head closer to him. Throatily, she whispered with a smirk, "Go fuck yourself."

As his hand froze, she moved away from him and stood, walking away without another word.

He watched her go, a frown on his face. "Damn."

~*~

KARSUTHA: DAY FOUR

Aphrodite flopped down on a couch, lips in a pout. It was raining outside, and the Goddess of Love did not like rain. She looked around the room.

None of the minor gods had bothered coming since it was raining and all. The twelve Olympians and their Chosen were the only people who occupied the lounging area. Most of the men were sleeping, which Aphrodite supposed was better than them being drunk. The women were sitting around talking; well, most of them. Athena and her little group took up most of the women, and left only Aphrodite and Xena out. Xena was alone on her couch, a few yards in front of the one on which Ares laid.

Aphrodite smiled. The Warrior Princess was staring at the sleeping god, and had been for nearly an hour now. The Goddess of Love moved to lean against the back of the couch Xena occupied, wondering what was going through her mind. She regarded her brother for a moment.

{Gee, he is kinda cute when he's asleep. Whoa, 'Dite, don't even start; that's Xena's boy!}

"So, Warrior Babe, what ya thinkin about?" Aphrodite asked as she moved to the front of the couch to sit next to her.

Xena looked over at her. "Nothing much."

"I hope you're thinking about giving my Bro there a chance," the goddess hinted, holding up her hand to inspect her fingernails.

"It won't work."

"True love always works."

"And you call what we have true love?!" Xena asked, eyebrow rose. "Our love for each other is anything *but* true! He did every damn thing he could think of to torture me when I started fighting for good. I've betrayed him more times than I ever want to remember! True love? Don't think so."

Aphrodite shook her head and crossed her legs, resting her hands on her knee. They sat in silence for a few minutes until the goddess asked, "What is it you love about him?"

"Aphrodite..."

"Sweetie, really. Answer the question."

Xena sighed. "Alright. I love the way he stands up for me, even when I can do it myself. I love the way he teases me and grins that charming grin of his. I love the way he acts like there's no woman who could ever compare to me. And how he knows when I'm lying, just by the tone in my voice or by looking into my eyes. No one else can do that. And I love...I love the way he worships me..."

The Goddess of Love couldn't suppress her grin. "In his every movement everyday, or in bed?"

"Both."

"Then girl, why won't you let this work?"

"Because it can't. He's war, he's the person I'm fighting against, he's my nemesis, he's the one who trains all these warlords that I fight against."

Aphrodite gave her an incredulous look. "Huh? Honey, if he trained all the warlords you fight then I'm pretty sure that you'd have a much harder job than you do now."

"Well, what I'm trying to say is that it cannot work."

"It has to work. If you love him in all of those ways...then what are you going to do without him?" The goddess rose and walked away, leaving Xena to stare again at the man across from her.

~*~

Aphrodite looked over at Xena, wondering if what she had said would pull it off. She doubted it...it may have given the Warrior Princess a little boost, but she was strong-willed. When she made up her mind about something, she usually didn't change it.

"Oh well...it'll work out in the end...my bro loves her more than anything in the world," Aphrodite said to herself, and then turned around, searching for someone to talk to. She spotted her two latest lovebirds, Joxer and Gabrielle, and decided to pay them a cheery visit.

~*~

After the banquet, Xena walked into the lounging room with Gabrielle, barely hearing a word that she said. She only noticed that the bard was gone when she heard a voice call to her from across the room.

"Hey, Sexy, over here!"

Xena saw Hermes beckoning to her, and Ares sitting beside him, looking uncomfortable and ready to knock the messenger god unconscious.

"Come on, Xena! Get your cute ass over here!"

{Anything to stop you from shouting those things across the room, Hermes} she thought silently, and made her way over to them.

~*~

Xena absently took a glass of wine from a tray that was being offered to her, and then went to sit across from Hermes and Ares.

Hermes began talking a mile a minute, and then after about thirty nods and "mmm"s and "uh huh"s from his companions he finally stopped and looked from the God of War to the Warrior Princess.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"Nothing," Ares muttered.

"It's just hard for us to get in a word with your mouth moving so fast is all," Xena said.

"Oh. Okay." Hermes began talking even faster about nothing much at all, something he knew everything about.

Xena sighed and realized she was still holding a glass of wine in her hands. She rose it to her lips, and then stopped. Looking down at it, she sniffed it cautiously. A moment later the glass shattered into a thousand pieces as it hit the floor, the liquid pooling around the broken remains.

Hermes stopped in mid-sentence, and Ares looked at her questioningly.

"Poison."

Ares' eyes immediately shot around the room, landing on Eos. She didn't even look at him, seemingly too caught up in her conversation with Strife.

"Eos doesn't give up easily. You're going to have to watch yourself, Xena," Ares said, eyes meeting hers.

The Warrior Princess nodded. "I always do."

~*~

Eos glanced over at Xena, seething. She disappeared without an explanation to Strife.

He made a face, sighing dramatically. "I don't know what Uncle Ares saaaaaaaw in her, I mean, geeeeeeeez, she's sucha bitch!" He giggled a high-pitched giggle, something that always succeeded to annoy everyone within a half-mile of him.

~*~

KARSUTHA: DAY FIVE

Xena sat on the top steps of the temple, watching as the rain pelted down upon the ground. The earthy smell filled her nose, causing memories of childhood days to come back to her. The wind picked up a little, and she brought her legs up, wrapping her arms around them and resting her head on her knees.

A presence washed over her, and she shivered slightly. He sat down next to her, crossing his arms over his thighs and staring out into their cool surroundings.

"Have you seen Eos lately?" he asked finally.

She shook her head 'no', not bothering to look at him.

"She'll probably turn up sooner or later...so watch your back..."

"Good advice, Ares," a voice said from behind them. Ares turned to see the goddess standing behind them, but Xena merely shook her head, still staring off. "But it probably won't help in our upcoming battle."

"Battle?" the God of War asked, brow rose.

"Yes, I challenge your little Xena to a fight. Outside in the ring. Now."

"Now? It's pouring out there, Eos."

She smiled. "Just makes things more interesting. So, you up for it?" she asked Xena.

The Warrior Princess finally turned to look at them. A strand of hair fell out over her face as the wind picked up, and she absently moved it. "If you're up for getting your ass kicked."

Eos rolled her eyes, and walked out into the rain, heading for the combat ring. Xena waited for a few moments before she rose, following the goddess. Ares shot up and grabbed her arm.

"She's a goddess."

"And you're a god," she said flatly, continuing to walk towards Eos.

"Xe, you can't win."

"Since when has your faith in me disappeared?"

He pulled her back roughly, forcing her to look at him. "You can't fight a god, Xena. You may be the most skilled warrior in the world, but she has powers."

"Well, we'll just have to set some rules then, won't we?"

~*~

Eos waited impatiently for them to reach the battle area. "Hurry up!" she shouted. "I don't have all day!"

Just to spite her, they walked slower than they had been. When they did finally reach her, Ares spoke. "One rule, Eos. No fire balls, bolts of lightening or energy, etc."

She smiled sweetly. "Alright, I accept that rule." She walked towards the middle of the ring. Xena followed, but Ares once again tugged on her arm.

"Be careful."

She nodded shortly, and joined Eos.

As the two women started trading blows, Ares stood at the sidelines, watching every move. Xena was doing pretty damn good, considering that this was indeed a goddess. They fought for...what? Hours? Minutes? Ares wasn't sure; all he knew was that Xena was starting to tire.

Xena knew that as well. She'd lost her footing on the wet soil more times than she liked, causing her to take more blows than she would have normally. But, even without using the godly powers, Eos still had the strength and stamina to defeat her even if it was not raining. Now, as the goddess moved to deliver another blow to her stomach, Xena moved quickly to the left, backhanding the goddess in the face. It distracted her for a moment, and Xena moved in front of her. She brought her right leg up to connect with the goddess' knee, then to her stomach, and then whirled around and brought a high kick to her head. She swooped down and knocked Eos' feet out from underneath her.

Breathing heavily, Xena backed away, hands clutching her stomach where she had been hit numerous times during the fight. She turned around and looked at Ares, both of them silent and just staring at each other.

Eos laid down on the ground, limbs stretched out and breathing hard. She laid her head back, closing her eyes. A jolt of pain shot through her, followed by a surge of power.

/You have not finished, Eos.../

When her eyes opened, they glowed an demonic red. She looked towards Xena and growled lowly, jumping to her feet in one swift movement.

Ares saw this and yelled a warning, but it was a second too late. Eos wrapped her hands around Xena's throat, cutting off her oxygen. Xena's hands went up to try to pry the goddess from her, but Eos' grip held strong.

The God of War watched as Xena's face turned pale. "Eos, let her go! You're going to kill her!" When his words had no affect, he ran out into the ring and tackled Eos, sending her to the muddy ground. They both rose and Ares looked in his old flame's eyes.

{What in Tartarus...} he asked himself as he saw the red glow in her eyes. He moved to strike her, and then stopped.

When Eos saw his hand raise to hurt her, her body started to shake. Her hands rose to cover her head, and she thrashed around. A piercing scream erupted from her body. She looked up at him briefly before running away.

Ares watched her, a confused look on his face. He had seen the redness vanish from her eyes before she had ran, and wondered what had caused it. He turned back around to kneel beside Xena, who was on her knees gasping for breath and rubbing her neck.

"You okay?" he asked, moving her hair aside to find red marks where Eos' fingers hand been.

"I'm...fine," she said slowly, and looked up at him.

"Are you sure, Xena?" She nodded and he helped her to her feet, planting a kiss on her forehead before letting go of her arm. He looked at her and asked, "Did you see her eyes?"

Xena rose a brow. "She was behind me...I didn't see her at all."

"They were glowing this...this red or something. I don't know what happened."

"I wonder if she'll come back."

~*~

An hour later, after answering everyone else's questions and Ares being criticized by Zeus about what he saw, they finally made it into their bedchamber.

Ares went to the window, resting his arms on the sill and looking out.

Xena let her mud-caked armor and leathers fall to the floor. Her shift was clean, so she left that on and sat down on the bed, grabbing a cloth and basin of water from the table.

She dipped the rag into the water and then squeezed the excess moisture out. She carefully leaned down and ran the cloth on her injured leg, trying to clear away the blood. During the fight she had slipped and fallen to land on a rock sticking out of the soil, which had cut into her leg. When she was done cleaning that, she moved in front of the full length mirror. She wiped away the blood from her nose, and then absently caressed the bruise on her temple with the damp cloth. When she turned back around, she saw that Ares hadn't moved from his spot by the window.

She walked over to him and leaned her back against the wall next to the window. When he didn't look at her she asked, "What's wrong? Zeus get on your nerves because he didn't believe you?"

Ares didn't seem to hear her at first, and then blinked a couple times. He looked over at her absently. "Hmm?"

"What's wrong?"

He shook his head and then looked back to the window. "Nothing..."

"What is it?" she persisted. "I know something's wrong."

Ares sighed and after a moment said, "I almost hit her."

Xena looked at him blankly. "Huh?"

"I almost hit her," he repeated.

She was silent, digesting what he had said. "You still love her then?"

"No!" Ares said, eyes shooting over to meet hers. "You know who I love, Xena. It's just...when I was about to hit her she changed back into her normal self...she looked betrayed...scared...hurt. I've never hit her before. I - I hate her for what she's doing to you...but..."

"I understand."

~*~

KARSUTHA: DAY SIX

The next afternoon the sky was cloudy and dark, but it had not yet begun to rain, so the gods were outside. Xena and Ares were sitting down and leaning against the side of the temple, watching with bored expressions on their faces as Autolycus, Joxer, and Hermes attempted to hold an archery competition.

"Twenty dinars says the idiot will shoot himself by the end of this," Ares dully.

"Which idiot would that be?" Xena replied flatly, watching the three trying to notch their arrows without dropping everything.

Ares shrugged, and then stood up. "I'm bored; let's go inside for awhile." He offered his hand down to her, which she took and pulled herself up with.

As they rounded the corner to go to the temple entrance, both heard a noise from the bushes. A moment later, Eos emerged, clothes torn and hanging in rags, face dirty and eyes lost.

"Ares..." she murmured as she neared him. She didn't seem to see Xena as she threw herself into the God of War's arms.

Ares, looking uncomfortable, put his arms around the goddess' shoulders and held her. "Shh...shh..." he whispered softly as Eos started to sob in his arms. "What's wrong, Eos?"

"Ares...Ares...I - I'm so sorry," she cried. "Please help me...please...please...please..."

"I don't understand. What's going on?"

"I - I was so stupid. I made a deal with - with Dahak!"

Xena took in a sharp breath and looked at Ares, alarmed.

Ares mirrored her look and asked of the goddess, "What do you mean? What was the deal?"

"He said - that he would help me get you - if I killed Xena." She tried to catch her breath. "Dur - During the fight, he came into my body! When I was down on the ground, he - he entered me and took control! It was all him, Ares... As soon - as soon as you rose your hand to hit me - I - I overcame him and got in control again. I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I should never have made a deal with him... I just - I just love you...and..." Her body began to wrack with sobs again.

"Shh...shh...Eos, stop crying..."

"Please, Ares, you - you have to keep him a - away from me! Please..." She clung to him, tears hitting his chest as she cried.

Ares looked over at Xena and mouthed 'what can we do?' 'Nothing' was the only answer he got.

"Eos, I - I'm sorry. I can't help you..."

She looked up at him, eyes red from the tears and wide with confusion. "What? Why won't you help me...? Please, Ares, protect me from him!"

"There's nothing we can do..."

"Wh - What? What? Please...Ares...please..." she begged.

Xena finally cut in. "You've condemned yourself, Eos. That's what you get for tanglin' with gods like Dahak."

Eos at last took notice of her, but Xena silently wished she hadn't spoken when she saw her eyes take on a reddish tinge. Ares also must have seen it out of the corner of his eye because before the goddess could attack Xena, he stepped in between them. This caused Eos to come colliding with Ares instead of her original target, and when she recovered, she glared over at the god. She kicked him in the chest multiple times before he could pull away and sweep her off the ground. He pinned her down, using his weight and strength to keep her there.

"Get a grip on yourself! Fight him, Eos! Don't let Dahak rule you!" When she started to struggle, he began shouting obscenities to her and suddenly she convulsed, and then the glow went from her eyes. She looked up at him, hurt, and he let her rise to her feet. Once up, she did not look at him again, but instead ran off into the forest, mumbling two words over and over: I'm sorry.

Ares shot a look at the Warrior Princess. "Smooth, Xena, get her riled up again!"

"How in Tartarus was I supposed to know she'd blow up again?!"

~*~

"Silence! Silence! SILENCE!" Zeus roared finally. Everyone stopped talking abruptly, eyes resting on the King of the Gods. Seeing this, Zeus continued, "Ares and Xena have brought to our attention that Eos, Goddess of the Dawn has made a deal with the One Great Evil Dahak. Tonight we will discuss what to do about this. Ares, please tell the rest of us what happened earlier this afternoon."

They were sitting in the statue room. Zeus, Xena, and Ares were sitting on the steps in front of the statue of the King of the Gods. The rest of the gods and their Chosen sat in front of their own places on the steps.

Ares remained seated and for the billionth time relayed his tale. "As you all know, yesterday Eos challenged my Chosen Xena to a fight. After awhile, Xena downed her, and Eos suddenly jumped back up and started strangling her. During this time, Eos' eyes were glowing red. When I separated them, I went to fight Eos but before I hit her the redness drained from her eyes and she looked like her normal self again. She ran off.

Earlier today, Xena and I were heading back into the temple and we were confronted by Eos again. This time, however, she was sobbing and throwing herself into my arms and telling me that she was sorry, etc. I asked what for and she told me that she made a deal with Dahak. If she killed Xena, Dahak would help her get me back." At this he rolled his eyes. "I told her that there was no way I could help her, and she asked why, and Xena said something about her condemning herself. She totally went insane again with the red demon-y eyes and charged Xena, but ended up running into me instead as I stepped between them. When I finally got her to calm down by pinning her to the ground and shouting at her to get a grip, she came back to herself and ran off again. That's all that happened."

Murmurs went throughout the room as the gods and mortals discussed this. Zeus rose to stand up again and said in a loud voice, "Are there any ideas on what we should do to Eos?"

Apollo stood. "Well, we obviously can't let her go around like this anymore. She could pose to be a threat since this is Dahak and all."

Ares looked over at Xena. "Gee, he figured that all out by himself."

"Yes, Apollo, we cannot allow her to continue to go on. But what should be done? Is there anyone here that has an idea on how to keep Dahak from possessing her again?"

"We should just kill the bitch!" someone shouted.

"Yeah!"

"Let's kill her!"

Agreement sounded throughout the room. Ares suddenly put his head in his hands, feeling sick for the first time in a couple hundred years. Xena looked over at him and saw this. She put a hand on his leg, squeezing it gently.

As the shouts of agreement turned into a roar, Ares rose his head and looked up at them all, pain in his eyes.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Xena screamed, shooting up onto her feet. "There has to be another way than killing her! And you all should be ashamed of yourselves, wanting to kill one of your own kind!"

"But you don't get it! She's a whore and a rebel and she defies all of us! She has no right to be a god!" Artemis spoke.

"Art's right, Xena," Ares said softly. "Let them kill her."

More shouts of agreement rang through the halls, and Xena sat back down. Zeus held up his hands for silence. "I will kill her on sight if she appears here tomorrow. We will be gathered in this room, and none but the Olympians and their Chosen will be allowed here."

~*~

KARSUTHA: DAY SEVEN

Dark. Overcast. Again.

Aphrodite rested her head on one hand, looking around the room. She was not one of the gods that supported killing off Eos. She was Ares' old girlfriend after all...and Aphrodite knew that he still cared about her. Besides, the girl had some awesome outfits. What a waste...

All the gods were in the ritual room, sitting on their thrones. Their Chosen were at their feet, sitting with their backs against the front of the throne. What they were going to witness today was something that happened very rarely. They had been welcoming it last night, yet today they felt nervous. They would see the death of a god, something that had only taken place by the hand of Zeus one time.

Xena looked up at Ares, frowning at his now trademark 'I'm not here right now, please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I stop staring off into space' look.

Nobody made a sound for hours. Only the crackling of the torches near the thrones could be heard.

The temple door swung open, gracing them with a cold gust of wind. Everyone held their breath as Eos walked in, arms around herself and clothes in tatters.

"Ares...Ares...please," she whispered, walking up to him, oblivious of the other gods around her. "Help me, Ares...please..."

He swallowed hard, hands clutching the sides of his throne so hard that he was sure he would crush the stone.

"I'm sorry...so sorry...please...please...help me..."

Ares looked into her eyes, seeing a multitude of emotions. Sadness, pain, regret, hurt, desperation, and confusion. He looked away quickly, to the ground beside him. Images played through his mind. Whispers of their past. He tried to force the thoughts from his mind and looked to Zeus.

The King of the Gods was looking at his son patiently, not willing to take the goddess' life without his consent.

{He's going to make me tell him that it's alright?! He wants me to tell him to kill the woman I was in love with? The one I spent one hundred some years with? Oh Tartarus.}

Ares looked back over to Eos. She had grown silent, now aware that the other Olympians were present. She looked around, confused.

{Maybe they're going to help me stop Dahak...} she thought.

Thousands of thoughts ran through his mind as he looked at her. {She's so young...so young...she shouldn't have her life taken away from her like this... But it has to be done...it *has* to be done. Now.}

Ares pried his eyes off of the goddess, looking back at his father. He nodded, hardly moving his head, but enough for Zeus to understand.

A bright ball of golden light appeared in his hands. It grew larger in seconds, and with one last look at Ares, he hurled the bolt of energy at the small goddess.

Eos saw it coming towards her and screamed. As it made contact with her chest, her scream cut off abruptly, and she fell lifelessly to the floor.

Ares closed his eyes as he heard the thud of her body hitting the marble ground. He rested his head in his hands and took a few deep breaths. After a moment, he rose, walking over to where she lay. He knelt down beside her, and ran his face over her eyes, closing them.

"Good bye, Eos."

Lightening now flashed repeatedly outside and the thunder came one rumbling crash after another. Rain poured down, the sparkling tears of heaven mourning the loss of a long honored goddess.

~*~

THE FOLLOWING NIGHT

Two torches were all that lit the dark night. The God of War and the Warrior Princess sat on the temple stairs, the rain cascading down not three inches in front of them. It hadn't let up since the young goddess had perished.

"No one understands," he whispered hoarsely.

Xena almost jumped, his voice startling her because she hadn't heard him speak since it had happened. "What don't they understand?" she asked gently.

"Me... Eos..."

"I understand."

"No, you don't!" he said. "You didn't even know her."

Xena pursed her lips. "Then tell me. Tell me what nobody understands."

"We were the outcasts. She was a rebel. Hated living up to other people's expectations. I was...well...the God of War. Not my fault there. I was given the responsibility; I didn't get to choose. But, of course, none of the others accepted me. She - she understood me. And, on the outside, I know that she sounds like a bitch, but once you get to know her...she's not bad... And...Tartarus, she loved me. But she got...restless. She wanted to see what else was out there...she'd grown up in Greece, you know? You know that she didn't tell me she left...well, the reason behind was that we'd gotten into a fight. So she just left. I was mad when she left...but I understood it. I don't blame her. But the way I talked to her when she came back...why did I do that? I shouldn't have been that...harsh... And tonight...I killed her. I let her die."

~*~

The next eight days of the festival were nothing like those before them. The cheery and somewhat drunken atmosphere of the previous days had vanished and was replaced with a solemn quietness. Autolycus and Hermes had attempted numerous times to brighten the mood, but nothing had worked. Xena hadn't talked to Ares hardly at all since that night; save the times she tried to get him out of their room to do something.

At the moment, Xena was sitting down on a couch with Gabrielle beside her. Even the bard was more quiet than usual, not talking a mile a minute about how she was so happy with Joxer like she usually did.

"Do you think he's going to get over it?" the blond asked softly, the first sentence spoken for over ten minutes.

Xena immediately knew who 'he' was. "I don't know," she murmured. "But I'd do anything to have our cocky, conceited God of War back."

Gabrielle gave a half-smile at her description, and then it faded when she saw the look that Xena wore. "You're really worried about him, aren't you?"

The Warrior Princess nodded, drinking the rest of the wine in her glass with one gulp.

~*~

KARSUTHA: DAY SIXTEEN

"What are you going to do for the gift tonight?" Gabrielle asked desperately.

"I have no idea. I *was* going to give him this dagger I had specially made...it's blade was dipped in poison and one scratch from it can prove to be fatal...but I doubt that would be a good idea since..."

Gabrielle nodded understandingly. "I don't know what I'm going to do about Athena's gift... Joxer, what are you giving Aphrodite?"

Joxer blushed slightly and grinned. "It's a surprise, Gabby."

"Oh...well, guys! Give me some advice here!"

"Don't wait 'till the morning before the gift-giving to pick out a gift next time."

"Argh!"

A couple moments later a pink flash of light announced the coming of a god. Aphrodite gave a small smile. "So, what are all you guys talkin' 'bout?"

"What to give -"

"I got it!" Gabrielle finally exclaimed, cutting off her best friend. "Aphrodite, I need your help!"

~*~

There were rows and rows of white candles all over the floor: between the thrones, and on the floor and stairs surrounding the ritual pillow. The room smelt of vanilla, this being because they had been burning at least a hundred sticks of incense since the morning.

The Chosen lined up in the hallway just like they had sixteen days before, except their gifts were in the place of the torches they had carried. Autolycus had long since given up on making any jokes or humorous remarks, and now just stood in silence, waiting for his cue. When the gods appeared in their thrones, he began to walk out, Jareth by his side. Xena and Joxer followed, as did all of the others.

When they reached the thrones, Xena and Joxer split up. An empty-handed Xena walked slowly up the stairs to the pillow, and kneeled down on it, head bowed. As the other Chosen began speaking and presenting their gods with the gifts, Xena dared a glance up at Ares. His back was against the throne, arms resting on the sides, and eyes staring down at his hand as if in deep thought.

Xena listened carefully as she heard Gabrielle's soft voice speak to Athena.

"Goddess of Infinite Wisdom, on this full moon I bestow on thee a gift."

The Warrior Princess heard the rustle of her gift and then Gabrielle handed it up to her.

"A tapestry of your favorite philosopher. May his memory live on in your heart forever."

Xena smiled to herself and listened for her cue. When she heard Apollo's Chosen begin his speech, her throat started to get dry. She closed her eyes briefly, and then opened them again to look up at Ares.

{Is he even going to hear me?} she thought silently, frowning and again bowing her head.

When Aaron finished, she cleared her throat and began, looking up at him again, having decided that she wanted to see if he was listening or not.

"Ares, God of War-"

He didn't even look down at her.

"-on the night of this full moon...the last night of Karsutha...I offer to you..."

Still no reaction. A thousand different curses ran through her mind.

"-my heart."

Nothing. A thousand much more colorful obscenities rushed through her head as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Everyone waited for a response. Xena bowed her head again, trying to tell Joxer to begin and that getting an answer from the god was a lost cause. But before he could begin, Xena found herself being pulled up onto Ares' throne and his tongue finding its way inside her mouth.

When he let her go, he offered a smile, almost like his old one. "Your gift is accepted, Princess."

She stared at him and then nodded slowly, walking backwards to the pillow. Before she bowed her head again she realized what had just happened and grinned up at him. A few seconds later, Joxer began his own speech.

"Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, tonight I make to you a promise. I promise to wed Gabrielle, Bard of Potedaia."

Xena heard Gabrielle let out a shriek and run over to Joxer as Aphrodite squealed happily. Xena turned around just in time to see the bard pounce on Joxer, wrapping her arms around him and laughing and crying at the same time. Not able to stop herself, she turned around and smiled at Ares again. Standing up, she quickly made her way over to him and sat herself on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing his lips down to hers.

When she pulled away she closed her eyes, leaning her head against his chest.

"Oh, and Ares? I love you too."

~*~

It has been two months since Karsutha has drawn to end. Here I lay, under the stars with my new husband Joxer the Mighty. My best friend, the Warrior Princess, has left earlier this morning and only the gods...particularly Ares...know where she is. The following weeks will be war-free, a promise made to heroine by her patron god. But she will return to her me when she has worked out how she and the God of War will pursue their mortal-god relationship, and we - with the help of Joxer - will find new adventures and continue to spread peace throughout the lands of Greece. Until then, I will cherish my time alone with my soul mate, and hope that all is well with Xena.

Gabrielle set down her quill and looked over the parchment. Satisfied, she rolled it up and tossed it over near the saddlebags. She turned around to her other side and snuggled closer to the sleeping man beside her, eyes closing and mind drifting into the Dreamscape.

~*~

THE END