The clamor of an ensuing battle rang in her ears, sounding oddly distorted and far off. Her heart raced to match the intensity of the action that swirled around her, hammering ceaselessly against her armored chest. The air was stained with the stench of impending death, and while that usually didn't unnerve her so, today she felt stifled by the never-ending chain of violence. Xena gazed blankly around her, looking on as the fair-haired bard sent a balled fist to collide with a brutish face, her thoughts tearing in a hundred directions at once. A few feet away, Joxer's chivalrous son, Virgil, gracefully dodged the jagged edge of a sword and then whacked its wielder over the head with the hilt of his own.

Her face a mask of bitter stoicism, Xena knelt down to tend to the fallen as her small band of comrades made quick work of the remaining assassins. He had been knocked back by the force of the blow, the flow of blood already thick and heavy. Gathering up her lost composure, she silenced the flutter of chaotic thoughts that rattled through her brain, and forced herself to concentrate on the situation at hand. What had happened here? A warrior born and bred, Xena had continually prided herself on her alert perception and acute senses. And yet, here was an unforeseen event that had escaped her attention. She could have prevented this, if only she had maintained a complete focus.

Combat, to Xena, was an intricate dance. A potent mixture of skill, wit, and precise timing. There was just nothing quite like the hum of her chakram as it sliced through the humid air, or the clatter of blades in a duel of cunning. It wasn't the death she craved, but rather the sensation of feeling truly alive. Despite the fact that she had renounced her old, wicked ways and set a course for peace in her life, swordplay would always be Xena's first love. It was an innate drive that thundered through her veins; something instated in her so long ago, that it could never really be washed from her system. At least now, it was for all of the right reasons. No longer would she play off of other's fear, and utilize methods of manipulation and intimidation to crush their lives. She fought now, with honor, and for the sake of those who could not defend themselves against the yoke of tyranny that had become Greece.

Rarely had she lost it in the midst of a fight, regardless of its challenge. She had been injured before, sure, had even suffered a few blows to her pride--but her keen insight had never abandoned her. She could always feel another's presence, anticipate his strike before it rained down on her. Xena had the mind of a gladiator and the boldness of a mercenary--a powerful combination. So why was it that she had slipped up so indiscreetly this time?

To begin at the beginning, they had been attacked. A ragtag gang of thugs, hoping to instate a new order under some obscure warlord, had been obnoxious enough to annoy an already irritable Warrior Princess. Utilizing the confusion that still gripped a Livia-less Rome, they were feeding off of Octavius' weakness like vermin. It had been attempted before, no matter how futile the effort, and it would continue to be done until the great Rome eventually fell. Rumors had spread like wild flames that the once illustrious Livia, the celebrated champion of an Empire, was traveling at Xena's side. Those who had not yet heard of her daughter's conversion still assumed that Caesar's beloved spitfire was the key to his kingdom. Certainly her death would bring about Rome's demise.

And so, Xena's troupe had been ambushed, albeit clumsily...

~*~*~*~ *~*~* ~*~*~*~

Even before the skirmish, it had already been a tiresome day. The summer heat had been as relentless as the gnats and flies that accompanied the journey. Virgil, struggling to come to grips with his father's death at Livia's hand, had barely spoken a word to anyone regardless of any attempts made to lighten the mood. Eve remained in a state of despondent remorse, trudging forward in guilt-ridden silence. And Gabrielle, though cleverly trying to disguise it, was still self-conscious about her atrocious behavior under the Furies' influence.

The contagious brooding was growing tedious. "Are we going to spend the trip back to Greece ignoring each other?" Xena scolded with a sigh of aggravation. "Because if that's the case, once we get to the ship, I'm throwing you all overboard." She hadn't meant it, of course, and she was certain they knew that. "Come on you guys, we just made it through what was probably the biggest threat of our lives. We're alive and we're together-- that's what counts isn't it?" If she had known that she would have been jinxing them all right then, she might have tried knocking on wood. "So let's not bother dwelling on the past here, it's over and done with and it's not going to help us any."

Instead of earnest agreement from her friends, mock applause trailed after her speech. "Nice pep talk, coach." That voice. The same low, sarcasm laced rumble that had haunted her for years. He emerged from behind the shade of a nearby tree, a devious smile etched across his handsome, chiseled features. "I know I feel better."

Xena made a face, marveling at his bad timing. But then again, that was the god of war's specialty. "Ares." She gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment, resolved to be civil if not bubbly with gratitude. He had, after all, somewhat benevolently surrendered his immortality to save her daughter and best friend. Perhaps she wouldn't despise him for all eternity after all.

"Wait, how did you...?" She questioned abruptly, arching a single brow. With his divinity gone, he was no longer able to appear and depart at whim--so how had he managed to locate them with such ease?

He folded his arms across his broad chest, looking particularly smug. "I followed you. Not a difficult task really, considering I've made a career out of watching out for you."

"Still stalking me." She countered smoothly; noting that Eve had shrunken back from his probing gaze. "I see mortality hasn't changed you much."

Ares gave a shrug of nonchalance. "Well, seeing as how you've obliterated most of my family, I thought I might as well tag along." He approached her with the grace of a predator cornering its prey. "Besides," he added with sly smile, "You're kind of the reason I left that crowd."

"Lucky me." Xena tossed a casual glance towards Gabrielle, who was eyeing Ares with obvious distrust.

"Hey," the ex-god interjected a bit impatiently. "You never know when you could use my assistance. And it's not like I have another gig going for me right now, so what have we got to lose?" He moved to walk beside Xena, looking surprisingly sincere. "What motive would I have to hurt you? Right now, I've got nothing and no one-no reason to betray you."

"I can come up with a couple..." Gabrielle grumbled sharply from under her breath.

"I heard that," Ares deadpanned somberly. He paused to fix Xena with a savage look, his sincerity having promptly vanished. "Look, I did you a favor. Not just a favor, I performed a miracle for you. Now how many gods do you know that would give up their immortality for a mortal?" He slurred the last word, placing a derisive emphasis on it, as if he had forgotten that he himself was now one. "So I'd say you owe me one, and I don't think it's asking a lot that I be able to join you."

Xena shook her head slowly, her shoulders shaking from laughter. "Join me?" She echoed skeptically. "Doing what? Fighting for freedom, for the rights of others? The very *mortals* you used to torment?" She picked up her pace, stepping away from him. "Sorry, I'm not buying it."

"It doesn't matter. None of it does anymore." The calm clarity in his tone was completely foreign to her. "As long as I'm by your side."

Xena sighed, scrutinizing him with a sideways glance. It was times like this she wished she could disregard her conscience. His faced was lined with an expression of solemnity, as if his proposal of loyalty had been genuine. He was right though; she did owe him one. They all did.

"All right," she relented with reluctance, knowing the others were aghast with her decision. "Come with us if you want." She pivoted rapidly to face him, her stance a veiled threat. "But if I suspect you of anything that even resembles deception on your part..." she leaned in closer, menacingly, "I'll be dealing with you personally.

Ares leaned forward to meet her, seemingly enjoying the challenge. "You always do." They remained like that for a brief while, mere inches apart, neither embarrassed by the close proximity as they observed each other with a grudging respect. That was until, she made out the distinct sound of Gabrielle deliberately clearing her throat.

"Right." Xena confirmed, tearing her eyes from his. Their situation had gone from strange to bizarre, and now, with the once god of war traveling with them, things were really about to get interesting. Or ugly...

The remainder of the afternoon passed on, relatively uneventful. As if her friends weren't sullen enough, Ares' presence made it considerably worse. None of them had many pleasant memories starring the god of war, and the reigning tension was palpable. Certain that hunger, the sweltering heat, and oppressive humidity all played a significant role in everyone's moods, Xena had ordained that they stop for a rest. The horses needed to be watered and cooled off before they could go any further, and her throat was terribly dry.

As she dug through the saddlebag for a canteen and rations, she had the distinct impression they were being watched. Xena glanced up cautiously, scanning the landscape for any sign of trouble. She found it. A platoon of about twelve, heavily armed soldiers were riding towards them, whooping and cheering with testosterone-packed glee. Real subtle, she mused in exasperation.

Ares had seen them as well, and was grinning wolfishly. "Looks like we're going to be entertaining guests."

"Yeah, better break out the good china," Xena muttered sardonically in return. "Look alive everybody!" She hollered to the others, "We're about to have company."

Virgil looked up from his scroll, turning to comment to Gabrielle. "Now I'm starting to understand what Dad was talking about all those years,"

"Never a dull moment..." the honorary Amazon murmured in agreement, readying her twin blades. She cast a glance to Eve. "Should we show these creeps how it's done?"

Xena's daughter favored her with a shy smile. "I'm game if you are."

And then the hoodlums were upon them, circling the five warriors like buzzards to a carcass. The leader, a large, grotesque man with a gnarled tattoo sprawling across his left cheek, broke through the circle of men to approach them. "At last," he sneered, looking especially pleased of himself. "The magnificent Livia, Rome's Lady of Vengeance, right here in front of me."

Eve stepped forward, setting her jaw with stern admonition. "I'm not that person anymore," she spoke up, a bit shakily at first. "So whatever you're offering, I'm not interested."

The other merely laughed at her statement, signaling for his lackeys to close in. "I'm not offering anything, little lady. Trust me, we're only here to execute you." He withdrew his sword, a nasty looking, toothed edge. "Kill them all!" He shouted to his followers, taking great pleasure in the command. "And bag Livia's head!"

Xena's face contorted into an expression of pure rage. "Over my dead body," she hissed, reaching for her trusty chakram. "Kiiii-yaaa!" She sent the bladed disk whirling toward him with deadly accuracy. He moved to dodge it as it narrowly missed his head, and losing his balance, nearly toppled off of his horse.

"Get them!" He screamed in outrage, struggling to pull himself up in the saddle again. And that was how it had all begun. Her four allies spread themselves out to deal with the storming legion. Though the odds didn't favor them, the twelve to five ratio wasn't enough to keep Xena and her friends from taking down the majority of their foes. Even Ares seemed to be enjoying himself. The now-mortal god of war was chortling good-naturedly with each parry and thrust he delivered.

Xena's spirited warrior cry split the air as her fists flew, sending each goon she encountered into a painful slumber. She backhanded another soldier as he attempted a sloppy roundhouse, imprinting her gauntlet across his face. Two others rushed her at once, catching her full in the stomach with their gloved hands. Her breath having escaped her for the moment, she quickly grabbed for their heads and slammed them together.

What happened next was somewhat of a blur...

"Mother!" Eve was calling for her, and as another assassin came hurtling towards her, Xena strained to see what it was that had caused the girl such alarm. She could see the terror written across Eve's face, as the young woman's screams grew more frantic, "Mother, behind you!" Xena whacked the burly man upside the head with the blunt edge of her chakram, knocking him out cold.

Her daughter was sprinting toward her, but she was too far away to make any difference. It was Ares that reached Xena first. And it was then that she first sensed the attacker behind her. One of them had managed to sneak up on her, the big ox, while she had been dealing with two of his repulsive friends. How his foul odor had escaped her immediate notice, she couldn't be sure, but the fact that he had successfully breached her personal space was infuriating. Before she could react, the god of war roughly shoved her away from the sword poised to eliminate her. But the effort had cost him dearly, and he had no chance to retaliate as the enemy's blade plunged cleanly through him. Xena gasped in shock, and recovering, grasped her own weapon to send it slicing through the armored goon's chest.

Blinking back her shock, Xena stared across the battlefield, as if trying to make sense of what had just taken place. Her stunned gaze flew back to Ares, who sunk to his knees with a look of utter disbelief. Gasping for air, he lay back in the tall grass, a comical look stealing across his features. She moved to kneel down by his side, her mind racing.

Ares, the cutthroat god of war, had always taken great pleasure in pain and death; and even now, in the face of his own demise, amusement still flickered in his fierce brown eyes. A light smirk twitched at the corners of his mouth as the realization of it all seeped in. He touched the streaming wound gingerly, and looked to peer in morbid fascination at his crimson stained fingertips. For once, the blood that dripped his hands was his own. As if just now grasping what it all meant, he let loose a low, rumbling chuckle, finally noting the irony. Bringing an index finger to his lips, he curiously tasted the rust colored smear.

"Funny," the twisted smile parted, transforming itself into a wry grin. "Doesn't taste as good when it's yours."

"Stop it." Xena cut in tersely; finding herself uncharacteristically disturbed with the sight. How could she have been so careless to allow this to happen? "Keep still so I can get a good look," she ordered, leaning towards him. His chest was heaving in a pool of scarlet, the blood gaining a blacker tint with each passing second. It was deep, and had most likely punctured a lung. Fighting back a grimace, she squeezed her eyes closed, turning away from the laceration. "I'm going to cut off some of the circulation through your muscles," she explained, furiously trying to maintain her focus. "It'll ease the pain a bit until we can get you patched up."

He gave an appreciative leer in return. "Now here's a view I've always admired," he quipped suggestively, gazing intently up at her. "With you on top..."

"Give it a rest, Ares." She reprimanded coarsely, annoyed that she was the only one troubled at this point. "Now this might hurt for a second..." Her heart was suddenly more woman than warrior as her hands made contact with his bare skin. Shaking off the clash of emotions that coursed through her, she skillfully gripped at the pressure points of his muscles, and pinched them out of place.

"OW!" The former god of war roared at her touch, fixing her with a dark glare. "I always knew you liked it rough, Xena."

"You gods could dish it out, but you just can't take it." Xena allowed herself a slight smirk. "It didn't hurt that bad."

Still frowning, he paused for a moment to inhale deeply. "Well, I can't feel anything *now*."

"That's the point," she said simply, working to remove his leather vest.

"Come on, at least give me my feeling back if you're going to be undressing me," Ares protested, his eyes gleaming deviously. "Let me enjoy my one last thrill."

"One more innuendo and I'll beat you to death myself." She warned him coolly, though more half-hearted than usual. His banter, disgusting enough before, was now a familiar comfort. "I don't care if you're injured or not."

"I think I'd probably enjoy that," Ares acknowledged, tongue-in-cheek.

The lewd comment was lost on Xena as she carefully reexamined the oozing cut. "You'll be fine," she muttered distractedly, unsure as to whether the deception was for his sake...or for her own. "It's a clean wound. Right in and out. We'll treat it and have it bound."

"Don't lie to me, Xena." He interrupted matter-a-factly; a trace of a crooked smile still painted across his lips. His eyes were full of a dying man's certainty, and she felt herself falter under the heaviness of his stare. "I know you well enough by now, and when you've stooped to sincerity, then I know I'm in trouble."

Xena broke off the eye contact first; feeling frustration set in. "Why did you do that anyway?" She demanded curtly, busying herself with trying to cut off the blood loss. "That was a stupid move--how could you be so reckless?"

Dark orbs bore into her, piercing through her well-trained professionalism. "I told you," he intoned softly, "that I had a thing for you. I still do."

"But it didn't have to be this way!" Xena snapped angrily, capturing the attention of her other companions. Having polished off their attackers, the three stood off to the side, awkwardly trying not to eavesdrop. "I could have handled it. You didn't have to play the hero at your own risk."

"I know," he chuckled through his labored breathing. "Not really my forte." He paused for a beat, considering. "But that's always what you've admired in that idiot brother of mine isn't it? Heroics?"

"Hercules is..." her voice wavered, betraying her apparent control. "This is different. You could have gone about it... some other way."

Ares rolled his eyes, his lip curling in disgust. "What? I can't even save your life without pissing you off?" He gave a defeated sigh. "Look, I'm not real happy with the way things turned out either, so could you spare me the lecture?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized, bowing her head. "I'm grateful for what you've done for me; for Eve and Gabrielle... It's just that," the words came with some difficulty, "I never expected this from you."

"Yeah," the Olympian agreed thoughtfully, "Came as a surprise to me too. Guess I wasn't thinking."

"No, you were." Xena murmured, the statement flavored with an underlying sadness. "Just differently, this time."

"Maybe," he wheezed with a half sneer. "But this is still an embarrassing way to go. I'd always hoped to go out with a bang, rather than a whimper. You know I don't wear nobility well."

"No," her eyes glassy with what could have been the promise of tears. "I think it suits you." Ares watched her closely, mesmerized by the raw emotion shadowed in her eyes. Though he knew the ruthlessness he had delivered as a god would earn him very few mourners, he felt a strange sliver of hope ignite within him. Would she shed any tears for him once he was gone, would she bother care? There were so many things left unspoken between them, a closure that desperately needed to be settled. With everything he had done to her and her family over the years, forgiveness was a long way off.

"When I said I had feelings for you, Xena," he breathed hoarsely, overcome with boldness. "I meant it." His brown eyes latched onto hers, suddenly vulnerable. "I love you. Even when you were handing me my ass or foiling my perfect schemes, I've always loved you."

"Don't say that..." She protested weakly, feeling uncomfortably helpless. "Not now."

His eyelids fluttered shut, as if weary from the conversation. "If not now, then when? I don't exactly have eternity to tell you; I've held back with it for too long as it is." He coughed suddenly, a gurgling, frightening sound. "And I'd say it's about time for deathbed confessions."

Xena swallowed back the cold lump that had formed in her throat, at a loss for words. As much as she had hated him, for as long as she had resented the effect he had on her--it was still difficult watching him die. He was her mentor, and even though she detested the corruption he had once poisoned her with, Ares had still helped to shape her life. Whether she liked it or not, he was part of the reason she had become the woman she was now.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to kiss me goodbye?" His tone was oddly hopeful for a dying man. She could only stare at him, incredulous. "Come on, it doesn't have to be for old time's sake," he reassured her with a faint simper. "Just think, you're sending a man to his grave here."

She was beyond arguing with him at this point. There was no justifying a denial to his request; he had saved her twice now. "All right." Xena consented, slowly moving closer.

"And don't think you're going to cheat me out of feeling this," he put in, ever the scoundrel. "Undo your little muscle trick first."

Xena pursed her lips in a half-smile, thankful that some things would never change. Deftly, she squeezed the tendons of his neck, returning the flow of blood to his joints. Ares sat up and sucked in a quick breath of air, nearly doubling over from the pain.

She reached out a hand to brace him, "I don't think you should be trying to get up."

Wincing, he flashed a roguish grin. "Oh no, I'm going to enjoy every minute of this." And before she knew it, she was in his arms, with his warm, insistent lips moving against hers. It went against every ounce of common sense in her, the intuition that screamed that this man was pure venom. A tempest of conflicting emotions swept through her, unearthing long buried desires and regrets--feelings that both warned her of this dangerous attraction and at the same time, urged her forward. Xena let it wash over her and simply clung to him, kissing him fiercely in return. It was only one brief moment; his last on this plane of existence, and surely she could find it within herself to give it to him.

His fingers threaded through her thick hair, in a final intimate caress, and then fell limply to his side. She felt his body stiffen, his muscles going rigid beneath her fingertips, and then he was motionless. A strangled sob escaped her lips, as his body became dead weight in her arms.

~*~*~*~ *~*~* ~*~*~*~

The windless night was dark, and still; it's wide expanse of sky lit up with the glimmer of infinite stars. Off along the horizon, a funeral pyre burnt steadily on, outlining the trees with an eerie glow. The blackness had cloaked most of their surroundings, but Gabrielle could make out Xena's solitary silhouette by the flame's flickering light. Although the Warrior Princess had not voiced an opinion on the subject, it was clear that she wished to be left alone during the ceremony. And out of respect for her, no one had bothered to oppose her ritual of choice. Ares' death had affected her deeply, profoundly, in a way the Amazon could not even begin to comprehend. Feeling somewhat drained of the creativity a bard's trade required; Gabrielle hadn't even bothered to try to pick up a scroll tonight. Instead, she stood off at a distance, resigned to watch and wait for her friend to return.

"I don't understand," Eve appeared at her side, breaking the penetrating silence. "Why is she doing all of this?"

"It's a warrior's burial," Gabrielle offered an explanation. "It's tradition. She does it out of respect."

"I know that," The younger woman spoke up, "What I mean is, why does she go so far to honor him? He was so awful to her. He wanted to possess her, tried to destroy the both of you." Her luminous brown eyes blossomed with confusion, hurt. "Ares wanted to corrupt me and turn me against my own mother. How can she care for him so much?"

"I doubt even she could explain it," Gabrielle heaved a sigh. The territory was still a sore subject for her. "I know it's difficult to understand, trust me, I've been trying to for years now." She stopped to search for the right words. "I think it's because Ares has had an influence on Xena's life for so long, that eventually he became a part of her. He was her mentor, there for her since the very beginning. There's so much history there." She folded her arms across her chest, never taking her eyes from the scene. "I hated him for it for a long time. I guess I was jealous that he had been in her life longer than I had. That he had the power to stir up something inside of her that I never could."

"But she's not proud of that, Gabrielle." Eve reminded her, eager to set the record straight. "Just like I'm not proud of what he did to me."

"I know," Gabrielle assured her, placing a comforting hand her shoulder. "I know he doesn't have the same impact on her that he once did. Their relationship has shifted drastically. I think he's sort of a poignant reminder for her now. Of love, loss, and change... of what she used to be, and why she must never become that person again." She glanced to Eve, her expression growing solemn. "At any period of her life, whether it's love or hate, Xena has always felt strongly about him. I think that's why he'll always own a part of her. A part of her the rest of us can never touch."

~*~*~*~ *~*~* ~*~*~*

Xena watched the consuming flames, transfixed with their hypnotic beauty. Nothing so perfectly described their relationship as fire. Hot, intense, uncontrollable, and often destructive. So many times she had sworn to abhor him and everything he stood for, and then, in direct contradiction, she would begin to feel herself inexplicably drawn to him. Fate, it seemed, had an ironic sense of humor. Elemental forces brought them together; the raw, most primitive of basic human drives. He was her match, her opposite in every way--strife to her peace, deceit to her honesty, and passion to the emptiness that used to plague her.

Never had she imagined that one day, she would be attending his funeral. Never had she imagined that she would have the capacity to care for him again. Her feelings for Ares had always been an enigma, and now her mourning would be the same. An odd union of relief, pity, sorrow, and regret. Relief that it was all over, that she and her daughter had survived The Twilight. Regret that things couldn't have been different, that she wouldn't get the chance to explore the change in him. However painful, he had been one of the constants in her life. And now that constant was gone forever.

Xena gazed up at velvet sky, thankful to be away from the others. Grief was something she preferred to deal with alone, and tonight she would mourn her own way. Though she knew his lifeless body was incased in flame, she still had the impression that, at any moment, she might turn and find him grinning brazenly at her. That was the memory she would carry with her, Ares' swaggering confidence and boorish charm. He would be furious with her if she were to do otherwise, if she dared to remember him as weak and overly sentimental in death.

"You know, I lied." She confessed aloud to an empty field, pausing as if she expected him to interject. "I did feel something." The fire crackled faintly in return, as if to remind her 'I told you so.' A half smile bent her lips, and she turned away from the fiery altar to head back towards the camp. "But I'm sure you knew that."

She would let him go, leave him to rest at last. There was still life out there, life that he had given back to her family, and she wasn't about to waste it. Xena was sure that with his 'get-over-it-and-move-on' approach, even Ares would appreciate the effort.

~*~*~*~ *~*~* ~*~*~*

The End