Prologue

She reached out to stroke his jaw, and her placement felt more divine than a thousand deep kisses from a thousand nameless Grecian beauties.

Incredibly, she did not take back her hand as he commandeered it, pressing it to his chest. Was she really looking upon him, now, with the calm warmth Aphrodite had described to him over and over in eons past? He knew it to be true. He had gotten her favor.

Resisting no longer, he pulled her hand around and down to the small of his back...and when she put the weight of herself into their kiss it was as though he was reborn with an ecstasy he had never known. The weight of all that had passed between them, never landing, never dissipating, was finally coming home to dwell in the impossible space they now occupied...each other.

He enveloped her completely into his embrace and broke from her lips to find the coursing vein in her neck, pulsing frantically in the hastening ardor. Her mouth parted, and breathily she uttered...

"ca--ca--cack--a--doodle--dooooo!!!...cluck...cluck...cluck"

Ares bolted from the middle of his bed and just as forcefully dropped back down into the pathetic dusty bean-husk pillow, moaning in festered abhorrence at the inevitable start of a new day.

"I dine on rooster tonight."

He rolled over and blinked futilely as Apollo's rays invaded his lids. Then he sluggishly reached under the other old pillow beside his head and pulled out the sheer lavender garment it hid. He toyed slowly with the strap of it, twining it around his fingers, unravelling it, and weaving it again through his grasp.

How long had it been, he mused. Oh, the hatred he felt for this mortal's sense of elapsing time that he now carried. It was welling, once again, within him. He angrily thrust the delicate items back under the pillow.

He wondered why had she left them here anyway; was it only to torment him?

With an infirm stretch, he made his way into the main room, and looked over at the empty black kettle in the hearth. Then he glanced over to the bare shelving beside the rickety table. The butcher's rope dangling from the rafter held no carcasses. The house was empty of food and so was his stomach.

"Right."

He trudged out the door on his way to the pens, rubbing his eyes. Horace raced out the barn door and immediately got under foot. Ares could do nothing as the flailing mud from the fall landed in his hair and splatted on the back of his neck.

Pleased his master once again was in the mood to wrestle and play, Horace jumped excitedly back and forth over Ares, only stopping to take it upon himself to lick off the mud. Horace intended to be thorough but his master's bellow made it clear that morning greetings were over.

Ares picked himself up and found a new expletive to utter from the back of his memory...a well crafted little something members of the Phoenician army liked to use.

"Eli! Eli! Where are you? Get over here!" he shouted. Nothing.

"Li'l Kal, don't make me look for you! Li'l Kal, c'mere!" More Phoenician anatomical slang found its way to his tongue.

He heard some shouting from the barn. It got louder and more vicious. Then came the distinct sounding smack of fist hitting flesh, and he went to the barn.

The two teenage farm hands he'd hired from the slaver were engaged in a fist fight beside the stack of haybales. Ares at first was amused by their inexperienced sparring, but quickly decided that watching pitiful novices try to beat each other up was only serving to make him more irritable. After all, he bought these two because of their easy-going attitude and inexplicable ability to do all the demeaning farm chores with a happy grin, each and every stinking day. He even gave them their nicknames to try to belittle them, but they happily took a shine to the personal touch their master bestowed them.

"Break it up, boys, BREAK IT UP!" he yelled.

"What is going on? You've got my late breakfast to worry about, why are you risking my wrath to reduce each other to pulp?"

"He looked at me funny!" Li'l Kal pouted.

"Oh please, what other way do you expect me to look at ya, with that ugly puss of yours! *&@%$#!* you!"

They lunged at each other again. Ares grabbed Eli's shirt and base of his pants and tossed him into the hay bales. He then grabbed Li'l Kal by the neck.

"I deeply don't care, get me something to eat before I make ya MORE ugly."

Li'l Kal gulped and muttered, "But there's nothin' to bring you, the grain bin is empty and that bit of pork loin last night was the last of the meat. and the farm stock I might add."

Ares closed his eyes and let go of him. He knew they were running low on supplies, but had forgotten just how low.

"Alright, I'll think of something," Ares said. He stepped out into the morning light again and tried to think. Behind him he heard the two idiots go at one another again.

Horace trotted along with Ares back to the house. Ares went back to the large pot in the hearth and looked in again. Just as empty as before.

How had it come to this? How had he been reduced to this life? He internally kicked his ego about until he was at a full boiling rage.

That is IT. I cannot live by the skin of my teeth any more. I can't, I refuse. She's not coming back. Why should she? He pounded the fire mantle unmercifully.

Dink, dink, dink . . . ! A handful of dinars fell to the floor from a shallow plate that had been resting on the mantle's edge. He began to pick them up wondering if he had enough to send Eli to the village market for a few fish cakes.

Then his eyes lit up with fervour. His temples. His temples with offering plates. His offering plates filled with dinars, coins, silver, gold. Yes, GOLD.

His empty stomach lurched with a newfound hunger. He glanced up at his now defunct sword kept displayed over the fire. "Why, I'm rich of course, I just need to make a sizable withdrawal!" He exclaimed.

"To hell with this place, it holds only my dusty longing. I'm Ares; I deserve to meld life to MY will, MY desire. The time for holding onto hope has passed. In the name of...well, Me...I'm going to live large, I'm going to satiate my appetites if it kills me," he said to himself.

He walked with hurried purpose to the bedroom and found his old vest hanging on the back wall. Slipping it on, he felt a bit of a rush as its familiarity sunk onto his shoulders. He bent down to grab one of his gauntlets he knew Horace stashed under the bed. Horace was methodically tenderising the other one in the corner. "Give it up, you." He glared at Horace, pointing a finger tersely, and the blue-eyed dog dropped it, slinking away. Ares frowned at the torn one as he fiddled to make it fit.

Intensely he walked to the threshold of the bedroom door and suddenly stopped.

He went back over to the side of the bed, her side.

He stroked the pillow once, then twice, in deep thought. He fiddled with the top of the faded blanket and pulled it roughly up and tucked it under -her- pillow. His hand came out with the lavender undergarments. He stared at them in his hand a long agonizing moment, then carefully placed them atop her pillow and smoothed the blanket of its wrinkles. He stormed out.

Stopping only to grab his sword and pocket the dinars, he jumped swiftly off the porch never touching the rickety steps.

Li'l Kal, bloody and bruised, shaking his wrist gingerly, clambered out of the barn just in time to see Ares walking to the road.

"My Lord, my lord, wait, where...where...Hey ARES! Stop! Just where do you think you're going?"

Ares stopped in his tracks without turning. Had that little weed just taken a tone with Ares, God of War?! Former God...he chuckled to himself and continued walking.

"Never mind, you both are free. Take anything, touch anything in the house and I'll hunt ya down and rip your limbs off before I slice your torso in half.

When the traveling vendor comes back next moon, make sure he takes Horace this time."

He got to the road in front of the decrepit farm and started southwest, toward the city of Corinth.

Nothing to lose, after all, that damn rooster was his last chicken.

Chapter One

Spring was, by definition, a miserable time. At least, Gabrielle considered ruefully, it was a miserable time for camping outdoors. The earth warmed up just enough to release swarms of buzzing little things into the damp grass and the equally damp air; they got into sleeping pallets and made every night a contortionist torture of itches and bites. As if that wasn't bad enough, the rivers ran turbid, murky with melting snow from the distant mountain streams, and given the size of the fish, it would have been easier to feed them to the bait than the other way around.

The ground squelched under Gabrielle's feet as she returned to the campsite through the awakening forest, swinging the refilled water skins. River water. Spring river water, which wasn't fit for drinking - it'd have to be boiled first. Which meant that they needed a fire, which required dry wood, of which they had precisely two twigs - the two that had been digging into Gabrielle's back all night.

"That's it," she said, when the half-packed mess of the campsite came into view. "I resign."

Xena looked up from Argo's saddlebags, just in time to catch the waterskin Gabrielle tossed in her direction. "Resign from what?"

"This." Gabrielle indicated her red-bitten arms and legs with a flourish. "I refuse to spend another night as the main course." She brandished her water skin. "I'm sick of drinking water that tastes like swamp, sleeping on ground that smells like swamp and travelling through... well, through swamp."

"Good. Then you won't mind if we take a break from camping out for a while." This came from around the other side of Argo's placid back, where the straps of the second saddlebag were tugged into position.

"What kind of break?" Gabrielle said cautiously. Xena was deliberately avoiding her eyes, and that could mean only one of two things: they were about to travel to some godsforsaken corner of the world where the weather was even worse, and where years ago, Xena did something she'd rather forget -- or...

"I thought we'd pay Ares a visit".

Or that.

Gabrielle sighed, mostly in relief. She didn't think she could cope with another improbable tale about ten - uh, thirty-six - winters ago. Visiting Ares on the old farm where they'd left him seemed a positively cheerful prospect by comparison. She brightened a little.

"You think he's still got the chickens? We've had nothing but mouldy cheese for days. Eggs would be nice."

Xena finally straightened at Argo's side and raised her eyes to Gabrielle. She looked... relieved? Anxious? Something like that. Gabrielle waited for the inevitable sarcastic remark about Ares and his chickens, but instead Xena said, "We'll take the northern road, then cut west across the hills. It's the fastest way this time of year."

Gabrielle caught her arm before Xena could mount Argo. "Hey." She paused, trying to plumb Xena's thoughts. "Why now?"

Xena shrugged. "Good time as any. You said it yourself, it's not season for camping out."

"Hmm."

A smile crept to Xena's face. "What?"

Gabrielle stepped back and studied her friend with a smug little grin. The little lines of tension around those blue eyes didn't escape her notice. She was sure that Xena thought her expression was unreadable. She was equally sure that she knew exactly what was going through her mind.

"Don't give me that look, Gabrielle..."

"What look?"

"The 'I know what you're thinking and I know you're going to deny it' look."

Gabrielle laughed. "Two can play this game, huh?"

Xena jumped into Argo's saddle, waiting for Gabrielle to mount her own horse. "You forget, Miss Clever Bard. I know you as well as you know me. Maybe better."

At that, Gabrielle felt affection swelling inside her. They really did know each other right through, after all these years. It was a nice feeling. She drew level to ride beside Xena. "Oh? You want to back up that ridiculous claim with some cold hard dinars?"

"Nope. How about a nice warm meal instead? If I can't answer any question about you, we'll stop for lunch."

"All right, then." Gabrielle thought it over. "What was the name of my dog, and how old was I when Father gave him to me?"

"Easy. Woof."

"And how old was I?"

Xena fell silent for a moment, and Gabrielle smiled to herself. The horses stepped softly onto the soft ground, leaving the clearing behind. It wouldn't be long till they reached the northern road, and from there, it was less than a day's ride to the farm, with a nice warm meal on the way. Maybe some roast quail with potatoes, and ...

"Six," Xena said, breaking into Gabrielle's quail-and-potato daydreams.

Oh, well. They could eat on the farm.

Chapter Two

My boots really aren't made for this, Ares thought as he trudged down a mountain, stopping to massage his sore feet.

So this is what the god of war had come to.. Ares marveled at the time when with a simple snap of his fingers, he could have brought nations to their knees.

Not to mention he could get to one place from another without all this ridiculous walking. It was because of her that he was doing this now. Because of her - and because of all those mortal feelings which he had successfully escaped for so long.

"Oh, well."

Ares sighed and picked himself off the ground, turning to face the direction in which he was going.

"If I can't be with her then I'm not going to wait around my whole life, starving in a dirty shack. Sorry, Xena."

He continued his walk towards Corinth, fantasizing about what he would do once he got there.

His pleasant thoughts were interrupted by a strange looking man who came out of the bushes and blocked his path. His hand instinctively reached for his sword before he clenched his hands and stopped.

"Yes?"

"Money." The man grunted.

Ares smirked and turned around, his hands ready.

"I don't think so."

All of a sudden, he felt the force of something on his back, and the next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground, his head spinning. Just as he was about to get up and kill his attacker, he felt something cold on the back of his neck.

Something hard. The tip of a sword.

Cursing, he turned his head back down and his face came in contact with a black boot. A wet something landed on his face and he identified it in disbelief.
The once mighty god of war, lying at someone's feet. Being spit upon.

A rage such as he had never felt before erupted through him, coursing through his body. A deep roar came up from his throat as he turned his body, wiping the attackers feet up from under him. He jumped up, grabbed his sword, and looked at the faces of the men around him. There were more than twenty, but they were looking at him in that old way. The laughter had gone from their faces, and fear entered their eyes. Fear of him. Oh, how he had missed that.

With a murderous glare in his eyes, he started the deadly dance, listening to the sound of two metals coming together, until the only one able to fight was the leader. The rest of the living stared quietly, astounded. With a rush of satisfaction, he swung his sword one last time, slicing the barbarian open, feeling the rush of blood spilling on his hands.

Still holding the bloody sword, he rounded on the remaining members of the group.

"Get outta here!" he shouted.

They scampered, fear evident in their movements.

Ares remained, staring at them after they had gone. How long ago was it since he had done this? How long ago had someone looked at him with fear in their eyes.

The early satisfaction of the fight left him, as suddenly weak, he heavily sat down at the base of a tree, shaking. The sight and smell of the blood on his hands disgusted him, and he hurriedly whipped it off on the grass.

For the first time in his life, he felt sick at the sight of blood, knowing that it could have just as easily been his blood. or hers.

"Xena" he muttered softly, aching to feel her strong arms around him, comforting him.

Oh, how he wanted her here.

Chapter Three

"There it is!" Gabrielle said brightly.

From a distance, Xena looked pensively at her grandparents' old farm. The last time she had come here, she had been excited about revisiting the place where she had known such simple happiness as a child, and anxious to help Ares find refuge from the warlords who were after him. Now, she didn't quite know what to make of the feelings bustling inside her chest.

All she really wanted, she told herself, was to take a short break from camping out and check up on Ares, make sure he was all right. But there was no point in trying to deny it -- she looked forward to seeing him, and dreaded it too. She ... well, okay ... she missed him. Every so often, on the road, she had caught herself thinking about him: the way his face lit up with a smile after she kissed him, back when she saved him from the Furies; the way he made her laugh when they stayed here on the farm; the way he looked at her, his eyes so tender and so hopeful, when she said she'd come visit him ...

She tossed her head, as if to rid herself of these thoughts. How could he make her feel this way, after everything that had happened between them? Sure, he'd changed -- he was no longer the God of War, and he had given up all he had to save her and her loved ones ... but he was still Ares, he had still done terrible things that she could forgive but could never forget. And yet here she was, feeling a twinge of guilt because she hadn't visited him once in all those months ... actually wondering if he'd be mad at her. Maybe she'd gone soft in the head after her bout with memory loss in the Norse Lands.

The sound of a dog barking snapped Xena out of her reverie.

"Hey, Horace!" Gabrielle shouted, waving at the little mutt.

Horace raced toward them, yapping excitedly and wagging his little flap of a tail -- then stopped abruptly and started to whimper.

"What's wrong with him?" Gabrielle asked, puzzled.

Xena looked around. Ares was nowhere to be seen; the house seemed in worse shape than before -- if that was possible -- and the chicken pen was empty. She felt a chill creeping over her skin. Obviously, Horace was upset because Ares wasn't with them. So Ares wasn't on the farm? Had something happened to him?

The two women dismounted by the porch. While Gabrielle went over to pet Horace, Xena pushed the door open and stepped inside. No signs of life.

"Ares?" she called out. "Hey! Ares! Are you there?"

Obviously, he was not.

She came out of the house, and saw her own worried look reflected in Gabrielle's face.

"Well?"

"I don't think he's here," Xena said quietly. She wasn't going to dwell on how that made her feel; right now, she could focus on a specific task -- to find out what had happened to Ares.

"How about the barn?" Gabrielle suggested.

As they approached the barn, Xena heard the unmistakable sound of snoring coming from inside. She sighed with relief, and realized that she had been holding her breath.

"Ares!" She knocked on the door. "Wake up -- you got company!"

The snoring ended in a loud grunt, followed by the sound of rustling hay and then shuffling feet.

Unfortunately, the man who stood in the doorway of the barn looked nothing like Ares. He was a strapping lad no more than twenty years old, slightly cross-eyed, with tousled blond hair, a scraggly beard, and a goofy grin that revealed crooked, gapped teeth.

"Can I help you ladies?"

"We're looking for Ares," Xena said coldly.

"Oh, the master? He's been gone five days."

"Where to?" Gabrielle asked.

The young man scratched his head.

"Dunno, really. He just picked up one mornin' and said he was goin'. Told Eli 'n me we was free to go..."

"Eli?" Xena frowned.

"Yeah, the other farmhand. He gave us nicknames when he bought us to work the place. The other guy's Eli, I'm Li'l Kal."

Xena rolled her eyes and saw Gabrielle wince slightly. Yeah, he was still Ares all right ... who else would make a joke of giving one of his farmhands the name of someone he murdered? And more importantly, who else could pull a stunt like that and still make her care about what had become of him?

"He musta gotten tired of livin' here on the farm," Li'l Kal mused. "'Specially seein' as how we'd run out of chickens and livestock..."

"So how are you two getting by?" asked Gabrielle.

The goofy grin spread on Li'l Kal's face again.

"Oh, we been doin' some chores for the neighbor lady and she been feedin' us real good."

"Greba?" Xena chuckled as she remembered the irritating woman.

"Yeah, Eli's over at her place right now. She's a real nice lady too. I dunno why the master was always grumblin' about her bein' a pest. Y' know, whenever he heard her comin' he'd always tell us to say he wasn't home."

Xena was unaccountably pleased by this latest revelation. Then she wondered just what kind of chores Li'l Kal had been doing for Greba and whether the merry widow was that desperate.

Right now, however, she had more urgent matters to worry about.

"Do you at least know which way he went?"

"Su-ure. See the road over there? He was headin' in that direction." Li'l Kal waved his hand, pointing southwest.

"Thanks," Xena said curtly as she turned to walk back toward the house.

"I guess he decided to try looking for his fortune elsewhere," Gabrielle said thoughtfully.

"Fortune?" Xena snorted. She didn't know whether to feel mad at Ares or to feel bad for him ... or to feel mad at herself for letting him get to her. "Looking for trouble, more like it. I'd be surprised if he hasn't found it already."

"Come on, Xena -- you didn't really think Ares was going to make it as a farmer, did you?" The bard paused and then added, "I bet the only reason he stayed here as long as he did was that he was waiting for you to visit."

Xena shot her companion a nasty look -- go ahead and rub it in, why don't you -- and got back in the saddle.

"Are we leaving?" Gabrielle asked.

"What, did you want to stay for a few days and enjoy Li'l Kal's company? Maybe go over to Greba's for dinner? Yeah, I'm sure we'd have a great time."

"So ... I take it we're going to look for Ares."

"We'll just go in that direction and see if we can catch up with him," Xena said evenly. "I'm not going to knock myself out looking for him. But it can't hurt to check out if he's okay."

She avoided Gabrielle's eyes. She suddenly remembered the moment when she was saying good-bye to Ares, right here on this porch -- she was going to give him a kiss and then realized that Gabrielle was looking on, and so she chickened out and pinched his cheek instead, turning it all into a joke. Now, she found herself wishing she had kissed him, even if she would have to endure a little teasing from the bard afterwards.

"Xena?"

She flinched and looked at Gabrielle, who was holding a still-whimpering Horace in her arms.

"What?"

"Let's take Horace with us."

"You've got to be kidding. That's all we need, a dog getting underfoot all the time. Or did you want another chance to see him bite me on the butt?"

"Oh, Xena ... look how upset the poor thing is. I think he really misses Ares."

She patted Horace on the head. "Wouldn't it be sweet if we could reunite those two?"

"Sweet? How about ridiculous? We don't even know that we'll find Ares..."

"Come on." Gabrielle smiled mischievously. "When you have your mind set on something ..."

"Oh all right," Xena snapped. "Take the damn dog. Let's just get out of here."

Gabrielle climbed in the saddle, letting Horace settle in front of her, and they rode off at a slow trot. As the sun broke out through the clouds, Xena turned to take one last look at the old place. The place where she thought Ares might be able to find peace...

She really wished she had kissed him good-bye.

Gabrielle and Xena turned their mounts southwest out of the yard. Horace held his head high in newfound superiority over a beast of burden.

He cast a wary glance back at the dark haired human riding behind them. The bubbly sweet smelling blonde lass supporting his haunches was the only one of the two to be trusted, he concluded. That moody female, that's the one who threw the round thingy at me when last I jumped up onto a horse.

Crack-Cow!!!!! A lightening bolt raced across the sky. Rumble rumble crackle crack-cow! Another one. The heavens clouded over and grew dark. They had gone a quarter mile at most.

"Ugh." Gabrielle muttered. Horace gave a low growl.

Droplets began pattering the road.

"Here it comes, just great!" A suddenly testy Gabrielle said.

The sky then opened up and the lightening threatened the party at very close range.

"I don't think the heavy stuff will come down for a while yet, let's keep moving on." Xena commanded hollowly.

"By the gods, Xena, I'm soaked! I know you want to catch up with him, but look," she wiped her brow of drizzling down water, "Ares probably isn't traveling ahead either with this downpour, we won't be any farther behind if we get a start in the morning."

Xena frowned tightly, mulling over Gabrielle's words. She reached back to pull the drenched hair off the back of her neck. She wrung it out and it slapped right back on her neck when she let go.

"I DEMAND a warm fireplace, a warm indoor bed, and a roof over my head tonight. You coming or not?" Gabrielle turned her horse around and, passing Xena shot a deadly serious look.

Xena heeled Argo on a few steps, then she slipped a rear hoof slightly in the now muddy road. Argo whinnied in complaint.

Xena wiped her bangs back out of her eyes, and turned Argo around.

"What a bunch of babies," she whispered. "Still, like she said, one night won't make any difference."

Chapter Four

The streets of Corinth were crowded with people going about their business.

Everything looked status quo, but wasn't. Things just weren't the same as when King Iphicles had ruled. He'd been a fair king and had made the city grow and prosper. The people had felt fortunate to have had good rulers two times in a row. First Jason, and then Iphicles. Now, they were both gone.

Iphicles had died five winters ago from a fatal disease. Since he had no children, there was no heir to the throne. Ever since his death, various generals rose to power only to be replaced shortly by another one.

At the far end of the city stood a large building. It was decorated simply with carvings of weapons and battle scenes, but it showed magnificence and strength. It was clear that this was a temple dedicated to the God of War.

Inside, there were four priests tending the place. One was cleaning the altar, one was going back and forth carrying various items, and the other two were talking. They were discussing the recent story regarding their lord. "So do you think it is true?" one whispered to the other.

"About our lord becoming mortal?" the other whispered back with a small hint of anxiety.

"Yes."

"It is probably just a rumor." He quickly summed it up because this subject was making him uncomfortable. But the other priest pushed it further.

"Then why do you suppose we have not heard from him in a year.... no almost two years. Don't you think that is strange?" Again the other one quickly tried to convince his companion by saying,

"He is a God. He has important matters to attend to. That is all."

"Ah, good point." Upon hearing this, the other priest breathed a sigh of relief.

"But..." He got nervous again, worrying what his companion might say.

"I heard that there is a bounty on his head. Now, if he's really not mortal, why would someone be stupid enough to hunt a God, especially the God of War?"

This was the final straw.

"Hush!" After he silenced his companion, he added, "You must be careful what you say." He nervously looked around. "Consider this, there is no solid proof that he is mortal until we see it with our own eyes. For all we know, he might be listening to us right now. What do you suppose he will do then?"

Upon hearing this, the other priest turned somewhat pale imagining what Ares could do to him.

"You are right." He calmed down a little more before he muttered, "Nothing is ever sure." As he grimly responded, he looked out the window, no longer thinking about Ares, but about the conditions in the city. "How long do you suppose this will go on?"

The other priest was no longer nervous. He now looked deeply concerned as he answered;

"I honestly cannot tell. Nobody can. There is no way to decide who inherits the throne without bloodshed."

"Perhaps the late King Iphicles had a child about which no one knew."

"We can only wish." With that last statement the two returned to their tasks.

*****

Fire crackled in the hearth, illuminating the main room of the farmhouse with a reddish glow and making oddly shaped shadows flicker on the walls. Gabrielle stretched her feet and smiled, relishing the warmth of the fire on her skin and the warmth of the chicken soup in her stomach (thank you, Greba), listening to the soothing sound of the rain pouring down. Horace was curled up at her feet, twitching a little in his sleep. Xena sat with her arms folded on her chest, staring ahead, her face unreadable.

"You know, there's something to be said for having a roof over one's head," Gabrielle said with a contented sigh.

"Especially when it's leaking," Xena parried.

"Oh, it's not leaking that badly... not like the last time."

She saw Xena lower her eyes, her face changing a little. The last time ... when Ares was here with them, and when Xena talked about how wonderful it was that they could all sit together around the fire like good friends.

"He's fun to have around, isn't he," she said all of a sudden.

"Who? Li'l Kal?" Xena deadpanned. (The young farmhand had been dispatched to the hospitable widow's place for the night.)

"Yeah, right." Gabrielle laughed, crinkling her nose. "You know who I mean. By the way, what do you plan to do once we catch up with him?"

"Just make sure he's all right. What else?" Xena rose abruptly. "We'd better go to bed if we're going to get an early start tomorrow. My old bedroom's probably still the only dry place in the house."

They headed for the bedroom, Xena carrying an oil lamp.

As they entered the room, Gabrielle realized that there was something odd about the way the bed looked ... it was a rumpled mess on one side, but carefully smoothed and made up on the other ... on the side where Xena slept the last time they were here. She barely had time to marvel at this when she saw Xena walk over to the bed and furtively snatch something from the pillow.

"Hey! What was that?"

Xena turned to her, and Gabrielle wasn't sure if the light of the oil lamp was playing tricks on her eyes or the Warrior Princess was actually blushing. She glanced at the flimsy fabric clutched in her friend's hand. By the heavens ... if it wasn't the lavender undergarments Xena had worn the last time they stayed here!

Gabrielle barely stopped herself from blurting out: "I guess he really was waiting for you to visit."

The look on Xena's face went from almost guilty to defiant to wistful. She looked down, a tiny smile playing at the corners of her mouth, then raised her eyes again and said briskly, "Well. I guess these will come in handy when I need a change of underwear."

She quickly got out of her leathers, stripping down to the shift underneath, and lay down on the rumpled side of the bed.

Chapter Five

The sky was dark and the rain was coming down hard. The sound of pouring rain hitting the leaves kept Ares awake. He was cutting through a forest when the clouds started to form. He had thought he would be able to get through before it started to fall, but unfortunately, he was wrong.

He was lucky enough to find a cave for the night. Of course, it wasn't exactly a luxurious castle with riches and warmth but it was dry, and it avoided the rain.

He sat against the wall at the deep end of the cave as he bitterly thought to himself. What would people say if they found out that the God of War was now spending the night in some cave to stay out of the rain? This was the second time that day he'd thought of it. Strange - he had tried not to think about what had become of his former self. This past couple of months, he really had tried to convince himself that he could find a new life as a farmer.

He began to wonder whether he'd given up too easily. Maybe he should just go back and try again. Eli and Li'l Kal would probably still be there, so there was no problem there. And Horace would probably still be hanging around too. The thought of Horace made Ares smile a little. He had to admit, the dog was nice company, and he kind of missed the little mutt.

He continued to ponder his thoughts as he stared at the outside scenery. He didn't know why it was such a hard decision. If he really wanted to, he could go back. It was that simple. Or was it? By going back to the farm, would he be running away? He had decided that he was going to "live large". If he turned back now, then he would be chickening out. But if he did, then maybe he might be able to see . . . her again . . .

'Damn', Ares mentally cursed himself. No matter what he did or thought his mind always seemed to revert back to Xena. He loved her, but she didn't return the feelings. She cared for him. He knew that much, but that just made things worse--knowing that it wasn't going to be anything more.

He remained seated in the far corner of the dark cave. Suddenly he felt a chill, not because it was cold, but something made him feel funny. He stood up and walked to the entrance of the cave. He stood there leaning on the edge of the cave wall looking back towards the direction he came from. There it was again--that feeling. It was a familiar feeling. He had felt it when he was around Xena. Could it be? No, he was kidding himself. He felt stupid for even considering it. He persuaded himself that it was just the weather and returned to where he was sitting before.

The night was still young, and there was a significant amount of time until the arrival of daylight. He should be able to reach the city limits of Corinth by tomorrow. Yes, he was starting a new life and the past was no longer. The rain was beating even harder as Ares lay down to get some rest for the remainder of the night.

*****

It was strangely quiet, that morning of the Feast Day of War, the youngest priest noted as he prepared the smoking candles and images around Ares' altar.

Ordinarily the noise of the celebrating crowds could be heard even in the midst of the temple, before the doors were opened, before morning had barely broken. The festival was celebrated with displays of swordsmanship, with drinking and merrymaking. But young Emars could hear nothing.

Risking reprimand from his superior, the boy crept to the side door which opened up onto the street, and peered around.

The street was empty.

Astonished, the young priest hesitated, and then stepped out onto the main road which led to the marketplace; on any day, bustling and busy.

This day, deserted.

Emars ran back into the temple, horrified, and grabbed a fellow priest, gabbling without thinking;

"Has Ares been abandoned?"

"Quiet, you young fool!" The older man, Amarsa, ordered irritably. "This has nothing to do with the god of War - it is not disrespect which stays the people today, but fear!"

Emars frowned in confusion. "What fear could keep revellers locked inside on such a day?" He queried.

"They have loosed the Bull of Iphicles."

The two men turned to see the Head Priest enter the room, and stand staring at the altar.

"But - that beast is twice the size of any bull in the country - larger even than the Boar slain by Atalanta herself!" Emars breathed. "His horns are tipped with bronze, and his hooves with iron! Who would ever have released such an animal?"

"Only one who knew the prophecy," the head priest replied, still staring at the altar. "The bull of Iphicles seeks the true heir to the throne, and his slayer will be the one destined to rule."

"They say that the bull is descended from the Minotaur of Crete!" Emars persisted. "No wonder the people lock themselves away."

The Head Priest turned. "No one need fear - the animal was released into the forests beyond our kingdom. Come, to your duties!"

The priests hurried to obey; but not before Amarsa made a wry comment;

"It seems our king will be a woodsman with a taste for beef!"

Chapter Six

The huge animal rolled onto its back breathing heavily. With flaring nostrils it shook its enormous head and tried to move tired limbs.

Tensing all its muscles the animal's small brain began to remember.

The man in the dark robe had come to him and whispered something in a strange language, something the bull couldn't understand. Of course, he never could understand those naked creatures, which always held him in manacles. But this one had been different, more dangerous, and after he had spoken, he'd disappeared and all that was left was white smoke surrounding the bull, creeping into its nostrils, its brain and slowing its movements. And after that . . . nothing.

He was THE bull! He was holy, and though he'd been held in manacles the animal had felt a strange security back in the temple, back with the beings that constantly fed him . . .

The creature's brain may have only been the brain of an animal - and perhaps not even a very smart one at that - but every being with instinct facing a threat was dangerous. The threat of being all alone out in some unknown area and no food anywhere near was evidently embedded in the monster's brain.

Snorting and huffing the unholy creature rolled to its feet. Standing on two very muscled legs, it raised its hairy head in the air.

Anger flashing in its red gleaming eyes, a deep thunderous roar spilled out of its vibrating throat and broke the silence of the surrounding peace of the woods.

*****

Xena pushed the shutters open and squinted up at the sun, well above the horizon. Late! She wasn't used to sleeping indoors anymore; the room was deceptively dark -- and comfortable. A little too comfortable. Beyond the window, the road stretched into the forest, occasional puddles glittering blue. It had rained most of the night and the air smelled of damp hay and rich soil -- the smells stung Xena's eyes with childhood memories.

"All right," she said briskly, turning back from the window, "let's get going. We'll have to have to pick up our pace, Ares has quite a head start on us."

Gabrielle sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes. "I thought we agreed to wait for dawn..."

"If we wait any longer, it WILL be dawn -- tomorrow's." Xena stepped away from the window and Gabrielle blinked in the light. "I'll get the horses ready."

Leaving Gabrielle to get dressed, Xena went out to the stables. She opened the door and stood, staring -- both horses were already saddled, lowering their heads in impatience. Who...? Xena ran up to Argo and inspected the tack. It was perfect. She frowned in consternation.

"Hi there!" The coy cheerfulness could belong to only one person. Xena turned slowly. Sure enough, there was Greba, waving at her from a corner where she was refilling the water trough.

"Greba. What are you doing here?"

Greba set the bucket down and wiped her hands on her skirts. "Oh, well -- I do SO love animals, and I thought, seeing as you weren't up this morning, I'd give you a hand getting them ready."

"Thank you," Xena said tersely, a little uncomfortable in the face of Greba's kindness and fluttering eyelashes. A thought occurred to her. "Greba -- did Ar... uh... the man who lives here -- have you seen him recently?"

Greba twirled a long curl through her fingers. "Oh, Ares?"

Xena jumped slightly.

"It's a lovely name, isn't it?" Greba squeezed her eyes closed and took in a deep breath. "So... masculine." She opened her eyes. "I haven't seen him for days. One night he's here, and in the morning -- whoosh! -- gone."

"Night?" Xena kicked herself mentally when she heard the word and tried to cover up her embarrassment by changing the subject. "So where is he now?"

Greba sighed prettily. "I wish I knew! He didn't say anything at all, not even to his farmboys. They're left with no master, now, the poor dears -- no home, no job, completely rootless in the world..."

Xena choked down a comment that would have no doubt gone over the woman's head. Instead, she said, "Well, thanks anyway."

"My pleasure, I'm sure! Any time you need anything, you just come along up here and ask for Greba!"

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Then again, I suppose you must travel a lot, what with all those provisions, right?"

"Right."

"So you're not around here often."

"No." Xena grit her teeth in annoyance, then gave Greba a sudden radiant smile. She was definitely not his type... And SHE definitely didn't just think that.

Greba looked a little more confused than usual by the sudden change in Xena's demeanour, then shrugged and waves a happy little farewell to Xena and the horses. "Well -- it was nice seeing you again! BYE!"

"Bye!" Xena said as the woman disappeared outside, then caught the giggly note in her own tone. She was glad they were leaving.

"What's the smile for?"

Gabrielle stood frowning in the doorway, looking sleepy and none too pleased to be leaving. Horace was bouncing around her feet like a furball on springs. Xena wiped the grin off her face. "Never mind -- ready?"

Gabrielle heaved a long-suffering sigh and picked up Horace. "No," she said. "Let's go."

Chapter Seven

Mumbling under his breath, Ares crashed through the underbrush of the woods rather unceremoniously. Keeping his ego up with thoughts about what mortal or not-mortal-being he would curse or kill, were he not human but a god, Ares broke his way through bushes and thorn ranks.

He stopped, wondering why in Tartarus he had to make his way through a thicket of thorns. Wandering through a forest was bad enough without getting one's clothes snagged on the damn things. Someone should have lectured Artemis about stupid plants in stupid woods.

Before his thoughts could turn towards his family and yet again to Xena he found another disturbing object standing in his way.

Hacking at the innocent bush with the sword he'd taken from the earlier "interruption", Ares stopped dead in his tracks as the earth started to shake.

"What on Olympus.?!" his eyes widened as he hung onto the same bush he had wanted to turn to cinder a second before. Clamping his hands over his ears he turned his in every possible direction and scanned his surroundings.

There was nothing only this terrible sound, much like a roar of an animal; but surely there was no animal large enough to make a noise like that!

Ares slowly departed from the little bush and took a step backwards.

A deep frown lay on his tanned face as the frightening roar subsided, finally.

He let out a slow breath that he hadn't noticed he was holding and picked up the sword.
The little hairs on Ares' neck started to tingle and unnoticed to the ex-god his hands closed tighter around the hilt of his weapon.

Ares' senses reeled and every possible alarm bell in his head started to ring.

He couldn't put his finger on what exactly was wrong but he knew this feeling.

Remembered it well from the electricity that lay upon a battlefield before two armies crashed into each other.

He had learned to follow his instincts, though it was hard as a mortal to decide whether there actually was real danger - or if it was only mortal senses playing mortal tricks again.

Smirking, Ares forced himself not to remember the embarrassing scene with Greba when he had trusted his instincts and had been about to hack whomever had been about to enter the farm house into hundred thousand little pieces. He'd blamed his nerves for it back then.

He'd never mistaken this feeling with the tingle he got when Xena was around, though. That was different, always. Xena. His eyes closed for a brief second as his mind spiralled back to his latest dream. Her hair, her smell,...her hot wet breath.in his back?!

An even deeper frown curled his forehead as he snorted. "No! NO that wasn't in my dre..." shaking his head, Ares finally opened his eyes again and..was struck speechless for a second.

Slowly his eyes widened and his mouth gaped open as he took in the enormous shadow that formed on the ground in front of him.

"That one hadn't been there before, right?" he wondered, not really wanting to hear the answer.

The former god of war stood stock-still, not moving a muscle as he took in the size of the shadow in front of him. His blood started to circulate faster, and without wanting it, his heartbeat sped up and the little, oh-so-hated-and-definitely-human-hormones in his body started to produce a great wave of fear that overtook most of his body parts and froze his muscles.

Ares took a shallow breath and feeling himself unable to move he forced himself to calm down and let his warrior skills take over for the second time since he'd left the old farmhouse.

His ears picked up the sound of tree branches being bent; the cracking and the suddenly falling of leaves corroborated his conjecture. He sensed a slight constant shifting of the being behind him and figured because of its size it probably wouldn't have too steady a sense of balance. If he could move fast enough, perhaps the monster wouldn't be able to bite off his head the second he turned around to take a closer look at it.

Grinding his teeth together, Ares let his eyes adjust any possible routes to run that wouldn't hold a rather uncomfortable ending for him.

One way to his left, the actual route to Corinth, the one he'd been taken the all day long. The second way, to his right going deeper into the woods. A third one straight ahead and ... right into a tree. Trying to get around the broad trunk would cost him some awfully needed seconds.

The sounds around the two beings in the midst of the woods had died down completely. It seemed that besides the birds and the other animals, even the sound of splashing water Ares had heard before, probably from a nearby river, had ceased to exist. The leaves had decided to stop falling as though they dared not create any sound at all.

The wind had stopped and a thick wave of hot, stinking breath surrounded Ares. His spine tingled with the dark foreboding of great danger.

Almost as if time had slowed down to a minimum, a little green leaf decided that this moment was the best to fall to the ground where the two mighty creatures stood and waited. Neither of them dared to make the first move.

Feeling a sweat building on his forehead Ares watched the leaf sailing elegantly through the thick air, spiralling and flying loops until it finally came to rest on the ground.

Both the animal and the man took this as a sign and in union sprung into motion. Time jumped back into its usual flow and the normal sounds of the woods were back, except that they were now drowned in the angry roar of the huge bull.

Ares sprung to the left and started to run. Hearing the outrageous sounds of the monster behind him he didn't even feel the slightest notion of curiosity to look back at it. He ran faster than his feet could carry him and soon he was more stumbling than running through the thick underbrush.

Ares came to a sudden halt when he had to grab at a near by tree to steady himself and feeling the earth shaking he threw a short glance back over his shoulder. What he saw was both familiar and yet still able to scare him out of his wits.

With unbelievable speed storming up at him was "his bull", HIS creature, HIS ... killer if he didn't move really fast!

With a short gasp Ares jumped to his right and rolled a few paces away. Something painfully hit his arm in mid-flight and manoeuvred him right into another tree trunk. A grunt escaped his lips but he jumped to his feet never the less.

On iron-like glistening hooves, the wild creature came to a clumsy halt and whirled around facing his newest meal once again. Ares couldn't see any glimmer of recognition in the monsters eyes, hadn't expected it actually, and swallowed hard.

Well, he hadn't visited his "pet" very often after Xena's death, nor any of his temples, but couldn't he expect even a little gratitude?!

As if to answer his question the bull threw its head back and let out another thunderous roar. "Can't you quit that?!" Ares shouted irritated at the monster, backing away slowly.

The murderous animal advanced instantly.

Cursing under his breath, the ex-god dropped to the ground just in time. He felt the heat of the monster's body rush past him and without thinking climbed to his feet again. Not looking back, Ares started to run for his very dear life.

A loud crash and the sound of bursting wood draw a nervous giggle from his mouth. With the sword still in his hand, Ares moved as fast as he could. Tree-right-tree-left-tree-other side- bush-dive under. He hardly noticed that the earth had stopped shaking and ran on not caring about looking back.

"How pitiful! Now I'm running away from my own servant, my own creature!! How the mighty have fallen."

Anger built inside him again as he finally realized that there was no one chasing him anymore. Slightly wondering, Ares came to a halt and nearly toppled over. He wasn't used to walking by foot and for sure, he wasn't used to running for his life. Hands on his knees he breathed hard as he glanced back at the way he'd come from.

"This was too easy!" The bull may not have been the brightest monster on earth but it wouldn't give up on his prey that easily. Not one of Ares' creatures.
Not until of course it had found an easier prey, one that probably.

A high scream followed shortly by an unbelievable angry roar made Ares shudder.

"Run away! It's found someone else, you're safe if you run NOW!" a part of him, the godly part mostly, screamed, this wasn't his deal.

He wasn't all-righteous like Xena and the bard; he was the god of war!! This wasn't his concern. But then again a tiny voice, the one he'd come to call "his aging conscience", reminded him that the mighty, dangerous god of war probably wouldn't run away, at least not if he were that dangerous.

He heard the scream again. It had moved a bit to his left and sounded almost like the voice of a little girl. A child?! Out in the woods?!

"Oh no, I'm not going there!...But still, I can't just leave her here, can I?"

Shocked at his own thoughts Ares activated every little bit of courage he still possessed. He took off into the direction where he supposed the girl was, not giving himself another second to think this suicide mission over.

His gut painfully contorted as he finally reached a little clearing and he saw what it was that had drawn the bull's attention. A little black-haired girl was backed against a tree, shaking with fear and her big, brown eyes were fixed on the enormous head of the monster.

Ares gulped down the fear and numbness that started to over take him and pushed himself to a dead run towards the bull. His brain couldn't understand why he was doing what he was doing but settled with the lame explanation of probably getting a reward for this rescue.

The animal's head snapped around and glared at the strange human that came running towards it swirling a sword and shouting at the top of his lungs.

Had Ares still been a god, he would have laughed at the stupid expression the monster was giving him, so utterly unimpressed with its huge head slightly bent. Gathering all of the strength and will power that was left in him, Ares lifted his arm and threw the weapon, the sword tip pointing right at the bull's eye.

The ex-god didn't have time to look if the sword actually found its target but ran up to the frightened child that stared at him in awe. He grabbed her arm and turned instantly to run back the way he'd come from, but a frantic tugging at his arm stopped him. Hastily throwing a glance at the child, he shouted over the painful roar of the bull somewhere behind him, "I don't have time for this! I saved you, now RUN!!"

The girl shook her long black tresses and writhed out of Ares firm grip. With a fearful expression she motioned the man to follow her and with unbelievable speed disappeared between the nearest bushes. Cursing, Ares looked back at the bull just in time to duck under a small tree that came flying towards him.

The monster was stumbling around the clearing shaking its head, the sword deeply embedded in its nose.

"Very good aim I got there," Ares mumbled sarcastically, as he backed away towards where he'd last seen the girl disappear. "What in the name of ... me... am I doing here anyway?!" he asked loudly, only to pull the monster's attention back to himself.

"Uh-oh!" was all he could utter before the bull let out a howl that threatened to shatter Ares' ears. Its eyes weren't angry anymore, but boiling, totally mad.

A fire burned in its eyes that Ares had only seen very few times before, and then only in the eyes of some warlords. This thing was a bit bigger than a normal mortal, and besides he wasn't a god an longer.

"Damn!" Ares shouted and started to run after the girl with a speed he didn't think he could master anymore. Behind him, he could hear the trees bursting into every possible direction. So trees wouldn't stop the beast... While running he changed directions quite often and after some time to his biggest surprise, even caught up to the girl. Knowing that she was too slow and they would probably both die if they wouldn't go faster, Ares picked her up without stopping and continued his deadly race through the woods.

He slowly had to remember that he was mortal and eventually wouldn't be able to hold the pace up forever. The earth was shaking under his feet and the girl started screaming again right beneath Ares' ear, which made him drop over his own feet in surprise, and saved both their lives.

The bull, in full race, passed his prey and thanks to its enormous proportion wasn't able to stop.

It crashed into a tree and another one and another one. The fourth then finally stopped the animal's rampage and brought the monster to a sudden halt. A surprised gurgling sound came from the bull's throat as it sunk to the ground.
At least four big branches embedded deeply in its chest, it collapsed onto its hairy back and with its last powers let the earth around him shake with a thunderous roar for the very last time.

Ares stared at the scenery not believing what he just saw. A crazy laugh was forming in his gut. He took deep gulps of fresh air as he released the girl out of his grasp. For the first time he took a minute to have a closer look at the child.

"How pathetic!" he thought to himself. "You know why you did this?! Because she reminds you of... Oh, you are so unbelievably pathetic! No wonder Cupid is your... " His face contorted as in pain at his thoughts.

"I hope I really get a reward for this one. If not, I'll just have to use her as bait," he mumbled, more to himself than to the girl.

In the meantime the child was standing on her own two feet again and staring down at him. "You saved me," she whispered. Her dark eyes darted towards the slain monster and back to the strange man on the ground. "And you've slain the bull of Iphicles."

Obviously the girl was from around here and seeing that she knew of Iphicles and the bull, Corinth shouldn't be too far away. Glad about that fact Ares groggily got to his feet still not understanding why the little child looked at him as though she saw just another monster - or was it even awe he saw in her eyes?

"Yeah, so? I hope there is a price on its head." he shook his hand in the direction of the bull.

Chapter Eight

The South-West road hadn't improved since the storm which had delayed them. The ruts and furrows in the path had turned to deep puddles and more treacherous potholes. Xena threw an apologetic look back at Gabrielle - after all, she had indicated quite clearly that she was over wet and uncomfortable and keen on warm and sheltered. With a sigh, Xena reined in Argo and drew up beside her friend.

"Listen, Gabrielle, I know riding through a mudbath wasn't exactly what you were hoping for. It's just - my instinct tells me there's trouble this way, and . . . "

A scream rang out ahead and Xena and Gabrielle stared at one another.

"Oh Xena, I do respect your instinct!" Gabrielle said with a shaky laugh. "Let's go!"

The pair spurred on their horses, with Horace in his saddlebag growling as he bounced unceremoniously against Gabrielle's horse. Turning the corner, they saw utter chaos.

The usually quiet road was filled with people. There were wagons, laden with belongings; there were refugees, all their worldly goods in a hand-cart or on their backs. Children wailed, and a fistfight was beginning - it was that which had prompted the scream.

Xena acted immediately - with her trademark war cry she leapt from Argo in between the two hot-headed men.

"Now, are you going to tell me what's going on - or am I going to have to beat it out of you?"

The men stepped back at the sight of her lazy smile, coupled with her hand on her sword.

"Uh - it was just this man pulled ahead of me, and . . ." The taller one began.

"And so you thought you'd delay everyone else." Gabrielle put in, rolling her eyes. "What is everyone doing here, anyway? All headed North for Hestia's feastday?"

No one laughed - even though, Xena thought fairly, it was pretty funny to imagine a mass exodus towards a feast involving a hunk of bread and salt.

"Haven't you heard?" A woman asked, bustling towards the pair. "They've loosed the Bull of Iphicles - and in our forest! We're all in danger!"

"Looks like we'd better do something about that." Xena replied, turning back to Argo. "I wouldn't get too far away - even a sacred Bull isn't going to make the chase along a road like this."

Leaping back into the saddle, she turned Argo off the road, and rode across the fields instead.

"If the traffic's like this, Gabrielle, we'd best try for a short cut." She advised. "Let's go!"

The pair raced their horses across green fields and along fusty little-known tracks, on the outskirts of minor hamlets and towards the great wood surrounding Corinth. They forded brooks and leapt over the fallen trees in their path. Xena looked back at Gabrielle, knowing that she was no longer worried about her own comfort, but thinking of the danger the woodspeople faced.

Finally, Xena reined Argo in and allowed him a short drink at the river.

"Remember, bulls travel faster uphill than down." She warned Gabrielle. "And they aren't smart - just easily angered."

Gabrielle nodded, then grinned. "But on the scale of - well, harpies, Norse monsters and Cyclops, this isn't a major worry?"

Xena shrugged. "Well not compared with rulers of Hell, anyhow." And she smiled back. Trust Gabrielle to put everything into perspective.

"So actually you're sort of relishing the challenge." Gabrielle persisted.

"I don't welcome danger . . ." Xena began, then trailed off. Running towards them, with shouts and cries of exultation, were a crowd of villagers.

"It's over!"

"He's killed it - our hero has vanquished the beast!"

"The new noble King has won!"

Gabrielle shot Xena a quick look. She'd be happy, of course, that the animal was no danger to anyone any longer. But she had a feeling Xena had really been looking forward to going on the hunt.

*****

"All right, kid, what are you staring at me for?" Ares exploded after over a mile of walking. The little girl's eyes had been glued to him the whole time, respect mixed with awe in her gaze.

The bull was behind him, lying on an abandoned cart which he had found, complete with a horse. Ares and the girl were walking beside the wagon so the horse wouldn't have too much to carry.

"You've slain the bull of Iphicles," she repeated.

Shaking his head, Ares grabbed her hand.

"And so what?" he asked.

"You've slain the bull of Iphicles," she deadpanned.

Gods, for a moment there she had actually sounded just like Xena. Never giving him what he wanted, keeping him frustrated.

Ares brushed the thoughts from his mind. Xena was a different story. He didn't have to take this from a small girl.

"If you don't want to tell me what the big deal is, that's fine. Just keep walking."

The girl shrugged and obeyed, following him as he went further on, trying to find the road. Suddenly, she pulled her hand away from his and ran ahead of him, out of his sight. Without a second thought, he started after her.

"Where are you?" he yelled.

"I'm here, come here" he heard her call, and ran in the direction of her voice, the dead bull bumping off rocks and branches behind him as the horse followed.

He found her standing at the edge of a weather beaten road, next to a small plank bearing the words Southwest road, which struck at an odd angle in the soil.

"This is the road home," she told him, delighted.

Feeling somewhat happy himself, Ares took her hand again and led her on in the direction of Corinth. To his great surprise, the small girl grabbed his hand with both arms and pulled until he squatted down next to her. She then planted a baby kiss against his cheek and hugged him.

"Thank you for saving me" she exclaimed.

Ares felt at a loss. Normally, the idea of a little girl thinking he was some kind of hero would have repulsed him. Yet he felt somewhat proud of her regard, happy that he was liked.

He gave her hand a small squeeze.

"No problem. Now let's get to Corinth."

After a couple miles of walking, Ares noticed his companion getting tired. They couldn't afford to lose any more time; he had no food or water.

Sighing, he stopped in his tracks and kneeled down again.

"All right, get on." he told her wearily.

The girl, thrilled with the idea of a piggyback, jumped on his back and held on tight.

"Thanks!" she exclaimed.

"You're welcome" Ares croaked.

The weight of the bull behind him, and the girl on his back was more than he was used to, even with his farm work.

Disgusted with himself, the former god of war trudged on, until finally, the gates of Corinth came into his view.

Feeling slightly nervous as he caught sight of the impressive spears in the hands of the guards at the gate, he let his friend climb down from his back, and took her hand.

"Come on," he told her, as they made their way to the guards.

They remained motionless as Ares and the girl got closer and closer to them.

Ares stopped before the guards, stepping in front of his companion.

"Hey fellas, I was wondering if you knew what I should do with this bull? He was attacking me and I killed him."

The guards turned and whispered to each other excitedly, pointing at his face.

"What the-" Ares murmured, confused, staring down at himself.

Suddenly, what looked like the lead guard swung his sword out and pointed it at him.

Ares stepped back, not knowing what to do. With the girl attached to his arm, and the bull just a few feet away, he had nowhere to run. His sword was no good to him now, not with the guard's sword at his neck. He was terrified, and apparently, so was the girl who clutched his hand tight and whimpered.

With a swish, the guard brought his sword up high in the air, and Ares cringed and closed his eyes, waiting for the blow. It didn't come. The guard solemnly lowered his sword and threw it at his feet, and Ares heard the clashes of the other swords hitting the ground.

"Son of king Iphicles.. You are welcome."

"What in Tartarus?" Ares mumbled, staring from the faces of the guards, to the swords on the ground.

*****

"How about you explain this to me one more time," Ares said slowly.

It had to be some kind of dream - a hallucination, brought on by something in that bull's stinking breath. He was finally sitting on a throne again. Granted, it wasn't his comfortable black leather-lined number, but any throne would do after sleeping in a freezing cave for the night. He was being waited on by three pretty cute servant girls, and was surrounded by some very servile looking officials. Yep, it had to be a dream.

"My Lord, you are the heir of Iphicles, our former King," the High Priest repeated. "Only the heir could kill the sacred bull - it was prophesied unto us!"

Ares decided to up the wages of all Corinthian prophets.

"Obviously, our King had you hidden at birth among some - er - shepherd folk, because -er -"

Ares had got the idea. He decided to help them along.

"You are certainly wise, High Priest. Yes, my father Iphicles had heard a prophecy that unless I was sent away at birth, I would never be King," he began solemnly.

The officials sighed with relief. It was all right, then! The High Priest hadn't just given away the rulership of the city to a wanderer, or worse, a traitor.

"So now it is my divine right to rule Corinth - as King Sera!"

"The Coronation ceremonies must be performed post-haste!" the High Priest declared. "Let us first get the official duties completed, and then we must celebrate!"

Ares closed his eyes and slumped back onto the throne. Ahh, it felt comfortable even without the cow-hide. If the ceremonies included copious food and drink, he'd be satisfied.

"Let the sacred wine be poured forth!" he called out hopefully.

Chapter Nine

Xena and Gabrielle had been following Ares' tracks all day. But every track led them into a dead end, the final end coming at the sight of trampled ground. The massive bull's enormous hooves completely destroyed everything on the ground. Ares' foot prints were lost.

Xena fought back a tear when she saw the sight. If Ares' path had crossed with the bull's...she hated to think of the consequences. She yearned to keep searching, but the sun was already setting. Damn her for waking up so late! She silently cursed herself.

"We'll pick up from here in the morning," she said, still saddened. He just couldn't be dead! Silently, she nudged Argo in the direction of Corinth in the quickly fading light. She never saw the drag marks in the dirt outside the city walls.

*****

"Now remember Gabrielle, we're only staying until morning. Then we set out again to look for Ares. With that bull loose...and I don't care if it IS dead now..." Xena's voice trailed off. In her heart, she added, I'm afraid for him.

"You're afraid for him, aren't you?" Gabrielle asked, as they entered the town.

So now she can read my thoughts, Xena thought with a grin.

As they tethered the horses in the stable of a nearby inn, a man came running up to them in the darkness.

It had been well after dark when Xena and Gabrielle rode up to the gates of Corinth. The entire city was in celebration. Bonfires lit up the streets and the sounds of song and dance and merriment wafted their way.

"Come, come, you must hurry. They're going to begin the coronation ceremony for the new king! Believe me, you won't want to miss it," the man babbled, obviously drunk with happiness and the thought of stability in the kingdom.

"This is the man who killed the sacred bull?" Xena questioned.

"Yes, it's the heir of Iphicles, brought up in secret until the fates brought him to this very moment!"

"The fates, huh?" Xena repeated skeptically, but the man had already turned to other revellers.

"Wonder what this hero's like?" Gabrielle said suddenly, lifting up Horace. "I mean, it's not like he's been brought up a royal, distant from the people like - well, like Diana, for example." She chuckled at the memory of Diana's attempts to impersonate down-to-earth Xena.

"Uh-huh. Probably more like Paris, you mean?"

That silenced Gabrielle a moment; they'd both met Paris, who'd been brought up by a shepherd and had only found out his claim to royalty as a teenager. Trouble was, that had led to the biggest swelled head - and the biggest mistake - in Greek history.

"Still, Paris was a boy," she finally went on. "This king - well, he'll be a man."

Xena smiled with amused exasperation. One of the things she loved about Gabrielle was her irrepressible nature.

"And from what the people have said, a handsome man, at that. Oh, and obviously strong, and brave too, right?" Xena added with an air of innocence.

"Well - yeah." Gabrielle threw her friend a strange look. "Oh - come on, I just want a look, I mean, what a great tale I could tell . . ."

"And that's why we just have to be at his coronation?" Xena finished, with a smile. "It's all right, Gabrielle. You don't have to hide your low motives from me!"

"Why you -" Gabrielle began indignantly, before breaking into a laugh. "Look who's talking!"

"Got any ideas about getting in front of this king, then?" Xena went on good-naturedly. "It's invitation only, you know, and although they might make an exception for a talented bard, I don't know if a woman with a hand at a sword would be much entertainment."

"Says the winner of "Miss Known Universe"?" Gabrielle mocked.

Still teasing each other cheerfully, they turned round into a marketplace - nearly toppling over two women in the process.

"Whoah!" Xena steadied herself on Gabrielle's arm. "Is everything all right?"

They knelt beside the two unusual women, slim agile figures dressed in brief but vivid and flamboyant outfits. The younger woman's ankle was obviously swollen, and Xena ran her hands over it quickly.

"Sprained - just some rest and a tight bandage, and she should be right," Xena reassured the pair.

"Thanks, friends." The shorter, dark-haired woman got up, holding out her hand as greeting. "I'm afraid our delay will cost us dear." She helped up her companion, obviously limping.

Xena cast her eyes around for a strong staff, while Gabrielle jumped forward to help steady the girl. Horace ran about, barking importantly, whilst ensuring he kept right out of Xena's way.

"I'm Tia - this is Ana." The older woman introduced herself, accepting Xena and Gabrielle's names. "We were supposed to perform for the king tonight."

"Well - there's no chance of that," The blonde-haired woman said, wincing.

Xena nodded. "Something like that needs time to heal."

"In our case, a weak limb can mean death," Tia said glumly. "But if we disobey an order to perform, it could mean the end of our career."

"I see." Xena murmured. "I see."

Chapter Ten

This was more like it, Ares thought to himself from the Royal balcony. The inane mutterings of his underlings had bored him, and the tedious formalities of the coronation had irritated him to the point of near-regret. But this - well, this was really what being a king was all about.

"Dancing girls from Thessaly, my Lord!" The page cried out, drawing the new set of near-naked women to the center of the entertainment area. Ares settled back to enjoy the show. So far, he'd watched the acrobats of Hispania and the gymnastic tumbling of the Egyptian women. Funny how he preferred these dark-haired women with the tall, lithe bodies to -

He hesitated, realising that this feast before him was being dulled a little by memory of a far greater beauty. Someone who never wore the fatuous expression of facile servility, but hid half her feelings - and the depth of them - beneath a face alive with intelligence, and brilliant with the shine of her blue, blue eyes . . . like -

Ares nearly stood up as the newest performer somersaulted into the arena. He'd missed the announcement, missed whatever the fool had said, but he didn't care. It had to be - but whatever was she wearing? And what on earth was a vicious bull doing running into the ring?

"Who - what?" He gasped out to the advisor at his right.

"The bull-dancers of Minos, my Lord." The minion whispered back. "Tia and Ana; they come here in honour of the Bull of Iphicles, each year."

The bull raced towards the woman standing tall and strong in the centre of the arena. She waited, relaxed, as the creature ran, his mighty head lowered, and vaulted over its back, its razor-sharp horns only inches from her body. The crowd cheered, as the dancer landed lightly on the ground behind the beast.

Enraged, the animal turned and ran again towards the infuriating human - to find not one, but two, standing in his path.

There was a collective hush, while the two women stood, waiting for the animal to come. Again, only moments from death, the two women spun over the body of the bull and came together behind the beast.

Now it was faster and faster, the drums thudding their seductive rhythm, the women vaulting and somersaulting around and over the crazed animal, as it pawed and snorted, shaking its mighty head and crashing its hooves into the ground. Finally, the younger woman landed in a handstand upon the creature's back, and the crowd cried out, shouting their exultation and encouragement. With that, the attendants threw open the gate and the bull raced away to freedom, while two women stood - the blonde and the dark - in the centre of the ring, facing wild shouts of acclamation.

The dark-haired woman looked up deliberately, and caught the eyes of the King.

It was she. Ares knew that his heart was pounding, not just from the suppressed excitement of the wild bull dance, but from the sight of her again. It was a message, he knew. She did not know who he was - but she was ensuring he knew that she could have taken out that beast any time she wanted.

"Bring them to me." Ares growled. "Now!"

"But my Lord! There are still the dancers of Arabia, and the -"

"Now!"

*****

The bull leapers were brought before Ares. He could hardly wait to speak with Xena. But what was this? This wasn't Xena, you idiot! His brain screamed.

Sighing deeply, he dismissed the two women after thanking them for their exciting performance.

"You gotta stop doing that, Ares," he whispered to himself.

But he'd been so sure! He was certain that he could feel Xena's presence!

Suddenly a scuffle attracted his attention. Two women were trying to gain admittance . . .

"Let them come!" He roared.

"King Sera?" Gabrielle asked, then gasped as she realised who it was.

"Ares backwards," Xena answered instinctively, then added scornfully; "Ares, what are you doing here? And as king?"

Ares shook his head. "I don't know," he finally sighed. He related his tale to them, everything from leaving the farm to the present. Well, okay, he left out the parts about seeing Xena everywhere he looked. When he was finished, he waited for the barrage of questions that he was sure would come.

"You saved that little girl? But why? I mean, it's not...in your nature...to..." Gabrielle stammered.

"I just acted. Didn't really think about it. It was like a reflex." Ares said. Then he looked straight at Xena. "Is this what it feels like to be you, Xena?" he said, his voice just above a whisper.

Xena blinked, stunned. "What did you just say?"

"Saving people...is that what it feels like to be you?"

Xena looked at him as if she were fighting back a lump in her throat. Ares sensed her emotions, and changed the subject; he didn't want her to be uncomfortable. "So what brings you to Corinth?"

"We heard about the bull, came to check it out. But we have bigger problems...your majesty."

"Problems?"

"The Persian army is headed towards Corinth."

"But didn't they learn their lesson?" Gabrielle asked, remembering the last time they'd come to Greece. Xena had given them quite a bruising.

"They heard about the Twilight. They think we're weak. They know Iphicles is dead. Corinth is an easy target in their mind. If they take it over, they can drive a wedge between Athens and Sparta."

"Civil war would be inevitable," Ares spat the words out.

"Right," Xena said quietly.

"How much time do we have to prepare?" he asked.

"I don't know. Four, maybe five days with good weather. A little more if we get any storms."

Chapter Eleven

"My Lord? My Lord!!!"

Ares woke and looked around wildly.

"The Persians . . . the . . . huh?"

He'd underestimated exactly how exhausted the bull fight and subsequent trek into the city had made him - despite the strange throne, he'd managed to fall asleep.

"My Lord, you requested the bull dancers to attend you. Shall I send them away?"

Ares sat up and wiped his eyes. It had been a dream - Xena coming to find him - the Persians attacking -

So who were these dancers?

"Send them in!" Ares called.

Xena and Gabrielle were in a small room sitting on a couch, still in their dancing outfits, when a guard entered. "The king will see you now!" The two women exchanged glances as they stood up and left the room. They walked down a long corridor lead by the guard.

Ares was in his throne room still in a daze from his recent nap. That dream seemed so vivid. He could almost feel Xena's presence near him. Precisely at that moment, the guard entered. "My Lord Sera." He bowed and continued, "The dancers you requested are waiting outside. Shall I send them in now?"

"The wha..." Ares got confused for a second, but he immediately snapped to authority. "Oh, yes the dancers...uh, yeah go ahead send them in."

"As you wish, my lord." With that, the guard exited the room.

Ares continued to slump on his throne. He wasn't really sure why he allowed these "dancers" come see him. Yes, the dance was breath-taking in a way....and that dark-haired woman... Ares cleared his thoughts and tried to shake the image of Xena out his mind. Why was this happening to him? It was just a stupid dream that his desperate mind made up. Or was it? Ares was getting extremely frustrated with himself for trying to mix imagination and reality.

Ares made up his mind that when the dancers came in he would give them a supporting comment or two and dismiss them. He figured a few positive words never hurt anyone. Then, he was going to take a ride out to the countryside for a refreshing change. He needed to get some things off his mind before he could enjoy his life as king.

The guard came back and opened the door ushering in two women. Xena and Gabrielle entered in silence and stood in front of the throne. After the two women walked through, the guard closed the door behind him and stood in front of it.

Ares was still preoccupied with his previous thought to look at the two women standing before him. He began to speak without looking up, "I just wanted to thank you for that great performance, I enjo...."

Noticing that Ares hadn't realized who they were, Xena cut in, in a flat tone,

"It was our pleasure...." Ares immediately recognized the voice and shot his head up with his eyes wide open. The guard came up to Xena and grabbed her wrist.

"How dare you interrupt the king's speech! Have you no respect?" Xena didn't bother to look at the guard as she stared at Ares with mixed emotions. Ares, completely absorbed in Xena's presence, simply dismissed the guard.

"Leave us!"

"But..." The guard looked as if he wanted to object, but he stopped, "...as you wish my lord."

Xena just stood there looking straight at Ares. She didn't know where to start. A part of her was relieved that he was well, but a part of her was angry with him for.............for what? She was the one who left him on that farm expecting him to make it as a "farmer." She knew perfectly that the former God of War would eventually get bored with it and move on to something more fulfilling. But, Xena would have never guessed in a million years that he would end up as the King of Corinth. How was that even possible?

It was Gabrielle who broke the deafening silence. "Ares. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you two the same question," Ares responded in his smooth voice.

He was fighting an internal battle. A part of him wanted to embrace her tightly, never letting go … but, dammit, he still had his pride!

No. Uh-uh...there is no way in Tartarus that I, King of Corinth, former God of War, am going to act like a lovesick fool!

"We followed y...."

"...the news of the mad bull." Xena said this matter-of-factly. Gabrielle gave Xena a sideward glance. 'Not this again', she thought. From the years of travelling, Gabrielle knew that tone of voice. When Xena got stubborn, not even an earth-shattering catastrophe could shake her mind. She knew that Xena was worrying about Ares, but she was too proud to admit it even to her ... and especially to him.

"Well then, you have nothing to worry about. The bull is dead ... I killed it."

"So we've heard..."

"Oh?" Ares raised an eyebrow with a glint in his eyes. "Then why did you come all the way to Corinth . . ." He looked Xena up and down. ". . . in that outfit?" Perhaps she did care for him after all. There was sense of hope building up in Ares' mind, but he didn't let it show.

Xena flinched a bit from Ares' answer. 'Damn it! Why does he always do this...' Despite the anger, , she also felt kind of comfortable. This was like old times--back when he was still a god and trying to smooth-talk her. And way before the Twilight and before things got so complicated between them.

She had missed this feeling. The rushing blood, the fiery chemistry between them...but as much as she liked that feeling, that Ares was bad for her, and she knew it.

When he gave up his immortality and saved Gabrielle and Eve, she had developed a new respect for him. And at the same time, a sense of security was born inside her. Sure, she told him that he was still bad for her after that run-in with the Furies. But that was because she wasn't sure how Ares would face mortality and what kind of man he would become. Back at the farm, seeing him live as a mortal--working (although complaining) and interacting with Horace--had convinced Xena that there might be a slim possibility that this would work out. She thought Ares had finally found that one out of a billion chance. So much for that, Xena sighed inwardly. "We just wanted to see with our own eyes that things were really okay. You know how stories can spread."

Ares felt disappointed and hurt by that answer, but tried his best to hide it.

"Yeah. But as you can see, everything's just great."

That was such a lie. Everything in Corinth was just great, but as for him … he couldn't feel worse if his life depended on it.

"Yeah, I can see that ... your 'royal highness'."

"Hey, it's not my fault that they thought I was related to the dead king. Apparently I look like him." Gabrielle took this pause to interrupt,

"Well, I guess not but ... SERA?"

"I thought you were the master of this kind of thing, Blondie. It's..."

Xena finished the statement. "...ARES backwards."

Ares was startled. This was deja vu from his dream.

"Very good, Xena." He managed to find it in himself to answer without choking.

"Well, now that everything's settled we'll be leaving. Come on, Gabrielle."

Xena turned around to leave. Ares couldn't take it anymore. Before he knew what to say, he was calling out her name.

"Xena!"

Xena abruptly stopped, and without turning around -- "What?"

Ares had no clue what to say.

"Well... um.." Xena turned around from frustration.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"Yeah..."

"Well?"

Quick, he had to come up with something before Xena stormed out.

"How would you two like to...stay at the palace for the night?" In this situation with this amount of time, this was the best he could do.

"What?"

"Well, you ARE staying in town for the night -- right?"

"Yeah."

"Then why not stay at the royal palace?"

"Because we already got rooms in an inn, but thanks for asking."

"Wait. With...all this festivity going on for...well, me. There are a lot of people staying in town for the night. There are only so many places to stay. So, by giving up your rooms, you'd be doing some travellers a favor. I mean isn't that what you do? Help people in need?" Xena couldn't help but almost smile. He wanted her to stay... close. She decided to give in and let him have this one.

"Fine. We'll go get our horses." Ares breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Now he can have a chance to talk to Xena privately. But contrary to his thoughts, his pride made him continue putting on his act.

"And Xena!" Xena looked back at him, and Ares stood up from his throne and walked over to her. "You know, I also wouldn't mind having a ... queen to rule with," he whispered in his low husky voice. Xena shivered. She hadn't heard this voice in a long time.

"Ares."

"Yeah?"

"I still have no interest in being your queen." Xena emphasized that last word. She moved away from him and left the throne room with Gabrielle following behind her.

'Damn it!' Ares was being his old self again. Xena felt tears coming up from rage and frustration as she stormed out of the room. Things were never simple and easy for her...especially when it came to 'him.'

Gabrielle chose to remain silent because she knew Xena was upset despite her efforts to hide it.

Ares continued to stand where he was with Xena. He couldn't believe what just came out of his mouth. He was being such a jerk. Why couldn't he admit that he had missed her and that he was more than glad to see her? Who was he trying to impress by acting like a 'king'?

He gazed around the throne room. It was elaborately decorated with ornate tapestry and rich upholstery. And here he was, dressed in a heavy robe standing in the middle of all this. Less than a week ago he was in a run down farmhouse with moronic servants pushing hay and raising chickens. He wanted to get out of that life and he got his wish but what did he truly gain? Nothing … in fact he lost the most important thing in his life.

Ares doubted that Xena would come back, but she didn't say anything when she left so perhaps she will. When she did … if she did, he was going to set things straight between them again.

Chapter Twelve

"You know, he'll probably cheer up once he finds out we've brought Horace." Gabrielle suggested helpfully.

From Xena's comment about what she could do with the little dog, Gabrielle decided she was still mad.

They moved through the maze-like corridors of the palace, Xena staring straight ahead, until Gabrielle finally had enough.

"Slow down!" She exploded, pulling on her friend's arm. "I've just survived a bull fight, for the gods sake - and sustained the biggest disappointment of my life!"

Xena stopped, and sighed. Then a small grin crept out.

"That's right. You thought this "hero-King" could be the man of your dreams, isn't that right?"

A horrified look stole over Gabrielle's face.

"Oh, no. No - don't you dare!"

"Come on, Gabrielle - why, that'd really cheer him up."

Gabrielle started laughing, but she shook her head.

"I'm begging you, Xena, I swear, don't you ever tell him!"

"Oh, I won't - maybe. And then, maybe I will!"

She headed off again to the dressing rooms where their clothes were held. Gabrielle paused, and then remembered.

"Oh, Xena?" She called down the corridor. "Why don't you change into something more comfortable than those old leathers. Something . . . lavender?"

Xena froze, and Gabrielle let out a yell of triumph.

"I'm telling, I swear!"

"If you do, I'm putting on the pinch," Xena growled, turning around. "I'm serious."

"Go ahead. I'm waiting. You know if you kill me, you'll have to come after me again. And isn't that really a waste of time?"

Suddenly the pair burst out laughing. Gabrielle put her arms around her friend and gave her a hug.

"Don't worry about him, Xena. After all, he's mortal now. You really can chop his - uh - head off, you know."

*****

Ares paced back and forth across his throne room, nodding automatically when a blustering servant entered, and started stammering his apologies.

Just when he thought he had it all -- food, a palace, heaps of gold. He found himself missing the things he had before. Horace, even those idiotic farmhands he had hired; they were so much fun to make fun of. And most of all, he missed Her. Although of course, she had never really been his, he mused.

He felt strangely confined in the room, and abruptly opened the door, and walked outside, putting on a purposeful stance, hoping that his subjects would leave him alone.

Opening the gate of the palace, he made his way outside, and leaned against one of the large maples.

Something caught his eye, a horse going down the nearest hill -- black hair billowing around in the wind. Before he could stop himself, he had cried her name, thinking that she was leaving... then clamped his mouth shut.

She turned around, and for a moment, he thought she would keep going. But she stopped, and like she was battling with herself, started back to him.

Then, a dusty blur shot out from under the legs of her horse, making it's way towards him, making sounds between barks, and sobs. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Horace pelting at him as fast as his short legs would carry him. He threw his small body at Ares, yelping and writhing with delight.

Ares stroked his dog's head lovingly, and didn't even cringe as Horace continued his exploration of his face, and neck, growling at the unfamiliar royal clothing.

"Yes, it's still me, boy." Ares told him. "You can tell it's still me -- no matter how I dress. I guess that isn't changing."

With a start, he realized that his words had been heard not only by the dog, but also by Xena, who had walked up to him, unnoticed. She sat down beside him on the grass, not saying anything.

"Where are you going?" he asked her.

She shrugged, and looked everywhere but at him.

"I'm not one for festivals -- that's Gabrielle's thing. Besides, you seem like you're doing fine here -- the accommodations are nicer that on the farm," she told him, with a hint of accusation in her voice.

"Xena, you said you'd visit me…. you never came. I ran out of food... I didn't come here to be king, just to take some go