The Deal
by Taleen

The tall dark-haired warrior sat alone at a table with three chairs. She pulled the second chair toward her with her toe and when she judged it to be in proper position for maximum comfort rested her feet on it, crossed at the ankles. The third chair remained empty, as if waiting for someone to join her. She took a long pull on her sweet cider and amused herself by occasionally scowling at the riffraff in the corner. Watching the hardluck soldiers squirm made her smile; the slight nasty edge to that expression made them blanch.

Gabrielle had gone back to the Amazon encampment to attend Naming Day festivities. Xena had little interest in watching a half dozen prepubescent girlsreceive their first swords. She admired the Amazons' skill in battle, she assured herself, but their obsession with ceremony made her uncomfortable and impatient. Every ritual, every rite, every little thing that had to be done just-so made her want to yell, "Get on with it already!" Better to let Gabrielle go alone; her enjoyment of her sisters' way of life would not be lessened by Xena's obvious discomfiture.

Besides, Argo had needed new shoes, supplies had to be purchased and stowed away in saddlebags; harness repaired or replaced, and her sword sharpened. There'd been a lot to do. She could hardly say she was bored.

The whispering around her grew louder. Xena looked up in time to see Gabrielle weave her way through the tables, adroitly avoiding pinching fingers and smiling, unoffended, at the transgressors.   Her Amazon clothing had been replaced by a red skirt and top and her sais were in easy reach, strapped to her boots.

Xena felt a certain relief and tucked away her mother hen tendency to worry when Gabrielle was away from her, despite the fact Gabrielle had proven herself time and again.   She smiled warmly and kicked out the third chair with one foot. "About time," Xena grinned and signalled the bartender for another cup.

Then she looked more closely at Gabrielle's face. "Gabrielle? What's wrong? What happened?"

"We had guests for Naming Day, Ephiny's cousins. They came down past Mount Olympus on their way to us. The news they brought—Xena, I don't quite know how to tell you." Her voice was full of concern.

"Just tell me," Xena said, suddenly anxious again.

"On their trip south they'd come upon the result of… apparently… some sort of deal made between gods at war. I left early, came as quickly as I could. I knew you'd want to know as soon as possible."

Xena swung her feet to the floor and leaned forward.

"Know what, Gabrielle?"

"Ares… has sacrificed… himself."

"He did what?"

Gabrielle shook her head in frustration. "I don't understand it either. They said something about a weird fire at the foot of Olympus—"

Xena rose abruptly. "Let's go."

Gabrielle blinked, "So you have some idea what it's about?"

"Not yet. But I will."

"You can't change it, Xena. From what they said… it's already finished. Ares—" Gabrielle shook her head sadly.

"I'll stop him. He can't do this. I won't have it!"

"I don't think you can stop it."

"Watch me." I won't lose him…

"But…"

"Are you coming?"

"Xena…" Gabrielle held her tongue and nodded soberly. "They gave me exact directions. I'll lead you."

A headlong ride through the night brought them to the foot of Mount Olympus. The first rays of the sun winked over the horizon, glazing the icy, cloud-robed peak in shades of rose and peach. Gabrielle couldn't help but admire the view as the horses dropped back to a canter, a trot, and finally a walk. Xena had too much on her mind to notice.

"What in Tartarus is this?" Xena muttered. The sight at the mountain's base brought the warrior up short. A ring of intense, too-red fire surrounded a marble coffin, its pale stone glowing pinkish through the flames, while evil-looking thorns threw up a further defense near the bier.

Was this a joke at her expense? Was someone aware of her time in the Norse lands? Was someone deliberately mocking Gabrielle's magical sleep?

Sunlight had not yet reached the shadows at the mountain's base. Movement there caught the corner of her eye; Xena spun around, wary. It took her a few seconds to recognize the face under the gauzy veil as the figure moved closer.

"Aphrodite?"   Xena was appalled; the goddess known for her bubbly personality seemed sad and drawn, as if one last hit had sunk her into a permanent depression. Her clothing reflected her downcast spirit; the Goddess of Love wasn't dressed in her usual frothy pink silks but wore a simple gray gown instead. Even in her mourning attire, when Hephaestus had died, when she, Xena, had killed him, Aphrodite had had skin showing; now she was completely covered up. Xena threw a startled glance at Gabrielle, who looked dismayed by the changes in her immortal friend. This was worse than Xena had thought.

"Xena? You're alive?" Aphrodite's face showed a spark of hope; it was almost immediately replaced by despair.

"Yeah. So what else is new?" Xena half-joked bitterly. "Where's Ares?" And what happened to you? she wanted to ask. Was this her fault too? She held back, afraid that her own feelings of guilt about the Twilight, and Jappa, and dammit, her entire warlord life meant an affirmative answer, whether it was true or not.

"In there," Aphrodite nodded, her expression pure misery. Gabrielle dismounted and went to her, giving her a hug. Aphrodite valiantly tried to smile and stroked her friend's short cap of blonde hair. "Good to see you, little one."

Xena squinted, trying to see through the fire. The lid on the pale marble sarcophagus was carved in Ares' image. From twenty feet away she could see it was an exceptional likeness. She could feel it pulling her closer to the searing heat. What in Hades has he done?

"He saved me."

Ares altruistic? Again? You might be surprised at the changes you can inspire… She shook her head, blocking out his long-ago voice in her mind. "Tell me."

Aphrodite shrugged. "Eli's god… Eli's god was jealous of me, of us. He's not what you think, Xena. He fooled everyone—you, Eve, Eli himself—he's more petty and cruel than… anyway, he wanted to destroy me, and Ares… cut him a deal. If he left me alone, he could have the God of War." Her face screwed up and she looked away, sniffling and rubbing tears from her eyes.

Xena's eyes widened.   "Ares did that?" She pushed thoughts of Eli's god away; she'd consider what to do about him later.

"My brother wasn't the same after he heard about Jappa. He thought you were dead. He said life had lost its spark… "

When Xena said nothing, Aphrodite continued, "You can't bring him back, Xena."

"We'll damn well see about that." She started toward the wall of flame. Maybe he was bad for her. Maybe she couldn't allow herself to be with him… but to have that choice taken out of her hands by a deity for whom she'd lost all respect rankled.

"Xena, be careful!" Gabrielle cried out.

Simultaneously Aphrodite shouted, "No, you can't go through!"

The Warrior Princess stopped and stared at the drab Goddess. Aphrodite was in earnest. Xena felt a rising sense of dread; she could feel that the magic was different from last time… She glanced at Gabrielle. The Bard apparently felt it too; her brow wrinkled and her eyes showed concern—for Aphrodite surely, Xena thought, and me. But maybe Gabrielle worried for Ares too.

She hardened her jaw. "I don't have to go through." She leapt straight up, somersaulted above the flames and landed with a jarring thud on the inside. The excessive heat she had expected to feel was non-existent here; the temperature near the coffin was normal, even cool. The bushes rose toward her, rubbing finger-long thorns almost gleefully; the ebony poppy-like blossoms had yellow centers—a thousand sentient eyes glowering at her. Snarling, she snatched her sword from her back and cut a swath through the vines. Pulpy black juice oozed; the vines withered and crumbled like ancient papyrus at her feet, hissing virulently as they collapsed.

She sheathed the sword and placed her hands on the lid. It was cold to her touch. For a moment she hesitated… Was he dead? What horror would she find within? Had he begun to… her mind swerved away from visions of decay. She clenched her teeth and shoved, hard as she could; the lid moved sideways, revealing…

Ares, in all his immortal beauty: the black hair, the black leather, the perfectly groomed goatee, the high cheekbones and full, oh so kissable lips…

He opened his eyes.

Xena heaved a sigh of relief. Thank the gods! There was still time, still a chance.

She slid her arms under his shoulders and lifted him up. The weight of his body, his slow breathing and the beat of his heart—even the familiar texture of his quilted leather vest—were solid comfort to her; he was alive, and she meant to see that he stayed that way.

He looked up at her dreamily. "You came back from Jappa."

"Yeah, I'm here." She stroked his face lightly, her heart welling with tenderness. No matter what he had been, what he had done, he was part of her life, part of her soul, the dark essence on which she depended for survival even as she resisted his temptations.... Gabrielle was part of her, her soulmate, but maybe… so was Ares. This god—no, this man—for that's how she thought of him now, had impacted her more than she'd ever dreamed.

"I'm gonna get you out."

"You can't. Outside this circle I die. Here I only sleep." His lids drooped. "It's not so bad. I dream of you. Of us."

"Ares…" she murmured, helpless.

"Put me down, Xena. You can't fix it this time."

Her sinuses were burning. This can't be happening. There must be a way… She swiped at her dripping nose.

He grinned weakly. "Sorry. Gods don't carry handkerchiefs."

She tried to laugh as her tears splashed on his skin. "Ares…"

He raised his hand slowly to his cheek, wiping them away. "That stings."

She tried to grin at him but it was lopsided. "You surprised me again."

"You do care, don't you? I always knew it."

"Of course I do, Ares. I told you, you always got to me…"

"I love you, Xena." His eyes closed. "Let me sleep now."

Clasping him tightly to her breast, she pressed her lips to the velvety hair on the top of his head, then ruffled it with her fingers.

"We had fun, didn't we?" he murmured, only half conscious.

"Uh huh." She let him down gently, reluctantly. One last kiss… "Sweet dreams, Ares."

His lips set in a smile.

Slowly she pulled the cover back over him. A moment she stood, caressing his image, the marble so cold. His skin had been warm. Then, shaking tears from her eyes, oblivious to the magic, she walked out through the fire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sun had risen higher and gained in strength.

Xena felt she had gained too, in determination, in understanding of herself. "I owe him," she whispered to herself. "I owe him… everything."

This is not over…

Gabrielle and Aphrodite were locked in each other's arms, their faces gleaming with tears as they watched her approach.

"Come on, Gabrielle, let's go."

"Xena? Are you all right?"

Xena looked away. She didn't mean to shut Gabrielle out, but neither did she want to talk here and now. She needed time to assimilate her feelings. "There's nothing more we can do here." She turned her eyes to the Olympian. "Will you go home?"

"I can't, Xena. I have to… I feel like I need to stay here. To watch over him. You understand. All's fair and all that… "

"Couldn't you watch him from Olympus?" Gabrielle asked.

Aphrodite raised her shoulders, sighed, and dropped them again. "I… maybe later. Right now Olympus is too far away. He's my brother, ya know? I love him," she confessed. "Everyone else can get by without me for awhile. I hope you understand." She looked anxiously from one to the other.

"Yeah. I understand," Xena tried to smile. She had to get out of here, go somewhere to think. Argo responded to her low whistle; she mounted the golden horse and, without waiting for Gabrielle to part from her friend, cantered out of the vale.

The yellow-eyed blossoms rose again, fierce in victory, thorns clacking in satisfaction as she rode away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Xena rode hard and furious over the grassy hills as the sun climbed to high noon. Somewhere behind her she knew Gabrielle followed gamely. Her friend would catch up; the Bard had really gotten the hang of the horse thing in the last year. Argo crested a rise and headed down into the depths of a gorge that led out to a lake. The shimmering depths drew Xena's attention. She let Argo drop back to a walk until they reached the water's edge; she dismounted and let the mare drink, careful not to let the horse overwater herself after that wild ride.

Her mind gradually focused elsewhere as she stared out at the placid surface. All kinds of conflicting emotions roiled through her mind—the bitter, useless feeling of self contempt and hindsight; the burgeoning, terrifying desire for vengeance against any and all who would be her enemy… But fear of loss was the worst. What if she couldn't bring him back? Was this what it meant to love someone? Is that what she wanted? A cottage, a dog, a picket fence? No! Don't fence me in, Ares—it would surely be the death of "us". She needed him, but she needed him separate from her, at least for now. But what if Ares got so weak in that coffin he passed over to the other side before she could prevent it? What if she never saw him again? Never heard his voice? Never kissed his mouth? There were times he drove her crazy… literally, she grunted ruefully… but what would her life be like if he wasn't there, somewhere, hovering in the background, within the sound of her call...?

Her fists clenched, knuckles the color of bleached bone. A sense of urgency pumped through her body, making her feel full of fire and burnt out at the same time. She began to get an idea…

As if from a distance she heard Gabrielle ride up and drop to the damp sand. The Bard padded past her and knelt to scoop a handful of cool water. After two more drinks and a splash over her neck and shoulders she stood up, turned to Xena and said, "So what's the plan?"

Xena frowned, jolted out of her thoughts.

Gabrielle sighed. "You know and I know we can't leave them there." There was no rancour in her manner, Xena noted thankfully. She wasn't annoyed at having been left behind so precipitously.

"Aphrodite needs us, Xena. She's my friend. And Ares is… yours." She put up her hands. "I may not agree with that, but I think I've come to understand it. Besides, he's done so much for us… And I know by now you've figured a way out, because that's what you do, " she grinned, "so what do you need me to do?"

Xena grasped her friend's shoulders and hugged her tightly. They'd been through the worst of times and the best--how would she ever have survived without Gabrielle at her side? The Bard wrapped her arm around Xena's waist and smiled up at her fondly.

"Gabrielle, I need you to stay with Aphrodite. I know she's a goddess, but she's vulnerable, especially if Michael and his fine-feathered friends decide to finish the job."

"If he does… ?"

"Convince him otherwise. I know you can do it."

"I'll talk him into Tartarus. And if that doesn't work, I have my sais."

Xena grinned and gave her a light tap on the shoulder.

The Bard gave her a brisk nod, serious now. "What are you going to do?"

"I have to go North."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a few days of hard riding she caught a glimpse of the ravens streaking away overhead and smiled grimly. The avian messengers would herald her approach; she hoped this time Odin would give her the benefit of the doubt so she wouldn't have to kick the crap out of him again.

A few hours later she left Argo munching the sweet grass at the foot of the rocky crag. It was chilly, but not yet so cold as to need a robe; she threw a fur over her arm for later and started up the rough path to the castle. If you could call it a castle. It was hardly stone-upon-stone construction; it looked more like some savage growth that had erupted from Mother Earth herself. Twisted turrets jutted out here and there, pointing like bony fingers to the thin air overhead. Tiny narrow windows dotted the outside, as if it were necessary for them to be small to keep out the cold. Do gods mind the cold? It was nothing like the airy terraces of Olympus, wide-open to the Zeus-ordered gentle breezes of the southern clime. She hoped that hadn't changed with his death.

She'd made this trip before, under crisp blue skies, and that time too it had been about Ares and Aphrodite. Here she was doing it again, with Ares speaking words of love in the back of her mind and visions of Aphrodite wasting away at his side tearing her heart.

Thoughts of them gave her purpose; she put on a little burst of speed. Halfway up she stopped to catch her breath, pressing her hand against the stitch in her side as she leaned against a granite boulder. She curled her feet up one at a time, hoping to stretch out her calf muscles, and took off her right boot to remove a stone. Why did gods always choose the highest point for their dwellings? Were they worried about home invaders? Only Hades had dug deep to discourage unwanted guests, and of course Poseidon's home had been all wet.

She minded the cold now, after her brief rest stop; she shrugged into the fur and clutched it tightly around her shoulders. Only another few thousand yards to go.

Finally she reached the top and stood in front of the heavily carved doors. Last time she had shimmied up the outside, finding nigh-impossible finger and toeholds. Squeezing through a window embrasure, she had vowed to watch her diet when she got back to Greece. This time she hoped for a more civilized entrance.

She would try a polite knock.

Ares would laugh if he could see her now.

She raised her fist, but before she could apply it the doors swung outward; she had to jump nimbly aside or be sent tumbling on the snow-packed ground. The black iron portcullis rose with the aid of unseen hands. Xena took it as an invitation and stepped through into the courtyard.

No one impeded her progress to the keep's main doors, nor did she see anyone as she trod the long hall to the audience chamber. Once inside that changed. The residents of Valhalla waited nervously for her; the silver armor of her former sisters-in-war glinted in the torchlight. They clustered protectively around the base of the throne, hands on sword-hilts, some with blades half-drawn.

The Warrior Princess took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Xena." Odin dipped his head, as if to an equal. "What can I do for you?" His voice held no fear this time.

"Odin," she nodded, returning his respect. "I need a favor." Her gaze slid sideways to the troop of warriors, antsy in their anxiety for their overlord. Even though she had a reputation, a history, here, the Valkyries' suspicious attitude annoyed her.

"May I speak with you alone?"

"Of course, Xena." The tall gray-bearded god rose from his majestic seat and stepped down, impatiently waving away the protesting Valkyries. "Let's walk, shall we? Would you like some wine? Cheese? A bath?"

"Odin, are you saying I stink?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Clean, refreshed and well-fed, Xena explained her plan as she and Odin sauntered through the tapestry-lined halls. "So you see, the god of the Elijans is stronger than any I have gone up against before."  

"That one," he stopped by a window and glanced out, and the thought crossed her mind that he wanted to spit, "has been causing trouble for some time. I'm sorry you were… tricked… into destroying my Southern cousins."

"So am I, Odin. Now he has Ares trapped and Aphrodite… she's helpless to do anything about it. Technically, they still have their powers so the world isn't affected, but—"

"You mean to save them."

"You got it in one."

"I misjudged you before…" The King of the Norse gods grudgingly admitted in a low voice. "Perhaps I can help you now." He snapped his fingers; a raven swooped down, its wingfeathers brushing Xena's head as she hunched away. It landed on Odin's shoulder and cast arrogant eyes at the Warrior Princess. Briefly the Norseman stroked the bird's head, a tender smile lighting his face, and sent it aloft. Seconds later it returned bearing the shining Apples of Iduna, and without hesitation Odin passed them to her

"I only need one."

Xena snapped a golden fruit from the branch and handed the rest back She rubbed the gleaming skin thoughtfully, then sighed. She could think of no other solution.

"Well, if I'm gonna kick some big god-butt, I guess this time I really need to be a god."

Her teeth bit into the apple; sweet juice slipped down her throat, quenching a thirst she'd been unaware she had. Then everything…shifted. She reeled against the wall, grabbed a handful of tapestry and almost dragged it down with her as she slid to the floor.

All her senses were askew. She could see through walls, to distant places of the earth… She could hear the lie in a philanderer's eye, smell the truth in a child's smile… when an unborn questioned, "Who am I going to be?" she could taste his terror. Xena pressed her fists to her forehead and rocked her body forward between her knees. Mankind's thoughts weighed against her, multitudes, from all over the world. She had to shut them out!

Odin squatted beside her. She was aware of his worry; would she survive the transformation with her sanity intact? He frowned and put his hand out to touch her shoulder.

She twitched away. A door in her consciousness slammed shut; all was abruptly quiet.   One… two… three deep breaths, she cocked open an eye and peered at the Norse god. He seemed reassured by what he saw and dropped his hand.

Carefully she sent out a tendril of thought to Gabrielle. Instantly her mind's eye formed a picture of the Bard, with Aphrodite huddled against her shoulder, wrapped in blankets against the night, sitting on a rock. The sky above them darkened, and stars popped out one at a time. Gabrielle rested her chin on the goddess' head and stroked her arm gently. Xena could hear the Bard's soothing words, feel her confidence, "It'll be all right… Xena will take care of it," and thought to herself, I hope she's right… She touched Aphrodite: the goddess overflowed both with sorrow for her dead husband and fear for Ares, who might as well be dead too. A twinge of guilt and self-doubt speared the warrior's conscience. How could she have let herself be fooled so easily?

Xena shook her head, pushing the doubts away.

Ares. Is he dead? And if he's not, should she intrude? Could she? She had to know he was alive. Tentatively she tiptoed to the edge of his mind. He was alive! But what if his nature overwhelmed her? He was the God of War; his penchant for violence and mayhem were inherent in his being, but when she made contact she found that the need for her approval seemed to be overriding his instincts. Sideswiped by the strength of his feelings for her she backed out hurriedly, her heart rising in her throat. She needed to think of something else, someone else.

Eve. Where was Eve? Her beloved daughter, the one for whom she had sacrificed so many lives, so many years…   There she was, Xena noted with relief, wending her way down a forest path far to the East, a motley collection of loyal followers trailing behind. Good. She was safe.

But it had been too easy to check on her. Xena realized she had to take control of herself and her new situation before the power seduced her; if she didn't get rid of it as soon as possible her "self" would be lost.

She came back to the here and now. Her mouth set with determination; she'd gotten past the worst of the transformation's vertiginous effects. Odin offered her his hand to rise.

Her skin glowed as their fingers touched, a fresh emerald-green—the green of healthy growing things. She snapped her hand back, unnerved. Odin smiled at her. "A manifestation of your new power. It will accommodate itself to your will as time goes on."

Xena's lips thinned as she swayed on her feet. "I don't plan to have it that long, Odin. This is a one-shot deal."

"Then I think you need another weapon." He held out his empty hands; a velvet-wrapped bundle appeared in them. "I've kept this safely hidden for a mortal generation. I think you need it now."

Xena peeled back the cloth, enough to ascertain the contents. "Where did you get this?"

"I can't tell you all my secrets, Xena. But as a last resort, it should do the job."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rush hit her hard; wishing herself to Heaven's gates might not have been a good idea, but she had to get this over with. It was becoming easier and easier with every passing moment to enjoy her new status, harder and harder to think about giving it up. No wonder Ares felt as he did. Ares… I will get you out, if it's the last thing I do.

These gates didn't open as readily for her as the ones in Valhalla had. Not very hospitable, if you ask me. Impatient, guessing she would not be welcomed here, she put her hand on the golden door handle and yanked on the pearly gates with all her newly acquired god-strength. The gates weren't built to withstand such an assault; they shattered, leaving glimmering shards hanging from silver hinges. So much for that, she thought as she dusted her hands and strode inside. Golden paving stones meandered across a courtyard in a switchback pattern, leading to a magnificent snowy-white palace at the far edge. Xena frowned. She could almost hear Gabrielle's voice, "Follow the yellow stone road, maybe we'll meet a wizard or two."

Xena would settle for a god. She ignored the path and set off on a straight line across the yard.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eli came out of another building edging the plaza. He'd been in a hurry, deep in thought, when she bumped into him. The tall slender man with long hair and beard and gold-and-green robes seemed overjoyed to see her.

"Xena!"

"Eli," she smiled warmly and clasped his hands, realizing with a start that he seemed corporeal; apparently as a goddess she was able to touch him in his spirit form. She squeezed his hands again. He had been a dear companion on Earth; she hoped he would understand what she had come to do.

"It's so good to see you! But wait a minute—what are you doing here? You're not dead… no, no, I can see you're not. You've become a goddess. How…?"

"Long story, my friend. I need to meet your god."

"I will be thrilled to introduce you. But, ah, why now?"

"We have something urgent to discuss."

"I think he's in conference with Michael."

"Let's go that way, shall we? Maybe he can fit me in."

She tucked her arm in his and, leading him gently, continued toward the main palace. Eli inhaled deeply, trying to mask his confusion at the changes in his friend.

"Uh… how's Gabrielle?"

"She's become a strong warrior in her own right. But she hasn't forgotten your teachings, Eli. Compassion comes easily to her. She was my conscience all these years; now it seems there are times when I'm hers. But she won't make my mistakes."

"And… Eve?"

"Don't you keep an eye on her? She's your Messenger."

"Well, I… I do, but… I've been busy. There are so many new converts…"

"She's gone East." Xena glanced away, unwilling to let him see her feelings of failure regarding her daughter's warrior past. Another thing to blame on Eli's god. She pressed her lips together, her cheeks hollowing. Eli himself—but he was her friend. It was not his fault.

Their steps had steadily brought them closer to the huge doors of the blinding white palatial structure. Xena could hear raised voices as they approached. She whispered, "Is that him?"

One voice carried through into the sunshine, its tones dripping with anger and scorn. "Michael, I don't care about your objections. I want you to go down and take care of Aphrodite. Kill her. Make it look natural. Then destroy the circle so he dies too."

Eli froze.

"Eli? Eli?" Xena touched his arm.

He ignored her, rooted to the spot.

"That was his voice, wasn't it?"

Her friend's face had gone pasty-white.

"Wasn't it?"

"Xena—" His eyes glazed; he looked sick at heart. Betrayed.

"Eli, I'm so sorry. You were deceived. We all were. This one is no better than the others."

"Xena… Oh Xena, I thought I was going crazy. I was having doubts, suspicions… but I thought, there's no way… he's got his reasons I'm not privy to, but whatever they were he did everything for peace, for love. I was so sure…

"Oh, Eli… "

"What… what are you gonna do?"

She stretched out her arms and cracked her knuckles. "Show him the error of his ways."

Xena, Warrior Goddess, opened the door and stepped into the grand audience chamber, blinking momentarily in the glow from the pearly walls. Nice decorating. Maybe overdoing it on the pearls though... She focused on the paternal-looking being seated on the throne, taking in his long white hair and beard and piercing blue eyes. His instantly applied mask of grace and goodwill had turned as quickly into a scowl. He knew who she was and appeared a little unsettled by it. She meant for him to be a lot unsettled before she was through.

Eli sidled in behind her and moved into the shadows. If she needed help…what he could he do? He was in shock and comparatively powerless. But, he needed to be there…

She directed her words to the Archangel standing near the throne.

"Michael, I'd ignore those last orders if I were you. Unless you want your tail feathers singed."

Michael stared at her.

"You know I can do it. I nearly killed you before, when I was only mortal. Now I am a goddess, with the fate of my friends on my hands. You have nothing but lies backing you."

He stepped back, hands up, palms out. "I have no quarrel with you, Xena. Or with you, Eli," glancing at the man who'd followed her in.

The god no longer bore any resemblance to a benevolent father figure; he flung an angry glare at Michael before turning his gaze back to the intruder. Smoothing his expression, he poured the charm into his voice.

"Xena. My dear child. So nice to meet you at last."

"I'm not your child, and somehow I don't think you're really happy to see me. You know," Xena purred, "being a god of Peace and Love is a great idea. Maybe a little before its time but still, a great idea. But you have to mean what you say, don't you? Do you think you can keep up the pretence? I wonder, now, why a so-called peaceful deity would need to slaughter his peers. And why you needed me to do it for you. Didn't want their blood on your hands?" Her voice got harder. "You have to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk. You can't do that, can you?"

The fraudulent god shrugged and threw a glowing red firebolt at her, hoping to catch her off guard. She flicked it away negligently. "Oh please. Is that the best you can do?" Her eyes narrowed as her grin widened. "Let me show you how it's done."

Pearl walls and golden floors weren't meant to withstand the assault of repeated firebolts. Ugly charred spots blossomed on the walls; the floor had half-melted in places, making the footing treacherous for the godly contenders. Never had Heaven seen such a lightshow as green lightning crossed with red, sizzling and spitting like infernal wildcats. Raphael and the other Archangels gathered around Michael and watched, wide-eyed, occasionally ducking, as the Warrior Goddess grappled with a being they'd all assumed to be all-powerful.

Nevertheless it wasn't going well for Xena. She was going to have to use her final weapon; her hand went to the extra sheath at her side. When she pulled the serpentine blade free Time stopped.

She smiled nastily as whispers shivered through the crowd of angels and archangels. The dagger… the dagger… the Dagger…

"I think they recognize it. Do you?"

He stepped back, reaching blindly for the arm of the throne, as though he suddenly needed the support.

"I'll spell it out for you," she said, "in case you don't." The blade glinted as she twisted it about, admiring the craftsmanship of the wicked curves and jewelled hilt. "It's the Dagger of Helios." She leaned forward, as if to share a confidence. "It can kill gods, you know."

She pointed the tip at the ashen-faced deity. "So here's what we're gonna do. You are gonna give me your word, assuming it's any good, that you will leave Ares and Aphrodite, and my daughter, and my friends, and the rest of mankind, alone. I will take the Dagger and put it in safekeeping.

"Break your word—" she made a motion across her throat, "and I'll be back. And I won't hesitate to use it." She smiled brightly. "Are we agreed?"

Defeated, he made the necessary promise; he returned to his throne and refused to look at her anymore.

Michael slipped over to her side. "Why didn't you—?"

"Kill him? I've killed enough gods, " she replied bitterly.

Eli slumped against the wall, his thumbs pressing into his forehead as tears trickled into his beard. "All this time I believed in him," he muttered. "All this time, I've been misleading my followers..."

Xena 's sharp hearing caught Eli's words; she tucked the Dagger away and rushed to his side. Dropping down, she gave him a hug and stroked his cheek. "Eli, don't say that. You had a beautiful dream, and the belief of your followers can still make it come true."

He looked up at her through blurry eyes.

"Who knows, Eli? Just because you were sold a bridge across the Hellespont doesn't mean there isn't Another out there somewhere over the horizon… Another who is everything you're looking for… After all, stranger things have happened."

There. She'd gotten a wobbly smile from him. She patted his shoulder and prepared to leave. "I have to go, Eli. I have something to do.

"Keep the Faith, okay?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gabrielle sat on a blanket beside Aphrodite, trying to coax her to drink some water. The longer Ares remained incarcerated the weaker his sister became.

A shatterstar of green exploded between them and the circle of fire. Gabrielle could see Argo and her rider galloping toward her as the light faded. The mare ploughed to a halt, little puffs of dust blowing away from her hooves. She reared and pawed the air. Xena's face glowed with an otherworldly light.

"Xena," the words caught in Gabrielle's throat, "you're a goddess."

Xena could see the shock in her friend's eyes. If Gabrielle only knew how amazing it was to fly — no, she dare not think like that.

"It was necessary, Gabrielle." She shrugged, embarrassed, and gave her an apologetic, grin, looking human again. "Bring Aphrodite close to the circle. We're going to have to work quickly." She turned her back on them, held out her hand and confidently summoned her new power. Her fingertips glowed; the flames fizzled and died, and the black poppies shrieked and exploded, leaving bits of themselves to settle on the grass.

Xena flicked the sarcophagus' cover away effortlessly. She lifted Ares tenderly in her arms, put him down on the petal-littered ground and slid her hand inside his vest, stroking the soft hair and smooth muscle of his chest. If she could touch him like this forever…

His heartbeat was erratic. She cradled him and turned his face toward hers.

"Come on, Ares, rise and shine."

He mumbled, half asleep, "Xena? Can't keep your hands off me, can you?"

"In your dreams, Ares," she chuckled softly before turning serious again.

"Gabrielle, bring Aphrodite here. We haven't much time. He's dying."

As soon as Aphrodite knelt beside her Xena interlaced their fingers and spread her other hand over Ares' chest. She closed her eyes and concentrated, until green fire flowed down her arms and coalesced in her fingertips. She strained till the glow dissolved into the gods' bodies and faded, then sat back on her heels, gasping. She withdrew her hands and looked at them curiously.

Ares opened his eyes. "What happened?"

The Goddess of Love was no longer a grey moth but a butterfly in pink silk. She stared at Xena, lips parted. "You gave up your godhood for us."

Xena shrugged. "Just returning a favor."

Her brother struggled to sit up. "You were a goddess? And I didn't see it… " The look of disappointment on his features was so comical Xena almost laughed.

The War God seemed to realize something else. "The fire is out and I'm alive. You healed me."

"That's all I meant to do. Being a god—isn't for me." She glanced at Aphrodite and at the sarcophagus. "You did a good thing, Ares."

He looked embarrassed. "Yeah, well, don't expect it every day."

Xena snorted and touched his shoulder with her fingers. "Why not? If you try, Ares… it's not that hard. Trust me, I know." She bent toward him, letting her lips taste the sweetness of his mouth.

She knew there was much to think on, this newfound depth to her feelings, and no way she could do it with him so close. She had to go, before she revealed too much. She wasn't ready yet.

Reluctantly she stepped back, smiled and turned toward Argo.

"Xena?" Ares called after her, his hand stretched out as if to keep her from going. "About that one in a billion…?" The hope and longing in his voice, his eyes, made her ache for him.

Xena shook her head, resting her hand on the saddle and staring out at the far-off horizon. When she looked back at him her lips twitched. He looked so innocent in that moment, as if none of the evil he could be accused of had ever happened. Could he really be a better person? Again she looked at the charred circle.

She kept her voice low, almost talking to herself. "You know, Ares… I think… maybe… the odds just got a little better."

She swung Argo around and dug her heels in her mare's ribs, cantering away slowly, waiting for Gabrielle to catch up. The Bard, with a quick hug for Aphrodite, ran to her horse and trailed close behind.

Thus it was only the Goddess of Love who saw the silly little grin on the War God's face.

End