Best Friends, Better Enemies, Chapters 22 & 23

Chapter 22

Not long after awakening from her accident, Ara rode back into the village, whipping a storm of dust into the air. Her horse reared angrily at the sudden stop she commanded, but she paid no attention as she leapt to the ground before her assistant.

"Ander! Heat water for a bath and bring it to me immediately."

She threw the horses reins at him as she walked by, unnoticing how tangled they became in the frustrated hands of the man who was trying to get her attention. Finally, just as she was about to disappear into the darkness of her quarters, Ander found the presence of mind to hand the tangled mess to a young guard.

"Goddess! If you please? May I have a word with you?"

Ara froze, furious to the point of murder at not having her orders obeyed instantly. With teeth tightly clenched and blood still trickling down her face, she turned around and asked, "What do you want, little worm?"

Her eyes blazed like the fires of Tartarus, and Ander cowered at the wrath reflected there. In a stuttering voice, he blurted out the words he had been practicing since her departure.

"I..it's the men. They want to know when we're going to attack Ares."

Ander stopped and waited for her reaction, but not one muscle moved in her tense body. Embolden by her reaction, the weaker man continued more confidently.

"They're getting anxious. It's been days since they've seen any action, and they're ready to take on another challenge. We all think now is the time to act."

After the words were out, he instantly wished to recall them as the leashed anger of Ara exploded.

"WE! So now you think YOU can lead this army? Imbecile!"

Ara's hair, loosened from it's confines, flew around her head, whipping from the intensity of her anger as she stormed towards the helpless man, now quaking in fear.

"My men will obey my commands. And if that means they battle not once in months, they shall accept it instantly! I have plots not you, or my army, know anything about! Plots that will conquer the world with their greatness. And my army will benefit from my powers."

Ara stood over the terrified man, who was kneeling at her feet in tears.

"But you, Ander? Never again will you cross me!"

She reached back to draw her sword, prepared to lop off the head of the sniveling coward before her, but something was wrong. As her hand touched the hilt, the grip didn't rest correctly in her hand. The weight was all wrong, and withdrawing it from it's sheath was difficult at the fit was overly tight.

"What in Hades..."

She swore, ripping the sword off her back and tearing the weapon from the leather. In her hand, instead of the jeweled magnificence of her own blade, was a strangers weapon, used but well cared for. But not her own.

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

Ara's voice rose on the air, echoing through the village and into the forests, making everyone who heard it stop dead in their tracks. With blood pounding in her head and a scream still escaping her throat, Ara turned to hurl the offensive object as far away from herself as she could, but an oddly humorous voice made her pause.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you."

Ara turned back around, and standing there in all his glory, was Ares. And he was smirking at her.

"Ares! This is your doing!"

Ara swung the sword around in her hand and charged forward, ready to attack the weaponless god. But Ares was used to such attacks and produced his own sword out of nowhere, jerking it up to block her oncoming blow. The two blades met hard, and Ara's arms actually throbbed from the pain of the connection.

She knew she couldn't defeat him now and wailed loudly at him, "Damn your eyes! Give me back my sword!"

Ares laughingly disengaged his weapon and bowed to the woman with a flourish.

"But my dear, how can I return something I didn't take?"

"You promised, Ares! We agreed that we'd join forces and rule the world together! Now, give me back my sword!"

Ares again smirked at the angered woman and replied, "Tsk, tsk. Actually, I never promised anything. I only let you think I did. And didn't you hear me a moment ago? I told you that I don't have your sword. So how can I give you something I don't possess? Honestly, I'm amazed you haven't asked me where it is. The old Petros would have. Immediately."

The taunt struck sharply, as Ara stopped her hysterics and glared at him fiercely. Through gritted teeth she asked, "Where is my sword?"

"Much better. I was afraid I'd have to treat you like a typical female and smack you to get you to calm down. Now, you've ask where your sword is. And I'll tell you. Tomorrow, at noon on the steps of my temple, you will find your sword waiting. But maybe you should be asking who took it in the first place."

His condescending attitude was wearing on Ara's already stressed nerves, but she played along and asked slowly, her pronunciation sharp and emphatic on the word, "Who?"

Ares leaned close, his breath tickling her ear as he replied with relish, "XENA!"

His laughter mingled with her screams of rage as he disappeared from sight.

Chapter 23

At noon the next day, Xena stood patiently waiting behind the columned entrance to Ares temple. She had grave misgivings the night before about what would happen today, but with the break of sunlight, her worries had disappeared and an amazing calm descended upon her.

What will happen, will happen, she decided, staring out on the scenery peacefully. It was actually quite extraordinary. For the first time in her life, the constantly boiling cauldron of emotions inside her was still. She felt at ease with herself, and knew Gabrielle would celebrate the accomplishment.

Xena's senses were sharp as ever, and the moment Ara's army began their stealthy approach, she knew. Hmm, the whole group. Approaching from both sides. Now, where is Gabrielle? Her quick, tactical mind raced through the probabilities, and was proven moments later to be accurate as she watched her former friend ride directly up the main road, alone, to stop in front of the temple steps.

"She thinks to set up an ambush, Xena."

Ares calm words in her ear didn't startle her, nor did she turn at his approach.

"I know."

"So, what's your plan?" he asked.

"To get my friend back."

Before her words could be carried away on the wind, Xena walked forward to meet her opponent. Her friend. Her enemy.

"Back for more, eh Xena? Couldn't get enough the last time, could you?"

Ara's cruel words, spoken in Gabrielle's dulcet tones, were meant to weaken her opponent, but they had no effect. Xena stood there, silently waiting.

"All right. Let's get this over. Where is my sword?"

Ara asked, and watched as Xena casually withdrew it.

"Right here."

"So what do you want? Name your price."

The psudo-goddess challenged daringly, working the plot she had laid perfectly. Lure Xena into giving the sword back, then while she was weaponless, send in the men for an attack. It was brilliant, she smugly thought to herself. Not even the great Xena will defeat me!

"My price? That's simple." Xena's eyes glittered dangerously.

"I want Gabrielle back, you demon spawn!"

Ara's expression changed from arrogance to disbelief, to anger in seconds.

"NEVER!" she screamed, and threw herself off her horse into a running charge at Xena.

Xena braced her legs and prepared for the assault as she firmly whispered, "So it begins."