The Competition By Lady Leonie This story is a work of complete fanfiction written out of love for the characters Ares and Gabrielle. It is not my wish to infringe on the rights and patents of Studios USA or Renaissance Pictures. Characters Ares/Gabrielle/Evander Rated G (general content) Feedback: ladyleonie@yahoo.com The fading embers cast a pale light on the grieving woman's face as she stared into nothing. Gabrielle had returned home to find her family gone. The 25 years she had been gone weighed heavily on her mind. She had not been here with her parents at their passing and no idea of her sister Lila's whereabouts. She could be dead also, for all she knew. Gabrielle wiped the silent tears that ran down her face and once again looked out the window to see the twin markers where her parents now rested. If only Ares had not taken them to the ice cave a lot of things would be different. Xena's plan would have succeeded successfully, Eve would not have become the monster she had been and Joxer would still be alive. Because of him, she had not been with her family when they needed her the most. "Damn you Ares, Why?" she screamed to the empty room. A hand on her shoulder, brought her out of the chair and into her fighting stance with daggers drawn. Ares stepped back away from the angry bard and held up his hands to stop her assault. "Before you kill me, I would like to know what for!" Almost too upset to speak, Gabrielle lunged forward pointing her sais at his heart. "Why?", she growled angrily, "Because of your meddling I've lost my life, my family and a dear friend! If you had left us on the beach all those years ago things would be so different now. Because of you I wasn't here when my parents died or my sister left. Now I have no one!" "You have me." Ares whispered softly "YOU, I want to kill you for what you have taken from me. Why did you do it? Why did you take us to those damned caves in the first place? Was it so you could feel superior, one last joke on the warrior princess and her witless side-kick. Is that what you thought?" Tears were once again streaming from her jade eyes. "I did it for love! That is the only reason. When I saw you and Xena on the beach, like the rest of Olympus I thought you were both dead. I didn't want the other gods to steal your bodies as some sort of trophy's for their victory. The caves seemed the best place to put you two and I sealed it so no man nor god would ever find it. After all I had put you and Xena through, it was the least I could do. So you see Gabrielle, I did it for love. Love for Xena and for you." Gabrielle stood silently staring at the former god, wondering if she could really believe him. She could almost buy his actions being the result of his feelings for Xena, but love for her as well. That was pushing it. When Gabrielle did not respond to his confession, he decided to change the subject. "Would you like me to show you what happened to your parents?" Ares words did not register at first, since she was still contemplating his previous ones. When it finally sank in what he had said, she lowered her sais and returned to her seat. Frought with emotion, she could simply respond "YES." Summoning what little he had left of his godly powers Are created a window into the past. Gabrielle could see her mother and father sleeping peacefully under the tree outside. Her sister Lila standing over them, crying with her hands filled with flowers. Her parents had lived to old age and dies peacefully asleep in each others arms. The scene was more then Gabrielle could take. She reached for the image as it faded away. Ares placed his hand on top of her head "I'm sorry, I couldn't show you more, but it seems my powers are more far gone then I thought." Gabrielle pushed he hand aside. "What about my sister Lila, where is she now? Is she alive?" "I really don't know, but if you want I can take you to the Fates. Surely they will know." Gabrielle's anger toward Ares had not subsided enough to accept his offer of help. "I don't need you to take me to the Fates. I was there with Xena once. I am sure I can find my way again, without YOUR help!" Gabrielle pushed past Ares to gather her belongings and left for the cave of the Fates. Ares watched her mount her horse, heading in the wrong direction. "You are wrong golden one, you do need my help and I plan to give it. Whether you like it or not!" Gabrielle realized her mistake after nearly and hour of mumbling to herself about Ares gaul. Imagine, offering to help her find her sister. She would know where Lila was if not for him. "I did it for LOVE..baaa.!" She could still not believe that excuse. Gabrielle was still mumbling to herself, but at least now she was going in the right direction. The sounds of another horse finally drew her attention. A young man seated on a beautiful black stallion, was riding toward her. At first she thought it was Ares, but as the man came closer she found she was mistaken. Slowly reaching down, she palmed her sais, until the man was nearly upon her. He was very dark, but not nearly as handsome as Ares. "Stop thinking about that jerk" she said to under her breath. "I hope you aren't referring to me, beauty, since I have not yet earned the title of jerk?" The young man displayed a dazzling smile and Gabrielle found herself suddenly at ease with the stranger. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't talking to you. I was referring to myself." "YOU, a jerk? I can't fathom such nonsense. Why would you think that? I can't imagine such lovely a woman, being called a jerk." "I was just thinking of someone, I had no business thinking about." "Aaah, I see. A lover perhaps?" Gabrielle had a sudden flash of her the kiss she had shared with Ares, when she was with him on Olympus. The young man saw her blush and knew he had hit the proverbial nail on the head. "So, it was a lover you were thinking about. I find myself completely jealous." His disarming manner was infectious, but Gabrielle did not want to give the man a wrong impression. Deciding to move away from the dangerous topic. She asked him where he was headed. "Nowhere really, I'm just wondering around in search of adventure. Might I ask where you are going?" "You might ask, but I'm not so sure I will tell you. My destination is a personal matter and I would rather not discuss it. It was very nice meeting you, but I'm afraid I must be on my way." "Well that hardly seems fair. I answered your inquiry and you decline to answer mine, but I am not offended. In fact I think I will ride with you and discover this mysterious destination for myself." Gabrielle had to stifle a chuckle. Maybe a little company for awhile would not be so bad. He could help her take her mind off of things. At least for a little while. "Well if you insist on following me, I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Gabrielle and you are...?" "Evander at your service, my beauty, but please call me Evan. I hate Evander its so prissy, don't you think" This time Gabrielle did laugh, since there was nothing at all prissy about the man. From the top of his raven locks to the bottom of his well muscled physique. He was definitely all male. Just like Ares. "Cut that out" she thought. "Well now that the introductions are over, shall we ride? I know of a wonderful tavern that we can reach before sundown. They serve a marvelous turtle soup. Last one there buys dinner!" Evan shouted over his shoulder as he raced on ahead. "Turtle soup? By the god's that's disgusting, but it has to be better then squid." Gabrielle found herself laughing easily for the first time in a long while. Kicking her horse into a gallop she quickly caught up with her travelling companion. Ares watched from the nearby trees the entire scene with the young man. It had not been until he had heard the mans name that he had started to worry. His son, Evander. He had not seen him since he was a young boy. Once Hercules had taken over the child's raising, he had not been allowed to intervene. Now the boy was a grown man. A grown man, who was at this moment using his manly charms on Gabrielle. Forgetting his lack of powers Ares tried to transport himself to them. Reality set in quickly. "Well I can only hope none of my warlords see me running like a fool after those two" With his pride in the dust, Ares began sprinting after the duo. On To Part 3 - I Am Not Amused