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Discovery
By: Aurora
Copyright Disclaimer: All characters that have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess belongs to MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing for this fan fiction.
Subtext: None--what, are you kidding me?
Violence: A little--what do you expect? This is XENA
Sex: None
Rated G
Date Written: August 8-30, 2001
E-mail: axbfeaurora@hotmail.com (Please send me feedback; I want to know what you think!)
Author’s Note/Summery: An unexpected visit on Xena’s birthday causes her to learn some things from her past that had been kept from her for years. Takes place sometime during season six, after “Path of Vengeance.”
In a dark room, candles lighting every crevice of the granite walls, an old woman dressed in a black robe with silver trim was knelt before a gruesome thrown. The thrown was black and silver with sculls on each of the armrests and shiny red jewels adorning the eye sockets.
Upon the thrown, the stunning image of the God of War was seated motionless. His arms rested across the armrests, his eyes staring straight ahead almost lifeless. Briefly, he looked down at the woman before him without moving a muscle.
“You summand me, lord Ares?” The woman said still bowing.
“You may stand.” Ares’ voice was deep and firm.
The woman slowly rose to her feet and stood facing the commanding figure before her.
“You’ve seen something that concerns me, oracle?”
The oracle nods. “Yes, my lord.”
She looked once more at Ares and then turned around and walked over to a stone well filled with crystal clear water. Ares stood up and walked over to the front of her. The oracle touched her right index finger to the water and it began to churn and ripple. She continued to hold her finger in the water and closed her eyes. Ares watched as her facial expression changed, the vision obviously becoming clear to her.
“On the night of the eclipse, the one that occurs once every thousand years, he will come for her. The eclipse happens to be on the day that she came into this world and that is the day that she will die.”
“The eclipse…” Ares said to himself and then he looks at the oracle. “Who is this that will come for her?”
The oracle opened her eyes and looked directly at him. “Mars.”
Ares’ eyes suddenly shifted thoughtfully, the name having returned old memories to him. He looked around the room and then back at the oracle before vanishing from sight in a flash of azure light.
------------------------------------------
The pounding sound of horse hooves against the hard dirt ground echoed through the air. A mighty black warhorse mounted by a middle-aged man with grayish hair, dressed in a suit of stunning silver armor galloped down a grassy hill toward a small farmhouse.
Near the house a little girl about six or seven with hair the color of the midnight sky and eyes as clear and blue as diamonds sat in the grass playing with a little flower. She looked up and saw the warrior coming toward her and her face suddenly lit up with joy. She stood and smiled gleefully as the horse came closer.
The horse galloped up to the little girl and without stopping, the man leaned over and swept her up into his arms and continued on. The little girl sat in the lap of the man on top of the horse and smiled even more.
“Daddy!”
“Hello, sweetie.” He kissed her on the cheek and slowed the horse to a stop. “How’s my little Xena doing today?
She kissed her daddy on the cheek and then hugged him “Just fine, Daddy. Just fine.”
…Xena’s eyes suddenly flashed open and she sat up. The sun had just appeared above the horizon and shafts of sunlight lit up the shadowed forest. Xena exhaled and looked around but did not see Gabrielle or Eve who had been with her the night before.
“Gabrielle? Eve?” The sound of worry fills her voice as she stands and looks around again.
Next to the now dwindling campfire, Xena finds a rolled up scroll. She rushed over to it and read:
Xena,
By the time you read this, Eve and I will be half way to Potidaea. We had some things to take care of and we didn’t want to wake you. Don’t worry, nothing’s wrong. Meet us there tonight. See you soon.
~Gabrielle
Xena sighed and set the scroll on the ground, stood there for a moment in silence thinking and then began to gather up her things.
------------------------------------------
Ares appeared in a temple, a temple obviously to another war god. The walls were covered with all kinds of swords, spears, shields, armor, and other weapons of torture. The temple was long and narrow and at the end stood a huge stone statue of the god to which the temple served. Next to the stature of the god, a smaller stature of a sinister looking wolf stood by his side; it’s teeth showing and its paw up, ready to strike.
In front of the statues was an alter; the remnants of a freshly killed lamb lay on the stone slab. Ares scanned the foreign temple but found no one there. Ares’ facial features soon changed from the once calm expression to one of anger.
“Mars! I demand you show yourself!” Ares exclaimed. There was no answer, only silence. Ares showed annoyance in his face because of Mars’ failure to appear at his request. “Mars!!”
Again, silence. Ares’ anger rose and a huge fireball formed in his hand. He aimed it at the large statue of the god and thrust his arm, the fireball flying toward it. Before it hit, there was a large gust of wind and the fireball swerved in the other direction, hitting the temple wall to the side of Ares. A bright flash of orange light illuminated the entire temple and when it faded, Mars stood in front of Ares.
Ares was somewhat taken back by the striking figure of the other war god, having not seen him in years. He wore an elaborate outfit of gold armor, shin guards, gauntlets, and a gold pointed helmet. In his left hand he held a shining gold shield and in his other he holds a large gold spear. His hair and beard were shoulder length, the color of a deep rich black and his eyes seem to glow with fire.
“What gives you the right to desecrate my temple?” Mars’ voice was dark.
“What gives YOU the right to go after Xena?” Ares returned in a challenging way.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’re still infatuated with her after all these years.”
“What business of it is yours? Besides, Xena didn’t do anything to you.”
“Ah, but her father did. And he’s gone so she’s the one who must pay. I don’t have time for your anger.” Mars began to disappear but was stopped by Ares’ voice.
“Believe me. You don’t want to see me when I’m angry. If you get near her, you’ll be the one to pay.”
Mars glared at him. “Is that a threat?”
“If it sounds like a threat… You figure it out.” He replied mockingly. In a flash of blue light, Ares was gone.
------------------------------------------
Xena was riding through the forest toward Potidaea. The day is sunny and bright.
“Xena…” A mans voice echoed faintly through the forest.
Xena stopped Argo II quickly and looked around in wonder.
“Xena…”
Xena drew her sword, her lip curled slightly in a snarl. “If you don’t want any trouble, you’d better show yourself.”
A few paces in front of her, a man slowly appeared out of thin air. His grayish hair was cropped neatly, the silver armor he wore shined brilliantly in the sunlight. Xena’s eyes widen in surprise when she saw him. A flashback of the man on the warhorse galloping down the hill appeared in Xena’s mind for a split second and then it was gone.
“Who are you?” Xena asked even though she recognized the face; she didn’t want to think he was who she thought he was.
“Xena, don’t you recognize me?” The man said calmly.
Another flashback from Xena’s dream--the man on horseback sweeping up the little Xena into his arms--appeared in her mind.
Xena tried to shake the vision from her mind. “No, you can’t be the man from my dream. Otherwise, you’d be my--”
“Yes, Xena. I’m Atrius, you’re father.”
“Father…” Xena was shocked, her voice barely over a whisper. She dismounted Argo II and held her sword pointing toward him No. No you can’t be my father. Even if Mother hadn’t killed you years ago, you’d have died from old age. This is a trick. How do I know you’re Atrius and not ARES?!”
“Yes, I am dead. But it’s me, Xena, your father, no one else.”
Xena’s features softened a bit and she lowered her sword. “How can you be here if you’re dead?”
Atrius walks up to her. “It’s because of what today is--you’re birthday. There is an eclipse tonight that happens once every thousand years and the powers behind it and the fact that it happens on your birthday, has allowed me to appear to you but for only for this day.”
Xena put her sword away, grabbed Argo II’s reigns and started walking. Atrius walked beside her.
“But WHY did you come? You tired to kill me when I was little and it was Mother who raised me. What could you possibly be hear for?”
“That’s why I’ve come. I know you may not think very highly of me and I caused your mother a lot of pain--”
“AND me.”
“And you but I’ve come here to tell you the truth of what happened and why. It’s your birthday and it’s time you knew.”
“I don’t have time for this.” She said and then looked at Atrius. “It’s nice to see you again, but I’ve got things to do.” She says, passing by him.
“Xena, wait.” Atrius came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulder. “Please let me do this. I came back to see you and make things right between us. Give me a chance.”
There was silence for a moment.
Xena sighs and turns around. “All right. But it’ll have to be on the road.”
Atrius touched her face. “Thank you.”
Xena faintly smiled at him and she continued on her way.
“To understand why things were the way they were back then, you will first have to understand my past. And if it’s any consolation, my father wasn’t around much during my childhood either. My father was Mars, the Roman God of War and my mortal mother, Delana, took care of me during my childhood. Because I was born of a god, I was possessed with superior skills as a warrior and I became a great general of Rome when I grew older.”
Xena looked at him briefly, somewhat surprised. “If you’re a half god, then that would make me--”
“A half god or at least you do have some blood of a god in you. I’ve heard about your ‘many skills’ and it’s because of the godly blood within you that you have so many.”
Xena looked over at Atrius and then looked away while he continued.
“I left Rome and moved to Greece after I fell in love and married Cyrene, your mother. She had already had two sons at the time; Toris who was about 3 years of age and Lyceus who was about a year old, from her previous husband who had been killed in a battle for, like me, he too had been a warrior. It was very hard for your mother to accept that I was a warrior, thinking that I would be killed as well.”
“Did you tell her about your father?”
“No. She never knew that I was half god. But I did know that she sensed that I was different from her last husband, that I was favored by the gods. Soon after your mother and I settled down in Amphipolis, I became a warrior for Greece and I began to worship their local God of War--Ares. And it was then that things really started to get out of hand.”
“What do you mean?” Xena asked.
Atrius sighed. “My father wasn’t happy about the choices I had made and one night while I was making sacrifices to Ares, he came to me.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
It was a dark and stormy night, thunder in the air and lighting striking the ground. Inside a temple to Ares, Atrius was before the alter, bowing his head and holding a newly killed chicken in his hand.
“Oh, Great Ares. I come to you with this sacrifice to honor you and hope that you will give me strength in the upcoming battle ahead. I live to serve you and no one else.”
Ares appeared in front of him, his hand rested so picturesque on his sword. “I appreciate that.”
Atrius stood up in awe, speechless; his face showed that he obviously had never seen in person the god to which he preyed. Ares’ hair was long and curly, his skin tanned.
“Lord Ares.” He placed the chicken on the alter. “I’m at your command.”
“Yes, you most certainly are. I want to commend you on a job well done. You have proven far better than any general I have seen and for that, I am willing to make you part of my legion of warriors. You will fight only to serve me.”
“I would be honored, my lord, to be a part of your army.”
“Good. Here.” A medallion appeared in his hand, one with the symbol of Ares and he handed it to Atrius. “This will show your enemies not to mess with you because you have the God of War backing you up.”
Atrius put it around his neck, tucked it behind his collar and then bowed once more. “You are the only god I will ever serve.”
When he raised his head, Ares was gone. Atrius sighed and then began to leave the temple when there was a bright flash of orange light and his father appeared before him.
“Father?”
“Yes. Do you know what you have done?”
“No. But I’m guessing that you’re going to tell me.”
“You have disgraced my name, my son. You see fit to turn your back on me and worship a god from another land, let alone another WAR god! And you have married our rivals, one of the GREEKS! Have you forgotten you’re not one of them?
“No, I haven’t forgotten, Father. I think you’re the one who’s forgotten. You were never around while I grew up. So I see no reason to worship you. Besides, I AM Greek now. I live here, I have a family here and I have a new god here who shows more respect to me than you ever did.”
Mars was angered by his son’s disobedience. “You will not worship this god any longer. I forbid it. You are my son and you will do as I say.
Atrius walked up to him and looked him straight in the eye. “I stopped being your son the day you left. I will do as I please.” Atrius began to leave the temple. Mars’ anger was beyond compare and fire seemed to appear all around him.
“You will NOT disobey me!” He shouted.
Atrius turned around one last time and looked at his father firmly. “What are you going to do about it?” Atrius left the temple as his father screamed in rage and then disappeared in a gust of fire and smoke.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
“You saw fit to go against your father even though he was a god? Don’t you think that was just a little stupid?”
“My father was mad but I knew he wouldn’t be able to hurt me. After all, whether he liked it or not, I was still his son.”
“You had SOME courage there.” Xena stopped for a moment, rubbed Argo II’s nose and then inhaled. “So I’m guessing Ares is pretty big part of this, isn’t he?” She looked at him.
“Yes.” He stated plainly.
Xena looked away rolling her eyes. “Figures.” She said to herself barley over a whisper.
“You don’t REALLY mean that.” Ares said appearing in front of her. Xena gave him an unimpressed look and he grinned cunningly. “Xena, you talking to yourself there?”
She raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Atrius put a hand on her shoulder and she looked at him. “He can’t see me, Xena. Only you can.”
Xena looked back at Ares, trying to think of something witty to say back at him. “I think you’re imagining things there, Ares.” Xena gave him an annoyed look. “What are you up to?”
Ares was clearly shocked. “Oh, that hurts!” He said with a sarcastic undertone. “Always thinking I’m up to something. No, actually, I’m here to give you this.”
Ares held out his hand in front of her and in a shimmer of blue sparkles, a single black rose appeared in his fingertips.
“Happy birthday.” Ares stated, obviously hiding something behind the causal smile he showed.
Xena took it and then rolled her eyes while Atrius watched curiously for her reaction. “Gee thanks.” She paused for a moment. “Ares, I can see right past this cover up. I want to know why your really here.”
“Can’t I just give you something for your birthday without being thought of as some who is up to something?”
Xena didn’t answer but the glare that she gave him, explained how she felt completely. Ares looked at the ground.
“The past has finally caught up with you, Xena. And tonight your life might change not for the better.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ares walked up nearer to her. “Your life is in danger.”
Xena’s reaction toward him immediately changed. She became serious, knowing that Ares would probably never lie about something life threatening. “From who?”
“Mars.”
Xena’s eyes widened, the name ringing in her ears. “Mars?” She paused, not sure of what she wanted to say next. “What does Mars have against me?”
“You know who he is?” Ares couldn’t understand how she knew.
“Yes. He’s the Roman God of War and…my grandfather.”
“How do you know that? The only one who would have told you was your father and he’s dead.”
“He’s here with me now…as a spirit because of my birthday. He wanted to explain everything.”
Ares chuckled. “So that was who you were talking to?” Xena nodded. “And you tried to convince me I was imagining it. You just love teasing me, don’t you?”
“Xena, if Mars really is after you, then you are in great danger.” Atrius said with concern in his voice and showing in his eyes.
“I know.” Xena replied.
“Know what?” Ares asked.
Xena ignored Ares’ question and stuck with the situation at hand.
“Ares, how did you know about this and why is he supposedly after me? I’m guessing that you are a big part of this whole picture.”
There was silence for a moment. “Many years ago before you were born, Atrius was my greatest warrior. He was strong and smart and he seemed to posses a great skill as a warrior that was unlike any warrior I had ever seen. I appointed him commander of my legions. But it was after he left for war, when things started to change. I was to soon learn about you and that’s when things got tense between Mars and I.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Ares was standing in his largest temple in Greece, located in Thebes. He was watching Atrius through his portal, surveying the battle. The doors to the temple open and one of his priests draped in a garment of black and red came toward him and bowed.
The priest looks up. “My lord, your oracle wishes to speak with you. Shall I send her in?”
Ares waved his hand and the image in the portal disappeared.
“Yes.”
The priest bowed again and left the temple. Moments later, he sent a middle aged woman in a black robe and closed the doors of the temple behind her. The woman bowed before Ares.
“Ah, oracle. What have you come to my temple for?”
The oracle looked up, her dark eyes staring at him. “I’ve had a vision that may concern you, my lord.”
“A vision…of great importance?”
“Yes, my lord.” She nodded and then walked over to a well and dipped her index finger into the water. “When your prized warrior, Atrius, returns home from war, he and his wife will produce a child that will become the greatest warrior the known world has ever seen. It will be a girl, one of which will not only become a warrior beyond compare but she will also have many skills and she will be able to greatly excel in all of them.”
Ares’ eyes seemed to light up when he heard the oracles prophecy.
The oracle continued. “But I should warn you, my lord that if you get involved with this child, there may be consequences that come along with that. Her grandfather may try to destroy her one day but when that will happen is unknown to me.”
“Who is her grandfather?”
“Mars, the Roman God of War.”
“Well, as long as she’s under my guidance, her grandfather won’t ever have a chance to touch her. If he dares, he’ll have me to deal with.”
The oracle lifted her finger out of the water. “That is all my vision has reveled, my lord. Everything else that may happen is only for the fates to decide.”
The oracle bowed once more before exciting the temple. Ares grinned as she left. “I know I’m going to just adore this child. An equal to me in the mortal world. Fascinating.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
“So, you knew about my birth and what I was to become from the start. I was right; you ARE a big part of this.”
“When you were born, I came to Atrius telling him of the prophecy. And I suspected he was pleased to have his daughter follow in his footsteps.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The sound of a baby crying could be heard. Cyrene lay in a bed cradling the little baby in her arms. The child soon quieted down and she began to coo. Her mother smiled with such joy and looked up at her husband.
“It’s a girl, Atrius. A beautiful little girl.”
Cyrene extended her hands and Atrius took her into his arms. He too smiled when he saw his daughter smiling back at him. Her eyes were blue, pure and bright as the sky above and the fuzz of hair that covered her head was clearly black.
“She’s beautiful. She has your eyes.” He took his finger and rubbed the child’s face, her little hand grabbed onto it and she babbled. “What should we call her?”
Cyrene didn’t have to think about it. She knew exactly what she wanted to call her daughter. “Xena. Her name should be Xena. There is no better name.”
“Xena… I like that. “He stroked the babies cheek and she closed her eyes/ “Did you hear that? Your name is Xena. Our precious Xena.”
==========
I was night. Atrius was in the temple of Ares with his daughter. She was fast asleep in his arms, wrapped in a blanket he had his head bowed, deep in prayer to his god. Since it Ares was his patron, he thought it was sutiable that his daughter be there, even though she would not know or understand what was going on. He just wanted her to be a part of his world and Ares was it.
“Do you know the future of your daughter?” Ares appeared in front of Atrius.
Atrius opened his eyes and look at the god before him. “What do you mean, my lord Ares?”
“This child…as told by my oracle, will be a great and powerful warrior one day. She will rise above all others as the most awesome warrior this land and world has ever known.”
Atrius was a little shocked. A female warrior? That was unheard of in Greece at the time and Atrius couldn’t believe that it was his daughter who would become that warrior. Ares walked up to him and extended his arms.
“Let me see the child.”
Atrius did as he was told and carefully handed his daughter to the war god. Ares took her gently. While he held her, it was as if there was a connection between them. He couldn’t explain it. I was like when he touched her, it felt like they were touching souls and it gave Ares a feeling that he had never experienced before.
He looked at the sleeping child, her eyes closed, her little lashes seeming to move as she dreamt. The urge to smile rushed through his body and even thought he physically didn’t, his eyes seemed to glow with a sense of joy for this child; that one day she would become a great warrior in his legions.
“Xena…” That name was powerful and gentle at the same time. He loved the sound and feeling it gave him. He glanced at Atrius. “Tonight, it will be fitting to enter your daughter into my realm. When the moon is high, there will be a ritual ceremony that will make Xena a part of my world. After all, the prophecy has foretold what she is to become and I can think of no better way she is to fulfill that than to make her one with me.” He handed Xena back to her father. “Be back here tonight with her.”
Atrius bowed again. “I will.”
“Good.” He snapped his fingers and he was gone.
==========
When the moon was full and bright, Atrius returned to the temple with Xena. Cyrene was still fast asleep; he hadn’t told her about Ares’ meeting. He didn’t want her to know about the prophecy and besides, she wouldn’t have understood what it meant anyway. When Atrius enters the temple, a blue glow fills the interior. Ares is standing in front of the alter. He walked up and Ares gestured for him to place Xena on the alter. He did so and stepped back.
Ares raised his hand and a blue light encircled Xena. “By the power of the fates and the prophecy, this child, Xena of Amphipolis, is to become one with me in war and much more. She will forever be apart of me even after she is gone.”
The crashing sound of thunder filled the room and the light soon faded. Atrius picked up his daughter.
Ares looks at Atrius. “Now go. Live your lives in the service of your patron. But until she is old enough, she should never know about me or the prophecy. She will be told when I think she’s ready.”
Ares disappeared and Atrius was left in the now dark temple with his daughter.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
“I was yours from the beginning. Why am I not surprised? No wonder you were so intent in getting me back after I had left your service.”
“Xena, you know that war is-was the only thing I lived for. I had an opportunity to possess someone who could match my prowess as a warrior. I couldn’t turn that down.”
“I’m guessing that Mars was very unhappy about having his granddaughter given over to a foreign god.”
Ares chuckled. Oh… ‘Unhappy’ is putting it lightly.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Ares was standing over a large oak table reviewing battle plans and maps. There was a burst of fire to the side of him and a figure in shiny gold armor appeared. Ares turned to see the figure glaring at him with fire in his eyes. Ares was a little stunned, unsure of what to make of the powerful man.
“Ares. You had no right to take what was mine.”
“What was yours? I don’t even know who you are.”
The man stood up straight, almost boastful like. “I am Mars, the great God of War.”
“Oh and I’m supposed to be impressed? Please. Whatever you think I’ve taken, it’s probably better that way.”
Ares turned around and went back to his maps. He was very unimpressed by the other god and already he knew he was not going to like him. Mars’ face grew with anger when Ares turned his back to him. He knew that Ares was not going to be someone he would like.
“Xena--my son’s daughter belongs under my service. I will not allow her to worship under you. She’s far better than that.” Mars sneered.
Ares turned around, anger in his eyes too. “Well, you’re just going to have to live with it. Atrius has chosen me as his god. You’d better not interfere with my plans for her.”
“We’ll see…”
Mars lunged a massive fireball at Ares who countered it with on of his own infamous lightning bolts. Mars tried again but was unable to hit his opponent. A sword appeared in Mars’ had and he charged Ares, swinging violently at him. Ares quickly drew his sword and met Mars’ sword. Sparks of energy and light flew from the swords; the sound of heavy breathing and grunting filled the temple. Finally, Mars backed off and the sword disappeared.
“You should know, Ares, this isn’t over. In time, you WILL regret ever getting on my bad side.” With that, Mars was gone the same way he had come, in a gust of fire.
Ares sighed heavily. “That’s what he thinks.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
“Xena, Mars is very smart. And if he wants you dead, there is no doubt that he will also go after the ones you love.” Atrius said.
“I know. That’s why I have to get going. Potidaea is still a long way off.”
Xena mounted and started off again. Atrius followed alongside Argo II while Ares was left behind.
“Xena…” Ares said, looking back, trying not to sound too weak or sentimental. Xena glanced at him from the back of her horse. “Be careful.”
Xena’s lips curled up into a small smile and nodded and then continued. Ares sighed and then vanished.
------------------------------------------
The eclipse had begun; a red and orange glow filled the sky. Xena rode Argo II while the ghost of her father float beside her.
Xena looked at him. “You still haven’t explained why you tried to kill me that night. If you loved me so much, why would you want me dead?”
Atrius’ face turned somewhat pale; the remembrance of that night brought horrible thoughts to his mind.
“For seven years, you grew up with the love and support of your family. You became a beautiful little girl and I treasured you more than anything. You were my only daughter and unlike your brothers, there was something about you that just lit up my life.”
“Mom told me you were drunk the night you tried to kill me. Is that true?”
Atrius lowered his head. “During my years with your mother, I did have a drinking problem I’ll admit that. Cyrene would always argue with me about going out almost every night with my friends and getting drunk, then being cranky in the morning because of it. But I swear to you; that night, I was not drunk. I hadn’t even had a drink for days before then.”
“Then why did it seem like you were and why did you want to kill me? Obviously, it wasn’t Ares who told you to do it.”
“I never really found out what I did or why until after I died and was shown the events of my life in the Underworld. That night it had been a dark and stormy one and again I was in Ares’ temple, praying.”
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
The rain poured from the sky, the thunder boomed. Atrius was bowed before the alter of Ares’ temple. After several minutes, Atrius suddenly stood up and looked around. His actions made him look as if he were drunk when he staggered out of the temple and toward a barn to the north.
Inside, he grabbed an ax that was sticking out of a log and exited the barn. He headed toward the house and opened the creaky door. When he entered, he went into the bedroom where he found Cyrene above the small bed were Xena slept soundly in.
Cyrene looked up at her husband, drenched from the rain, standing in the doorway with an ax held in his hand. She could see that there was rage in his eyes.
“Atrius, is something wrong?”
He didn’t answer and walked over to the bed. He raised the ax above it and before it had a chance to come down upon the child, Cyrene’s hands flew forward, grabbing the handle, stopping it.
Cyrene gasped. “What are you doing?!”
“She has to go, my dear. She’s to be sacrificed. Ares wishes it so.” Atrius’ voice was low.
“No! You can’t!”
His voice was monotone. “There’s no other way.”
He jerked the ax back, trying to release it from her grip. He gained control of it again and raised it above the bed once more. He came down again but this time, Cyrene pushed it away from the bed, it lodging into Atrius’ own stomach.
Atrius gasped, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He looked down at the ax and then at Cyrene with shock in his eyes.
Tears filled Cyrene’s eyes as she pulled the ax out of his stomach. “I’m sorry… I couldn’t let you kill her.”
His breaths became ragged and he fell to the ground with a thump. Cyrene stood stunned for a moment, looked at the ax and saw the blood on her hands. She dropped the ax and looked over at her still sleeping daughter and then fell to her knees, wailing in grief.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
“Somehow, Mars got into my head, made me act as if I were drunk and made up some story about how Ares wanted you dead. If Mars hadn’t interfered, I would have been there to see you grow up and your mother wouldn’t have been caused so much sorrow, knowing that I died because of her. I don’t blame her; she just wanted to protect you. I would have done the same.”
Xena’s facial features showed the hatred she felt toward the other war god.
“Mars will pay for what he’s done, not only to me but to my family as well. I don’t care what it takes; I will get my revenge.”
“I really doubt that…Xena.” Mars said, snarling appearing from flames before her.
Xena drew her sword.
“Well, we finally meet.”
“And I can’t say how unpleasant this meeting is, Mars.”
“I must say, Xena, I’m surprised you even know who I am. Most mortals know me only by name; you are one of the lucky few who have actually been able to be graced by my presence.”
“And that’s a good thing?”
“I don’t usually show myself to those I plan to kill, but in your case…I’m going to make an exception.”
A ray of light burst from each on of his fingers and swirled around Xena. Some of them flew directly at Xena which she stopped by swinging her sword in front of their path causing them to ricochet in the other direction.
Atrius’ eyes widened in fear for her daughter. “Xena!”
She looked at Atrius quickly and then back at Mars. Some of the other beams of light began to circle around Xena’s hands and feet. Before Xena had time to react, a thick rope that formed from the beams of light tied both her hands and feet.
Mars grinned. “I’m going to enjoy watching you die. It’s almost too easy.”
“But you’ve never dealt with the Warrior Princess before.”
Mars laughed evilly as he began to send fireballs at her. She hopped to avoid the fireballs and as she does so, she slowly used the sword still in her hands to unhook the chakram from her hip.
After much trying, she was able to unhook it and it slide onto her sword. Mars continued to through fireballs. With a swift jerk of her wrists, she fliped the sword upward and the chakram shot up into the air. Xena held out her hands and when the chakram came down, it sliced the rope between her wrists, freeing her hands. Quickly she chopped the rope of her feet with her sword.
“I’m impressed. You are good. But unfortunately not good enough. Don’t forget, I’m still a god.”
Mars made a spear appear in his hand, the end of it flaming with fire. He threw it at her, she did a back flip out of its way and it landed in a tree behind her. The tree engulfed in flames, the other trees around it catching fire as well until the entire section of forest around them was ignited.
The heat was intense; the smoke was thick and heavy. Mars’ patience was running out. A flaming sword materialized in his hand and he charged Xena. They fought, he swung for her side and she hit it with her sword, doing a flip over him.
She turned around and he swung again. This time the sword grazed her arm, singeing the skin. For a second while she realized what happened, he whacked her in the head with the hilt of his sword and she was momentarily stunned. He kicked her legs causing her to fall to the ground landing on her back, the sword falling from her hands. Mars raised the flaming sword above his head.
“Now time to finish the job!” Momentary fear struck her eyes.
“Father!!” Atrius shouted.
The sound of Atrius’ voice stopped Mars. Mars looked around and from behind the flames that now dwindled in the forest, Atrius’ ghost appeared to Mars’ eyes.
“You can’t do this. She’s my daughter.”
“Atrius?” Mars stepped back from Xena and she stood with her sword in her head once more. “I’d thought I’d seen the last of you.”
“I know you were the one who caused me to go crazy that night. You almost cost my daughter her life. Now you’re doing the same.”
“What’s you point, my son?”
“Don’t do this. I know you have better sense than to kill my only daughter.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Because whether you like it or not, she’s still a part of our family.” Xena walked next to Atrius. “It’s not her fault Ares choose her. It just happened that way.” He looks at Xena. “Come on.”
Xena turned around and headed over to Argo II, but Mars wasn’t ready to let it go. He fired a surge of fire at her back but it stopped before it could hit her. Ares appeared and caught it and it disintegrated.
“Your fight is with me, not Xena. You mess with her, you mess with me.” Ares said, appearing.
“Just let it go, Father. Let it go.” Atrius pleaded.
There was a moment of silence. Mars finally huffed in frustration and disappeared, unwilling to continue with a battle he couldn’t win. Xena sighed and looked at Ares. He smiled and then disappeared as well.
Atrius walked up next to Xena. “Well, my time is almost up. The eclipse is almost over.” He looked at the sky and saw that the sun was more than half way uncovered from the blackness. “Mars shouldn’t be coming back anytime soon. I think he wouldn’t be one to fight a battle he could never win. He probably has better things to do.”
Xena nodded her head and put her hand on his shoulder. “Dad…it really is good to see you again. I’m going to miss you.”
He raised his hand to rest on her. “I’ll miss you too. But I’ll never really be gone. I’ll be here” He pointed to her chest. “in your heart. Goodbye, Xena…and happy birthday.”
Atrius stepped back and began to fade.
“Goodbye.” Xena whispered.
In a few moments, Atrius was gone. Xena sighed and mounted Argo II and then galloped off.
------------------------------------------
Xena arrived in Potidaea as the sun set over the horizon. She let Argo II graze outside in front of the house while Xena walked up to the door. She knocked on the door but no one answers. She knocked again but still there was silence. With no response, Xena opened the door into a dark room, with only candles lighting the walls.
“Gabrielle?”
Suddenly, Gabrielle, Eve, Virgil, Lila and Sarah stepped out from another room with smiles on their faces. They walked toward her, Gabrielle carrying a cake. She set the cake on a table.
“Happy birthday, Xena!” They all shouted joyfully.
Xena smiled as Gabrielle came toward her and put an arm around her.
“So this is what you had to leave so early for? There really was no need but…thanks anyway.”
“Come on, Mother. Let’s have some fun.” Eve said.
Eve, Lila, Virgil and Sarah sit down. Xena went to sit down as well with Gabrielle.
“So, Xena, did you have an exciting birthday?” Gabrielle asked.
Xena lowered her head, chuckled, and then looked up. “You have NO idea.”
“That good, huh?” Virgil smiled.
Xena looked at all them. “Let’s just say…it’ll make a great story.”
“I can’t wait to hear it.” Gabrielle smiled.
“Well it all started when I got a visit from a very unexpected member of my family…”
Lila, Eve, Virgil and Gabrielle listened intently while Xena started to tell the tale. On one of the beams of the house, Ares appeared and looked down at the table where they all listened to Xena tell the story.
He smiled. “Happy birthday, Xena.” He just sat there listing to Xena and her friends and family listen to the adventure of her day.
THE END
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