"Fallen"By AresbitchDisclaimer: These characters are not mine Summary: A postscript to Sacrifice II. Rated G
~~ "Ares! Come out and face me! Heavy boots across the width of his temple, the tempo of her breathing short, tightly held. She's almost panting. It's been three candle marks since - Three candle marks. "Ares! There is no answer and the slight moaning wind across the outside walls tells her there won't be. He's gone, that stinking, no-good coward. Hand trembling, she makes a deliberate fist, resisting the urge to punch something solid. Instead, she reaches blindly out and curls her fingers around some cloth. Without thinking, she pulls hard and everything offered up for Ares falls from his altar in a clatter of rude noise. It barely registers against the cacophony inside her head, the tight grief in her heart. Orchestrated by Ares. She never thought - "I knew you'd come." His voice is without inflection, no triumph, no false concern. Nothing but an odd sort of numbness she hears in her own voice. Swinging around, she searches for him in the dark interior. Slumped at the base of his throne, one leg bent, the other stretched out in front of him, he's half hidden by the shadows. "Why?" She hisses, unable to say more, trying desperately not to tear her own hair out. What will she tell Gabrielle's parents? Her sister? "Why what, Xena? She closes her eyes, suspicions confirmed. "Why'd you use her, Ares, huh?" She advances on him, aware of the weight of her sword at her back. "Why Gabrielle? He stares balefully at her, and gets to his feet. "What makes you think I had anything to do with Gabrielle's actions? Isn't she the one responsible for her own choices? She holds up a finger. "Don't try to wiggle your way out of this, Ares. You must have done something - I heard you yelling to Gabrielle." Walking closer, she gets right up into his face. "Something about a choice, me or Hope?" She pauses, feeling the puffs of his breath against her forehead, his body heat beating into hers. "What'd you do?" She snarls. He considers her a moment, and she can't quite read what she sees in his eyes. If he were anyone else, a mortal, she'd think the fire she sees raging is righteous anger at her accusations. But he's not anyone else. "I did what I had to do to take Dahak out; I used the only leverage I had against Hope. Her mother. He's Ares. Xena is astonished at the betrayal she feels ripping through her at the confirmation of her worst fears. "You son of a mongrel dog," she moans, closing her eyes and turning to walk away. "I hope you burn in Hades. He grabs her arm, pulls her back. "No, Xena," he replies softly. "You listen to me. They were going to destroy the world, and I had to stop them. You refused to join me, so I had no choice. The only one who could have caught Hope off guard enough to kill her was Gabrielle." He pauses again. "And look. It worked. She wants to go but there's no Gabrielle to go to, no one waiting at the campsite for her to bring dinner to. No one to keep her up at night enacting one of her scrolls. "Xena - Hesitating, he pulls on her arm as he reaches with his free arm to wrap around her back. "Xena," he says, bending close. "The Fates." He hesitates, unsure of the words that had been so easy for him before. "I had a deal - with them. If you killed Hope, you die. I cancelled it. I - It's the only thing I can do. She slumps down, done in by the gentleness in his voice, unable to fight his proximity, the feel of his mouth tracing a wordless apology against her brow. He kneels with her, holds her closer, and in her stupor he becomes the only anchor in a world set suddenly adrift. Three and a half candle marks ago. ~~end~~ |
