Innocence of War
Parts 14 & 15
by Arianwen P.F. Everett
Disclaimer in Part 1.
Part 14
The ships, now tethered together like a great barge rocked violently. Everyone grabbed onto whatever they could find, as waves seemed to swamp the decks again and again, forcing the sailors and soldiers alike, into the hold. They could do little, but hope that the Britannia ships sent by Dahak would fair far worse being smaller, less sophisticated, and without the support provided by the anchoring of the ships together.
Ares insisted on standing on the deck, watching the carnage of Dahak’s men, sinking beneath the waves. Xena had declined his offer to stay, and was within the hold, huddling together with Gabrielle and Hercules.
Using his powers, Ares was also keeping kept an eye on his brother. He didn't want the upstart mongrel trying to rekindle anything in Xena. He wanted her rough and focused, as she had been on Olympus when she won him his freedom. He wanted her to be his Warrior Princess, and this time Hercules would not get in the way.
As the last of Dahak’s armada fell victim, succumbing to the vast ocean, Ares smiled, then waded across the deck towards the steps that lead to the soppy hold.
As he was about to descend the short staircase, Ares looked out across the makeshift barge, and laughed at the sinking ship his idiot brother's best friend was on. The pirates, warriors, and that Iolaus pest had emerged from their hold, having felt the large piece of driftwood that had rammed them, piercing the keel. Now they were all bailing out water and screaming to the gods to save them.
He fully intended to save the warriors and the pirates, but his brother's little friend would be meeting their uncle Hades soon. Ares smiled evilly, imagining the devastation on Hercules face when he discovers that while he was sitting on his ass down in the hold, his buddy was drowning to death.
Or perhaps he could use this situation to his own advantage. Throw his do-gooder brother off kilter and endear himself to the lovely Xena. He wasn't stupid enough to believe that one act of rescue would make her swoon, but to know that he had done something she deemed good, might be just what he needed to find that chink in her armor of hatred for him, and it was hate she felt for him. He knew that for sure. He felt it in her. It was pure and divine, and it only served to endear him more to her.
With a wave of his hand the crew of the dying vessel were spread out between the remaining twenty odd ships. Two other ships had also taken major damage, and he saved their crews and warrior cargo as well. However, the only person Ares added to this ship was Iolaus. He wanted to make a point.
When the waves had ceased twenty minutes later, and the ocean calmed, Xena, Hercules, and the sailors left the hold. Upon reaching the deck, Hercules let out a sigh of relief to see Iolaus in one piece. Iolaus looked stunned, just sitting on the deck, braced for the seas further fury.
Hercules and Xena rushed to their friend's side.
"Are you okay?" Xena asked first. She looked towards Ares for a moment, thinking he must have done something sinister to the fair haired man, something not obvious. Perhaps something internal. She kneeled down by Iolaus, and started feeling ribs and limbs.
Iolaus pushed her hands away. "I'm fine Xena. Herc, we were going down, and... Ares, what happened to the other, Nebula and..."
"They're all taken care of. They're scattered about the remaining ships. No one on our side was killed," Ares said, rolling his eyes at such a petty concern as a few dozen human lives. He however, turned his attention to Xena to see what type of reaction she was having to his current benevolence. He almost wanted to laugh, as she calmly rose, and began climbing the rope ladder to the lookout. Any mortal would have believed she was back to business as usual and had disregarded contemplating his saving the drowned ships crew and passengers, but not only could he read her mind, but he knew her well enough to know the questions were eating at her and this was just her pride and professionalism surfacing. A good commander always gave the impression that they always knew exactly what was going on and was on top of every contingency. From his perspective, it was quite a show.
He continued to watched her, transfixed to the point that he completely forgot about his half brother and his companion. He saw her brows furrow, and a scowl cross her face. He looked out onto the ocean, and with his superior vision, saw what mortals on deck would have missed. He smiled a wicked smile and felt like a kid who just got away with something naughty.
Hercules noticed his tormenting brother's gaze, and followed it out. He two saw the almost endless army of ships approaching. "Why are they here?" Hercules asked. Ares obviously had this planned.
"Don't worry. They're on our side, brother. Mars made a special request," Ares responded smugly, his eyes still fixed on Xena, who was absently stroking her chakram in a predatory manor. Ares was in ecstasy, with the thoughts running through her head.
Hercules and Iolaus were less thrilled at the sight Xena presented. Even without telepathy, they could see the dangerous bloodlust she was experiencing. It was like facing the warlord once again.
Iolaus leaned in towards Hercules to whisper. "What's wrong with her?"
Hercules pointed to the ships which were now coming over the horizon. "They're Roman, and that flag on the lead ship signifies that she carries their Caesar."
Part 15
Xena jumped down from the lookout, charging Ares. She grabbed him by the neck, ramming him hard into the lookout post. "Why, you deceitful sack of sh..."
"Xena, please," Hercules requested, cringing at the ferocity she displayed. He knew he'd been that way himself many times where his brother was involved, but Xena seemed possessed by this rage.
"Sack of SHIT!" she punctuated. She was way gone now.
"Now, Xena, he brings with him over 16,000 of the most highly-trained soldiers on Earth, all at your disposal. I would think that you could put aside your feud with Caesar for a minute and think of the future of humanity a moment," Ares teased with a straight face.
"My disposal?" Xena asked. This didn't seem right. Caesar would never give up potential glory, or the chance to command his own army from the safety of a tent. And he'd NEVER give a woman command of anything besides cooking his supper.
"Yes, although he doesn't know it yet, Caesar will be sitting this one out. The man is an excellent politician, and on the corpses of his soldiers, he has been successful in expanding his empire. But this is not the kind of battle shear numbers can win. I need a charismatic general who can whip her men's bodies, minds, and souls into a singular purpose. Otherwise Dahak will crush us from the inside out. Under Caesar’s command, those men could easily become Dahak’s. The general of this army has to be able to so fill these men with will and determination
that there is no room for doubt or second guessing within their hearts. As you have already acknowledged, Dahak’s power comes from the human heart. Caesar’s only passion is his own ambitions, and possibly in possessing and destroying you. A good trait in mortal warfare, disastrous in a war between gods, which is why I am turning over his forces to your command," Ares explained.
Xena laughed. "You may be his most favored god, but Caesar will never go for that."
"Let's just say, he has no choice, and he knows it," Ares replied, vanishing away to the lead Roman ship.
Xena wondered what Ares had meant by that, but knew now was not the time to ponder the question. Now she had to reorganize her army. 16,000 additional troops made a big difference. Still, the anticipation of watching a humbled and humiliated Caesar turn over command to her, sent a sadistic chill through her.
After assuring Hercules and Iolaus that she was all right, she called over the ship's captain, ordering him to head for the main port in northern Gaul, and to send the other ships the same order. With three ships down in the waves, they needed to purchase supplies and arms to replace those lost.
Two of the ships that had been sunk had been pirate ships, and Xena tried not to think of how these crews planned to remake their lost homes. She hated to admit it, but she couldn't allow herself to worry about that now. They needed the ships and the crews in this war and they needed them now. She couldn't afford to enforce ethics and morality right now. Part of her didn't want to. That part wanted to keep her forces fully supplied and damn everyone else, and that frightened her. It felt too natural, too easy, to let this happen, but she had no choice. This was war. She'd give them all three hours to restock, and then they were off to Britannia.
This decision made, she headed back down to the hold, to her best friend, and better half. She shut out all doubts, and assigned herself to the job at hand, but still, she needed comfort and assurance that she was not a monster.
Continue on to Part 16
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