Innocence of War
Parts 7 - 9
by Arianwen P.F. Everett
Part 7
"I'm not used to being this so indecisive, Gabrielle. It's frightening," Xena confessed, as Gabrielle continued to massage her sore back. It was rare that Xena opened up, and Gabrielle wasn't going to stop her. "Every time I look at him... It's like, when you look at a baby, you're supposed to see potential, goodness. And I swear I saw that, but then we found that body, and now all I can see..."
"Is his potential for evil," Gabrielle finished, her words a bit close to home. She could still feel Hope's small arms around her neck, hearing her tell of Solon's death, knowing with certainty, when the creature had said his name, that she was holding the heartless murderer of her best friend's son, and yet still her own child.
She shook off the memory, shaking her head, and the action was felt by Xena, who turned around, staring deep into green pools of sadness.
"No. What I see is not his potential, but acts already completed. Horrors I saw, helped commit, which my father helped commit, and his father before him, and even those committed before my family began. But yet I know I can't prevent any of it, and for the greater good, must allow the horrors to happen, make sure they happen," Xena said, her soul trying to find logic in her words, knowing it was there, but unable to pin it down. She hugged Gabrielle tightly, hoping her friend could hear what she was saying.
"I know what you mean," Gabrielle said, guilt bringing tears to her eyes.
Xena took her chin in her hands, staring Gabrielle down. "I wish you didn't. But it is not the same here. For however wonderful Solon was, he was still one person, one life. Ares will destroy millions," Xena explained, hoping to ease her friends suffering and guilt.
"And I, billions," a cold, inhuman voice said, standing at the cave's entrance. The sound sent shivers through Xena and Gabrielle, and Baby Ares started to howl. "That one is a nuisance, isn't he? He just won't seem to die," Hope said, looking at the baby. The swaddled infant started to rise, as if being pulled by the evil force before him. "Those Fates thought they could trick Dahak, but they failed. Your thread is still intact, little one. I intend to cut it,"
Xena felt her instincts take over. She threw her chakram, and somehow, the force holding the baby was snapped, as if it was been cut by the metal ring. Gabrielle leapt out, catching Ares before he hit the floor of the cave.
Hope stepped back, and Xena saw it, enlightenment filling her. "I was protecting him. Is that it Hope? Dahak likes rage. Dahak likes hatred. But those are artificial, human made. Hatred takes a knowledge of the past, while rage takes a capacity to remember past wrongs. I remember all the past wrongs Dahak has done me and Gabrielle, but I wasn't acting on those, was I? That would have only sharpened your abilities. I was acting on instincts to protect a child I have grown attached to. I didn't even think about it. My aggression just happened. What's wrong Hope? Doesn't Dahak appreciate aggression?" Xena asked, her chakram remaining at her side.
Hope's buttons were sufficiently pushed, and electricity ran from her fingertips, towards the Warrior Princess. Xena dodged the attack, dashing behind a boulder. Hope then proceeded to disintegrate the boulder, only this time, the effect took longer.
Xena rushed towards the little demon, knocking her off her feet. Hope stood up, and looked at a smiling Xena. It was then that she realized why the woman was smiling. Her hands refused to push out energy, and she suddenly felt drained.
"Takes a lot of hatred to fuel a kid like you, don't it, a bit more than two mortal women can generate, even if we were trying," Xena stated matter-of-factly. "And Ares, even as an adult, he's still not human. He's older. He feeds on more primal passions. It'd leave a nasty taste in your mouth," Xena surmised.
"He must be sacrificed to Dahak," Hope insisted before, slowly, and with great effort, fading away.
"Well that explained a lot," Gabrielle said, taking a deep, steadying breath.
"At least we now know how we got here?" was all Xena said, her mind working, working out a strategy, against her enemy. "We'll get up early tomorrow morning. If we hurry, we can get to the sacred ground by nightfall. After that, I may now have a plan," Xena said, cryptically, and finally, as she settled back on her bedroll, her mind churning with the possibilities.
Part 8
The sun was barely beginning to rise, as the two women and the baby God left the cave. Xena really hoped tonight had been the last night in a cave. She much preferred sleeping out under the stars, but in this exotic world with creatures like Seeto, a cave, being easier to defend, once cleared of any current occupants, was the most prudent choice.
Plus, not being exposed to the elements was better for a baby. Gods, getting Ares the infant out of her mind was going to be tough. Why couldn't he just be the callous, pompous, no good, jerk that he usually was? Or would become? Or... Xena broke off those thoughts, as time travel had never been her strong suit. Just keep walking. That was good.
As the sun began its decent, two very weary and one very cranky travelers arrived at their destination. It didn't look much different, except for the lack of the road and the temple. Otherwise, Xena knew the landscape well, and she let out a sigh. It was now or never.
"Chronos, Rhea, King and Queen of the Gods! I am Xena, and I wish to speak with you!" Xena shouted. She repeated the same two sentences four more times, and nothing happened.
"Now what?" Gabrielle asked nervously, checking her boot, making sure Xena's breast dagger was still there.
Xena looked at the baby, and seemed torn as to what to do. Baby Ares eyes met hers, and it seemed as if he could read her thoughts, as just then, thunder erupted, and all of a sudden, Chronos, king of the Gods stood before them. "Give me that child," he demanded gruffly.
"Nice to know something gets your attention. Now, we need to get back..."
"Give me the son of Zeus! He has no right to exist!" Chronos hissed in a threatening tone, the sky echoing his mood.
"Sorry, I can't do that. I have a future to protect," Xena replied.
Chronos was not happy, and he raised his mighty hand. Xena tensed, ready for a fight.
Suddenly another light flashed, and an almost identical man stood in front of Xena, as if to shield her. "It's me you want! Leave my son alone!" Zeus shouted at his father.
"I will destroy you both!" Chronos shrieked, grabbing Zeus in a painful grip, his hand glowing.
Realizing what was happening, Xena handed baby Ares over to Gabrielle, and leapt high into the air, her war cry piercing the approaching night. As she landed, she planted a sharp kick to Chronos' midsection. The God stumbled backwards, releasing his weakened son, who fell against the soft earth.
Xena unsheathed her sword, as Chronos charged her. Their blades met, and Xena whispered a prayer to Hephaestus for making her sword. Had it been mere metal, it would have broken in half on contact with the divine blade Chronos wielded. Still, the current King of the Gods had the strength his grandson Hercules would one day possess, and Xena knew that she had to rely on her agility and advanced skill, in order to stay alive. She sacrificed her sword, letting Chronos disarm her, as she leapt again into the air, keeping her distance from the furious God.
Chronos charged again, and she quickly parried his attack. He threw a lightning bolt, and though he set a nearby tree ablaze, Xena managed to avoid the assault.
Xena unclipped her chakram, and threw it, missing the King of the Gods. It ricochet off a boulder, and headed back towards the God who had dodged it in the first place. Chronos knew he'd been set up, and hit the ground to avoid the flying blade. Xena caught it, then landed several kicks to the defending God.
But like an electric eel, Chronos charged his body on the last blow, shocking the Warrior Princess, sending her smashing into the boulder.
Gabrielle dashed to her side, finding her still alive, barely, but unconscious. "Please, don't kill her! Please!" the Bard begged, as she kept trying to wake her unconscious best friend. She placed the baby, down by Xena's side, and stood, shielding the fallen warrior and their charge, holding her staff at the ready.
Chronos sneered, and moved towards the two women. No one noticed the tiny hand, reaching into Gabrielle's boot.
There was a flying flash. Then Chronos felt pain, sharp, breathtaking pain, as he looked down at his stomach, and saw the breast dagger handle that stuck out of him.
He looked at Gabrielle, who was as shocked as he was.
Then he looked at her feet, and the baby boy, whom he realized had killed him. It seemed impossible. He was a God, the King of Gods. Even when he'd dethroned his father Uranos, he hadn't killed him. No God had ever died. A dagger should barely annoy him, and yet he felt the life quickly seeping out of him. He fell to his knees, as his vision began to blur. The last thing he saw was his youngest son Zeus, the woman Warrior's sword in his hands, coming towards him.
Zeus swung the borrowed blade, decapitating Chronos, and thus winning the War of the Titans.
Part 9
It was as if time had stopped, as Gabrielle and Zeus just stared at the headless body of Chronos. Gabrielle looked up at Zeus, then curtsied with respect towards the new King of The Gods. Gabrielle knew it was not all over, but without Chronos, the other Titans would fall within a century, to be condemned to Tartarus for eternity. Right now, Zeus was the most powerful God, thus the king.
Xena awoke to the feeling of a small hand tangled in her hair, yanking happily and heartily. Her whole body felt loose, and her head seemed to spin a bit, as she sat up. She disentangled the baby's hand. "Thanks for the wake up call Ares," she replied, patting his own curly black locks affectionately. She guessed she'd never get him out of her blood, but she had to give him back to his family. At least she knew he'd be okay, even if because of him, humanity would be anything but.
She stood up, picked up the baby Ares, and walked towards Gabrielle and Zeus. Zeus opened his arms, and Xena placed Ares in them. He fussed, looking towards Xena and reaching out a grasping hand. "No Ares, you don't belong with me," Xena said firmly.
Zeus looked at the Warrior Princess closely. She was obviously feeling, very deep feelings right now, and was reluctant to hand over his son, but Zeus suspected an additional meaning behind her words. He chose his words carefully. "My wife, Hera, said that you had told her that you had seen statues of her. And you seem to know my son's name, even though he has yet to receive it, as his naming ceremony was postponed when Chronos last attacked my family's encampment. Who are you?" Zeus asked, trying to be able grasp what was going on. He was usually quicker. Perhaps Chronos had succeeded in doing some serious damage, before his execution.
Xena thought about how to answer. "I am Xena, and this is my friend Gabrielle. We are from the future. Somehow we were sent back to this time. We know it had something to do with the Fates, and we were approaching Chronos in order to get us back, since in this time he is... I mean was the head God. Now you are the King of the Gods, and Hera, your wife is Queen. In the future, mortals will build temples and shrines to you and her... and the rest of your family, including Ares..."
"The God of Massacre," Zeus deducted, looking to the baby with some disgust.
"The God of War," Xena corrected. She felt her hackles rising at the nasty look, Zeus was throwing at his son, whom he now held rigidly. "If you hate him so much, why did you come after him? Why not have let Chronos turn him into a falafel?" Xena asked, not knowing she was going to ask that, till it was past her lips, and she couldn't take it back. The Gods really got her goat sometimes.
"Because he is my son. I have a duty to him, as he has a duty to our family. He is a necessary evil. He draws blood, as he has done here, and he will defend us, from those forces that would seek our own to be spilt. I do not know how, but he has killed a God. He has far exceeded the job he was designed to do," Zeus explained calmly.
Gabrielle was, for once, speechless at Zeus's statement. She almost felt sorry for Ares. And she'd thought him to be callous, uncaring, and insensitive. Seems the apple didn't fall far from the tree. How Hercules could be related to these two...
"Designed? You speak as if he were a chunk of metal fashioned on Hephaestus' anvil; Just a weapon to be used against your enemies and to keep mortals in line!" Xena shouted.
"That is exactly what he is, and I will not argue it further, Woman!" Zeus stated with finality. Zeus handed her back her sword. "Now, I will return you to your own time."
Before Xena could say another word, she and Gabrielle were already on their way back, to the world they knew.
When they arrived in their own time, they stood, just where Xena knew they'd be. Right on the road that eventually led to Amphipolis. But now they had no time for visiting.
Xena knew this was not over. Hope had gone away too easily, still claiming her intent on sacrificing Ares. Whatever it was about him, Dahak wanted it dead, and therefore, despite her own feelings of anger towards the God of War, she knew she had to protect him.
Unlike the Greek Gods, Dahak was not capricious. There had to be a reason why he wanted Ares in particular. Hope had said that the Fates had tried to trick Dahak to save the Ares of the past. She would start with them first.
She turned towards the waiting Gabrielle. "Come on. We're going to see the Fates."
Continue to Part 10
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