Innocence of War
Part 10
by Arianwen P.F. Everett
Disclaimer in Part 1.
Authoress's note: sorry for the delay, but I had to get a new keyboard, since my old one busted. This part is short, but sets up part 11, which I promise will be much more interesting.
They traveled for three days, non-stop, and still they were only halfway to the cavern that led to the home of the Fates. At least they had Argo, having retrieved her once returning to the present day, and according to a traveler they had met on the road, they had been returned to the very time in which they had left.
The Fates were not easy to get to. There were traps and rough terrain, but Xena and Gabrielle knew they had to make it.
On the fourth day, as they inched their way up a tedious mountain, they were met by a warrior woman dressed in perfect armor. "Greetings, Xena, Gabrielle, I was told to wait for you," the woman announced.
"Wait a second. You're Athena!" Gabrielle replied in pleasant surprise. She had always wanted to meet the Goddess of Wisdom.
"Great, more Gods," Xena responded dryly.
"Xena, I was sent by Father to assist you in your journey. I am meeting you here, since here is where you must make a detour. The Fates can not help you, as they can not even help themselves. Some demon, calls
himself 'The Deliverer' is holding them within their home," Athena explained. She did not like this Xena. Best give her message then go.
"He's a tough one alright, although not invincible. He can bleed, and he can be defeated," Xena informed the Goddess of Honorable Battles.
"The Fates are not the warriors we are Xena. They were brave in saving my brother's thread and telling the demon it had been snapped by their spinner, but they can not fight back. In addition Ares is not well. Zeus is having to hold him captive on Olympus to keep him from ripping Britannia apart tree by tree, village by village, to get to the followers of this one evil God, Dahak. He's gone more beserk. This thing tried to kill him, and now he doesn't care what he has to destroy, in order to destroy Dahak. My brother has gone truly mad," Athena explained, annoyance crossing her face.
Great, Ares had gone nuts. Well, the first thing to do was to get him rational again. As much as she hated it, if her plan to bring down Dahak was to work, she needed his assistance. "Can you take me to him, Athena? I think I have news that may restore his sanity," Xena explained to the Goddess.
Athena's brows knitted. "What are you planning?" she asked the mortal warrioress. She never trusted anyone who had ever worked for her demented brother. No matter what Xena or even her own half brother Hercules said, once Ares lack, always his lackey.
"That's between me and your brother, Goddess. However, if you're into watching..." Xena winked provocatively at Athena, and the Goddess gave a disgusted snort. His brother was always one with the mortal whores.
"No thank you. However, against my better judgment, and under orders from my father, I will take you to my brother's cell," Athena explained curtly. Then with a flick of her wrist, she and Xena were gone.
Gabrielle just stood there, staring at the spot where Xena had been. "Great, ditched again!" she whispered under her breath. A nearby mountain goat baa'ed back at her in reply.
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