Redemption
By Fewthistle

Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and company belong to Mr. Tapert and friends. No copyright infringement was intended, and as my bank account can attest, no profit was made. The characters of Athena and fellow gods belong to all of us, a legacy of Greco-Roman culture. Although I have adhered somewhat to the portrayal of them in the Xenaverse, I have taken the liberty of returning to them, Athena in particular, some of the better qualities with which they have traditionally been attributed.

Spoilers: This story begins right after the final scene of "Motherhood", the fifth season finale of Xena: Warrior Princess. It is rated R for suggestions/portrayals of same-sex relationships. If this is not your cup of tea or you don't quite reach the clown's hand for this ride, please enjoy yourself somewhere else.

Dedicated to Loretta for aiding and abetting my obsession with a certain wise Goddess.

Chapter One

Aphrodite peered cautiously around one of the marble columns that adorned the Throne Room of Olympus. Other columns lay in splintered ruin across the hard marble floor, inanimate victims of the skirmish that had taken place in this hall in the past hours. Well, perhaps not so much of a skirmish as a final, deadly battle.

Aphrodite herself had been responsible for bringing Xena here to the inaccessible home of the Gods. The thought that perhaps a compromise could be reached that would spare the life of Gabrielle, a woman whom Aphrodite considered a friend, and end once and for all, the slaughter of humans and Gods alike had motivated her to bring Xena and Gabrielle and Eve here. Eve, whose blameless birth had set into motion the terrible events that had left Olympus forever in ruins, and most of Aphrodite's family dead or lost to the four winds.

It hadn't worked. The final outcome had saved Gabrielle and Eve but had left Ares, the mighty God of War, a humble and helpless mortal, and Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, lying dead on the bloodstained floor.

Aphrodite moved slowly across the Hall, the sound of her footsteps echoing mournfully through the cavernous room. Rounding a corner, she came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Artemis' crumpled form, her arrow still clutched in her lifeless hand. Bending over her, Aphrodite could see that all signs of life had fled the Huntress, her bow lying forever stilled at her side. There was obviously nothing that she could do to help her. Swallowing her horror at the sight, Aphrodite stepped past her and continued into the heart of the Throne Room.

Zeus' mighty throne sat on a dais in the center of the room, the carved back framed by the window behind it, stark and solid against the view from high Olympus. In the utter silence of the room, Aphrodite could hear her own breathing, shaking and shallow. Moving around the throne, Aphrodite looked across the marble hall and saw the glimmer of gold, Athena's armor glowing dully in the fading light. The blood from her wound had seeped across the white floor, a dark crimson stain. Xena's sword had missed her heart, instead piercing her abdomen. Moving to Athena's side, Aphrodite stood helplessly over the body of her sister. Of all the Gods, Athena had seemed the most invincible, calmly taking over the throne at the death of their father Zeus. It was almost impossible for Aphrodite to comprehend that the indomitable spirit of her sister was forever extinguished.

Disregarding the blood that stained the hard floor, Aphrodite slowly knelt next to the fallen form of Athena. Gingerly, tenderly reaching out, she laid her hand on Athena's bare shoulder, surprised to find the smooth skin still warm under her fingers. Quickly quashing the feeling of hope that rose up in her, Aphrodite deliberately slid her fingers up to the pulse point in her sister's throat. At first she felt nothing, but pressing her fingers tighter against the soft skin of Athena's throat, Aphrodite felt a faint, almost undetectable fluttering. The shock of the discovery drove the breath from Aphrodite's lungs, as she fell back on her heels, the full impact finally becoming clear in her brain. Athena was still alive, albeit just barely. Instinctively, Aphrodite reached out her hand to cover Athena's wound, her natural squeamishness forgotten for just this moment.

She had watched the battle from the shelter of one of the anterooms, covering her head at times as debris rained down from one of the thunderbolts that Athena had hurled at Xena. She had seen Ares strain against the chains that bound him, externally and internally, and reach out to heal Gabrielle and Eve. In order to heal without Athena's blessing, he had been forced to give up his immortality. It occurred to Aphrodite that, with Athena on the verge of death, it wasn't necessary any longer to gain the Goddess of Wisdom's blessing. Drawing all of her strength and power up inside of her, Aphrodite willed Athena's wound to heal. Closing her eyes tightly, Aphrodite could feel the warmth of the power surging from her fingers into the prone form of her sister.

"Come on. Come on, Sis. Please." She entreated silently, repeating the mantra over and over in her head.

She and Athena had never been close. In fact there were times they had fought, each perceiving weakness in the other. She knew that Athena considered her an airhead, incapable of any thought outside of accessorizing her outfits. She thought of Athena as boring, a prude, too intent on creating a civilization of culture and learning to know how to enjoy life.

None of that mattered now. In the past few weeks, Aphrodite had watched as most of her family fell victim to Xena's sword. Despite their differences, Athena was her sister and Aphrodite was determined to do everything she could to save her.

She could see that her ministrations had stopped the flow of blood from the wound and begun to heal the tissue, but Aphrodite's strength was beginning to fail her. Realizing that she needed help, she called out a name, her voice resounding through the unnatural stillness of Olympus.

"Cupid! Cupid, this is your mother. I need help. Now!"

A sparkling shower of light appeared behind her. Turning her head, Aphrodite saw the winged form of her son standing a few feet away.

"Get over here and help me," she said tersely, the strain evident in her voice.

"What in Tartarus happened here?" Cupid exclaimed, his eyes scanning the ruin of the hall and coming to rest on the bloodstained body of Athena.

"I'll explain later. Right now, get over here and help me," Aphrodite demanded.

"Help you what?"

"Heal her. Gods, why did I have an idiot for a son?"

"Mom, that was way harsh," Cupid responded, a hurt look marring his normally placid face.

"Cupid!" Aphrodite yelled. Drawing in a deep breath, she willed herself to calm down. In a much kinder tone she said gently, "Please, I need your help or she's going to die. I don't know about you, but I have lost enough family members for a small eternity."

Seeing the distressed look in his mother's eyes, Cupid moved to her side, a look of distaste stealing over his expression at the sight of so much blood.

"Are you sure she's still alive? I mean, there's totally too much blood here."

"I'm positive. Now just put your hand over mine and do some serious healing, ok?"

 "Yeah, ok." Cupid replied, the hesitation evident in his voice.

At the touch of her son's hand on hers and the feel of additional power pouring into Athena's wound, Aphrodite could sense that the tissue had really begun to heal. If Athena could just survive the loss of blood, chances were good that she would recover.

After what seemed like an eternity both Aphrodite and Cupid were spent and exhausted. Removing her hand, she could barely see where the wound had been. Cupid moved a few feet away, sprawling unceremoniously on the floor, even the feathers on his wings looking a bit bedraggled.

Aphrodite moved around her sister's still form, gently lifting her head and shoulders across her lap. She could see the slow but steady rise and fall of Athena's breathing, though the goddess had yet to regain consciousness. Leaning back wearily against the cold marble of the outer wall, Aphrodite closed her eyes and fell into a fitful sleep, her arm resting protectively across her sister's chest.

Chapter Two

Athena awoke slowly, her gray eyes gradually opening, taking a few minutes to focus in the half-light of the moon, which filtered into the room through the huge windows. Her first coherent thought was that everything hurt, a profound, throbbing ache that began in the center of her body and spread outwards, fingers of pain grasping and clawing at her every nerve ending. The pain was so intense that it took some minutes for her to comprehend that she was lying on the unbearably hard floor of the Throne room, her upper body cushioned against something soft and fragrant.

Tilting her head back a little, she could make out the face of Aphrodite, her lovely features relaxed in sleep. Athena realized that she was lying across Aphrodite's lap, her sister's arm firm and heavy across her chest. Athena's last clear memory was of Xena's face below her, full of hate and anger, as she drove her sword into her. She remembered the feeling of incredulity as she looked down at the wound, her hand covered with blood. The thought that she, Athena, would fall at the hands of this mortal seemed beyond the scope of her understanding. The final scene that replayed in her mind was of her brother Ares, flippantly explaining why he had betrayed his own sister, thus sealing her fate. After that, all was blackness.

Summoning all of her strength, Athena attempted to push herself upright, but the first miniscule movement sent a merciless shock wave of pain through her body, tearing a low moan from her throat. At the sound of her cry and the slight movement, Aphrodite stirred, looking down at her sister with befuddled eyes, until the events of the past hours returned to her and she remembered why she was sleeping here on the hard floor, her sister's injured body resting against her.

"Hey there. How do you feel?" Aphrodite asked, attempting to keep a light tone to her voice.

"What happened?" Athena whispered, her voice so low that Aphrodite had to bend closer to hear her.

"Do you remember the battle with Xena?" Aphrodite responded gently, not knowing how Athena's mind had been affected by the near death experience.

"I remember her driving her sword into me, and the blood. I remember asking Ares why he had betrayed me, but then nothing after that," she replied, pain heavy in her voice.

"Xena took Gabrielle and Eve and left. I don't know where they've gone. I guess they thought you were, well, dead."

"Ares?"

"He went with them. At least he left when they did. They were all gone when I came out. Artemis is dead. I thought you were too, but then I realized that you were still alive so I tried to heal your wound, but it was pretty nasty, and it really tired me out, so I called Cupid and had him come and help me. He was pretty grossed out by all the blood, but he got over it. I wasn't sure if you were gonna make it. Guess I fell asleep." Aphrodite finished abruptly, realizing that she had been rambling, the sheer emotional turmoil of the day's events catching up with her.

As the realization and full impact of Aphrodite's words sank in, a frown began to mar the perfect skin of Athena's forehead. She struggled for a long time before finally forming the question that was plaguing her.

"Why ?"

"Why what?" Aphrodite answered, looking puzzled.

"Why did you save me?"

"Why wouldn't I save you? You were dying." She had an inkling of where Athena was headed with this, but she waited for her sister to say it.

"Aphrodite. I.... well, honestly, I never even thought you liked me, sister or not. Considering that as the head of the family I have been primarily responsible for everything that has happened, and then the way I treated you about Gabrielle...I guess it just seems like it would have been easier to let me die."

"If the roles were reversed, would you have saved me?"

"Of course." Athena replied without hesitation.

"Why?"

"Because you're my sister."

"Do you really think so little of me that you would find it difficult to believe that I would do the same thing for the same reason?" Aphrodite asked, the hurt glimmering in her blue eyes.

A great many thoughts passed through Athena's mind, foremost the fact that it had been Aphrodite herself who had brought Xena to Olympus. Her sister had always been self-absorbed, thoughtless in her actions, living only in the moment and not considering the consequences of what she did. Yet, Athena also knew that Aphrodite had a kind heart and a generous spirit and that she had quite probably acted out of some misguided good intention rather than out of malice.

Besides, she had saved her, reason notwithstanding. That thought, coupled with the pain that every second coursed through Athena's body and mind, held her tongue. Looking up into the azure blue depths of Aphrodite's eyes and seeing the hurt there, Athena said the only thing she could say. After all there had been enough pain for all of them.

"No, I don't think so little of you at all. You have a kind heart, Sister. I'm just exhausted and I hurt everywhere. I didn't mean to upset you. Please forgive me. Thank you for saving me...truly."

As she watched, Athena saw the doubt slowly fade from her sister's eyes, replaced by concern.

"We should get you off this floor. I just didn't have the strength to do anything but lie down before, but I feel a lot better. I'll get Cupid and we'll take off for my place," Aphrodite stated firmly, "Cupid. CUPID!"

The only response was a loud snore from the form sprawled across the floor not far from them.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes, releasing a deep sigh of annoyance at the lack of response from her offspring. "CUPID!"

"What?" he finally grunted, rolling on his side to look over at his mother and aunt.

"Hey, she's awake. Cool."

Leaping to his feet in one swift movement, he came to stand over them, looking down at Athena with a lopsided grin. "Not looking too bad for the living dead."

"Thanks," Athena replied, the attempt at humor not lost on her. Odd, that of all of her family she should find herself relying on the compassion and help of the two people she had considered to be the least equipped to provide it.

"Let's get out of here. This place is really starting to creep me out," Aphrodite declared, a faint shiver running down her spine as she surveyed the ruin around them and the crimson stain on the floor left by Athena's blood. Reaching her hand up to her son, and gently wrapping her other arm around the still prone figure of Athena, the three dissolved in a sudden, brilliant burst of light.

They materialized in Aphrodite's palace, not far from the Cypriot coast. Without his mother's urging, Cupid picked up Athena with surprising gentleness and laid her on the bed, trying not to further injure her. It took all of Athena's will power not to cry out in pain when Cupid lifted her off the floor, and she thought for a moment she would black out again. Never in all of her long existence had Athena experienced physical pain and the depths of it shook her to her very core.

"Here, drink this," Aphrodite urged, coming over to perch on the edge of the bed, holding a cup filled with nectar. Slipping her hand under Athena's neck, she held the cup to her lips, holding it patiently as Athena slowly attempted to swallow some of the life giving liquid.

"Try and rest now, all right? You'll feel better tomorrow. I'll send Cupid to bring Apollo here with his medicine man and we'll get you fixed right up, ok?" Aphrodite said optimistically. Without asking permission, she reached up to remove the helmet from Athena's head, placing it on the table nearby.

Minus the helmet and the armor that she helped Athena to remove, her sister looked far more approachable, far less formidable. Without thinking Aphrodite smoothed back the hair from Athena's forehead. The gesture surprised both of them, gray eyes meeting blue in a look of mutual astonishment, a look that quickly slid into recognition, recognition that despite their differences, they were family and there would always be a sense of shared history and even affection.

"Thank you, for everything," Athena said softly, unwilling to break the atmosphere of familial closeness that pervaded the room. There would be time to discuss what had happened, to lay blame, to plan an increasingly uncertain future. For now, all Athena could think about was sleep, her only escape from the pain that seemed her permanent companion.

Watching as Athena's gray eyes slid closed, Aphrodite rose from the edge of the bed, pulling up the spread of pink silk to tuck around her sister's now sleeping form. As she stood, waves of exhaustion rolled over her. Turning to speak to Cupid, she saw that he had already fallen asleep on the lounge, his wings white against the dark rose background. Pushing aside all thoughts of what tomorrow would bring, of whether Athena would continue her vendetta against Xena and her daughter, Aphrodite lowered herself slowly onto her own bed, sleep overcoming her before her head reached the pillow.

Chapter Three

Athena sat quietly on the balcony of Aphrodite's palace, gazing out over the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean. Even from a distance, she could see the waves dancing with the light south wind that ghosted over the surface of the water, the blue and white of the ocean mingling with the gold of Apollo's sun and the verdant green of the coastline, a trinity of air and earth and sea. The sun was warm upon her skin, soft and comforting.

Strange to find it so, she thought, since her brother Apollo, the Sun God had refused to come to Aphrodite's palace. Cupid had been sent to bring him, along with the great healer, the Centaur Chiron, to tend to Athena's wound. He had refused to come, Aphrodite had told her, because he was too distraught at the death of his twin, Artemis. However, Athena had overheard Cupid telling his mother the real reason for Apollo's refusal.

"He said he wouldn't come. Said he was too bummed about Artemis," Cupid stated, the hesitation in his voice making it clear that there was more to it than simple grief.

"No way is that all there is to it," his mother replied, crossing her arms across her chest and looking at him intently, " Come on, spill it. What's the deal?"

"He was just too out there. He said you should have let her die. He started raving about this all being her fault and that she was going to end up getting us all killed. You know he can get a little weirded out."

The words lingered in Athena's mind, clanging back and forth like marbles in a steel drum and left her disconsolate and edgy. Rising cautiously, she crossed the short distance to the edge of the balcony, leaning heavily against the parapet, contemplating the surf that crashed violently against the rocks below.

The spray rose up into the air, the mist carrying to her the scent of the sea. The imperturbable sea, that showed not a hint of regret that its master, Poseidon, would never again calm the waters with the touch of a mighty hand, or stir the ocean into turmoil and tumult, as easily as an old fisher-woman stirred her pot of stew.

Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back so that the sun glowed warmly on her exquisite face. Feeling the radiance of the light against her skin, Athena wondered idly, if Spring would return this year. Persephone now ruled the Underworld alone. When Hades was alive, she had been able to return yearly to her mother, Demeter's side, bringing with her the warmth and new life of Spring. Flowers bloomed where she walked and the Earth awoke from its long slumber. Would these humans notice, Athena brooded, that winter's tenure grew to last the whole year through?

How had it all come to this? Somewhere out there, across this crystalline ocean, lay Athens, the brilliant jewel in the crown of Greece, a city of learning and culture, of government and knowledge. Her city, named in her honor, where the most splendid temple in all the world rose high on a hill, an affirmation of her gifts to man and a tribute to her glory. She had dreamt of creating a civilization, humane and honorable. How had the birth of one child brought all of that low?

The death of Zeus at the hand of Hercules had shaken her to the core. She had been genuinely fond of her father and his passing had left a void that she found impossible to ignore. The realization that Xena's child could mean the death of the rest of her family had begun to grow in Athena's mind, an ominous and cancerous seed.

With her father's passing Athena had taken over the throne. Her brother Ares felt that, by right, it belonged to him, but deep in his heart Ares was afraid of her. His fear made the point moot as far as Athena was concerned. The ruler of Olympus must fear no one. Thus the duty of preserving the family had fallen to her and had, as the Fates had decreed, led her down the road to Amphipolis and finally, to here. She had lost not only the battle, but the war as well, and the list of the fallen was more that she could bear right now.

The anguish that cleaved open her heart was worse by leagues than the severe pain of her wound. Part of her mind registered such a hatred and a need for vengeance against Xena and her family for the destruction of her own family. She may have been defeated this once, but she was the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, the favored child of Zeus and she would exact her revenge, hollow though it might be.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of her sister. Aphrodite had been in constant attendance on her since they had returned to her palace three days ago, making sure she didn't overexert herself until the wound Xena had inflicted had fully healed.

"Athena?" Aphrodite called, concern laced around the edges of her voice.

Turning slowly, she saw her sister standing in the doorway that led out to the balcony, a slight frown etched onto her lovely face.

"Whatcha doing out here? I mean, you're not going stay out here all day being all moody or broody or something, are you? Cause, if you are, I have just the solution to make you feel better," Aphrodite said confidently.

"Hmm. What exactly would that be, Sister?" Athena replied, wishing the moment that the words left her lips that she could somehow take them back.

 "What I do whenever I feel lousy, which isn't often, cause I don't really, usually, have all that much to feel lousy about, except of course, you know, these days," Aphrodite's voice trailed off for a moment as both sisters contemplated their fractured present.

" But, anyway, what really makes me feel better is a nice hot, steamy bubble bath, followed by a manicure, pedicure, and intense massage, usually by an incredibly well- built hunk, but, in your case I'm sure we could find some really gorgeous maiden type."

"I see. You know, I'm not sure that.."

"Wait," Aphrodite interrupted, her voice rising slightly, " I wasn't finished. Then, I pick out this really rad outfit, you know, really hot, and then just looking at myself in the mirror makes me feel so good. Honest."

Maintaining a reasonably blank expression took all of Athena's dwindling will power. Scanning through all the reasons that she didn't think Aphrodite's well-intentioned plan would work, Athena tried to pick the one that would be least likely to hurt her sister's feelings. After all that Aphrodite had done for her, it seemed only right that Athena make a concerted effort not to be condescending or hurtful. At times like these though, that seemed an unattainable goal.

Blessedly it appeared that small miracles happened even for gods, as the figure of Cupid materialized suddenly on the balcony between them, saving Athena from having to respond to Aphrodite's suggestion. Athena made a mental note to reward the young god at some point for once again saving her, though this time perhaps from a fate worse than dying.

"Hey Mom, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind watching my little demon spawn for a few hours while Psyche and I have a little down time. I mean, what with recent events we haven't had any time to ourselves lately and the little missus is starting to bitch and moan, and not in a good way," Cupid asked, a slightly wheedling tone in his voice.

"You know I can't leave your Aunt alone. Besides, I was just about to show her my sure-fire method to get rid of the blues," Aphrodite replied.

Athena wasn't the Goddess of Wisdom for nothing and wasn't about to miss this prime opportunity to get out of Aphrodite's beauty treatment and have a few blessed moments alone. She hadn't really had any time alone in the last three days, with Aphrodite always hovering nearby, intent on trying to heal the wound that had lacerated Athena's soul as well as her body, though her methods did little to ease her sister's pain.

"Please, don't worry about me. I'll be fine, really. Go and take care of Bliss. I know you must have missed him, and it's unfair of me to keep you here for selfish reasons. I swear to you, I will be all right. I'll just go and lay down for a while. My wound is still paining me and the only cure now is time and rest. Go, Sis," she implored, hoping that the eagerness she felt to have a few hours alone didn't show too strongly on her face.

"Really? I mean, you're sure?" Aphrodite questioned.

"Positive," Athena replied evenly.

"OK, but if you need anything, anything at all, you promise you'll call me?"

"I promise," Athena responded, this time very sincerely.

In a swirl of light and color her sister and nephew disappeared, leaving Athena alone in the echoing emptiness of the palace. She felt waves of relief wash over her at the feeling of release. Although she was grateful to her sister for saving her and for her continued concern, her presence and her faux cheerfulness had begun to grate on Athena's already jangled nerves. There was too much to think about, too many decisions to be made that required silence and contemplation. With her wound still not fully healed, Aphrodite had been adamant about Athena staying put in the palace. The sentence hadn't set well with Athena, but she had agreed to it out of a sense of gratitude.

Turning back towards the vivid blue sea, she lowered herself carefully onto the chaise lounge, drawing the light blanket Aphrodite had brought her across her legs. Though the sun was warm, the breeze blowing in off the water was damp and wintry. Leaning back and closing her eyes again, Athena let the silence envelop her, the only sounds now the crash of the waves and the distant cries of the gulls. Finally able to hear her own thoughts without the constant interruption of Aphrodite's chatter, she began to reflect on what was for her, for the very first time, an unsettled future.

Chapter Four

"Xena, you do know that sending Ares out to find us something for supper may not have been the best idea, don't you?" Gabrielle stated matter-of-factly, looking up from the stew she had simmering on the open campfire.

"I know," Xena replied resignedly, " But he's going to have to learn to fend for himself sometime. I certainly don't plan on him staying with us for the rest of our lives."

"Besides," she continued," At least out here the worst he can run into is a wild boar or two, and I guarantee a boar would do less damage to him then those two traders whose dinner he tried to steal."

Laughing, Gabrielle had to agree. The past week had been a hard adjustment for all of them. For Xena and Gabrielle, the whole concept of a full-grown Eve was still difficult to accept. After all of the horror and trauma that had occurred in trying to save Eve from Athena's wrath, the transition into any kind of normal life was complicated. Throw into the mix a suddenly mortal God of War and things that had seemed clear and simple had become complex and convoluted. After all, Ares had given up his immortality to save Gabrielle and Eve and had done so out of professed love for Xena. It had all the makings of a tension fraught situation. Added to it was the fact that Ares had absolutely no idea of how to be mortal.

His first experience in mortality had ended in a black eye, broken nose and various and sundry cuts and bruises, courtesy of two traders who had failed to pay the proper respect to the now powerless god. In many ways Ares was as incapable of protecting himself as Eve, who had been reborn into innocence through the power of Eli's God.

"So what do you think he'll catch? Rabbit? Or you know, maybe he can fish. I mean how much harm can he do fishing?" Gabrielle asked Xena, laughter lighting her green eyes as she gazed across the fire at her companion.

"Somehow, I doubt that he knows how to swim," Xena chuckled, "It doesn't strike me as being on the list of things that the God of War needs to know how to do."

"Xena, how long is he going to travel with us? Don't get me wrong, I am eternally grateful to him for what he did, but I just don't trust him. There's too much history, too much bad blood for me to believe that he has suddenly changed."

"Don't worry, Gabrielle. I promise, I'll handle Ares."

Xena stared into the fire, her striking blue eyes appearing to dance with the flames of the fire that were reflected in their depths. She still hadn't quite decided how to handle Ares. He had saved the two people she loved more than any in the world and for that she would always be grateful to him. But she was never going to feel for him what he so obviously wanted her to feel. Xena simply didn't know how to make him see that she would never be what he desired.

Gazing across the fire at Gabrielle, and glancing past her to see Eve sleeping peacefully on the bedroll a few feet away, Xena felt a little of the tension ease from her shoulders. Her family was safe at last and Xena was determined that nothing would ever threaten them again.

The arrow arched through the twilight air, the last of the late winter's sun reflecting off the shaft. Its erratic flight sent it hurtling somewhat unsteadily toward the pheasant that joined it in the cerulean sky. The arrow missed its mark, falling harmlessly to the ground as the pheasant glided unmolested into the edge of the trees.

"Damn!" Ares swore, an angry throw sending the bow spinning away into the underbrush.

This was the fifth time he had attempted to shoot this same pheasant, following it for what seemed like leagues through the surrounding fields and forest. The knowledge that the bird was blessed with a brain the size of a pea, and so continued to allow Ares to hunt it did little to improve his mood. Archery had never really been his strong point, requiring a little too much finesse for the normally brutish God of War. Adding to his problem was a left eye that was blackened and swollen, a reminder that he was no longer immortal.

His dispute with the traders last night had left his body and ego considerably battered and bruised. Word of his fall from grace had spread quickly. Thinking that he had found an easy method to procure dinner for Xena and Gabrielle and Eve, he had demanded tribute from two inebriated men at the tavern, never guessing that they would challenge the God of War. If Xena and Gabrielle had not arrived when they had, he might have suffered far worse than the minor cuts and bruises he incurred.

His considerable ego at stake, he was determined not to return to the camp empty-handed to face the amusement and pity in their eyes. Steeling himself for one last attempt, Ares began to search through the underbrush for the bow. It had carried much further than he had thought but he finally located it near the edge of the tree-line. Inserting a new arrow into the bow, he was pleased to find the hapless pheasant searching the ground for food not far away. A loud yell sent the bird airborne, rising slowly into the fading sunlight. Pulling back the arrow, he let it fly, hoping that this time his aim would be true.

With a slight cry the bird hung for an instant in mid-flight, impaled on the arrow, and then, without a sound fell to the earth. Ares gave a grunt of satisfaction, moving quickly to the fallen bird. Picking it up, he examined it, noting that it was a large specimen. A self-satisfied smirk appearing on his face, Ares swiftly pushed the arrow through the pheasant. Glancing down at the arrow, he felt a chill pass over him. The icy hand of fear reached in and wrapped its skeletal digits around his heart. The arrow wasn't the plain-headed one he had shot. This arrow was engraved with the head of Medusa, Athena's coat of arms.

Ares had begun to spin around, his breath coming hard in his throat when the voice reached his ears, a voice he knew as well as his own.

"Hello, Brother."

Ares stood motionless, his skin pale beneath the bruises that stood out even more sharply in contrast to his pallor.

"What's the matter, Ares? You look like you've seen a ghost," Athena said softly, just the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Sis," he breathed finally, willing himself to smile feelingly, eyes misting with sincerity, "You're alive! Thank the Fates! I have been so tormented, so guilt ridden at what I did to you, to my own sister. I've barely been able to live with myself."

He moved forward, arms spread open as if to embrace her, but as he came within a few feet of his sister, he saw a glint of something terrifying in her pale gray eyes that drew him up short.

"Spare me the melodrama, Ares. Though I must say, that was well done. I always thought you would have made the perfect Patron God of the Theatre. But then, now that you're mortal it doesn't really matter, now does it?" Athena replied evenly, just a hint of menace in the after tones of her voice.

"Look, Sis, let me explain why I did what I did..."

"You're referring to betraying me and then leaving me to die?" She asked innocently, her beautiful face void of all expression.

"I wasn't going to put it quite like that, but, yeah," he said, quickly attempting to move the conversation back to his own version of the events.

"It's not necessary, Brother. Don't you remember? You told me, right before you left me bleeding on the cold floor of Olympus, that you betrayed your own blood and doomed your entire family to death and oblivion because you had a "thing" for her," Athena said softly, an unsettling light shining ever brighter in her eyes.

Ares stood quietly for a moment, regarding his sister with an uneasy feeling. Athena had always disturbed him, leaving him feeling unbalanced and unsure of himself. He, as well as the rest of the gods, had always known that Athena was Zeus' favorite. Since the moment of her birth, rising full grown and armed from her father's forehead, she had been groomed by Zeus to rule Olympus one day. She was the only other god capable of hurling the mighty thunderbolts, and Zeus had given her his shield to wear, the invincible Aegis, adorned with the frightful head of Medusa. It had ceaselessly rankled him that his sister was better at everything, more than capable of defeating even the God of War in battle.

Attempting a different tactic, he finally asked the question that had been bothering him since he first saw her arrow.

"So. How exactly did you survive? I mean, it looked to me like Xena had finished you off pretty nicely," he needled.

Athena however failed to rise to the bait, her voice unruffled as she replied.

"Aphrodite saved me. She found me, slowly bleeding to death, and healed me. A truly 'sisterly' thing to do, wouldn't you agree, Brother?"

"She gave up her immortality to save you?" he asked incredulously, "Aphrodite? Who doesn't do anything that might break a nail or get her hands dirty? She healed you?"

"Ah, but you see Ares, I was dying. And since it was my permission you had to have in order to heal, she had to give up nothing. Besides, if she had forfeited it to save me, of course I would have returned it to her out of familial love and gratitude."

The mention of returning immortality hit its mark as Athena had intended. She could see the wheels turning in her brother's head, as he attempted to figure out a way to win back his own immortality.

"Feeling a little regret are we, Brother? After all, that was quite a sacrifice to make. Especially for someone who will never love you," she said, sympathy written across her lovely face, "But, I suppose that if you really and truly love someone, their happiness is all that matters, isn't it Ares?"

Not waiting for a response she continued on, her voice soft, the sincerity belied only by the mocking light that glowed from her gray eyes.

"I mean, it's pretty obvious that she'll never love anyone but Gabrielle. How noble of you to save the woman she loves and their child. Of course, now that she no longer requires your help, not that you would be able to do much in your current state, I can't imagine that they would want you tagging along like a lost puppy for the rest of your lives. And your life does have an end in sight, my dear brother."

Ares listened to her taunting, anger building ever higher inside him. Her final words released a spring within him and with a cry of rage he drew his sword, flying at her across the short distance of the field. With two swift movements from Athena, Ares' sword lay on the ground, the piercing tip of her blade pressed tightly against the soft skin of his throat.

"Go ahead. Do it. What are you waiting for?" he spat at her, hatred clear in his eyes.

"Oh, no. That would be too easy. And far more than you deserve, Brother. A quick and painless death? No. You deserve to live Ares. You deserve to live a long, dull, monotonous, strife-ridden and ultimately painful life. A mortal life. I would never take that away from you," Athena imparted, the barest gleam of white teeth showing against full lips.

Ares growled low in his throat, starting to lunge at her again, but was brought up short by the tip of her sword as it pierced the skin of his throat, just breaking the surface, blood welling up and running in a slow rivulet down his neck.

After a moment, Ares moved back, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"You win, Sis. I don't suppose you would be interested in a deal would you?"

"Hmm. What did you have in mind?"

"I could deliver Eve to you. After all, they trust me now. It wouldn't be hard. Besides, as far as Xena and Gabrielle know, you're dead, so there's nothing to worry about."

"And what would you get in return for this, Brother?" Athena questioned, already sure of the answer.

"You just arrange for me to get hold of a little ambrosia and everybody's happy. You have the little bitch you've been trying to kill and I'm a god again. Sounds like a fair deal all around."

"What about your beloved Xena? I thought you were willing to sacrifice anything for her?"

"You said yourself that she'll never really love me. So why shouldn't I regain what's rightfully mine?"

"You know Ares, as much as I loath you for your betrayal, a small part of me has felt just a touch of admiration at your willingness to truly sacrifice yourself for purely unselfish reasons. For the first time in your long, worthless existence, you actually did something for someone else, with little thought of reward. Don't ruin it now by reverting to your usual calculating, manipulative, treacherous self."

"Are you turning me down? Turning down the chance to finish Eve once and for all and wreak a little god-like vengeance on Xena for slaughtering most of our family?" Ares urged, a tone of disbelief in his voice.

"Yes, I am. The price is too high I'm afraid. Sorry, Bro, but you seem to have miscalculated how much I want Eve dead. That price tag is entirely too steep for me," she answered.

Ares stared at her in complete amazement, unable to fully grasp what she had said. Athena had been obsessed with Eve's death for so long and now that he was offering to serve her up on a silver platter, she was turning him down?

"You'd give up the chance to make Xena and her brat pay for what they did to us just to punish me? Do you really think that Hades and Poseidon and Artemis would think that was the way to avenge their deaths?"

The words had barely left his lips when he felt his sister's hand close tightly around his neck, decisively cutting off the flow of air to his lungs. His hands reached up to claw at hers, but to no avail.

"Don't you ever dare to talk to me about what our family deserves or how they should be avenged. You betrayed us all and left me to die for Xena and her little brat. As far as I am concerned Ares, you can spend the rest of your miserable days with your new family. You forfeited your old one," Athena hissed at him, in a tone that could shatter ice to splinters.

She released him so abruptly that he stumbled backwards, falling heavily to the ground. Grasping at his throat he struggled to breathe. He looked up in time to see Athena disappear in a shimmer of brilliant light, an effulgent glow against the now darkening sky.

Chapter Five

In the fading light of the sun, the Throne room of Olympus looked barren and stark. Nothing had been touched since that final, fatal confrontation and the room was still littered with debris, columns lying in broken pieces all across the marble floor. In the middle of the room, directly across from Zeus' mighty throne, a dark stain covered the floor, a deep crimson mark, fading slowly to brown.

Apollo had been and collected the body of his twin, Artemis. He had taken her to be buried in the beautiful glade at the edge of the Amazon's favored hunting ground. He had left behind the arrow she had held clutched in her lifeless hand. Bending solemnly, Athena picked the arrow up, turning it slowly in her hand, memories of the Huntress flooding through her mind. Gripping the arrow tightly, she turned to survey the hall behind her.

Athena walked deliberately across the room, avoiding the discoloration on the floor. The whole place seemed filled with ghosts. If she closed her eyes she could hear the soon to be forgotten voices of her family. Zeus' booming baritone, arguing with his brother Hades, more soft spoken but still firm in his opinions. Artemis, never a great one for words, but honest and loyal, content to spend all her days in the company of her maidens and the hounds, ever ready for the hunt.

She paced restlessly, moving from room to room in search of something she couldn't name. Somehow she had expected her encounter with Ares to leave her feeling energized and revitalized, ready to carry out the vengeance that her family deserved. Yet, she had left him feeling dissatisfied, the emptiness that had been gnawing at her since she awoke in Aphrodite's palace growing instead of dissipating. Athena had anticipated being overwhelmed with emotions, with anger and grief and bitterness. What she felt was nothing. It seemed as if Xena's sword had left a hollow space in place of her heart and soul.

After so long, after so much had been sacrificed to see to it that Xena's child died, thus ending the prophecy, Athena had been given the very real chance to kill her, to avenge the deaths of her own family. Even at the price of returning Ares' immortality it should have been a bargain. Yet she couldn't accept. For some reason it seemed that Ares' sin had been far worse than the crime Xena had committed of blindly protecting her daughter.

Brushing her hand across her eyes, Athena realized how exhausted she was, the encounter with Ares straining her already low resources. She had been gone for hours now, and Aphrodite was sure to worry if she returned and found her gone.

At the thought of her sister, a flash of light appeared and Athena made out the figure of Aphrodite in the growing darkness of the room.

"I thought I might find you here. I got back and you were gone and then I figured, well, ok she needs some time but then you didn't show and I got worried so I came looking for you. You ok?" Aphrodite finished all in one breath.

Smiling at her sister's rambling, Athena walked over to stand beside her.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired. I wanted to pay my respects, I guess. But there seem to be too many ghosts, too many memories right now."

"Let's get out of here. Like I said before, this place really creeps me out."

"Agreed."

"What's that?" Aphrodite asked, gesturing toward Athena's hand, partially in shadow in the darkened room.

Raising her hand slowly, she showed her sister the arrow, its shaft a dull bronze in the murky light. Neither sister spoke for a long moment, each lost in her own thoughts. Glancing at Aphrodite, Athena could see the sadness in her eyes, her bottom lip caught between even white teeth. Odd, she thought, that though none of the three daughters of Zeus had ever been very close, the death of Artemis seemed the hardest to bear for both she and Aphrodite.

"Let's go. I think we could both use a change of scenery," Athena said gently, reaching over unconsciously to take her sister's hand.

At the touch of Athena's hand in her own, Aphrodite quickly looked up, searching those pale gray eyes. All she saw was compassion and genuine affection. A fond smile slowly crept across her face, as the remaining daughters of Zeus dispersed in a dazzling burst of light.

Night was just settling in, ushering the last small rays of the sun's light to bed, like wayward, recalcitrant children who refused to admit that their playtime had ended. The sky along the horizon of the ocean still held a few strands of pink, weaving in and out of the deepening blue, in an intricate pattern of color and light. Gazing heavenward, a rich sapphire canopy spread itself across the sky, with Orion and the Pleaides, the Bear and her cub all beginning to appear, ever growing points of light against the Cimmerian firmament.

Wrapped in a long white cloak against the now brisk night air, Athena lay back on the chaise lounge on Aphrodite's balcony, listening to the surf and to the sound of the insects and birds of the night as they began rehearsal for their nocturnal performance. Glancing over, she could see her sister's profile against the light thrown out from the lamps in the room behind them. Aphrodite lay on the matching lounge, gazing intently at the constellations above, where the Seven Sisters glowed bright and steadfast, dancing lightly in the cobalt sky.

Neither sister had spoken much since their return from Olympus yet it was a comfortable silence, all remaining hints of tension or discord gone, at least for the moment. Hesitant to shatter the feeling of peace that lay between them, Athena deliberated about telling her sister of her meeting with Ares. Still, Ares was her brother too, and she deserved to know his whereabouts.

"I didn't just go to Olympus," she said mildly, the even melodious tones of her voice carrying lightly on the night air.

"You didn't have a little rendezvous you didn't tell me about, did you?" Aphrodite asked, interest clear in her voice.

With a slight chuckle Athena replied, "No, I'm afraid that right now rendezvous of any kind are the furthest thing from my mind. No, actually, I found Ares."

The words hung in the air between them as Aphrodite tried to assess her sister's tone, uncertain of whether she wanted to know the details of what could only have been a fiery encounter. She knew how furious Athena was with their brother for his betrayal. After all, he had been the instrument that allowed Xena to wound her, turning his back on his family and simply walking away as Athena lay dying.

The entire family had always known that Ares was the black sheep, treacherous and changeable, truly Hera's son. The rivalry between Athena and Ares had always been the most intense, as the God of War faithfully attempted to usurp Athena from her spot as the favored child of Zeus. He had never seemed to realize that it was in his continual efforts, in his pettiness and deceit that he sealed his own fate with Zeus. Athena never competed with him, simply standing by and watching as he proved time and again that his need for discord and strife made him unfit to rule Olympus.

Noting her sister's lack of response, Athena continued on, turning her head so that she could see Aphrodite's face in the faint light.

"I must say, mortal really isn't a good look for him. Apparently, judging from the lacerations on his face, he forgot that mortals bruise and bleed," she said, a slight smile of amusement curving her lips.

"Where was he?" Aphrodite asked, speaking finally.

"Just outside of Thrace. He was hunting, or at least that seemed to be what he was trying to do. I watched him for quite awhile, chasing the same poor, dimwitted pheasant through the woods and fields. I wasn't sure which of them to feel sorry for, though I was leaning towards the pheasant."

"Did you, I don't know, talk to him or anything?" Aphrodite asked, her obvious fear of the answer evident in her voice.

"Oh, yes, we had nice little chat," Athena replied lightly, her gray eyes unreadable and mysterious in the dim light.

Aphrodite peered into the darkness at her sister, trying to discern an expression on Athena's beautiful face. This wasn't at all what she had been expecting. She had anticipated rage and hatred, not this calm and slightly amused demeanor that Athena was presenting. For some reason, the ease of her sister's manner filled her with more dread than her anger would have.

"By nice little chat, you don't mean that you, well, you know, that he's....?" Aphrodite's voice trailed off into the night, uncertain and somewhat tremulous.

"He's what?" Athena queried, part of her knowing exactly what her sister was asking.

"Dead. I mean I can totally understand how really p.o.'d you must be and all, and I can totally understand that he really needed to face some serious punishment for this. We all know what a jerk he can be, so I don't blame you at all if you, you know...," she stammered quickly, the words practically falling from her lips.

"You think I killed him," Athena stated, surprised at the pain that grasped at her heart as the fact that her sister was actually frightened of her became clear.

"No. Well, yes, but what I mean is..." the stammering became far worse, as Aphrodite attempted to explain. It was evident from Athena's tone of voice that she was upset and Aphrodite was finding it hard to be sure exactly what Athena was upset about.

"I see. Well, just so we're clear, I didn't kill him. As far as I know, unless he happened upon a less docile, vengeful pheasant, he's fine. As for punishment, I decided that a long and miserable life as a mortal was the most appropriate sentence I could give him," she finished quietly, her voice now emotionless.

Rising from the lounge, she turned and walked back into the palace, Aphrodite right on her heels. Catching up with Athena in the main drawing room, Aphrodite reached out, gripping her sister's upper arm, the skin warm and firm beneath her fingers. Aphrodite's hand on her arm pulled her up short, causing Athena to spin around, her clouded gray eyes meeting Aphrodite's.

"What's the deal, Sis?" Aphrodite prompted, uncertain of what she had done wrong.

Athena stood for a long moment, staring intently into her sister's crystal blue eyes, before she finally answered.

"You're afraid of me, aren't you?" she asked, already certain of the answer.

As the reason for her sister's distress filtered into her mind, Aphrodite tried to think of how to respond, of how to hurt Athena the least. The events of the past few weeks had had a profound effect on all of them. Aphrodite had watched as her sister, usually so calm, so controlled and self-contained, became obsessed yet again, with the destruction of Eve. The same thing had happened twenty-five years ago, as Athena had led the gods in their battle to kill the then infant daughter of Xena.

Both times something dark had appeared in her sister, something unnamable and frightening. The Goddess of Wisdom seemed to be put aside as the mantle of warrior took its place. The goddess who dreamed of elevating mankind, of promoting learning and culture, was displaced by the goddess who rivaled Ares in her ruthlessness, her sole desire to eliminate the child, thus assuring her family's survival. It was little wonder that even her family feared that goddess.

Aphrodite finally answered, her eyes and voice sincere, her hand on Athena's arm gentle.

"Most of the time, no, I'm not scared of you. But lately, you've been pretty intense. When you're like that, really caught up in revenge and everything, you can be sort of scary," she said, trying to be completely honest, " And I just figured that considering what Ares did that you might have had one of those rabid moments."

When Athena didn't respond Aphrodite continued on, her voice softening.

"Please don't be upset. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but you gotta admit that sometimes you do get a little out of control, you know?"

Nodding her head ruefully, Athena had to admit to herself that her sister was right. This obsession with Eve had altered her, in ways that she despised. She had been unable to acknowledge that stopping those feelings from taking over had been more than she could manage. The realization that it had all been for naught, that the prophecy had fulfilled itself was almost too bitter a pill for her to swallow.

"You're right. I did get out of control. I am sorry if my behavior ever gave you cause to fear me. I assure you that was never my intention. I was trying to protect all of you, not terrify you into submission."

"I know. Honest. Most of the time you're fine, a little boring, but fine. You just need to learn to lighten up, you know. Maybe some new clothes, get rid of that armor. What do you think?" Aphrodite teased, a smile spreading across her face, her nose crinkling with suppressed laughter.

Rolling her eyes, and sighing deeply, Athena gently disengaged herself from her sister's fingers, still wrapped around her upper arm. A matching smile appeared on her face as she regarded Aphrodite. She knew that her sister's cure for everything was a makeover, however she was determined to avoid that particular remedy at all costs.

"Goodnight Aphrodite," she laughed, turning and resuming her course towards her bedchamber.

"Goodnight, Sis," Aphrodite smirked back, relieved that the balance of their relationship seemed to have righted itself. So far Athena hadn't mentioned finding Eve, or what she planned to do about that situation. Belatedly it occurred to Aphrodite that chances were good that Ares was with Xena and her family, or at least knew where to locate them. Yet, Athena hadn't mentioned knowing where they were. In fact, Athena hadn't mentioned the Warrior Princess or her daughter at all since that first night.

It'll wait till morning.

However, three hours later, lying in bed, Aphrodite still couldn't get the questions out of her mind. Rising and pulling on a pink silk robe, Aphrodite moved swiftly down the corridor to her sister's room, cautiously pushing open the door. Athena was asleep, her features softened in slumber. Standing for a moment, looking down at her sleeping sibling, Aphrodite had to admit that Athena was beautiful. Without the solemn, serious expression she habitually wore, her face looked younger, the clean lines and curves emphasized by the moonlight pouring in through the window.

Gently reaching out her hand, trying not to startle her, Aphrodite lightly shook Athena's shoulder, saying her name softly.

"Athena. Hey, Sis, wake up."

"Hmm," Athena murmured, rolling over to face away from Aphrodite.

"Athena," she said in a more normal tone, "Wake up, I need to ask you something."

With a sigh her sister turned back towards her, gray eyes half open.

"What is it, Aphrodite? Something wrong?" she mumbled.

"I was going to just wait till morning to ask but it really was bugging me and seriously affecting my beauty sleep, so I figured I'd just ask now," she explained, plopping down somewhat unceremoniously on the edge of the bed.

"Ask what?"

"What are you planning on doing about Xena and Eve?" she replied, her expression worried.

Pushing herself up against the pillow, Athena brushed her hair back from her face. Her sister had asked a question that she had been asking herself for days now. Disturbingly, she still didn't know the answer. It seemed inconceivable to her that all of her anger had dissipated and yet, that was the only explanation for the complete lack of feeling she was experiencing.

Looking up at Aphrodite's anxious face, she answered her honestly.

"I don't know."

"Do you mean you're not sure how to get them or do you mean you're not sure if you still want to?"

"I guess I mean that I just don't know anymore. Part of me feels such an obligation to avenge the deaths of Artemis and the others, and yet, I keep coming back to the same question. What good would it do? It wouldn't bring them back nor would it restore the world we used to know. Whether we like it or not everything has changed, irrevocably. Killing Xena and her daughter will never erase what has happened. And to be perfectly honest, right now at least, I can't muster either the rage or the energy for vengeance," she admitted, her eyes distant as she vocalized her feelings for the first time.

Turning her head, she was astounded to see a slow, steady flow of tears running down the smooth cheeks of her sister, falling without a sound to the bed. Aphrodite's eyes seemed to glow a fierce and brilliant sapphire as the teardrops gathered and fell, one by one.

"Why are you crying?" Athena asked, a frown of concern etched into her forehead.

"Relief, I guess," she whispered," I just knew that you were going to go charging off after Xena again. I don't want to lose anyone else. All I want is to try and build something new, you know, move on and see what happens. You're right, nothing is going to make any of this ok again. So, I was thinking, maybe we could just let it go."

Pulling up the edge of the sheet, Athena carefully wiped the tears from her sister's face, a reassuring smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Tilting Aphrodite's face up, Athena looked long and hard into her eyes.

"I promise, it'll be all right. Whatever happens, you definitely won't be lucky enough to get rid of me that easily."

"So you'll just let them be?"

Sighing, Athena answered her as honestly as she could.

"I'm not sure," holding her hand up to forestall Aphrodite's interruption, "I need a little more time to think. But for now, yes, I'll let them be. All right?"

"Ok," Aphrodite sniffed, wiping the remaining tears on her sleeve.

"Stop crying. You know if you were mortal your eyes would be even redder than they are now," Athena needled, waiting for the reaction that was sure to come. She didn't have to wait at all, as her sister sprang from the bed and rushed to the mirror, peering anxiously at her eyes for any sign of redness.

Hearing Athena chuckling softly behind her, Aphrodite turned, her hands on her hips, the picture of annoyance.

"Very funny, Sis. I hope that you know that beauty is not a laughing matter," she huffed indignantly.

"Of course not," Athena replied, attempting without much success to keep her expression serious.

"If you're going to be like that, I'm going back to bed," her sister responded, her voice still sounding wounded.

"I'm sorry. Really. Get some sleep."

"Goodnight," Aphrodite said, walking towards the door that led to the corridor.

"Aphrodite?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you woke me. It was good to talk about it," Athena told her, meeting her sister's eyes from across the room.

"Yeah, me too. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Chapter Six

 Xena sat on a large boulder, the stone hard and cold beneath her. In her left hand she held her sword, in the right, a smooth stone that she ran back and forth along the blade. The rasping sound of the metal against the rock had always been a soothing one for her. Gabrielle and Eve were cleaning up the remnants of dinner, while Ares lounged back against a fallen log, his dark eyes hooded in the flickering firelight.

Glancing over at him from under her brows, Xena attempted to figure out what was going on with the former god. He had been remarkably quiet and, dare she say it, obedient for the past three days. He had returned from hunting late, but carrying a large pheasant. She had been surprised that he had not been a little more puffed up about bagging the bird, especially considering his innate arrogance and the fact that he knew that she and Gabrielle had both doubted his ability to catch anything. Instead he had merely presented the bird with a slight bow and gone to sit before the fire, a brooding expression on his handsome face.

She knew that something was bothering him, but the two attempts she had made to find out what it was had met with polite but firm rebuff. Rising from her seat and replacing her sword in the scabbard that hung on her back, Xena crossed to where Ares had thrown himself down at the edge of the fire, determined this time to unearth the secret he seemed to be guarding closely.

She had just reached the other side of the fire when a familiar, ominous tingle ran down the length of her spine. In one swift motion, she spun around, placing herself between the woods and Gabrielle and her daughter. Reaching back in a single fluid motion her sword slid easily into her hand. Just as she turned a brilliant flash lit the campsite, bringing Ares to his feet and Gabrielle to Xena's side, Eve pushed to safety behind them.

Blinded for a moment by the intense glare, it took a moment to make out the slim figure that had appeared, silhouetted against the dark woods behind her. Stepping into the light thrown from the fire, the apparition came into view, armor gleaming, gray eyes bright and clear, auburn hair lustrous under a helmet of gold.

"Athena!" Gabrielle gasped, her mind not quite taking in the shape before them.

Xena's only response was to unhook the chakram from her waist, the burnished metal glinting wickedly in the dancing flames.

Athena didn't speak at first, her eyes flitting from one person to the next, resting finally on Eve. She had come here against her sister's wishes, knowing that she needed to see Xena and her daughter before she could be certain that the indifference she had been feeling was real. Looking at the grown woman in front of her, her eyes innocent and glowing with an oddly peaceful light, Athena realized that she felt nothing at all, nothing but sadness and regret that it had all come to this.

A glance at her brother's expression and the obvious surprise of all the others told her that Ares had held onto that trump card, as she had known he would, not telling his companions that she was alive on the slim chance that she might reconsider his offer.

Smiling languidly, she said, "Hello again, Brother. I'm so glad to see that your eye is healing quite nicely."

Athena felt a certain satisfaction as she saw Xena's eyes cut to Ares, fury in their depths. Gabrielle merely looked at him, an "I knew you would betray us" expression on her face. Xena gestured to Gabrielle to take Eve and flee into the forest. She would attempt to hold Athena off while they escaped. After all, Athena's reinforcements had dropped considerably in the last month. Waiting as Gabrielle and Eve climbed onto her horse's back and disappeared into the night, Xena kept a wary eye on both Athena and her too, too mortal brother.

"What do you want Athena?" Xena snarled, her teeth white against her tanned skin.

Holding her hands in the air in a gesture of peace, Athena answered.

"I'm unarmed."

"Except for a thunderbolt or two, right?" Xena threw back, the sarcasm thick in her voice.

"I didn't come here to fight Xena. If I had wanted to do that, I would have hurled one of those thunderbolts directly into this camp, no doubt injuring at least one of you. I simply want to talk."

"There's nothing I want to say to you and even less I want to hear," Xena responded.

"A few minutes of your time is all I require," Athena said evenly.

"So say what you've got to say and then leave."

"We're not so very different you know, you and I?"

"Really? I don't make it a habit to go around murdering innocent children."

"Not anymore," came the quicksilver reply, the words imbedding themselves in Xena's heart as surely as if Athena had hurled a dagger.

"Remember Xena, I'm immortal and I have a very long memory, even if some other people have forgotten your not so noble past," Athena continued calmly, "Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't you responsible for destroying the life of another young girl, Callisto wasn't it? And in the mysterious workings of the universe, that same woman who blamed you for killing her parents, who spent most of her life seeking revenge, was reborn as your daughter."

"What's your point?" Xena growled, unwilling to discuss that painful topic with the goddess who stood before her, the same goddess who had almost killed her daughter and the woman she loved.

"Forgiveness, I think," Athena answered, an odd look of melancholy passing over her lovely features.

"You want me to forgive you for trying to kill my child, for robbing me of watching her grow up, for taking away 25 years of my life and most of the people I love? Is that what you're saying? 'Cause, if it is, then this conversation is over."

"Actually Xena, I was thinking that I have as much to have to forgive you for, as you do me. You murdered most of my family Xena, brought Olympus to its knees, tried to kill me and, though you will not admit it, robbed the people of something to believe in. Honestly, it really seems as if we both have a great deal to forgive."

"You brought every bit of that on yourselves. If you had left Eve alone, then none of this would have happened."

"Perhaps, though I tend to believe that the prophecy would have come true regardless of our actions or yours. The Fates dislike being thwarted. Self-fulfilling or not, the prediction did come to pass. The question is, what do we do about it now? You know, by rights Xena, mortal rights as well as gods, I should hunt you and every member of your family down till the end of time to secure vengeance for all the members of my family that you slaughtered. If memory serves, that was the reason for your ascension to Warrior Princess, wasn't it? The death of your brother Lyceus?"

"Is this your not so subtle way of telling me that you're planning on continuing this, Athena?"

"On the contrary, this is my way of telling you that you and your daughter and Gabrielle are free to live as you like, without fear from me or any other god. Of course, you do still have Ares to deal with, but I have no doubt that you're up to the task," she replied.

At the mention of his name Ares grimaced at his sister, animosity evident in every line of his body. She merely smiled at him, satisfied. He was going to have to do some quick thinking and even quicker talking to convince Xena that he had withheld the information about Athena in order to protect Eve.

"I have only one thing to ask in return Xena."

"Why did I know that there would be a catch with you?"

"I need your promise that you will do me the same courtesy and leave my family alone. After all, you are still capable of killing gods, a fact to which I can most unhappily attest. I need your assurance that you will not harm another member of my family."

"Exactly how did you survive? Just curious," Xena asked, buying a little more time for Gabrielle to get Eve to safety.

"Aphrodite found me. I know she told you she needed my blessing to heal, but as I was dying, that point was rather moot. She and Cupid healed me as best they could. So, do I have your promise?"

"Why should I believe anything you have to say, Athena?"

"At any point now or in the past did I ever give you cause to doubt my word? I never made you any promises, never lied or deceived you. I was always quite clear in my intentions. I even warned you that I poisoned your water supply. What reason would I have to lie now? I have nothing to gain and everything to lose."

Xena stared at the goddess with narrowed eyes. In spite of her natural inclination to doubt, she couldn't argue with Athena's words. As far as she knew, the goddess had always dealt with her honorably, even if her intentions were despicable. Added to that was the fact that, as Athena had pointed out, she could very easily have destroyed the campsite with one well placed thunderbolt, yet she hadn't. Xena had always relied on her instincts and her instincts right now were telling her that Athena was sincere. It was obvious that the healing hadn't completely mended her wound. Xena could see that the goddess was tired, though no doubt still capable of defending herself.

"All right. We have a deal. You leave my family alone and I leave yours alone. Agreed?" Xena said finally, breaking the heavy silence.

"Agreed. Though just so we're completely clear on this, Ares is now part of your family. He forfeited all right to his own when he betrayed me. He's yours to do with as you wish. Although it would assuredly be highly entertaining to watch what you decide to do with him, I will take my leave of you. Goodbye Xena. Ares."

With a sudden burst of light Athena was gone, the only remaining glow coming from the dying fire. Xena stood unmoving for a moment, before pivoting on one heel, her vivid blue eyes meeting those of the former God of War. For the second time in three days Ares felt the hand of fear clench around his heart.

Moving towards him with the grace and power of a deadly jungle cat, Xena came within a few feet of Ares, her sword still drawn in front of her. Her normally bright blue eyes were almost black in their depths, an expression of revulsion and rage written clearly on her face. Ares began to slowly back away, never taking his eyes off the advancing figure before him. Only the solid feel of a sturdy oak against his back stopped his hasty retreat.

In one sudden motion Xena was upon him, her sword pressed firmly against his throat, her face mere inches from his. Glancing down to where the blade of her sword met his skin, she could see the mark of a healing wound.

Raising her eyes to meet his, she murmured dangerously, "Let me guess. Your sister give you that?"

"Now Xena," he began smoothly, "I have a perfectly good explanation, if you'll just take your sword off my throat so I can breathe a little better."

"Looks to me that by now you'd be used to being held at sword point by enraged woman you've betrayed. Too bad Athena didn't finish the job for me, although I'm guessing she thinks leaving you mortal will be a much better punishment than ending your miserable excuse for a life. Am I right?" she said, her voice dropping a register, menacing and low.

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you. Athena made no mention of trying to kill Eve again and knowing my ever honorable and anal-retentive sister as I do, I knew that she would have told me if that's what she had in mind. I didn't want to ruin the time you were having getting to know Eve by disturbing you with the fact that Athena was alive," he said, attempting to shift away from the wide blade that was pressing ever closer to his throat.

"She turned you down didn't she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ares deflected.

His mind raced in an attempt to come up with a plausible story, seizing suddenly on telling the truth, or at least his version of it.

"Oh, you mean, when I offered to give her Eve in return for my immortality?" he said with his trademark grin.

"You admit that you tried to barter the life of my daughter to regain your godhood?" Xena exclaimed, floored at the notion that even Ares would be so reprehensible.

"Of course. How else would I have been able to find out if Athena intended to pursue her murderous rampage against you and your daughter?" The charm was back, the words flowing with ease and absolute sincerity from his lips. "I knew, when she turned me down, as you put it, that she wasn't interested in wreaking her revenge on you. Once I discovered that, there didn't seem to be any point in telling you. After all, it would have just upset you and Gabrielle and that's the last thing I would ever want to do."

Xena stared at him for a few seconds, her mind registering disgust and anger. Pushing away from him suddenly, she sheathed her sword, turning to pick up the supplies and bedrolls that Gabrielle had left behind in her haste to get Eve to safety. Ares stayed in his position by the tree, trying to judge how effective his story had been.

After gathering up all the supplies, Xena turned back to him, her face a mask of scorn and anger.

"I ought to kill you for what you did. But for once, I have to agree with Athena. Having to live out your existence as a lowly mortal is a fitting punishment for you. I should have known that anyone who would betray his own sister and leave her to die would betray me as well, " she said, self recrimination in her voice, " Part of me really wanted to believe that you could change, that you were capable of reforming just like I did. I should have known better. I left you enough food for a few days, after that you're on your own. If I ever see you near Eve or Gabrielle, I will kill you, Ares."

"Xena, wait. I have changed. I sacrificed my immortality to save Gabrielle and Eve. What more could I do to show you that I am a different man?"

"Yeah, you sacrificed it, and then turned around and offered to trade Eve to get it back. Athena said that you were now a part of my family? Well, you've just been disowned. Goodbye Ares," Xena said, her voice echoing the finality of the statement. She hefted the supplies and bedroll onto her back and without another look at him disappeared into the enveloping darkness of the surrounding forest.

Ares stood motionless for a moment, startled out of his reverie by the unearthly screech of an owl that swooped down from a high limb, its talons extended as it flew directly towards him. He managed to duck just in time, feeling the breeze made by the bird's mighty wings as it glided past him, coming to rest on a low branch, just at eye level. The owl sat sedately on the limb, its wide, enigmatic eyes penetrating into his own.

"Go away bird. Tell your mistress she wins, for now. But I will find a way to be immortal again. And when I do, that battle on Olympus with Xena will look like a garden party compared to the fight she'll have on her hands with me."

The owl, long associated with the Goddess of Wisdom, merely blinked at Ares, either in acknowledgment or in pity. Without warning, it rose in one graceful motion, its powerful wings lifting into the night sky, where for just an instant it hung silhouetted against the grieving moon.

Chapter Seven

It had been a week since Athena's appearance at the camp, and Gabrielle and Xena and Eve had settled into a routine, the atmosphere more comfortable without the presence of Ares. Xena had told her what had happened with Athena, whispering the details to her as they lay close together on their bedroll, Eve sleeping peacefully a few feet away.

Gabrielle could still feel the relief that had washed over her when Xena had relayed her bargain with the goddess. Not to live with that constant fear, to be able to once again live a normal life and become acquainted with a now grown Eve seemed the greatest gift that had been granted since Eli had raised them from the dead.

Although she hadn't said it at the time, Gabrielle was glad that Xena had not killed Ares. The thought of him trying to learn to be mortal and spending the rest of his life longing for what he had lost seemed appropriate. She would always be grateful for his one act of kindness and selflessness, but she knew that he would never be able to change. His need for power and his absolute inability to be satisfied with what he had would never allow him to know the joy and satisfaction of simply being, of loving and being loved in return.

She walked down to the edge of the stream near their campsite to fill the large stew pot with water. Xena had taken Eve with her to catch dinner, and Gabrielle had spent the day writing, filling scroll after scroll with the epic story that had so recently unfolded. As the sun began to set, she realized that she should get started on the cooking preparations.

Dipping the pot into the gently flowing stream, she could feel the icy bite of the pure, clear water, running down from the mountains to the east. Lost in thought, she allowed the pot to fill to overflowing, her hands turning numb as the water continued to cascade over them. The reflected light of the fading sun turned the stream to rivulets of gold and orange and pink. Despite the harsh cold, Gabrielle reveled in the feel of the clean water against her skin, as it seemed to wash away the worst of the events of the past few weeks.

Straightening finally, she turned to trudge back up the small embankment to the campsite. There had been little traffic here and the grass and weeds grew high. Reaching the top of the knoll, Gabrielle came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the figure standing before her, sun glinting off the golden blonde hair.

"Aphrodite. What are you doing here?" Gabrielle asked, reaching the goddess' side in a few quick strides.

"Hello Gabrielle," Aphrodite smiled a little nervously, "I hope you don't mind, but I just wanted to see if you were ok. I mean I haven't seen you since that night on Olympus and since Athena and Xena have kissed and made up so to speak, I just thought I'd drop by. Is that all right?"

"Of course," Gabrielle responded, letting out a sigh of relief, "I just thought maybe you were here to warn us about something."

"Warn you about what?"

"That Athena had changed her mind and was going to try and kill Eve again," she suggested, setting the heavy pot on the ground by her feet.

"She gave you her word. I know you might not believe it, but Athena never goes back on her promises. She's really anal about stuff like that."

"I really hope that you're right about that. Walk back to camp with me? I need to get this water boiling by the time Xena and Eve get back."

The two walked the short distance to the camp in silence. Gabrielle placed the heavy iron pot on the fire, tossing more wood on to increase the flame. Finally satisfied with the amount of heat it was producing, she sat down on a log that Xena had dragged over to use for seats.

Aphrodite was still standing near the fire, watching intently as the wood crackled and spit, the flames an orange glow beneath the black of the iron pot. Gabrielle had never seen her this quiet, her expression almost pensive as she continued to stare into the fire.

"Aphrodite?"

"Sorry," she said, a shy smile on her face, "I've been thinking way too much lately. Guess I was out in space there for a minute."

"Something's wrong, isn't it? I promise if you tell me I will try to help in any way I can," Gabrielle said feelingly. She and the Goddess of Love had formed a strange bond in the past, Aphrodite having apparently decided that the young bard might just make a good friend. Gabrielle had been surprised herself to realize that she genuinely liked the goddess, who beneath the flighty exterior was a kind and generous soul.

"No. Well, not really. I just thought that you were probably pretty upset with me, you know, about what happened," she finished vaguely.

"Aphrodite, you tried to save my life and Eve's, why would I be upset with you? You're a good friend."

"Even though I saved Athena too?"

Gabrielle hesitated before responding, not sure she should ask the question that had been nagging at her since Xena had told her how Athena survived. Looking into Aphrodite's earnest blue eyes, she realized that the goddess wanted to tell her, to explain what had happened.

"Why did you save her? I know you didn't agree with what she was doing, and I never really got the impression that you two really got along that well. Besides, you knew that chances were good that she would just pick up where she left off and try and kill Eve again."

"I know, you're right about all of it. But just imagine if Lyla had done some terrible things and hurt a lot of people, and you didn't agree with how whacked she was acting, but she was hurt or in serious trouble, wouldn't you do everything you could to help her just because she's your sister?"

Shaking her head ruefully, Gabrielle acknowledged that most of the time she and everyone else forgot that the gods weren't just gods, but a family of gods. What Aphrodite had done hadn't been about retaining power or punishing mankind, it had been about saving her sister, plain and simple.

"Yes, I would do anything I could to save her. I guess I forget sometimes that you have a family just like I do. Well, minus the godlike powers and all," she conceded, "I just hope that you don't end up being disappointed or hurt yourself, if Athena doesn't turn out to be the kind of person that you want."

"You see, that's the thing you don't really understand. Athena's not a bad person. She's really not. I mean look at everything she has done for mortals. She gave you the spinning wheel, the plow, she taught man how to build the best ships in the world. The Athena you saw wasn't the sister I know."

She paused a moment before continuing. " After Herc did away with Zeus, she had to take over, and I think she got so caught up in the whole prophecy thing, that she kinda forgot what she was all about, you know? She felt like she had to protect the family and then after Xena figured out she could kill gods, Athena just lost it, sort of like Xena did when her brother got murdered. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah, I guess it does. I must admit, it is a little hard to remember all of the good things Athena has done while she's hurling thunderbolts at your head."

"I know it is. It was a little hard for me and she wasn't aiming them in my direction," Aphrodite acknowledged, "But you remember how positive you always were that inside of Xena was a good person, a person worth saving, a person worth loving?"

"You see the same thing in Athena," Gabrielle responded.

"I've seen it for a really long time babycakes. I know it's there. Besides, you only get to pick your friends, your family you're just stuck with, you know?"

Laughing, Gabrielle replied, " You're a veritable fountain of wisdom today. Hey, are you sure you're not out to get Athena's job?"

"What, and have to have all the answers 24/7? No way. I'll just stick to love, it's totally less work," Aphrodite smiled, her usual flippant tone back in her voice.

"That must be Xena and Eve," said Gabrielle, as the sound of a horse's whinny came to them through the trees.

"That's my cue to blow then," Aphrodite said, "I'm pretty sure Xena has seen enough of my family to last her a lifetime. I'm glad you're ok. You take care of yourself and call if you ever need anything, or even if you just want to rap, all right? See ya."

"Bye, Aphrodite."

In a burst of shimmering confetti, she vanished, just as Xena and Eve emerged from the woods, leading Argo behind them. Across the horse's saddle were slung three large pheasants and a wild turkey. A smile on her face, Gabrielle crossed to Xena's side.

"Is that all you could manage?" she said, a mischievous light in her green eyes.

The momentary look of aggravation on Xena's face was all the reward she needed, as a sweet, sexy grin spread across her face.

"Gotcha."

"You just wait, I'll get you back," Xena promised, a less than innocent look in her eyes.

 The sky stretched above them like a dome of cerulean, shot through with light. In the utter darkness of the pastoral night every star in the vastness of the heavens was displayed, trillions of diamonds tossed carelessly across a cloth of sapphire velvet. The air was crisp, laden with the overwhelming scent of evergreens and moss, of soft grass and fallen leaves.

Huddled together under a thick blanket, Xena and Gabrielle lay contentedly in each other's arms. Eve was fast asleep nearby, the sound of her gentle breathing mingling with the sounds of the night to create a sweet melody. The three of them had stuffed themselves on turkey and pheasant, lying sated and drowsy after the wonderful meal. Finally, Gabrielle had pushed herself up, gathering the dishes and beginning preparations for bed. Xena and Eve soon joined her, and the three made quick work of the cleaning up.

Now, a few hours later, Gabrielle found the first opportunity to tell Xena of Aphrodite's visit. She wasn't absolutely sure how Xena would react, considering everything that had happened. The fact that Aphrodite had tried to help them weighed strongly in her favor, but Gabrielle wasn't certain if that would be outweighed by her healing Athena. After all, when it came right down to it, Aphrodite was still a god, and in Xena's mind that was never a point in anyone's favor.

"I had a visitor today," she began casually.

"Oh, really? Good visitor or bad visitor?"

"Good, I guess. It was Aphrodite. She came by to see if I was ok. I guess she thought I might be upset with her about Athena," Gabrielle continued, trying to gauge Xena's reaction.

"What did you tell her?"

"Actually we had kind of a nice talk. She really believes that Athena will keep her end of the bargain."

"Did she tell you why she decided to save Athena? I didn't get the impression that night that her sister was on her list of favorite people either."

"You just said it, Xena, her sister. I think that we forget sometimes that the Olympian gods are all one family. To someone like Aphrodite, who has never been caught up in power or glory, it was never about preserving their domination, it was about family survival. She didn't save the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare. She saved her sister."

"It's a good thing for Athena that all of her siblings don't hold her in the same high regard that Ares does then, isn't it?" Xena declared, rolling over to face Gabrielle.

"I just hope she appreciates it. I asked Aphrodite if she was sure that she wouldn't end up being disappointed in Athena."

"What did she say?"

"She said that the Athena we had seen wasn't really who her sister was, that Athena was really a good person. In fact, she said that she was as certain of it as I was about you. She reminded me of all the things that Athena has done for people. Aphrodite said that Athena got so caught up in protecting her family that she couldn't see anything else," Gabrielle said, her fingers slipping tenderly up Xena's bare arm.

"Do you believe her?"

"You know, I can't really explain why, but I do," she answered, her eyes meeting Xena's.

"So you think that Athena deserves a second chance, after all she did to us?"

Gabrielle was silent for a long time, memories threading through her mind like the strands of a tapestry yet incomplete. She remembered her first meeting with Xena. She could see Callisto's face twisted with rage and insanity. She recalled the Xena who had led the Athenian army against the Hoard and the one who had tenderly held her in her arms. Eli had taught them that love was the strongest force in the universe. Gabrielle knew it had saved Xena, and had even given new life and rebirth to Callisto's battered soul. Assuredly it wasn't meant for mortals alone. It was clear that Aphrodite loved her sister. If anyone could redeem Athena, surely the Goddess of Love stood the greatest chance.

"Yes, I do," she said softly, looking deeply into her love's blue eyes, "I have to believe it."

Xena marveled once again at the depth of love and forgiveness contained in the heart of the beautiful bard. It had been her salvation more times than she could remember. She had to trust that Gabrielle's instincts were right. She knew of no better guiding light in an often confusing world. Pulling Gabrielle closer, she buried her face in the soft fragrant skin of her neck.

"Then I believe it too," Xena murmured, closing her eyes and settling in to sleep. As both of them drifted off, the owl that had been perched on a nearby branch lifted silently into the sky, flying south towards the island of Cyprus.

Chapter Eight

Streaks of gold and pink, of orange and deep blue, of violet and crimson unfurled along the horizon like flags in a brisk summer's breeze, heralding the sun's arrival, as Phaeton's chariot began its daily trek across the broad expanse of sky. The first rays of light fell warm and welcoming, turning the grains of sand on the Cypriot beach to tiny crystals of the finest gems, and chased away the shadows from the rocky cliffs above.

Athena sat quietly on the rocks that lay scattered along the shore, Aphrodite beside her as the sisters watched the beginning of a new day. A month had passed since Athena had made her bargain with Xena. She had stayed on with Aphrodite, giving her wound time to fully heal, but both sisters realized that the day had come for Athena to return home. Her own palace in the hills above Athens sat waiting for its mistress.

Word of what had happened on Olympus had spread quickly throughout the realm, but despite the deaths of some of their gods, a great many of the people clung to their beliefs, time-honored and trusted in a changing world. Athena had been surprised to find her temples still tended, petitions still made in her name. Somehow it seemed odd that while so much had changed, much remained the same. Aphrodite, of course, had harbored no doubts that the flame in her temples would remain lit, that offerings would still cover the marble altars. After all, she reasoned, people had longed for love since the beginning of time and that would never change.

 "So, you all set to go?" Aphrodite asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"What's the matter, Sis, are you that ready to get rid of me?" Athena responded, looking over at her sister with a slight grin on her face.

"Very funny. You know you can stay as long as you want. I like having someone around to talk to, even if you don't really care about nails, or clothes and you have absolutely no interest in men," Aphrodite replied, her voice becoming somewhat less certain. An odd look appeared on her face as she scrunched it up in concentration.

"What was I saying again?" she finished, eliciting a genuine laugh from her sister.

"It's ok. I understand the sentiment behind it, even if the words weren't all that flattering," Athena chuckled, the rays of the now risen sun turning her hair to a cap of burnished bronze.

"And yes, I am ready to go. As much as I have enjoyed the past month, and as grateful as I will always be, it seems obvious that you and I need our own homes. Besides, don't think of it as losing a sister, think of it as gaining closet space," Athena said, a teasing smile on her face.

For just a few seconds Athena could see that her sister was actually considering her last comment before Aphrodite mentally shook herself, reaching over to give Athena a playful shove.

"Come on," Athena urged, pulling Aphrodite up from the rock, " One last walk on the beach before I go."

The time that they had spent together had been remarkably tension free. They had talked about neutral subjects and strolled along the shore. Many evening had been passed contentedly, Athena reading quietly while Aphrodite painted her nails, or played with Bliss. For the first time in either of their existences, they left all the petty squabbles, all the subterfuge and infighting behind and related to each other as two people, who despite having little in common, shared bonds of family and affection that could never be breached.

As they wandered along the edge of the water, the surf slipping surreptitiously across the tops of their feet, Aphrodite turned, poking her sister gently in the ribs.

"What was that for?" Athena asked, startled.

"Nothing. I mean, I am going to miss you, you know?" Aphrodite said grudgingly, her tone that of a small child finally admitting to a fear of the dark.

"You're not going to get all sappy on me are you? You know I don't do sappy well." Athena said, glancing over at her sister with a certain amount of trepidation.

"No, I am not going to get all sappy. Can't I even say I'm going to miss you without you thinking I'm getting all sappy? Aren't you going to miss me?" Aphrodite responded indignantly, stopping to stand with her hands firmly planted on her hips.

Biting her bottom lip to prevent herself from laughing at the picture her sister presented, Athena decided that the wise thing right now would be to err on the side of caution. She had learned long ago that Zeus' wrath was nothing compared to a slighted Goddess of Love.

Sighing, she replied, "Of course I will. Don't be ridiculous. Come on, let's get going. I want to get back to Athens in time for the afternoon petitions at the Parthenon." She turned and began walking up the beach towards the stone steps that led back to Aphrodite's palace.

Aphrodite stood for a moment longer before following her sister up the beach, calling after her, "Hey, you know what I was thinking? I know this really cool chick, dresses great, likes birds. I could just kinda throw you two together, see what happens?"

Athena glanced back briefly at her sister before taking the easy way out, disappearing in a sparkle of light. Aphrodite stared for a minute at the spot where her sister had vanished, shrugging finally and dissolving in a flash into the salty air.

The men came out of nowhere, swooping down on the three women as they made their way through the woods. Xena drew her sword as the first of them rushed her, the sound of metal on metal carrying on the wind. Gabrielle immediately grabbed Eve, pushing her to relative safety behind a nearby rock, where the young woman crouched, watching the fracas wide-eyed with fear. Leaving Eve with a quick admonishment to stay put, Gabrielle drew the two sais from her boots, their ends sharp and deadly. Her fighting skills had grown so tremendously over the past few years that she was a match for all but Xena. Definitely for any of the thugs that had attacked them.

Gabrielle and Xena continued to fight, as one after the other of the men fell to their superior skills. It wasn't until she tore the sleeve of one of the men, revealing an oddly shaped tattoo, that Xena realized that they worked for Ronin, a second rate warlord who had long held a grudge against the Warrior Princess. Perhaps he thought that one of the gods would still be willing to pay a hefty price for her capture. And for Eve.

At the thought, an ominous feeling gripped her. Xena spun around, her eyes quickly searching and finding the spot where her daughter still crouched, just as the solid 'thunk' of an arrow resonated in the air. Standing over Eve, his sword raised to crash down on her head, was one of Ronin's men. His eyes registered surprise as he stood frozen, a thin trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth before, with a thud, he fell to the ground, the shaft of an arrow protruding from his back.

As their leader lay dead, the remainder of the men, wounded and bruised, took off down the road, limping as they made their way back towards the nearby town. Sheathing her sword, Xena rushed to Eve's side, kneeling down in front of her. Her eyes and voice were tender as she asked her daughter if she was all right.

"I'm fine. He didn't get a chance to hurt me," Eve told her, glancing with revulsion at the body.

Rising from her knees, Xena crossed the short distance to the dead man. She quickly grasped the shaft of the arrow, pulling it savagely from his back. She stood for long time, staring down at it, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Xena?"

"Xena?" Gabrielle repeated, coming over to stand next to her. "What's wrong?"

In response, Xena merely raised the arrow so that Gabrielle had a clear view of it. Through the blood that still covered the tip, she could see that the arrowhead was engraved with the head of Medusa. Her eyes met Xena's in a long stare, as they both tried to comprehend what had happened.

"Athena? I know we made a bargain, but why would she save Eve's life? She spent a good part of it trying to kill her," Xena muttered, a frown etched onto her face.

"Maybe she's trying to make up for all of that," Gabrielle hypothesized, "Maybe she realized that redemption requires an actual deed, not just empty words."

"Whatever the reason, Xena, she did save Eve's life. It looks like Aphrodite was right about her sister after all," she concluded, as they walked back towards Eve and Argo.

"I wasn't relying on Aphrodite's opinion, just on yours," Xena said softly, "Let's get to town before Ronin and his men decide to make another run at us."

Pulling Eve up onto the saddle behind her, and waiting while Gabrielle mounted her horse, Xena gave one last glance to the arrow she still held in her hand .

"Whatever your reasons, Athena, thanks."

Silently sending the thought, Xena took up Argo's reins as the three women continued on their journey. As they disappeared out of sight around a bend in the road, a beautiful owl spread its wings, the sunlight reflecting the gold and bronze of its feathers as it flew through the tops of the trees and headed back towards Athens.

Athena stood in the great archway of the Parthenon. The brilliant sunset had painted the hills of Athens with an artist's palette of colors. She felt oddly at peace. The emptiness she had been feeling for so long now seemed to have dissipated, as mist does in the burning light of the sun. She wasn't quite certain what had caused her to save the life of Xena's daughter. She only knew that when the arrow had released, swift and sure to its mark, she had felt as if her soul returned to her. She was once again Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, not of war. Perhaps Aphrodite had been right all along when she suggested that Love was too much a part of the world to ever be abandoned, whichever god was worshipped.

Walking back into the main room of the temple, Athena crossed to the altar, still covered with candles and offerings. Gazing down on it for a moment, she gently laid the object she held in her hand on the altar, before disappearing in a flash of rose colored light. Lying there, among the trinkets and petitions, reflected in the candle's glow, was one, perfect owl's feather of burnished bronze and gold.

Continued in Now Goes Under the Sun...