Sexual Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of sexual violence and/or their aftermath. Some readers may be disturbed by this type of depiction and anyone who is sensitive to this particular issue may wish to read something other than this story.
Hurt/Comfort Warning/Disclaimer: This story may be best classified as a Hurt/Comfort Story involving the characters Xena: Warrior Princess and Gabrielle. Readers who are disturbed by or sensitive to this type of issue may wish to read something other than this story.
Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts a love/sexual relationship between two consenting adult women. If you are under 18 years of age or if this type of story is illegal in the state or country in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature disturbs you, you may wish to read something other than this story.
Spoilers: This story contains possible spoilers for seasons 1-3 of Xena: Warrior Princess.
Special Thanks: to my very capable Beta reader, Sinjen Kai. And to my wonderful family at the BardicCircle who has given this Bard a home, extra betaing, much needed advice with this story, kicks in the butt, and genuine encouragement.
Bard's Note: I know. I know. I'm sorry to have not gotten updates out sooner. But I was not so happy with parts of this story and I felt I owed you the readers and myself a better version of this story. So here is the piece again with changes minor ones in the prologue and in part one but major changes in the in parts 2 and 3. I've expanded the sections hoping to clear up things and make it more readable.
I hope you enjoy.
Prologue
Dark Side of the Spectrum:
"She did what needed to be done! She taught a lesson."
"A harsh and costly lesson." Aphrodite shook her head, her face devoid of expression. She never smiles anymore. The figure seated on the throne observed, as he watched the Goddess of Love move around the throne room of Olympus, absently fingering the portraits of the Gods and their extended family of demigods.
"How is she?"
"Ares!" Aphrodite spun around to glare at her brother. Her voice echoed loudly through out the empty halls "You watch her as closely I do. You should know how she is." Her anger diffused as quickly as it had kindled. She didn't want to fight with her brother.
"Yes but I . . ."
"She's changed." Aphrodite cut him off, sighing softly. Her brown eyes began to tear up. "She's so cold sometimes." She turned away from him and crossed her arms over her chest, moving her hands briskly over her arms and shoulders as though warding off a chill.
"No one escapes war unscathed." He spoke softly. "Even those lucky enough to have war pass over their thresholds are affected by it."
"But still there's that part of her that inherently . . ." She left the sentence die on her lips along with the small smile of hope.
"I'm counting on it." He frowned slightly.
"But it causes her pain." She turned back to him feeling helpless and ashamed. "She hurts so much inside. She's having a hard time justifying the things she does because of that small part of her she unconsciously clings to."
"That's what keeps her from becoming like the enemy." He closed his eyes for a moment and slouched in the throne, the weight of his father's crown had grown heavy. 'Damn you Father! You were such a fool!' "That's what keeps her from becoming like . . ." "Like the old Xena." Aphrodite finished the sentence. "She's getting dangerously close. She executed those two men today."
"You know she had to do it." He defended His Chosen, heatedly. "They were deserters. They would have gone to the other side. It was a hard lesson for her as well as the men. She cannot let herself appear weak." Aphrodite nodded. Her eyes shut tightly as her thoughts suddenly became filled with thoughts of the bard. Her hands bawled into tight fists at her side. The Golden Bard of Potaedia.
"I'm so sorry Little One." She whispered. "I'm so sorry we've hurt you." Ares stood abruptly to his feet suddenly needing distance between himself and his father's throne. He was weary. Walking to the balcony entrance, he stood there looking out past the Gates and the mountainous pillars to the marble stairway that led down to the earth.
"There was no other way, Dite. War extracts a costly price from us all. Sometimes what we've lost can never be made up for by what we've gained or 'learned.' Doesn't matter what side you fight on, 'good' or 'bad'. War can make monsters of us all." She studied his powerful broad back. The light Olympian breeze caught up the ends of his red cape and He looked every inch his new title. King of the Gods. They'd lost so much. The peace between them had begun far from tenacious. But the God of War and the Goddess of Love had come to respect each other, even like each other. "She hasn't read any of her scrolls." His shoulders slumped and his voice carried over to his sister's ears in a mournful whisper.
"They'd make her soft." Aphrodite answered him. "She'd lose focus."
"Think she'll ever write again? When this is over? If she survives?" He turned to face his sister, looking so hopeful, it drew a soft sob from the Goddess' lips. She covered her mouth with her hands and shook her head vehemently.
"No." she whispered. She let the tears fall. Ares watched as each tear fell transforming into diamonds at her feet. The light around her, shimmered in empathy of her sorrow. The white gown that the other gods had always deemed so scandalous fluttered gently in the wind and her long blonde curls gave halo to a gentle face that was beautiful in sorrow. She'd never looked more beautiful. 'She is truly more the Goddess of Love now than she has ever been.' Her voice trembled as she spoke. "There will be other bards to tell her story."
"There's no way to make up for all she's lost is there?"
"Only one person can do that." Her voice took on a bitter edge as she thought of her stubborn niece.
"Where is my daughter anyway? I've not had time to track her since she left Greece." His face softened visibly. 'This is such a mess.'
"Still sulking." Aphrodite sighed then growled angrily. "Ohh! She's so self involved in her self-righteous heartache, she doesn't realize how much The Bar . . . Gabrielle needs her." She moved about the room again aimlessly. She stopped abruptly at the portrait of Ares' daughter. She was angry with Xena, but she did ache for Warrior Princess. She was afraid. And Aphrodite understood the warrior's fears all too well. "She's in Rome." She sighed wistfully. "Hoping to get a crack at Caesar." She sensed the change in Ares and spun around to see a big grin appear on his handsome face. "What?" she froze, confused by the sudden change. He stroked his dark goatee absently, then ran his fingers through his long raven mane. She was struck once again by his daughter's resemblance to him. But she was getting impatient. "What!" she stomped her right foot, exasperated.
"She'll be home soon."
"How do you know?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"Julius and Cleo are on their way to Greece under joint banner and temporary truce." Aphrodite eyes lit up speculatively. She giggled suddenly.
"Things are really going to get interesting." She hugged him unexpectedly and he blushed, flustered by the show of affection. "Chill Bro." She grinned at his embarrassment. "Uh oh." Her brows furrowed slightly. "I've got to get back to the camp soon, or she'll become suspicious."
Aphrodite morphed her appearance. Her light brown eyes remained the same, but her hair fell in medium auburn tresses, well past her shoulders to her hips. She was shorter, slightly shorter than the bard was. Her rustic, burnt orange Amazon garb accentuated softness and sinewy muscle. A simple necklace of stones that represented each amazon sister rested lazily between the soft hollow of generous cleavage. As an afterthought, a fighting staff appeared in her small right hand. Ares was impressed . . .and turned on. "The Deliverer has good taste in women." He chuckled.
"Yes, she does." Aphrodite laughed. Smoothing imaginary wrinkles out of her skirt. "I think this is my best work ever. It was this or one of her guard. But Gabs didn't relax as well with me as a guard as she does with me in this form."
"Inventive." He teased. She winked at him and with renewed hope, shimmered away.
Comments welcomed at: moon7u@aol.com