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This story is based on nothing but imangination hic who knows it might even be true. Thanks. Here is my e-mail: coolchristina@hotmail.com

Deal With Danger
by Coolchristina

"Gabrielle, no!"

The warrior thrashed about in her bed, terrified--her face was evident of that.

Nearby, Gabrielle woke with a start. "Xena?" She moved to her friend’s side, and began to shake her. "Xena, wake up!"

The warrior’s ice-blue eyes snapped open. "Ga...what happened, Gabrielle?"

"You had a nightmare." Gabrielle did what she could to comfort her friend, but she was not used to seeing Xena like this. "You had a bad dream, that’s all. It was a nightmare, but you’re fine now. Everything’s just fine."

Xena shook her head. "No. No it’s not, Gabrielle. It was no dream, it was a vision." She got up, took a deep breath, then put on her armor and weapons. Abruptly the warrior then turned and hugged her friend. "I’ve got to go somewhere Gabrielle. Alone. Will you wait for me?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Of course. But..."

"Trust me." Xena mounted Argo, and said her good-byes to Gabrielle.

Xena rode Argo nonstop, all the way to Ares’ temple.

She stormed into the gloomy place and, for a moment, just stood there glaring at all the statues and paintings dedicated to the God of War. Finally, she raised her head. "Ares! I know you’re behind this! Get down here you jerk!"

Almost instantly, a tall, muscular and dark man, clad in leather, materialized in front of her. "Xena, Xena, Xena you flatter me with words." Ares arrogantly said. "Did you have pleasant dreams last night?"

Xena gritted her teeth. "Cut the crap, Ares!" She gave him a look--the one that made all men tremble, and the God of War was no exception.

"What do you want, Xena?" Ares asked. He had a sly grin on his face, as if he knew the answer to his question already.

"I want Gabrielle safe from harm. I want her protected!" Xena couldn’t believe she was really considering what she was considering, but the visions had terrified her, and she did not want anything to happen to Gabrielle. Besides, she already knew what Ares was going to say next.

"Easily done, Xena. But protection, as you well know, comes with a price. What are you willing to trade me for the little pest’s safety?" Ares asked, laying a hand on the warrior’s shoulder. "Oh and just in case you’re having second thoughts, I would like to add that my little sister is out of the picture. Artemis will not raise a hand to save Gabrielle this time, I made sure of it." The God of War squeezed Xena’s shoulder playfully, smiling at how she jerked away, and brushed off his touch. “So? What’s it going to be?”

Xena closed her eyes for a moment. ‘I’m so sorry, Gabrielle. But I’m doing this for your own good.’ She looked Ares right in the eye. "I give you me. The way you always wanted me, as your warrior," she said with a great sigh.

Inside, Ares was cheering. ‘She’s mine!’ The God of War gestured. "Done. Gabrielle is now protected." He gave her a look, as if to say ‘There’s no turning back now Xena’. The smirking god then clapped his hands together. "Come, Xena. There’s so much to do, and so little time to do it."

Ares soon introduced Xena to her new army.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle awoke to an empty bedroll beside her--again.

"Oh Xena, where are you? I’m so worried about you."

Something was wrong, very wrong.

Xena never got visions, so it had to be the work of one of the gods. And Gabrielle knew of only one god who would bother.

Gabrielle checked her maps, and found there was a temple to Ares nearby.

"That must be where she went!"

Knowing Xena might need her help, Gabrielle went to the temple herself. She walked in and looked around. "Ares! Show yourself !"

All of the sudden, the God of War materialized right in front of her.

Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Ares, what have you done with Xena?!"

Ares tried to look as innocent as possible. "Me? I didn’t do anything to Xena. She came to me, and bargained herself for your safety." He smiled, knowing such a revelation would cause her much pain.

Gabrielle wiped away hot tears. "Ares, why can’t you just leave her alone?" The bard’s face turned red as her anger mixed with grief.

Ares shrugged his shoulders. As easily as he had appeared, he vanished.

"I promise Xena, I’ll find you. Somehow! Someway!" Gabrielle started to leave, only to hear a voice in her head.

‘If you want to find her, look to the north.’

It was Ares, Gabrielle was sure of it. The God of War was playing with her, daring her to try and interfere in whatever he was doing with Xena.

More determined than ever, Gabrielle headed north, in search of Xena.

For hours she looked from clearing to clearing, and just when it grew almost too dark to see, she caught sight of a tent. Xena was inside, and her heart swelled, but it just as soon leaped into her throat when she realized Ares was there as well.

"I can’t beat the God of War! But I have to try, for Xena’s sake!’

Gabrielle charged into the tent, and swung her staff at Ares’ head.

The god only casually blocked her attack with one arm, he seemed bored really. Xena’s eyes grew wide as she saw this.

"Ares! Remember your promise to me!"

"Of course." The God of War shoved Gabrielle away. "Leave! She’s mine now. You’ve got no place here, little bard!"

Gabrielle shook her head. "No! I’m not leaving without Xena!"

Xena could see the hurt in her friend’s eyes, the longing, and couldn’t believe she had so easily left her friend. "I’ve changed my mind, Ares! Stop this. Release me!" She shook her head. "I don’t belong here. I belong with Gabrielle."

The bard smiled. "Xena..."

Ares’ eyes darkened. "You’re not leaving me again without a fight, Xena! A fight that, I promise, you will lose!"

"Shut up!" Xena drew her sword. "And fight!"

Warrior and god traded blows for some time, one gaining the edge only to lose it to the other and then get it back later. Until finally, she got in a blow that took the god down. He began to recharge almost immediately, but in that moment Xena was able to grab Gabrielle and rush out of the tent.

"Xena, you’re mine!" the god roared behind her. "Break your promise if you want, but I will get you back! This isn’t over!!"

A distance away from the tent, they stopped, and embraced.

"Are you all right?" Gabrielle asked through her tears.

Xena nodded. I am now.

"Think again!" Gabrielle was suddenly torn away from Xena, and the warrior looked up to see Ares with his arm around the bard’s neck.

"Gabrielle!!!" Xena screamed.

Ares smirked. "Xena, I’ve got your friend now, and there’s not a thing you can do about it. And as I said, Artemis can’t interfere either."

Xena shook her head. "Ares, you said you would protect her!"

"That was before you walked out and broke the promise, my dear." He said with an evil smile on his face.

Ares, this is between you and me, Xena snarled. "Leave her out of this!"

The God of War smiled. "Done!" Gabrielle disappeared.

Xena’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. "What have you done?!"

"Nothing. I just chained her up in my temple. If you want her back all you have is pledge yourself to me, forever!" Ares twirled his sword. "Or..."

Xena nodded, and drew her own sword.

The battle started all over again.

Xena fought even more fiercely than before. She was desperate to save Gabrielle, and if defeating Ares was what it took to free her, then she would.

They fought for some time, hours probably, and eventually even the God of War could see that he wasn’t going to win this battle.

Ares finally gave up.

Xena returned to the temple and unchained Gabrielle. They came outside, to find Ares in their way. The God of War looked very upset.

"We’re leaving, Ares. Don’t try to stop us this time."

He didn’t.

Xena and Gabrielle mounted Argo and rode off.

Behind them, Ares glowered. This isn’t over, Xena! Not by a long shot!

The End

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