Destiny

                                                          Chapter 4

                                                      By: areswarrior

Diclaimer: I don’t own them, I am just borrowing them. Arianna how ever is mine.

Rating: PG

Archive: Please do just let me know where I can visit it

Acknowlegement: Thanks to all my list sibs, your support and feedback have been a great inspiration to me and I thank you.

 

 

Arianna looked around the room and sighed. How in the name of the gods was she going to manage this one? This was nothing like her world, no modern conveniences here; she was literally going to have to get on her hands and knees to clean this place. She did have a little advantage though, thru her studies she knew enough about this time period to survive, but studying about it and actually living it were two different things.

 

All day she went around cleaning the fortress, along the way she came across a room. Before she could investigate it, another servant stopped Arianna.

“What are you doing? That is the room of our mistress noone is allowed in there at all.”

“Why not?”

“We don’t question we only do. Why do you think any of us are still alive?”

“I understand, thank you”

“You stick with me dear I will get you thru this” the servant went on about her chores.

Arianna watched the servant walk away then looked back at the room. She went to the door and began to turn the knob then stopped. “I better not push this.”

She went bout her work, then walked back to her cell to await the arrival of Xena. She didn’t have to wait that long.

 

Arianna could hear the triumphant cries of the warriors. “ Another village taken,” she thought, “ Hooray”. Just then she felt a presence in the room. She sat up and looked around. When she didn’t see anything she laid back down.

“Hello Arianna, how do you like your new accommodations?”

Arianna sat up again. “Ares! You jerk! Show yourself!”

“Tsk Tsk Tsk such language and from a teacher no less. Really Arianna you should watch what you say.”
She got up and pushed Ares back against the wall. “You Son of a Bacchae how dare you even show yourself after what you did. What are you doing here anyways? Making sure Xena kills me. Well guess what as you can see I am still here alive and kicking.”

Ares smiled at Arianna, “So I have noticed but don’t gloat to long, it won’t last.” Then he disappeared.

Arianna was about to respond when the door to her cell opened up and a guard escorted her to Xena quarters. “Sit” Arianna did as she was told. Xena read over some battle plans, looked up at Arianna, then back at plans. “My lieutient seems to think you are a danger to us, any thoughts on that?” Arianna thought a moment, “No.”

“What did you do in your home?”

“I am a teacher”

“A woman teacher, that is a bit unusual, what did you teach?”

“My teaching mostly focus on Greek and Roman Cultures.”
”Well that explains how you know our language, as well as my warrior princess title. Though I didn’t know my reputation had preceded me that far. Come and brush my hair.”

“Yes mistress.” As Arianna brushed her hair, Xena continued to question her. Arianna was very careful in answering her. After this was done Xena dismissed her. Before Arianna could leave the room Xena said, “ Arianna I want you to prepare the extra room, we are having company tomorrow.”

 

The next morning Arianna noticed Xena coming into camp with a new man. Xena lead the man to the main hall where Arianna was working. Xena called her over. “ Arianna this is Iolaus, the newest member to our happy family, treat him as you would me.”

“Yes mistress.” Xena left Iolaus with her and went about her duties. Arianna looked at Iolaus and smiled, “ You must be hungry from your journey, come to the table and I will get you some food.” All Iolaus could do was stare, he could believe that he was looking at the double image of Xena. “ You can stop staring Iolaus, I may look like her but I am nothing like this warrior princess.” She instantly regretted saying that when she say the twinge on his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Just be careful around her.”

Arianna gave him a plate and left him to resume her duties.

 

Two more days had passed, Arianna had seen many things go on in the fortress. She watched in silence as Xena seduced Iolaus, causing a rift to come between him and his friend Hercules. She watched as Xena betrayed Iolaus, and smiled when they defeated her. She watched and waited for the time she knew that her betrayal would be next. Thankfully that wasn’t the case.

 

One year had passed since that event. Arianna could sense a tension in Darphis. She knew from the scrolls that the time of Darphis’ betrayal was soon at hand. During the last year she had won the trust of the Warrior Princess. She was even allowed to go with Xena on some of her campaigns. A wise decision on Xena’s part, for Arianna’s fighting skills had become a valuable asset to her. On top of the fact that Arianna had taken an arrow meant for her. From that moment on Arianna had become more of a friend then a servant to Xena. Something Xena hadn’t is privileged to in many years.

 

 

This did not make Ares happy. In fact he was downright pissed. Back in the present, in his temples he left out a might roar of angry. So loud it shook the temple walls. “No!” he shouted, “ This is not supposed to happen. That idiot Darphis was supposed to make sure she died; now she is a buddy with Xena. Damn him. Well I guess I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands.”

Back at the fortress, Arianna was in a meeting with Xena. She had known about what was going to happen, it was the only thing on her mind. She was trying to find some way to warn Xena without given away the game. Finally she spoke, “ Xena, I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“Then speak Arianna I don’t have time for games.”

“Exactly how much can you trust Darphis?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Look I know Darphis has been with you much longer then I have, but I don’t trust him. I overheard him talking to Ares last night regarding the battle that is taking place tomorrow. I also know he isn’t exactly keen on your rules about not killing woman and children. I have a feeling that could present a problem.”

“You just mind your corner and let me worry about Darphis, I trust him completely. None of my men would dare strike out against me. Now leave me.”

“Yes Xena, but please be careful. I still don’t trust him” with that she, returned to her quarters.

 

 

The next day Xena had dispatched her army to the village leaving Darphis with the usual instruction, not to kill any woman or children. Then she left to scout out another conquest.

Darphis had no intentions of obeying that orders. He felt the time had come for a change in command. He ordered the men to kill everyone and burn the village down. Ares saw that as a perfect opportunity to get rid of Arianna. With a wave of his hand, he transported her right in the middle of the village. Before she had a chance to react, Darphis came from behind her and knocked her unconscious. The army continued to pillage and mane until everyone on in the village was dead, then they burned it to the ground.

 

When Xena returned, she was furious to learn what had taken place. She heard a small cry coming from the wreckage. A small baby had miraculously survived the massacre. Xena picked up the child just a Darphis was ordering a solider to kill the baby. “Anyone who kills this baby will be the next one to die, contrary to what some people believe I still lead this army!” She said as she glared at Darphis. Xena was about to leave when she heard a moaning, she looked down and spotted Arianna’s hand laying out from beneath at wagon. She quickly removed the wagon off her friend and helped her back to the camp.

 

Back at the camp the betrayal of her men and the trials began for our Warrior Princess. Arianna watched as her once mighty army put her thru a Gauntlet of Death. Arianna comforted her when the ordeal was over, and with the help of Hercules and Iolaus, she was able to help Xena put an end to Darphis twice. From then on the two were inseparable. She traveled with Xena until Gabrielle came into their lives. Arianna knew the time would soon come when she would have to let Xena know the truth.

 

To be continued…..