By L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
Copyright © August 2002 L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
All Rights Reserved
Reworked: January 30, 2004
Dedication: Ari’s story is for all survivors, and the people who love them.
Disclaimers:
* Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of MCA/Universal and
Renaissance Pictures. All other characters are mine.
* This story in no way reflects the life or actions of the wonderful actress, Claire Stansfield. Her portrayal of
Xena’s nemesis was so wickedly inspired as to make the character of Alti the absolute evil villain.
Rated: NC-17, not intended, or suitable for children.
Violence: Physical child abuse issues are portrayed and its effects are completely explored.
Sexual Violence: Child molestation is depicted and its effects are explored fully.
Subtext:
X/G are portrayed as being in a loving, long-term relationship/marriage.
Extra Warning:
As Alti raised the main character, I feel it’s necessary to warn that this story deals with child abuse and
molestation issues. It may trigger abuse issues for some. This story should be unpleasant for all readers, but to
know Ari, and the difficulties that her new family faces, it is important to know where she came from.
Ari felt the afternoon sun bathing her bare skin. As the morning turned to noon, the dark child had removed
her outer tunic and wore only her cotton undershirt. With arms bare, she was able to enjoy the feel of the sun
against her skin. After so many years in darkness, something as simple as feeling the sun on her flesh was
enough to bring a slight smile to her face. Pleased by the girl’s appearance, her mothers returned her smile as
they continued down the road leading them toward Amphipolis.
On their last leg of the trip, the four women were once again left alone. Although she had briefly wondered
where Virgil was, she decided to not ask after she saw Xena scowling at the table when Gabrielle’s family
briefly mentioned him over breakfast. Sensing that he was a sensitive topic to discuss, each member chose to
ignore the warrior’s anger as they quickly changed the subject. Curious by her mother’s reaction, Ari
remained silent while watching her closely. She hoped that in time, she would begin to understand what had
caused such a reaction from the warrior princess.
At a slight sound near her, she glanced down at her sister and watched as the prophet scribbled something
onto a small piece of parchment. Sensing the girl’s eyes, Eve smiled up at her as she blew on the parchment,
then re-rolled it and tucked it back in her shirt.
“Just a note to myself,” Eve shrugged as Babu moseyed behind Ari’s horse. With a curious nod, the dark
haired girl returned her attention back to the road. The whispers once prominent in her mind were now
silenced in a low hush. She knew that if she wanted to, she could have easily brought the voices back, but
knowing this was considered wrong, she kept her mind occupied with other thoughts in order to avoid any
inadvertent whispers from entering her thoughts.
By tomorrow they would be in their new home. Xena hadn’t spoken much about the place, but Gabrielle told
some stories about the farm that once belonged to the warrior’s family. At one time, it had been given to Ares
when his god powers were gone. But once he regained the powers, the farm was once again left abandoned.
The notion of the God of War without his powers took Ari by surprise. Although she was aware of how
strong and powerful he was, she and Alti had always avoided an alliance with him. For some reason, the
sorceress was fearful of any contact with the old gods, including Ares’ sister, Aphrodite, and this always
confused the girl. If the evil woman was intent on conquering the world, then why would she not wish to have
a strong ally like Ares, and what harm could the helpless goddess Aphrodite cause them, she once asked,
which resulted in the sorceress’ wrath. With a slight grimace, the dark child lowered her head as the memory
of that time from long ago return to her…
“Do not ever let me hear you say that! Do you understand, little girl?” Alti hissed close to her ear.
With cut lip and eyes swollen shut from the beating, Ari only nodded as she fought back the nausea.
She felt a sharp, stinging pain with each breath that she took. When she swallowed, the copper taste of
her own blood registered in her senses.
“Good… That’s a good girl…” Alti purred softly as she gently lifted Ari from the cold floor and
carried her to their shared bed. “My poor little girl shouldn’t be so inquisitive because you know that I
have it all planned out. And having Ares, the god of war, on our side is not in my plans!” the sorceress
voice grew deep. Almost afraid of a repeat beating, the girl cringed as she pulled away, and held her
arm over her head as she braced herself for another blow.
“There, there little girl,” Alti cooed unnaturally as she gently brushed her fingers through Ari’s hair.
“Mother didn’t want to hurt you, she didn’t want to punish you this way, but you made me do it, didn’t
you?” The bigger woman’s words registered in the child’s hearing as she felt the older woman’s hand
lightly resting against her battered eyes. At the warmth of her mother’s touch, the girl sighed as she
felt the healing magic pouring from the sorceress to her eyes. When the pain and swelling suddenly
disappeared, she became calm as she felt her mother’s hands moving over her body. The aged hand
momentarily rested on her rib then when it was no longer difficult to breath, the conjurer continued to
send her magic touch over the girl’s black and blue marks. In time, when the pain was gone, the
captive opened her eyes to her mother’s smiling face.
She had only been in the outside world for a few moons before the God of War had approached them.
When she first saw Ares, she was intrigued by him and wanted to know more about him. But at her
inquiries, her mother kept her so far away from the God of War that Ari only knew him by sight. After
the dark child learned of his offer, she couldn’t understand why her mother would not want him on
their side and although Alti had not answered her question, the young warrior soon learned that silence
in matters like this were better.
“You see, little girl, mother knows how to take care of you, mother knows what is best for her little
girl,” Alti smiled as she brushed her fingers through Ari’s dark hair. “And mother knows that it’s
better to not have Ares as an ally. I know what power the God of War can hold, why, he held it over
Xena! Why would I want my little girl to fall prey to such a beast!” Alti made it sound like Ares was a
hideous god who held unnatural powers over the people he commanded.
When she felt the older woman’s hands moving down her chest and into her shirt, Ari only sighed as
she nodded understanding of her mother’s words. Pleased with her reaction, Alti lowered herself to
kiss the girl’s parted lips. With no other thoughts but the feel of her mother’s body against hers, the
young commander closed her eyes as she returned the sorceress’ kiss…
“Ari, why don’t you take care of the horses while I hunt us some dinner, can you do that sweetheart?” Xena’s
voice pulled the girl from her dark memories.
Blinking in surprise, Ari looked around and noticed the open clearing. As she watched Gabrielle and Eve
dismount, she only nodded as she followed their moves. When she felt the familiar moisture between her legs,
she closed her eyes as she willed her body under control. After her short time with her family, she learned that
what Alti had done to her was wrong. Despite this, the dark child found it hard to keep her body’s yearnings
under control whenever she remembered how Alti would touch her. With a shake of her head, the girl took
the reins of the horses and led them to the nearby clearing as her family began to set-up camp for the evening.
Xena could not shake the feeling of déjà vu. As she gathered her weapons to hunt for their dinner, she found
herself consumed with thoughts of eldest child. Although this time it was not a rape that worried her, she was
still worried that her daughter’s encounter with Virgil might leave them all with an unexpected arrival nine
months from now. Of course, unlike the first time that she worried about this for Ari, Xena now knew that she
could do nothing about it. One dosage of the purifier was all that the girl’s body could take, so if a child did
result from the girls indiscretion, there would be nothing that they could do about it.
