02/02
Ms. Hunter Ash
rating: PG13
Pairings: Xena & Gabrielle
# # #
Gabrielle entered the village slowly, leaning over the poor mare.
Both looked and felt exhausted. She had taken the road leading to
Poteidaia and then backtracked, as she had learned from Xena, hoping
to throw Mens off from her trail. So far, she hadn't heard him
following behind her for a couple of hours. The bard wasn't going to
count on that though, Perdicus' brother was a soldier and hunter.
She was sure he could pick up her trail, if not in the dark then at
first light.
She had kept riding, having to slow down for the poor horse. The
bard spotted the welcome lights of an inn and hitched her horse to a
post outside.
Gabrielle entered the tavern carefully, just as Xena had taught her,
she thought. She felt a familiar longing in her heart and soul, a
longing and fear. She really wished Xena was with her. Even when
under attack she was rarely afraid with Xena around, now she was
being chased by someone who said they wanted her dead and she was
unarmed and without her mate.
Seeing only local farmers and such the bard moved slowly to the bar
and smiled a tired smile at the barkeep, a middle aged man getting
around on a pair of crutches.
"Can I help you?" he asked. "I have excellent rooms
and my cook is wonderful."
"No, thank you. I need to trade my horse, she's done in and I'm
in a hurry. It's very important."
"I'm sorry, young lady, but I don't think so," he frowned.
"The stablemaster?"
"I own the stable too," he seemed to be looking Gabrielle
over and frowned again. "You need a bed, food and rest, not
another horse," he commented.
"You're right but I don't have the time nor the option, thank
you. Listen, do you trust the word of Xena?"
"Yes, totally."
Gabrielle was pleased and surprised, Xena's name could bring a lot of
reactions out of people and they weren't usually positive. She was
pleased that she had taken the chance with this man. She was also
determined to change those other opinions of Xena someday.
"I'm a friend and she should be a couple of days behind me. I
swear before all the gods that she'll make up any difference in the
value of any horse you want to trade me. Please."
The barkeep frowned and then nodded. He began moving down to the
other end of the bar and around it. He stopped for a moment to talk
with a very large woman serving drinks. Then he joined Gabrielle at
the door.
"What demon is after you, girl?" he asked as he looked over
her horse and began pulling the saddle and bags off.
"I need to get somewhere quickly."
"Listen, I'm not a fool. You've a cut on your cheek that hasn't
been attended to. You've been riding hard for quite awhile, your
clothes, hair and horse show it. You're on the run from something or
someone."
Gabrielle fought back the tears that threatened to spill out of her
eyes. "Someone wants to hurt me and I'm going somewhere safe."
"Until Xena can find you? Or is it Xena that you've pissed off?"
he asked with a grin.
"What? No, nothing like that. She's my friend."
"I'm Timicus," he said, extending his hand.
Gabrielle let her instincts take over and smiled at the man,
returning his handshake. "I'm Gabrielle," she responded.
"The bard that travels with Xena."
"Yes," Gabrielle was surprised when the large woman came
around the building leading a large horse. Timicus smiled at the
young woman's surprise.
"Xena's a friend of mine, too. You need to travel fast and this
guy will do it."
Gabrielle swallowed. "Okay."
"You should stay, you'll be safe here. My word as Xena's friend
that I'll protect you," he said seriously.
"Thank you, Timicus. I don't know if Mens is alone or not, I
know he's a bandit and there might be others with him. Where I'm
going it would take an army to reach me. I just have to get there in
time."
"All right, I'll watch for Xena and you can trade horses when
you come back this way. You'll also find a pack of food on the big
guy."
"Timicus, I can't...."
The bar owner held up his hand, cutting off her protests. "Don't worry about it. You're always welcome here. Orithya, help her onto the horse."
Gabrielle blushed but accepted the larger woman's help up into the
saddle. Timicus reached up to shake her hand again.
"He's a good horse and not stubborn. Just ride straight there
and he'll fly."
"Thank you both."
Gabrielle let the horse have his lead
and he began to fly and the young bard felt a ray of hope as she hung
on for dear life.
# # #
“Where does Harpalion live?” Xena asked in the tavern later that
night. She was dusty from the road and her voice was stern and
short.
“I’m Harpalion, you must be Xena,” a voice said next to her.
The warrior turned and found a middle-aged man standing at the bar.
She could see the family resemblance between him and his sister.
“Yes, is Gabrielle with you?”
“No, please come to my house, I think I might have something for
you.”
Once inside his simple but well kept house he sent his wife to bed
and came back from their bedroom with Gabrielle’s broken staff in
his hands. Xena’s heart sank as she took the pieces in her hands.
“What? How?”
“My wife and I were away to her family for a wedding. When we
returned I found this note,” he handed the warrior a parchment.
“Dearest Uncle Harpalion, sorry to come in while you were gone.
Mother told me about the parchment you had for me if something ever
happened to my father or mother. I don’t know if you heard about
my father’s accident but he has died and I came to retrieve the
parchment. I will come back and get it after the funeral, I am going
home now. Love, Gabrielle.”
“I found the staff just outside the doorway, that’s what is
puzzling me. The staff and this,” he handed the warrior a necklace
of beads, bones and feathers. He frowned. “That’s Amazon, isn’t
it?”
“Yes, it is. She never made it to Poteidaia. Something’s wrong
and she’s telling me she heading for safety with the Amazons.”
“Find her please, warrior.”
“My word on it, Harpalion,” Xena pledged as she slipped the
necklace over her neck.
“Here, take this with you, I know she’d trust you with it,” he
said, handing her a small pouch. “Inside are that parchment and a
bottle of something that her mother left with me.”
“Thank you,” Xena frowned at the pain when she mounted Argo
again. She looked down and saw the bandage on her thigh was bloody.
She cursed under her breath and urged the horse down the road.
Xena was more than a little worried. It had to be something very
serious for the Bard to be fleeing to the Amazon nation and to miss
her father’s funeral. Especially serious for the bard to put off
finding out the answers to a mystery. Xena smiled to herself,
Gabrielle seemed to be born with an innate curiosity that could drive
Xena crazy upon occasion. Keeping secrets from Gabrielle was almost
impossible, especially when she got her teeth into a mystery.
# # #
Gabrielle allowed the horse to slow down a bit as she approached
Amazon territory, beginning to think that she might make it to
safety. She stopped the horse to take a drink from a waterskin when
a crossbow bolt shot past her head. With lightning speed she found
herself holding another bolt in her hand, having caught it on
instinct. She looked down the road and saw Menestratus reloading his
crossbow. With a snarl she urged her stallion back into a run and
headed across the meadow, heading for Amazon territory, clinging to
the horse.
As her horse broke through a line of trees Gabrielle heard a
challenging bird cry but didn't stop her horse until she was across a
clearing and in another tree line. She fell off the horse and dashed
behind a tree, raising her hands and clasping her wrists together in
a sign that she was unarmed.
She heard Menestratus break into the clearing on his horse, looking
for her.
"Stop there or die!" a harsh voice shouted out from the
trees.
Gabrielle peeked around the tree and saw the man stop his horse,
looking puzzled. With a snarl he began to move the horse forward
again only to pull up suddenly when several arrows penetrated the
ground in front of the horse.
"You are entering Amazon territory and you are not welcome.
Leave or die," the voice ordered.
"Send the girl out! She's not one of you!" he demanded.
Gabrielle sensed movement and turned to see several Amazons drop from
the surrounding trees, weapons at ready. They went to their knees
immediately upon seeing her face.
The lead border guard spoke, "My Queen, do we kill him?"
"No," Gabrielle glanced back at Menestratus. "Tell him
you have granted the bard sanctuary and to leave," she
instructed.
The lead border guard shouted that at Menestratus who glared about
him, obviously debating whether to risk it.
"Let me kill him, my Queen," one of the Amazons demanded.
"No, put an arrow over his head. Part his hair," Gabrielle
smiled grimly.
The Amazon grinned and took careful aim. The Amazon Queen had no
doubt in the archer's ability, even shooting at a target on a horse
shifting on its legs. Menestratus cursed and turned his horse at a
run when the arrow clipped his ear.
The border guard leader turned to her Queen, noting the exhaustion
and the cut cheek. "My Queen, I'll send a runner ahead to
announce your return. Menthia will ride behind you and escort you to
the village. I'm going to double the guards on the border."
Gabrielle nodded as one of the guards bounded onto the horse and then
helped the bard into the saddle. By the time they reached the
village Gabrielle felt her head dropping forward and the Amazon
behind her discreetly put her arms around the small bard, holding
onto the reins and keeping her Queen from falling out of the saddle.
Gabrielle was barely aware of reaching the village, hearing anxious
and demanding voices. Not really listening as the runner and her
escort told the Regent Ephiny what they knew of Gabrielle's presence
there. She was aware of being helped down off the horse and into
someone's arms.
"Xena?" she whispered.
"No, my Queen. I wish she were here to explain this, though."
Gabrielle smiled at Ephiny's voice. "She's safe," she
whispered and closed her eyes again.
# # #
In the next village Xena finally got some partial answers from an old
friend.
“Xena?” the older man hobbled out from behind the tavern bar on
crutches to shake the warrior’s arm. “I don’t believe it! How
are you? What brings you here?”
“How are you Timicus?” she asked, letting herself be led to the
bar.
“Better than you, I think,” he commented, looking her up and
down. Xena merely shrugged. “Orithya, bring my guest food and
port!” he called to the barmaid.
“I don’t have time, Tim.”
“Yes, you do. When was the last time you ate?” he demanded,
pulling a chair up to a table for her. “And when was the last time
someone changed that bandage? “Orithya, the healing supplies too!
And clean water!” he shouted.
“I really don’t have time, I need information if you have it.”
“Then you’ll have it while I change that bandage and you eat,”
the barmaid completed the delivery of all the items her boss wanted
with several trips and then helped Timicus in changing the bandages.
He whistled when he saw the wound. With a shake of the head he
poured healing herbs on it and followed that with salve. Xena hissed
as he rebandaged the leg while Orithya bandaged the arm.
“That wound is not looking good, warlord.”
“I’m not your warlord anymore, Tim. I’m not anyone’s
warlord,” Xena said between bites.
“I know, thank the gods,” Tim grinned. “I couldn’t afford to
lose another leg.”
“Tim, I’m sorry about that.....”
He held up a hand and laughed. “Enough! We’ve been through this.
Losing that leg was the best thing to ever happen. Got me out of
your army and soldiering and into this bar. I’m married, got four
kids, money set aside, good employees and I’m happy. How about
you? I hear you’ve changed.”
“Yes. Tim, I don’t have time, I promise I’ll be back and we’ll
catch up.”
“All right, finish eating and tell me between mouthfuls what brings
you here,” he sat back in his chair after whispering to his
barmaid.
“Have you seen a bard traveling through, probably in a hurry. She’s
small, reddish blond hair, small but wiry build.”
“Yes, named Gabrielle.”
“Yes! You’ve seen her?”
“Yes, two days ago. She came in here and offered to trade her
horse for a fresh one. I wasn’t going to trade but she asked if I
trusted your word. I told I trusted you with my life and she said
you’d pay any difference between the animals and that you’d
probably be following. I asked her what devil was after her. I
mean, Xena, she was scared. Her hair was messed up and she was dusty
from the road and she drank two goblets of water real quick like.
She told me to tell you that someone is after her and she’s heading
for the Amazons. I made her grab some food and she was off
immediately.”
Xena was nearly frantic but Timicus held up his hand to stop her.
“Finish your food. It won’t do her any good if you fall out of
your saddle.”
The barmaid came back with a pair of saddle bags and handed them to
Xena. “Filled with travel food, my friend,” Tim answered her
questioning eyebrows.
"You were always a good man, Tim," Xena stood and winced at
the pain and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Tim
looked concerned and reached forward slowly to feel her forehead as
well.
"You're burning up, my friend," he scolded.
"I've got to go, Tim."
"You need rest, you're friend is either safe or dead by now."
"She's not dead, I'd know that. I've got to get to her as soon
as I can," Xena threw the saddlebags over her shoulder.
"Is it true then, warrior?" Tim smiled and Xena hesitated
at the door.
"Is what true, friend?"
"That the mighty Conqueror was conquered?" he grinned and
then laughed when Xena began blushing. "Go and come back this
way, I want time to meet her."
With a sheepish grin the warrior was back on the road.
The closer Xena got to Amazon territory the better she felt about
Gabrielle. She hadn’t found the bard yet and hopefully that meant
she had out rode whoever was after her and Xena was confident in the
ability of the Amazon’s to protect their Queen.
With her arm wounded the warrior wasn’t as fast as normal and it
cost her. Xena found herself coughing in the dust of the road,
wincing in pain from the arrow sticking through her shoulder and from
landing hard. With a growl she rolled off the road and drew her
sword as she regained her feet. She was limping heavily and the pain
was clouding her eyes. The warrior barely even caught a glimpse of
the butt end of a crossbow before it hit her.
# # #
Gabrielle moaned as she opened her eyes, her body felt like it had
been under the horse and not on top of it for the last two days. She
rose up on her elbows, looking around and taking in the familiar
sight of the Queen's hut. She sighed with relief, barely remembering
making it to the Amazon territory.
Ephiny rose from the chair she had been sitting in and sat on the bed
next to her Queen.
"I hope you don't mind me watching over you," the Regent
smiled.
"Not at all, my friend." Gabrielle looked around again.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Twelve hours," she grinned at the bard's shocked
expression. "I figured from your condition and how tired that
horse was that you've been riding hard for at least a day and night."
"That's my second horse," Gabrielle confessed with a smile.
She groaned again as she tried to move. "This reminds me why I
prefer walking,” she complained.
Ephiny grinned and stood up, helping the bard to her feet. "Get
dressed and we'll feed you. You can also tell me what's going on."
Gabrielle did explain from the point of leaving Xena behind in a
village and getting attacked at her Uncle's home by her ex-brother in
law. Ephiny looked as puzzled as Gabrielle felt.
They sat down in the eating hall with food. Gabrielle welcomed the
sight of food, having eaten little for several days. She hadn't been
eating well when Xena was gone and she had been on the move and then
on the run for days after that. Ephiny frowned at the sight of her
Queen, too tired and too thin, she decided.
"I don't get it," Ephiny complained. "Why would he
want you dead?"
"I haven't a clue!" Gabrielle complained right back. "And
I don't know what to do with him!"
"What can we do? If he's determined to kill you then he has to
be killed," Ephiny said simply.
"No, you know how I feel about killing."
"Gabrielle, my Queen," Ephiny placed a hand over the
bard's. "I know how you feel but it's sometimes not an option.
Either we kill him or Xena does."
"Xena, any word from her?"
"Not yet. You said she'd be three days behind you, it'll take
her some time to get here."
"Maybe I can talk to him and find out what is going on,"
Gabrielle suggested.
"No! I approached his camp last night while you were asleep and
asked that very question," Ephiny said slowly.
"And?" Gabrielle demanded, her jaw taking that stubborn
set. She felt really frustrated and irritable. Much like her
warrior, the bard hated not being in control like this.
"He refused to say why he wanted you, only that we should send
you out and soon. I told him that you were under our protection and
he wasn't happy about it."
"What in Tartarus could he want?!" Gabrielle snapped.
"I don't know. I've got scouts watching him. He's staying just
outside of our territory, waiting for you."
"I need a bath," Gabrielle muttered.
"And something to hit too, I think." Ephiny grinned and
ducked Gabrielle's playful swipe at her head.
"Gods, I wish Xena were here," the bard muttered.
Ephiny watched as her young Queen crossed the common grounds towards
the Queen's Hut. "So do I, Gabrielle. I've got a feeling you
two are even closer than ever and that you really need her right
now."
Gabrielle, feeling the same, let her tears fall into the bath water.
Crying for her father, her family, her lover, and herself.
She also cursed Menestratus, whatever his reasoning, he was keeping
her away from her family, her father's funeral, and her mate.
# # #
“This is not my week,” the warrior muttered to herself as
consciousness began screaming at her. Once again, her trained mind
took over and assessed herself and her surroundings. She muttered
another curse. The warrior was blindfolded and that always presented
extra problems when you didn’t know where you were and you weren’t
ever sure when you were being watched.
Xena took several deep breaths and extended her senses. She felt
manacles on her wrists attached to chains; arms outspread, holding
her body weight up. She stood up to relieve the stress on her arms
and wrists, especially the wounded shoulder which was feeling like a
hot poker was being prodded into the wound right then. Bird and
other animal noises reached her as well as the scent of forest. She
hadn’t been taken far then, she thought. No sunlight but it was
still warm, not night-time yet, that meant she hadn’t been
unconscious long.
Personal assessment: head hurt like Tartarus, thanks. The leg was
throbbing and felt swollen and that was not good. The wrists hurt,
of course, but the major pain was the shoulder wound. Xena moved
slightly and it felt like the arrow had been removed but the shoulder
wasn’t bandaged.
All in total, the former Warlord summed up: not good. Manacles would
be extremely difficult to get out of, especially blindfolded. Not
bandaging the warriors wounds probably meant her attacker didn’t
mean to keep her around. Kidnappers usually wanted their captives
healthy until they got their money. She didn’t think this one
wanted ransom.
“I know you’re there,” Xena said simply. “What do you want?”
Further movement told the warrior that her armor had been removed and
so had the dagger between her breasts. Damn!
“Your death,” a male voice answered, in a simple conversational
tone.
“Terrific, stand in line.”
The male laughed and Xena felt him approach from in front of her.
Then Xena's head was rocked back and she could taste blood in her
mouth and felt it flowing from her nose from the punch she had just
received. 'I hate being blindfolded,' she thought to herself again.
“I think I moved to the front when I caught you. Although your
wounds probably helped slow you down.” Xena did scream this time
when she felt fingers jammed into her leg wound and quickly bit her
lip.
"That's better," the voice approved of the sound.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Xena demanded. It was hard
standing on one leg for any length of time but it hurt too much to
put weight on the other leg. She didn’t want to drop and let her
wrists and arms take the weight of her body either, that would set
the shoulder bleeding, not to mention the pain. This was not a good
situation, she decided again.
“I told you what I want, your death.”
“What for? Who are you?”
“I am Menestratus, brother of Perdicus.”
“Why in all the hells of Tartarus would you be stalking Gabrielle,
your sister-in-law?” the warrior demanded and was surprised when
her head rocked back and forth from the force of the blow from
Menestratus’ fist connecting with her jaw. The warrior knew if she
could see it would be only stars for the moment. She shook her head
and moved her jaw around, testing its movement. She spit blood at
where she had last heard his voice.
“She is no sister of mine!” he hissed, this time in her ear. She
hadn’t heard him move while she was still reeling from the blow.
He was now behind her. Xena felt the familiar sensation of a blade
at her throat. She hadn’t been on the receiving end of that kind of
threat often but she knew how a blade felt.
“Because of both of you my brother is dead."
"Gabrielle loved Perdicus."
"And now she loves you. The only good thing in my life is dead.
She talked him into giving up his sword and your creation, Callisto,
killed him. Gabrielle took something away from me and now I'm going
to take something away from her," While ranting Menestratus
left a small and shallow wound along the warrior's throat, just
enough to sting and draw blood.
"This isn't going to bring Perdicus back and it won't help you.
Listen to yourself, you've become just like Callisto, the one who
murdered your brother in cold blood," Xena said calmly.
The warrior gritted her teeth as she took several punches to the
small of her back. The blows managed to knock her leg out from under
her and the full weight of her body was snapped up by her wrists,
arms and shoulders. As lightning hot pain shot through her body from
her shoulder the darkness claimed the warrior again.
# # #
Gabrielle was wrapping leather around a new staff when Ephiny ran
from between some huts and skidded to a stop in front of her.
"Gabrielle! My Queen,"
Gabrielle quickly stood up and grabbed Ephiny's arm. "What is
it?" she demanded.
Ephiny swallowed visibly and then brought up a familiar shiny object.
Gabrielle took it in her hand, staring at it, stunned.
No one else had a chakram like this, no one but her mate.
"Xena?" she whispered.
"Menestratus told the border guard that he has Xena and that you
are to meet him in a clearing five marks from here at sundown or she
dies," Ephiny said through gritted teeth.
"No," the bard whispered and Ephiny placed a hand on the
young woman's arm to steady her.
"Gabrielle, you can't do it," Ephiny growled.
Flashing green eyes met the Regent's. "I won't let her die!"
Gabrielle hissed.
"And I won't let either of you die!"
"Then let's get her back," Gabrielle said simply, heading
for the main hut. "Bring the scout and guard leaders in. I
want the best archers we've got ready to leave in half a candlemark."
"Yes, my Queen," Ephiny dashed away to get the instructions
out before joining Gabrielle in the hut.
"Hesione," Gabrielle called out to another Amazon as she
walked.
"Yes, my Queen!"
"Tell the Healer to be prepared," she ordered.
"Yes, my Queen!"
Gabrielle entered the hut with a curse. She had been afraid for
herself, now she was terrified for her lover. She knew Xena wouldn't
have gone down without a fight, which meant the warrior was probably
even more wounded than the last time the bard had seen her.
Gabrielle felt the stirrings of hatred beginning. She could
understand just a touch of that darkness Xena had once fallen into.
She was beginning to hate Menestratus.
* * *
Gabrielle followed quietly behind the scout. Traveling with Xena had
taught the bard how to walk silently through the forest and through
the tree tops. Having been adopted into the Amazon tribe had
furthered her training. Xena had been pleased whenever they visited
the Amazons that Gabrielle had taken every opportunity to train with
the women warriors and scouts in addition to her studying of the
Amazon scrolls.
The scout stopped and motioned her Queen forward. Gabrielle moved
cautiously along the large tree branch and glanced into the clearing.
The scout grabbed the bard's arm to steady her as the scout heard a
growl from her Queen.
Gabrielle felt a roaring in her ears and eyes clouded over, seeing
red. Then she shook her head and cleared her vision.
Chained and blindfolded between two trees was her mate, her lover,
and her life. Gabrielle was close enough to see the bloody wound at
the warrior's thigh and the blood seeping from a wound in her
shoulder. She clutched her bow as she saw Menestratus approach Xena
and then hit her in the face, sending the warrior's head snapping
back and forth. Gabrielle bit her own lip as Xena's began to bleed.
"How soon is everyone in position?" she whispered to the
scout. The scout sent out several bird calls and received several
back.
"They are in place," she answered.
"Good."
Ephiny joined them. "Everyone is ready, Gabrielle. Let one of
the archers take him," she urged.
"He's mine," Gabrielle said flatly.
"Scout, take a position in the next tree," Ephiny ordered
and the smaller Amazon scurried through the tree and away.
"Gabrielle, let one of the archers take him. Don't give into
this feeling, this is what Xena fights against for you."
Gabrielle felt her muscles begin to relax and the roaring in her ears
began to die down. She lowered her bow and her head.
"You're right. I couldn't even kill Callisto when I had a
dagger at her throat. I can't do this," she whispered.
They both looked up to see Menestratus hit Xena again and Ephiny
found herself growling along with Gabrielle. Ephiny whistled a bird
call, knowing every one of the archers were pulling back on their
bows as they answered.
# # #
"Are you awake yet?"
"Go to Tartarus," Xena mumbled. Again a slap to the face.
"That wasn't a nice thing to say."
Menestratus seemed to be waiting for the warrior to say something
else but she refused.
"That little bitch managed to get into Amazon territory before I
caught up with her so I've sent word that I have you and for her to
come alone. Good thing for me those Amazons don't like to leave their
territory and they won't trouble about a lowly bard. I don't know how
long those she-demons would grant her sanctuary but I'm not waiting.
When she gets here she'll find you hanging here like a slab of meat,"
he informed her.
"You're not going to ambush her?"
"No, I want her to live with what I've lived with. She can try
and sleep nights with the image of you like this."
For the first time in days Xena felt the beginnings of hope,
Menestratus didn't know about Gabrielle being the Queen of the
Amazons. For Gabrielle they would go to the end of the earth and for
her champion, Xena. They would also protect Gabrielle if they didn't
arrive in time to get Xena out of the mess.
"This is not what Perdicus would want."
"That's the ironic part of this," a voice insisted. "We
are so much alike, warlord. I'm a mercenary, a bandit at times.
Perdicus was like light itself to me, always trying to get me to
change. All he wanted was to help people and couldn't understand why
I rode with warlords like you."
"Strats?" Xena whispered. "I know your voice."
"Damn you," the voice sounded tired.
"You rode with me," Xena felt sick to her stomach. She did
remember him, a good soldier and an even better bandit. "You
were at Cirra."
The impact of the situation made Xena's head reel.
"Yeah, I was there."
Xena's sharp ears picked up a bird call that was followed by an
answering one. She turned her attention back to the man she had
known as Strats.
Gabrielle saw Xena's head snap up when she heard the bird calls and
felt a surge of joy; Xena knew the Amazons were there!
"Tell them to fire if he starts to touch her again,"
Gabrielle ordered and Ephiny called out the orders in the special
code the Amazons shared.
"Damnit! You're as much responsible for Perdicus' death as I
am!" Xena snapped. "You were there, you helped slaughter
Callisto's family and turned her into the monster who murdered your
brother. You can't blame Gabrielle for this."
"I realize that, warlord. That's why after Gabrielle finds your
body I'll fall on my sword and accept my guilt."
"It doesn't have to be like this!" Xena protested. "We
both made mistakes and people have paid for it. Don't make Gabrielle
suffer for our actions."
"It's too late for me, warlord and now for you as well.”
Xena had the feeling he was about to strike when she heard the sounds
of arrows through the air and a slight grunt followed by something
hitting the ground. Then bird calls and animal sounds filled the
area.
"No!" Gabrielle had cried out, drawing her own arrow back.
Before Menestratus could clear the space between him and Xena he was
pierced through the throat with a cleanly placed arrow. Several more
followed, piercing his chest from the front and behind. None of the
arrows came close to the warrior woman.
Gabrielle knew she risked her neck at the speed she left the trees
but didn't care. Nothing existed except to get to her lover. The
other Amazons trotted to catch up.
"Xena!"
It was the sweetest sound that the warrior had ever heard.
"Gabrielle!"
She felt the bard's hands on her face and then the tender lips she
had missed more than life itself. As other hands began supporting
her weight and working at the manacles Xena let herself slip away,
feeling safe in the arms of her bard and in the company of the
Amazons.
“I love you, little one,” the warrior muttered as darkness
claimed her.
"Xena! No!" Gabrielle wailed.
# # #
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