AN-This is yet another way in my mind that Xena could be resurrected. It will probably be just a short story but I love these characters and hated how the show ended. I hope you enjoy. As always any feedback and suggestions are welcome.
The long flowing emerald green grass was about knee high. There were the scattered wild flowers that went along with the wavy blades. It would be any horses or cows paradise. There was also a small lake that was as clear blue as the nearly cloudless blue sky above. There was a large tall tree that was just to the side of the water. A rope hung from the tree and there was a never ending group of children that seemed to line up for a chance to swing into the refreshing waters.
A figure that normally would be clad in black leather and armor lay on her side on a blanket with a picnic basket at her side enjoying the sights and the sounds and the smells. Nothing had ever felt so real to the raven haired woman dressed in a form fitting white robe. The long tendrils of her hair waved slightly in the breeze. The sun was shining brightly as if the noon hour was upon her though time here had no meaning and therefore time escaped the tall lanky form.
There were others that were surrounding her. They were as familiar as the back of her hand. One was a shorter more robust figure of herself. The graying hair gave away the older woman's age though only barely. A curly haired sandy blond man was sitting just opposite her. All three had almost the exact same haunting blue eyes. A smile was upon all three faces when a familiar sandy blond young boy of around ten took his turn on the rope swing.
A huge splash sprayed the rest waiting in line and a laugh escaped the raven haired woman. Her blue eyes never left his form as he made his way across the expanse of the small lake. It wasn't long until his dripping form had flopped down next to her. His blue eyes matched perfectly the rest of the group that sat upon the blanket. He smiled at the tallest form. But the smile quickly faded as did all the others. None quicker than that of the raven haired woman.
A sweet voice that echoed throughout the place at almost all times rained down once again upon them. "Xena!" The raven haired woman cringed at the tone of the voice. Though where she was was supposed to be a place of happiness and of contentment she knew that as long as the owner of the voice was alive she would never truly find a moment's peace and any kind of happiness would be fleeting at best. "I love you! I miss you! Why did you leave me!" Sobs could be heard as well.
Quickly the raven haired woman stood. There were tears in her eyes. She turned from her blood family whom she loved more than anything except for one person that haunted her. She was in a place that all Greek's sought. It was a place that was supposed to represent eternal happiness. And yet she was anything but happy most of the time. Her graceful form walked away from the people that deserved to be here. That was something that, though she knew she had sacrificed everything, she was still not sure that she was worthy of.
The small boy made a move to follow but the older woman put a hand on his shoulder. She had seen what it was like for the taller woman and knew that there was only one thing that would bring her happiness. This place, that was full of peace and contentment, could never make a spirit such as the raven haired woman happy. In fact there was only one thing that could make her truly happy and had in the past. And that person was trapped on the other side.
What the older woman feared was that the person that could bring happiness to the dark haired woman was on a path here. While it was not a bad thing to be here, the way that one ended up here made all the difference. If the person continued on the path that she was now on, she would end up here before her time. That would mean that her judgment day could take her to another place and forever would two souls that were always meant to travel together be separate. Because if that was how the death was chosen, there would be no chance of meeting again in another life.
Xena made her way along the grassy fields. While she loved being reunited with her brother, son and her mother there was a large piece of her that was missing. In life she had done many things that had meant she would not end up in this place. After the death of most of the Grecian Gods, she wondered if this place would even be possible if she were worthy when her time came. After all, the last time that she and Gabrielle had both crossed over they had gone to the heaven foretold by Eli.
The tall woman stopped suddenly as the familiar voice cried out again. The warrior realized that it was probably night wherever her soulmate was. There was no night here. There was only the light of day which was how she thought of the woman. The way that Gabrielle called out she knew she was having yet another nightmare. They were frequent and they were always the same thing. And they haunted Xena to no end. "Why did you choose them over us? We had redemption. We had everything. But now, I have nothing."
The words caused Xena to shudder all the way to her very core. Knowing that she was the one that caused this perpetual torment was too much to bear. Already tense, somehow she managed to tense more as a familiar presence was felt. Not even bothering to turn around she greeted her frenemy. "Hello, Ares." Slowly she continued the walk still trying to get the words out of her head. "What can I do for you? I'm dead so I'm no good to you as a warrior."
Ares snapped his fingers and was instantly in the warrior's path. "That's where you're wrong, Xena. You are always good to me." When she raised an eyebrow in question he quickly continued. "Ok. You were always good for me. When you wanted to be." Xena rolled her eyes and pushed past the God of War. The leather clad figure shook his head. You never make things easy. I like it. Quickly he caught up to his prey, this time trotting along like a mortal. "I know you're not happy here. I've come to help."
Xena quickly skidded to a halt. As she turned to face him, her blue eyes took in the dark figure that stood before her reminding her so much of everything she had been at on time. She had been a ruthless killer doing anything to gain not so much money but power. Power was the key to everything. That lessen had been taught so harshly by Caesar. Later she had been taught the very same lessen slowly and lovingly over time. For it was the power of the love that she shared with Gabrielle from the moment they met that had turned her life around.
"What can you do for me?" Xena crossed her arms over her chest. She knew that both he and Aphrodite had lost a lot of their Godly powers ever since The Twilight had happened. While there was still a Mount Olympus and they were still Gods the belief in any gods had waned since then. That went back to the lesson of power that she had learned. Power is given. Power is taken. But without belief in oneself or belief by others then there is no power especially for a god.
Instantly the God put on his mock hurt face going so far as to put his right hand over his chest. "Really my love." Blue eyes shot red hot daggers at the God for his choice of words. Ares had learned a long time ago that, while he may love the warrior, her heart would forever belong to a certain annoying petite blond. But no one could blame a God for trying, now could they? "I am still a God. I do still have powers. And I know what it is you want."
The raven haired woman snorted. "I highly doubt that you even have half a clue as to what I want." I'm not sure what I want other than to have Gabrielle by my side. But how and where? I want her to live a full life. I want her to find happiness again without me since I made that dreaded choice so long ago. Or do I want her here? The warrior sighed knowing that there was no way that she wanted her soulmate to be here with her. That would mean the light would have gone out in the living world. And there was still so much for the bard to do.
"Oh, I think I have a very good idea of what you want." Ares cautiously came up behind his former protégé. Knowing what was most likely to happen next he put his arms around the tall woman. Shocked when she only grunted something incoherent he kept his arms around her. This was the closest that they had been since, well, since she had found the path to redemption. Oh there had been a few times when it had all been part of a plan for the warrior but this was different. "She writes, tells stories, kicks ass and loves you with every single piece of her being. Sound familiar?"
The warrior shuddered at the apt description of the woman that she loved. Though it was also lacking in so many ways, she knew that was how most people saw her soulmate. Those were just what were on the surface. There was so much more to Gabrielle that no one but the raven haired woman had been privy to. "Sounds very familiar." Her heart started to race just thinking about the woman that she loved. Just a thought and I'm so lost without your touch.
Ares watched, not in amazement or surprise, but sadly as a tear formed in the corner of his protégé's eye. He knew that she would never let it fall. Not even with the continued screams of pain and betrayal that kept coming from the same petite blond they were speaking of. It was not the bard's fault. When one sleeps that is when the painful truth is revealed. Oh, Xena. She loves you so. And you love her. Even a selfish God such as myself can see that. You need her as much as she needs oxygen to live and vice versa.
The God of War stepped back from the embrace that he had initiated shocked to see that there was more than one tear that streaked the beautiful graceful features of the woman that still owned his heart. I guess even I underestimated just how much these two not only love each other but need one another. "She's in a lot of pain." The face before him that had just a second ago been sad turned feral. The leather clad figure held up his hands in mock surrender. "I knew you know that. There is a way. That you can both be together. But you have to be willing…"
For once Xena never even thought about the consequences. If she had she knew that she would probably owe the God of War a huge debt that would possibly destroy once again what she sought so hard to resurrect she might not have been so quick. But her heart and the heart of her soulmate were aching beyond words. "I'm willing to do anything to be with her. I want her so badly…" The raven haired head turned so that Ares could not see her face. While she was and always would be a proud warrior, there were a few things that were worth giving up your dignity for. Gabrielle was the most important thing and would always give up everything for her. Especially after…
Xena closed her eyes and remembered. Remembered those last minutes that she and Gabrielle had shared on that mountainside. Just behind them was the mystical water that could have brought her ashes back to life. If she had just given into Gabrielle one last time then they would not be separated like they were. There would be no need to possibly make an alliance with a demon for that was how she saw Ares at least sometimes.
There was a smug look on the God of War's face that quickly changed to one of a very serious one. "You might or might not know that my sister has been helping your partner." Xena looked at him. "Aphrodite has been basically shuttling her everywhere that she wants to go. I'm not sure why Sis is doing it." Ares shrugged. He had never truly understood his sister. They were close but they were also total opposites. "There's a way if we can convince both my sister and your partner that it was a possibility."
Now that had the warrior princess intrigued. No she hadn't heard that Aphrodite was helping out her soulmate. It didn't surprise her though. Over the past years they had gotten close. Close enough so that the Goddess of Love had tried her best to protect Gabrielle when the twilight was almost a reality. Though never truly seeing eye to eye with any of the gods, the pink clad one was the one that Xena actually tolerated the best. "I take it there are risks."
Ares snorted. "As with anything, there are always risks." Behind them he could see the three figures that his protégé had been having a picnic with coming up behind them. "It would mean that there was a possibility that you would forfeit all of this." He waved his hand around at the tranquil place they found themselves in. Gently he turned the warrior around so that she could see her family making their way slowly toward them. "It might mean never seeing them again."
Xena's breath caught in her throat or would have if she had reason or need of it. But being dead and in the Elysian Fields meant that nothing to do with being alive was a necessity. The picnic they had been sharing was just something to pass the time. Solon waved at his mother and his pace quickened. Lyceus and Cyrene both took in the look on the raven haired woman and they just knew. "I'd hate to lose them but…" The warrior swallowed in reflex.
"But your jonesing for your gal Friday is a bigger pull." Ares was now standing beside the warrior and could see her face. The complex emotions that were flowing across her face were beyond incredible. Most always thought that the ex-warlord had few to little emotions. But that was what had made her such a great leader and visionary. Her emotions ran deeper than anyone's that he had ever known. "So what are you willing to do, Warrior Princess, to get your honey back?"
There was no thought involved whatsoever. Even with the three that were almost upon the God of War and the warrior Xena knew where her heart truly was. The constant calls to her from her soulmate were enough for her to give up anything and everything. She would be happy as long as they were together and that Gabrielle was happy. "Just let me say my goodbyes." It was a slow long trek as she crossed the distance to say her final goodbyes to people she hoped to see one day again.
()()()()()()()()()()()()
The sand was hot as it blew up into her face and onto her bare form accentuated by the moonlight streaming down. Where there used to be nothing but sinewy muscles now bones of all sorts protruded. Ribs were so apparent that it looked like it hurt when the skin moved over them. The shoulder blades were pointed and made her body look like it was dying. Truth be told that the blond woman's body was weaker than it should be. It was her mind that was ailing. For the past three months her heart, her body and her soul cried out.
They cried out for something that would not happen again for a lifetime. Some thought that she was starving herself so that she could make that day come sooner. Really it was just a matter of nothing appealing to her except for one thing. It was a ritual now. Every day she would be whisked to where there was some kind of trouble. Instead of using words, the petite blond would use any weapon that she could get her hands upon.
The blond didn't care anymore who saw her or what they thought of her. The pain at the loss of her soulmate was just too much for her to bear anymore. So she was lying naked in the still heated sands of a desert just outside of Cairo. Originally she had gone back to Greece for a bit. Then she had gone to almost every place that she and her soulmate had been together. Seeing familiar places and people only made the ache in her heart worsen.
Just recently she had remembered the start of the boat trip after…It was something she still could not bring herself to think about at least not during the bright sunshine of the day. At night her mind and heart would take over her and the cries from her nightmares could be heard for miles around. Calling out for a lover that had left her was now routine when the darkness enveloped her. Of course it seemed that the darkness was everywhere.
A figure clad in pink watched over the slumbering form. Out of the shadows the figure took on a face and distinct body. Aphrodite hated to see her little human friend suffering this way. When she had first heard the cries of Gabrielle as she rocked uneasily on the boat she had known that Xena was gone. It was easy to feel the heartbreak all the way in Greece. Since then the Goddess had taken it upon herself to take care of the petite woman as much as she was allowed to.
Looking at the poor condition of the petite blond, she knew that she was not taking very good care of her at all. True she watched over her as she slept. The nightmares kept Gabrielle from sensing things like she had learned to do from Xena. In fact the bard had basically shoved everything that the warrior had taught her away and instead focused on one thing. Fighting. Even with her body in less than stellar shape, there was no one in the known world that could fight like she could.
Of course part of that was because of Gabrielle's total abandon she would fight with. Aphrodite knew that the bard no longer cared whether she lived or died. All she cared about was one day reuniting with her soulmate, whether that was in this life or if it was in the next. When the Goddess had told her that the only ways they could be reunited was by death of both or the resurrection of the warrior princes, the petite blond had gone nearly insane scouring the known world for a way to resurrect her beloved.
It seemed that every culture that they went to held the same answers. There was no way that they could resurrect someone that had died in the manner that the warrior had. It was an honorable death and she had sacrificed herself for thousands of others. It was the way that it was supposed to. This was the last place that Gabrielle had left to try. There was also that last promise of the need of a warrior with a chakrum and that fell to the Battling Bard of Potadeia.
Ares had come to see the Goddess of Love only a few days before trying to convince her of a way that they could be reunited. But that was not something that was possible anymore. If they had the belief of the people that they once had then maybe. Aphrodite was not about to get the small human's hopes up only to have them dashed once again. There was already too much pain and suffering that Gabrielle was going through. If only I knew it would work I would gladly help you.
Aphrodite could feel the sun now starting to peak out over the tall sand dune. It was sad that the bard cared so little about herself that she just left herself out in the open. The Goddess made it so that Gabrielle could not see her as the small woman slowly awoke from her unending supply of nightmares and grief. A groan escaped the woman as she tried to sit up. The muscles she had were so poorly abused that sometimes simple motion was agonizing.
Yet somehow she could and would fight for hours on end. The battles were epic. And they were a lot like when she had been captured by the Romans and Xena had been hurt. It had been like something had snapped inside the bard that day. It was like something had snapped the day that her soulmate went away. Finally the petite blond managed to get to her feet. Knowing she should eat she simply dressed, packed up her few belongings and vaulted onto Argo.
It was a virtual sandstorm between the blowing wind and the sand that was kicked up by Argo's long strides. Gabrielle wasn't even sure where she was going. True she was just outside the large capital but then what? It was another foreign land that she was not comfortable in. Of course if she was honest with herself she was not comfortable anywhere. All she wanted was to close her eyes and wake up surrounded by the woman that she loved.
But that's not going to happen anytime soon, is it Xena? When we first met you used to make all the decisions for me. That was fine, at first. I mean, I was a kid fresh off the farm when we met. I was a dreamer and a talker. You were the one that had been everywhere and done everything. But then I grew up and you still made the decisions. Finally you started letting me make decisions for us both and then what happens? You make the decision not to bring you back. I should have fought! I should have just done it!
Sighing heavily at the thoughts and at the fight of trying to keep all the sand out of her lungs she picked up the pace. Just as she got to the outskirts of the very large town she pulled up Argo short. There was something that was not right about things. It was as if someone were watching her and it wasn't Aphrodite. Though the Goddess thought she was discreet, Gabrielle knew that she was there at night watching over her. It was the only way she could sleep, if you could call what she did sleep.
A familiar voice caused her to whip her head around. "Gabrielle!" The bard rubbed her ears not trusting what she was hearing. "Take care of yourself. I'll find a way." It was her soulmate's voice there was no mistaking that. But how? As far as anyone had told her there was no way to bring back Xena or for her to communicate with her. The usual of course held true meaning that her partner could hear her thoughts but couldn't respond.
Gabrielle quickly dismounted and pulled out her sias. As she did she gave Argo a gentle swat on the behind and watched for a moment to make sure the precious horse was going to be all right. Besides the ashes that she clung to, the sword, the chakrum and the horse was the only thing that the bard had left anymore. Memories and her scrolls were not enough. How she wished that they could be enough. Nothing was ever going to be enough again except the touch of her lover.
Suddenly an arrow was flying at her. By some old instinct she knocked it easily out of the air just inches in front of her face using one of her sias. Another arrow was flying at her. Instead of knocking it down she moved so quickly that it went flying past her head. Having had enough of being fired upon and for no real reason she launched herself in the direction that the arrows were coming from. They were coming from a slight angle and she realized that they were coming from one of the openings of the wall that surrounded the large town.
When she got to the wall she used her sias to help her climb the adobe like brick material. The arrows of course had stopped flying as she had caused it to be pointless. Though her muscles were not once what they had been, she climbed with an ease that few people possessed. When she was about a foot below the opening she listened. There were voices but she could not quite make out what was being said as her Egyptian was not all that strong.
As quickly and quietly as she could, she made her way to the side of the window. That was when the bowman stuck his head out of the window looking for her. Freeing one of her sias she quickly hit him with the handle end. Unfortunately for the man he was sticking so far out the window that he lost his balance and began plummeting. There was a sickening crunching sound when his body came into contact with the sand covered stone path below.
More voices that sounded alarmed were streaming out the window. In a move that would have made Xena proud, Gabrielle managed to swing from the sias that was still in the wall managing to take it with her. She gracefully curved her body so that she was going through the opening feet first. There was a sickening cracking sound when her feet impacted with one of the three men that remained in the tiny room. The ribs under her feet made an audible snapping sound and the man gasped out in pain.
He screamed when she pushed off his chest and summersaulted through the air. When she landed she was facing the remaining of the men. Her sias were at the ready. Xena's sword was strapped to her back and the chakrum hung from her hip. "Hello, boys. Sorry I had to hurt your friend here. But I get kinda cranky when people are shooting at me." She kept her fighting stance managing to keep all three men in vision including the clearly truly hurt man. "Now do I have to get rough with you or are you going to tell me what is going on?"
That's when all hell broke loose. The room was suddenly rushed by dozens of men. There were too many for even Xena herself to handle let alone a battling bard that was not in great shape. Of course the petite blond did her best to battle all of them off from her. For the first few moments she left more bloodied and broken than any of them even came close to her. Finally an arrow was shot from a concealed stairway. It hit its mark going into the bard's left shoulder.
"Son of a Bacchae!" Gabrielle managed to sheathe her sias so that she didn't lose them at least not in the fight. Her first instinct was to try and fight her way out. But that was definitely not a possibility as another arrow found her right thigh. "I'm going to kill all of you bastards!" The growl came out low and it seemed for a moment like she was channeling her deceased lover. Still fighting the best that she could, finally darkness took her as one of the dozens of men hit her on the back of the head.
Gabrielle gasped as she woke up. The pains from three different wounds were instantly shooting throughout her body. She tried to sit up but found that she was restrained by strong hands. Her green eyes took in the brightly lit room that she had been taken to. While there were bars in the window in the one side that wasn't solid stone, it somehow didn't exactly seem like a prison. And yet she felt like a prisoner and defeated.
The bard allowed herself to relax just a little bit and the strong hands released her. "You should not struggle so." The face that the hands belonged to finally became visible. "You were badly injured. You will tear the stitches if you continue to struggle or even try to sit. Please, allow me the honor of healing you." The man standing there was older. His reddish skin was wrinkled and there were almost nothing but grey hair on his head and in his beard. "My name is Ottu."
The petite blond took a deep breath and tried to use her mind to control the pain that she was in. It was one of the techniques that Xena had taught her just before…Her eyes were closed but she was still taking in everything through the sounds and smells that surrounded her. It was more of a healing place than a prison. But the bars? "I assume you know my name." The petite blond didn't wait for a response. "And I assume that you are a healer of sorts."
Ottu's ancient voice spoke and caused Gabrielle to look into his chocolate eyes. "I am a healer, Gabrielle." There was no flinching in the green eyes that held his own. But he would not expect anything less from the Battling Bard from Potadeia. "I work for the one that sent for you. Not the ones that ambushed you. You were rescued when they were trying to take you to their master." The man went over to a counter and picked up some bluish gray powdery substance. He removed the bandages of both arrow wounds and sprinkled the powder on both.
Gabrielle hissed as the powder made contact causing an intense stinging sensation. She watched carefully as the man covered the wounds once again only with fresh bandages. "I don't even know who sent for me or who I have to thank for such accommodations." The man gathered the remnants of the medicine and returned them to where he had retrieved them from. The bard once again took in her surroundings. "I take it whoever wanted me is not one of the wealthiest people in the city."
The bearded man came and stood by the bard. "It depends on what you call wealthy." There was a sound and instantly Gabrielle knew that someone else had entered their little sanctuary. The healer bowed to whoever it was before returning to his patient. "I must leave you two alone. If you should feel pain or need me in any capacity please ask." The bard watched him as he made his way out of the healing area.
The figure that was standing there was in the shadows. Slowly the figure emerged into the light and there was a sharp intake of breath as the petite blond recognized the figure. "That's right, Mother." The dark haired woman that had eyes like a certain warrior princess came into focus. "And before you protest, we both know that you are as much my mother as your soulmate ever was. Now, I brought you here so that you would stop killing yourself slowly."
Gabrielle managed to blink a few times and also rubbed her ears. Since she had stopped properly caring for herself she had at times heard and seen things that weren't real. This wasn't one of them. She had so many questions. But the words that echoed in her mind were the ones about killing herself. "I'm not intentionally…" With the look she received she closed her mouth and lowered herself back on the cot. "I am. But I just want to be with her so badly. I want…" Tears came at such a rate that her whole body wracked. "Xena! Please come back to me!"